Warriors score late to claim big win over Redhawks

By Matt Le Cren
Photos courtesy of Bret Richter

Playing a tough early schedule while fielding an inexperienced team, Waubonsie Valley was in search of a quality win to instill some much-needed confidence.

The Warriors got one on Saturday morning, upsetting host Naperville Central 2-1 in the final group stage match at the Best of the West Tournament.

Junior forward Tyler Yanisch tallied the game-winner for Waubonsie (2-3-1) with 8:33 remaining in the second half when he headed home a cross from sophomore midfielder Sam Bell.

"I knew Sam was going to hit it back post because the wind was bringing it, so I just had good timing on it up in the air and I put it in," Yanisch said of his second goal of the year.

"This is huge. They're a crosstown rival. I feel like we're improving, playing good soccer for longer periods of time each game, so it's getting better."

Yanisch's strike was noteworthy because it marked the first time Naperville Central (4-1-1) had given up multiple goals this season – the Redhawks had allowed just one goal in their first five matches.

It also came 10 minutes after the hosts had tied the game 1-1 on a goal by sophomore Pat Flynn.

In past matches, that would have swung the momentum against the Warriors, but not this time.

"Coming back shows that we had a lot of heart," said Bell, who assisted on both Waubonsie goals.

"We believed that we could because even though we have gotten beat a few times, we feel like if we did put in more effort we could [win] more easily."

The Warriors controlled the action for significant stretches in both halves and wound up outshooting the Redhawks by a 17-9 margin.

Waubonsie proved to be most dangerous on dead balls as both goals and several other quality chances came from re-starts.

The visitors took a 1-0 lead at the 25:58 mark of the first half on a free kick from 36 yards out.

Bell tapped the ball to his right to senior midfielder Jason O'Brien, who launched a rocket just under the crossbar.

"We don't really get our goals in from open play," Bell noted. "It's usually from throw-ins and set pieces, free kicks and stuff like that. [O'Brien] has got a great shot, pure power and he just struck it really sweetly."

Naperville Central did not lack for chances in the first half. Greg Burdett missed wide right on a header in the 32nd minute and 20 seconds later Mike West broke into the box from the right wing and fired wide of the far post from eight yards out.

But the Warriors were even more dangerous and could easily have extended their lead.

Yanisch and Yvan Foonde worked a nice give-and-go in the 22nd minute and only late pressure from Central defender Sean Stevens induced Yanisch to barely miss the left post.

Soon after that, Redhawks goalie Zachary Richter had to make back-to-back saves on Justin Fox and Foonde and then in the 29th minute, Timmy Miller hit the crossbar with a 15-yard shot.

"First half I thought we could have had a bigger advantage," said Waubonsie coach Angelo DiBernardo, whose club snapped a three-game losing streak. "[Instead of] going into half as a 1-0 game it should have been maybe 2-0 or 3-0, but you've got to finish your chances.

"When you don't finish your chances, the other team has an opportunity to come back in the game, which they did, and then we were lucky to score the second goal."

The Redhawks had one good chance to tie it with 1:40 left. Jimmy Altosino sent a ball into the middle of the box from the left wing. Flynn trapped it with his chest but Warriors keeper Sean Elvert came out to knock it away.

Elvert finished with three saves, while Richter came up with five stops.

"This was like a pride win," Yanisch said. "We didn't want to go 0-3 in this tournament, so we really wanted to win this game."

While he was happy with the victory, DiBernardo still sees plenty of room for improvement.

"It is always good to beat one of our crosstown rivals, so from that standpoint it's a good result," DiBernardo said. "But there are other things that worry me and that is not being able to play a full game. We've had some very good halves here and there. That's what we're shooting for, to be consistent.

“The potential for playing good is there. We have to figure out what it takes to win the big games from the physical aspect and from the mental aspect and the mental decision making under pressure.”

The decision-making was poor at times and the Warriors know that.

"[We need to work on] the decision-making, the physical aspect because we're a small team and the mental aspect of always being switched on," Bell said. "But that all comes from experience."