Hinsdale Central tops
Naperville North in PKs
Red Devils win tiebreaker to gain Class 3A state semis
By Chris Walker
ROMEOVILLE -- It really wasn’t surprising that the Class 3A Lewis University Supersectional was deadlocked without any scoring after 100 hard-fought minutes.
Both Naperville North and Hinsdale Central have enjoyed outstanding seasons and what’s made each of their deep runs into the playoffs even more notable is that neither got off to particularly strong starts when the season began in August.
The Red Devils were just 3-2-1 at the beginning of the year while the Huskies were just 4-4-1 early in September.
But here, on the supersectional stage, were the two squads late on Tuesday evening in Romeoville, catching their collective breath after the second of two overtimes.
The game would have to be decided by penalty kicks.
“I wish we could play overtime after overtime until somebody fell down and somebody scored,” Naperville North coach Jim Konrad said. “It’s unfortunate, but at some point they have to end the game.”
The Red Devils won the penalty kick circus, finding the net on 4-of-5 attempts while the Huskies only converted 3-of-5.
Once it was determined that PKs were the way to determine the team that would advance to this weekend’s IHSA state finals, it produced an intriguing match-up between the teams’ goalkeepers.
For Hinsdale Central it was senior Wes Bergevin, undoubtedly one of the top goalkeepers in the state, and arguably the country for that matter.
For Naperville North it was junior Riley Wiest who a week ago had never started a high school varsity game. Wiest wasn’t even on the varsity squad last year.
He replaced starting goalkeeper Christian Robert in the second half of the Huskies Class 3A Bolingbrook sectional semifinal victory against Naperville Central. Robert was accidentally kicked in the face and suffered a concussion and was unable to play in last Saturday’s sectional championship against Batavia or on Tuesday night.
In the first round of penalty kicks, Jack Baderman got things off to a nice start for the Red Devils when he successfully converted his attempt. The Huskies couldn’t duplicate the effort as Brandon Hipp’s attempt hit off the left post.
“I think for us tonight it was an execution thing because there have been games where we’ve been down and come back and other games where we’ve had to grind,” Baderman said. “We didn’t score in the 100 minutes but we knew we had one of the best keepers in the country back there, and we’ve got some great shooters.”
Evan Floersch then converted for the Red Devils despite Wiest being able to deflect the ball ever so slightly. Naperville North’s Chris Ensign then followed by converting his attempt.
Wiest then denied Justin Yi, and after Naperville North’s Wesley Wong converted, the teams were dead-even at two conversions apiece.
Bryan Loebig and Chris Sullivan then notched their attempts for the Red Devils and Huskies, which set the stage for the final round and Will McGowen and Matty Sylvester.
McGowen was able to convert to give the Red Devils the edge as well as put a lot of pressure on Sylvester.
Sylvester then had a strong strike but Bergevin guessed correctly and made a leaping save, redirecting the ball with a smack of his hand to deny the Huskies and earn the Red Devils a trip to the state finals.
“We knew if we could make our chances on the PKs that Wes would get it done, and he came through in a huge way,” Hinsdale Central coach Michael Wiggins said. “We’ve been very fortunate over the years to have very good goalkeepers.”
The focus for Bergevin came down to Sylvester’s hands.
“I saw his hands,” Bergevin said. “I look for the hands so when he puts his hands on the ball, that how I (decided where to) go.”
Practicing those PKs in practice has been a regular drill since mid-season according to Baderman.
“We’re pretty ridiculous with PKs, and I think that was Yi’s first miss in his high school career, because he’s that good,” Baderman said. “PKs come down to heartbreak for one team and joy for the other and fortunately our practicing them against Wes paid off. When I make two-of-three in practice I feel like I’ve accomplished something and that helps prepare us for when we play a great team like Naperville North.”
Bergevin recorded his 25th career shutout, establishing a new school record. For making the game-winning save he was named Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match.
“No surprises there,” Wiggins said. “We know what we have with Wes.”
Being in this situation before was far from new to Bergevin. In fact, he was in a similar situation last week in a sectional semifinal against Lyons. He denied two of its PK attempts in that game to save his team’s season and advance to the title game against Morton, where he was tested again. This time he was asked to deny a penalty kick in the final minute which he did with a full out dive to stop Morton’s Leo Delgago.
“When it starts getting late in the second overtime like that it starts to enter your mind that it could come down to PKs,” said Bergevin. “We’ve been there before, and I have lot of confidence in our shooters and they have confidence in me.”
As the Red Devils celebrated on Lewis University’s fake grass after 10 p.m., the Huskies were left disappointed, their entire season decided by penalty kicks.
“It’s unfortunate, but hat’s off to them, they beat us,” Konrad said. “Even when we win in PKs, you hate it for the other team, for that kid who misses a shot or a goalkeeper who takes the blame on himself. It’s a tough way to end a season.”
The first half was the most entertaining, at least in terms of shots. Hinsdale Central had a slight edge at 9-8, but few were put on frame.
The Red Devils also outshot the Huskies in the second half, 7-5.
In the overtimes, Hinsdale Central produced three shots, while the Huskies only had two. North’s Wiest didn’t have to make a single save in either overtime while Bergevin was forced to come up with a pair.
It proved extremely difficult for either team to do anything offensively.
“We talked about how they were a very direct team and that we had to make sure we were accountable for their three up-top players,” Hinsdale Central defender Evan Floersch said. “Our wing backs did a very good job to make it five defenders instead of three versus three and that was huge for us. I thought our defensive shape and individual defense tonight was some of the best we’ve played all year.”
Floersch stopped Hipp’s closest chance of scoring in the first half, while the Red Devils got a little help from an inanimate object in the first overtime as Chris Sullivan frustratingly watched his shot carom off the left post. The aforementioned were probably the best two chances the Huskies had all night.
Konrad’s return to coaching has been filled with many highlights this year, namely how the team kicked itself into gear after a sluggish start. Once they got going they were difficult to stop, winning the DuPage Valley Conference and then surviving what was without question the most difficult sectional in the state, winning a regional they hosted and then the sectional title at Bolingbrook.
“I told them this is the favorite team I’ve coached,” Konrad said. “They were truly a team. There were no egos on this team. They played together as a group and that’s why we had this great run. I think both teams had a similar situation where we started a bit tough and then figured things out and made a great run at the end.”
The consummate professional, Konrad directed his well wishes to Wiggins and his squad.
“I’m happy for Wiggy,” he said. “He’s one of those guys in the state that has given a lot to the game, and if anybody deserves a state championship, it’s Wiggy. I hate that we lost, but I really hope they can go get Wiggins the state title he deserves.”
While the Huskies hibernate until next year, the Red Devils now prepare for semifinal foe Fremd (19-5-1), who they will face at 7 p.m. Friday. Hinsdale Central will have a bit of extra motivation against the Vikings, who beat them 1-0 for the title of the Notre Dame (Peoria) tournament Sept. 13.
It’s Hinsdale Central’s first trip to state since 2007. They’re pursuing their first state title since 1975.
Starting lineups
Hinsdale Central
GK: Wes Bergevin
MF: Jimmy Walker
D: Evan Floersch
D: Will McGowen
D: Nick Silva
MF: Jack Baderman
MF: Bryan Loebig
MF: Jeremy Yi
MF: Justin Yi
MF: Mikey Usher
F: Sam Johnson
Naperville North
GK: Riley Wiest
D: Nick Carballo
D: Kevin Keane
D: Matty Sylvester
D: Wesley Wong
MF: Grant Borg
MF: Chris Ensign
MF: Connor McBride
MF: Chris Sullivan
F: Brandon Hipp
F: Adam Helf
Man of the Match: Wes Bergevin, Hinsdale Central
Officials: Anthony Marturano, Chris Rudolph, Thomas Schaefer
Naperville North in PKs
Red Devils win tiebreaker to gain Class 3A state semis
By Chris Walker
ROMEOVILLE -- It really wasn’t surprising that the Class 3A Lewis University Supersectional was deadlocked without any scoring after 100 hard-fought minutes.
Both Naperville North and Hinsdale Central have enjoyed outstanding seasons and what’s made each of their deep runs into the playoffs even more notable is that neither got off to particularly strong starts when the season began in August.
The Red Devils were just 3-2-1 at the beginning of the year while the Huskies were just 4-4-1 early in September.
But here, on the supersectional stage, were the two squads late on Tuesday evening in Romeoville, catching their collective breath after the second of two overtimes.
The game would have to be decided by penalty kicks.
“I wish we could play overtime after overtime until somebody fell down and somebody scored,” Naperville North coach Jim Konrad said. “It’s unfortunate, but at some point they have to end the game.”
The Red Devils won the penalty kick circus, finding the net on 4-of-5 attempts while the Huskies only converted 3-of-5.
Once it was determined that PKs were the way to determine the team that would advance to this weekend’s IHSA state finals, it produced an intriguing match-up between the teams’ goalkeepers.
For Hinsdale Central it was senior Wes Bergevin, undoubtedly one of the top goalkeepers in the state, and arguably the country for that matter.
For Naperville North it was junior Riley Wiest who a week ago had never started a high school varsity game. Wiest wasn’t even on the varsity squad last year.
He replaced starting goalkeeper Christian Robert in the second half of the Huskies Class 3A Bolingbrook sectional semifinal victory against Naperville Central. Robert was accidentally kicked in the face and suffered a concussion and was unable to play in last Saturday’s sectional championship against Batavia or on Tuesday night.
In the first round of penalty kicks, Jack Baderman got things off to a nice start for the Red Devils when he successfully converted his attempt. The Huskies couldn’t duplicate the effort as Brandon Hipp’s attempt hit off the left post.
“I think for us tonight it was an execution thing because there have been games where we’ve been down and come back and other games where we’ve had to grind,” Baderman said. “We didn’t score in the 100 minutes but we knew we had one of the best keepers in the country back there, and we’ve got some great shooters.”
Evan Floersch then converted for the Red Devils despite Wiest being able to deflect the ball ever so slightly. Naperville North’s Chris Ensign then followed by converting his attempt.
Wiest then denied Justin Yi, and after Naperville North’s Wesley Wong converted, the teams were dead-even at two conversions apiece.
Bryan Loebig and Chris Sullivan then notched their attempts for the Red Devils and Huskies, which set the stage for the final round and Will McGowen and Matty Sylvester.
McGowen was able to convert to give the Red Devils the edge as well as put a lot of pressure on Sylvester.
Sylvester then had a strong strike but Bergevin guessed correctly and made a leaping save, redirecting the ball with a smack of his hand to deny the Huskies and earn the Red Devils a trip to the state finals.
“We knew if we could make our chances on the PKs that Wes would get it done, and he came through in a huge way,” Hinsdale Central coach Michael Wiggins said. “We’ve been very fortunate over the years to have very good goalkeepers.”
The focus for Bergevin came down to Sylvester’s hands.
“I saw his hands,” Bergevin said. “I look for the hands so when he puts his hands on the ball, that how I (decided where to) go.”
Practicing those PKs in practice has been a regular drill since mid-season according to Baderman.
“We’re pretty ridiculous with PKs, and I think that was Yi’s first miss in his high school career, because he’s that good,” Baderman said. “PKs come down to heartbreak for one team and joy for the other and fortunately our practicing them against Wes paid off. When I make two-of-three in practice I feel like I’ve accomplished something and that helps prepare us for when we play a great team like Naperville North.”
Bergevin recorded his 25th career shutout, establishing a new school record. For making the game-winning save he was named Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match.
“No surprises there,” Wiggins said. “We know what we have with Wes.”
Being in this situation before was far from new to Bergevin. In fact, he was in a similar situation last week in a sectional semifinal against Lyons. He denied two of its PK attempts in that game to save his team’s season and advance to the title game against Morton, where he was tested again. This time he was asked to deny a penalty kick in the final minute which he did with a full out dive to stop Morton’s Leo Delgago.
“When it starts getting late in the second overtime like that it starts to enter your mind that it could come down to PKs,” said Bergevin. “We’ve been there before, and I have lot of confidence in our shooters and they have confidence in me.”
As the Red Devils celebrated on Lewis University’s fake grass after 10 p.m., the Huskies were left disappointed, their entire season decided by penalty kicks.
“It’s unfortunate, but hat’s off to them, they beat us,” Konrad said. “Even when we win in PKs, you hate it for the other team, for that kid who misses a shot or a goalkeeper who takes the blame on himself. It’s a tough way to end a season.”
The first half was the most entertaining, at least in terms of shots. Hinsdale Central had a slight edge at 9-8, but few were put on frame.
The Red Devils also outshot the Huskies in the second half, 7-5.
In the overtimes, Hinsdale Central produced three shots, while the Huskies only had two. North’s Wiest didn’t have to make a single save in either overtime while Bergevin was forced to come up with a pair.
It proved extremely difficult for either team to do anything offensively.
“We talked about how they were a very direct team and that we had to make sure we were accountable for their three up-top players,” Hinsdale Central defender Evan Floersch said. “Our wing backs did a very good job to make it five defenders instead of three versus three and that was huge for us. I thought our defensive shape and individual defense tonight was some of the best we’ve played all year.”
Floersch stopped Hipp’s closest chance of scoring in the first half, while the Red Devils got a little help from an inanimate object in the first overtime as Chris Sullivan frustratingly watched his shot carom off the left post. The aforementioned were probably the best two chances the Huskies had all night.
Konrad’s return to coaching has been filled with many highlights this year, namely how the team kicked itself into gear after a sluggish start. Once they got going they were difficult to stop, winning the DuPage Valley Conference and then surviving what was without question the most difficult sectional in the state, winning a regional they hosted and then the sectional title at Bolingbrook.
“I told them this is the favorite team I’ve coached,” Konrad said. “They were truly a team. There were no egos on this team. They played together as a group and that’s why we had this great run. I think both teams had a similar situation where we started a bit tough and then figured things out and made a great run at the end.”
The consummate professional, Konrad directed his well wishes to Wiggins and his squad.
“I’m happy for Wiggy,” he said. “He’s one of those guys in the state that has given a lot to the game, and if anybody deserves a state championship, it’s Wiggy. I hate that we lost, but I really hope they can go get Wiggins the state title he deserves.”
While the Huskies hibernate until next year, the Red Devils now prepare for semifinal foe Fremd (19-5-1), who they will face at 7 p.m. Friday. Hinsdale Central will have a bit of extra motivation against the Vikings, who beat them 1-0 for the title of the Notre Dame (Peoria) tournament Sept. 13.
It’s Hinsdale Central’s first trip to state since 2007. They’re pursuing their first state title since 1975.
Starting lineups
Hinsdale Central
GK: Wes Bergevin
MF: Jimmy Walker
D: Evan Floersch
D: Will McGowen
D: Nick Silva
MF: Jack Baderman
MF: Bryan Loebig
MF: Jeremy Yi
MF: Justin Yi
MF: Mikey Usher
F: Sam Johnson
Naperville North
GK: Riley Wiest
D: Nick Carballo
D: Kevin Keane
D: Matty Sylvester
D: Wesley Wong
MF: Grant Borg
MF: Chris Ensign
MF: Connor McBride
MF: Chris Sullivan
F: Brandon Hipp
F: Adam Helf
Man of the Match: Wes Bergevin, Hinsdale Central
Officials: Anthony Marturano, Chris Rudolph, Thomas Schaefer