St. Viator scoring burst launches Lions past Mundelein

By Rusty Silber

Just four games into the season, St. Viator was trying to find the right pieces for its team.

The Lions made their best run thus far, scoring three goals in the first 12 minutes on Wednesday afternoon, but they couldn't find a goal the rest of the way

Still, St. Viator notched its second straight win in the Glenbrook South Invitational, 3-1 over Mundelein in Glenview.

"It's improvement and we're coming along slowly," said St. Viator coach Mike Taylor, whose team is now 2-2 overall and 2-0 in the GBS Invitational. "We started to connect, work the ball outside and made the runs moving the ball across. That's a key for us.

"I thought our defense played well, outside of a lapse early in the second half. I thought we weathered the storm and are still trying to get into shape. It's all a progression. Each game we're progressing and starting to go forward."

The Lions scored their goals quickly. Petar Milenkovich set the stage, stealing a ball off a Mundelein defender, with Alan Aboona taking the pass from Milenkovich and scoring in the fifth minute.

Two minutes later, Jack Horvath connected on a 30-yard booming kick under the crossbar off an assist from Aboona. Then, at the 12-minute mark off a corner kick, Trevor Wheeler tallied the third goal as Brendan King touched it over.

Mundelein (1-2, 0-2) got right back into the game 27 seconds into the second half when Bryant Portillo scored off an assist from Eder Alcantar.

"We told (the kids) we've got to play smarter in the second half and play with pride." Mundelein coach Dave Ekstrom said. “(St.Viator) took it to us in the first half. We had to play with composure, heart and pride. We were running around with a lack of focus. (St. Viator) took us totally out of our game."

St. Viator's King was a big part, being the last man on defense. King made sure Mundelein wasn't going to get its second goal.

"At halftime, we said the game's not over," King said. "Some of the players were laughing. Less than a minute in, Mundelein puts in a goal. A lot of us thought the game was over but it wasn't. We've got to know when to put teams away and we didn't do it."

Some of the other main St. Viator defenders who helped out were Dan Loizzi, Matt Morsches, and Joe Surdan.

Man of the match: Brendan King

By Rusty Silber

Brendan King likes to attack, make no mistake about it, and he did manage an assist in St. Viator's 3-1 win over Mundelein on Wednesday.

But he'll sacrifice his personal goals to do whatever it takes to help his team.

King moved back from the attack to sweeper this year after Matt Riggio graduated, and has found a good spot for the Lions.

"Not his first choice to play there," Lions coach Mike Taylor said about King. "For us to win and go far, you've got to come back and sacrifice your own personal (ambition) of going forward. It's all about the team stuff and going back.

"I'm used to defense, but I'm not able to move forward and attack." King said. "I've got to know my role playing defense." 

King has learned the position very quickly.

"He solidifies the back with some great skills," Taylor said. "He plays the game well and reads the game well. He's a really good anchor back there."

One of King's main objectives on Wednesday was to help his squad maintain the two-goal cushion they held over Mundelein.

"I told the team two goals isn't a good lead to have. If (Mundelein) gets one more goal, then the momentum is on their side. We knew the shutout was lost and we needed to keep it at one goal."

2009 Schedule