Montini’s lateness doesn’t affect its play
Montini had a little trouble getting to Greg True Field for its Suburban Christian Blue boys soccer matchup with St. Edward Thursday, but once the Broncos arrived, they wasted little time taking control of the game.
Mark Kalal scored in the opening minutes to start Montini on its way to a 2-1 win. Jimmy Clausing, who assisted on Kalal’s goal, scored the game-winner midway through the second half.
Joseph French scored the only goal for St. Edward, which suffered its first defeat after opening the season 5-0-1.
The Broncos (3-3) arrived about a half-hour late after their bus driver had a little trouble locating Locust Street in Elgin. The game was shortened by agreement to accommodate other commitments.
“We came in, even with a short little warm-up, we ended up getting a nice goal,” said Montini coach Barry Briggs. “I thought our passing game was really nice tonight. We tended to move the ball really well tonight.”
St. Edward went on the attack early. The opening minutes were filled with Green Wave corner kicks and throw-ins near the opponent’s goal. The Broncos survived the onslaught and quickly went on the offensive themselves.
Clausing moved up the right side and found Kalal all alone on the other side. Kalal put it home from about 15 yards out.
French tied it up minutes later on a high, hard shot from 40 yards away. French and the Wave had several other chances from about the same spot, but couldn’t convert.
“We just didn’t come ready to play tonight,” said St. Edward coach Tim Brieger. “They came off the bus ready to go and we just didn’t have our soccer faces on.”
Still, Brieger remained philosophical.
“It’s not always a bad thing to lose,” he said. “Maybe this is what we need, to let us know that we can’t keep getting away with some of this stuff.”
Neither team got much going offensively in the early part of the second half. Wave goalkeeper John Gotheridge stopped a shot by Clausing but moments later Clausing found the range. His shot on the ground from the far left, off an assist from Albert Holler, proved to be the game-winner.
St. Edward’s best chance to tie came on a breakaway by French late in the game, but Jack Brady broke it up before French could direct a shot toward goalie Tom Almassey.