Roundup (October 21)
Class AA state tournament
Crystal Lake South Regional
(3) Crystal Lake South 1, (6) Crystal Lake Central 0
Senior defender Andrew Smart's 35-yard free kick goal in the second half was the difference-maker in the Gators fifth-straight regional title. Keeper Logan Vargas made two saves for the club's ninth clean-sheet of the season and second over their cross-town rival. Crystal Lake South (14-4-3) advances to play no. 2-seed Vernon Hills (13-7-1) at 7 p.m. Oct. 26 in a Grayslake Central Sectional semifinal.
Class 3A state tournament regional championships
At Metea Valley
(5) West Aurora 1, (14) Metea Valley 1 (WA wins PKs 9-8/10)
The Mustangs used their home cooking to almost pull off another shocker. Erick Mena scored for Metea Valley (6-14-3), and keeper Orlando Velazquez made a save in the PK session. The Mustangs saw one shot saved and one hit the post in the shootout. West Aurora (15-3-5) advances to the Bolingbrook Sectional, where it will meet the (1) Naperville Central/(8) Plainfield East winner at 5 p.m. Oct. 25.
At Proviso East
Hinsdale Central 1, Young 1 (HC wins PKs 5-3)
Ardit Abdullai tied the game with an unassisted goal, and the Red Devils (15-4-1) prevailed in the shootout. Keeper Henrique Ribiero made a big stop in the PK session. "Credit to Whitney Young," said coach Michael Wiggins. "They countered in the first half and got that first goal which really forced us to adjust. The wind was significant and presented challenges for both teams. I thought we did well to hold our own as the game went on. We had our chances, and I was just especially proud of this group for the way they handled another come-from-behind win." The victory earned the school's 13th regional championship and was also the 400th of Wiggins' career. "I spoke to my very first assistant coach this week," he said. "Tom O'Reilly (current Batavia varsity assistant) was with me at Downers Grove South for the first varsity game I coached. We were in the Lake Park tournament, and we played Elk Grove getting the win. That was in 1994, and we just can't believe how the time has moved by so fast. A lot of fantastic stories behind so many of those victories, led by very talented players." Fourth-seeded and 19th-ranked Hinsdale Central advances to its own sectional where it will face conference rival and top-seeded Lyons at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 25. The two met on Sept. 20 when 15th-ranked Lions won the Silver Brick rivalry game 5-2. Young's junior duo of Reese Kruschke (goal) and Cole Hockman (assist) combined for the lone score for the Dolphins (11-5-3).
Class AA state tournament
Crystal Lake South Regional
(3) Crystal Lake South 1, (6) Crystal Lake Central 0
Senior defender Andrew Smart's 35-yard free kick goal in the second half was the difference-maker in the Gators fifth-straight regional title. Keeper Logan Vargas made two saves for the club's ninth clean-sheet of the season and second over their cross-town rival. Crystal Lake South (14-4-3) advances to play no. 2-seed Vernon Hills (13-7-1) at 7 p.m. Oct. 26 in a Grayslake Central Sectional semifinal.
Class 3A state tournament regional championships
At Metea Valley
(5) West Aurora 1, (14) Metea Valley 1 (WA wins PKs 9-8/10)
The Mustangs used their home cooking to almost pull off another shocker. Erick Mena scored for Metea Valley (6-14-3), and keeper Orlando Velazquez made a save in the PK session. The Mustangs saw one shot saved and one hit the post in the shootout. West Aurora (15-3-5) advances to the Bolingbrook Sectional, where it will meet the (1) Naperville Central/(8) Plainfield East winner at 5 p.m. Oct. 25.
At Proviso East
Hinsdale Central 1, Young 1 (HC wins PKs 5-3)
Ardit Abdullai tied the game with an unassisted goal, and the Red Devils (15-4-1) prevailed in the shootout. Keeper Henrique Ribiero made a big stop in the PK session. "Credit to Whitney Young," said coach Michael Wiggins. "They countered in the first half and got that first goal which really forced us to adjust. The wind was significant and presented challenges for both teams. I thought we did well to hold our own as the game went on. We had our chances, and I was just especially proud of this group for the way they handled another come-from-behind win." The victory earned the school's 13th regional championship and was also the 400th of Wiggins' career. "I spoke to my very first assistant coach this week," he said. "Tom O'Reilly (current Batavia varsity assistant) was with me at Downers Grove South for the first varsity game I coached. We were in the Lake Park tournament, and we played Elk Grove getting the win. That was in 1994, and we just can't believe how the time has moved by so fast. A lot of fantastic stories behind so many of those victories, led by very talented players." Fourth-seeded and 19th-ranked Hinsdale Central advances to its own sectional where it will face conference rival and top-seeded Lyons at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 25. The two met on Sept. 20 when 15th-ranked Lions won the Silver Brick rivalry game 5-2. Young's junior duo of Reese Kruschke (goal) and Cole Hockman (assist) combined for the lone score for the Dolphins (11-5-3).