Boys soccer: Pavlyuk, Lisle overcome conditions, Westmont
As a goalkeeper, Max Pavlyuk has many physical and psychological challenges on the field, so when he slipped and fell in a puddle of mud while making a save he didn't even flinch.
The Lisle junior wasn't super busy in net, but he made a few key saves, took advantage of a little luck as well and enjoyed a huge outburst from his teammates on the other end of the field. Lisle cruised past Westmont 5-1 in Wednesday's Class 1A Lisle regional semifinal.
Lisle (11-6-1) will take on Chicago Acero/Soto on Friday afternoon in the regional championship game. The Lions are aiming to win their first regional since 2014.
"The (wet) field definitely played a factor in how we worked today," Lisle coach Paul Kohorn said. "It slowed the pace down and we're not fans of grass to begin with, but I was pleased with the 5-1 win. It kind of felt more like a trap game, which was probably my fault, but we ended up with a pretty good score and I told them I was pleased with the win."
Josh Hammer had a shot hit the post in the fourth minute, but teammate Griffin Myslewiec put it between them just 7:41 into the action to give Lisle the early lead.
"I just saw guys cut and had an easy shot," Myslewiec said. "I just sent it right over the keeper."
Myslewiec then set up Julio Ortiz perfectly with 11:01 remaining before halftime and Ortiz buried the opportunity and the Lions enjoyed a 2-0 lead midway through.
Westmont (4-10) tried to make a game of it in the second half and narrowly cut its deficit in half, but Alberta Huerta overshot on his rebound attempt, which came with the net exposed after Pavlyuk made an off-balance rejection on a shot before hitting the mud.
"I kind of slipped on that so it was either I had to punch it out or I don't know," Pavlyuk said. "I tried my best to save it and ended up slapping it forward so I got lucky when they kicked it over the net."
Josh Kiesling scored twice in a 37-second span midway through the second half and Lisle doubled its lead to 4-0 with 22:25 remaining. Kiesling had also scored the lone goal for the Lions in a 1-0 double-OT win against Westmont earlier this season so the Sentinels have seen enough of him.
"Those goals really set us apart," Kiesling said. "Our third goal was a perfect opportunity and the lane opened to the goal so I just took the shot. It was a little bit sloppy, but I'll take it, and on the next one I just had a solo run and got the chip over the keeper."
The Sentinels missed out on a great opportunity to break the shutout when they missed a penalty kick with 17:55 left.
"I think that missed PK gave our team a lift more than anything," Kohorn said. "I know it energized the bench when they missed and I'm pretty sure it energized the guys on the field, so I thought that was pretty big."
Jay Mutum finished the scoring for Lisle with 15:11 remaining.
Senior Miklos Rab finally put Westmont on the scoreboard with 9:28 left to play when he deposited a cross from Eddie Gracia.