Coach Speak: Raiders bow out of soccer playoffs

Coach Speak details all the Bolingbrook Raiders results coaches see fit to e-mail to The Brook Blog. If they add comments, we run them verbatim.

The Bolingbrook boys soccer team lost 3-2 to Naperville North on Monday in the semifinals of the Class 3A Bolingbrook Regional. Rodrigo Perez and Alex Cruz scored for the Raiders, who finish the year at 9-11-2.

The Bolingbrook Raiders Soccer Team took on powerhouse Naperville North in the semifinals of regional at Bolingbrook High School. Raiders came into the game as a huge underdog but that did not stop there ideas of being a Cinderella this post season. Bolingbrook came out hard getting several early chances on goal but could not put the ball in the net. Naperville North struck first on a long throw in headed into the corner by Naperville North. Naperville went into halftime with a 1-0 lead. The Raiders kept there composure the entire second half until Naperville was awarded a free kick just outside the 18 yard box. While the Raiders were setting up the wall Naperville took a quick free kick and scored in the far corner as the keeper was still aligning the wall. Poor communicate and lack of focus on the part of the Raiders defense caused the miscue. But Bolingbrook kept fighting and it played off when Rodrigo Perez volleyed a ball from 25 out to catch the keeper of his line and make the game 2-1. The Raiders continued to pressure the Naperville defense when Paingor Ngebeh took a shot off post and it was volleyed back into the net by Alex Cruz who tied the game with 1:12 left in the second half. Naperville took the opening kick off pass to the middle and played a through ball to a wide open North player who scored the game winner with 1:02 left to go in the game. The Raiders defense relaxed at the wrong time and Naperville took advantage. The Raiders dropped a heartbreaker to Naperville North 3-2. The Bolingbrook Raiders finished their season with a 9-11-2 record which does not reflect the quality of the team and effort displayed on the field all season. The Raiders will look to build on their success and fight for a SWSC Conference Title & Regional Title in 2009.