Martinez scores late to lift Blackhawks past Romeoville

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By Curt Herron

Joe Sustersic likes a dramatic finish as much as the next guy, but he would just as soon avoid seeing them when it involves his West Aurora squad.

That's because the veteran Blackhawks coach witnessed his team extending a match to its limit or beyond for the fourth time in a little over two weeks.

And while the final result has gone the Blackhawks' way on three occasions, as it did on Saturday, matters could could have easily been resolved earlier.

West needed to get a score from Josue Martinez with 3:22 remaining to claim a 2-1 nonconference victory at Romeoville in its most recent dramatic finish.

The Spartans, coached by one of Sustersic's former assistants, Nick Cirrincione, fell behind late in the opening half following a score by James Brink.

While the Blackhawks failed to capitalize on opportunities to add to their lead, Romeoviile eventually got the equalizer with just 6:10 left in the match.

West eventually regained the lead on Martinez's score, but the final outcome wasn't assured until Abel Diaz hauled in a line drive in the closing seconds.

The win wasn't as dramatic as their last match, when the Blackhawks scored with 15 seconds left in regulation and won 4-3 in overtime over West Chicago.

But West also wasn't facing a two-goal deficit during the late going, like it was against Wego in Wednesday's DuPage Valley Conference contest in Aurora.

Sustersic was quick to praise the efforts of the Spartans, who earlier this season dropped a 2-1 decision to another DVC team, Wheaton Warrenville South.

Click to hear coach Joe Sustersic interview

The late-match dramatics didn't figure to be necessary for a Blackhawks squad that had won 11 of its first 15 matches, including four of its last five.

But someone forgot to tell that to Cirrincione's Spartans, who dropped their initial three matches before winning four of their next seven outings.

Although down a goal throughout the second half, Romeoville continued to challenge Diaz while keeper Luis Castillo stopped several West attempts.

The Spartan threats began just over two minutes after the break when Gustavo Moreno sent a grounder toward the net that forced a diving save by Diaz.

Over the next few minutes, West's Mario Alvarez was stopped on a liner, Moreno was denied on a grounder and West's Cesar Garcia was wide on a free kick.

Prior to the mid point of the half, Castillo denied a grounder from Brink and deflected a liner by Emmanuel Ochoa while Diaz snared a liner from Moreno.

West a good chance shortly after that when a deflection of a try by Josue Mejia off a Garcia corner went to Chavez, whose liner was denied by Castillo.

The Blackhawks kept up the pressure as Mike Vazquez was just wide on a line drive before Mejia sent in a header following a free kick from Martinez.

But it was Romeoville that struck next when Allan Benitez got free in front of the net and knocked in a loose ball to tie things with 6:10 remaining.

Less than three minutes later, Chavez sent a pass toward Martinez, who lined an attempt into the net to put the Blackhawks back in front for good.

West wasn't able to celebrate much at that point since the drama continued until Diaz hauled in a liner from Ernesto Chacon with five seconds left.

Click to hear Josue Martinez interview

There were fewer good scoring chances during the opening half of play, with most of the best opportunities coming during the closing 10 minutes.

Following the halfway mark of the half, Alvarez and Brink were stopped on good attempts while Andy Arriola sent a liner that was halted by Diaz.

The Blackhawks grabbed the early lead with 7:47 left before the break when Martinez sent a pass toward Brink, who connected from close range.

Click to hear James Brink interview

Romeoville had a good chance to tie things about a minute later but Dennis Palacios sent a free kick from jut outside of the box over the net.

West had another good opportunity before the intermission when Alvarez sent in a long free kick, but the bouncer was handled by the Spartan keeper.

Despite seeing his team come up just short to another quality opponent, Cirrincione, a former Glenbard North athlete, was pleased with the effort.

Click to hear coach Nick Cirrincione interview

The Blackhawks have a busy week ahead with home matches against Glenbard North on Tuesday, Hinsdale South on Thursday and Bolingbrook on Saturday.