Boys soccer: Fast start carries Naperville North past Oswego

Three-time defending Class 3A boys soccer champion Naperville North advanced to the Lockport sectional final with a 3-1 victory Tuesday against Oswego.

The Huskies scored early and then added on. Cesar Recendez converted a header in the sixth minute off a Josh Kaufman assist.

"I was at the back post and I was just fortunate to be there at the right time," said Recendez, a senior defender.

Zach Smith converted in the 21st minute from an Ali Khorfan cross, and Ty Konrad scored in the 33rd minute to give the Huskies a 3-0 lead.

Still, the Huskies (18-4-2) know Oswego well enough to know that even a 3-goal lead wasn't safe.

"But at the same time anything can happen in the postseason. There could be upsets, so we just have to keep grinding every day," Recendez said.

Despite having played the day before in a regional final, Oswego continued to pressure Naperville North looking to get back in the game.

Oswego got its goal in the 54th minute on a scramble in front of the goal following a Steven Udy free kick. The Panthers kept up the pressure on Naperville North but couldn't further cut into the Huskies' lead.

"Having a couple of goals in the bag against Oswego is huge because we know that they could score," Huskies coach Jim Konrad said. "We didn't feel comfortable with one or even two or even three really. We had a couple of chances that we left on the field, which I was worried would come back and bite us. Which it could have. We were fortunate to get away with the win."

The Huskies will play West Aurora at 6 p.m. Friday in the sectional final.