Youth be served - Unheralded Larkin stuns CL South

Posted October 27, 2009 11:00 pm

By Brian Schaumburg Daily Herald Correspondent

Larkin's Erik Rodriguez goes up against Crystal Lake South's Brian Karp in the sectional playoff game in Barrington Tuesday. John Starks | Staff Photographer

Maybe all that youth on the Larkin boys soccer team is its biggest advantage.

The Royals' surprising postseason run continued Tuesday with a 2-1 victory over Crystal Lake South in the Class 3A Barrington sectional semifinals.

"They don't play like freshmen and sophomores," Gators coach Brian Allen said of the Royals. "(The youth) might have played in their favor where they don't realize the magnitude of the game. They just go out and play."

The Royals entered the postseason with six victories. They have now won three consecutive playoff games to advance to the sectional final, the farthest Larkin has ever advanced. Royals coach Ken Hall said this will be the Royals sixth appearance in the sectional final, but they are 0-5. Larkin (9-15-3) will play Lake Zurich at 6 p.m. Friday for the sectional title.

"With this group I never dreamed, never dreamed (of advancing this far)," Hall said.

CL South (19-4-2) created more opportunities in the first half, but was unable to beat Royals goalkeeper Santiago Guerrero. The Gators finally broke through with 35:39 left in the second half. Charlie Oliver controlled a ball in the Royals' penalty area. The sophomore turned and fired a low shot to the far post past Guerrero for a 1-0 lead.

"After the one, we didn't get that killer instinct, looking for the second one," Allen said. "We made too many costly mistakes."

The Royals didn't let the deficit bother them. With just under 18 minutes remaining, Danny Ramirez took a free kick from near midfield. The ball went into South's penalty area. Tony Hernandez ran down the ball and cut a pass back to Erik Rodriguez, who put the ball into the empty net.

Rodriguez, a freshman, gave Larkin the lead with 7:13 left with his seventh postseason goal. His shot was deflected up in the air by a Gators defender, then volleyed the rebound into the far corner past Gators goalkeeper David Walsh, who had 5 saves.

"It's unbelievable," Rodriguez said. "Throughout the season we didn't get the results we wanted. We didn't expect this, but we're here."

The Gators' best chance after their lone goal came with 91/2 minutes remaining, but Jon Gutmann's free kick from just outside the penalty was saved by Guerreo, who finished with 7 saves.

"I thought our defense was the key of the game," Hall said. "Great goals that were scored, but if we don't defend like we did, it's all for not."

Larkin freshman Erik Rodriguez turns toward the crowd after scoring the go-ahead goal late in the game against Crystal Lake South Tuesday in the Barrington sectional semifinals. The goal turned out to be the winning shot. John Starks | Staff Photographer

Larkin's Tony Hernandez heads the ball against Crystal Lake South in the sectional playoff game in Barrington Tuesday. John Starks | Staff Photographer

Larkin's Billy Weber leads his team off the field after defeating Crystal Lake South in the sectional playoff game in Barrington Tuesday. John Starks | Staff Photographer

Larkin comes off the field victorious after beating Crystal Lake South 2-1 in the Barrington sectional semifinals Tuesday. Erik Rodriguez (10) scored the game-winning goal late in the game. John Starks | Staff Photographer

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