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West Aurora lead slips away in second half
Updated: September 8, 2011 9:49PM
Thursday’s DuPage Valley Conference matchup was a prime example of why most coaches insist its more important how you finish than how you start.
While host West Aurora won the opening half, Naperville Central’s increased offensive pressure late in the second half forced overtime and the Redhawks needed just 34 seconds of extra play to pull out a 2-1 victory. The win boosts Central to 6-1-0 overall and a 2-0-0 start in DVC play while West Aurora dips to 7-2-0 and 0-1-0.
“When I realized Sam’s (Reskala) kick was coming right to me, I just got my head on and went for the far corner,” Central’s Greg Burdett said of his third goal of the season and his second match-winner. “One of our main goals is to outwork the other team, win 50-50 balls; we didn’t do that in the first half and it showed.
“Coach gave us some incentives at halftime. What incentives? I’d rather not say. Basically we knew to pick it up. One thing about us we keep fighting until we get the result.”
The result is two wins within a trio of consecutive DVC contests.
“I’m happy to see us start 2-0-0 because in this league every match is a tough one,” Redhawk coach Troy Adams said. “The key once again was our work rate. We didn’t change our strategy for the second half, we didn’t change our formation, we just started to work. West Aurora’s a good team and in terms of hard work, they really beat us in the first half.”
The Blackhawks got on the board 13:02 into the match when Daniel Rotolo’s stellar cross was headed by Olivier Dasilveira to Danny Talancon for a seven-yard tap-in. West Aurora scoring leaders Matt Koth and James Brink both had several threats that almost put the hosts up two, but almost was the key.
“I wish we would have snuck a second one in before halftime, but we didn’t and hopefully we learn from it,” West Aurora coach Joe Sustersic said. “Now we have to get ready for Oswego East on Saturday morning. That’s the thing about high school soccer, 40 hours from now we have a chance to redeem ourselves.”
“We came out pumped,” Koth said. “All day we were looking forward to this match and came out hard. But then they played better in the second half, so we have to learn to stay strong all game long.”
Despite increased offense by Central, the equalizer came with 11:43 left in regulation as Blake Beehler’s flip throw-in set up Devon Amoo-Mensah for a five-yard finish near the left post.
“(Beehler’s) long throw was a good one and I was lucky to be in the right spot at the right time for my first goal,” Amoo-Mensah said. “I got a little touch on it for better control and then just put it on net.”
Naperville Central continues DVC play on Tuesday with a visit to Wheaton Warrenville South, while the Blackhawks trek to Oswego East on Saturday.
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