Boys Soccer: Stagg, Argo reach Ram Classic championship

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Stagg goalkeeper Eric Estrada leaps into a crowd of players for a save against Joilet Central on Tuesday in Burbank. l Gary Middendorf~For Sun-Times Media

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Updated: November 4, 2011 6:25PM

What started as a 32-team tournament has been trimmed to two teams.

Stagg and Argo will square Saturday off at Toyota Park in the 10th annual Windy City Ram Classic championship game after both teams scored wins Tuesday night at Reavis. Stagg knocked off Joliet Central 4-1 and Argo beat St. Joseph 2-0 to advance.

For Stagg (4-0), winning the tournament was something on the to-do list since falling in the quarterfinals last season.

“Personally, it’s a goal I always make for our team,” Stagg coach Mike Kealy said.

Greg Healy got Stagg on the board 40 seconds into the game, stealing the ball 45 yards out and, as if he were shot out of a rocket, blew by everyone for a breakaway goal.

“Defender made a mistake and I just played on it,” Healy said.

With just over seven minutes left in the first half, Robert Torres sent a pass through the legs of a Central (3-1) defender that found Dino Karas in front of the net to make it 2-0. With 2:39 left in the first half, Tony Estrada made it 3-0, finding a loose ball and juking the goalie for the goal.

Central made it 3-1 five minutes into the second half, but Healy added another breakaway goal three minutes later. Stagg’s Eric Estrada had three magnificent saves in the second half to stop any thoughts of a comeback for the Steelmen.

The match-up between Argo and St. Joseph could only be described as physical. With seven yellow cards and a few injury timeouts, the game was not for the weak at heart.

“We lost our focus a little bit out there with all the yellow cards,” Argo coach Jesse Herrera said. “We should have put them away a lot earlier.”

Przemyslaw Koziar got Argo (4-0) on the board when a free kick trickled through the St. Joseph wall, changed directions and found its way into the net.

“I’ve never scored a goal like that, but I’ll take it,” Koziar said.

Marek Kowal scored on a penalty kick with 29 seconds left in the first half to make it 2-0 and that was more than enough for Argo goalie Jesus Ortiz. After stopping two shots in a shootout the Argonauts won 14-13 in the quarterfinals against Bolingbrook, Ortiz had six saves against St. Joseph (3-1).

“He made a save in the second half that saved the game,” Herrera said. “If he doesn’t make that save, momentum completely changes.”

Windy City Ram Classic

St. Rita 2, Providence 0: Mark Murphy and Liam Forde netted goals for St. Rita (2-2).

Mount Carmel 5, Lincoln Park 0: Anibal Mendoza had a hat trick for host Mount Carmel (4-1).

Lemont Cup

Lemont 3, Lincoln-Way West 0: Mike Walus had a goal and two assists for Lemont (4-0) in the second round.

Lockport 4, Plainfield North 4: Host Lockport (1-1-1) played to a draw in the second round.

Best of the West Invitational

Sandburg 4, Waubonsie Valley 0: Danny Lojek was among the goal scorers for Sandburg (1-1-1) at Naperville Central.

Non-Tournament

Crete-Monee 7, Oak Forest 0: Carlos Posada totaled four goals and an assist for host Crete-Monee (6-0).

Boys Golf

Eisenhower 172, T.F. South 200: Medalist Nick Curta shot a 4-over 39 to lead Eisenhower in the South Suburban crossover at The Meadows of Blue Island.

Lincoln-Way West 160, Bolingbrook 170: Will Knights, of Lincoln-Way West, was the medalist with a 35 in the SouthWest Suburban crossover at The Sanctuary in New Lenox.

Reavis 174, Hillcrest 189: Reavis’ Jim DeGrado (35) recorded the lowest round of the day in the South Suburban crossover at Stony Creek in Oak Lawn.

Homewood-Flossmoor 171, Andrew 184: Gregg Kuznieski, of Homewood-Flossmoor, carded a 35 to earn medalist honors in the SouthWest Suburban crossover Silver Lake’s North Course in Orland Park.

Rich Central 188, Rich South 234: Rich Central’s Steve Burnett and Rich South’s William Nichols were co-medalists with rounds of 43 in the Southland meet at Deer Creek in University Park.

Richards 160, Bremen 186: Richards teammates Matt Kendryna and Lucas Christian shared medalist honors with 37s in the South Suburban crossover at Stony Creek.

Lincoln-Way East 158, Stagg 189: Medalist Matt Stoner shot a 35 for Lincoln-Way East in the SouthWest Suburban crossover at Palos Hills Golf Course.

Lincoln-Way Central 153, Joliet Central 164: Lincoln-Way Central teammates Bryant Bolden, Tom Schumann and Tony Kestel shot 38s to share medalist honors in the SouthWest Suburban crossover at The Sanctuary.

Oak Forest 174, Argo 216: Oak Forest’s Nick Flynn (41) was the medalist in the South Suburban crossover at Dunne National Golf Course in Oak Forest.

St. Laurence 162, St. Rita 170: Medalist Jordan Velez shot a 39 for St. Laurence in the Catholic League dual at Tuckaway Golf Club in Crete.

Joliet Catholic triangular: A lower score from its sixth-best golfer enabled Marist to edge Nazareth for first place after both teams carded 160s at The Meadows. Joliet Catholic (163) was third. Marist’s Tim Hennessy shared medalist honors with a 38 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference.

Marian Catholic triangular: St. Viator (153) won the East Suburban Catholic meet behind medalist Luke DeTrempe, who shot a 2-under 35 at Lincoln Oaks in Crete. Carmel (153) was second and Marian Catholic (167) third. Sean Rea (40) had the best score for the host Spartans.

Girls Golf

Providence 168, Sandburg 180: Providence’s Alyssa Newling was the medalist with an even-par 38 at Silver Lake’s North Course.

Lemont 154, Rosary 180: Lemont teammates Emily Lejman and Nadia Cortez each shot 36 to share medalist honors at Valley Greens Golf Course in North Aurora.

Mother McAuley 176, Wheaton-St. Francis 180: Medalist Carly Bettinardi shot a 40 to pace Mother McAuley at Cantigny in Wheaton.

Girls Tennis

Lincoln-Way North 5, Crete-Monee 0: Ally Cubr won at No. 1 singles for host Lincoln-Way North.

Hillcrest 3, Richards 2: Olivia Hill and Paris Jackson (No. 2 doubles) were among the winners for visiting Hillcrest (2-2) in the South Suburban crossover.

Reavis 5, Bremen 0: Sam Mangianpane and Marissa Mangala won at No. 1 doubles for host Reavis in the South Suburban crossover.

Rich Central 5, Thornwood co-op 0: Gabrielle Etienne prevailed at No. 2 singles for visiting Rich Central (1-3).

Chicago Christian 3, Andrew 2: Lisa Chionis won her match at No. 1 singles for visiting Chicago Christian.

Marian Catholic 4, Lincoln-Way West 3: Gaby Rosales notched at win at No. 1 singles for Marian Catholic (4-0) in New Lenox.

Shepard 3, Lemont 2: Shea Schaaf’s win at No. 1 singles spearheaded Shepard in the South Suburban crossover.

Homewood-Flossmoor 4, York 3: Colleen Kenney and Allison Lessner won at No. 2 doubles to aid host Homewood-Flossmoor (1-0).

Eisenhower 4, Tinley Park 1: Eisenhower won the South Suburban crossover in Blue Island.

Boys Cross Country

Tinley Park quadrangular: No team scores were provided for the South Suburban meet. The top runner was Tinley Park’s Mitch Wood, who crossed the finish line in 17 minutes, 28.94 seconds.

Evergreen Park triangular: Michael Amashta (16:26) was the individual medalist as Reavis (23) topped South Suburban foes Evergreen Park (38) and Oak Lawn (70).

SouthWest Suburban Invitational: Tom Razo (16:18.9) was the top individual as he led Lockport (86) to the team crown at Channahon Community Park. Lincoln-Way East and Lincoln-Way West tied for second with 98 points each.

Girls Cross Country

Evergreen Park triangular: Reavis (23) won first place behind individual champion Nicole Maier (20:53). Oak Lawn (46) and Evergreen Park (64) also competed in the South Suburban meet.

SouthWest Suburban Invitational: Sandburg totaled 46 points in edging Lockport (48) for first place at Channahon Community Park. Lockport’s Megan O’Brien (18:10.4) captured top individual honors.

Girls Swimming

Oak Forest 105, Oak Lawn 80: Leanne Latocha won the 50-yard freestyle (26.58 seconds) and 100 free (58.51) to aid visiting Oak Forest in the South Suburban crossover.

Tinley Park 112, Reavis 68: Tinley Park’s Hannah Schultz posted wins in the 100 butterfly (1 minute, 3.37 seconds) and 200 individual medley (2:20.96) in the South Suburban crossover.

Lemont 96, Evergreen Park 74: Patty Zaporowski won the 50 free (27.09) for Lemont in the South Suburban crossover.

Thornton Fractional co-op 54, Eisenhower 37: Annie Zupan placed first in the 100 backstroke (1:28.67) and 200 free (2:18.14) for host Thornton Fractional co-op in the South Suburban crossover.

Hinsdale South 97, Stagg 89: Stagg lost its season opener in Darien.

Contributing: Josh Krockey