Conant, Wheeling turn out to be evenly matched
Who knew match night in the Mid-Suburban League on Tuesday could be so much fun?
Wheeling and Conant kept a nice crowd at Charles Feutz Stadium in Hoffman Estates occupied, but after entertaining the fans for 100 minutes, the clubs shared points after a 2-2 draw.
"It was a good game," saidConant coach Jason Franco. "We opened so well, and to be fair, could have been up 2-0. But we slipped up some, then just hoped we could get to the break without conceding anything else. We fought hard, and gave a good effort, and at least came away with a draw and the point."
In a flash, the Cougars (5-1-3, 2-0-1-7 points) turned this contest in their favor as Chase Hermanson's goal stunned the visitors. he finished a lovely helper from Brian Rodela and Matt Moglia with a nice half volley which bounded down, then bounced over keeper Jose Castillo in the 22nd minute.
"We started so fast tonight, but we kind of got away from what we were doing, and we found ourselves down a goal at the break," said Moglia, who directed the Cougars' attack from the midfield.
"I wish we would have come out a little stronger and sharper," said Wheeling coach Ed Uhrik, "but when we finally got our attack going at full speed, it was some of the best soccer we've played this season."
Wheeling was inspired by a short sequence of play inside the 18, which began with Fabian Acosta being knocked down in the box. Conant keeper Christian Hyde saved the first spot kick, but the center official spotted another foul in the ensuing scrum.
The Wildcats (5-4-4, 1-1-1) made good this time, as Francisco Arellano convert in the 36th minute.
"A lack of discipline on our part," said Franco.
The Arellano PK fueled Wheeling's attack, and with Fernie Martinez, Bryan Cervantes, Acosta and Frankie Estrada in high gear, the visitors soon went ahead when Jose Garcia drove home the go-ahead goal at 37 minutes.
"No. 23 (Estrada) is a special player, and he was a handful at the end of that first half and really throughout the game for them," Franco said.
With Joey Connolly and Cezar Alfaro working in unison, the Cougars found the equalizer, albeit on an own-goal when the Wildcats had trouble with Connolly's well-aimed serve from the left side in the 51st minute.
Both sides did their best to tighten things up along the back for the final 20 minutes, but each was tested by wide-open attacking football as the sides looked to go ahead once again.
Hyde and Castillo were each called to action down the stretch, with each looking confident when forced into action - particularly Castillo, who on two occasions came off his line to clear.
The Wildcats keeper found himself on an island when Hermanson put Rodela through in the 83rd minute, but Rodela's chance to end the match went wide.
"We came in here to win tonight, but we made mistakes that cost us that chance to do so," said Arellano.
"This was a big game for both teams, but for us, I finally saw that spark we've been looking from this team," said Uhrik. "So hopefully we're beginning to understand the level we have to play at each time we come out to play."