Redwings stunned by second half Mustangs comeback

Photos courtesy of Barb English

By Curt Herron

Things were looking pretty good for Benet Academy midway through its Monday nonconference match against Metea Valley in Aurora.

The Redwings led the Mustangs 2-0 at the break following what coach Sean Wesley proclaimed as his team's best half of the season.

Meanwhile, Metea hadn't played that poorly through the initial half but still looked like it was headed for another frustrating loss.

But a lot of things can change during the final 40 minutes of play, a fact that was again demonstrated during this match.

Metea turned in one of its better halves of the season and scored three times to rally for a 3-2 victory over the Redwings.

After dropping some close matches during a 1-4 stretch, the come-from-behind victory was obviously huge for the Mustangs.

Metea coach Josh Robinson hopes that the win can turn things around for the first-year program, which entered with a 4-7 record.

The Mustangs also needed a bit of a boost as they head into a busy week where they'll run into three other quality opponents.

After hosting Geneva tonight, Metea plays at Naperville North on Thursday and travels to Lemont for a Warrior Invite match on Saturday.

Click to hear coach Josh Robinson interview

Zack Bavol got the match-winner with just 3:17 to go to cap a comeback where the Mustangs scored three goals in less than 29 minutes.

On the evening's final goal, Chris Freeman sent a great pass to Bavol, who lined an attempt that found the opposite side of the net.

Freshman Freeman pumped life into the Mustangs when he connected with 28:55 remaining to provide his squad's first goal of the night.

The momentum shifted Metea's way after Ryan Solomon scored on a header off a rebound of a header by Brett Erwin with 12:28 remaining.

Click to hear Zack Bavol interview

Metea (5-7) had the first good chance in the final half when Bavol sent a long free kick to keeper Tony Auerbach eight minutes in.

About a minute later, Benet (5-5-1) responded when Brian Morefield sent a liner from the side that was deflected for a corner kick.

Then a short time later, Freeman came up with a loose ball and fired in a shot which suddenly gave Metea new life with 28:55 left.

The Redwings tried to answer that score and had two close calls during the next eight minutes but wound up holding the one-goal lead.

Hunter Miller was stopped on a liner by Mustangs keeper Derek Carothers and then Kevin Doyle followed with an attempt over the net.

After Bavol was again denied on a long try with just over 16 minutes left, the hosts capitalized on another break to even things up.

Erwin bounced a close-range attempt off of the post but Solomon was there to head in a short shot with 12:28 left to create a tie.

Both squads had chances during the next seven minutes, beginning with Mustang Joel Schmidt's grounder that Auerbach had to dive for.

In the final 10 minutes, Benet's Sean Mogan sent a liner that Carothers got a hand on and later Morefield had a try deflected away.

All of those late opportunities set the table for the nice combination between Freeman and Bavol that resulted in the final goal.

Click to hear Derek Carothers interview

After both squads had some early chances, Benet moved in front with 17:50 left in the opening half on a short shot by Andrew Slaga.

Not long after Morefield bounced a shot off the side of the post, the Redwings connected again to give them a two-goal advantage.

Ben Kucera fired in a liner from about 35 yards out that found the net with 6:13 to play before the break for Benet's second score.

The Redwings nearly scored again with 90 seconds remaining in the half but Carothers shut down a try by Miller in front of the net.

Benet was definitely in the driver's seat at that point but the tide shifted to Metea a short time later and the hosts built on it.

While the defeat was disappointing for a Redwings squad that had won three of its last four, Wesley focused on his team's early play.

The first-year coach hopes that his team can put together two halves similar to the one that they opened up with in Monday's match.

They'll get their chance on Wednesday when they meet up with Marist in a key East Suburban Catholic Conference showdown in Lisle.

Click to hear coach Sean Wesley interview