The OPRF soccer team wanted to be playing a different game in the Pepsi Showdown Tournament at Toyota Park on Sunday, but the Huskies will take their thrilling 2-1 victory over Metea Valley just the same.
OPRF pushed its record to 8-1-1 when Stephen Golz headed in the game winner off a corner kick from Mike Bower with nine seconds remaining in the tournament’s showcase game, being played well before the championship match slated for later in the afternoon between Libertyville and Lyons Township — Libertyville won 2-1 in overtime.
“[This victory] is a big mental boost for us,” said OPRF head coach Paul Wright. “We played another high level team and really had the run of the play. We’re entering conference play this week and really focused on improving our set-plays and pressuring as a team.”
Before his header heroics, Golz put OPRF on the board with three minutes to go off a cross in the box.
The Huskies downed St. Joseph 2-1 at the Lyons Township Soccer Complex on Saturday. Marcus Machado and Ryan Huettel both scored for OPRF.
The team was scheduled to take on York last night (Sept. 20, after deadline) in its West Suburban (Silver) Conference opener. OPRF travels to Glenbard West on Thursday before beginning a three-game homestand on Friday against Kelly (4:30 p.m.).
One team the Huskies are looking forward to hosting is cross-town rival Fenwick on Sept. 30 (6:30 p.m.). There will be no charge for the game as the Huskies elected instead to highlight a specific cause. Instead of a regular entry fee, booster parents will be at the gate of Oak Park Stadium asking fans to make a donation to Maeve’s Foundation, a local organization focused on aiding in the early detection of brain tumors in children.