"Bell" tolls for Downers
Grove South, Hinsdale South
Winner takes home longtime rivalry prize
By Dave Owen
Celebrating the 10-year anniversary of their 2004 state championship team, Downers Grove South is playing at an elite level again.
The Mustangs (8-0-2) will be favored to continue their unbeaten season at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday when they host Hinsdale South (0-9) in the renewal of the Southern Bell rivalry between the conference schools.
And while Downers South has won the last six meetings between the teams and 13 of the last 15 times, the Bell game maintains special significance on both sides.
“Downers South is always a fun game,” Hinsdale South goalkeeper Alec Carpenter said. “I know they have a really good squad this year, and it’s something where we have a lot of friends on that team so we play hard. I’m really looking forward to the DGS game.”
Mustangs’ coach Jon Stapleton is a veteran of Bell battles, playing for Downers South in the late 1980s/early 1990s and now coaching the squad for more than a decade.
“This rivalry with Hinsdale South is one of the oldest of its kind in the state,” Stapleton said. “I think it presents a unique opportunity for players on both teams -- the chance to not only play against players they know well, but also to play for a trophy you can take with you at the end of the match.”
Downers South has had a firm grip on that trophy of late (including a 4-1 win last year), and has a 19-14-10 edge in the history of the Bell series.
While the Hornets have been much more competitive than their record shows (six losses by one goal, including 2-1 defeat against Mount Carmel on Saturday), the Mustangs have a clear edge in continuing their recent success in the rivalry.
Downers South has six shutouts and just four goals allowed in a dominant start to this season.
Goalkeeper Sam Dumford averaged 10 saves per game over his first eight matches of 2014 (posting a 0.50 goals against average with five shutouts).
Eric Diaz (six goals, three assists), sophomore Nicholas Rohl (three goals, three assists) and Jason Galik (three goals) lead the Downers South offense.
“Obviously we are very pleased with how our team has been playing thus far,” Stapleton said. “We’ve been defending well and getting timely goals, which will help any team be successful.
“I’ve been pleased with the ability of this group of players to come together as a team and maintain a focus from game to game.”
Depth has been an added factor in the fast start.
“We have a number of players who have contributed throughout the season,” Stapleton said, “which has been a strength of this group in the early going.”
Besides the strong goalkeeping of Carpenter, Hinsdale South has received consistently solid play from Mike Noble, Chris Metcalf and sweeper Lucas Carlson.
Grove South, Hinsdale South
Winner takes home longtime rivalry prize
By Dave Owen
Celebrating the 10-year anniversary of their 2004 state championship team, Downers Grove South is playing at an elite level again.
The Mustangs (8-0-2) will be favored to continue their unbeaten season at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday when they host Hinsdale South (0-9) in the renewal of the Southern Bell rivalry between the conference schools.
And while Downers South has won the last six meetings between the teams and 13 of the last 15 times, the Bell game maintains special significance on both sides.
“Downers South is always a fun game,” Hinsdale South goalkeeper Alec Carpenter said. “I know they have a really good squad this year, and it’s something where we have a lot of friends on that team so we play hard. I’m really looking forward to the DGS game.”
Mustangs’ coach Jon Stapleton is a veteran of Bell battles, playing for Downers South in the late 1980s/early 1990s and now coaching the squad for more than a decade.
“This rivalry with Hinsdale South is one of the oldest of its kind in the state,” Stapleton said. “I think it presents a unique opportunity for players on both teams -- the chance to not only play against players they know well, but also to play for a trophy you can take with you at the end of the match.”
Downers South has had a firm grip on that trophy of late (including a 4-1 win last year), and has a 19-14-10 edge in the history of the Bell series.
While the Hornets have been much more competitive than their record shows (six losses by one goal, including 2-1 defeat against Mount Carmel on Saturday), the Mustangs have a clear edge in continuing their recent success in the rivalry.
Downers South has six shutouts and just four goals allowed in a dominant start to this season.
Goalkeeper Sam Dumford averaged 10 saves per game over his first eight matches of 2014 (posting a 0.50 goals against average with five shutouts).
Eric Diaz (six goals, three assists), sophomore Nicholas Rohl (three goals, three assists) and Jason Galik (three goals) lead the Downers South offense.
“Obviously we are very pleased with how our team has been playing thus far,” Stapleton said. “We’ve been defending well and getting timely goals, which will help any team be successful.
“I’ve been pleased with the ability of this group of players to come together as a team and maintain a focus from game to game.”
Depth has been an added factor in the fast start.
“We have a number of players who have contributed throughout the season,” Stapleton said, “which has been a strength of this group in the early going.”
Besides the strong goalkeeping of Carpenter, Hinsdale South has received consistently solid play from Mike Noble, Chris Metcalf and sweeper Lucas Carlson.