JV finishes strong, wins opener 10-8 over Oak Park

It was a roller-coaster return to the JV sidelines for Coach Andy Thompson on Wednesday, as St Charles hosted Oak Park-River Forest in the JV home opener. But in the end the peaks outmeasured the valleys, as the team reclaimed an early lead it had lost and rallied for a 10-8 victory.

A quick-strike offense in the first quarter, led by Austin Hammer's two goals, built a 5-1 St Charles lead. But Oak Park then went on a run of its own, and at halftime the Huskies trailed by only 5-4. Two third-quarter scores moved the Huskies ahead 6-5, but a Jake Hackbarth goal off a John Ziegler clear and a Steve Lavigne assist, tied it again.

Oak Park rose to the challenge, however, and scored twice to take a 8-6 lead. St Charles then went to work with eight minutes left.

Within the next five minutes, Jake Hackbarth scored off a Charlie Smunt assist; Charlie scored off a Chris Forsell feed to tie it at 8; Jared Spenard found Steve Lavigne for the go-ahead goal, and Luke Rabelhofer scored from the outside for the final tally.