Boys soccer: St. Edward knocks off ACC

Sophomore Alexander Franklin knew he had to step up, and do it soon.

Time was simply running out on Franklin and the rest of his St. Edward squad.

Franklin converted a penalty kick with 22:40 left in the second half and then scored what proved to be the game-winning goal with 10:41 left to lift the Green Wave to a 2-1 win over Aurora Central in Tuesday's Class 1A Hinckley-Big Rock boys soccer regional semifinal.

The Green Wave will take on host Hinckley-Big Rock at 6:30 p.m. Friday for the regional title.

"We just tried to keep our cool all game," Franklin said. "They were physical from the beginning and we just tried to step up in the second half. I think we had more confidence then they did and then took the lead."

Neither team could find the net in the opening half.

Aurora Central (7-12-1) took a 1-0 lead with 26:10 remaining in the second half on a Jake Bush breakaway goal.

It proved to be a huge momentum swing in a game where chances were limited up to that point, but the Chargers could not hold on.

"I thought we had control of the game but we just weren't able to hold onto it," Aurora Central coach Jose M. Barrientos said. "We have a good team, but sometimes the chemistry doesn't seem to work. I'm proud of the team though. We tried and we played hard."

St. Edward (5-8-5) never backed away and posed more threats as the game wore on.

"I think the big difference with the guys was that those who needed to step up, did step up," St. Edward coach Tim Brieger said. "And then we settled in the back."

Franklin didn't hesitate in hammering in the equalizer via penalty kick.

"I've been taking them a lot and I try not to look into the keeper's eyes," he said. "That would show where I'm going."

He also was wasn't afraid to attack the goal on his free kick from at least 30 yards away to score the game winner.

"We have faith in him there to do whatever he thinks is best," Brieger said. "He laced that one."

Franklin didn't hesitate on the free kick, attacking the goal rather than trying to set up one of his teammates. His decision worked perfectly.

The Chargers only had a couple scoring chances the rest of the way to try to knot things up, but none of them posed any major threats.