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6.0 years ago by Jeff Alderman

Boys Soccer: Alton overcomes "Fear of Edwardsville thing", earns tie. - The Telegraph - 9/27/2017

Alton overcomes ‘Fear of Edwardsville thing,’ earns tie

 

Draw with Tigers not ‘bad result’ for Alton

By Pete Hayes - phayes@thetelegraph.com

 


Alton’s Cade Davis (middle) handles the ball while Edwardsville’s Kyle Wright (9) and Jakob Doyle apply defensive pressure during a Southwestern Conference boys soccer match Tuesday at Piasa Motor Fuels Field at Alton High in Godfrey.

 

Scott Kane / For The Telegraph

Edwardsville’s Alec Mills (right) tries to push the ball past Alton’s Colin Lombardi in a 0-0 SWC tie Tuesday at Piasa Motor Fuels Field in Godfrey.

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Scott Kane / For The Telegraph

GODFREY — Alton and Edwardsville’s scoreless tie through regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods Tuesday at Alton High indicates things were pretty even-steven between the Southwestern Conference rivals.

But one coach’s good result can be another coach’s cause for concern.

Alton coach Nick Funk, while bemoaning the Redbirds’ lack of finishing the chances, still said a tie with Edwardsville – and a shutout to boot – is a positive.

“A tie isn’t a bad result against them, especially a day before the (playoff) seedings” Funk said, “but we did have chances, especially in the second half.”

Edwardsville’s Mark Heiderscheid, however, was more concerned with the “fit” in “fit to be tied.”

Two of Edwardsville’s top defensive players, Zach Timmerman and Kadin Lieberman went down with injuries. Add to that fellow back Daniel Hentz, who was held out because of concussion protocol from a Saturday injury, and Heiderscheid was left concerned for the Tigers’ plans for the future.

“(Hentz) was concussed and (Timmerman) is a knee,” Heiderscheid said. “We’re hoping it’s not an ACL. We’re not sure about Lieberman. At first, I thought it was a calf contusion, but we don’t know. They’re critical to our defense.

“Of course, I was concerned with the game,” Heiderscheid said, “but more important than that is the health of these young men and the impact on planning for the playoffs as well.

“We played pretty well at times tonight and we did OK with the somewhat depleted defense. And I thought we connected the heck out of the ball.”

The Tigers controlled much of the possession through the first half and early in the second and penetrated deep into the Redbirds’ defensive third of the field. But the scoring chances weren’t al that golden, except for a penalty kick they thought they had earned – but was taken away.

With 3:44 remaining in the half, the center referee indicated a penalty kick for the Tigers after he thought Ethan Miracle had been fouled by Alton back Levi Davis. But the referee’s assistant on that end of the field called over the center ref and after they conferred, the penalty kick was waived off.

“I’ve never seen that happen,” Heiderscheid said to Funk on the sideline.

Funk answered, “Neither have I, but I’m not mad about it.”

Davis, a senior, shut down several Edwardsville chances.

“Levi is my rock,” Funk said. “He’s an absolute game changer. I’d say he played the best game of his career, but I’ve never seen him play any different.”

In the first of two 10-minute sudden-death overtimes, Alton had a scoring chance when Pete Rockholm was taken down just outside the right corner of the Tigers’ penalty area. But Jake Lombardi’s ensuing free kick was off target. Then, with 1:20 left, Davis made a stop on defense, dribbled the ball up right wing and passed it to Jaden Singleton, who sent it to Justin Davison, whose shot was wide right.

Early in the second overtime, Edwardsville’s Alec Mills hit a long, low knuckler that Alton goalie Hunter Dill smothered.

Dill notched his sixth shutout of the season. Yet, Funk said the senior goalie’s best game may still lie ahead of him.

“Hunter is a good goalie, ” Funk said, “but I’m not sure Hunter knows how good he really is.”

The Redbirds are 9-5-2 and 1-2-1 in the SWC. The Tigers are 11-1-2 overall and 4-0-1 in the conference. One of their earlier victories was a 2-0 win over Alton in the Alton Tournament early in the season.

“There was the ‘Fear of Edwardsville thing,’ in the first half tonight” Funk said. “We had a long talk at halftime and I think our guys got over it. They took it to heart.”

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