Round-up: Redhawks stay in DVC title hunt
A DuPage Valley Conference title is quite a feather in a boys soccer team's cap, and Thursday's game between host Naperville Central and Wheaton North was a big one.
"We know if we win out, we've still got a chance at either tying or winning conference," said Redhawks junior Jerry Maddi. "So each game, we've got to come in big."
The Redhawks' 2-0 win over the Falcons put their overall record at 11-3-1 and 4-1 in DVC play. Wheaton North fell to 8-2-3 overall and 3-1-1 in conference play, ending a Falcons streak of 10 games without a loss.
"This was a huge game for us," said Falcons coach Bryce Cann. "It was only the second time we've been shut out all year."
The Redhawks had the better of play through 40 minutes in earning a 7-1 edge in shots on net. Most came from long range, however, with the exception of a ball that Jerry Maddi took in alone on Falcons goalkeeper Josh Giuliano in the 24th minute.
Giuliano left his line and stuffed Maddi's shot attempt from 10 yards out, and the scoreless tie held to halftime.
"I tried going far post, but (Giuliano) threw his whole body out there and made a good save," Maddi said.
"But that motivates you even more to get another (chance)."
The Redhawks went up 1-0 on a penalty kick in the 55th minute after Matt Sterner was tripped just inside the Falcons' penalty area. Tim Zimmer buried the penalty kick in netting his 10th goal of the season.
Twenty minutes later, Maddi took a pass from Art Garza, dribbled up the right side and scored his seventh goal of the year to finish the night's scoring.
"(Giuliano) was at the far post, so I knew if I brought the (defender) out and then brought him inside, the goal would be wide open," Maddi said.
Redhawks coach Jay Konrad was happy with his squad's possession in the first half, and its ability to get behind the Falcons in the second half.
"It would be nice to generate some more shots. It'd be nice to find more bodies when we serve the ball in," Konrad said. "But that's a thing the Chicago Fire struggles with, so I can't expect our guys to be perfect at it."
The Falcons applied better pressure on the wings in the second half but couldn't find dangerous space in their attacking third against a rock-solid Redhawks defense.
"(Joe) Sawa and Zimmer? They're both fantastic," Cann said.
"It was hard for us to get into a rhythm tonight. We never really got any flow going. They did a real good job of just not letting us have many opportunities."
-- Gary Larsen
Hinsdale Central 2, Willowbrook 1:ŒMark Knight and Jeff Graham scored unassisted goals to lead the Red Devils (10-6-1) to the West Suburban Conference crossover victory in Villa Park.
Lake Park 2, West Aurora 0:ŒIn a nonconference match in Aurora, Dan Mesina and Scott Harold each tallied a goal for the Lancers (9-2-4), who got a shutout from goalkeeper Dave Mack.
Girls volleyball
Glenbard North d. West Aurora:ŒSarah Campos had 11 assists, and Stefanie Mahan had 3 aces and 4 kills to lead the Panthers to a 25-22, 28-26 victory in the DuPage Valley Conference.
Waubonsie Valley d. Streamwood:ŒRachel Boryc had 6 digs and Kassie Kadera had 41 assists in the Warriors' 23-25, 25-14, 25-16 victory in the Upstate Eight Conference.
Geneva d. Glenbard South:ŒThe Raiders fell 19-25, 25-17, 26-24 in the Western Sun Conference despite 18 assists from Alicia Engelhardt, 8 kills from Amanda Fisch and 7 blocks from Victoria Helle.
Naperville North d. Wheaton North:ŒThe Huskies won 25-13, 25-13 in the DuPage Valley Conference Colleen Ward had 9 kills, 6 digs and 4 aces. Christine Wu added 5 digs. Wheaton North (8-10, 3-5) was led by Amy Groesbeck with 2 kills and 2 blocks and Jesse Smith with 4 assists.
Willowbrook d. Hinsdale Central:ŒIn a West Suburban Conference crossover match, the Red Devils' Lindsay Homme had 12 kills Amanda Freyn added 11. For the Warriors, Stacie Bower had 9 digs and an ace and Noel Burns had 6 digs and an ace.
Ridgewood d. Fenton:ŒEllen Harkins had 2 kills and Jayme Biagi had 2 kills and 2 blocks for Fenton in a 25-14, 25-20 loss.
Neuqua Valley d. Larkin:ŒPaige Stevens had 9 kills, 9 assists, 2 digs and 2 aces for the Wildcats (16-4, 5-1) in 25-13, 25-14 Upstate Eight Conference victory.