WWS works overtime to beat York
Two extra-time goals put Tigers in regional final
By Kevin McGavin
WHEATON -- There will be two double-digit seeds playing for the championship of the Class 3A Wheaton North regional Saturday afternoon.
Wheaton Warrenville South, the No. 11 seed of the Bartlett sectional complex, scored in each of the two overtimes to earn a hard-fought 2-0 victory over sixth-seeded York.
The Tigers (6-13-3) will face No. 13 Glenbard West on Saturday; the Hilltoppers stunned the third-seeded and host Falcons in the first semifinal, 1-0, Tuesday night in Wheaton.
York had its season close at 11-6-1.
Wheaton Warrenville South senior Elliot Kettle broke a scoreless draw midway through the first extra session. Then the midfielder, Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match, played a perfect cross late in the second overtime to Edwin Huerta to clinch the Tigers’ bid for a regional final appearance.
Wheaton Warrenville South will seek its first postseason tournament title in two years.
The Tigers’ Anthony Berardi intercepted a York pass in the first overtime and played a low runner to Kettle, who beat the Dukes' keeper to the short side.
“It was kind of an unreal experience for me,” Kettle said. “I didn’t score many goals in the regular season. I’m not much of a goal scorer. I was playing more of a striker role today.”
Kettle blasted home the difference in the match from 15 yards out.
“Me and Elliott played club together for a while,” Berardi said. “We have a sense of familiarity together.”
Kettle added: “(The goal) was a combination of luck and a great ball from (Berardi)."
But IHSA postseason matches are no longer sudden-death playoffs.
The Tigers still had to protect their lead for another 15-plus minutes to advance to the final.
“You never know how the kids are going to react (with the lead in overtime),” WW South coach Guy Callipari said. “They’re kids, they’re teenagers. We told them, ‘Don’t play the clock; let me manage the clock.’ ”
With WW South entering the second 10-minute overtime up a score, the Tigers once again had to brave a serious threat from York's Cameron Fowler.
The junior had the last of his seven legitimate scoring opportunities — from the right wing — sail over the crossbar.
Fowler's bid for the equalizer 50 seconds into the second overtime period was emblematic of the night for York.
Repeatedly, the junior forward used his dazzling speed — three times splitting double teams in the process — only to have his various attempts sail wide of the destination.
WW South keeper Adam Mrzlak stoned Fowler with a brilliant save six minutes before the end of regulation to retain the draw.
“You work hard,” Fowler said. “You put in all that effort. One of our best players (Stefan Mijatovic) is out (with a concussion), and you have to step up. It’s frustrating.”
Majatovic scored 24 goals to lead all York players during the regular season.
“He would have been cleared to play tomorrow, but we’re not playing tomorrow,” York coach Markus Ray said of missing his top offensive player.
Callipari had to reiterate to his players the dangerous nature Fowler represented.
“I told (the Tigers defensive backs), ‘When you get in a 50-50 situation with (Fowler), get the ball out of harm’s way,” Callipari said. “He was a beast.”
Moments after Fowler nearly scored late in regulation, the Tigers mounted one of their most promising runs of the game.
Javi Rosas dribbled interminably after receiving a feed from Mrzlak, and the Tigers senior midfielder proceeded to give Danny Jimenez a quality look. But the Jimenez strike missed the right post by inches.
York was attacking with abandon in the second overtime, but it was Huerta who sealed the Tigers victory. With less than two minutes remaining, Huerta, who did not play in the second half because of a nagging ankle injury, headed home a point-blank corner kick from Kettle to double the Tigers lead.
“That second overtime was kind of difficult,” Huerta said. “I fought through (the injury), and we got the victory. I was waiting on the back post, and I just found (the Kettle cross) with my head and knocked it in.”
York's coach was happy with his team's performance.
“The unfortunate thing about soccer is, you win some and lose some (scoring opportunities),” Ray said. “We played to win the game. We had a couple of (defensive) errors (in the overtimes). The guys gave a great effort.”
Wheaton Warrenville South moves forward.
“Two things that we discussed before the game and during halftime we were able to do,” Callipari said of playing with width and playing the ball over York defender James Blessing. “That’s how we scored the second goal.”
Starting lineups
Wheaton Warrenville South
GK: Adam Mrzlak
D: Charlie Kerby
D: Chris Stamatopoulos
D: Darby Anderson
D: Ian Daniel
MF: Anthony Berardi
MF: Mark Crisostomo
MF: Haris Hadzic
MF: Edwin Huerta
MF: Javi Rosas
F: Elliot Kettle
York
GK: Joseph Rubio
D: Seamus Ward
D: Aidan Richards
D: James Blessing
D: William Bergheger
MF: David Knurek
MF: Marty McDonough
MF: Manuel Kappen
MF: Brayan Chegue
MF: Alex Vujovic
F: Cameron Fowler
Man of the Match: Elliot Kettle, Wheaton Warrenville South
Two extra-time goals put Tigers in regional final
By Kevin McGavin
WHEATON -- There will be two double-digit seeds playing for the championship of the Class 3A Wheaton North regional Saturday afternoon.
Wheaton Warrenville South, the No. 11 seed of the Bartlett sectional complex, scored in each of the two overtimes to earn a hard-fought 2-0 victory over sixth-seeded York.
The Tigers (6-13-3) will face No. 13 Glenbard West on Saturday; the Hilltoppers stunned the third-seeded and host Falcons in the first semifinal, 1-0, Tuesday night in Wheaton.
York had its season close at 11-6-1.
Wheaton Warrenville South senior Elliot Kettle broke a scoreless draw midway through the first extra session. Then the midfielder, Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match, played a perfect cross late in the second overtime to Edwin Huerta to clinch the Tigers’ bid for a regional final appearance.
Wheaton Warrenville South will seek its first postseason tournament title in two years.
The Tigers’ Anthony Berardi intercepted a York pass in the first overtime and played a low runner to Kettle, who beat the Dukes' keeper to the short side.
“It was kind of an unreal experience for me,” Kettle said. “I didn’t score many goals in the regular season. I’m not much of a goal scorer. I was playing more of a striker role today.”
Kettle blasted home the difference in the match from 15 yards out.
“Me and Elliott played club together for a while,” Berardi said. “We have a sense of familiarity together.”
Kettle added: “(The goal) was a combination of luck and a great ball from (Berardi)."
But IHSA postseason matches are no longer sudden-death playoffs.
The Tigers still had to protect their lead for another 15-plus minutes to advance to the final.
“You never know how the kids are going to react (with the lead in overtime),” WW South coach Guy Callipari said. “They’re kids, they’re teenagers. We told them, ‘Don’t play the clock; let me manage the clock.’ ”
With WW South entering the second 10-minute overtime up a score, the Tigers once again had to brave a serious threat from York's Cameron Fowler.
The junior had the last of his seven legitimate scoring opportunities — from the right wing — sail over the crossbar.
Fowler's bid for the equalizer 50 seconds into the second overtime period was emblematic of the night for York.
Repeatedly, the junior forward used his dazzling speed — three times splitting double teams in the process — only to have his various attempts sail wide of the destination.
WW South keeper Adam Mrzlak stoned Fowler with a brilliant save six minutes before the end of regulation to retain the draw.
“You work hard,” Fowler said. “You put in all that effort. One of our best players (Stefan Mijatovic) is out (with a concussion), and you have to step up. It’s frustrating.”
Majatovic scored 24 goals to lead all York players during the regular season.
“He would have been cleared to play tomorrow, but we’re not playing tomorrow,” York coach Markus Ray said of missing his top offensive player.
Callipari had to reiterate to his players the dangerous nature Fowler represented.
“I told (the Tigers defensive backs), ‘When you get in a 50-50 situation with (Fowler), get the ball out of harm’s way,” Callipari said. “He was a beast.”
Moments after Fowler nearly scored late in regulation, the Tigers mounted one of their most promising runs of the game.
Javi Rosas dribbled interminably after receiving a feed from Mrzlak, and the Tigers senior midfielder proceeded to give Danny Jimenez a quality look. But the Jimenez strike missed the right post by inches.
York was attacking with abandon in the second overtime, but it was Huerta who sealed the Tigers victory. With less than two minutes remaining, Huerta, who did not play in the second half because of a nagging ankle injury, headed home a point-blank corner kick from Kettle to double the Tigers lead.
“That second overtime was kind of difficult,” Huerta said. “I fought through (the injury), and we got the victory. I was waiting on the back post, and I just found (the Kettle cross) with my head and knocked it in.”
York's coach was happy with his team's performance.
“The unfortunate thing about soccer is, you win some and lose some (scoring opportunities),” Ray said. “We played to win the game. We had a couple of (defensive) errors (in the overtimes). The guys gave a great effort.”
Wheaton Warrenville South moves forward.
“Two things that we discussed before the game and during halftime we were able to do,” Callipari said of playing with width and playing the ball over York defender James Blessing. “That’s how we scored the second goal.”
Starting lineups
Wheaton Warrenville South
GK: Adam Mrzlak
D: Charlie Kerby
D: Chris Stamatopoulos
D: Darby Anderson
D: Ian Daniel
MF: Anthony Berardi
MF: Mark Crisostomo
MF: Haris Hadzic
MF: Edwin Huerta
MF: Javi Rosas
F: Elliot Kettle
York
GK: Joseph Rubio
D: Seamus Ward
D: Aidan Richards
D: James Blessing
D: William Bergheger
MF: David Knurek
MF: Marty McDonough
MF: Manuel Kappen
MF: Brayan Chegue
MF: Alex Vujovic
F: Cameron Fowler
Man of the Match: Elliot Kettle, Wheaton Warrenville South