Eisenhower gets past H-F

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:16PM

Eisenhower made it back-to-back regional championships with a 1-0 win over

Homewood-Flossmoor in the Class 3A Homewood-Flossmoor Regional final

Saturday.

"It was a game that was well fought out by both ends, but I'm glad it came

out on our end," Eisenhower coach Dylan Shaughnessy said with tears in his

eyes. "These guys have fought and worked really hard the entire year."

With the victory, the Cardinals improved to 18-6.

Much of the physical game was played in the middle of the field. The two

teams combined for just 15 shots, only seven of which were on net.

The lone goal came with 8:34 remaining when Eisenhower's Brandon Ramirez

found something he often looks for on a free kick from midfield: Alex

Messina's head.

"All the goals Alex has scored this season are off his head," Ramirez said.

"It's just something we always practice, and when I get a free kick I'm

always looking for his head."

Using his head, Messina was able to drop the ball down to his foot, turn and

fire a shot from right in front of the net for the game-winner.

"There are no words to explain what it feels like," Messina said. "Eighty

minutes of fighting against another team and we just wanted it more."

One scrum cost Eisenhower one of its captains, Jesus Arciga, for the Marian

Catholic Sectional semifinal Tuesday night against Lincoln-Way North. Arciga

received a red card and will sit out that match.

"It hurts, especially since we lose a captain because we look up to him and

he has experience with this," Shaughnessy said. "But we have a strong bench,

so we¹ll be confident with whomever we put in."

H-F (16-7) had opportunities ‹ five of the team's seven shots required saves

by Eisenhower goalie Maximiliano Boyso.

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.