Daniels scores twice to lead Warriors past Vikings

By Curt Herron

Wheaton Academy had claimed a lot of nice victories so far this season, including a 5-4 win over Marmion on September 21.

That win helped the Warriors claim the Suburban Christian Conference title and gave them the top seed in the Hampshire Sectional over the Cadets.

But on Saturday night in West Chicago, Wheaton Academy picked up a victory that many other schools in Class 2A should take notice of.

The Warriors received a goal from Tim Daniels in each half to help them capture a 2-0 nonconference triumph over Geneva.

Beside the fact that the Vikings had taken Neuqua Valley to a shootout, they were also 15-3-2 after going 8-0-1 in their last nine matches.

So after dropping a 4-0 decision to Wheaton North and settling for a 1-1 draw with Oswego East in its last two matches with Class 3A teams, the Warriors knocked off their first top-notch large class opponent.

That bodes well for the final week of regular season play when 13-3-2 Wheaton Academy meets up with Benet on Wednesday and then plays Wheaton Warrenville South on Friday.

The Warriors, who are 10-1-1 in their last 12 matches, blanked an opponent for the sixth time this season. But this was their first shutout since September 24 against Marian Central Catholic.

Hear Wheaton Academy coach Jeff Brooke interview

Geneva put the first shot on goal half a minute into the match when Jeff Williams sent in a long attempt that went to keeper Philip Oster.

Just over three minutes into the match, Warrior Josh Urban fired in a line drive to keeper Ryan Ward for the host's initial shot on goal.

Wheaton Academy moved ahead for good on its next chance, which came just 9:04 into the match, when Daniels collected his first score.

After Bable Daniel passed him the ball, Daniels lined in a shot that dipped inside the post to give the Warriors the 1-0 advantage.

Hear Wheaton Academy's Tim Daniels interview

Both squads had plenty of good chances during the rest of the opening half but neither were able to connect again before the break.

Viking Brady Wahl made Oster dive to stop a shot about 11 minutes into the match and Urban sent in a short attempt about five minutes later.

Just before the midpoint of the first half, Daniels was halted by Ward on a short shot following a threatening flip throw from Alex Varga.

With just over 12 minutes left before halftime, Viking Brandon Sloan sent in a long free kick that was knocked away by Oster.

Daniel got free in front of Geneva's net with just under 10 minutes remaining in the half but Williams managed to shut the threat down.

Then with five minutes left before halftime, Oster came up with a line drive from Seamus Kaminski to keep things at 1-0 at the break.

Hear Geneva coach Ryan Estabrook interview

While the Vikings may have enjoyed the better of the play during much of the first half, the Warriors had the advantage in the final 40 minutes.

Each squad had chances in the first six minutes of the new half as Daniel was stopped on a short shot and Kaminski's attempt was snuffed by Oster.

Daniels collected his second goal with 26:39 remaining when he took a pass from Varga and then put in a header from in front of the Viking net.

There was just one more good scoring chance before the halfway point of the second half, and that was a grounder from Warrior Devin Moore.

Shortly after the midpoint, Daniels had a corner kick stopped by Ward and Brian McLean later fired in a line drive that was also halted.

Geneva had its best scoring opportunity of the second half with about 11 minutes remaining which followed a corner kick from Wahl.

The Vikings got off a couple of close shots, including one from Andrew Walton, but Warrior defenders kept the ball from reaching the net.

Wheaton Academy had two good chances in the final four minutes as Trevor Adams' shot was cleared by a defender and Daniels saw a short try stopped.

There was even some drama in the final 10 seconds as Wahl sent in a dangerous free kick but Oster knocked the ball away to preserve the shutout.

Hear Wheaton Academy's Stephen Fernandes interview

Man of the match: Tim Daniels

It's usually a safe bet that if things are going well for Wheaton Academy then Tim Daniels is having a big hand in it.

That certainly was the case on Saturday night when the Warriors played host to Geneva in a nonconference match.

Daniels supplied a pair of goals and kept the pressure on the Vikings throughout with a combination of good shots and threatening restarts to help his squad capture a 2-0 win.

It was the Warriors' first really big victory over a Class 3A opponent this season. The Vikings entered Saturday with an 8-0-1 mark in their last nine matches.

Daniels put his team ahead for good just 9:04 into the match when he fired in a shot following a pass from Bable Daniel.

Then with 26:39 remaining in the match, Daniels closed the scoring when he headed in a short attempt after taking a pass from Alex Varga.

Warriors starters vs. Vikings

Vikings starters vs. Warriors