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Sandburg shuts down H-F for title
Updated: May 14, 2011 10:05PM
Before Saturday’s Lincoln-Way North Sectional title game between Sandburg and Homewood-Flossmoor, both teams had strong arguments for being the best team in the south suburbs.
H-F won the teams’ first meeting, Sandburg the second. The Eagles were the SouthWest Suburban Blue champions, the Vikings the sectional’s top seed.
Sandburg on Saturday left no doubt about being the best. The second-seeded Eagles shut out H-F for nearly three quarters and rolled to a stunningly convincing 10-4 win in Frankfort.
“We have so much confidence in our ‘D,’ ” Sandburg coach Jim Caliendo said, “but we didn’t think it would go quite as well as it did. The kids played really well and I can’t say enough about (goalie Tony Rogina).”
The Eagles, who are in the state finals for the third time in four years, will meet Naperville Central in Friday’s quarterfinals.
Matt Veldman scored five goals, Balys Gintautas and Cody Corridino had two each and Erik Niemeier added one for Sandburg (28-5). Rogina made 12 saves.
Nick Thiros, Kevin Kuchta, Caleb Peterson and Luke Dobben scored for H-F (23-7-2).
With the H-F defense focused on slowing Niemeier in the hole, Veldman was consistently left open at the point and made the Vikings pay.
“They challenged the wrong guy,” Caliendo said.
Veldman scored the game’s first goal with 12 seconds left in the first quarter and then found the net three times in the second quarter as the Eagles opened a 5-0 lead.
“If the other team wants me to shoot, then I guess I have to,” Veldman said. “I missed my first two but I got it going. This feels great. This is my first time going to state and I can’t wait.”
H-F was left frustrated by its inability to get its top weapons involved. The Vikings’ leading scorer, Shay Banton, was shut out.
“(Sandburg) really shut down our top scorers and that hurt big-time,” H-F coach Tim Caldwell said. “(Veldman) buried us.”
H-F did not score its first goal until 1:29 remained in the third and Sandburg had a 7-0 lead. Rogina didn’t have to handle many shots early, but he made a handful of great saves.
“Our ‘D’ was phenomenal in front of me,” Rogina said. “It was unbelievable. Going to state is going to be a great experience.”
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