Benet edges out Wheaton Academy

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:24PM

A few weeks ago Benet's boys soccer team questioned itself and its abilities, but that is in the past.

Now, the Redwings look like a completely different team and it couldn't come at a better time with the postseason on the horizon.

Benet won its season-high fifth straight with a 1-0 non-conference victory against Wheaton Academy on Tuesday afternoon.

"We've really become a lot more confident," Benet senior defender Chris Lucke said. "After we lost to Carmel, Marist and Metea Valley, we decided we had to get our act together and straighten some things out. We've been playing with a lot more energy and now we know how to play and how to finish."

Benet senior midfield Brian Morefield provided the offense when he used his chest to gain control of the ball and then he turned and ripped a left-footed shot past Wheaton Academy goalie Jesse Carmody in the 20th minute.

"We've been working hard in practice at how to finish, making runs, settling in and having a good directional control and shooting," said Morefield, who is right-footed. "I'm not going to lie - it was kind of a lucky shot, but you just have to shoot and hope for the best."

The Redwings (10-6-1) were at their best throughout the first 30 minutes as they dominated play on both ends of the field. Benet allowed Wheaton Academy (13-6-1) one shot on the Redwings' goal in the first half.

"I thought we played fantastic in the first half - as good as we want to play and we had the fantastic goal to go along with it," Benet coach Sean Wesley said. "We locked things down defensively by allowing one shot in the first half. That would be the ideal situation for us to play at that level for 80 minutes."

The Warriors managed to have the better of the play in the second half, but Benet's defensive back held strong. Wesley had midfielder Sean Mogan play in the back along with Lucke, Hunter Miller and Joe Mahoney. Together they helped sophomore goalie Kyle DalSanto post Benet's ninth shutout.

"(This week) is about building about what we want to see (come playoffs)," Wesley said. "It is crazy to think that we're building toward the playoffs and I'm still messing with the lineup, but that's what we're doing."

Benet begins postseason competition next Tuesday against Batavia in the Class 3A Naperville Central Regional.

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