8 days later, Metea V. finishes off Neuqua V.
Mustangs score twice in 2nd half for post-lightning 3-1 win
By Steve Nemeth
NAPERVILLE -- That 10-minute halftime has sometimes been just enough time for a team to regroup and refocus.
Metea Valley coach Josh Robinson acknowledged his crew wasn’t too happy with their performance in what was a 1-1 tie minutes before intermission when lightning intervened in the Sept. 25 match at Neuqua Valley.
“We definitely didn’t have the kind of half we wanted that night,” Robinson admitted.
The Mustangs’ desire to atone for their disappointing play built for eight days until Thursday when fulfillment was finally achieved.
The final 44 minutes of the contest and the subsequent 3-1 triumph checked a number of boxes for Metea Valley:
play a better second half
get the victory
continue a win streak
most importantly create a DuPage Valley Conference title showdown
Perhaps that last one is getting a little too far ahead of things, but that was a factor of a different sort facing the Mustangs when the re-scheduled conclusion versus Neuqua Valley landed in the middle of the Warstang Invitational, which they are competing in this week.
Robinson allowed there was some concern that the hunger to do better against the rival Wildcats (6-7-2, 0-3-0) might be missing and that the Mustangs (11-4-2, 2-0-1) might be unfocused and fatigued following their 5-0 Warstang win over Hinsdale South on Wednesday.
“Another understandable concern was how quickly either team would get acclimated to a playing groove in a shorter amount of time. Thankfully we played well, and we were intent on scoring,” Robinson said. “Of course there’s always room for improvement considering we missed a PK, and also hit the posts twice.”
Back on Sept. 25, Neuqua Valley stunned the visitors scoring just 1:15 into the match as John Pochyly registered his first assist on Jaison Chisnell’s initial goal of the season.
Of course Metea responded quickly drawing even at 3:42 when Evan Lang picked up a team-high ninth assist on James Lynch’s team-best 12th goal. But that’s when Robinson felt the Mustangs got off track up to the moment play was suspended.
Although being more aggressive on offense, it still took until 65:58 for Metea to get on top. That’s when Colin Bastianoni fed Shareef Amor for the go-ahead strike. For Bastianoni, a freshman recently elevated to varsity from the Mustang JV1 unit, it was a second assist to go with two goals. It was the eighth goal for Amor, who also has seven assists on the year.
Metea Valley capitalized on taking the lead by adding to it less than four minutes later. Lang converted a penalty kick for his 10th goal.
“This win and the ones leading up to are a credit to their mental edge and our senior leadership,” Robinson insisted. “This is the time of the season when we want to be playing our best soccer.”
Of course the ninth-year coach designed a schedule to test the Mustangs. Out of 17 matches so far, seven opponents are in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 this week: no. 9 Elgin, no. 12 Lyons, no. 13 Hinsdale Central, no. 20 St. Charles East, and no. 24 Oswego East Additional opponents Naperville Central and Wheaton North rank with the honorable mention tams.
On Saturday morning a Metea victory at 10 a.m. over Plainfield East would give the Mustangs the top spot for the Warstang Invitational’s Black Division. That would mean a 3 p.m. championship versus the winner of the Green Division.
Tuesday, Metea hosts powerhouse and top-ranked Naperville North (16-0-0, 3-0-0) for a shot at the DuPage Valley Conference title. The two-time defending Class 3A state champion Huskies are aiming for their 26th DVC title and clearly have Robinson’s respect.
“We’ve played some really good opponents, but the very best teams are the absolute most consistent teams like Naperville North. Their kids come ready to play every game,” Robinson said.
For Neuqua Valley, a roller coaster of a season that has featured consecutive wins or losses only twice, comes down to two chances to prepare for postseason play. First is Saturday’s 10 a.m. home Warstang Invitational date with Plainfield Central followed by a Tuesday visit to Waubonsie Valley in a match between 0-3-0 DVC teams.
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Evan Lang, sr., MF, Metea Valley
Game summary
Metea Valley 3, Neuqua Valley 1
Metea Valley 1 2 --- 3 (11-4-2 / DVC: 2-0-1)
Neuqua Valley 1 0 --- 1 (6-7-2 / DVC: 0-3-0)
Scoring
First half
NV – Osoba (Pochyly) 1:15 gone
MV – Lynch (Lang) 3:42 gone
Second half
MV – Amor (Bastianoni), 65:58 gone
MV – Lang (unassisted – PK), 69:38
Mustangs score twice in 2nd half for post-lightning 3-1 win
By Steve Nemeth
NAPERVILLE -- That 10-minute halftime has sometimes been just enough time for a team to regroup and refocus.
Metea Valley coach Josh Robinson acknowledged his crew wasn’t too happy with their performance in what was a 1-1 tie minutes before intermission when lightning intervened in the Sept. 25 match at Neuqua Valley.
“We definitely didn’t have the kind of half we wanted that night,” Robinson admitted.
The Mustangs’ desire to atone for their disappointing play built for eight days until Thursday when fulfillment was finally achieved.
The final 44 minutes of the contest and the subsequent 3-1 triumph checked a number of boxes for Metea Valley:
play a better second half
get the victory
continue a win streak
most importantly create a DuPage Valley Conference title showdown
Perhaps that last one is getting a little too far ahead of things, but that was a factor of a different sort facing the Mustangs when the re-scheduled conclusion versus Neuqua Valley landed in the middle of the Warstang Invitational, which they are competing in this week.
Robinson allowed there was some concern that the hunger to do better against the rival Wildcats (6-7-2, 0-3-0) might be missing and that the Mustangs (11-4-2, 2-0-1) might be unfocused and fatigued following their 5-0 Warstang win over Hinsdale South on Wednesday.
“Another understandable concern was how quickly either team would get acclimated to a playing groove in a shorter amount of time. Thankfully we played well, and we were intent on scoring,” Robinson said. “Of course there’s always room for improvement considering we missed a PK, and also hit the posts twice.”
Back on Sept. 25, Neuqua Valley stunned the visitors scoring just 1:15 into the match as John Pochyly registered his first assist on Jaison Chisnell’s initial goal of the season.
Of course Metea responded quickly drawing even at 3:42 when Evan Lang picked up a team-high ninth assist on James Lynch’s team-best 12th goal. But that’s when Robinson felt the Mustangs got off track up to the moment play was suspended.
Although being more aggressive on offense, it still took until 65:58 for Metea to get on top. That’s when Colin Bastianoni fed Shareef Amor for the go-ahead strike. For Bastianoni, a freshman recently elevated to varsity from the Mustang JV1 unit, it was a second assist to go with two goals. It was the eighth goal for Amor, who also has seven assists on the year.
Metea Valley capitalized on taking the lead by adding to it less than four minutes later. Lang converted a penalty kick for his 10th goal.
“This win and the ones leading up to are a credit to their mental edge and our senior leadership,” Robinson insisted. “This is the time of the season when we want to be playing our best soccer.”
Of course the ninth-year coach designed a schedule to test the Mustangs. Out of 17 matches so far, seven opponents are in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 this week: no. 9 Elgin, no. 12 Lyons, no. 13 Hinsdale Central, no. 20 St. Charles East, and no. 24 Oswego East Additional opponents Naperville Central and Wheaton North rank with the honorable mention tams.
On Saturday morning a Metea victory at 10 a.m. over Plainfield East would give the Mustangs the top spot for the Warstang Invitational’s Black Division. That would mean a 3 p.m. championship versus the winner of the Green Division.
Tuesday, Metea hosts powerhouse and top-ranked Naperville North (16-0-0, 3-0-0) for a shot at the DuPage Valley Conference title. The two-time defending Class 3A state champion Huskies are aiming for their 26th DVC title and clearly have Robinson’s respect.
“We’ve played some really good opponents, but the very best teams are the absolute most consistent teams like Naperville North. Their kids come ready to play every game,” Robinson said.
For Neuqua Valley, a roller coaster of a season that has featured consecutive wins or losses only twice, comes down to two chances to prepare for postseason play. First is Saturday’s 10 a.m. home Warstang Invitational date with Plainfield Central followed by a Tuesday visit to Waubonsie Valley in a match between 0-3-0 DVC teams.
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Evan Lang, sr., MF, Metea Valley
Game summary
Metea Valley 3, Neuqua Valley 1
Metea Valley 1 2 --- 3 (11-4-2 / DVC: 2-0-1)
Neuqua Valley 1 0 --- 1 (6-7-2 / DVC: 0-3-0)
Scoring
First half
NV – Osoba (Pochyly) 1:15 gone
MV – Lynch (Lang) 3:42 gone
Second half
MV – Amor (Bastianoni), 65:58 gone
MV – Lang (unassisted – PK), 69:38