Boys Soccer: Sandburg stops Andrew 2-0
By Steve Millar For Sun-Times Media September 18, 2012 11:12PM
Updated: October 20, 2012 6:16AM
Matches between Sandburg and Andrew always are big, but Tuesday’s had a little extra spice.
With Andrew, coming off a four-win season in 2011, entering the match with an 8-1 record and Sandburg its usual strong self, this was a showdown with not just bragging rights on the line.
“We felt like the winner of this match would probably be the one seed in sectionals,” Sandburg’s Mike Gentile said. “We always want to beat Andrew, and we knew this one was really big.”
Gentile and Zack Biel scored and Adam Zehme recorded his sixth shutout of the year as the Eagles earned a 2-0 win in the SouthWest Suburban crossover in Orland Park.
Both teams had their moments in an intense first half as Andrew put on some early pressure, but Zehme (8 saves) denied shots from Glorind Lisha and Colin McLaughlin.
Andrew’s E.J. Kirn made a leaping save a Gentile shot.
The Eagles (7-3-2) broke through with just under five minutes left in the half as Alex Rohder’s pass into the box was left by Kevin Kroll for Gentile to strike, the senior scoring on a top-shelf shot.
“It was great work by Kevin to leave the ball for me,” Gentile said. “It was very unselfish of him. It was a good start.”
Zehme made a diving save on Brett Kantor’s shot midway through the second half before Biel iced it with a goal with 1:21 left.
“Our defense is really coming together and they make things easy for me,” Zehme said. “When there is a breakdown, it feels great to have their back because they always have mine.”
Despite the loss, Andrew coach Pat MacDonald enjoyed seeing the zest back in the rivalry.
“There were a lot of pumped up people for this,” he said. “There was a lot of chatter in school. It was a fun week leading up to the match. We came up short, but hopefully, we’ll see them again.”
