A-H’s defense saves the day

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CHICAGO – Alden-Hebron’s Sig Finley did exactly as his coach told him.

With less than two minutes left in Friday night’s football game, Chicago Longwood, down 7-6, started a drive deep in its own territory. The Panthers attempted a reverse, but Finley tackled the ball carrier in the end zone for a safety to seal a 9-6 Northeastern Athletic Conference victory for the Giants (5-0 overall, 5-0 NAC).

“I told them all week, ‘We got to stay at home. They’re a pretty fast team,’ ” A-H coach John Lalor said. “It was a tough game. I’m really proud of the way our defense played.”

The loss was the first this season for Longwood (4-1, 4-1).

“It’s a big win,” Lalor said. “They’re a pretty big school. They had lots of size and wore us down, but we found our second wind.”

The Giants scored the game’s first touchdown with 6:24 left in the first quarter on a 15-yard pass from Max Vazquez to Matt Meyer, but defense dominated the second and third quarters.

Longwood’s Robert Goggins scored in the fourth on a 16-yard run that cut the Giants’ lead to 7-6, but the Panthers missed on a two-point conversion.

BOYS SOCCER

Cary-Grove 5, Huntley 0: At Cary, Matt Latawiec scored two goals in the first half to lead the Trojans (9-1, 6-0) to a Fox Valley Conference Valley Division victory against the Red Raiders (4-7-2, 2-4). C.J. Arenberg dished out three assists, and Brendan McCarthy added a goal and an assist.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Harlem Tournament: At Machesney Park, Katie Ruben had 13 kills to lead Woodstock to a 3-0 record in pool play on the first day of the tournament.

The Blue Streaks defeated Belvidere North, 25-23, 25-13, Harlem, 25-12, 25-18, and Dundee-Crown, 25-22, 25-22.

Also for Woodstock, Sarah Oleson served seven aces, and Christie Jacobson had 39 assists.

Thursday’s results

BOYS GOLF

Cary-Grove 147, Jacobs 154: At Randall Oaks in West Dundee, Josh Kopka took medalist honors with a 1-under-par 35 for Jacobs (7-2, 7-2), but the Golden Eagles lost to the Trojans (11-0, 11-0), who finished the FVC season undefeated. Ryan Laughlin, Scott Brady and Mike Olszewski shot 36s to lead C-G.

GIRLS TENNIS

Grayslake Central JV 5, Woodstock North 0: At Woodstock, Lyndsey Rector lost in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, to Cecilia Chan, and the Thunder (0-15, 0-8) dropped an FVC dual meet to the Rams (6-3, 6-3).

• Andrew Hansen contributed to this report.