Niles West loss big step back for Wildkits

With postseason play beginning in two weeks, Niles West soccer coach Scott Ackman has finally found a lineup he can stick with.

But that doesn't mean the Wolves can't make adjustments on the fly -- especially if it will help keep them alive in the Central Suburban League South Division race.

The game-within-a-game often means switching positions for Ben Pintilei and Santos Reyes, and both players came up big in Monday's 2-1 victory over Evanston.

Pintilei pushed up to score West's second goal and Reyes dropped back from the midfield to make two crucial defensive plays in a game that was postponed by rain from the originally scheduled date of Sept. 25.

West improved to 3-1 in league play and, with a win over Maine South and a New Trier loss to Evanston, could actually earn a share of the conference crown despite an overall record of just 5-8-2.

But Ackman is thinking beyond the conference race now, while Evanston and head coach Franz Calixte try to regroup.

"We're not thinking about the conference. We're thinking about the regional and sectional," said Ackman. "Our No. 1 goal after that 0-4 start we had was just to start playing better soccer by the tournament."

Evanston slipped to 8-8 despite a furious second half rally that featured a goal by David Sippel with 23:02 remaining. But the Wildkits couldn't find the back of the net again.

"Today was a big step back for us. Right now I'm just numb because of the way we played," Calixte said. "Right now I don't know who we are. I don't know which Evanston team is going to show up, and that's not something I should be saying at this time of the season.

"We had four corners (kicks) in the first 10 minutes and we didn't get any shots on goal. Not one of them was dangerous. We still have some character to build on this team."

West's explosive forward, senior Kamil Szczepanski, scored 10 minutes into the game after a steal and a 30-yard run. Pintilei added another tally worthy of the team highlight film when he bounced the ball high, deked a defender and, in effect, passed to himself before drilling a shot past Evanston goalie Jonathan Strunk.

"Kamil doesn't need many opportunities to score, and the conditions (muddy field) were ideal because once he makes a cut, the defender can't get back," said Calixte. "He is so tough, and Niles West was confident today, something I haven't seen from them in years past."

"He used his thing and went right around two guys," added Ackman. "His first step is really something. You can't stop him 1-on-1, and he has a fantastic shot, too."

West's defense also rose to the occasion in the second half, led by Reyes. The junior standout cleared one scoring try by the host Wildkits off the goal line, and later made a diving stop to break up an attempt by Sippel to draw Evanston even with 22:30 to play.

Evanston's last serious scoring foray with six and a half minutes remaining consisted of a run by Jacob Zbesko, who just missed connecting with Sipple when he flashed toward the mouth of the goal.

Evanston earned a third place finish at the Peoria Notre Dame Invitational last weekend that included wins over Quincy Notre Dame (1-0 in penalty kicks) and Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin (2-1) and a 2-1 loss to the host school.

A save by goalie Strunk helped the Kits outscore Notre Dame 5-3 in PKs, as Sipple, Brian Armstrong, Chris Henrichs, Michael Solomon and David Caprile all connected for the winners.

Sean Lewis scored Evanston's only goal in the loss to Peoria, and Sippel found the back of the net twice versus Springfield.

Franz Calixte