Boys soccer: Skiba's goal lifts Hersey
Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion at Roland Goins Stadium - until a Thomas Skiba goal in the 82nd minute sent Hersey's boys soccer fans fast-forwarding into the Class 3A sectional semifinals.
Skiba and the top-seeded Huskies (14-1-3) protected their precious 1-goal advantage for the next 18 minutes to defeat No. 8 seed Waukegan 1-0 and win a regional title on their home field.
The outcome puts Hersey into the Buffalo Grove sectional next week, where it will meet the winner of the Warren regional (either Libertyville or Palatine).
"That easily was the most skilled and technical team we played this season, and one that could have just as well won tonight," said Hersey coach Darren Llewelyn, " but we fought hard, stayed within our game plan and beat a very good soccer team to move on."
The explosion of relief when Skiba struck his game-winner told its own story on this chilly night in Arlington Heights. But until the sophomore found a way to somehow redirect a Guiseppe Scaletta long-range free kick, it appeared this contest might be headed for penalty kicks.
"We saw (Waukegan) the other night when they beat Carmel (6-3)," said Hersey co-captain Christian Castro. "They play so quick and with so many one-two combinations, and it was obvious from the very start they were even better than we thought. In the end, they were as tough as any team we played this year."
Castro and his teammates had their hands full defending Noe Hernandez, who ran the attack with ease for Waukegan.
Hernandez, along with all-state striker Juan Ramirez and a wonderful array of players around them, turned in an impressive performance when on the attack. The Bulldogs could just as easily have been hoisting a regional trophy if not for two brilliant goal-saving stops by Huskies keeper Adam Szymaszek in regulation.
"Adam has to be the top keeper in the state," Llewelyn said. "Those two saves of his were really something else. It helped keep us in the game at the time, and maybe gave us a little momentum afterward."
The Bulldogs (12-9-0) enjoyed the run of play throughout the opening period, building their attack confidently through Hernandez, Osvaldo Zarinana, Ezau Millan and others. Fortunately for the Huskies, their guests lack the biting edge in the final third to get anything of quality on frame.
Hersey created three consecutive corners just after the intermission, but it was Waukegan and Ramirez who nearly broke through. Szymaszek, though, turned away two straight from the senior to keep things even at 50 minutes.
Tempers flared moments into the first extra session when Hernandez and Matt Dickey got tangled up on the tail-end of a run, resulting in both players given a yellow card.
Scaletta, who'd kept the Bulldogs' back line under pressure with several of his long-range free kicks after the break, sent his 45-yard serve right to the spot, and Skiba nodded it just under the bar.
The goal took the Bulldogs out of sync, while providing the inspiration needed for the Huskies to go close this thriller out.
"Just before that goal, Waukegan really had us pinned in our own end, but after we broke through, it appeared we broke their spirit at the same time," said Llewelyn.
at Leyden: The regional host Eagles bowed out of the postseason after a 3-2 loss against Lane which took penalty kicks to decide.