Naperville N. makes up for lost time,
tops Bartlett in Best of West final
Sullivan penalty kick decides defensive battle
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – Naperville North has enjoyed a lot of success over the past 20 years, including a state championship, three state semifinal appearances and eight sectionals titles.
So it's hard to believe that the Huskies had made only one appearance in the Best of the West Tournament championship game during that span.Their second appearance came Saturday night, and they made the most of it.
Chris Sullivan scored on a penalty kick in the second half, and Riley Wiest made three saves to record his first shutout of the season as Naperville North edged Bartlett 1-0 at Memorial Stadium at Naperville Central.
“What’s cool is that it’s only the second time in 20 years that we’ve been here,” Naperville North coach Jim Konrad said. “It’s crazy. Second time being in this game and it’s our 599th win as a program.”
Sullivan, arguably the most accomplished high school player on the field, made the difference, willing his way to the only goal of an evenly played defensive match.
The junior forward’s aggressive move into the Bartlett penalty area paid dividends when he was knocked down, drawing the penalty kick.
“Josh Penn, the freshman, tapped it to me, and I just saw one guy in front of me. So I tried to tap it in front of him, and I got kind of taken out as I was trying to go to goal,” Sullivan said. “He got a piece of my leg and the ref saw it, luckily.”
With the Huskies’ student section chanting “Sully, Sully,” the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match didn’t hesitate in stepping up to attempt the penalty, which he drilled into the lower right corner of the net with 29:15 left in the game.
“I’ve always been that kind of guy, but credit to my teammates because they had the confidence in me to take it,” said Sullivan, whose teammates dumped a bucket of ice water on his head while he was conducting a TV interview. “I was more like not wanting to let them down than (scoring) a goal for myself.”
The victory was the fourth in a row for the Huskies (5-2), who defeated Benet 2-1 earlier in the day to reach the final. They previously won the tournament in 2011.
“It’s awesome, especially for a program that has a good legacy, only winning this once in the past 20 years,” Sullivan said. “It’s pretty crazy to think about and obviously it boosts your confidence for the road to come, but it should humble us at the same time.”
Indeed, though Naperville North had the majority of the few scoring chances, it by no means dominated the upstart Hawks (3-2), who surprised Naperville Central and beat Waubonsie Valley and Sandburg to advance to the Best of the West final for the first time.
“They’re starting 11 seniors, and I felt like they were super athletic,” Konrad said of the Hawks. “Their two kids in the back and that kid in the middle, No. 10 (Oliver Saile), is smooth. He’s a good player.
“I thought they battled and played real hard. I thought it was a pretty even game. I think we probably had more chances but they had their chances too.”
The Huskies had a couple of chances in the first half. Sullivan twice sprang Penn, who has scored five times in his first seven high school games, into open space but the rookie missed wide right on a short shot in the 12th minute. Later he was denied by diving Hawks goalkeeper Jake Hasenstein in the 35th minute.
Sullivan also triggered a great chance only six minutes after his goal, rifling a corner kick from the left side through the crease to Ryan Budicin, whose one-timer beat Hasenstein but was cleared off the line by defender Steven Wenzlaff.
That was one of only three shots on goal allowed by Bartlett defenders Wenzlaff, Josh White, Josh Merkel and Joey Mirsky.
“Our back line was very strong in this game,” Saile said. “They were very organized, and they’ve improved over the span of the tournament. So I think they’re doing really well.”
The Hawks didn’t do as well offensively, mustering only six shots, including three on frame.
Wiest was tested just twice, deflecting Alexis Contreras’ hard shot from 30 yards out over the crossbar in the 10th minute and leaping to his right to snag Rudy Reyes’ left-footed 15-yard bullet that was ticketed for the upper 90 with 5:55 to go in the second half.
“We’re happy with the way we’re playing,” Saile said. “It was unfortunate that we couldn’t get the result, but I think we’re playing well. We’ve just got to find the back of the net a little bit more.”
Indeed, while the Hawks have conceded just five goals thus far, they’ve only scored five.
“I think we’re a serious team, but I think we need to do more, especially in the attacking third,” Bartlett coach Vince DiNuzzo said. “We didn’t do enough to win the game.
“Regardless of whether the penalty was a penalty or not a penalty, it doesn’t matter. We didn’t put the ball in the back of the net.
“I think it’s a good learning experience for the boys, because now we know what it takes to play at the top and I don’t think we’re scared of any team that we play. They feel like they can play with anyone, and I feel they can as well.”
With their first tournament title game appearance since 2006 in the books, the Hawks are flying high in search of more honors.
“This just motivates us more,” Saile said. “We get a taste of what it is like to be in a final, and we know what we need to improve on.
“We have mostly seniors starting, and we’re just hungry. We want to win stuff this year, and this is the year to do it. It’s our year.”
Few people outside the program thought along those lines, but insiders did.
“Expectations were set high at the beginning of the season,” DiNuzzo said. “Our goals we set were a conference title game appearance and a Final Four appearance at state.
“We want to make history. Bartlett High School hasn’t been in a Best of the West tournament championship, so it’s a start.”
The Huskies, too, are off to a good start, though the challenges are just beginning. Their first crack at the 600th win in school history comes next Saturday night against archrival Naperville Central.
“So far the first few games it was building chemistry, and I think we’re finally clicking, so that’s good,” Sullivan said. “We have a great team this year, and we’re really excited for the road to come. Obviously this was a good plaque to get, but we have bigger and better things ahead of us.”
Konrad knows better than to think those things will come easily.
“I think whoever wins this tournament definitely gets a target on their back because to win it you’ve got to be good,” Konrad said. “I feel like the boys battled hard, and I think it puts us in a good spot.
“We learned a lot from playing in (the tournament) and hopefully we’ll continue to grow. We still have a long way to go, but I’m really proud of the way they battle. That’s the most important thing is how hard they play.”
Starting lineups
Naperville North
G Riley Wiest
D Nick Carballo
D Jon Heitz
D Kevin Keane
D Mitch Konrad
M Ryan Budicin
M Konrad Jurikiewicz
M Grant Borg
F Josh Penn
F Chris Sullivan
F Adam Helf
Bartlett
G Jake Hasenstein
D Josh Merkel
D Josh White
D Joey Mirsky
D Bryan Recinos
M Igor Zwada
M Tim Riordan
M Oliver Saile
M Alexis Contreras
M Ryan Stratton
F T.J. Ivkovich
Man of the Match – Chris Sullivan, F, Naperville North
tops Bartlett in Best of West final
Sullivan penalty kick decides defensive battle
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – Naperville North has enjoyed a lot of success over the past 20 years, including a state championship, three state semifinal appearances and eight sectionals titles.
So it's hard to believe that the Huskies had made only one appearance in the Best of the West Tournament championship game during that span.Their second appearance came Saturday night, and they made the most of it.
Chris Sullivan scored on a penalty kick in the second half, and Riley Wiest made three saves to record his first shutout of the season as Naperville North edged Bartlett 1-0 at Memorial Stadium at Naperville Central.
“What’s cool is that it’s only the second time in 20 years that we’ve been here,” Naperville North coach Jim Konrad said. “It’s crazy. Second time being in this game and it’s our 599th win as a program.”
Sullivan, arguably the most accomplished high school player on the field, made the difference, willing his way to the only goal of an evenly played defensive match.
The junior forward’s aggressive move into the Bartlett penalty area paid dividends when he was knocked down, drawing the penalty kick.
“Josh Penn, the freshman, tapped it to me, and I just saw one guy in front of me. So I tried to tap it in front of him, and I got kind of taken out as I was trying to go to goal,” Sullivan said. “He got a piece of my leg and the ref saw it, luckily.”
With the Huskies’ student section chanting “Sully, Sully,” the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match didn’t hesitate in stepping up to attempt the penalty, which he drilled into the lower right corner of the net with 29:15 left in the game.
“I’ve always been that kind of guy, but credit to my teammates because they had the confidence in me to take it,” said Sullivan, whose teammates dumped a bucket of ice water on his head while he was conducting a TV interview. “I was more like not wanting to let them down than (scoring) a goal for myself.”
The victory was the fourth in a row for the Huskies (5-2), who defeated Benet 2-1 earlier in the day to reach the final. They previously won the tournament in 2011.
“It’s awesome, especially for a program that has a good legacy, only winning this once in the past 20 years,” Sullivan said. “It’s pretty crazy to think about and obviously it boosts your confidence for the road to come, but it should humble us at the same time.”
Indeed, though Naperville North had the majority of the few scoring chances, it by no means dominated the upstart Hawks (3-2), who surprised Naperville Central and beat Waubonsie Valley and Sandburg to advance to the Best of the West final for the first time.
“They’re starting 11 seniors, and I felt like they were super athletic,” Konrad said of the Hawks. “Their two kids in the back and that kid in the middle, No. 10 (Oliver Saile), is smooth. He’s a good player.
“I thought they battled and played real hard. I thought it was a pretty even game. I think we probably had more chances but they had their chances too.”
The Huskies had a couple of chances in the first half. Sullivan twice sprang Penn, who has scored five times in his first seven high school games, into open space but the rookie missed wide right on a short shot in the 12th minute. Later he was denied by diving Hawks goalkeeper Jake Hasenstein in the 35th minute.
Sullivan also triggered a great chance only six minutes after his goal, rifling a corner kick from the left side through the crease to Ryan Budicin, whose one-timer beat Hasenstein but was cleared off the line by defender Steven Wenzlaff.
That was one of only three shots on goal allowed by Bartlett defenders Wenzlaff, Josh White, Josh Merkel and Joey Mirsky.
“Our back line was very strong in this game,” Saile said. “They were very organized, and they’ve improved over the span of the tournament. So I think they’re doing really well.”
The Hawks didn’t do as well offensively, mustering only six shots, including three on frame.
Wiest was tested just twice, deflecting Alexis Contreras’ hard shot from 30 yards out over the crossbar in the 10th minute and leaping to his right to snag Rudy Reyes’ left-footed 15-yard bullet that was ticketed for the upper 90 with 5:55 to go in the second half.
“We’re happy with the way we’re playing,” Saile said. “It was unfortunate that we couldn’t get the result, but I think we’re playing well. We’ve just got to find the back of the net a little bit more.”
Indeed, while the Hawks have conceded just five goals thus far, they’ve only scored five.
“I think we’re a serious team, but I think we need to do more, especially in the attacking third,” Bartlett coach Vince DiNuzzo said. “We didn’t do enough to win the game.
“Regardless of whether the penalty was a penalty or not a penalty, it doesn’t matter. We didn’t put the ball in the back of the net.
“I think it’s a good learning experience for the boys, because now we know what it takes to play at the top and I don’t think we’re scared of any team that we play. They feel like they can play with anyone, and I feel they can as well.”
With their first tournament title game appearance since 2006 in the books, the Hawks are flying high in search of more honors.
“This just motivates us more,” Saile said. “We get a taste of what it is like to be in a final, and we know what we need to improve on.
“We have mostly seniors starting, and we’re just hungry. We want to win stuff this year, and this is the year to do it. It’s our year.”
Few people outside the program thought along those lines, but insiders did.
“Expectations were set high at the beginning of the season,” DiNuzzo said. “Our goals we set were a conference title game appearance and a Final Four appearance at state.
“We want to make history. Bartlett High School hasn’t been in a Best of the West tournament championship, so it’s a start.”
The Huskies, too, are off to a good start, though the challenges are just beginning. Their first crack at the 600th win in school history comes next Saturday night against archrival Naperville Central.
“So far the first few games it was building chemistry, and I think we’re finally clicking, so that’s good,” Sullivan said. “We have a great team this year, and we’re really excited for the road to come. Obviously this was a good plaque to get, but we have bigger and better things ahead of us.”
Konrad knows better than to think those things will come easily.
“I think whoever wins this tournament definitely gets a target on their back because to win it you’ve got to be good,” Konrad said. “I feel like the boys battled hard, and I think it puts us in a good spot.
“We learned a lot from playing in (the tournament) and hopefully we’ll continue to grow. We still have a long way to go, but I’m really proud of the way they battle. That’s the most important thing is how hard they play.”
Starting lineups
Naperville North
G Riley Wiest
D Nick Carballo
D Jon Heitz
D Kevin Keane
D Mitch Konrad
M Ryan Budicin
M Konrad Jurikiewicz
M Grant Borg
F Josh Penn
F Chris Sullivan
F Adam Helf
Bartlett
G Jake Hasenstein
D Josh Merkel
D Josh White
D Joey Mirsky
D Bryan Recinos
M Igor Zwada
M Tim Riordan
M Oliver Saile
M Alexis Contreras
M Ryan Stratton
F T.J. Ivkovich
Man of the Match – Chris Sullivan, F, Naperville North