Warriors edge Wildcats in wind-swept nonconference match

 

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By Curt Herron

For a purist like Angelo DiBernardo, Thursday's weather conditions resulted in a very unappealing version of the game.

As a strong cross wind blew across Waubonsie Valley's pitch, what figured to be an interesting match between two improving teams became something different.

The meeting between Plainfield Central and the host Warriors turned into a struggle by both to make connections as the usual game plan needed to be scrapped.

About the only positive aspect to the chilly evening was that playing in such adverse conditions might actually benefit someone later on in the season.

After each squad picked up a goal during the opening 40 minutes, Waubonsie had more of the chances but was unable to find the right combination.

Things finally clicked for the Warriors in the 66th minute on a goal by Jesus Hernandez and that proved to be the difference in their 2-1 win in Aurora.

"I don't think that it's ever good to have a match like this, under these conditions," DiBernardo said. "But this is the time of the year when you're going to come across days like this and you have to adjust.

"The wind was a big factor today and luckily for both teams, the wind was more across the field than one way or the other, so there was no real advantage for either us or them.

Like so many other teams this season, goal scoring has been a problem for the Warriors, and the strong winds only made matters for difficult for them.

"From an offensive standpoint, it's been a frustrating year so far," DiBernardo said. "At times we can score goals in bunches and some times we can't and we hit the post and the crossbar."

Still, the veteran Warrior coach will gladly take the victory over a Wildcat team that entered the match with eight wins in their last nine decisions.

Plainfield Central (11-6-1) started the season at 3-4-1 but used wins over the likes of Oswego East, West Chicago and Elgin to spark its turnaround.

The same thing can be said of Waubonsie (5-6-2), which was 1-5 at one point but has gone 4-1-2 since with wins over teams such as Lake Park and Geneva.

Following a Saturday date against a good Larkin squad, Waubonsie prepares for its six-team tournament, which runs next Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

"We're playing much better," DiBernardo said. "There's a lot more energy and purpose of what to do but it's just that consistency and scoring continue to be problems for us."

In the final 40 minutes, the Warriors began applying the pressure to the Wildcats right away as Frankie Saiz sent a free kick to keeper Tyler Badertscher.

About 10 minutes after that, Waubonsie was back at it as Joey Braun was denied on an attempt from the side and Timmy Miller's long try also was halted.

A short time later, Howard Beatty bounced an attempt off of the post and Miller got the rebound but his shot went wide of the mark.

Just past the midway mark of the final half, Hernandez got off a shot from the side but the attempt was cleared away by Mo Rashid.

Not long after that, Badertscher hauled in a corner kick from Hernandez and then Rashid lined a long free kick to keeper Jordan Ward.

With less than a quarter hour remaining, Waubonsie finally found the net again after Miller sent a cross to Hernandez, who connected.

"It was very tough out there and we didn't start off very well today but we played through it and came out with the win," Hernandez said.

"The wind helped us with some of our shots in the second half. We played tough throughout and didn't try to worry about the conditions.

"Our team has been playing a lot better lately. Coach has been telling us in practice some things to work on and we've improved a lot."

The Warriors continued to attack after that, beginning with a try by Miller that Rashid headed away and later a clear by Nick Giocolo.

In the final 10 minutes, Sam Bell sent a liner just over the net and Rashid stopped Tyler Yanisch as he was driving toward the goal.

Central's Eddie Rios was wide of the mark a bit later and Badertscher came out of the goal to shut down a threat from Noah Griffith.

In the opening half, the Wildcats grabbed the early advantage about 10 minutes in when Nick Castellucci managed to find the net.

Waubonsie got the equalizer about 10 minutes later from Gytis Savukynas and the two sides had few good chances the rest of the half.

The Wildcats now turn their sights to Southwest Prairie Conference play, where they're currently in a three-way tie for the top spot.

They've split with those two schools, Oswego East and Plainfield South, but still have to meet up with Plainfield North in their finale.

Coach Kevin Fitzgerald's squad has a pair of key SPC home matches in the next few days, facing Minooka on Saturday and Oswego on Monday.

"The conditions were the same for both teams and it's not the reason that we lost," Fitzgerald said. "We can go home with our heads held up. We went without a couple of starters but a lot of guys stepped up.

"I thought we did okay. I'm not going to say that we played great, but we certainly didn't play poorly and I can't fault their effort. We played hard and that's always what we ask for.

"Each game in conference presents a different challenge. Minooka has a good team and we can't look past them. That should be a tough match so hopefully we have some guys back and we're ready to go."