Warriors focused on Wheaton Cup after falling to Benet

By Eddie Burns

All coaches have their own philosophies on how to handle the final weeks of the regular season as they begin to prepare for the postseason.

One thing both Benet Academy coach Sean Wesley and Wheaton Academy coach Jeff Brooke agree is that the health of the team is important with the postseason on the horizon.

Therefore, both teams sat key components during their nonconference match on Tuesday in Lisle.

Benet played without Brendon Geisor, Brad Bozych and Ryan Reilly while Wheaton Academy went without co-captain Devin Moore.

Despite not operating at full strength, the teams put forth an entertaining match that Benet won 1-0.

Each team used the match as a measuring stick of sorts while getting everything just right with postseason play set to begin as early as this weekend.

"For us, we're trying to peak as we head into the playoffs," Wheaton Academy's Stephen Fernandes said.

"These games this week are very important to us for that particular reason, but at the same time we want to stay healthy and we're not going to risk things regarding injuries."

Benet senior Brian Morefield provided the winning margin.

Morefield's goal went into motion when he used his chest to gain control of the ball and then he turned and ripped a left-footed shot past Wheaton Academy goalie Jesse Carmody in the 20th minute.

"We've been working hard in practice at how to finish, making runs, settling in and having a good directional control and shooting," said Morefield, who is right-footed.

"I'm not going to lie – it was kind of a lucky shot, but you just have to shoot and hope for the best."

Teammates and fans marveled at the goal.

"It was a strike," teammate Chris Lucke said.

It was fitting that Morefield provided the winning margin because he's been a big part of Benet's resurgence as the Redwings have increased their win streak to five games.

Morefield began the season with an ankle injury during Benet's 2-2 tie with Downers Grove North. He tried to play through the pain, but he eventually had to miss a few matches.

But the rest served him well as he now leads the team with eight goals.

"Brian Morefield has really taken his game to a new level," Benet coach Sean Wesley said. "He has been by far one of the biggest surprises of the year.

"He is our leading goal scorer and he is not involved in our set pieces and his position is outside midfield. I would like to know what other team has an outside midfielder as their leading goal scorer?"

Wesley really appreciates the extra effort that Morefield puts into his play.

"He throws himself into the box and he's willing to make that run 80 yards from one end to the other, not get that ball and turn around and run back," Wesley said.

"I wanted to move him and put him in the center of the field, but he plays outside midfield perfectly and he gets results."

Benet (10-6-1) dominated play for the first 30 minutes, but the Warriors (13-6-1) eventually helped swing the match in their favor.

"We started to move the ball and that is going to be a big key for us as we move into the postseason," Wheaton Academy's Joshua Urban said.

"We have to be able to move the ball to help build and sustain a solid attack if we are going to go deep in the postseason. We also need to have variety with our attack."

The Warriors managed to generate some scoring chances but they were few and far between against Benet's stingy back line.

That defense consisted, at times, of Lucke, Hunter Miller, Joe Mahoney, Sean Mogan and goalie Kyle DalSanto. Benet now has nine shutouts this season.

A noticeable change to Benet's back alignment is that the Redwings use a flat-back four defensive philosophy.

"We started with more of a diamond shape, but coach always had planned for us to go to a flat back because that is the formation used by the best teams," Lucke said.

"We've been working on it and we're coming together great in the back."

Wesley said he placed Mogan in the back in an attempt to help find a better match for Mahoney since Reilly's status remains unknown for the postseason.

"(This week) is about building about what we want to see (come playoffs)," Wesley said.

"It is crazy to think that we're building toward the playoffs and I'm still messing with the lineup, but that's what we're doing."

One person in the back that Wesley does not have to worry about is Lucke.

When the season began Wesley didn't know where he fit into his plans, but Lucke has played his way onto the field as one of Benet's main cogs in the back.

"He has passion and wants it," Wesley said. "He is what makes high school soccer special. He wasn't a starter at beginning of the year, but he's fought his way into the starting lineup and fought his way into being a team leader and fought his way into helping us win games.

"You love kids like that – that is what high school soccer is all about: Having the kid who is a good player, but surprises the heck out of you and turns into a linchpin on the field that we need him on the field to be successful."

Lucke and his teammates made sure the Warriors' attack never really go on track without Moore.

"What really hurt us was not having Devin (Moore)," Urban said. "He is our center midfielder and he wins a lot of balls in the midfield for us.

"He helps get our offensive attack started. I think that threw us off a bit. It took us some time find a rhythm, but in the second half we started to find the better of our play."

Both teams have key matches to close out the regular season portion of their schedules.

Wheaton Academy plays at Wheaton Warrenville South on Thursday and Benet hosts Saint Viator on Friday.

"One of our goals when the season began was to win the Wheaton Cup and we're on our way since we've already beaten St. Francis and Wheaton North," Fernandes said.

"We definitely want to win that game and we haven't beaten WW South in a long time."