Waubonsie Valley upsets Benet

The high school soccer season can be so cruel to a team once the IHSA postseason tournament begins.

Of course, the losing team always sees its season come to a close and when you’re among the teams in the Naperville North sectional, you’re undoubtedly going to receive a huge challenge regardless of who you draw.

Benet, which won 10 straight matches from Sept. 12 to Oct. 8, traveled to face the hosts on Tuesday in the Class 3A Waubonsie Valley regional.

Thanks to a Tyler Yanisch goal a little more than 10 minutes into the second half, Benet saw its season come to a close with a 1-0 loss. Coincidentally, the Warriors also beat the Redwings 1-0 in what was the season opener for Waubonsie Valley in late August.

“Their pressure all over the field was just intense,” Benet coach Sean Wesley said. “They had spirit, that fire. We had it in moments, but they had it for 80 minutes and we didn’t match it. They got that goal and that lit the fire even bigger.”

Waubonsie Valley (9-7-3) controlled most of the action, especially in the second half when the Warriors had a handful of chances before Yanisch delivered.

“It was huge since it was such a defensive struggle,” Yanisch said. “Timmy (Miller) played a great ball and I was able to put it in the back of the net.”

Benet (13-5-2) could never find the equalizer. The Redhawks struggled in winning the ball and creating chances. In fact, they found themselves fighting off the attack more than attacking and had to make strong stops in order to keep the match within reach.

“We did a great job in back and the middle of winning the 50/50 balls,” Yanisch said. “We knew we had to bring that pressure against a team like (Benet).”

Controlling the midfield allowed the Warriors to minimize scoring chances from Benet’s one-two punch of Creighton-recruit Ben Kucera and Hunter Miller.

“I think we did a pretty good job of shutting them down,” Waubonsie Valley coach Angelo DiBernardo said. “We came out with a lot of energy in the second half. I think in the first 15 minutes or so we were all over them, and after that it was basically concentrating, working hard and making sure they didn’t hurt us and I didn’t think they did.”

Warriors goalkeeper Jordan Ward posted the shutout, receiving a strong effort from defenders Jack Cicchini and Tommy Campbell, among others.

“We didn’t get Hunter (Miller) and Ben (Kucera) the ball enough and you live and die with your studs,” Wesley said. “They have to be constantly touching the ball and we just couldn’t make that transition.”

While Benet’s fifth loss results in the end of its season, Waubonsie Valley eyes a regional title game despite a 1-5 start.

“I think the key was once we played Naperville North and had a pretty good game against them for two-thirds of the game,” DiBernardo said. “The kids found out they could play and it’s been very positive since then.”