Saint Viator holds off Carmel
Builds 3-0 lead, then hangs on for important ESCC win
By Rusty Silber
MUNDELEIN -- It's an important time of year for Saint Viator in the East Suburban Catholic conference race and in preparation for the postseason that kicks off Oct. 17.
The Lions might have thought they were going to roll away with an easy victory after scoring three second half goals at Carmel on Monday afternoon. But when you play a rival like the Corsairs, you never know how the match will end up.
Saint Viator was fortunate to take away a 3-2 victory over the hosts. With the win the Lions improve to 12-5-1 and 4-1 in the ESCC.
But, they still find themselves chasing Benet Academy and newcomer Marian Central Catholic with four league games remaining. Those games are Marian Catholic, Marist and Benet Academy on the road and one home match against Joliet Catholic.
"We've got the remaining games left, and it takes the same amount of games to reach the supersectionals," St. Viator coach Mike Taylor said. "Our goal is win these games. If you win ugly, you win ugly. If you win, you get to the next round. So we'll play the next game (Thursday at Marian Catholic) like a regional final, and we move to the next round."
St. Viator broke a scoreless first half Monday with two early goals in the second half and added another later for a 3-0 lead.
"Once we got full speed ahead, (Carmel) couldn't stop us," Taylor said. "We were dominating the game, and we needed to do the same stuff. We just told our strikers to stay a little wider and to get open."
Patrick Hickey started the scoring for the Lions with a goal off a cross from Aidan Williams in the 43rd minute.
A minute later, the Lions were awarded a penalty kick with a foul that occurred in the penalty area. But the kick went wide of the post. In the 45th minute, Ryan Carroll sent a cross from outside the box that was misdirected by a Carmel defender into their own goal for a 2-0 lead.
St. Viator added its third goal that turned out to be the game-winner in the 65th minute, when Williams settled a long service from Chris Beiersdorf. He beat a defender and found the back of the net for his 11th goal of the season.
"It was a great ball played through," Williams said. "I just tried to do what I could, and I was able to put it away. I knew that I could beat (the defender) with my speed, I just cut it back and it worked."
Carmel (5-8-2, 2-3) turned the match into a different direction in the final 12 minutes. Robert Rao scored off a cross from Justin Ehren in the 68th minute, Then four minutes later, Reed Wilson sent a corner kick towards the goal, it went off the leg of Josh Grezesiak and Ryan McKernan finished it at the back post that cut the St. Viator lead to 3-2.
The Corsairs weren't done yet. They had the momentum, pushed for the equalizer and had several chances in the final minutes. One of them came on a breakaway that was shot wide of the post. The other occurred in the final minute, the Lions defense was able to clear the ball out of danger and out of its own area.
"I feel like we waited too long to turn it on," Carmel coach Ray Krawzak said. "At the end of the game, (Saint Viator) got defensive and packed it in. That's when we started to maintain possession. If we did that in the first half or at the start of the second half stronger, it could've been a different game. It was a good match."
Still, the Lions felt like it was their game to win in the long run. Maybe they can learn something from a game like this one.
"We had the game in control," coach Taylor said. "It been our nemesis all year to mark up. They get the first one, and it gave them a chance to get back into the game.
"Offensively and midfield-wise, we played an awesome game. Defensively, we played a good game until the last 15 minutes. It was a little chaotic, but it was (Carmel) running on emotions, and our kids were panicking at that time. We've got to get a lead and step up. We just have to do what we do best. A win is a win."
Starting lineups
Saint Viator
GK: Aaron Tres
D: Javier Romero
D: Brandon Braun
D: Chris Beiersdorf
D: Sean Lonigro
MF: Miles McDonnell
MF: Zack Gyuricza
MF: Ryan Carroll
MF: Anthony Pineda
F: Aidan Williams
F: Patrick Hickey
Carmel
GK: Jason Spheeris
D: Jack Titterton
D: Nathan Passarelli
D: Ryan McKernan
MF: Scott Cloe
MF: Justen Ehren
MF: Josh Grezesiak
MF: Robert Rao
F: Austin Ehren
F: Braco Lasso
F: Chris Galla
Man of the Match: Aidan Williams, St. Viator
Officials: Vic Walker (center), Bob Buese, Vijay Kumar.
Builds 3-0 lead, then hangs on for important ESCC win
By Rusty Silber
MUNDELEIN -- It's an important time of year for Saint Viator in the East Suburban Catholic conference race and in preparation for the postseason that kicks off Oct. 17.
The Lions might have thought they were going to roll away with an easy victory after scoring three second half goals at Carmel on Monday afternoon. But when you play a rival like the Corsairs, you never know how the match will end up.
Saint Viator was fortunate to take away a 3-2 victory over the hosts. With the win the Lions improve to 12-5-1 and 4-1 in the ESCC.
But, they still find themselves chasing Benet Academy and newcomer Marian Central Catholic with four league games remaining. Those games are Marian Catholic, Marist and Benet Academy on the road and one home match against Joliet Catholic.
"We've got the remaining games left, and it takes the same amount of games to reach the supersectionals," St. Viator coach Mike Taylor said. "Our goal is win these games. If you win ugly, you win ugly. If you win, you get to the next round. So we'll play the next game (Thursday at Marian Catholic) like a regional final, and we move to the next round."
St. Viator broke a scoreless first half Monday with two early goals in the second half and added another later for a 3-0 lead.
"Once we got full speed ahead, (Carmel) couldn't stop us," Taylor said. "We were dominating the game, and we needed to do the same stuff. We just told our strikers to stay a little wider and to get open."
Patrick Hickey started the scoring for the Lions with a goal off a cross from Aidan Williams in the 43rd minute.
A minute later, the Lions were awarded a penalty kick with a foul that occurred in the penalty area. But the kick went wide of the post. In the 45th minute, Ryan Carroll sent a cross from outside the box that was misdirected by a Carmel defender into their own goal for a 2-0 lead.
St. Viator added its third goal that turned out to be the game-winner in the 65th minute, when Williams settled a long service from Chris Beiersdorf. He beat a defender and found the back of the net for his 11th goal of the season.
"It was a great ball played through," Williams said. "I just tried to do what I could, and I was able to put it away. I knew that I could beat (the defender) with my speed, I just cut it back and it worked."
Carmel (5-8-2, 2-3) turned the match into a different direction in the final 12 minutes. Robert Rao scored off a cross from Justin Ehren in the 68th minute, Then four minutes later, Reed Wilson sent a corner kick towards the goal, it went off the leg of Josh Grezesiak and Ryan McKernan finished it at the back post that cut the St. Viator lead to 3-2.
The Corsairs weren't done yet. They had the momentum, pushed for the equalizer and had several chances in the final minutes. One of them came on a breakaway that was shot wide of the post. The other occurred in the final minute, the Lions defense was able to clear the ball out of danger and out of its own area.
"I feel like we waited too long to turn it on," Carmel coach Ray Krawzak said. "At the end of the game, (Saint Viator) got defensive and packed it in. That's when we started to maintain possession. If we did that in the first half or at the start of the second half stronger, it could've been a different game. It was a good match."
Still, the Lions felt like it was their game to win in the long run. Maybe they can learn something from a game like this one.
"We had the game in control," coach Taylor said. "It been our nemesis all year to mark up. They get the first one, and it gave them a chance to get back into the game.
"Offensively and midfield-wise, we played an awesome game. Defensively, we played a good game until the last 15 minutes. It was a little chaotic, but it was (Carmel) running on emotions, and our kids were panicking at that time. We've got to get a lead and step up. We just have to do what we do best. A win is a win."
Starting lineups
Saint Viator
GK: Aaron Tres
D: Javier Romero
D: Brandon Braun
D: Chris Beiersdorf
D: Sean Lonigro
MF: Miles McDonnell
MF: Zack Gyuricza
MF: Ryan Carroll
MF: Anthony Pineda
F: Aidan Williams
F: Patrick Hickey
Carmel
GK: Jason Spheeris
D: Jack Titterton
D: Nathan Passarelli
D: Ryan McKernan
MF: Scott Cloe
MF: Justen Ehren
MF: Josh Grezesiak
MF: Robert Rao
F: Austin Ehren
F: Braco Lasso
F: Chris Galla
Man of the Match: Aidan Williams, St. Viator
Officials: Vic Walker (center), Bob Buese, Vijay Kumar.