Boys soccer: Tie with Streamwood gives Elgin UEC River title

With perennial powerhouses Batavia, St. Charles North, and St. Charles East along with a talented Streamwood squad all residing in the Upstate Eight Conference River Division it seemed very unlikely at the outset of the season that the Elgin boys soccer team would have any chance at playing for a conference title. However, that is exactly the position the Maroons found themselves in on Tuesday when they traveled to play Streamwood at Millennium Field.

Elgin needed just a win or a tie to secure the title and the Maroons didn't disappointment the throng of fans that showed up to support them in a driving rainstorm as they battled to a hard-fought 1-1 tie to finish 4-1-1 in the division and win what is believed to be their first conference crown.

Elgin coach Dave Borg is as surprised as anyone at how the conference race transpired.

"With the level of competition in this division we didn't even have this down as one of our goals at the beginning of the year," Borg said. "We are usually focused in on winning our regional. But things fell into place and here we are. It couldn't happen to a better bunch of kids. They deserve it, They have worked their tails off all year."

Omar Lopez scored the Maroons' only goal on a header with 5:28 left in the first half. Streamwood tied it with 3:48 left to play in the game, but the Maroons were able to keep it even the rest of the way.

"This is a great feeling," Lopez said. "It means a lot to all of us. We just work together as a team and played hard the whole way."

Lopez has over 20 goals this season.

"He just gets in the right spots at the right times," Borg said. "He passes when he needs to, but always knows when to take the shot, too. He's a pure striker."

Borg credits experience with having a lot to do with his team's success this year.

We have a core group of players in Omar, Jesus Lopez, Pablo Perez, Andy Zavala, Alex Kunicky, Julian Garfias and Manny Ramirez who have stuck together for three or four years," Borg said. "That continuity really makes a difference and their dedication has paid off."

Streamwood had a chance to win the conference crown with a win. Aldo Lazaro scored the Sabres' only goal.

"It came a little too late," Streamwood coach Matt Polovin said. "It's a little frustrating because we felt like we were the better team. We had the run of the play, but it was disappointing that we didn't put away more of our chances. We have been a little inconsistent with that."