Girls soccer: Hinsdale Central beats Benet for 7th straight win
Playing one of the tougher schedules in the area, the Hinsdale Central girls soccer team is no doubt battle-tested heading into the upcoming Class 3A playoffs.
An even scarier thought for future opponents - the Red Devils happen to be playing their best soccer of the spring.
Behind two second-half goals from Emma Dannhausen-Brun, Hinsdale Central (15-6) ran its winning streak to seven matches with a 2-1 victory over Benet on Senior Day in Hinsdale.
Just 24 hours earlier, the Red Devils wrapped up the West Suburban Silver title with a 1-0 decision against Lyons Township.
"That's seven wins in a row, and six of the seven have been shutouts," Hinsdale Central coach Michael Smith said. "We haven't given up more than two goals in any game (this season). Defensively, we've been very sound and organized.
"We are peaking, which is where you want to be and we are excited about where we are going."
Trailing 1-0 at halftime, the home team picked up their play over the final 40 minutes. Dannhausen-Brun netted the equalizer with 27:57 left, collecting a loose ball in the box before turning and firing. It deflected in off the left post.
Her second goal came as a result of a cross from Julie Culler with less than four minutes remaining. The senior got her body on it and the ball just snuck over the endline.
"That seems to be the thing with us," Dannhausen-Brun said. "Once we get scored on, that heats us up more. We know we have to get going and play with more energy.
"The first goal, it was loose in the box and I just turned and shot and got lucky. The second was a cross and I got my body on it and I think it went off the defender's face. We will take what we can get."
Betsy Keefe had given the Redwings a 1-0 lead with a goal at the 12:55 mark of the first half, one that also deflected in off the left post, off an assist from Maddie Becker.
"It was meant to be a cross," Keefe said. "But it hit the defender's foot and had the perfect spin."
Benet, which starts four freshmen and three sophomores, fell to 10-7-3 on the season.
"I thought the kids did a terrific job," coach Bob Gros said. "I couldn't be more proud. We have played some good teams tough. It is just hard for us to get over the hump. But I am very pleased, I thought we were pretty effective defending them."