Castro helps Bitta earn another title

Libertyville High's boys soccer team captured a sectional championship on Thursday with a 1-0 double-overtime win over Carmel. Libertyville's Alvaro Castro, who scored the game-winnining goal, comforts Corsairs' rival Edwin Lagunas after the contest.
(Marina Samovsky/msamovsky@scn1.com)

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LIBERTYVILLE -- When Libertyville High's Andy Bitto stepped down from his position as head soccer coach for the Wildcats in the fall of 1998, he left after guiding his team to a sectional championship.

Bitto completed his a triumph return to Libertyville on Thursday, as the Wildcats edged visiting Carmel 1-0 in double-overtime to win their own IHSA Class AA sectional.

A goal by Alvaro Castro in the fourth minute of the second 10-minute overtime period helped the Wildcats win their first sectional crown since 2000.

Libertyville (14-5) will square off against Barrington on Monday in a super-sectional contest at Benedictine University in Lisle.

"If you would have told me that I would be sitting here in the Sweet 16, I would have never believed it," said Bitta, who stepped in when Scott Schinto stepped aside for family reasons.

"It's just a great feeling."

The winning goal started when Libertyville sophomore Austin Gearing won a 50-50 ball near midfield, before passing it to Brad Novak.

The junior forward then made a nice pass just inside the penalty box to Castro. Carmel goal keeper Joe Ferrari came up on the play, but Castro was able to bang home the game-winner with a shot into the right corner of the net.

"It was a great feed from Brad," said Castro. "We communicate really well and we have a connection."

Novak wasn't surprised Castro ended the game.

"When I received the ball from Gearing, I saw Alvaro out of the corner of my eye and was able to get him the ball and he finished its up," said Novak.

The two nearly hooked up for a game-winner in regulation, but this time it was Novak taking a nifty pass from Castro in the 78th minute. Ferrari was able to make the save on the high shot to keep the game scoreless.

Despite being a defensive struggle for most of the contest, Ferrari did have to make an amazing leaping save on a header by Libertyville's Greg Vente early in the game.

Also in the 30th minute of the first half, Carmel had an Edwin Lagunas potential goal disallowed by an offsides decision.

A solid defensive effort by 5-foot-5 junior Andrew Stone, along with along with Ben Julia, Ryan Hutten and Kyle Schory, prevent the talented Lagunas from adding to his goal total for the season.

"If (Stone) isn't one of the best defenders -- I haven't seen anyone better," said Bitta.

Jim Palac had eight saves in goal for Libertyville.

"It was just a great high school soccer game, and it shows how hard the kids have worked."

Carmel wrapped up its season with a 17-6-2 record.

"I'm proud of them," said Carmel coach John Halloran. "We played hard, but it just didn't happen for us. I feel bad for our kids.

"A lot of them spend over a 100 days in the weight room to get ready for the season, and it's just a tough way to end." Prep Soccer: Class AA Sectional Final

Castro helps Bitta earn another title