Alan Camarena’s three goals key Streamwood in victory

Alan Camarena is a man of few words, but thankfully for Streamwood he’s not shy about scoring goals.

The Sabres senior tallied a hat trick Wednesday to lead Streamwood to a 3-0 victory against host South Elgin in a nonconference meeting instead of an official Upstate Eight crossover game.

Camarena added to his team-best totals for 12 goals for the Sabres (8-3-2). It was a second straight shutout loss for South Elgin (3-4-2).

Storm goalie Colton Wenig saved three shots on-frame , including headers by Marcos Rojo and Blerim Shoboni before Rojo chalked up his fifth assist of the year, finding Camarena in position for a six-yard header with 14:08 left before halftime.

There was 18:20 left in regulation when defender Christian Balbino’s long ball led to an 11-yard Camarena goal from the right wing. Balbino also spotted Camarena open on the right wing for a 17-yard blast 1:24 prior to the final horn.

“The first goal, I backed away from the defender to get enough space and aimed the header downward,” Camarena said. “Christian saw me get free for the other two. They were really good passes. On the last one, the goalie was off his line so I just wanted to chip it over him.”

South Elgin also had its share of shots sail well over the goal in both halves, but it was still a one-goal deficit when Jose Rodriguez hit a 17-yard rocket that Sabres goalie Sergio Blanco made a diving save on.

Blanco and the defense earned their fourth shutout of the season.