Area roundup: Stearns and Neukirch pace Red Raiders
ANTIOCH -- Huntley remained undefeated while ruining homecoming for Grayslake Central on Saturday in a Fox Valley Conference Fox Division matchup.
When the smoke cleared in the contest, the Red Raiders beat up the Rams 44-6, scoring on touchdown runs of 65, 52, 35 and 43 yards. For the game, Huntley (6-0, 2-0) totaled more than 350 yards on the ground.
Huntley led 30-6 at halftime. Junior Tanner Stearns paced the rushing attack with 193 yards on just nine carries, scoring twice. Jordan Neukirch ran for two scores and added 138 yards rushing on 12 attempts.
BOYS SOCCER
Westminster Christian 4, Hampshire 0 -- Westminster Christian broke up a scoreless game at halftime against Hampshire with four second-half goals to beat the Whip-Purs in non-conference action.
"We just needed to get one of them in," Westminster coach Mike Richardson said. "Once we scored, things just started to flow for us. We have struggled to find the net at times this year, but today was not one of those days. The shots were on target today."
Freshman Josh Beachler got the Warriors (8-6-1) rolling with a goal 10 minutes into the second half with the first of his two scores on the day. Ryan Beachler and Steven Hoeflich would later add goals. Ryan Beachler added two assists.
"Absolutely, this was a good win for us," Richardson said. "Any win this time of year is good for us heading into the postseason."
Goalkeeper Scott Sutarik preserved the shutout for Westminster with eight saves.
Stillman Valley 4, Burlington Central 2 -- Ryan Warner had a pair of goals for Central, but it wasn't enough for the Rockets in this non-conference game. Kyle DeRaedt stopped 11 shots in goal for Central (6-9-1).
St. Edward 7, Elgin Academy 2 -- St. Edward handled Elgin Academy behind a hat-trick from Miguel Martinez and two goals from Ryan Frank. Clayton Pfeiffer and Alex Ptak also scored for the Wave (4-10-2).
"It was a nice day and a nice victory for us," St. Edward coach Tim Brieger said. "We will see them in the first round of the postseason and we have a tough week ahead so this was good for us."
St. Charles North 1, St. Charles East 0 -- St. Charles North scored midway through the second half on a goal by James Reed to knock off rival St. Charles East.
"It was a very scrappy game," Saints coach Paul Jennison said. "You have to give St. Charles North credit. They stopped us and didn't give us many chances."
VOLLEYBALL
Hampshire wins IMSA tournament -- The Whip-Purs beat Freeport Aquin (25-21, 25-23), Kaneland (25-15, 25-15), Westmount (25-19, 25-14) and Rockridge (25-18, 25-11) before knocking out Mount Assisi 25-23, 25-12 in the championship game.
Kara Wehrs led the way with 77 assists and 44 kills, while Amy Wehrs connected on 52 kills. Chessa Osiecki (51 digs) and Cassie Dumoulin (17 kills, 8 blocks) also contributed in the win for the Whips (22-2, 3-2).
"It was our homecoming so it was nice that we came out focused," Hampshire coach Karen Whitehouse said.
South Elgin wins pair -- South Elgin finished 2-2 at the Conant Tournament, improving its record to 5-15 overall. The Storm opened the tournament with victories against Trinity (25-9, 25-13) and Maine East (25-9, 25-5) before dropping two straight in three games each to Glenbard North and Addison Trail.
Hayley Bradley had 22 kills and Alyssa Krause added 20 kills and 14 aces. Tara Bradley had 62 assists and 10 aces, while Genevieve Johnson had a team-best 37 digs.
GIRLS TENNIS
St. Charles North cruises -- St. Charles North won all three of its matches convincingly. The North Stars defeated Antioch (6-0), Harlem (6-0) and Warren (5-1). Sarah Amazras, Liselot Koenen and Lauren Drawbridge each picked up two victories in singles play for North.
CROSS COUNTRY
Gannon, Turk lead Rockets -- The Burlington Central girls cross country team finished third among 27 teams at the 22nd annual Lisle Invitational. Hampshire finished 18th in the field.
Maggie Gannon (19:50) and Markelle Turk (19:51) paced the Rockets finishing eighth and ninth, respectively. Hampshire junior Holly Plichta finished fifth overall (19:46).
On the boys side, Hampshire's Tanner Holman finished 17th (17:26), while Nic Laggett paced Burlington Central (58, 18:24).
North sweeps own invite -- Host St. Charles North won both the boys and girls team titles at Leroy Oakes. On the boys side, North's Todd Vankerhoff finished first overall individually in 15:23.24. Teammates Max Clink (15:39) and Steven Miller (15:44) finished third and fourth, respectively. Elgin was led by Ricardo Mancha (11th, 16:06) and Streamwood was paced by Roger Klein (31st, 17:01). South Elgin's top runner was Kevin Gianaris (45th, 17:44).
The North Stars won the team title with 28 points, easily outdistancing Batavia (85). Elgin took sixth in the team standings.
For the girls, St. Charles North won the team title behind Jessica Sheets (5th, 19:23) and Erica Bauerbach (6th, 19:30). South Elgin's Jordan Tuin (19:09) took third individually, while teammate Katie Goplerud (19:57) was 15th. Streamwood's Merceded Mancha (19:38) took eighth. In the team race, the North Stars held off Elk Grove 63-67. South Elgin (135) was sixth.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Spartans take 1st -- Elgin Community College won the Region IV Tournament finishing with 22 points. At No. 1 singles, ECC's Sara Hegel lost in the finals, but sister Rebekah picked up the No. 2 singles championship with a 6-4, 6-4 win over College of Lake County's Julie Palmer.
The Spartans' Rahel Hegel (No.3), Kim Miller (No. 4) and Megan Joyce (No. 5) were also singles champs. ECC's Rebekah Hegel and Miller won at No. 2 doubles, while Danielle Sum and Dana Altieri picked up the No. 3 doubles title.
