Redhawks still control DVC destiny despite tying Wego

By Eddie Burns
Photos courtesy of Bret Richter

With the way the first half and second half of Naperville Central's match with West Chicago played out on Tuesday, neither team was recognizable from the way it played from one half to the other.

The end result for the Redhawks and Wildcats was a 1-1 draw in a DuPage Valley Conference match in Naperville.

West Chicago played splendid soccer in the first half and really took the action to Naperville Central. The Wildcats were aggressive and created several scoring chances.

The Wildcats (6-7-4, 2-2-2) tallied its goal in the 17th minute when Esteban Fernandez sent a cross and teammate Carlos Martinez finished with a shot that went past Central goalie Zach Richter.

West Chicago's lead could have been more, but they were unsuccessful at finishing in and around the Central goal.

"We really played the type of soccer we like to play the first half," West Chicago's Jenaro Terrazas said. "We created a lot of chances, but unfortunately, we only had one goal to show for our efforts."

Aldair Vega, Antonio Maldonado, Denis Mahmic, Terrazas and Fernandez all generated potentially-dangerous situations near the Central goal, but they could not help extend the Wildcats’ lead, which stood at 1-0 at halftime.

The second half was a completely different game.

"We talked at halftime that there was not one positive thing we could have taken out of that first half and that is what we told them," Central coach Troy Adams said.

"West Chicago really played well in the first half. They really got up the field very quickly and our work-rate didn't match theirs' in the first half.

"I don't care how talented you are and how many games you play, but if you don't work hard, you are not going to have the results you want and you are going to end up tying and losing games that you really think you should win."

The Redhawks (9-4-1, 3-0-1) were the aggressors from the moment the second half began. Central was flying all over the field, creating scoring chances.

"You have to give Central credit because they really stepped up their game in the second half," West Chicago coach Steve Brugmann said.

"They put a lot more pressure on us defensively and offensively. The first half we were able to slow the pace and find each other and that all disappeared in the second half."

Central played like a completely different team. The Redhawks took the play to West Chicago and Central were rewarded for their efforts when Conner Allen converted off AJ Seaman's corner kick in the 55th minute.

"In the second half we were a lot more patient," Adams said. "We settled down and showed very good patience in the back. Offensively, we moved the ball over the field and that was evident by our goal."

From that point forward, the match grew that much more intense as both sides became aggressive. The tough, physical play resulted in one player from each team being removed because of red cards,

As a result, the final 20 minutes of regulation and both 10-minute overtimes were played with 10 players on each side.

"We are a very aggressive team because we really want to win – both teams really wanted to play well," Terrazas said. "We pulled it off and rallied behind each other playing with only 10 guys."

Central sophomore midfielder Jack Patrick agreed that the match grew a lot more physical as it played out to its conclusion.

"They were annoying and came in hard on every tackle," said Patrick about the Wildcats' attack. "I respect that and we should have matched their intensity.

"We haven't been finishing and we have to get better in that area as the postseason approaches."

Adams agreed that things got a little out of hand.

"It went a little nuts there for a while – especially when the game has such a dramatic switch to it," Adams said.

"In the first half, we got absolutely lit up and from the moment the second half started we lit them up and as a result, each team got testy and everyone was feisty about where they should be."

The Redhawks did generate scoring chances thanks to strong efforts from all over the roster.

"We are receiving contributions from all over and that is a huge plus about this group," Patrick said. "We've also been solid in the back. Sam Reskala and Blake Beehler have stepped up from JV1.

"People have been switching positions and moving around. It helps that we have Peter Beasley and Pat Flynn doing a nice job of controlling the midfield."

Both sides walked away with a tie, but the Wildcats left discouraged by the inability to put distance between them and the Redhawks when the opportunities presented themselves.

"We've been frustrated all season because we've felt we’re in control of a lot of games and we let them get away from us and I think that happened tonight," Brugmann said. "We probably should have had three or four additional goals in the first half.

"Hopefully, that will all change in the postseason. We are discouraged by this outcome. We expected to come out of here with a win. We know that we're a good team and thought we could outplay them, but it is not the result we wanted."

Despite the draw, Central can still win the DuPage Valley Conference championship if it wins its final three games against WW South, Glenbard North and Naperville North.

"While nobody likes to tie -- we are still in position to win conference," Adams said. "We control our own destiny. At least it keeps one of our goals of winning DVC in our own control."

Each goalie – West Chicago's Adrian Porcayo and Central's Richter -- did a fine job of keeping their respective team in the match.

In addition, Martin Orozco, Gilberto Villa, Christopher Quintana and Daniel Hernandez were instrumental in helping preserve West Chicago's backline.