Redhawks slog past Sandburg

Feet slipping, balls skipping and passes taking on a life of their own were the norm Thursday at Naperville Central.

Hurricane Gustav-related rain soaked Best of the West Tournament play at Memorial Stadium, but not to the point of cancellation. Host Central changed strategies to defeat Sandburg 3-0 before Fremd continually attacked Waubonsie Valley to also win 3-0.

The games could not have been pushed back a day because of varsity football at Central, but they could have been played Saturday. Without lightning and with playable field conditions, however, Central athletic director Marty Bee said the games should go on, just as they would in the postseason.

In the end it was up to the teams to adjust.

"We talked at halftime about passing the ball around and being cute, which under perfect conditions would allow us to be effective as a team," Central coach Jay Konrad said. "Today the weather did not allow that style of play so we were more direct."

Central, which secured its third straight berth in the title game, won on senior Bryan Forand's goal in the 38th minute, Art Garza's in the 43rd and Jerry Maddi's in the 72nd. The Redhawks will finish pool play against Waubonsie at 10 a.m. Saturday before meeting the other pool's winner, Neuqua Valley, at 6 p.m. for the championship.

Underneath a steady and sometimes sideways downpour, Central and Sandburg combined for only seven shots on goal. Despite a puddle-free field, chances came few and far between, but dangerously when they did.

Forand, on his goal, beat two defenders on the dribble before releasing a cross toward Chris Prince in front of the goal. The ball deflected off a defender into the goal before Prince could do anything with it.

Garza, despite a slick forehead, pocketed his goal by heading a long cross from Prince right past the Sandburg goalkeeper from about 6 yards out. And Maddi simply skipped a shot into the goal from about 20 yards.

"I think the weather really helped us today. Their two center-mids, their sweeper-stopper, their left-mid are all very, very good players," said Konrad, labeling the Eagles the best team the Redhawks have faced this year. "They're technical, they're quick - you can't be either today."

The Redhawks improved to 5-0, and senior Tyler Kelley earned the shutout.

Fremd wasted little time scoring in the nightcap.

In the fourth minute, sophomore Lorenzo Savino ripped an 18-yard shot high and to the right of Waubonsie's goalkeeper.

Savino added to the Vikings' 1-0 halftime lead in the second half, this time needing only three minutes to score. In the 43rd, he drove a low shot to the far side of Waubonsie's goal.

Savino scored a third time on a rebound in the 72nd minute.