Benet can't capitalize on chances

Updated: March 22, 2011 4:10PM

Benet's boys soccer team continues to be an enigma for first-year coach Sean Wesley.

The Redwings had appeared to be back on track after notching consecutive victories, but Benet took a step backwards when it lost a key East Suburban Catholic Conference match 1-0 to Carmel on Wednesday afternoon.

"This team is driving me mad," Wesley said.

A great example of Wesley's frustration was evident moments into the match when Sean Mogan created a wonderful scoring opportunity.

Mogan's initial chance was turned away by Carmel goalie Ryan May, who did give up a rebound, which was there for the taking and not one Redwing player hustled to get a foot on the ball.

"That was a great chance to follow and we didn't finish," Benet midfielder Joe Menconi said.

Wesley agreed.

"We've been focusing on doing the little things and we're just not," Wesley said. "That is a situation where we need everyone crashing the net and we were caught spectating."

Each team had its share of scoring chances, but it was Carmel (7-4, 3-0 ESCC) that cashed in off of a corner kick in the 27th minute.

Phil Gross started the Corsairs' goal when he sent a corner kick toward Benet's far post. Carmel's Ian Heinrich won an initial header back toward the middle where teammate Jimmy Ryan flicked the ball past Benet goalie Kyle DalSanto.

"Allowing goals off set pieces – it's past our Achilles'' heal," Wesley said. "It is frustrating."

The Redwings (4-4-1, 1-1) had a difficult time playing against Carmel's six-man defensive alignment and it showed in Benet's reluctance to put shots on frame.

"We had the midfield the entire game," Wesley said. "Mogan sat in the middle of the pitch wide open and he got the ball, but we didn't really create much off of it. Our forwards didn't do a good job of holding the ball and we didn't take shots."

Benet did muster another golden scoring chance in the closing minutes when Sean O'Hara, Menconi and Mogan strung together a series of passes, but Mogan's shot hit the crossbar.

Menconi said the Redwings need to begin to do a self-inventory.

"Our mental state collectively has to change," Menconi said. "It is easy to pass the blame, but we need to look in the mirror and be better as individuals."

Carmel coach John Halloran was thrilled to see his team earn a crucial conference victory.

"This was the first real conference test and for us to come out with a win is very, very big," Halloran said. "There is still a very long way to go and it is a very nice win."

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