Boys soccer: Tie with McHenry allows Wauconda to reach tourney title game
Dealing with injuries and having a young group of boys soccer players hasn't had much of an effect on the field so far for Wauconda. The Bulldogs keep finding ways to be competitive and are getting good results in the opening two weeks.
Wauconda was able to get a 1-1 draw with visiting McHenry on the final day of pool play in its own tournament on Thursday afternoon.
The Bulldogs (3-1-2, 1-0-1) advanced to the championship game on goal differential over the Warriors (2-1-2, 1-0-1) and they will play Zion-Benton (3-1-1) at noon on Saturday.
Wauconda has put together a five-game unbeaten streak since starting the season with a loss to Mundelein. However, the Bulldogs are playing without two of their starters - Brandon Castellanos and Ulysses Ruiz, both out with injuries. They also are playing with several underclassmen this season.
The Bulldogs opened the match with good play and composure while finding a goal.
"I liked the first 20 minutes or so, we were possessing and moving the ball forward," said Wauconda coach Tim Miller. "We like to attack from the wings and scored a great goal. But after that, we gave a really weak goal on a set piece. Those are things that a young team makes mistakes on and we're young and we're going to grow. We're playing a lot of young guys. We play sophomores and freshmen, because they are talented and they learn on the fly."
One freshman, Eduardo Cirilo, scored his third goal of the season for Wauconda by taking a pass from Cristopher Zavaleta for the opening goal in the tenth minute.
"We put some great plays together and we managed to put that cross in which was a lot of teamwork," Cirilo said. "It's not a one-person game. I actually got the ball off my head and threw myself at it knee-high."
McHenry got a goal back to even the game at 1-1 two minutes later of a corner kick. Jose Lira finished off a kick from Troy Duginske. Bulldogs' keeper Preston Chartier did a good job keeping McHenry away from any other shots on goal with 5 saves.
"Wauconda had a good goalkeeper and they organized the back very well," McHenry coach Tony Caruso said. "We finished our one of two chances, so I'm happy with that and we'll take the tie."
Palatine 0, Zion-Benton 0: Being the third game of the season, Palatine has been seeing better play and building for results. The Pirates for the second straight game had a well-earned scoreless draw against Zion-Benton on Thursday night in the final pool play game of the Wauconda tournament.
Palatine (0-1-2) will play for third place against McHenry (2-1-2) on Saturday at 10 a.m.
"Getting a shutout is always our number one objective and against a quality team," Palatine coach Willie Filian said. " (Zion-Benton) has put a good culture in their program. They're quality and they've got some great speed. They get out on the counter very well. I thought our kids needed to be exposed to that and we did well enough to get a shutout. We need a little bit more luck on the other end on finishing."
Palatine over the three games has had an issue of finding the back of the net. On Thursday, the Pirates did have a couple of great looks in front of the goal, but each time Zee-Bees' keeper Roberto Colin turned it away. He finished with 5 saves.
"We have had some opportunities in front and on some set pieces," Filian said. "We did the same thing against Crystal Lake South that we didn't convert. That's why we're not where we should be. Still proud of this group for the third game in with how well organized in the back and the work rate along with the midfielders. Our guys are learning that we need to get results, get good games and establish ourselves."
Matt Geisel, who plays in the Pirates' midfield, saw first hand what Zion-Benton had to offer. But it wasn't something that the team couldn't handle and matched up with them.
"It was a physical game," Geisel said. "It was well-matched. You just have to play hard. We're a good team and play hard. We just have to see what we can do."
Pirates' keeper Johnathon Moreno had some outstanding saves in goal and made 8 stops against the Zee-Bees.
"It was entertaining to watch and physical," Zion-Benton coach Cliff Pontillo said. "We had a couple of opportunities and couldn't finish. (Palatine had a couple opportunities and couldn't finish. I thought we gave up too many free kicks in our defensive half. It's a good tie against a quality opponent like Palatine. Coach Filian does a fabulous job having a system and working through it. They're very organized and very tough, very skilled and we're just pleased with the outcome."