By Roger Gordon

Correspondent

What a way to start the postseason.

Aurora posted consecutive home shutouts, 2-0 on Oct. 19 over Wooster in a Division III sectional semifinal and 4-0 on Oct. 24 over Elyria Catholic in a sectional final.

“We didn’t have a lot of those in the regular season,” head coach Louis Kastelic said. “So to do it when it matters most now when each game obviously your season is on the line I think just speaks to the level of intensity we have right now and a focus that maybe at different points was lacking.

“I’m super proud that the guys have sort of flipped the switch, and they realize we are in that do or die kind of state, and they’re bringing the right mentality to the games and shutting people down. I’m really pleased,” Kastelic added.

In the win over the Panthers, the Greenmen came out fast and pressing en route to a 3-0 halftime lead.

“We saw some things with them on film and in scouting that we could attack, and we were able to expose that,” said Kastelic. “We’ve been doing what we’ve been preaching in practice, and it’s worked.”

Senior forward Cam Gentille’s hat trick paced Aurora.

“Cam is by far our biggest threat offensively,” said the coach. “He’s the one who’s man-marked by every team we face constantly. They’re always aware where he’s at, so teams know, ‘Okay, try to shut down No. 12 as best you can,’ but he seems to rise for all the occasions and comes through most of the time. I’m very happy for him and just glad we have him.”

Senior midfielder Jack Ries scored the other goal, while sophomore defender Clay Blaser dished out two assists.

In the win over the Generals, the home team, like it did against Elyria Catholic, darted out of the gate, which led to a 2-0 lead at the intermission.

“We scored our first goal early on, by design,” Kastelic said. “That was the intention, to go out there and press and having a home game in front of our friends and family and stuff. We wanted to come out with some high energy, and we were able to accomplish that.”

Scoring a goal apiece were first junior midfielder Brennen Winkler and then Winkler, both assisted by Ries.

“Brennen’s goal,” Kastelic said, “was on a beautiful cross from Jack off of a throw-in on the right side of the field. We’d done a great job of moving the ball from the left over to the right and got what we refer to as an up-back-and-through, and Brennen was there for the header. It just really had the defense shifting and out of position the way we had practiced and preached all week. It was nice to see it in motion.

“Cam’s score also came off of a cross from Jack, on a high start. It was just a beautifully played ball from a little out towards our midfield area, and Jack played it in towards the top of the sixth, and Cam and a bunch of guys actually were running to the right spots. It was kind of in that no-man’s land for the goalie where, if he comes out, he’s probably in trouble, and if he stays back, he’s in trouble, so it was just well positioned by Jack. Then Cam finished his run and was able to put the ball in the net.”

Senior goalkeeper Joe Fielding had a whale of a game with five very big saves.

“Joe was the unsung hero of the game,” said the coach. “Those saves were all crucial. I was a little disappointed with the shots because they were somewhat from point blank range, and the game could’ve looked a lot different if he doesn’t make those saves. That was by far Joe’s best game of the season.”

Aurora will take a 7-10-2 record into a district semifinal Thursday at 7 p.m. at fifth-seeded Marlington. Although the prevailing opinion is that the Greenmen will not match last year’s team that advanced all the way to the state title game, Kastelic believes his underdog squad has a fighter’s chance against the Dukes.

“Marlington is a very good team, but I actually think we match up well with them,” he said. “Their record is extremely good, but we’ve got some guys coming back from injury, and I think we’re starting to click the way we wanted to all year when I didn’t have those guys all season. They’re big and physical, but we look forward to the challenge and going on the road and trying to get the upset.”