Red Devils top Willowbrook in Lombard

By Casey Callanan

One year ago a match between Willowbrook and Hinsdale Central was so lopsided, the Red Devils blew past the Warriors 6-0.

This season a greatly improved Willowbrook squad forced the Red Devils to stave off a late rally, and escape with a 2-1 road win on Saturday.

“Both teams worked hard. We just played with a lot of mental focus and anticipation,” said Hinsdale senior Mike Oleferchik.

Hinsdale lost to Lyons 3-2 earlier this week and the Warriors refused to pack it in against a team coming off a one-goal loss to a team that sits high in the state rankings.

With just under ten minutes to play, Hinsdale junior Zach Chiaramonte’s feet tangled with a Willowbrook player scrambling to score inside the box. The Warriors called on senior Hector Herrera to take the penalty kick and he buried it.

Hinsdale fought just hard enough to thwart the Warrior’s final push to tie the game in the remaining minutes.

“I’m happy with how well our team played around the ball,” said Willowbrook coach Brian Frank. “The penalty was obviously a credit to us being down there in front of the goal.”

On a blustery afternoon with less than ideal scoring conditions, both squads went into halftime scoreless. Willowbrook goalie Ely Bektteshoski stood strong for the Warriors in the first twenty minutes by saving three shots as Hinsdale brought pressure the entire half.

“I feel like I could’ve done a little better, but it was a solid game overall,” Bektteshoski said. “The wind looked like it affected (Hinsdale’s) first goal. But you can’t blame it all on the wind.”

The first Hinsdale goal came ten minutes into the second half. Sophomore Phillip Gutman cut-off Willowbrook’s counter attack with a timely steal, and the Red Devils took full advantage of the possession.

Hinsdale junior Mark Tyler was fouled hard as he drove to the goal just outside of the penalty box. Oleferchik banged in the ensuing free kick from thirty yards out, and Hinsdale grabbed the 1-0 lead.

“I was trying to bend one in and the wind took it. The shot had a little spin on it too,” Oleferchik said. “It was interesting.”

With so much movement on Oleferchik's shot, speculation ensued. "We were trying to determine if the goal was deflected, but I think it was just the wind,” Wiggins said.

Gutman extended the Red Devil’s lead by scoring on an assist from junior Gareth Parsons just seven minutes after the first goal.

“I followed the play, the ball slipped through and I was there to tap it in,” Gutman said. “I was really yelling for the ball. I knew I had no one on me.”

The Warriors picked up the intensity after Gutman’s goal but never found an equalizing goal.

“I didn’t feel like anyone stepped up for us on defense in the last ten minutes,” Wiggins said. “The fact that we put ourselves in the position to allow a (penalty kick) is an example of how we created too many opportunities for them.”

Saturday’s second half was an example of an improved Willowbrook offense just one year removed from a blowout loss to the Red Devils.

“We were keeping the ball and pressuring for the penalty kick,” Bektteshoski said. “We were controlling the ball really well in the last ten minutes.”

The poor scoring conditions eventually worked against Willowbrook’s attempt at a comeback. “Both teams worked hard to play through the conditions,” Oleferchik said.

The Red Devils visit York on Tuesday night, while Willowbrook returns to action on the same night with a game at Proviso East.