Naperville North defeats WW South
Wheaton Warrenville South was excited to open its DuPage Valley Conference schedule at home Tuesday night, but Naperville North let the air out of the balloon, as the Huskies spoiled the night for the Tigers with a 2-1 victory.
Forward Evan Trychta burried a crossing pass from Bob Ren just more than four minutes into the game to take any potential momentum away from the Tigers.
"We lost some confidence there," Wheaton Warrenville South coach Guy Callipari said. "We came out inspired, then we were deflated. We need to change how we react to disappointment."
The carryover effect from the initial Huskies' goal seemed to prohibit the Tigers from sustaining pressure and ball control the rest of the first half. Consequently the Huskies went on to take advantage of a downtrodden Tigers team, as Naperville North (8-1, 3-0) then capitalized on a beautiful header by defenseman Lee Grander off a set play.
"It was awesome, we practice those set plays all the time, and that one happened to go in," Grander said. "It was a team booster and it lifted a lot of weight off our shoulders."
Grander's third goal of the season came with 16 minutes left in the first half, as the Huskies took a 2-0 lead to the half.
"We knew coming in that they attack with a whole group of guys," Naperville North coach Jim Konrad said. "I haven't seen a team attack like that ever. They send up their forwards and dare you to beat them in the back."
The 2-0 lead sent a message to the Tigers as they tried to regroup at the half.
"You go down 2-0 at the half and it seems like you're on your back foot the rest of the game," Tigers forward Alec Brazeau said. "They got more confidence and kept coming at us."
The Huskies followed a strong offensive first half with a defensively sound second half until Wheaton Warrenville South (4-4-1, 0-1) finally solved Huskies goalkeeper Kevin Anderson with just eight minutes left. It was the first conference goal Naperville North has allowed this season.
The Tigers started to finally tilt the field the other way as forward Sam Paver put a header in off a headed pass from forward George Doran.
"It came off George's head and I was there to head it over the goalie on the bounce," Paver said.
Despite the late push by the Tigers, Naperville North's new offensive alignment proved to be the catalyst for another victory.
"Putting Kyle Lindberg up top really made us click," Grander said. "He's very creative and sees the game well and he gives us another weapon up top and we really needed that. When they see Evan Trychta up top they double him, but with Kyle up there they can't double both guys and it's working well."
Konrad is also enjoying the dividends of moving his tall defensive midfielder to the top.
"Lindberg up top changes everything," Konrad said. "Anytime a ball goes up top were are instantly dangerous."
Despite winning the second half, Wheaton Warrenville South has an uphill battle to catch the Huskies for the DVC crown.
"We made some good adjustments in the second half," Callipari said. "We needed more safety in the back, so we had to give in a little at midfield to try to equalize their speed."