Boys soccer: Christian Liberty handles Elgin Academy
It was too much Dylan Veigel and Brecklin Aiello for Elgin Academy Monday afternoon.
The Christian Liberty Academy dynamic sophomore duo each bagged 2 goals and inspired a 4-goal second half explosion to the help the Chargers claim a 6-2 win in Arlington Heights.
The win begins a busy week for coach Jed Bennett's club, which is on the road at St. Martin Tuesday, before hosting North Shore Country Day one day later.
"We had a decent start today, but after scoring the first goal of the game, we kind of got on our heels, and let them get into the game," began Bennett.
"We opened up the second half really strong, and didn't let up the rest of the way to get a good win."
The Chargers (5-2-0) produced some wonderful attacking soccer in the first quarter hour, getting close with two quality chances - Titus Bennett, the other from Veigel, who would drag Hilltoppers keeper Christopher Kademoglou far off his line only to fire his attempt wide.
"Christopher is a terrific keeper for us, he's quite athletic, and plays his position aggressively, and with a lot of confidence," said Elgin Academy head coach Kevin Meek, who came to the Hilltoppers' program after four years as head coach at Assumption College in Worchester, Mass.
Meek, who starred at Butler University, is also associated with the U.S. Soccer Federation.
The aforementioned Kademoglou was magnificent for the visitors, coming to the rescue at various moments on Monday to help keep his team in the contest until the home side broke things open with two late goals.
"I think we might have underestimated our opponent at the start. It showed with the way we played in the first half, but at the half, we talked about coming out and playing the way we're capable of and that's what we did," said Veigel.
Aiello hit the opener at 10 minutes, but then he and his team watched the visitors fight back to score the next two.
Carter Woltz drew his side even in the 22nd minute, before Pierson Gonzalez finished at the back post by carefully steering in a helper from Murtaza Shah 13 minutes later.
Veigel pulled the Gonzalez goal back three minutes later when he drove in his spot-kick after Reyes was hauled down in the box.
The Chargers never let their guests get out of their own end during the first 10 minutes after the break - taking the lead for good with a wicked strike from Miguel Perez.
Veigel doubled the advantage with a quality effort, running to the near post to redirect a Perez helper with a sublime touch.
"We ran out of gas after that fourth goal," admitted Meek.
"We have just two players that play soccer, the rest are learning on the fly but today was our best 80 minutes of the season thus far."
The Chargers made sure the Hilltoppers would stay winless in 2018 with Aiello and Reyes scoring 60 seconds apart.
"This summer most of us trained, and I think all of that time together is beginning to pay off," said Veigel.