Despite loss, Geneva headed to Pepsi Showdown quarters
With its safe passage into the quarterfinals of the Pepsi Showdown already guaranteed, Geneva (3-4-1) looked to keep in tournament record perfect when it stepped onto the pitch in LaGrange yesterday morning against Lane Tech of the Public League.
However, the undermanned Indians had other ideas, holding the high-powered Vikings to just one goal in 100 minutes before outscoring the No. 7 seed 4-2 in the shootout to snag a hard-earned 2-1 victory over Ryan Estabrook's lads.
Despite the defeat, the Vikings, on the strength of a pair of previous victories over both Fenwick and Lincoln-Way East in pool play, advance to meet No. 1 Morton (6-1-1) which stayed alive after a complicated tiebreaker system pushed the Mustangs' ahead of Lake Zurich and Plainfield Central, despite a 1-0 loss to Central earlier in the week.
"We did so many things well today, and maybe played our best half of soccer of the season in the first 40 minutes, but the bottom line is it all ended in a loss," said Estabrook, whose club, despite a constant rain - at times a downpour - delivered an energetic, magnificent attack.
"We did everything but finish today," said Vikings junior Seamus Kaminski, who was one of several who were a constant threat to the Indians (2-4-3).
Keeper Steve Murguia, and the crossbar, turned away countless guided missiles from the Vikings, including Kaminski, who combined with Brady Wahl, Craig Hancock, Joshua Poythress, Tyler Filipiak and others to turn Murguia's day into a nightmare.
"I am real proud of my guys today," said Lane head coach Andrew Ricks, who dressed only 14 due to ACT testing.
"We didn't give up, and although (Geneva) was all over us at times, the team stayed composed, and came back to get a very big win."
Although its was obvious during the early stages the Vikings' had too much speed, power and tactical awareness for the upstart Indians, the combination of the never ending downpour and gritty defensive work kept Geneva from finding its form until its first chance of the match fell to Wahl who went over the woodwork from in close at 17 minutes.
The opportunity sparked the Vikings which, after their so-so start, burst into the area on a regular basis, and filled the scorebook with a high number of shots on frame and an even higher percentage of possession along the way.
The best of many came when Kaminski was sent through at 29 minutes, only to see his attempt turned away with a kick save from Murguia, then later, the junior clipped the bar from short range.
"We, me included, will all need to work on finishing," Kaminski said.
After the break, the Vikings' attack found another gear, and except for an early shot and save from Eduardo Morales on keeper Steven Soderstrom, who on the day was outstanding when called on, the ball never found its way in their end with any gusto until Lane made something from nothing to take a surprising lead in the 62nd minute.
Wahl, Kaminski, Poythress and Carlos Gonzalez all had chances before Benjamin Galvin surprised the Vikings when he came from out of the back to head in the go-ahead goal.
Despite these shocking turn of events, the Vikings' didn't fall apart, and maintained their constant pressure as they searched for the equalizer.
"We kept our composure, and didn't panic when we fell behind," said Wahl.
At the height of another offensive spurt, Kaminski helped his club draw even when he shed his mark to meet a well-timed ball from Wahl at 74 minutes.
Both 10-minute extra periods lacked the same energy witnessed during regulation, but there were plenty of wild moments Gonzalez' attempt to chip the Lane Tech keeper after collecting a helper from Hancock.
Robbie Johnson and Wahl were perfect with each of spot-kicks, but in-between the Vikings missed two others, while Lane converted its first four to close things out.