Redhawks fight back, avoid repeat

Naperville Central's Byard Ebling couldn't stop the bad memories from returning, but he sure knew how to make them go away.

After West Chicago's Ismael Sanchez scored to put the host Wildcats on top 2-1 with just 9:14 left to play in Thursday's DuPage Valley Conference boys soccer showdown, Ebling couldn't help but remember last year's stinging defeat to the 'Cats that helped keep the Redhawks from winning the DVC.

But just 30 seconds after Sanchez deflected a shot off a Central defender to put West Chicago (5-4, 1-2) on top, Ebling headed home a rebound in front of the Wildcats goal to draw even at 2-2. Ebling was not through, however, as the Redhawks senior captain added more heroics when he headed a perfect-picture corner kick from Matt Sterner past Wildcats goalkeeper Adrian Porcayo for the game-winner with 5:37 left to play in Naperville Central's key 3-2 triumph.

"I kind of reflected on last year," Ebling said of his feelings after the Redhawks went down 2-1. "This is the game that cost us conference last year, so we were pushing for it."

The Redhawks struck first when Tom Sheehy set up Matt Dervin with a nifty cross that broke a scoreless tie with 4:09 left in the first half. But the Wildcats were awarded a penalty kick when Alejandro Almarez was taken down in the box. Carlos Vazquez buried the opportunity to even the game at 1-1 with 27:30 left to play in the second half.

"When I shot it I wasn't sure it was going to go in, but when it did I got excited and we started celebrating," said Vazquez, of his fifth goal of the year and the one that lifted his team on top 2-1 briefly. "But it wasn't that long before they came right back and scored and that seemed to bring us down."

The short-lived lead then turned into a deficit, and the Redhawks managed to leave the noisy faithful Wildcats fans in a sour mood.

"West Chicago did a great job of attacking us," Naperville Central coach Jay Konrad said. "But it's a credit to our kids that they found a way to put some balls in the back of the net at the end. It says a lot about our character. You have to play when you come here."

West Chicago coach Steve Brugmann liked his team's effort but wished his team was better than 1-2 in the conference after playing both Naperville North and Naperville Central tough in the early going this season.

"A victory would have put us back in contention in the DVC, but I'm real happy with the guys' effort and we're maturing and developing as a team," he said.