Boys soccer: Benet's Kelly changes the conversation

Ben Kelly was rather modest on Thursday afternoon in Lisle.

The senior spoke about his success being more about finding himself in the right place at the right time than anything else, but he was the one who delivered two goals in the first half of Benet's 4-0 boys soccer victory over Waubonsie Valley in nonconference play.

Rather than embellish upon what he did to stake the Redwings to the cushion at halftime, he praised sophomore teammate Franklin Rutkowski.

"He's great and always find himself in the right position," Kelly said. "He plays quick but he doesn't play too quick where it's predictable. He doesn't play one-touch, he plays in touches and plays what's simple and gets into the space that he needs to be in. He knows when to lay off a ball if needed, like the one I scored the first goal on."

Kelly scored less than 10 minutes into play and then made it 2-0 with just 5:49 left before halftime.

"I was completely unaware that the ball was coming to me," he said. "I saw Franklin get it, though, and I thought he was going to take the shot because he looked like he was. The ball went across him and went past a defender and right at my feet and I just cleaned it up right there."

Waubonsie Valley (2-1-1) created some decent scoring chances - namely ones from Giacomo Parrino, Raul Romano and Stephen Spano - but couldn't finish them.

"We had our opportunities there, especially in the second half," Warriors coach Jose Garcia said. "I told them at half that we could make this interesting if we scored one right back, but that didn't happen and then we gave up an unlucky goal that went through (the goalkeeper's) hands and sometimes that falls to your feet and other times it doesn't work out well for you, but that's soccer."

That goal from Benet senior Devin Martini almost midway through the second half pretty much sealed the game.

"I just saw the ball," Martini said. "Someone hit it and then rebounded it out to me and I just hit it one touch."

Benet added its final goal with 5:49 left as Connor Mote's rebound shot from Jason Rowaiye found the back of the net.

"I really like our team," Redwings coach Sean Wesley said. "We're really deep and every guy on our roster can play. Plus we have some guys who are hurt too that would normally play that will only make us better."