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Sandburg edges out Andrew
Updated: September 20, 2011 9:41PM
No matter the sport or the teams’ records, when Andrew and Sandburg meet, everything goes out the window.
Even when a 6-3-3 Eagles team, with two losses coming to powerhouses Lyons and Naperville North and the other to a one-loss Lincoln-Way Central squad, faces a reeling Thunderbolts squad, everyone prepares for a battle.
“No matter what team Andrew has out there they will always get up to play us,” Sandburg coach Desi Vuillaume said. “We always know they are going to put a heck of a fight against us.”
Tuesday’s soccer match certainly was that, with Sandburg coming out on top 1-0 in a SouthWest Suburban crossover in Tinley Park. Sandburg improved to 7-3-3 while Andrew dipped to 2-7-1.
Just over six minutes into the match, Sandburg’s Zack Biel put a shot on goal from the box to the right post. Andrew goalie Mike Ehlers was able to make a diving stop, but right there for the rebound was Kevin Kroll, who scored the match’s lone goal.
“Biel pretty much created the goal and I just put the rebound in nice and easy,” Kroll said. “We want to win all of our conference games, so this was a must-win.”
The second half was a tale of two goalies.
With just under 28 minutes remaining, Andrew’s Abel Trujillo had a breakaway after a steal 35 yards out, but Sandburg goalie Adam Zehme came out to stuff Trujillo’s shot attempt. Less than a minute later, Andrew’s Jonathon Sustasia was 1-on-1 with Zehme in the box and fired straight on, but Zehme deflected the ball above the crossbar. About a minute later Sustasia blasted a ball on net from 30 yards out, but Zehme dived to his right and knocked the ball just wide of the net.
“I have four great defenders ahead me and they’re working hard for me all the time, so it’s nice when I can bail them out on a save when they make a mistake,” Zehme said.
Zehme made seven saves in notching his seventh shutout of the season. He’s allowed just five goals in 13 games this season.
Ehlers made nine saves for Andrew, including four magnificent stops in the second half. The Thunderbolts, however, couldn’t find the net on 13 shots.
“We’re developing,” Andrew coach Pat MacDonald said. “We’ve seen a lot of progress offensively the last three games.”
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