Motivated Sandburg tops H-F

Updated: May 4, 2011 6:50PM

Sandburg’s boys water polo team’s motivation for Wednesday’s rematch with Homewood-Flossmoor was staring right at it for two weeks.

A SouthtownStar article from the team’s first meeting – a 7-4 H-F win April 20 – was posted on the window of Sandburg’s pool office and Eagles coach Jim Caliendo made sure his team saw it every day.

With revenge - and the SouthWest Suburban Blue title - on their minds, the Eagles jumped all over H-F early and rolled to a 10-4 win in Orland Park.

Sandburg (25-4, 12-1) clinched the conference crown, denying a repeat bid for H-F (20-6-2, 10-2).

“I get to take that article down now,” Caliendo said. “I think it worked. Our kids have a lot to be proud of. It’s a great accomplishment to win the conference title in a grueling league.”

Erik Niemeier scored four goals, Anthony Bonnar added three and Tony Rogina made 13 saves to lead the Eagles.

Shay Banton had three goals, Henry Weeks one and Jake Bodnar 14 saves for H-F.

Banton was the star of the first meeting, scoring five goals, but Sandburg’s defense put the clamps on him early.

With Banton consistently double-teamed, the Vikings had trouble finding the open man and were held scoreless until the 3:17 mark of the second quarter. Sandburg led 5-1 at halftime.

Bonnar, normally a reserve, started and contributed three key first-half goals for the Eagles.

Banton scored in the opening minute of the second half and had a chance to pull his team within two on a penalty shot moments later, but Rogina stoned him.

“I just tried to get as big as possible and luckily I got an arm on it,” Rogina said. “Our defense was great in front of me today.”

Niemeier, who did a good job finding open teammates with the defense focused on him early, scored three fourth-quarter goals to put the match away.

“After we lost to them the first time, we thought we were dead (in the conference race),” Niemeier said. “To be able to win it feels great.”

Both teams are hoping for a rubber match in the championship game of the Lincoln-Way North Sectional – where the Vikings are the top seed and Sandburg No. 2 – next week.

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