Boys soccer: West Aurora hits high gear in regional opener

West Aurora has hung up some crooked numbers this season in a sport where big numbers are usually only on the uniforms.

The Blackhawks' offensive show continued into the postseason as they overpowered Plainfield Central, 5-3, during Wednesday's Class 3A Metea Valley regional semifinal.

West Aurora (16-4-1), which has now scored 3 or more goals in 14 games this fall, advanced to Saturday afternoon's regional title game against Metea Valley, a 3-0 winner over Neuqua Valley.

"It doesn't have to be pretty, but we did what we had to do," West Aurora coach Joe Sustersic said. "We didn't play as well as we could have but not too many people score five goals in the first game of the state tournament, and it's not like (Plainfield Central) played poorly. That was the best game I've been Plainfield Central play this season."

Junior Zachary Thompson led the Blackhawks with a pair of assists and two goals as the Blackhawks increased their season goal total to 78 goals in 21 games for a 3.7 average per game.

"I think when we play as a team we're unstoppable," Thompson said. "I think we can string passes together and create our own chances and score, but we have to keep playing as a team."

Plainfield Central (9-16-1) put an early scare into the Blackhawks when sophomore Moses Mata scored just 3:55 into the action.

"It's the same thing as last year (9-1 victory against Plainfield East) when they scored first," Thompson said. "We had to come out and play our game, settle down our nerves and start to play and then put them away."

The Blackhawks beat the Wildcats, 5-0, on Sept. 12 but the season was on the line here.

"I don't think anyone wants to lose," Thompson said. "Everyone's battling to win and playing their hardest. Every game is close in regionals."

Rashidi Meso dribbled into the box almost end-to-end with the front of the goal before firing a shot through the hands of Plainfield Central goalkeeper Hector Chavez midway through the first half to tie the game.

Monoi Chuwan scored on a rebound and also headed in a corner kick from Thompson before Thompson scored on a breakaway with 7:35 remaining in the first half to give the Blackhawks a 4-2 advantage.

The Wildcats tallied their second goal on a PK from Noah Selefski with 12:10 left in the opening half.

The Wildcats made things interesting with 27:26 left to play in the game, pulling to within 4-3, but the Blackhawks responded with another goal from Thompson with 17:23 on the clock.

"We gave up that goal early and we were a little frazzled, but then we gained our composure," Sustersic said. "We put five on the board and we hit the cross bar and two posts and had (one goal) taken off the board. People don't score that way in the state tournament so that's something nice."

Meso, Alex Huitron and Eloi Niyibizi also had assists for the Blackhawks.