Original 2 meet again
Plainfields Central and South continue rivalry Saturday
By Dave Surico
The saying goes that you can throw out the records in rivalry games. Plainfield South coach Dave Brown is thinking along those lines when his Cougars host Plainfield Central at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
"The Plainfield South versus Central game has always been an important one because we were the first two Plainfield schools," Brown said. "Central dominated the match-up for a long time, but the last few years we have found a way to get a result against them.
"I know coach Fitzgerald will have his guys ready to play hard for all 80 minutes. And in our conference this year, any team can beat anyone else so we just have to be ready to play and execute like we know we are capable of."
Brown saw his team absorb its first conference loss in PKs to Plainfield East on Tuesday. A nine-game unbeaten streak and seven-game win streak also ended for the Cougars (10-2-1, 2-1).
"It was a tough loss in the respect where I think we generated the better chances and had the run of play," he said. "It was one of those games where, offensively, we seemed to be just a touch, or a pass, or a cross away from scoring a few goals.
"Then to lose in a shootout just makes it maybe feel a little worse than in regulation. Hopefully, we can now use that result to get focused. We talked about how facing a little adversity right now is probably not such a bad thing in the long run, and that because of our great start to the season, people are going to bring their best effort against us, and we have to be prepared for that.
"I don't think there were any glaring issues form the East game. We played 80 minutes on the road and did not concede a goal until both teams were awarded penalty kicks in the second overtime. We defended well, just need to show a little bit more patience and creativity in the attacking third to score some goals."
Plainfield Central will try to regain its equilibrium. After a 2-1-1 start, the Wildcats have suffered through a 10-game winless streak, broken up by a tie against Belvidere Sept. 27 in the St. Charles East tournament. The streak includes four tough games in the Pepsi Showdown.
"We’ve struggled through a long stretch and it’s probably taken its toll on the team," said coach Kevin Fitzgerald. "But, as we keep telling the kids, we have to keep playing hard, and continue to try our best to improve.
"It should be a game where are our guys are ready to play -- just as any other. I’ve been real proud of our guys’ effort since it’s not easy to continue to play hard while losing by large margins."
Fitzgerald added that junior midfielder Jarod Petrovic has filled a leadership role and been a positive influence on the younger players for the Wildcats (2-10-2, 1-2).
Plainfields Central and South continue rivalry Saturday
By Dave Surico
The saying goes that you can throw out the records in rivalry games. Plainfield South coach Dave Brown is thinking along those lines when his Cougars host Plainfield Central at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
"The Plainfield South versus Central game has always been an important one because we were the first two Plainfield schools," Brown said. "Central dominated the match-up for a long time, but the last few years we have found a way to get a result against them.
"I know coach Fitzgerald will have his guys ready to play hard for all 80 minutes. And in our conference this year, any team can beat anyone else so we just have to be ready to play and execute like we know we are capable of."
Brown saw his team absorb its first conference loss in PKs to Plainfield East on Tuesday. A nine-game unbeaten streak and seven-game win streak also ended for the Cougars (10-2-1, 2-1).
"It was a tough loss in the respect where I think we generated the better chances and had the run of play," he said. "It was one of those games where, offensively, we seemed to be just a touch, or a pass, or a cross away from scoring a few goals.
"Then to lose in a shootout just makes it maybe feel a little worse than in regulation. Hopefully, we can now use that result to get focused. We talked about how facing a little adversity right now is probably not such a bad thing in the long run, and that because of our great start to the season, people are going to bring their best effort against us, and we have to be prepared for that.
"I don't think there were any glaring issues form the East game. We played 80 minutes on the road and did not concede a goal until both teams were awarded penalty kicks in the second overtime. We defended well, just need to show a little bit more patience and creativity in the attacking third to score some goals."
Plainfield Central will try to regain its equilibrium. After a 2-1-1 start, the Wildcats have suffered through a 10-game winless streak, broken up by a tie against Belvidere Sept. 27 in the St. Charles East tournament. The streak includes four tough games in the Pepsi Showdown.
"We’ve struggled through a long stretch and it’s probably taken its toll on the team," said coach Kevin Fitzgerald. "But, as we keep telling the kids, we have to keep playing hard, and continue to try our best to improve.
"It should be a game where are our guys are ready to play -- just as any other. I’ve been real proud of our guys’ effort since it’s not easy to continue to play hard while losing by large margins."
Fitzgerald added that junior midfielder Jarod Petrovic has filled a leadership role and been a positive influence on the younger players for the Wildcats (2-10-2, 1-2).