Scouting Class 1A boys soccer

By Mike Garofola

Daily Herald Correspondent

After storming through all of its regular-season opponents, Christian Liberty (18-0) finds itself in unchartered waters for the first time in its short history as one of the hunted, after earning the No. 1 seed at the Westminster Christian regional in Elgin. Christian Liberty is in the Harvard sectional with recent state trophy winners in Stillman Valley (fourth in 1A last year), Rockford Keith Country Day (third in 1A in 2009) and Harvard (fourth in 2A last year). “Sometimes I have to pinch myself when I realize how far we’ve come in just one season, let alone (two) when we won just a few games in that first season, then (8) in 2010, to a year like this when everything came together for us,” said Chargers coach Jed Bennett.

“Obviously, when Luke (Comerouski) came back to play his senior year with us, we finally got the finisher we needed so badly, but the great thing about (him) is that he makes everyone around him so much better,” adds senior Michael Hennek, who is one of a handful of three-year players who was there in the infancy of the program. Clearly, the strength of this side is in the attack, with the quartet of Comerouski (44 goals), Hennek, David Colbert and Kiefer Bennett accounting for an astounding 70-plus goals to help the Northeastern Athletic Conference champs strike for 86 this fall, while conceding just 25.

Despite this overwhelming firepower, the Chargers have finally built a back-line that can tackle, go forward when needed, and stay organized in front of Jack Salsgiver, who overcame an early season injury to become solid keeper and leader in the back. “You can see with each game how our guys in the back (Noah Johnson, Michael Milkowski, Tom Salsgiver) have grown more confident, and what a difference it has made in the way (they) play, and (the) rest of the team, which has (now) seen how hard work and dedication can eventually pay off,” said Jed Bennett.

The Chargers will open the postseason at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Westminster against Elgin Academy. The winner advances to Saturday’s noon regional final against the Westminster Christian-St. Edward semifinal. Both teams lost to Christian Liberty during the regular season.