Neuqua holds off spirited Benet effort

By Eddie Burns

For the first time this season, Neuqua Valley had a team come right out and play aggressive right from the start.

Benet’s strong play kept Neuqua on its toes, but the Wildcats regrouped to score a 4-2 victory in a contest played Thursday night as part of the Best of the West Tournament at Naperville North.

“The first half we did not have many opportunities because Benet really came out firing hard,” said Neuqua’s Scott Davis, who tallied two goals in the second half. “Their intensity was just through the roof and they were flat out working harder than us.”

Wildcats coach Tony Kees made it a point to highlight the discrepancy in play during halftime.

“Benet wasn’t just aggressive,” Kees said. “They were technical too. They were really the first team we’ve played that’s taken care of the ball against us and made us work to get it back.

We had to regroup and collect ourselves. Being outworked is not something we’re about. I challenged our guys in the second half and they responded. We got our foot on the ball a little more and created some more chances and had a couple of good finishes.”

Nate Freed finished a Patrick Doody cross with a header to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute.

In the later stages of the first half, Benet had a golden opportunity slip away when Neuqua goalie Jack Turanchik was out of the net, but the Wildcats’ defense managed to clear the ball off its line. Turanchik finished with seven saves.

Davis’ second goal in the 56th minute was a product of a well-timed and well-placed touch from teammate Bryan Ciesiulka. Davis had his initial shot blocked by a defender before he regained possession and place a low shot past Benet goalie Anton Auerbach to make it 2-0.

Benet came right back and cut it to 2-1 in the 58th minute, but the Wildcats (4-0-1) regained control and kept the ball away from the Redwings (2-1-1).

Neuqua’s patience and ball control paid off when Davis and Ciesiulka connected again with Davis scoring his second goal in the 76th minute.

Benet came right back and was awarded a penalty kick 30 seconds later to cut the Neuqua lead to 3-2.

“When it was 3-1 I thought it was over,” Davis said. “But then they got that penalty kick and I thought, ‘Here we go again.’ But I was proud of our defense, we were finally able to hold onto the 3-2 lead and then we really sealed the deal with that beautiful pass from Doody to Ciesiulka and that finally sealed the deal.”

Ciesiulka’s goal came with 29 seconds remaining and put to rest any chances of a Benet comeback. Neuqua had difficulty holding a two-goal lead against Naperville North two nights earlier.

“I was most pleased with the determination we showed that we weren’t going to let this one get away,” Kees said. “Even after converted the penalty kick we came back and got another one, so I think that showed some character.”

Kees said he continues to discover new things about his team each time it plays a match.

“We’re still learning about our team – the characteristics and nuances about our players and which system fits us best and which style fits us best because we want to be a possession team, but it might suit us to be more direct. I don’t know yet.”

Kees highlighted the play of Tom Terlep, Omel Perchatsch and Fernando Cruz, who all made contributions off the bench.

2009 Schedule