Boys soccer: St. Charles East shuts out West Chicago
The focal point for St. Charles East in practice in recent days evidently paid a nice dividend at its Class 3A boys soccer regional Saturday afternoon.
"This week we have been focusing on set pieces," St. Charles East defender Mitch Lucatorto said.
The Saints' senior headed home a feed from Justin Stepien with just over 14 minutes to play to give St. Charles East all the insurance it would need against West Chicago.
With its 2-0 victory in St. Charles, the Saints (17-3-2), second-seeded in the Class 3A Glenbard East sectional complex, will meet No. 3 seed Addison Trail Tuesday in the semifinals.
The No. 11 Wildcats had their season come to an end at 8-10-4.
"It was a great ball," Lucatorto said of the perfectly lofted floater he headed past the Wildcats' keeper. "I was just able to flick it into the top of the corner."
West Chicago was never able to mount any effective offensive rhythm against the Saints' last line of defense.
"The biggest advantage we had was the play of the defenders," St. Charles East midfielder Truitt Battin said.
The Saints' sophomore opened the scoring 10-plus minutes into the game with another designed play. Truitt one-timed a free kick that the Wildcats' keeper dispatched nearly 20 yards from the goal with a punch save.
"It was from the top of the box, 18 yards from the net," Truitt said of his goal. "I think if you can get an early goal, the pressure is not as high for the other players, especially the defenders."
It was the Saints' interchangeable group of defenders who would control the pace of the match.
On occasions throughout the contest, West Chicago had its strikes blocked by St. Charles East defenders before the potential shot on goal could even reach keeper Kevin Cook. Kieran Willig-Friedrig and Zach Nelson were particularly active for the Saints' back line.
But it was as if West Chicago had its own one-man obstacle for the Saints increasing their early cushion.
West Chicago keeper Ricardo Porcayo had a phenomenal game, despite the two scores - for which he stood virtually no chance - of allowing.
None of his 7 saves was as jaw-dropping as the one he made against the Stepien late in the first half. Stepien made an equally audacious move to beat two defenders to have an unimpeded shot from 10 yards out.
But Porcayo stoned the shot with a sprawling save to his right.
"(Stepien) just came through some of our guys," Porcayo said. "I had to hold my ground and get in position."
"Hats off to St. Charles East," West Chicago coach Jose Villa said. "They beat us three times this year."