Early score lifts Neuqua Valley past Benet

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Throughout the entire season Neuqua Valley coach Jim Johns stressed that the most important parts of a soccer game are the first and last five minutes of a half and right after a goal.

The Wildcats' Bryan Ciesiulka took those words to heart as his goal with just one minute, 45 seconds into the game ended up being the game-winner in Neuqua's 1-0 victory over Benet in the Neuqua regional semifinal Monday night in Naperville.

After pressuring Benet in the midfield and getting a turnover, Neuqua's Tommy Terlep lofted a perfect ball from 25 yards away to a streaking Ciesiulka, who half-volleyed the pass with his right foot into the top corner of the net for the goal.

"Tommy just put up a nice ball and I directed it towards the goal," Ciesiulka said. "We had a lot of chances offensively but we played really well defensively and know that we can win the 1-0 games."

Benet had a chance five minutes later to tie the game when George Elliott headed Roy Burke's service past Neuqua goalkeeper Jack Turancik but the shot hit the crossbar and bounced to the six-yard box.

Neuqua (17-4-2) pounced on the rebound and kicked the ball away, keeping the score at 1-0.

The play stayed mainly in the midfield until Neuqua caught the Redwings pushing up too far and Nathan Freed made a move past a Benet defender and sprinted towards the goal on a sharp angle. Freed's shot hit the near post and caromed across the goal line where Ciesiulka beat his defender and kicked it into the net. But Neuqua's celebration was cut short when the referee signaled no goal due to an offside penalty.

Benet tried to take advantage of the Wildcats' frustration. Off a throw-in, Nick Beavis took a shot from 40 yards away that caught Turancik off guard. Turancik originally misplayed the ball but recovered nicely as he made a diving stop to push the ball over the bar for a Benet corner kick.

Despite being outshot by Neuqua 5-2 and having taken five less corner kicks, the Redwings were still only down a goal going into halftime.

"This is soccer and we told the kids that we have more than enough goals to win the game. We played pretty smart and limited their opportunities," Johns said. "Sure you would like to crack at another goal but you also have to be able to win the game 1-0 so this is good for us actually."

In the second half, the Wildcats put on the pressure within the first five minutes and it nearly generated a goal as a point-blank shot from just inside the 18-yard box went wide. Later, after a steal at the midfield, Scott Davis took a shot from 20 yards away that hit the post and bounced out of bounds.

Physical play resulting in three cards dominated the rest of the game and free kicks became a factor late.

Benet had its best chance of the half late with a free kick just outside box after a tripping foul. The kick was off the mark however, and went over the wall for a goal kick.

"All we talked about was always competing and we competed. I told my kids that we just ran out of time and it was too bad the game had to be 80 minutes. All of our kids would like to have gone for another 80 minutes," Benet coach Henry Wind said. "Our kids gave them a scare for their money and it was fun to watch them give everything they had on the field."

Neuqua had five more shots on goal in the game and had a 10-3 advantage in corner kicks. Alex Siliunas made six saves in his final high school game.

The Wildcats face the winner of today's Wheaton Warrenville South-East Aurora game. The winner of that game will advance to the Naperville Central sectional.

"This is crying shame that this is a semifinal regional game. Looking at the other game in our region, a traditional power like Wheaton Warrenville South has to play East Aurora. This is the tough region we play in and these guys (Benet) deserve to be playing in more than this game," Johns said.