Boys soccer: Stevenson edges Libertyville to complete NSC championship
Stevenson put the icing on its championship cake with a 3-2 victory over Libertyville Thursday night in Lincolnshire.
The Patriots, who officially claimed their first NSC crown earlier this weekend with a win against Lake Forest, survived this five-goal thriller thanks to a Bryant Rouse double, and a late game-winner from Jack Bacher to move the Patriots to 15-0-2 on the season, and 6-0-1 in league play.
"It wasn't always pretty out there, and we didn't play our best soccer, but nobody on this team ever gave up tonight, or during the season, so it's amazing for all of us to go through and win a conference championship," said Rouse, who's been a great addition to this Patriots club after moving from Irvine, Cal.
"We had to work hard for this win tonight, but we stayed (together) when things got a little tough out there for (us). And it was great to see that all three goals we scored were outlined on our big white board before we came out tonight," said Patriots coach PepeJon Chavez, now in his third year in charge.
The first chance of the evening fell to Rouse, who won his tackle before steering in his 22-yard cracker in the 11th minute.
Although both sides struggled with possession, and inability to connect passes, this contest was still a fierce affair between two longtime league rivals - one in which the Wildcats (6-8-3) have ruled for quite some time until Warren has lifted the trophy during the past two seasons.
"We just need to get everyone back healthy, and I feel like we'll be able to compete with everyone in our sectional," said Wildcats coach Kevin Thunholm, who was without three starters, six players all together, with a variety of illnesses.
"We came out tonight with basically nothing to lose. And yet, (we) played a great 80 minutes of soccer to show we can play with our conference champion, and No. 1 seed in our sectional," added Thunholm.
The two sides could meet again in the regional final at Palatine in two weeks should both continue to advance.
The visitors would equalize in the 50th minute when Milosh Dupor unloaded an unstoppable blast from 35 yards at 50 minutes - only to see Rouse give the home side a one-goal advantage when he ran onto a super cross field ball from Grayson Lueck at the back post just after the hour.
Three minutes later, the Wildcats would level when Mateo Portillo broke free from a pair of Patriots. He still managed to keep the ball on his foot before going past keeper Aidan Morris from in close.
Both Morris, and his counterpart, sophomore Andy Hauser, were magnificent when called upon to help their respective side.
Bacher would provide the dramatic finish when he met a near perfect cross from Rohan Gopalam at the back post seven minutes from time.
"The effort, fight, and hard work from everybody when we were so short-handed is something we can build on, and hopefully we'll have the chance at them in regionals," said Wildcats senior Andrew Phillips.
"It has taken a team, which is a family, to win the NSC title. And, thankfully, for me, I have a great assistant in Shannon Mauro, who has been here a long time to offer so much to me, and this program," said Chavez.
The Patriots have Round Lake, then Ridgewood remaining on their schedule, while Libertyville finishes up next week with Vernon Hills, which recently claimed its first CSL North title.