Collins hat trick sinks Hilltoppers. (2024)

Byline: Daily Herald Reports

Hinsdale Central and Glenbard West took separate escalators in the second half of their boys soccer game Tuesday - the Red Devils went up, and the Hilltoppers went down.

Brian Collins scored all three goals in a 3-0 win for Hinsdale Central (7-3-3, 3-1), which led 1-0 at halftime of the West Suburban Silver game in Glen Ellyn but wasn't quite bringing enough heat for coach Mike Wiggins' taste.

"We came out a little slow today and at halftime we kind of got chewed out by coach," Collins said. "We came out with more intensity in the second half."

"We've got a group of guys who, when we tell them they need to ratchet it up at halftime, they respond," Wiggins said.

In fact a Glenbard West team that managed frequent trips into its attacking third through 40 minutes fairly spent the whole second half defending, in the face of an intense Red Devils attack that earned a 7-1 edge in shots put on frame.

The Hilltoppers (2-6-3, 0-3) played with energy throughout the first half, with Nick Venzon and J.T. Wiebe providing dangerous play in the attack. A Collins goal in the 26th minute put them in a 1-0 halftime hole, but the Hilltoppers had reason to maintain hope based on their first-half intensity.

"We're not a team that's based around a lot of skill, or a team that can knock it around for 40 minutes," said Hilltoppers coach John Gosling. "We're a team that's based on energy, and we didn't show it in the second half."

The Red Devils established their dominance from the opening whistle of the second half, applying sustained pressure that resulted in numerous free kicks, corner kicks and long throw-ins from Mark Knight.

Collins scored a goal from 20 yards out in the 59th minute that deflated the Hilltoppers, then ran onto centering pass from Tim Leung in the 66th minute and scored from 8 yards out at the near post.

The hat trick gave Collins 13 goals on the season.

"When I spoke to (Collins) four years ago about what we would need from him, I knew we had a competitor," Wiggins said. "I knew that by his senior year he'd be begging for the ball and wanting to be the go-to guy."

When Red Devils central defender David Tiemstra wasn't winning balls and kick-starting the attack, he was sending head shots wide of frame on set pieces throughout the second half. Hinsdale Central defender Paul Khalil also played well, as did John Shakon in negotiating the Hilltoppers' first-half pressure.

- Gary Larsen

Wheaton Academy 1, Timothy Christian 0, 2 OT: It took four fierce periods, but the Wheaton Academy Warriors scored the golden goal in second overtime at the home of Timothy Christian.

The Warriors defender John Clancy won an aerial ball and then found teammate Alex Earl in the waning moments of the second overtime. The goal put an end to several near misses from both teams.

"The credit goes to Clancy," Earl said. "He was working the whole game, we knew it would come."

Timothy Christian missed two near goals during the overtime sessions on two successive corner kicks.

"We had our chances and we didn't convert we'll see these guys again," coach Peter Anderson said.

Timothy Christian goalkeeper Ben Schemper was especially impressive making countless acrobatic saves. He kept the Trojans in the game all night.

Anderson agreed he got equally solid performances from Paul Jorden and Jacob Schemper.

The Warriors' game plan was to bring energy and be aggressive when play allowed it.

"We played a tough game last night and we knew we would have to come with the energy today, that was key," Warriors coach Chip Huber said.

- Brazley Barnes

WW South 3, Batavia 1: Billy Siolidis scored twice off Brandon Bocianski assists to lead the Tigers (11-3) in a nonconference match. Eric Shrigley also scored for the Tigers, with Kevin Hanstad assisting.

Naperville Central 3, Glenbard North 0: Goalkeepers Mark Giuliani and Tyler Kelley combined on the shutout for the Redhawks, who got a hat trick from Cody Alimondi. Byard Ebling, Kyle Bigart and Rich Hendrick assisted the Alimondi goals.

Girls volleyball

Naperville Central d. West Chicago: Emily McGee totaled 8 kills and Megan McMahon notched 25 assists for the Redhawks (16-2, 7-0), who stayed atop the DuPage Valley Conference with a 25-8, 25-11 sweep.

Naperville North d. West Aurora: Colleen Ward hit 9 kills while Ali Rook and Maddie Giles served 4 aces apiece for the Huskies (14- 4, 6-1), who cruised to a 25-15, 25-13 DuPage Valley Conference win.

Downers Grove South d. Hinsdale South: The Mustangs (8-6, 2-1) registered a 25-20, 25-20 West Suburban Gold sweep sparked by Christine Bowe's 9 kills and Lauren Vrdsky's 19 digs.

Neuqua Valley d. South Elgin: The Wildcats (15-4, 6-0) used Paige Stevens' 7 kills and 11 assists and Eileen Welch's 17 assists and 3 kills to stay perfect in the Upstate Eight Conference with a 25-15, 25-14 victory.

Waubonsie Valley d. Lake Park: The Warriors (11-7, 4-1) used 9 kills from Rachel Boryc and 8 by Joslyn Drew to sweep the Upstate Eight Conference match 25-19, 25-20.

Wheaton Academy d. Newark: Wheaton Academy (18-3) posted a 25- 23, 25-17 nonconference win behind Maggie Johnson's 14 kills and Allie Baumgartner's 21 assists.

Benet d. Providence: Natalie Patzin reeled off 11 kills while Jessica Jendryk and Ariana Mankus each smacked 7 for the Redwings (9-9, 4-1), who won 36-34, 25-18 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference.

Willowbrook d. Proviso East: Allie Cejna's 9 kills and Noel Burns' 6 carried the Warriors (9-12, 1-2) to a 25-23, 25-16 victory in West Suburban Gold action.

Timothy Christian d. Walther Lutheran: The Trojans (7-10, 2-3) won 25-16, 25-22 behind Katie Bonnes' 10 kills and 2 aces and Katie Voss' 22 assists in the Private School League contest.

Glenbard West d. Hinsdale Central: The Hilltoppers (5-13, 1-2) earned their first victory in the West Suburban Silver with a 25- 22, 25-20 sweep. Amy Kendall led them with 18 assists and 7 kills, while Chelsea Gervase had 7 kills and Megan Glaser served 4 aces.

Fenton d. Elmwood Park: The Bison (3-7, 2-2) pulled out a 25-15, 20-25, 25-21 Metro Suburban Conference triumph behind Cindy Herrera's 7 kills and 4 blocks. Kay Schwartz and Jayme Biagi helped the winners with 5 aces apiece.

Glenbard North d. Glenbard East: Jen Petrosky's 8 kills and Callie Farruggia's 18 service points and 4 aces lifted the Panthers (3-15, 1-6) to a 26-24, 25-17 DuPage Valley Conference triumph.