Saint Viator plays the spoiler in Benet's bid for the ESCC title

By Gary Larsen

Misery enjoys company and Saint Viator would dish out a dose of it Friday afternoon on its guests from Benet.

Already knocked out of the chase for the ESCC title earlier in the week by Carmel, Saint Viator (17-4-1, 7-1-1 ESCC) would make sure to spoil any hopes of Benet to share the silver trophy when it defeated the Redwings (10-6-2, 7-2) 2-0 in the conference regular season finale for both clubs.

The loss would drop Benet into 3rd place overall, while the victors would jump up and over Henry Wind's side, and into second place behind champion Carmel, which finishes 8-1-0.

"We had a lot of effort, and played a (heck) of a game out there today, but we just didn't do what you have to do, and that's to score," said a frustrated Wind, who watched his club miss a handful of glorious opportunities, while suffering a lack of the sharp play needed in close to find the back of the net.

The Lions would certainly enjoy the run of the play during the first quarter hour as the Redwings struggled to find its front-runners. The Lions midfield of Trevor Wheeler, Kevin Cavers, Billy Hamilton and Mark Lada outworked its counterparts both in the air and on the floor of the slippery pitch in Arlington Heights.

The slow track didn't appear to slow either Wheeler or Cavers, who each would breeze through the Redwings in the early stages with mazy runs and carries. Those runs eventually forced Benet keeper Alex Senetar into saves on Cavers twice, and once on rookie Nick Abel, whose left-footed missile from 35 yards seemed destined to get into the back of the net.

"We played so much better than we have during the last 7-10 days," admitted Saint Viator assistant Mike Manno, stepping in for head coach Mike Taylor who left early to be in the city for a wedding.

"We played quick, created chances, and showed the pace and energy we've been missing, which ultimately cost us a conference championship."

Benet would grab back some of the play when it finally played through Connor Miller in the middle of the park, who in turn would make sure mates Sean O'Hara, George Elliot, Brock Bieschke and Joe Menconi saw plenty of the ball in space.

“We played so much better in the second half, but it just wasn't enough," said a disappointed Miller.

Lions keeper Patrick Windle may have had his best match of the season as the senior would help snuff out any danger inside the 18.

Windle would turn away Bieschke who had run onto a wonderful ball sent through from Elliot at 29 minutes, and then extend to his fullest to pull a well aimed strike from Bieschke out of the air just before intermission.

The Lions picked up the pressure in search of the first goal of the match, and found it near the hour mark when Senetar's initial save on a blast from Bill Krawcyk bounded freely behind him. An opportunistic Joe Schmidt would escort the slow moving ball into the back of the net.

The Schmidt goal would spike the intensity level on both sides and would lead to a frantic quarter hour of play as the Lions looked to add to its lead, while the Redwings searched for the equalizer.

Sean Mogan nearly connected at the back post with John Bagnuolo, while Miller unloaded on Windle, who would make the save at 66 minutes.

On the other end, Senetar pulled a Wheeler drive out of the net, and then gave a sigh of relief when Lions’ leading scorer Alan Aboona sprayed his shot wide on a wide-open Benet goal.

Krawzak would stick a fork in Benet for good in the 78th minute when he thumped home a rebound of a Cavers shot.

"I reminded all of (us) and especially the seniors, that this would be our last home game of the season, and the game that we had to have, not only because of (that) but also because we need to get our game back to a higher level, with the playoffs beginning next week," said Lions defensive captain Brendan King.

The Lions open 2A tournament play next week at the Ridgewood regional venue either against Chicago Uplift or Chicago Sullivan, while Benet travels to Bolingbrook in 3A play to meet West Aurora.

"I'll tell you this, we need to get back to work soon and figure out a way to score some goals or we might be in trouble," offered Wind.

"We had some guys ask why they were brought off today, and we told them they weren't doing the job out there."

"We played hard, and it was a very good match for both sides, but we've got to put more effort (in) when we're in our opponent’s end in order to keep our season alive."

St. Viator's 2009 Schedule
Click on links for stories

Benet's 2009 Schedule
Click on links for stories