WW South grabs control of DVC from Naperville N.

It's surprising more high school soccer coaches aren't prematurely gray or attending 12-step meetings for antacid addictions.

For example, take Naperville North coach Jim Konrad.whose Huskies were in the driver's seat before Tuesday's key DuPage Valley Conference match against Wheaton Warrenville South started. By Konrad's account the Huskies played as well as they've played all season, but thanks to a precise goal by Ricky Munguia, they lost for the first time this fall, dropping a 1-0 decision in Naperville.

"I thought it was the best we've played all year," Konrad said. "For the first time I thought we really played a good game so that takes the sting out of the loss."

Wheaton Warrenville South (15-1-2, 3-0-1) bounced back in a big way after tying West Chicago last Thursday and allowing a pair of scores in defeating Lake Park on Saturday. It took a seamless effort by Munguia to beat Naperville North goalie Mike Wiest for the lone score.

Munguia dribbled around toward the right and booted a picture perfect shot, which hooked from right to left and over Wiest and into the left corner of the goal.

"It was kind of like a breakaway but I saw the ball and it bounced and I just a shot and it went inside the net," Munguia said. "I kind of scared the defender off and took the shot."

Unlucky 13 wasn't inauspicious as Munguia's 13th goal of the season was also the first goal that Wiest and Naperville North have yielded in their past nine matches.

"Only the eighth goal given up all season," Konrad said. "Our defenders had a great game, especially Jimmy (Butler) and Lee (Grander). I thought they were exceptional."

Naperville North (11-1-4, 4-1) kept the Tigers defenders and goalkeeper Derek Babb busy. Babb made 11 saves on a barrage of shots from the Huskies, including a couple late in the match from Kyle Lindberg and Chris Boswell,

"It was really tough especially in these conditions, and with the wind it's really tough to judge the balls coming in," Babb said. "It's a credit to our defense. (Naperville North) is one of the teams that it's not if they're going to score, it's when they're going to score, and tonight we held them in check."

With the road victory the Tigers can control their own destiny for a title.

"It's good to be back in the driver's seat," Tigers coach Guy Callipari said. "We knew it was a tall order and it doesn't happen often to come into North and get a win."

The biggest obstacle will likely be a date with Naperville Central on Oct. 13.

"We're going to have to rely on my little brother (Redhawks coach Jay Konrad) to beat them so that the conference title comes back here," Konrad said.