Boys soccer: Elgin-Streamwood rivalry stays even, again
Both coaches insist Streamwood versus Elgin is an evenly matched rivalry.
Wednesday's meeting proved they're right, once again.
For the third time in the last four years, the Upstate Eight Conference foes battled to a tie, the 2018 edition being a 2-2 draw. Last season was a 1-1 stalemate just like in 2015. That makes 2016's 4-0 Sabres win an anomaly.
Elgin (8-1-2, 4-0-1 in the Upstate Eight Conference) appeared headed for a lopsided victory based on a 2-0 intermission lead, however Streamwood (8-3-2, 1-0-1) used a pair of goals 21 seconds apart to equalize.
That outcome means both sides remain in the running for this year's UEC crown which is being contested as a top-to-bottom race. In 2017, Elgin edged Streamwood to claim the UEC River Division title while West Aurora ruled the Valley Division. Those Blackhawks are also currently undefeated and serve as October foes for both teams.
A mere 42 seconds into the match, Elgin looked to scoring machine Omar Lopez and the senior didn't disappoint. Using a Christopher Collin pass to attack from the left side, Lopez tucked a shot inside the far right post.
The state's unofficial Class 3A scoring leader based strictly on schools submitting individual numbers to MaxPreps, Lopez upped his goal total to 24 making it 2-0 at 21:40.
By agreement of the coaches and referees, the match began early in lieu of darkening clouds. That eliminated the national anthem by Elgin's marching band, which did a spirited halftime performance along with the dance team in a fairly steady downpour. It was a pleasant distraction for the 300-plus in attendance mainly huddled under umbrellas.
"It was a combination of us being a little overconfident and them being opportunistic," Elgin coach David Borg acknowledged in regard to Streamwood's lightning-quick start after halftime.
The Sabres scored 1:22 into the second half with Bryan Mora setting up Alex Chavez. Streamwood got the ball back after Elgin's restart and caught the Maroons still frustrated with an equalizer at 41:43. Edwin Peralta earned the assist to Jesus Limon, who kept pace with Chavez with a team-best seventh goal.
"At halftime coach (Matt Polovin) talked about pressuring them from the start and not be content with just one," Chavez said. "Scoring quickly meant they were a little down and started to worry about the lead, the perfect time to catch a team again."
"We'll take it," Streamwood's Polovin said. "Not losing is far better considering we were down two. Let's just say we had a spirited talk at halftime and they were asked to come out strong."
A rematch remains a distinct possibility as both Elgin and Streamwood are among the 19 schools assigned to the Hampshire regional.
Last year, the Maroons were a No. 2 seed that got upset in a shootout by the 11-seed Whip-Purs in a regional championship. Hampshire then lost in the sectional to Streamwood, which fell short in the sectional final.