Bartlett upsets Larkin for regional title

The Bartlett Hawks pulled off the upset in the Class 3A boys soccer regional championship game on Saturday night.

The 11th-seeded Hawks (11-10-2) defeated the No. 3 seeded Larkin Royals (14-7-4) by a score of 2-1 in the regional final game at Norris Stadium at St. Charles East High School.

The lone goal in the first half came from Hawks midfielder Anthony DiNuzzo on a play after a free kick from midfielder Fabio Aiello.

Early in the second half, Larkin captain Erik Rodriguez would tie the score at 1 with a goal on a rebound of a shot by forward Tony Escamilla. The Hawks would answer about a minute later, as Mark Parzy would notch the game-winning goal on a play after a free kick from DiNuzzo.

Bartlett goalkeeper Cristian Alva had an incredible game, coming up with several huge stops late in the game to protect his team’s lead.

“I don’t know how I did it,” said Alva. “I was just really focused in the game. This is my first time winning the trophy. I’m just so happy.”

“Cristian did an amazing job,” said Aiello. “If it wasn’t for him, this game would have been very different. I have to give him credit, but I also have to give credit to our whole team. We all defended like a unit and we all attacked like a unit, and that’s how we won this game.”

Aiello came up with a huge blocked shot himself in the second half to help protect the lead for the Hawks.

“I just went up for it,” said Aiello. “I just didn’t want them to score.”

“Fabio did really well,” said Alva. “I blocked a shot, and there was a rebound and (Larkin) could have scored, but Fabio was right there. He took the shot for me, and I thank him so much. I couldn’t have done it without my defense.”

It was an emotional loss for the Royals, who were just a few penalty kicks away from getting to the state finals a year ago.

“(Bartlett’s) goalkeeper won it for them tonight,” said Larkin head coach Ken Hall. “He was the best player on the field tonight. They played a great game and I wish them luck.”

The Hawks will advance to sectional play, where they will take on St. Charles North on Wednesday evening at Millennium Field in Streamwood.

The North Stars of St. Charles North are no strangers to Bartlett. The Hawks ended the North Stars’ season last year in the regional final.

“It’s great,” said Hawks coach Ben Beary. “Not only because of what happened last year, but it’s a chance for us to prove how far we’ve come.”