The bus carrying the Maine South boys soccer team took a right turn onto Happ Road just before 9 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24.
As the bus began its trek back to Park Ridge, the Hawks erupted from inside of it. Exuberant screams filled the quiet night in Northfield as Maine South continued to celebrate its 1-0 victory over New Trier.
It was a momentous win for several reasons. Not only are the Trevians the defending Central Suburban South champions, they ended Maine South’s season with a 4-1 thrashing in a Class 3A sectional semifinal a year ago.
“It’s huge,” said sophomore Alessandro Corazzina, who scored the game-winning goal. “We wanted revenge. We got it. It felt amazing. Tomorrow, school’s going to be fun.”
Maine South (8-1-5, 2-0-1) is now in control of its fate in the ultra-competitive CSL South race. The Hawks will be conference champions if they can beat Evanston at home on Saturday, Sept. 26, and Waukegan at home on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
The significance of the victory was evident in the way the Hawks celebrated. While junior forward Peter Lind was in the midst of the celebration and a vital reason for it — he created the game-winning goal with a perfect cross that Corazzina finished with 5:46 remaining in the game — he had a different perspective.
“It means more for them than for me because I’m not from here,” a smiling Lind said, when asked about beating New Trier. “I’m an exchange student [from Denmark], so I come here and I play. It’s been fantastic to see how they’re happy for this win.”
The night was just Lind’s fourth game as a member of the Hawks’ varsity team after he arrived in the United States in mid-August. Lind didn’t start against New Trier, but his cross was the difference in the match.
As Corazzina ran to the middle of the penalty box and jockeyed for position, Lind took on a New Trier defender on the right flank. He used a pretty, right-footed stepover to carve out space and get the ball on his right foot. He aimed for the front post with his cross, he said, and rifled the ball in front of the goal.
Lind placed it perfectly. Corazzina stuck his right foot out and scored from about 5 yards away. It was Corazzina’s ninth goal of the season.
On a night in which Maine South’s defense — senior goalkeeper Glenn Gronke (seven saves) played behind junior Patrick Hopkins, senior David Aniol and junior Liam Pittges — was once again fantastic throughout, the moment of excellence by Lind and the finish by Corazzina gave the Hawks reason to celebrate on their bus ride back to Park Ridge.
“It’s really nice to see how they’re all so excited for this,” Lind said.
Notes
* With the win, Maine South improved to 2-0-1 (seven points) in the CSL South. It is scheduled to play Evanston (9-1-1, 2-1-0) on Saturday in Park Ridge, and then Waukegan (8-1-3, 1-1-2). The Wildkits currently have six points, while the Bulldogs have five.
* Even with the loss, New Trier (5-5-4, 0-1-1) still has a chance to repeat as CSL South champions. It will likely have to win all three of its remaining conference matches and get help, however. The Trevians play Glenbrook South on Saturday, Sept. 26, and Evanston on Monday, Sept. 28. They wrap up conference play against Niles West the following day.
Eric Van Dril is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter: @VanDrilSports
