Huskies score late to edge Mustangs for regional title

By Curt Herron

Downers Grove South got the better of Oak Park and River Forest when the two squads first met up a month ago.

But the Huskies got their opportunity to get some revenge on Friday when they faced the Mustangs in the Class 3A OPRF Regional championship.

Just as it did in its 1-0 victory on September 23, Downers South collected the initial goal to again grab the early advantage over OPRF.

However, the Huskies got the equalizer shortly before halftime to grab the momentum and then enjoyed the better chances in the final half.

OPRF capitalized on an own goal with 8:41 remaining and then made that score stand as it went on to post a 2-1 victory at Oak Park Stadium.

It was the second regional title in three years for coach Paul Wright's team. A year ago, OPRF was upset by Fenwick in the regional final.

As a result of its win, OPRF (15-4-3) now advances to Tuesday's Argo Sectional, where it takes on Morton in a 4:00 p.m. match.

Morton edged Hinsdale Central 1-0 in double overtime on Friday to earn its spot in the sectional semifinals at the Summit school.

The Huskies and Morton met on October 8 in Oak Park and the hosts claimed a 2-0 win as the Mustangs rested many of their regulars.

On Friday, Mike Bower set up the winning score when he sent a long free kick toward the net that deflected off of a Mustangs defender.

Elias El Metennani connected on a liner with 1:17 left before the break to pull the hosts into a 1-1 draw as they headed into halftime.

That score overcame the lead that Downers South (12-6-4) took when Nick Suker scored off a Joe McLean corner kick in the 16th minute.

Click to hear coach Paul Wright interview

Things seemed to go in opposite directions for the two squads after they brought 8-1-2 records into their first match in Downers Grove.

OPRF has gone 7-2-1 in its last 10 outings, with its defeats coming in a shootout to Downers Grove North and by a goal to Lyons Township.

Meanwhile, coach Jon Stapleton's team only went 3-5-2 down the stretch, which included two straight wins heading into the regional final.

The loss was tough to swallow for Downers South, which was hoping to win its sixth regional in seven years after missing out a year ago.

Making matters worse for Stapleton is that the squad was senior-oriented and the coach knows that replacing that group will be difficult.

Click to hear coach Jon Stapleton interview

Speaking of being difficult to replace, the Huskies welcomed back keeper Sam Euler, who missed the past few weeks with mononucleosis.

The senior assumed his leadership role in the back and limited Downers South's chances thanks to his long free kicks and clearances.

In addition, he stopped everything that the Mustangs sent his way during the final half, which was much less than the Huskies managed.

The tone for the final half seemed to be set during the closing minutes of the opening half, where OPRF gave itself a much-needed boost.

Things started when Zack Weigel sent a header over the net following a corner from El Metennani before Euler stopped a liner from Suker.

Not long after that, Mustangs keeper Sam Hadley punched away a free kick from El Metennani but he wasn't so lucky a short time later.

As the first half was winding down, El Metennani fired off a liner from the side that Hadley got a hand on but wasn't able to stop.

The Huskies kept up the pressure right before the break when El Metennani sent a header to Hadley, after a long free kick from Euler.

It was more of the same once the new half got underway, beginning with a header from Lamm to Hadley following an El Metennani corner.

Gian luca Locasto followed with another header to the Mustangs keeper and then Roman Zwarycz sailed a short free kick over the net.

One of Downers South's best second half chances came midway through when Zach Baleski fired off a short attempt that Euler deflected.

A few minutes later, Stephen Golz had a shot altered by a Mustang defender and then Weigel sent a header to Hadley following a corner.

That sequence set the table for Bower's threatening free kick with just under nine minutes left that found the net for the final goal.

Click to hear Mike Bower interview

Just over a minute after the go-ahead score, McLean sent in a corner that was deflected high in the air before being grabbed by Euler.

As time wound down, Joe Sombeck directed a long attempt toward the net that the Huskie keeper punched away to finally end the drama.

For much of the opening half, it looked like there might be a different outcome, especially after the Mustangs grabbed the early lead.

Suker headed in a shot following a corner kick from McLean to give Downers South the advantage, which it no longer held by the break.

The defeat marked a disappointing end for the 13 Mustang seniors, which included co-captains Suker and Hadley plus Baleski and McLean.

Other seniors were Tim Herlihy, Conor Kelch, Mike Leahy, David Masolak, Mike Paczkowski, Ivan Torrijos, Tony Uhlen, Kevin Wisniewski and Kyle Wolf.

Click to hear Nick Suker interview