Falcons surprise Hawks to capture regional championship

By Curt Herron

When Wheaton North completed a late-season run of 10 matches with a 1-7-2 mark, including five straight losses, few people expected much from it during the postseason.

But three wins later, with two of those victories coming in regional play, the Falcons are still very much alive and kicking and headed to sectional play.

Bartlett found that out the hard way on Saturday when unheralded North jumped out to a 2-0 lead and held on for a 2-1 win in its own regional championship.

As a result, coach Bryce Cann's Falcons (7-9-5) move on to Tuesday's Hoffman Estates Sectional, where they'll meet St. Charles North (11-10-3) at 4:30 p.m.

North repeated as a regional champion and also deprived the Hawks (15-6) of capturing their initial regional title in the process.

Mike Lenzi scored both goals for the winners, with the first one coming on a penalty kick with 15:26 remaining in the opening half.

The Falcons increased their lead to 2-0 with 27:02 left in the match after Lenzi connected on a header from close range following a throw in by Pat Langan.

Bartlett made things interesting when it cut the lead in half with 12:26 remaining on a nice score by Charlie Sordini but North held it at bay the rest of the way.

Hear Wheaton North coach Bryce Cann interview

It was a disappointing way for the Hawks to see their successful season come to an end. Bartlett had won seven of its last eight matches coming into Saturday.

The Hawks had the first good scoring chance about 13 minutes in when Alex Ortiz had a shot deflected and Carmelo Abate sent in a liner that was stopped by keeper Nick Barry.

Particularly bothersome for the Hawks was the fact that an apparent first goal of the match from Brian Roman just 15:47 in was disallowed by a controversial call.

All seemed to be going well for Bartlett after Tommy Russo passed the ball to Roman, who connected from close range to give their team the early momentum.

But following a conference, the officials waved the goal off due to an offsides call, a ruling that didn't sit well at all with Hawks coach Ben Beary.

As if that wasn't bad enough for Bartlett, Lenzi was awarded a penalty kick following contact in the box. Lenzi fired in the PK and suddenly North had the advantage.

Hear Wheaton North's Mike Lenzi interview

The Falcons kept the pressure on as Elvin Ahmeti had a series of long free kicks that were hauled in by Hawks keeper Jeff Gal.

Bartlett had another chance about five minutes before the intermission but Joe McCullough's grounder was scooped up by Barry.

North had the first good opportunity in the second half when Langan sent a header to Gal just over 10 minutes after the break.

A little over two minutes after that, the Falcons were on the scoreboard again after Lenzi found the net for the second time.

That score was huge for North, considering that it had gone eight straight matches scoring one goal or less, picking up only five scores during that span.

Meanwhile, it was only the sixth time in 21 matches that Bartlett had allowed two or more goals to be scored against it in a match.

Hear Wheaton North's Pat Langan interview

The two squads each had chances during the next few minutes with Langan sending a grounder to Gal for the Falcons.

Anthony DiNuzzo fired in a line drive while Eric Kennebeck had a short shot try but both attempts were stopped by Barry.

Bartlett nearly got on the scoreboard with 16:53 to go when Sordini got off a short shot but Zak Gudanik saved a goal by heading the ball away.

Hear Wheaton North's Zak Gudanik interview

Sordini was successful on his next attempt, however, when he came up with a loose ball and put in a nice shot with 12:26 remaining.

North hunkered down after that as it tried to protect its one goal advantage and it kept the Hawks from getting off a serious threat for over six minutes.

Down the stretch, Bartlett got a shot from David Wade and a pair of attempts from Ortiz, the last of which Barry hauled in during the final seconds.

The Hawks will no doubt remember the disappointing ending since they return eight starters and several other players who saw action in Saturday's match. Three senior starters, Brett Palmer, McCullough and Roman, will be lost to graduation.

Meanwhile, the win was a nice reward for the Falcons' five senior starters, Josh Bennett, Vito Muilli, Ahmeti, Langan and Lenzi, who get to compete in at least one more match.

Not bad for a squad that many people had written off before the postseason even began.

Hear Wheaton North's Josh Bennett interview

Falcons starters vs. Hawks

Hawks starters vs. Falcons

Falcons 2, Hawks 1

Falcons Schedule

Postseason play