High school boys soccer: Jacobs defeats Hampshire, stretches win streak to 5

ALGONQUIN – A year ago, Jacobs boys soccer was in the mix for the Fox Valley Conference title up until the final week of the regular season, but the Golden Eagles never really had a stretch where they piled together wins.

Jacobs scratched and clawed its way to a 9-8-4 record without ever winning more than two games in a row.

“This year we’re in really good form, and it’s just a great feeling,” Jacobs midfielder Liam Armstrong said.

With a 2-1 win over Hampshire on Tuesday, Jacobs (7-2-2, 3-0 FVC) stretched its winning streak to five.

Armstrong assisted on one early Jacobs goal and scored the game-winning goal in the 48th minute. On the game-winner, the Golden Eagles’ Alex Nicastro won a hard tackle near midfield and the ball popped into the air toward the Hampshire net.

“It just bounced forward and I didn’t see anyone run onto it, so I ran onto it,” Armstrong said. “I saw a defender coming, so I threw him a little move and hit it. Luckily, it hit the back of the net.”

Teammate Jesse Nunez scored the game’s opening goal, with the assist from Armstrong, in the 16th minute. Hampshire’s Kobe Frenette answered in the 38th minute to even the game, 1-1, before halftime. Then Armstrong scored about eight minutes after halftime.

“They played better as a team than we did,” Hampshire coach Rick Schuster said. “We’ve got good players, but sometimes we play too much individual soccer and not enough combinations. They were better than us.”

Hampshire (9-3-2, 1-1) suffered its first FVC loss, but the conference season is early yet. The Whip-Purs had more scoring chances than Jacobs in the second half, but couldn’t put one away.

Jacobs goalkeeper Preston Krahl stood tall in the net, making a couple of diving saves in the game.

“If you make a big save, then it lifts everyone else up,” Krahl said. “I get a little glory from the sideline.”

Krahl earned the glory Tuesday. He totaled eight saves, six in the second half.

“Preston came up with some really good saves today and he saves us a lot of games, so it’s good to have him back there,” Armstrong said.

The Golden Eagles, at 3-0 in conference, are one of three remaining unbeaten teams in the FVC – along with Crystal Lake South and Dundee-Crown. Their two nonconference losses came against Barrington and Mt. Carmel, two quality opponents.

The five-game win streak includes FVC wins over Crystal Lake Central, McHenry and now Hampshire.

“For me, I thought we had a little bit slow start,” Jacobs coach Colin Brice said. “We’ve been successful high-pressing teams, high-pressing their backs, making them put their head down. Then winning balls in the offensive third and creating chances.”

Hampshire, like Jacobs, entered play Tuesday riding a four-game win streak. The Whips also returned a lot of talent from last season and have hopes of competing for the conference title.

Hampshire has to regroup now with another FVC matchup Thursday against Crystal Lake Central. It can’t afford to fall any further behind in the FVC race.

“We’re right there,” Schuster said. “We’ve just got to get a little better in certain areas. We’ve still got a lot of conference games left. You can’t let one conference mistake get you down.”

STAR OF THE GAME

Liam Armstrong, Jacobs, jr., M

Armstrong scored what proved to be the game-winning goal early in the second half in Jacobs’ 2-1 win over Hampshire. Armstrong also had an assist on Jesse Nunez' first-half goal.

THE NUMBER

3: In five straight wins, Jacobs has allowed three combined goals.

AND ANOTHER THING …

Armstrong has been one of the top players for the Golden Eagles this season.

"He works hard," coach Colin Brice said. "His ability to take players on 1-v-1, work ethic, just puts himself in the right places. He’s our leading goal scorer and hopefully continues to be that throughout the season."

Jacobs 2, Hampshire 1

Hamp 1 0 – 1

Jac 1 1 – 2

First half

Jac – Nunez (Armstrong assist), 16th minute.

Hamp – Frenette, 38th minute.

Second half

Jac – Armstrong, 48th minute.

Goalkeeper saves – Hampshire: Schultz 4. Jacobs: Krahl 8.