Bulldogs survive physical challenge

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When the Batavia Bulldogs met the host Glenbard South Raiders Tuesday, the teams made it clear the Western Sun Conference game would be rough and tumble.

Batavia (9-3-1 and 3-0 in conference) won the battle of attrition 3-2 on a Michael Faraone game-winner in the 73rd minute. The Bulldogs also endured fewer injuries.

"I held my run and tried to stay even with the back line," said Faraone, who took a ball dropped off by Ty McCoy. "He gave me a good ball and I put it through."

Faraone's goal came inside the box and was created by McCoy's deft pass. The senior forward took the kick from the center of the goal box and deposited it into the corner of the net.

McCoy also earned a yellow card about seven minutes into the game. He and several other players on both teams bumped, shoved and figuratively clawed their way through the first half. Ironically, it was when things calmed down slightly in the second half that the most nasty injury surfaced.

Glenbard South (5-7-1, 1-2) suffered more than just the loss in a game it led 1-0 on a goal by Darius Wuanti. Forward Foster Pyle left the game five minutes into the action with a back injury.

Wuanti then went down with 15:26 remaining in the contest after twisting an ankle. He finished the game despite pain that kept him on the ground several minutes and delayed the game.

Raiders starters Matt Traynor, Charlie Adams, Matt Payne and now Pyle all are currently out with injuries. Adding insult to injury, the Raiders dropped their third game in their last four tries in which the final score was 3-2. In each of those three losses, Glenbard South lost in the final 10 minutes.

"This was one of those games that could go either way," Raiders coach Bob Blecher said.

"The one thing we're missing is that competitive instinct to put a team away," he said. "We had a 10-minute stretch of play late in the second half where we were putting the heat on them. Then, for some reason we stopped that pressure and they were able to attack us."

Dylan Milkent made eight saves and keepers Adam Spencer and Ty Witkowski combined for six saves for Batavia. Faraone also scored in the 35th the minute on a drive to tie it at 1-1. McCoy made it 2-1 Bulldogs on a shot inside the box. That goal to the right corner of the goal occurred in the 49th minute.

The game looked headed for a tie after Andrew Peterson (one goal and an assist) lofted a ball from 20 yards out to the far corner of the net. Faraone's goal 19 minutes later ended the chances of a draw.

Boys Soccer: Batavia 3, Glenbard South 2