Wildcats pour it on against Streamwood

By John Barrett

For one team, the timing was perfect. For the other, it’s good the next game is less than 24 hours away.

In Monday’s nonconference contest in Streamwood, West Chicago dominated early, quickly dashed any hopes of a comeback and cruised to a 5-0 victory at Millennium Field.

“Everything was working for us – we had good chemistry out there and a lot of one-two touches that made them tired,” said Wildcat senior midfielder Aldair Vega. “It feels good because we know we’re better than what other people think of us based on our record.”

West Chicago (6-7-3) had not been involved in a game with a margin of more than two goals all season but looked like it wanted to end that streak right from the opening whistle, earning three corner kicks in the first 3:30.

Vega and sophomore midfielder Diego Munoz were instrumental in producing those scoring opportunities. Although that trio of kicks did not produce a goal, both players would figure prominently into the scoreboard later on.

The first goal followed a Vega free kick that forced Streamwood goalkeeper Jose Resendiz to making a diving save that put the ball over the end line. That set up Vega’s corner kick that bounced off of a defender and to the foot of senior forward Jared Perez, who trapped the ball and banged it in at the near post for a 1-0 Wildcats’ lead 15:37 in.

Less than six minutes later, a Sabre foul left Vega with a free kick attempt from 37 yards out. The ball rocketed off his foot, shoulder high, around the wall, and inside the far post past a diving Resendiz, who would have a busy night, making nine saves.

Although that goal only doubled the Wildcats’ lead, it had a larger effect on a young Streamwood (3-14-2) squad that has been without its best player for more than a month.

“We were coming off a win over a very good Larkin team (1-0 Oct. 2 in Elgin, thanks to Juan Ortiz’s goal) but this goes with our inconsistency all season,” said Streamwood head coach Matt Polovin. “We have a couple of really good games and then we have one like we did tonight.”

The Sabres could certainly have used senior forward Ivan Arce, a four-varsity member and all-state-caliber player according to Polovin and who scored the game-winning goal in his team’s 2-1 upset of Geneva on Aug. 30.

But it was also in that game’s final 10 minutes where a defender fell on Arce, who would suffer a ruptured artery and lacerated kidney. He may return for Streamwood’s Class 3A playoff opener, Friday, Oct. 15, at York.

Without him, they were outshot 15-6 and unable to mount any rally. The Wildcats’ goal just 4:32 into the second half didn’t help, either.

On that score, junior forward Esteban Fernandez made one of many dangerous runs down the left side, flicking the ball into the middle for senior Giovanni Gomez. His shot was blocked by a Streamwood defender but the ball rebounded to junior Carlos Martinez, who punched it inside the far post.

It was at this point where momentum slowly began to swing Streamwood’s way. Runs by players like freshman Nestor Ascencio, sophomore Ivan Vivero and junior Victor Aguilar made the Wildcats hold their breath a bit.

Perhaps the Sabres’ best scoring chance came early in the 55th minute when Vivero’s shot on goal forced West Chicago’s Marcel Carrasco to make a diving save. The ensuing corner kick forced another diving save. And though Carrasco was tested by shots from the Sabres’ Christian Rodriguez, Adelaido Brito and Brandon Malpartida, among others, he posted the shutout.

However, credit for that must also be given to Wildcats like Christopher Quintana, Daniel Hernandez, Danny Alanis and Denis Mahmic, who kept things quiet for their goalie most of the night. According to the roster, Hernandez stands just 5 feet, 3 inches and weighs 127 pounds. However, his coach is not surprised at what the sophomore can do.

“He’s a gifted student so Daniel knows how to play smart and in the toughest situations,” Brugmann said. “He had the three best games of his life in our two double-overtime games (Sept. 9 and 10 vs. Oswego and Glenbard East, respectively) and against (defending Class 3A state champion) Lyons Township.”

Streamwood frustrated the Wildcats just enough to keep them off the scoreboard for the next 30 minutes before Martinez took another beautiful Fernandez feed and made it 4-0 at 74:20. Fernandez completed the scoring with just 55 seconds remaining, with the assist going to Munoz.

If West Chicago plays up to its potential the remainder of the regular season and into the playoffs, it will be because of defense first. Though the Wildcats still need to shore up their ability to finish off scoring chances, their backline will be crucial, especially against a regular-season slate of Naperville Central (No. 3 seed in the same Class 3A Naperville North Sectional as the ninth-seeded Wildcats), Nazareth (No. 4 seed in Class 2A Wheaton Academy Sectional), Naperville North (No. 2 seed in its sectional) and Bartlett.

There’s also the painful reminder of its Sept. 22 game at West Aurora, a DuPage Valley Conference matchup in which West Chicago held a 3-0 lead before being stunned by the Blackhawks, 4-3. The two meet again Oct. 19 in the semifinals of the West Chicago Regional.

Streamwood, which traveled to St. Charles North Tuesday night, will need to overcome some mental obstacles if it is to get past the Dukes for a Lake Park Regional semifinal matchup with the host Lancers, who tied Streamwood 0-0 less than two weeks ago.

“If the ball is in the box we’ve got to hit it – we didn’t do a good enough job of keeping him (Carrasco) on his toes,” Polovin said. “I know this team is young (two seniors, three freshmen in starting lineup) but I think some of them are afraid of failure, of launching the ball 50 yards over the net. We need others besides Victor Aguilar to step up and take shots. If we don’t get that, our postseason will be one and done.”