Three-mendous defense

Lincoln-Way Central's Eric Davenport lets in a shot from WW South.
Stacia Timonere/for the Sun-Times

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Wheaton-Warrenville South stifled a high-powered offense Sunday, knocking off Lincoln-Way Central 2-1 at Toyota Park to win the fourth annual Pepsi Showdown presented by the Chicago Sun-Times.

The Tigers (12-2-1) have won the prestigious tournament, the largest in the Midwest, three times. They stymied a Lincoln-Way attack that had scored 65 goals to snap the Knights' 10-game winning streak.

The Tigers (12-2-1) have won the prestigious tournament, the largest in the Midwest, three times. They stymied a Lincoln-Way attack that had scored 65 goals to snap the Knights' 10-game winning streak.

''Our defense did a great job of shutting down their players,'' WW South forward Eric Shrigley said. ''They did all they could to win the first ball and not let them get the second ball.''

''Our defense did a great job of shutting down their players,'' WW South forward Eric Shrigley said. ''They did all they could to win the first ball and not let them get the second ball.''

The Knights (13-2-1) dominated the first 10 minutes and took a 1-0 lead when Matt Ducci swerved in a corner kick in the eighth minute. But the Tigers regrouped and controlled the possession the rest of the way.

''They were really athletic,'' Ducci said. ''They knocked the ball around really good, and their defense is very tight.''

So tight that 20-goal scorer Phil Galounis was held without a shot on goal for Lincoln-Way, which managed three shots in the second half.

''The second half, we slowed down a bit,'' Galounis said. ''We didn't go as hard and they took advantage of our sluggishness.''

Ricardo Munguia, one of four sophomore starters for WW South, tied the game with 2:40 left in the first half, taking a one-touch pass from Shrigley and sending a left-footed shot inside the right post from 12 yards out.

''At the beginning of the game I was slacking because I was lacking confidence, but Coach talked to me, and I went back out there and got into it,'' Munguia said.

The Tigers went ahead just 1:50 into the second half. Tyler Carey sent a sharp lead pass into the box that just missed the outstretched foot of Munguia but found Nico Galto on the left post. Galto one-timed a seven-yard shot for his 12th goal.

''I like the ball on the back post and I just tucked it in,'' Galto said. ''Earlier in the game, I missed a pretty easy shot so I wanted to get that one.''

Rather than sit on the lead, the Tigers played aggressively, winning most of the 50/50 balls as the Knights tried to attack into the heart of a defense led by Carey, Tim Litterio and Scott Larson.

''Their direct style of play played into our hands, and we tried to possess the ball,'' WW South coach Guy Callipari said. ''Give credit to our guys for weathering the initial storm.''

Tigers goalie Randall Babb made three saves and was named tournament MVP.

''It was a larger-than-life experience,'' Babb said of winning at Toyota Park. ''Every kid wants to play baseball at Wrigley Field, and this is the same for us soccer players.''