Boys soccer: Stevenson’s strong second half keys win over Libertyville
Stevenson secured a 1-0 victory in its NSC opener Thursday night over host Libertyville in a hard-fought, tight 80 minutes at Walter Johnson Sports Complex.
The Patriots, who were coming off their first loss of the season earlier in the week to Carmel Catholic, overcame a sluggish first half of soccer to defeat their long-time rival for the third time in the last four seasons.
"(That) was a really rough start for us tonight," said Patriots (7-1-0, 1-0-0) keeper Matthew Rutcosky, who was outstanding between the sticks all throughout the evening — strong in the air, and brave in close-range chances by the home side.
"We were not organized in the first half, and Libertyville just outworked us for the first 40 minutes. But we made a change in our formation at the break, and it really made a difference in the second half."
The Wildcats (1-6-0, 0-1-0) would have nearly all of the play from the opening whistle, with seniors Nathan Gifford and Jackson Kern at the heart of the attack, while Drew Snow and his backline mates were strong and air-tight in their own end.
"We did just about everything really well in the first half. But our inability to finish our chances has been our Achilles' heel, and tonight you saw that once again," said Wildcats coach Kevin Thunholm.
The home side gave the Patriots an early chance when a hand ball inside the Wildcats box sent Kistanna Navaan to the spot in the eighth minute.
Once there, the Patriots captain saw his attempt turned around the post with a superb stop from keeper Brayden Ways, who extended far to his left to make the glove save.
The Patriots changed their formation to a 4-3-3 after the intermission, and it proved to be a key factor in the eventual outcome.
"(They) must have created five to six corners and deep throws combined in the first five minutes of the second half to put us under pressure, and we struggled from that point, until they scored," said Thunholm.
"We are not playing like a team that has just one win. There's a lot of talent on this team, but right now we're having a little trouble finding our identity."
The eventual game-winner came from Hayato Eto in the 48th minute when a marvelous early ball from Roehl allowed the senior to finish with a sensational touch past Brayden Ways.
The Patriots would take three off the line in front of Rutcosky after the second of two corners by the Wildcats. The third effort in close was finally parried out of the area by Navaan.
"It's the kind of game we always expect when playing Libertyville," said Patriots coach PepeJon Chavez.
"Kevin (Thunholm) and his assistant, Paul Bravo, do a great job in preparing their men, and tonight, as always, it was like a chess match out there, with our grit and heart, especially in the second half, leading us to victory."
Next up for the Patriots will be league rival Mundelein next Tuesday, while the Wildcats host crosstown neighbor Carmel Catholic on Saturday afternoon in a nonconference affair.