St. Charles East and Geneva Dominate at Tri-Cities Night Showdown

URGENT UPDATE: In a thrilling display of high school soccer, St. Charles East and Geneva emerged victorious during the much-anticipated Tri-Cities Night held on July 13, 2023, at Batavia. St. Charles East clinched a nail-biting 3-2 win over St. Charles North, while Geneva dominated Batavia with an impressive 6-0 shutout.

In the first match, the pivotal moment came in the 68th minute, when sophomore Anthony Sanfilipo netted the winning goal, capitalizing on a deflected shot from junior Huxley Kapoor. “I was just waiting for the rebound in the box,” Sanfilipo reflected. “I was definitely very nervous at the time… I knew I had to run up, get the rebound and try to get one in.” This goal shifted the momentum decisively in favor of the Saints, enhancing their record to 7-3-2 overall and 2-0-2 in the DuKane Conference.

The Saints initially tied the game at 1-1 with a penalty kick from junior Sam Arville in the 16th minute, before taking the lead with a header by junior Dylan Carey in the 52nd minute. However, the North Stars equalized just four minutes later. Coach Vince DiNuzzo praised his team’s resilience, stating, “We showed some grit… instead of just being complacent with the tie going for the three points.”

The Saints’ victory stands in stark contrast to their previous year’s 3-0 defeat to the North Stars. Kapoor expressed relief, saying, “Last season was rough… we just worked hard, and it really showed in this game.”

In the nightcap, Geneva showcased their offensive prowess, scoring three goals within the first ten minutes of the second half. Junior Gabe Barwiolek initiated the second-half scoring, following up on his earlier goal in the 11th minute. “We knew we had to come out strong,” Barwiolek noted, emphasizing the importance of early momentum. Coach Jason Bhatta urged his players at halftime to capitalize on their chances, and they did just that.

The Vikings not only extended their lead with goals from seniors Ryan Myatt and Spencer Meservy in the 68th and 69th minutes respectively, but also showcased their defensive strength by limiting Batavia to just one goal in the first half. Batavia coach Mark Gianfrancesco acknowledged the challenges, stating, “We just didn’t match their intensity to start the second half.”

As the dust settles from this exhilarating evening of soccer, both St. Charles East and Geneva will look to build on their successes in upcoming matches. Fans can expect to see how these teams maintain their momentum as the season progresses.

Stay tuned for more updates on local high school sports as these teams continue to battle for supremacy in the league!