New era for Willowbrook soccer
Vastly improved Warriors look forward
to Saturday match against Hinsdale Central
By Dave Owen
Willowbrook is one of the most improved teams in the state, with its six 2014 wins matching the Warriors’ win total for the last three years combined.
The Warriors hope to receive more evidence of their rapid rise at noon Saturday when they host powerful Hinsdale Central (9-3-2) in a West Suburban Conference crossover in Villa Park.
“In past years we've dreaded playing against teams like Hinsdale Central,” Willowbrook coach Peter Ginter said. “Now we look forward to the challenge.
“As a program we have improved our players with technical ability, improved their understanding of the modern game, and got them to believe in playing within a tactical system that best suits their talents. This is still a development in progress, but I feel we’ve come a long way from our past.”
Hinsdale Central has made its own big midseason progress. The Red Devils are 4-0-1 in their last five matches, capped by last Saturday’s 1-0 win over Lyons Township on a Jack Baderman 23-yard direct kick in the second half.
“I have the highest respect for coach (Mike) Wiggins at Hinsdale Central,” Ginter said. “For many years he has managed and coached outstanding soccer programs at Hinsdale Central.
“He has been an outstanding role model as not only a great coach, but the enormous energy he has given to soccer in his community and the respect he commands among his colleagues. Without surprise Hinsdale Central is having another outstanding year thus far.”
Ginter’s efforts in turning around Willowbrook (6-6-1) are also worthy of praise. And while the Warriors enter the Hinsdale Central match as underdogs, Ginter expects positive results regardless of the score.
“Saturday’s game will be another good measuring stick for us,” Ginter said, “on where we are at against the best of competition and to prioritize areas of improvement as we approach the state playoffs.”
Hinsdale Central defeated the Warriors 3-0 last October in Hinsdale, during a one-win season for Willowbrook which now seems a distant memory.
The Warriors' Mike Rogalski is one of the standouts on a solid starting unit for Willowbrook.
“The one area that we may not match up well with Hinsdale Central is bench strength,” Ginter said. “Having impact players coming off the bench is often critical to winning close games, especially in the latter part of the second half.”
The Warriors’ last five losses have all been by one goal. A four-game losing streak ended emphatically Thursday with a 9-0 win over Montini, the latest of many 2014 positives for the Warriors.
“Although they may have not been the quality of competition as our last two games versus Glenbard South and Leyden, this game gave us an opportunity to retrieve our swagger with our needed possession game,” Ginter said, “try some new things with our tactics, and rest some of our key regular players who are suffering with nagging injuries.
“This is still a work in progress for us,” Ginter added, “but vastly improved from a previous era of Willowbrook soccer.”
Vastly improved Warriors look forward
to Saturday match against Hinsdale Central
By Dave Owen
Willowbrook is one of the most improved teams in the state, with its six 2014 wins matching the Warriors’ win total for the last three years combined.
The Warriors hope to receive more evidence of their rapid rise at noon Saturday when they host powerful Hinsdale Central (9-3-2) in a West Suburban Conference crossover in Villa Park.
“In past years we've dreaded playing against teams like Hinsdale Central,” Willowbrook coach Peter Ginter said. “Now we look forward to the challenge.
“As a program we have improved our players with technical ability, improved their understanding of the modern game, and got them to believe in playing within a tactical system that best suits their talents. This is still a development in progress, but I feel we’ve come a long way from our past.”
Hinsdale Central has made its own big midseason progress. The Red Devils are 4-0-1 in their last five matches, capped by last Saturday’s 1-0 win over Lyons Township on a Jack Baderman 23-yard direct kick in the second half.
“I have the highest respect for coach (Mike) Wiggins at Hinsdale Central,” Ginter said. “For many years he has managed and coached outstanding soccer programs at Hinsdale Central.
“He has been an outstanding role model as not only a great coach, but the enormous energy he has given to soccer in his community and the respect he commands among his colleagues. Without surprise Hinsdale Central is having another outstanding year thus far.”
Ginter’s efforts in turning around Willowbrook (6-6-1) are also worthy of praise. And while the Warriors enter the Hinsdale Central match as underdogs, Ginter expects positive results regardless of the score.
“Saturday’s game will be another good measuring stick for us,” Ginter said, “on where we are at against the best of competition and to prioritize areas of improvement as we approach the state playoffs.”
Hinsdale Central defeated the Warriors 3-0 last October in Hinsdale, during a one-win season for Willowbrook which now seems a distant memory.
The Warriors' Mike Rogalski is one of the standouts on a solid starting unit for Willowbrook.
“The one area that we may not match up well with Hinsdale Central is bench strength,” Ginter said. “Having impact players coming off the bench is often critical to winning close games, especially in the latter part of the second half.”
The Warriors’ last five losses have all been by one goal. A four-game losing streak ended emphatically Thursday with a 9-0 win over Montini, the latest of many 2014 positives for the Warriors.
“Although they may have not been the quality of competition as our last two games versus Glenbard South and Leyden, this game gave us an opportunity to retrieve our swagger with our needed possession game,” Ginter said, “try some new things with our tactics, and rest some of our key regular players who are suffering with nagging injuries.
“This is still a work in progress for us,” Ginter added, “but vastly improved from a previous era of Willowbrook soccer.”