Naperville North’s Christian Romano is no Jack Barry, at least not yet, but he did a pretty fair impersonation Thursday.
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The since-graduated Barry was renowned for his long throw-ins that led to numerous goals over the past two seasons, both of which ended with the Huskies winning state championships.
Romano, a junior defender, plays a different position than Barry but he has taken over many of the throw-in duties.
“I do feel like I’m put in that position now,” Romano said. “I have to step up on that.”
Romano came through in North’s season-opening 2-0 win over host Lyons. He launched a throw-in from the right side that sailed 40 yards to the back post and set up Ty Konrad’s goal that finished the scoring with 28:47 remaining in the second half.
Bowling Green recruit Colin Iverson got his head on Romano’s heave, flicking it behind him to Konrad, who volleyed the ball under the crossbar.
“I saw the keeper continue to step up on Colin,” Romano said. “So I figured if I threw it a little harder, Colin could slip it to the back post and Ty and Patrick (Koenig) were there.”
Koenig and Konrad combined for the game’s first goal at the 15:33 mark of the first half. Konrad slipped a pass to fellow junior Koenig, who was moving from left to right through the Lyons penalty area.
Koenig’s momentum took him away from the goal and he had a defender on his hip, but he executed an excellent cutback shot that found its way inside the far post.
“We got them on the counter a little bit,” Konrad said. “He turned and made a great finish.”
All in all, it was a good start to what is expected to be another memorable season for the Huskies (1-0), who are attempting to become just the third boys soccer team in Illinois history to win three straight state titles.
Romano, who was making his first varsity start, doesn’t mind the pressure.
“It’s very exciting,” Romano said. “It’s a lot to keep on your shoulders, but it’s fun to try, keep a humble tone and step up where I’m needed.”
Naperville North coach Jim Konrad is counting on Romano to step into the middle of North’s vaunted defense, which has two new starters in front of star goalkeeper Tom Welch, who made five saves to record the shutout.
“(Romano) is going to have to be great for us,” Jim Konrad said. “My nephew, Mitch (Konrad), graduated and he was that anchor, that speed guy back there for us.
“He was able to clean up anything that got in behind us, so Christian is going to have to play that role and hold us together.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.