Boys Soccer: L-W West Rallies Past Providence

The Providence Catholic boys soccer team played its best half of soccer on Thursday night. The problem was that Lincoln-Way West also played its best of half of the season.

After the Celtics took a 2-0 lead into halftime, the Warriors rallied to score four straight goals and then held on for a 4-3 victory in a Lincoln-Way Invitational match Thursday night at Lincoln-Way West.

"That was the best half of soccer we've played all year," Providence coach Dan Potempa said. "We moved it well, we possessed well and put pressure on them."

But that was all in the first half. Things changed quickly in the final 40 minutes, and quickly is the key word as it took just six seconds for the Warriors to make it a 2-1 contest on a Connor McGrath goal.

"After we got that first goal, we knew how easy it was and saw we could do it," McGrath said. "After that we knew we were in the game."

Lincoln-Way West (2-4-1) made it 2-all with 21:50 remaining on a cross from Ryan Curry to McGrath.

"We knew we dug ourselves a hole, but then we knew we could battle out of it," McGrath said. "The second half was the best we've played all season."

With momentum still on its side, Lincoln-Way West pulled ahead 3-2 on the strong leg of Curry, who curled in a shot with 17:37 remaining. It also came against backup goalkeeper Antonio Serrato, who had replaced Brian McNamee prior to the game-tying goal.

McNamee took a boot to the head and left with a possible concussion. Joe Mackay also would see time in the net.

"We got the foul down in their half, and I looked at my options to see who was running far post," Curry said. "I decided I might as well go for it and it went off the crossbar and hit off the back of the goalie and went in."

The Warriors continued to push things offensively, extending their lead to 4-2 with 15:01 left when Brandon Waterland took a pass from sophomore Kip Pavlovich, dribbled a bit, made nifty stop and drive, and fired a shot off the keeper and into the net.

"I don't like to put too much stock in one moment or one half, but it was nice to see the guys battle back like that down 2-0," Lincoln-Way West coach Ryan McAllister said. "We could've easily folded, but we put in four in a short timespan. I think it was like 25 minutes, which is pretty good."

McAllister didn't point to a particular thing he said during halftime as inspiring the Warriors to rally. He simply saw the team living up to the potential he's seen all season.

"I just told them that this is their team and that I hadn't lost confidence in them," he said. "We had a couple mistakes there, and I gave some guys an opportunity to play because we have a busy week. I have confidence in them and just need to make sure they have confidence in themselves."

Providence (0-8-0) scored arguably the prettiest goal of the evening with 5:07 remaining to make it a 4-3 match as Brandon Picciolini ran down fellow junior Pat Zeniecki's cross and headed it into the net.

The Celtics took the 2-0 lead at halftime thanks to a quick score from sophomore Ben Salvador less than three minutes into the match and made it 2-0 less than 10 minutes in on senior Caden Canavan's score.

"It was a well fought game and a fun game," McGrath said. "I know my boys like playing them."

A lot of that has to do with the schools being so close to one another.

"It was pretty good since Providence is right down the street, so it's a little derby," McGrath said. "I've played with some of their guys on my club team. So, it was good."

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