OT goal sends Elgin to title match

Elgin High School's Emmanuel Martinez (6) and Giovanni Hernandez (14) rush to Carlos Moreno to celebrate Moreno's game-winning overtime goal against host Huntley in regional soccer action Wednesday.
(Andrew A. Nelles/For The Courier-News)

HUNTLEY — Heading into Wednesday's semifinal match against No. 2 seed Huntley at the Red Raiders' own Class 3A regional, it had been five games and 20 days since Elgin High had last scored a goal, dating to an Oct. 1 defeat against South Elgin.

That all came to an end for the No. 3 seed Maroons when sophomore Carlos Moreno intercepted a loose ball and quickly turned around and struck the ball left-footed into the wind from 25 yards out with 2:28 remaining in sudden-death overtime to give Elgin a dramatic 1-0 win. Moreno was quickly dogpiled then hoisted by his teammates, all while a smile seemed frozen on his face.

"When the guy passed it I anticipated it and just shot it," Moreno said. "I don't know, it was just amazing."

Added Elgin goalkeeper Osiel Ravadan: "I love how he shoots the ball, I love it. I was waiting for that shot the whole game but he took some extra time today and we came out with the win."

It was Moreno's second goal of the year and his second game-winner from 25 yards-plus.

"He has been our most solid player the whole year," said Elgin coach Dave Borg. "We call him 'ST' because that's all he does is make slide tackles and here he scores from 25 yards out. It's been a rough six or seven games for us. We haven't scored so the monkey's off our back."

The outcome marks the second day in a row a lower seed has advanced, setting up Friday's title match against crosstown rival and No. 4 seed Larkin. The Maroons (5-10-4) and Royals (7-15-3) played to a scoreless draw on Sept. 15.

Ravadan had 12 saves in goal and was a big reason why the game was sent into overtime. The senior had a save on an indirect kick with 15 minuets left in the first half and also used all of his 6-foot height to bat a ball out of bounds on a corner kick.

"Our defense was pretty much amazing today," Ravadan said. "We had a couple times right side where they would take us, but we kept it up, didn't put our heads down."

Huntley's 6-foot-5 goalkeeper Kevin Montelongo also held Elgin's offense in check, en route to nine saves, but Moreno's shot in overtime went far left post and just out of the reach of Montelongo.

"The last thing I thought was they would score on a goal like that," said Huntley coach Kris Grabner, whose team finished the season at 8-12-6. "He hit a great shot. I saw the game ending with a through ball that broke us down, not with a loose ball that ends up 30 yards from the goal and the guy striking it into the wind into a corner."

After the match, Elgin was happy to get another shot at Larkin, especially the seniors.

"We haven't beaten them in three, four years," Ravadan said. "Our last game we tied. We couldn't capitalize and hopefully Friday everything goes well and we get a regional championship."