Video: Dajani's Hat Trick Lifts Maine East Into Sectional Championship

The finish to Maine East’s sectional semifinal in soccer may have been the longest 10 minutes of coach Vic DiPrizio’s career. But it was well worth the emotional trauma.

“It’s such an emotional ride,” DiPrizio said. “It was nerve-racking at the end. That’s soccer. Those 10 minutes, my heart has never beat so fast.”

Behind Rami Dajani’s hat trick, the Blue Demons (16-7-1) got out to a 5-2 lead late in the second half. But stormed back with two goals in the span of less than two minutes to make it a one-goal game.

The Titans (14-8-2) had a couple of great scoring chances to tie it up, but Maine East’s defense held on, winning the contest 5-4. The Blue Demons will advance to the sectional championship in on Saturday.

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“Last time we played them we were missing key players, some of our key players for the success of this team,” said Dajani, whose team lost to Glenbrook South 5-0 earlier in the season. “I told their defender [before the game] that it’s a whole different team they are about to face.”

Maine East got the ever-important first goal eight minutes into the game on a play that took all of 10 seconds to complete.

Edward Cisneros booted a goal kick to the middle of the field where it was flicked on to a streaking Dajani, who had beaten the Titan back line. Dajani collected it and calmly put a left-footed shot into the net for a 1-0 Maine East lead.

Glenbrook South responded less than three minutes later. Branden McGarrity found himself in the right spot at the right time. Kosta Brkovic took a long ball on the right side, forcing goalkeeper David Patyk to come out. The rebound came to McGarrity who volleyed it up and over a Maine East defender for the equalizer.

In the middle of the first half Maine East put on an offensive showcase. Michal Walaszek made a run with the ball down the right side from midfield, and gave Maine East the lead back on a high shot past a diving Drew Maki into the left side of the net.

Dajani scored his second goal of the game 11 minutes later when he ran past Simon Kim to receive a through-ball and finished with another left-footed shot past Maki, who had come off his line, and into a wide-open net.

Dajani completed his hat trick seven minutes into the second half when Walaszek rifled a shot in the box that was saved initially by Maki. But Dajani was all alone and headed in the rebound, giving Maine East a 4-1 lead.

“I’ve been saying right from the start [Michal Walaszek and Rami Dajani] are two of the most exciting players in the conference, and people are going to have to start noticing us soon,” DiPrizio said.

Glenbrook South made it 4-2 when Simone Kolodezh’s shot deflected off a Maine East defender and into the net with 19 minutes remaining. But Walaszek came up with his second goal of the game on a beautiful left-footed shot into the upper-left corner from a tough angle, putting Maine East back up by three goals.

“They out-offensed us this game,” Glenbrook South coach Paul Agombar said. “[Dajani] and [Walaszek], we couldn’t stop them.”

The Titans made one last push in the final 12 minutes of the game. Off a free kick, Brkovic put home the Titans’ third goal after collecting a loose ball in the box.

Two minutes later a similar play pulled Glenbrook South within one. Luis Bautista put a free kick into the box and after Patyk made the initial save, McGarrity was there to put in the rebound with just under 10 minutes left on the clock.

Glenbrook South had a couple of chances in the remaining minutes to tie it, but couldn’t convert one last time.

Maine East will play New Trier in Evanston on Saturday night in the sectional championship, and the Blue Demons wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I want New Trier,” Dajani said. “We tied them last year. We were winning 3-0 at halftime and they got three goals to tie the game up. I want New Trier this time.” 

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