St. Viator, Oak Park see
Showdown as barometer
By Bill Stone
The start of the annual Pepsi Showdown is just the beginning of an extremely busy stretch for the St. Viator boys soccer team.
After the Lions open their East Suburban Catholic Conference season Friday afternoon at Nazareth Academy, their Showdown game against Oak Park and River Forest at 1 p.m. Saturday at Lyons Township's soccer complex in La Grange is the second of sixth during just an eight-day stretch, including three days in a row next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
If their original ESCC opener with Carmel on Wednesday didn't need to be rescheduled until Oct. 6, the stretch would have been seven games in 10 days.
"It's still early in the season," St. Viator coach Mike Taylor said. "You put some importance on the conference game. Not that you don't put importance on the Pepsi Showdown, but the kids are pretty resilient. They should be able to bounce back from that (to play OPRF). It is what it is. You've got to rebound and play and if you do, you get through a lot of conditioning, a lot of touches on the ball, a lot of game experience."
Game experience is what the Pepsi Showdown is all about. All teams are guaranteed four games, usually against quality opponents and often with intriguing matchups.
This is the first time, at least in recent memory, that OPRF (3-3-1) and St. Viator (2-2-1) have played each other. The Huskies have played at the Showdown the past eight years and reached the quarterfinals twice. St. Viator has been at the Showdown for at least as long and is coming off a 2013 quarterfinal appearance.
"(I like) the chance to play top teams at one of the best facilities around," OPRF coach Paul Wright said. "Plus, we get to see teams we normally don't get to see because of geographical travel issues."
OPRF opened its West Suburban Conference Silver schedule Tuesday with a 3-2 loss at Lyons Township. The Huskies were scheduled to play host to Glenbard West Thursday.
Both of the Huskies' victories thus far have been shutouts over Leyden (1-0 Aug. 28) and Saint Ignatius (4-0 Sept. 2). The Huskies scored once in tying Larkin and losing to Lane Tech and Riverside-Brookfield.
"We had a real nice showing, but we have to move off the ball and finish a half of soccer without putting the car in neutral," Wright said. "We need to start scoring goals from the run of play and pressuring as a team."
So far, the Huskies have received a strong season from senior center midifielder Noah Fluharty.
Another player who could boost the Huskies' offensive punch is senior Sam Lisak. Lisak is a goalie, but now has become a field player thanks to the play of junior goalie Will Dunne.
"The engine of our team is (Fluharty). He's sort of like Patrick Kane of the Hawks. He creates things and makes some unbelievable shots and moves," Wright said.
"(Lisak) has been playing the field and providing us a more solid attack. I think he will be one of the players we hear about more once he gets into the groove a little more."
St. Viator still is working to overcome the graduation of eight starters, including its entire defensive line and goalie.
The Lions' three returning starters are forwards Zach Gyuricza and midfielders Miles McDonell, a junior, and senior Javier Romero. Gyuricza has five of the Lions' seven goals on the season, playing up top with senior Aidan Williams.
"I'm pleased with where we're at. It's going to take some time for the kids to gel. And we don't play an easy schedule at the beginning of the year," Taylor said. "We play some strong teams because they actually show you where you need to improve. Strong teams find your weaknesses very, very quickly."
The Lions' last game was a 2-0 loss to nationally ranked Chaminade (Mo.) on Sept. 6, with one goal coming on a penalty kick. The Lions also lost 2-0 to Lake Zurich in a close Aug. 27 opener that "could have gone either way," with the Bears adding a last-second goal as St. Viator pressed for an equalizer.
St. Viator tied 2-2 with Notre Dame Sept. 5 after leading most of the way. The Lions won their previous two games 4-2 over Prospect and 1-0 over Totino-Grace.
"I'm looking to see if we can solidify our defense (at the Showdown)," Taylor said. "Not just our back, but our whole team playing better team defense, a little sharper, I think is the main focus.
"You get to see teams you don't normally see (at the Showdown). You get to see a different team, maybe a different style of play. Also, I like the sense of urgency that you have to win to get to the next round. Even though you still play, you want to stay in the winners' bracket. I think with two Saturdays in one location, your kids get to see other teams and games while waiting and finishing their games."
Showdown as barometer
By Bill Stone
The start of the annual Pepsi Showdown is just the beginning of an extremely busy stretch for the St. Viator boys soccer team.
After the Lions open their East Suburban Catholic Conference season Friday afternoon at Nazareth Academy, their Showdown game against Oak Park and River Forest at 1 p.m. Saturday at Lyons Township's soccer complex in La Grange is the second of sixth during just an eight-day stretch, including three days in a row next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
If their original ESCC opener with Carmel on Wednesday didn't need to be rescheduled until Oct. 6, the stretch would have been seven games in 10 days.
"It's still early in the season," St. Viator coach Mike Taylor said. "You put some importance on the conference game. Not that you don't put importance on the Pepsi Showdown, but the kids are pretty resilient. They should be able to bounce back from that (to play OPRF). It is what it is. You've got to rebound and play and if you do, you get through a lot of conditioning, a lot of touches on the ball, a lot of game experience."
Game experience is what the Pepsi Showdown is all about. All teams are guaranteed four games, usually against quality opponents and often with intriguing matchups.
This is the first time, at least in recent memory, that OPRF (3-3-1) and St. Viator (2-2-1) have played each other. The Huskies have played at the Showdown the past eight years and reached the quarterfinals twice. St. Viator has been at the Showdown for at least as long and is coming off a 2013 quarterfinal appearance.
"(I like) the chance to play top teams at one of the best facilities around," OPRF coach Paul Wright said. "Plus, we get to see teams we normally don't get to see because of geographical travel issues."
OPRF opened its West Suburban Conference Silver schedule Tuesday with a 3-2 loss at Lyons Township. The Huskies were scheduled to play host to Glenbard West Thursday.
Both of the Huskies' victories thus far have been shutouts over Leyden (1-0 Aug. 28) and Saint Ignatius (4-0 Sept. 2). The Huskies scored once in tying Larkin and losing to Lane Tech and Riverside-Brookfield.
"We had a real nice showing, but we have to move off the ball and finish a half of soccer without putting the car in neutral," Wright said. "We need to start scoring goals from the run of play and pressuring as a team."
So far, the Huskies have received a strong season from senior center midifielder Noah Fluharty.
Another player who could boost the Huskies' offensive punch is senior Sam Lisak. Lisak is a goalie, but now has become a field player thanks to the play of junior goalie Will Dunne.
"The engine of our team is (Fluharty). He's sort of like Patrick Kane of the Hawks. He creates things and makes some unbelievable shots and moves," Wright said.
"(Lisak) has been playing the field and providing us a more solid attack. I think he will be one of the players we hear about more once he gets into the groove a little more."
St. Viator still is working to overcome the graduation of eight starters, including its entire defensive line and goalie.
The Lions' three returning starters are forwards Zach Gyuricza and midfielders Miles McDonell, a junior, and senior Javier Romero. Gyuricza has five of the Lions' seven goals on the season, playing up top with senior Aidan Williams.
"I'm pleased with where we're at. It's going to take some time for the kids to gel. And we don't play an easy schedule at the beginning of the year," Taylor said. "We play some strong teams because they actually show you where you need to improve. Strong teams find your weaknesses very, very quickly."
The Lions' last game was a 2-0 loss to nationally ranked Chaminade (Mo.) on Sept. 6, with one goal coming on a penalty kick. The Lions also lost 2-0 to Lake Zurich in a close Aug. 27 opener that "could have gone either way," with the Bears adding a last-second goal as St. Viator pressed for an equalizer.
St. Viator tied 2-2 with Notre Dame Sept. 5 after leading most of the way. The Lions won their previous two games 4-2 over Prospect and 1-0 over Totino-Grace.
"I'm looking to see if we can solidify our defense (at the Showdown)," Taylor said. "Not just our back, but our whole team playing better team defense, a little sharper, I think is the main focus.
"You get to see teams you don't normally see (at the Showdown). You get to see a different team, maybe a different style of play. Also, I like the sense of urgency that you have to win to get to the next round. Even though you still play, you want to stay in the winners' bracket. I think with two Saturdays in one location, your kids get to see other teams and games while waiting and finishing their games."