Benet's offense finds right gear

Redwings jump ahead in first half

AURORA -- Two first-half goals helped boost Benet's confidence and the Redwings rode a rare offensive outburst to a 3-0 win over Plainfield South on Wednesday night in an East Aurora Regional semifinal.

The fourth-seeded Redwings will take on 12th-seeded Batavia, a 1-0 victor over East Aurora also on Wednesday night, in the regional title game on Friday at 6 p.m.

Erik Warren assisted Connor Miller on the first Benet goal 29 minutes into the first half on a ball that was tipped by Cougars goalkeeper Kyle Fitzgerald. The Redwings (8-10-1) followed that with a 10-yard Pat Sloan goal in the 34th minute from the right side that settled into the far left corner of the goal.

"It was huge," Redwings senior forward Chris Cole said of that first goal. "Most of the time we've been playing from behind this year."

"Getting that first goal was big," Warren said. "That's been the hardest part for us - scoring consistently - and we did that."

The scoring didn't come easily at first, though. At just inside the 25th minute, in a play that was a microcosm of Benet's season, the Redwings saw Cougars defenders twice deflect shots from inside the box. That possession was just one of several fruitless opportunities on the offensive end in the early going.

Benet finished with 11 shots on goal in the first 40 minutes.

Cole's goal in the 70th minute started the ink drying on the final score.

"That was nice for me personally," Cole said. "It's been a tough year. We were happy to score early because that's been something we haven't done a whole lot."

Cole said it was his first goal of the season.

As has been the case much of the year, Benet's sharp defense covered for its sometimes-punchless offense. So dominant were the Redwings on the latter side of the ball that 13th-seeded Plainfield South (4-18) did not manage a shot on goal in the first half.

Though the offense kept its end of the bargain, Benet coach Henry Wind believes the Redwings' defense still paces the team.

"I always say the best defense is a good offense," he said.

Bryan Steigel made two second-half saves for Benet.

The Cougars were recipients of strong play in goal by Fitzgerald. The final score overlooked Fitzgerald's 11 saves - many of the leaping or diving variety. Just inside of the 58th minute, Fitzgerald sprung to his right to make a diving save of a would-be Benet goal.

Fitzgerald made six first-half saves and two in the first eight minutes of play in the second half.