Wildcats use four second half goals to beat Hawks

By Curt Herron

One of the biggest challenges that teams have faced this season is trying to keep Neuqua Valley at bay for 80 minutes.

A few have succeeded doing that for a half, but pulling off the feat for an entire match against the state's top team has been another story.

Bartlett learned that lesson on Tuesday after it held the Wildcats scoreless in the first half but couldn't slow them down after that.

Neuqua scored twice in the first 10 minutes of the new half and then added two more scores in the final 10 minutes to claim a 4-0 win in Naperville.

The win not only improved the Wildcats to 21-0-1 on the season but also helped them wrap up the Upstate Eight Conference title with a 9-0 record.

Bryan Ciesiulka scored a pair of goals while Jacob Brindle returned from injury to score a goal and add a pair of assists for the winners.

It was the 18th straight victory for coach Tony Kees' Wildcats as well as their 13th shutout of the campaign.

Neuqua had recorded six straight shutouts before trailing for the first time this season in a 3-2 win over Addison Trail on Saturday.

Hear Neuqua Valley coach Tony Kees interview

Bartlett (12-5, 5-3), which saw a four-match winning streak halted, held its own with the Wildcats during the initial 40 minutes of play.

But after putting some pressure on Neuqua keeper Jack Turanchik during the opening half, the Hawks had few good chances following the break.

Goalkeeper Jeff Gal and the back line of Brett Palmer, David Wade, Brett Dini and Fabio Aiello did a nice job of limiting Neuqua's chances.

But it was clear shortly after the teams stepped back onto the field that the hosts had raised their performance to a higher level.

During the first few minutes, Keegan Balle sent in a free kick that Gal deflected away and Ciesiulka was later stopped on an attempt.

The Hawks also threatened during that stretch but Eric Kennebeck's shot try was deflected away by Balle.

Neuqua moved in front for good about seven minutes after the break when Brandon Loncar fired off a shot and then Scott Davis put in the rebound.

Davis nearly struck again a minute later when he was just wide of the net with a header, following a pass from Ciesiulka.

But it wasn't long before the Wildcats again were able to find the net, this time with Ciesiulka doing the honors.

About 10 minutes into the new half, Tom Terlep sent a flip throw in that Brindle sent toward Gal and Ciesiulka was there to put in the short shot.

Hear Neuqua Valley's Bryan Ciesiulka interview

Following about a brief lull in the action, the Wildcats went back to work during a 20-minute stretch where they put heavy pressure on Gal.

Loncar's header was cleared by Palmer, Ciesiluka was stopped on a short shot and Loncar sent in a liner that the keeper deflected away.

Following the midpoint of the second half, Neuqua began another push beginning with an attempt by Sam Al-Qady that was halted.

Terlep sent in a line drive that was stopped by Gal and Al-Qady's grounder was deflected away by Wade.

With about nine minutes remaining, Ciesiulka scored on a header from close range after Brindle's initial attempt was stopped.

Nate Freed followed up on that score with a free kick that required Gal to make a diving save to stop.

Brindle, who had been out since the Pepsi Showdown, closed out the scoring with about six minutes left after taking a pass from Balle.

Hear Neuqua Valley's Jacob Brindle interview

In the opening half, the Hawks got things started with a pair of shots by Kennebeck that were deflected and a liner from Brian Roman to Turanchik.

Neuqua responded with a Davis liner that was cleared by Palmer and good attempts by Will Butler, Balle and Loncar that were all halted.

Following shots from Kennebeck and Roman, the Wildcats began another another flurry of activity that nearly resulted in a score.

Wade cleared an attempt by Davis, Ciesiulka had a shot deflected away and Brindle had a shot try stopped by the Hawks keeper.

In the final 10 minutes of the half, Bartlett's Tommy Russo had a shot deflected away and Kennebeck sent in a header off of a corner from Aiello.

Neuqua responded with a chip shot by Brindle that was halted before Ciesiulka's liner was hauled in by Gal just five seconds before the break.

Man of the match: Jacob Brindle

Neuqua Valley's Jacob Brindle had been sidelined for the past three weeks with a fractured ankle.

But you wouldn't have realized that based on his performance in Tuesday's Upstate Eight Conference match with Bartlett.

All Brindle did was score a goal and assist on two others to help the Wildcats score four times during the final half as they claimed a 4-0 victory over the Hawks in Naperville.

With 10 minutes into the second half, Brindle challenged following a flip throw from Tom Terlep and Bryan Ciesiulka was there to put in the loose ball to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.

Brindle had a shot blocked with about nine minutes left in the match but Ciesiulka was again there to knock in the rebound to give Neuqua a 3-0 advantage.

And about three minutes later, Brindle was able to find the net after he sent a shot into the opposite side of the net following a pass from Keegan Balle.

Bartlett hoped for closer result with Neuqua

By Curt Herron

There's certainly no shame in losing to Neuqua Valley, especially after holding the state's top-ranked team scoreless in the first half.

But after giving up four second half goals, including two in the final 10 minutes, Bartlett coach Ben Beary didn't care for the final result.

Neuqua used its four-goal second half outburst to capture a 4-0 Upstate Eight Conference victory over the Hawks in Naperville on Tuesday.

Hear Bartlett coach Ben Beary interview

The four goals allowed were by far the most that the Hawks had given up during any of their matches in their successful 12-5 season.

Bartlett, which had won its last four matches, was coming off of a 4-0 victory over Wheaton Warrenville South on Saturday.

The most goals that the Hawks had previously allowed was two, in wins over Carmel and East Aurora and in losses to Wheeling and South Elgin.

They had only given up 13 goals in 16 matches and had seven shutouts as well as five other matches where they had allowed just one goal.

For one half, keeper Jeff Gal and defenders Brett Palmer, David Wade, Brett Dini and Fabio Aiello managed to keep the Wildcats at bay.

But Neuqua started to make things happen during the final 40 minutes and put constant pressure on Gal, who came up with many fine saves.

Hear Bartlett's Jeff Gal interview

This was only the fourth time that the Hawks were shut out, with the last coming on September 19 to Wheeling in the Bartlett Invite finals.

Bartlett hopes to get back on the right track when its closes out regular season play with Lake Park and St. Charles North.

Then it's on to the Wheaton North Regional, where the Hawks have to contend with the likes of Lake Park and Wheaton North.

Wildcats starters vs. Hawks

Hawks starters vs. Wildcats