Hornets hold off Willowbrook in Darien

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By D.J. Wanberg

What walked like a potential rout, talked like a potential rout, and smelled like a potential rout turned into an exciting soccer game Tuesday night at Hinsdale South.

The host Hornets took the first half-hour of the game to easily jump out to a 3-0 advantage. The Warriors got a late goal in the first half and in the final 40 minutes, six total goals were scored. At the end, Hinsdale South had held off Willowbrook 6-4 in West Suburban Gold competition.

Senior Kyle Murbach led the victors (2-6-2, 1-2) with two goals including the game-winner.  Junior Ben Draus paced the Warrior offense with three goals.

The six goals were the most the Hornets have scored in a game all season. The ability to finally open up the offense in a contest is a confidence builder, according to Hinsdale South coach James VanDenburgh.

"We've been challenging teams, battling teams. But teams got a few early goals on us and we have to play from behind. Tonight, we were putting in goals and getting ahead," he said.

Crunch time came with just 2:19 left in the game.  A Hornets foul in the penalty area meant a penalty kick for Willowbrook and Draus easily deposited his shot for his final score of the night to tie the game at 4-all.

The deadlock lasted only 36 seconds as Murbach grabbed a rebound off a save by Warriors goalkeeper Luke Rusekowski (15 saves) and gave Hinsdale South what would be the permanent lead.

This night of offense wrapped up with just 32 seconds left as Hornet junior T.J. Kubiesa gave his team's lead some cushion.

"We knew we were the better team and we needed to get back to business and finish on top," Murbach said of Willowbrook tying the game.

In the first half, it was all Hinsdale South as it led in shots on goal 11-1. The Hornets got on the scoreboard 9:49 into the game as Jeremy Leganski put a shot from 15 yards up and out of reach of Rusekowski. The play started on a corner kick from Joey Gangi.

About seven minutes later, Hornet Bobby Jaworski went on a breakaway and it took a skillful effort from Willowbrook's Dylan Jones to knock him off the ball. Soon after Jaworski's teammate, Adam Garcia, booted a shot that hit the net's crossbar.

With 20:49 left until halftime, Rory Caputo made it 2-0 on an assist from Garcia. Nick Campagna pushed the score to 3-0 on a 30-yard shot.  It looked like Hinsdale South was in complete control.

But just over two minutes later, Draus moved quickly on a restart and his 35-yard shot finally put Willowbrook on the scoreboard.

"That goal kept us in the game instead of us rolling over," Draus said. "We kept fighting."

Defensively in the first half, Hinsdale South's Giancarlo Cianelli made a nice play to stop  a surging Tito Cabral  and end probably Willowbrook's best offensive chance in that time span.

With 34:25 left in the game, Cabral's shot went up and over and out of reach of Hinsdale South goalie Paras Patel (four saves) to cut the score to 3-2.

Murbach made it 4-2 just less than six minutes later when he went on a breakaway after a failed clearing attempt by the Warrior defense. Draus scored his second goal of the contest to make it 4-3 with 24:36 remaining.

The loss dropped Willowbrook, who hosts nonconference foe Glenbard East on Thursday, to 1-13-1.

"We made adjustments at halftime and came out stronger in the second half," Warriors coach Brian Frank said. "Dumb mistakes just killed us, backing off the ball, not marking the right guy. It's stuff that will come with experience."

There are only five seniors on this season's roster and it's been a tough road for the Warriors so far. But Frank likes his team's attitude.

"Even when we've been down (in a game), the team has been very positive. We're playing short-handed and we have a lot of young talent. It's a testimonial to this team that they don't give up," he said.

The Hornets, who outshot the Warriors 21-7 for the game, remain in conference play Thursday with a trip to Morton.