SC North's season ends with overtime loss

HOFFMAN ESTATES -- After a brilliant play tied the game, St. Charles North thought karma might be on its side Tuesday at the Hoffman Estates Class 3A Sectional semifinal game against Wheaton North.

Unfortunately for the North Stars, the Falcons had just one more big play in them, enough to sink North's hopes for a second straight sectional title with a 2-1 overtime loss.

The decisive goal came with 7:43 left in the extra frame, when Wheaton North's Josh Bennett corralled the ball at midfield and began surging for the goal.

Several North Stars halted their pursuit and put their hands in the air, searching for a whistle for a possible hand ball.

The whistle did not come and Bennett set up Jacques Ntahoturi for a shot that slid past North Stars' goalie Tyler McEnery, off the post and into the net to seal the victory.

"I thought it was a pretty clear hand ball at midfield," said North Stars coach Eric Willson. "But it's our reaction to that hand ball that's the most disappointing. We got a little wrapped up in (the officiating). We were too worried about convincing the referee to get back."

The North Stars (12-11-3) were aggressive throughout the first half, outshooting the Falcons 10-2, but had no goals to show for it.

In the second half Wheaton North (8-9-5) seized control when Pat Langan converted a penalty kick with 33:23 left in the match.

The North Stars evened the ledger when Angelo Catalano sailed a free kick from 30 yards out into the upper-right corner of the goal at the 15:25 mark.

"The last couple days people have been joking about us guys who take free kicks and that we haven't made any all year," said Catalano. "We definitely felt like it had that little bit of magic on it and we'd be able to make a big run like we did last year, but it didn't work out like would have liked it to."