They might be comforted that the Eagles, a struggling 11-13 team three years ago, won their second consecutive Class AA state title and third overall by beating Evanston 1-0 at North Central College in Naperville on Saturday night.
Just as in last season’s title-game victory over Edwardsville, Sandburg needed only one goal. The Eagles got it with only 4 minutes 44 seconds ticked off the clock.
Brian Pasierb hit a direct kick that appeared to glance off a teammate. Sandburg’s Nick Anello got his foot on the ball and directed it past Evanston goalkeeper Matt Fenn.
“We want to score early and then the defense will take it from there,” said Sandburg All-State defender Jed Zayner.
Evanston (21-2-7) was unable to mount a serious threat to the Eagles in the final 75 minutes. In the second half, Sandburg (26-1-2) had the Wildkits pinned down in their end much of the time.
The Sandburg defenders?particularly Zayner? made things easy for goalkeeper Cole Glassner, who picked up his 62nd career shutout and 21st this season.
“They came out mostly defensive,” said Evanston All-State forward Kenny Nightingale. “They tried to triple-team me and deny me the whole game.”
Sandburg’s numbers the last two seasons say it all: Unbeaten in 55 of its last 56 games, a 27-game winning streak to finish out 2001 and 21 consecutive victories to wind up this season.
One other number: 1. The Eagles, ranked No. 1 in the preseason, have lost only once in each of the last two seasons.
“Hard work and discipline really pays off,” said Sandburg coach Jack Ferraro.
The third-place game ended the 23-year high school coaching career of Naperville North’s Dave Bucher. But not in the manner he wanted.
Goals by Ryan Miller and John Hagenberg gave Barrington (21-6-2) a 2-1 victory and its first boys soccer trophy. Cary Lucibello scored the only goal for Naperville North, which finished 17-9 to give Bucher a career mark of 361-112-67.
“Well, I did it my way,” said Bucher, who instead of going with his normal starting lineup started all seniors for his last game.
