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Boys soccer: Evanston stops Leyden in sectional final

When you're chasing the lead in the postseason, it's not a good thing.

That's especially true when the team out in front is the No. 1 seed, who recently was unscored upon in twelve consecutive soccer matches.

Leyden's boys soccer team conceded two set-piece goals in the first half and another after the break. The Eagles were never able to battle all the way back in a season-ending 3-1 sectional final defeat against Evanston on Saturday afternoon at Glenbrook North's William Lutz Stadium.

The top-seeded Wildkits (21-1-3) advance into Tuesday's 7 p.m. supersectional at Barrington to face Libertyville (16-3-1), which earlier in the day got by Deerfield 1-0 to capture the Stevenson sectional crown.

"You cannot give up goals, and go down to a team that is so stingy in its own end and expect to come out ahead - especially on a terrible weather day like this where there is so much rain and wind," said Leyden coach Mark Valintis.

The playoff road for Leyden ended against Evanston for the second year in a row.

"We came ready to play today," said Leyden goalkeeper Alfredo Recendez, who finished with 10 shutouts this fall. "But we did not deal well with those three long extended stoppages, and Evanston did."

Recendez was referring to two lightning delays in the early going, and later a stoppage when Evanston coach Frank Calixte was saddled with a red card for excessive verbal conduct toward the officials in the 58th minute.

"It was already cold and there was a ton of rain, and we didn't respond well to the stopping and starting up again," said Recendez. "But like I said, we came ready to play - but Evanston was just better than us, especially on those three set-piece chances they had."

Wildkits leading scorer Erick Bathazar (20 goals) and teammate Dylan TerMolen struck within the first 20 minutes after finishing long throws from Zane Kashner to stun a Leyden side which entered on a seven-game win streak, including back-to-back shutouts to earn a second straight regional title.

Shortly after TerMolen's 20th-minute goal, the Eagles (16-6-2) nearly cut into the lead when Cesar Franco's long serve forced keeper Adam Masters off his line to parry away the well-aimed helper. The ball spilled free to Angel Lopez, but his quick return shot on frame was blocked by Christyn DeLaCruz to keep the Wildkits' advantage safe.

Albert Arabik headed wide a Lopez ball into the box just before the break to signal a terrific second half from the Eagles' top-scoring forward. Arabik, who finished with 18 goals, grazed the bar at 59 minutes and again five minutes later.

"We didn't do well with the wind in our face during the first half, but in the second, we created several chances but could never put any of them away," said Valintis. "If we did, then maybe things get a little better for us."

Jesus Villasenor scored for Evanston before Leyden sophomore Francisco Toral did likewise at 78 minutes to keep the sectional champs from earning the shutout.

"When the aftershock of this loss finally goes away, the fellas will realize just how great of a season they had and what they accomplished," Valinties said. "I could not be more proud of the way they played this season, especially against one of the toughest schedules that I have been a part of."

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