Steelmen stand tall vs. L-W East

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JOLIET -- Back in 1979 the group Sister Sledge had a hit song called "We Are Family."

Now nearly 30 years later the Joliet boys soccer team is taking that theme to heart. The Steelmen continued their successful season by rallying for a 2-1 victory over Lincoln-Way East on Monday evening in a Southwest Suburban Conference game.

"We're like a family," JT senior forward Andrew McKanna said. "We don't get mad at each other and most of us hang out together after practice."

The Steelmen (10-3, 4-1) hung together Monday as the came back almost immediately after East (7-8, 2-2) scored.

Jason Casler put the Griffins ahead 1-0 when he took a crossing pass from senior midfielder Robbie McGowan and blasted it in from about 20 yards out with 10:35 left in the first half.

But the Steelmen family came right back 42 seconds later. McKanna got the ball in front and smacked a shot that hit the bottom of the cross bar. But the ball bounced down and then trickled in the goal and the game was tied at 1-1 with 9:53 to play in the half.

"I was just hopeful that it would go in," said McKanna, who got an assist from junior midfielder Juan Mascote on the play. "When it did, it was a relief.

"We came right back and answered. Sometimes we fall asleep, but we were able to come right back and that was very important. We wanted to show that we still had chemistry and we weren't down."

JT coach Eduardo Contreras had faith his team would bounce right back.

"That shows the character of this team," he said. "We believe in each other and came right back."

Neither team had a good shot the rest of the half. Casler had all of the Griffins shots in the first half, including one that was saved by Steelmen sophomore defender DeAndre McLaurin - who ran back by the goal when senior goalie Mike Vertin went out to play a ball.

The Steelmen began the second half the way they did the first, by getting opportunities. But a couple of shots by junior forward Octavio Ceballos missed the mark, the first going too high and the second being stuffed by East senior goalie John D'Ortenzio.

But with 28:58 left in the game, Ceballos didn't miss. He blasted in a shot from the right side that was around 25 yards out. The long laser eluded D'Ortenzio and went into the left side of the net for what would prove to be the winning goal.

"Andrew [McKanna] brought it down and gave me a little short pass," Ceballos said. "I had the ball in front of me and went ahead and took the shot. I just ripped it. That was my fourth goal of the season and it felt good.

"We just always communicate and talk out there. We pick each other up and keep going."

East had a better attack in the second half, but couldn't get the ball past the veteran Vertin. The Griffins had second half shots by junior midfielder Brendan Goler, McGowan, a header by senior midfielder Karl Zoellick and a good touch after a nice run by senior defender Mike Hegazin.

But Vertin turned them all back, including making a diving save on McGowan's ball, and the Griffins didn't get off a shot on goal in the final 13:31.

JT had a few near misses in the second half, including a wicked shot by senior forward Gilberto Jolomna that hit the crossbar. McKanna also had numerous near misses throughout the game, including two shots that were saved in the final 1:39.

"That one hurt," said veteran East coach Brian Papa of the loss. "I thought we had some things corrected, but we settled for some things we shouldn't have.

"We got a goal and 40 seconds later they came back. It's a simple game, but we're trying too hard and not making the simple pass. We keep going to the well, but the well is running dry."

While the Griffins were disappointed, Contreras knew the significance of the victory.

"It's huge," Contreras said. "[East] might not have the record they usually do, but they beat us last year and I have all the respect for Brian Papa and the program there.

"But we just have to take care of ourselves. Our shots were going wide at the start of the season, but they're on target now. We want to keep hitting on all cylinders."