Hawks' better second half not enough to topple Neuqua
Bartlett heads to Glenbrook North tourney on Friday

By Casey Callanan

Before Neuqua Valley defeated Bartlett 2-1 at home Thursday, the Wildcats played just one game in two weeks. 

To make matters worse that match came nine days ago. Three of the last four games on Neuqua’s schedule have been postponed until next month.

The lengthy delay comes during the heart of the season, but Neuqua coach Tony Kees sees it as both a good and bad thing.

“We lose our match speed and sharpness, but it allowed us to work on things we don’t normally have time for,” Kees said. “There’s no substitute for playing games.”

In the Wildcat’s return to action they mostly dominated the possession battle early in the Upstate Eight contest, but could not find the back of the net on golden opportunities.

“It was our first game in nine days so we were just so ecstatic to be back out there,” said Neuqua senior Pat Doody.

The Neuqua counterattack was flying high after senior Sammy Al-Qady just missed connecting with senior Will Butler for a goal. The missed scoring chance came directly after a save on the other end by Neuqua keeper Hunter Hollingshead.

“In the beginning of the game we were rusty,” Al-Qady said.

With three minutes remaining until halftime Al-Qady struck a cross pass that found senior Jacob Brindle for a goal.

Despite the temptation, the Wildcats (7-2-1, 4-0 in UEC play) were not content to go to halftime with just a 1-0 lead.

Ninety seconds after Brindle's goal Doody fielded the ball cleanly and broke away from the defense to score again.

“I feel like we had trouble getting our rhythm at first, but the momentum shifted our way right after the first goal and our energy rose up,” Al-Qady said.

Neuqua continued to pour on the offense in the seconds before halftime. Doody’s cross to Brindle with thirty seconds remaining almost gave the Wildcats a commanding three goal lead, but the shot missed high.

Neuqua led 2-0 at the break.

“You want to put in as many (goals) as you can, but to get them right before halftime really puts an anchor on the other team,” Doody said

Bartlett goalie Alex Busch put on a clinic in the second half. He paved the way for his team to make a comeback by making six saves and not allowing a goal in the final forty minutes.

Busch finished the game with ten saves.

“Getting the two goals before halftime made us feel better and comfortable but it also made us a little too content, which hurt us today, ” Doody said.

With two and a half minutes to play the Hawks (7-4, 3-3) cut the Neuqua lead in half. A Bartlett throw-in produced a perfect placement for senior Brett Dini to connect on a header.

“In the first half we had a little bit of nerves just getting into the game. In the second we picked it up together and started playing as a team,” Dini said.

The Hawks did everything in their power to tie the game, but the Wildcat defense barely allowed the Hawks to possess the ball in the final two minutes. Neuqua almost scored a last second insurance goal when a header from Brindle came up empty.

“This is the stretch before playoffs when we have to keep up the hard work, keep winning and just progress from here,” Al-Qady said.

Neuqua returns to action on Tuesday as they host South Elgin. One week from Saturday the Wildcats will hit the road and travel to St. Louis to participate in the Gateway Classic tournament.

After outscoring Neuqua 1-0 in the second half, Dini is optimistic about his team’s immediate future. 

“We plan on taking this momentum with us into tomorrow’s tournament at Glenbrook North,” Dini said.