Auroraadvocate.com - Emotions run high as boys triumph in semifinal matchup

by Brent Hovey

Reporter

Aurora -- Playoff games in any sport take on a different feel than regular season games.

They are more intense and more emotional, as the season hangs in the balance on every play.

During Aurora's district semifinal boys soccer match against Notre Dame Cathedral Latin on Oct. 21, there was no shortage of intensity, emotions, temper flareups and yellow cards.

The Greenmen scored two first-half goals and hung on for a 2-1 win as the Lions picked up their attack offensively and on individual basis.

But in the win, AHS suffered a key loss, as star forward and leading scorer -- senior Davey Moore -- suffered a lacerated liver and spent the night in the hospital.

In all, NDCL was given five yellow cards and it easily could have been more. Aurora was able to keep its composure and earn the right to play for the district championship.

"It was probably the most emotional game I've played," said senior Dylan Ekstrand, whose goal with 16 seconds left in the first half turned out to be decisive.

The tone of the game was set early -- that it was going to be a physical match.

Not even 10 minutes into the game, Moore collided with NDCL's goalkeeper going for a high ball and suffered his season-ending injury.

NDCL's keeper was called for a foul for kneeing Moore and throwing him to the ground. After Aurora missed the PK, the keeper was given a yellow card for taunting.

Just over half way through the first half, AHS junior Ben Clossin made a nice move and got deep along the near side of NDCL's goal box and was taken down.

THE GREENMEN were awarded another PK and senior Sanjeev Jina capitalized.

"I go one way every time in practice and it worked," he said after the game.

NDCL was obviously getting flustered with Aurora's ability to control the ball and with the refs for calls they felt they weren't getting.

They responded by playing even more physical and trying to take out Aurora players.

After a foul against the Lions with 10 minutes left in the half, two NDCL players got in the faces of Aurora players and shoved them repeatedly. Both were given yellow cards.

AHS then scored with 16 seconds left in the half off a free kick. Senior Mark Connell took the kick from about 50 yards out.

It bounced over the NDCL keeper and left Ekstrand alone with one Lion defender. He outjumped him and headed the bouncing ball in for a 2-0 lead.

"I saw a kid come out at me and I wasn't going to let him stop me," Ekstrand said. "Once Davey got hurt, we all had to step up and we all did that."

NDCL cut the lead to one with a goal off a free kick 11 minutes into the second half. The intensity picked up even more, but AHS stayed calm.

"[They] showed great character and that's the kind of composure we teach all the time," said AHS coach Christ Gentille. "You want to play the game right straight through and that doesn't end until you shake hands.

"Win, lose or draw you want to be proud of yourself and your school, and you want your community to be proud of you when you walk off the field."

E-mail: bhovey@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3115