Lockport trips up Joliet

Lockport infielder Lucas Zeiler attempts to move the ball forward against Joliet midfielder Ulises Ornelas.
(John Patsch/Herald News)

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JOLIET -- Lockport junior midfielder Enzo Berrini hasn't lived up to his own expectations this season.

But Berrini came up with a big goal in the second half as Lockport kept its conference title hopes alive with a 3-1 boys soccer victory over Joliet and spoiled the Steelmen's senior night Tuesday in a Southwest Suburban Blue battle at Joliet West.

"That was my fourth or fifth goal, but I don't pay attention to that," Berrini said. "I haven't lived up to my own expectations this year. I broke my right leg last season and I haven't played to the form I want.

"I also play with the Fire (Chicago Fire; 17-under developmental team) Fire and they're two different styles."

With Lockport (15-2-1, 7-1) clinging to a 2-1 lead, Berrini was in style as he became the Enzo-Man. He got the ball on the left side and crossed a shot to the right corner that went in with 17:37 remaining to give the Porters a cushion.

"Double D (Mike Diaz-DeLeon) flicked it to me and I put it back post," Berrini said. "That was a big goal -- it put the game away."

Indeed it did, but not without some chances by Joliet (14-5, 6-3) down the stretch. First, senior forward Andrew McKenna had a touch off an indirect free kick, but his shot went way wide left.

Then, with 3:25 remaining Steelmen senior defender Dustin Schmollinger sent in a long shot that was easily saved by Lockport senior goalie Brian Quane. Forty seconds later, junior forward Octavio Ceballos had a chance as he got by Quane, but Diaz-DeLeon was there to deflect the ball away.

Ceballos had another opportunity with just under two minutes to play, but his header missed the mark and the Porters got the victory.

"It was a good game and very hard played," Lockport first-year coach Dan Baumhardt said. "Enzo's goal was a big one to help take them out of the game."

The Porters jumped out a 2-0 lead less than seven minutes into the game. Senior forward Ryan Turner scored both goals, the first coming just 4:17 into the contest and the second coming off a rebound of his own miss just over two minutes later.

"The first goal was an offside trap and I just held my position," said Turner, who now has 14 goals to match his uniform number. "(Senior forward) Bob Novak got a perfect touch to me and I dribbled it in and got it off to the far post.

"The second one was pretty much the same, except he (Joliet senior goalie Mike Vertin) came out and deflected it. I was able to get the rebound and put it near post. Those were a huge confidence builder for me and the team."

"They (Joliet) had some people in they usually don't have," Baumhardt said. "But we stepped up and took it to them in the first five minutes. To get out to a quick 2-0 lead is always good."

Being it was senior night, the Steelmen started all 11 seniors on the team.

"It was senior night and I'll take the loss to keep the tradition," said Joliet coach Eduardo Contreras of starting an all-senior lineup, including about a half dozen players who normally wouldn't start. "They worked hard and it's their last home game. The kids gave four years to the program and deserve to have their name announced as starters one last time."

JT substituted after Lockport's second goal. Junior midfielder Juan Mascote scored the Steelmen goal when he blasted in a rebound off a long laser shot by senior defender Ryan Cronin. That was the only ball that got past Quane, who had nine saves, and it came with 24:33 left in the first half.

"Take out the two early goals and it was a real good game," said Contreras, whose team lost 2-1 to Bolingbrook last Saturday and finished 6-3 in the SWSC for the third straight season. "But I'll take the loss now and get ready for the playoffs. We wish Lockport the best in the playoffs, they have a real good team."

Now, the Porters hope to defeat Stagg in their SWSC finale and have Sandburg lose to get an outright conference title.

"This is a big win because Joliet beat Sandburg and now we put Joliet out of the race," Turner said. "We just have to play well against Stagg."