NAPERVILLE – The margin for error the Geneva boys soccer team had to work with Wednesday night against nationally ranked Naperville Central was razor-thin during the IHSA Class 3A Naperville Central Regional semifinal.

The Vikings hoped dropping eight players into the defensive zone and a hard driving rain would slow a Redhawks team that’s favored to return to the state finals, where it finished second a year ago.

Geneva’s plan briefly worked as the Redhawks weren’t able to mount much of an offensive attack in the first 30 minutes – save for a 35-yard rocket from Central’s Mike West that made it 1-0.