Genoa-Kingston, Wheaton Academy
ready to rumble
By Len Eisele
Genoa-Kingston vs. Wheaton Academy is a clash of heavyweights.
The teams, which meet at 3 p.m. Saturday for the Class A Hinckley-Big Rock Sectional championship, come into the game as well-deserved, number-one seeds in top form.
Genoa-Kingston (21-1-0) had been an offensive machine all season. The Cogs are led by two of the top goal-scorers in the state: senior Eagan Reams and junior Jorge Leon. Both players are knocking on the door of 50 goal seasons.
In three playoff games, the team has demonstrated its offensive prowess with 20 goals while allowing three.
The only team to score more in their sectional is Wheaton Academy (15-4-1), which has scored 21 goals and surrendered just one.
Warriors senior forward Robert Platt, who scored four times against Marengo in the sectional semifinal win, leads his team with 17 goals. Classmate and midfielder Giovanni Nicoski is second on the team with 11 goals.
The rest of the Warriors offense is spread throughout the roster.
Both teams enter the match on long win streaks. Wheaton Academy has captured eight-straight games, and the Cogs are on a 15-game roll.
The losses on the records for both teams came early in the season against tough opponents and from larger schools.
The only loss for Wheaton Academy against a Class A opponent came in a shootout loss to Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division foe Timothy, which is also a sectional finalist.
Genoa-Kingston’s only loss of the year came to second-seeded Class AA regional finalist Belvidere by a 5-3 count Sept. 1. The Cogs defeated Class AA top sub-sectional seed Richwoods 4-3 Aug. 28.
Both teams also have strong defenses.
Wheaton Academy has seven shutouts on the season and has given up more than two goals only twice.
Genoa-Kingston has 13 clean-sheets and has given up more than one goal in a game only four times.
A common opponent suggests the game could be close.
Wheaton Academy defeated Marengo 7-0 in their sectional semifinal Wednesday. Genoa-Kingston beat Marengo twice during the regular-season. A 3-0 win came in a shortened match in the second had month later the Cogs won 7-0.
Wheaton Academy holds several advantages including a 6-3-1 record against Class 3A-sized competition. The Warriors have a 5-2 record in one-goal or shootout games. They won four of five shootouts, including wins over Class 3A top sectional seed Evanston and Class A power Althoff.
Other than the Richwoods win, Genoa-Kingston hasn’t had a victory by less than three goals. That came in its 5-2 sectional semifinal victory over Marian Central on Wednesday.
The Cogs offense has a quick-strike capability that keeps opponents off guard. They have shown a tendency to score early and in bunches. If the Cogs jump out early and get rolling, they might be difficult to stop with their high-octane offense.
If the game is tight and low scoring, Wheaton Academy can draw from its experiences this season.
ready to rumble
By Len Eisele
Genoa-Kingston vs. Wheaton Academy is a clash of heavyweights.
The teams, which meet at 3 p.m. Saturday for the Class A Hinckley-Big Rock Sectional championship, come into the game as well-deserved, number-one seeds in top form.
Genoa-Kingston (21-1-0) had been an offensive machine all season. The Cogs are led by two of the top goal-scorers in the state: senior Eagan Reams and junior Jorge Leon. Both players are knocking on the door of 50 goal seasons.
In three playoff games, the team has demonstrated its offensive prowess with 20 goals while allowing three.
The only team to score more in their sectional is Wheaton Academy (15-4-1), which has scored 21 goals and surrendered just one.
Warriors senior forward Robert Platt, who scored four times against Marengo in the sectional semifinal win, leads his team with 17 goals. Classmate and midfielder Giovanni Nicoski is second on the team with 11 goals.
The rest of the Warriors offense is spread throughout the roster.
Both teams enter the match on long win streaks. Wheaton Academy has captured eight-straight games, and the Cogs are on a 15-game roll.
The losses on the records for both teams came early in the season against tough opponents and from larger schools.
The only loss for Wheaton Academy against a Class A opponent came in a shootout loss to Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division foe Timothy, which is also a sectional finalist.
Genoa-Kingston’s only loss of the year came to second-seeded Class AA regional finalist Belvidere by a 5-3 count Sept. 1. The Cogs defeated Class AA top sub-sectional seed Richwoods 4-3 Aug. 28.
Both teams also have strong defenses.
Wheaton Academy has seven shutouts on the season and has given up more than two goals only twice.
Genoa-Kingston has 13 clean-sheets and has given up more than one goal in a game only four times.
A common opponent suggests the game could be close.
Wheaton Academy defeated Marengo 7-0 in their sectional semifinal Wednesday. Genoa-Kingston beat Marengo twice during the regular-season. A 3-0 win came in a shortened match in the second had month later the Cogs won 7-0.
Wheaton Academy holds several advantages including a 6-3-1 record against Class 3A-sized competition. The Warriors have a 5-2 record in one-goal or shootout games. They won four of five shootouts, including wins over Class 3A top sectional seed Evanston and Class A power Althoff.
Other than the Richwoods win, Genoa-Kingston hasn’t had a victory by less than three goals. That came in its 5-2 sectional semifinal victory over Marian Central on Wednesday.
The Cogs offense has a quick-strike capability that keeps opponents off guard. They have shown a tendency to score early and in bunches. If the Cogs jump out early and get rolling, they might be difficult to stop with their high-octane offense.
If the game is tight and low scoring, Wheaton Academy can draw from its experiences this season.