Hat trick powers D-C past Jacobs
How does Dundee-Crown senior forward Christian Meza respond to adversity?
The Jacobs boys soccer team quickly found out as the two teams faced off Thursday night in Fox Valley Conference Valley Division action.
Meza got the Chargers on the board within the first three minutes of play. Eighty minutes later, his hat trick helped Dundee-Crown to a 3-1 FVC Valley victory.
The Chargers came out aggressive, threatening on the opening kickoff. A pass from Luis Bahena found Meza in front of the Jacobs goal. Meza's first touch was a tap over charging goalkeeper Danny Trevor's head which he followed up with a soft push into the net.
"Coming in, I had the mindset that we were going to win," said Meza. "The first goal is always important."
Surprisingly, Meza's motivation was not so much the double and triple coverage he has had to battle through all season, but more-so the haunting memory of going 0-2 against the Golden Eagles in conference play last year.
"(Jacobs) beat us by one goal in both games last year, once in overtime," Meza recalled. "We weren't about to let that happen again."
Dundee-Crown (6-4-1, 3-2) would take a 1-0 lead into the half thanks to some big saves by goalkeeper Mike Zozokos (10 saves), and solid play from sweeper Kyle Vickstrom, who managed to stop several Golden Eagle threats.
"Kyle has been golden for me all season," said D-C coach Rey Vargas.
Jacobs came out strong in the second half, but couldn't connect on the first few chances.
Meza would find the back of the net a second time to make it 2-0 D-C before Jacobs' Mike Wallace countered.
Frustrated after a first effort was stopped by Zozokos, Wallace dribbled past several D-C defenders before tapping a second attempt into the back of the net.
"Mike creates a lot of opportunities with his speed," said Jacobs coach Jim Dzialo.
The knock brought Jacobs to within one at 2-1, and the Golden Eagles quickly threatened again off a corner just minutes later which Zozokos stopped with an aggressive save.
Jacobs continued to press, but with 15 minutes left to play, Meza did what he does best connecting a third time to complete the hat trick while putting the Chargers up 3-1.
Meza broke free at midfield after passing two Jacobs defenders. Pulling Trevor (14 saves) out of the net in a one-on-one situation, Meza passed him on the right and fired in the insurance goal.
"When Christian gets loose in the middle, there is not a whole lot that anybody can do to stop him," said Vargas.
The hustle of teammates like Eddie Bernal left Meza free.
"My teammates are the only reason I was able to get three goals," said Meza. "They are extremely hard working."
While Jacobs (3-9, 0-5) suffered the loss, Dzialo was pleased with the team's overall showing.
"This was one of our best efforts all year," Dzialo said. "The effort was there, the results were not.
"We know that Christian is a great player. This was the first time he burned us."