Tigers fall to Redhawks as recent struggles continue

By Curt Herron

In a frustrating season where Wheaton Warrenville South has lost matches in many different fashions, it unfortunately found another way Thursday.

Playing against a Naperville Central squad that is in battling for the DuPage Valley Conference title, the Tigers gave them all they could handle.

But the Redhawks made the made of an own goal late in the first half and added another late goal of their own to claim a 2-0 victory in Naperville.

It was another tough defeat for WW South, which fell to 6-10-2 overall and an uncharacteristic 0-5 mark in the DVC, which puts them in last place.

But despite seeing his squad go 1-6-1 during their last eight matches, coach Guy Callipari believes that the Tigers can still turn things around.

WW South has four matches left in the regular season and with the return of George Doran, Callipari hopes the Tigers can gear up for the playoffs.

They showed some encouraging signs before becoming the eighth shutout victim of the year to the Redhawks, who are now 10-4-1 and 4-0-1 in the DVC.

Click to hear coach Guy Callipari interview

South had a couple of good chances just after the midway point of the opening half but Erik Yamane was denied on both a deflection and a grounder.

Then with around 12 minutes left in the opening half, the Redhawks applied some pressure of their own on keeper Josh Dix with a pair of throw ins.

The first effort was deflected off a defender for a repeat, which bounced off a Tiger defender and into the net with 11:41 left before the break.

Central had more chances shortly before the intermission with Jack Patrick lining a shot over the net and Conner Allen seeing a close try deflected.

Adam Hamielec followed a short time later with a liner that forced Dix to make a diving stop for the host's last good attempt of the first 40 minutes.

WW South had one last salvo just before the break when Joe Holz sent a liner which keeper Mike Pavliga hauled in just seconds before the whistle blew.

Click to hear Joe Holz interview

The Redhawks did a pretty good job of keeping the Tigers from threatening, allowing only one good attempt before WW South finally got off a few serious threats during the final 10 minutes.

Central had the upper hand in chances following the break, beginning with a short shot by Flynn that was deflected and wound up bouncing off the post.

Allen followed with a liner that was just wide of the net a short time later and Tiger Thomas Schubert sent a grounder to Pavliga not long after that.

Noah Kalbfeld later saw a grounder deflected away by the keeper and Conner Cunningham sent a grounder in the same direction a couple of minutes later.

WW South's best late chances came on a long free kick from Will Huesing that was headed over the net and a close try from Yusuf Yusuf that was halted.

Pat Flynn ended the drama when he put in a short attempt with just 2:31 remaining to give the hosts an insurance goal.

Click to hear Will Huesing interview