Geneva hopes balance can be the difference
The Geneva boys soccer team is the lone Tri-Cities Area team still alive in the Class AA playoffs -- and they want to keep it that way for at least another week and a half.
In order to do that, however, the Vikings first need to get past Wheaton Academy.
The Warriors and Vikings face off tonight for the Class AA Wheaton Academy sectional championship at 5 p.m.
The winner will travel to Lisle for the supersectional at Benedictine University Monday at 4:30 p.m. and will play the winner of the Neuqua Valley sectional (either Neuqua Valley or Naperville Central).
Geneva (18-5-2) advanced to the sectional final after upsetting the No. 1 seed, Wheaton Warrenville South 2-1, Tuesday night. Adam Cornwell and Shawn Sloan netted the goals for the No. 5 seeded Vikings.
"I think (beating Wheaton Warrenville South earlier in the season) gave us confidence going into the game," Geneva coach Ryan Estabrook said of his Vikings, who beat WW South 3-1 at the start of the season.
No. 6 seed Wheaton Academy (15-3-5) landed in the sectional final after topping St. Charles North 1-0. Lucas Young scored the lone goal and Ryan Seager made 4 saves to preserve the win.
Geneva advanced to the sectional after winning the Bartlett regional. Wheaton Academy won its regional at Wheaton North.
The Vikings are led by Cornwell (20 goals), Max Cary (18 goals), Sloan (10 assists) and Brian Holbrook (11 assists). Estabrook said that goalie Greg Duff has, "really been in control of the box."
It helps that the Vikings have several leaders, not just one clear cut star.
"I think that makes it a lot harder for teams to defend us," Estabrook said on having a balanced attack.
Wheaton Academy is led by Andrew Knighten (20 goals, 9 assists), Luke Partain (8 goals, 10 assists) and Young (8 goals, 8 assists). Seager has 101 saves, 6 shutouts with 25 goals allowed in 23 games.
Wheaton Academy has height and home field advantage on its side.
"I think they are playing with a ton of confidence now," Estabrook said on the Warriors, who knocked off No. 2 seed St. Charles North.
Geneva has a lot of confidence coming into this game as well, as it has won its last 15 games after starting the season 3-5-2.