Wildcats wrap up unbeaten regular season

By Curt Herron

Neuqua Valley has accomplished a great deal in boys soccer during its relatively brief history.

That includes a state championship in 2003, a runner-up finish in 2007 and a fourth-place showing last season.

But the Wildcats had never completed the regular season with an unbeaten record, although they just missed doing so in 2003 and 2007.

However, following Saturday's match at Brother Rice, Neuqua can now add an unbeaten regular season to its list of achievements.

The Wildcats closed out a 23-0-1 regular season after posting a 3-0 nonconference victory over the Crusaders in Chicago.

Neuqua has won straight 20 matches since settling for a 2-2 tie to Naperville North in the Best of the West tournament.

Brandon Loncar scored late in the first half, following an assist from Patrick Doody, to put the visitors in front for good.

Scott Davis added a pair of late goals, off passes from Sam Al-Qady and Bryan Ciesiulka, to put the finishing touches on the decisive win.

Jack Turanchik and late replacement Hunter Hollingshead didn't face a shot on goal as the Wildcats posted their 15th shutout of the year.

Rice packed things in defensively, a preview of what Neuqua will likely see during the postseason, which begins on Tuesday at the Waubonsie Valley Regional against West Chicago.

"We're pleased to set a set a program record by going undefeated in the regular season," Wildcats coach Tony Kees said. "Fitz (assistant coach Dan Fitzgerald) and I are both proud of the team's accomplishment.

"We've had different styles thrown at us and different surfaces, variables and personalities and we've stayed consistent through the whole year. Looking back on it, that consistency may be our biggest strength.

"It was a typical script today and just a matter of being patient enough to stay with the game plan. We were creating good scoring chances, so you don't get away from the game plan because you aren't scoring."

The Wildcats put pressure on Brother Rice but had a hard time of putting the ball in the net against the defensive-minded hosts.

Meanwhile, Neuqua merely possessed the ball and largely kept it away from the Crusaders, significantly limiting their chances.

Jacob Brindle got things started offensively for the Wildcats when he was stopped on a header following a corner kick from Keegan Balle about seven minutes in.

Neuqua's next good chance came about 10 minutes later when Brindle was just wide on another header on a play that was set up by a long free kick from Balle.

Just past the midpoint of the opening half, Balle sent in another long free kick that went off defenders before being stopped by the keeper.

About three minutes after that, Will Butler was tripped up just outside of the box and Balle's subsequent free kick just missed the mark.

During the next five minutes, Brindle had a short shot attempt stopped while Loncar also came up empty on a grounder.

The Wildcats finally broke through with 9:17 left before the break when Loncar connected from right in front of the net following a pass from Doody.

In the final five minutes, Davis lined a shot off the crossbar following a pass from Brindle, who was stopped on as short shot that was set up by a pass from Ciesiulka.

Hear Neuqua Valley's Keegan Balle interview

It was more of the same for the visitors following the break as Brindle had a pair of shots and Butler added another during the first five minutes.

With about 23 minutes remaining, Davis was stopped on a header from close range following a pass from Pat Kaindl.

Then 90 seconds after that, Al-Qady's short shot attempt was knocked away after it was set up by a pass from Ciesiulka.

Neuqua still only held a 1-0 lead with about 16 minutes to go when Ciesiulka's free kick was deflected by the keeper.

The Wildcats finally ended the suspense when they scored a pair of goals within a 32 second span with under 12 minutes remaining.

With 11:39 left, Davis connected from in front off an assist from Al-Qady and Davis scored again with 11:07 to go following a pass from Ciesiulka.

Neuqua's defense, led by Ricky Marton, Balle, Butler and Kaindl, picked up its third straight shutout and posted its ninth blanking in 10 matches.

With an unbeaten regular season under their belts, the Wildcats can now put all of their focus on the team's ultimate goal, winning a state title.

Although pleased by what they've accomplished so far, players like Zach Kovacevic realize that Neuqua still has much more that it wants to achieve.

Hear Neuqua Valley's Zach Kovacevic interview

Neuqua makes history with triumph

Being able to go throughout an entire regular season without suffering a defeat is an accomplishment that few teams get the opportunity to enjoy.

But that's just what Neuqua Valley assured itself on Saturday when it defeated Brother Rice 3-0 in its regular season finale in Chicago.

The Wildcats are now 23-0-1 on the season as they prepare for this week's Waubonsie Valley Regional.

Neuqua Valley has claimed 20 straight victories since settling for a 2-2 draw with Naperville Central in the Best of the West invite.

Coach Tony Kees' squad heads to the postseason on a high note after recording their third straight shutout as well as their ninth shutout in the past 10 matches.

Two Wildcats teams that played for state championships fell just short of being able to go unbeaten in the regular season.

In 2003, coach Jim Johns' eventual state champions went 21-1-1 in the regular season after dropping a 2-1 decision to Sandburg in the Best of the West tournament and then tying Waubonsie Valley late in the season.

Four years later, the Wildcats went 17-1-4 in the regular season after falling to Kansas City's Rockhurst 2-1 on penalty kicks in a tournament in Quincy and also settled for draws against Benet, Naperville Central, East Aurora and Larkin.

Wildcats starters vs. Brother Rice

Wildcats Schedule