Boys soccer: Libertyville nearly meets its match with Mundelein

Maybe a week off was too much time away for Libertyville's boys soccer team.

Ryan Wittenbrink scored his 17th and 18th goals of the season, keeper Thomas Pearson made 5 saves in earning his seventh clean sheet, and the Wildcats beat visiting Mundelein 2-1 in a North Suburban Conference matchup on Tuesday night.

Libertyville, which hadn't played in a week, improved to 9-0-1 and 4-0 in the NSC. Mundelein fell to 7-5-1 and 4-2.

“Mundelein is well-coached and was ready for the game,” said coach Kevin Thunholm, whose Wildcats remain tied for first place in the NSC with Waukegan. “We had a week off and we were a little rusty. We didn't come out as strong as I'd like to. We didn't finish.”

The Wildcats hit the post three times in the first half.

“If we had scored, we could've put them back on their heels a lot more,” Thunholm said. “We didn't put them away and (Mundelein) kept fighting. They didn't stop coming at us.”

Wittenbrink gave his team the only goal it needed when he tapped in Tanner Kelly's low cross in the 28th minute. Wittenbrink scored again eight minutes later, after gathering another cross from Kelly.

Libertyville defender Mason Williams twice saved goals off the line, and Will Powers saved another one. Pearson slid to take the ball off the foot of the Mustangs' Bryan Alba late in the game.

“The offense was working so hard. I feel I had to help the team,” Williams said. “I did something like that a few times early in the season. You usually don't see that often since we have the ball more up top. But when it comes back there, you have to perform. We have such a cohesive unit. We work together and are always talking and making it hard for the other team.”

Libertyville defenders Austin Becker, Grant Herbek and Nathan Pacholski also helped Libertyville keep Mundelein off the board.

Mundelein has played tough against state-ranked teams in Libertyville and Barrington.

“Obviously, we didn't get the result we wanted,” Mundelein coach Ernie Billittier said. “I'm proud of our team's result. If you look at our last two opponents, Barrington and Libertyville, we're right there. We're out of the conference with two losses. Now, we rank the seeds and prepare down the stretch for the regional and what we can do for the postseason. I'm very encouraged by the effort.”

Jony Lucio scored for Mundelein in the 71st minute off an assist from Fredy Montenegro.