On the postage-stamp sized pitch at Olympic Park in Schaumburg, both Metea Valley and St. Francis overcame a roaring wind to play some pretty good soccer Tuesday in a quarterfinal breakfast special at the Spartans Springfest Invite.

The Mustangs scored twice in the second period to break open a tight match and went on to defeat the tourney hosts 2-0 before later edging Benet Academy 2-1 to advance to today's finals against York.

"I thought it was a very good game despite the conditions," said Spartans head coach Jim Winslow, who was opposite his longtime friend from club soccer and the Fox Valley Strikers, Pat Feulner, who has assembled a quality side himself following a 2011 campaign that ended in the regional final loss to eventual 3A state runner-up Naperville North.

"We've had a good start this season, but weren't really challenged in our first (three) games, so we knew a game against (Jim) would be our first real test of the year," said Feulner, whose squad improved to 6-0 on the season.

With all the attacking talent on both clubs for fans to watch and enjoy, this match was really about who could manage tornado-like winds when it was at their back and which backline would be stout enough to take on the hard breeze in their faces.

"(It) made playing against the wind very difficult and it wasn't much better when you had it at your back because everything went flying when you served or sent a ball over the top," said Metea's Holly Krol said.

"We didn't attack (their) 4-4-3 in the first half very well and we really just played into their hand(s) - and by not getting the ball wide, and trying to go up the middle with almost everything, we weren't able to generate much and ended up defending more than we wanted to," said Krol, a Mustangs co-captain.

The backline quartet of Taylor Bucaro, Meghan Wagner, Kate Robak and Ally Mastroianni were air-tight in front of keeper Jenna DiTusa and were partly responsible for the Mustangs' inability to create much in the way of an attack in the first half.

Also helping the Spartan cause was junior Anna Vonderhaar, who sat just in front of her mates in the back and tackled with near perfection while going forward when the opportunity arose.

While the wind made it difficult for either club to knock the ball around, or go direct when they needed to, the Spartans did well to pry open their opponents in their own area for most of the first half with nicely-played balls from Amanda Gaggioli in the middle, Vonderhaar and Mastroianni, who joined the attack from her outside back position.

"We did really well playing balls in behind them all throughout that first half but not as much as we should have in the second half and that was one of the reasons they enjoyed the run of play (then) and we were forced to defend more than attack," said Winslow.

If Gaggioli, Vonderhaar and Andrea Ravlin were allowed time and space, this trio created the most danger for the Mustangs - but it was senior Sydney Fox who went closest for the Spartans (4-1) in the first half, as well as Katie Bucaro, who were both turned away by Metea's fine keeper Megan Geldernick.

"We've got a lot of confidence in our backline and keeper, who together are really a strong unit," said Mustangs junior Alyssa Fox.

After intermission, the speed and energy of play increased from both clubs, but it was the Mustangs who enjoyed the run of play, thanks in part to having the wind at their back and to the fact that the foursome of Fox, Krol, Jenna Kentgen and Kristina Tomaras were getting plenty of touches with each growing in confidence when they were on the ball.

Tomaras had a go at DiTusa - as did Kengten to the near post - and with Rachel Stoffregen free to go forward from out of the back, the Mustangs' began to flood the Spartans' area more than ever, which would eventually lead to the first goal of the match.

"We made a few changes at (half) and played so much better in the second half," admitted Krol.

With a moment of pure brilliance, Fox touched past DiTusa 20 minutes into the second half and suddenly the Mustangs' had the lead and plenty of momentum going forward.

"That first goal by Alyssa was a pretty one and one that we'll cut her a little slack on because we know her from our club team," joked Winslow.

"It was a nice goal and so was their second one - but that (one) came so late, and it didn't really matter much then."

"I began the match at center (mid) and coach moved me up top later on, so I was lucky to be in (that) position to score that goal," offered Fox.

Gaggioli and Katie Bucaro did their best to energize the Spartans' attack as they searched to equalize, but Geldernicks' booming punts with the wind pinned the tourney hosts back in their own end in the final 10 minutes of regulation.

Except for Taylor Bucaro's free kick sent over the bar, Winslow's side just wasn't able to get anything of worth on frame down the stretch.

"We put out a good effort against Jim's team which has a lot of skill and talent, (I) think some of the best in the area by far," Feulner said.

"We didn't allow a goal prior to this match, so this was a good test to see where we are so far, and I thought we did very well."

Tomaras got into the scorebook at the tail-end of the match when she one-timed a perfect helper from Kentgen past DiTusa.

"Heading into the season and seeing our team ranked high in the preseason is great. It makes us all work harder, and in the end, it will make us better prepared for the postseason," Krol said.