Benet's best effort of season extends Waubonsie Valley's winless woes
Redwings end 2-game skid, Warrior offensive slump continues
By Steve Nemeth
Thursday’s nonconference meeting between Benet and Waubonsie Valley featured two teams hungry for a victory.
Unfortunately for host Waubonsie Valley, the Warriors remain starved not only for success, but offense in particular in its 2-0 loss. The last three results of the four-game skid are shutouts.
Benet avoided a third-straight loss with a performance coach Sean Wesley labeled as the 3-3-0 Redwings’ “most complete game” thus far.
Both halves began with Benet offensive barrages that were preludes to one-sided statistics that supported the final score.
While Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match Connor Mote attributed his second half goal to simple good fortune, the strike just over five minutes after halftime was essentially a dagger in the Warriors’ home opener.
“I was just lucky to be crashing the goal at the right time, but I think that second goal put them down in terms of believing they could come back,” Mote said.
Early in the match, Benet’s Nicholas Trakszelis sent a cross that required Waubonsie Valley starting goalie Les Kruchten to punch the ball clear before it could turn into an assist. With 8:42 gone, Mote produced a left-side blast that required the first of five saves by Kruchten, who also had six defensive clears.
However, 18:09 prior to halftime, there was no denying a Benet scoring combination that began with Trakszelis chipping a cross from the right side. Riley Guay’s head flick – his second assist of the year – led to Jacob Grabier’s six-yard finish to the right.
“Seeing the cross coming, I just wanted to head flick it toward the post,” Guay explained. “It’s always good to be a part of any goal. I also think our pressure made it difficult for them to have a positive mindset.”
As for Grabier’s fourth goal of the year, humility credited the play to fortune and team chemistry.
“I was just in the right spot,” Grabier said. “When you have such a good pass, it just requires the kind of simple touch needed to tuck it away. I’m okay with also being a facilitator for others.”
After Jason Rowalye drew a trip just beyond the top of the penalty box, Mote’s direct kick didn’t quite curve enough to find the upper right corner. But the Redwings remained aggressive with Krutchen blocking a Rowalye breakaway shot, punching out another dangerous Trakszelis corner, and watching another Mote shot sail high before the horn sounded.
The second half began with a stellar Devin Martini through ball which Trakszelis shot just wide of the right post. But after 5:08, Ben Kelly earned a third assist via a shot deflection that eluded second half Warrior keeper Jacob Hennessy and was finished by Mote for his team-best fifth goal.
The Redwings compiled a 21-7 advantage in overall attempts and a 13-3 edge in shots on goal, boosted in part by a 7-2 lead in corner kicks. Benet was also whistled offside four times to the Warriors’ one.
It’s the second clean sheet for Redwing goalie Konrad Bayer, who had to erase the frustrating memories of two-straight losses that kept his side from returning to the finals of Best Of The West championship. Neuqua Valley squeezed by Benet via a penalty kick shootout for a win followed by a 2-1 loss to tournament champion Naperville North.
“Shutouts are always nice but those belong to the defense as a whole, not just to a goalie,” Bayer said. “After the last two matches, we knew we needed to be more defensive, and I came in with my mind made up for us to have a different outcome.”
That improved defensive mindset is good news for Benet fans and bad news for Redwing foes. Wesley believes his squad is still capable of more.
“We’re still trying to see where guys belong for us to be at our best,” Wesley noted. “Bennett (Curtis) played center back for us and made a big difference in terms of organizing things. Ben (Kelly) did a nice job in the middle. We did a good job of keeping possession and much of that was people stepping to the ball.”
Waubonsie Valley (0-4-1) stepped up its play late in the game, too late.
The Warriors’ Adam Gabert took a long-distance try with 24:17 left in regulation that served as the home side’s first genuine shot on goal. The best opportunity may have belonged to Mitch Mueller with 11:13 remaining, but Bayer snuffed that as well.
“We know we need to possess the ball better, especially in the attacking third,” Mueller said. “We need to get the ball to our forwards. A key is to stay patient, we can’t rush it, but we need better starts. We’ve started games too slowly and fallen behind.”
Waubonsie Valley coach Jose Garcia continued to ask each player to be accountable.
“I told them formations don’t win games, players do; it all comes down to effort,” Garcia said. “We need a little help, an extra spark on offense. Perhaps it’s one more possession, or that extra little effort. Benet played harder, and they basically walked it in (on their goals). We’re lacking that on offense, lacking shots on goal. It’s obvious we can’t win games like that.”
Technically, Waubonsie Valley has a chance for another reset as the second home game of the season marks the start of DuPage Valley Conference action. The Warriors’ DVC debut comes Saturday at noon against a Lake Park squad that was the DVC runner-up in 2014 with a 5-0-2 league record.
Benet returns home for a Saturday noon showdown with St. Patrick, which marks the beginning of the Redwings’ quest for East Suburban Catholic Conference success.
Staring lineups
Benet
G Konrad Bayer
D Richie Michalik
D Bennett Curtis
D Harrison Burke
D Ben Kelly
M Connor Mote
M Jacob Graiber
M Daniel Morefield
M Ryley Guay
F Nicholas Trakszelis
F David Diltz
Waubonsie Valley
G Les Kruchten
D Eric Ninmann
D Nate Bailey
D Brett Babcock
D Rogell Grimaldo
M Cody Schroder
M Ryan Dittmer
M Charles Zehnel
M Mitch Mueller
F Leo Mendoza
F Giacomo Parrino
Man of the Match: Connor Mote, MF, Benet
Officials: Miguel Chavez (center), Dave Rubini, Manou Chahmirzadi
Redwings end 2-game skid, Warrior offensive slump continues
By Steve Nemeth
Thursday’s nonconference meeting between Benet and Waubonsie Valley featured two teams hungry for a victory.
Unfortunately for host Waubonsie Valley, the Warriors remain starved not only for success, but offense in particular in its 2-0 loss. The last three results of the four-game skid are shutouts.
Benet avoided a third-straight loss with a performance coach Sean Wesley labeled as the 3-3-0 Redwings’ “most complete game” thus far.
Both halves began with Benet offensive barrages that were preludes to one-sided statistics that supported the final score.
While Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match Connor Mote attributed his second half goal to simple good fortune, the strike just over five minutes after halftime was essentially a dagger in the Warriors’ home opener.
“I was just lucky to be crashing the goal at the right time, but I think that second goal put them down in terms of believing they could come back,” Mote said.
Early in the match, Benet’s Nicholas Trakszelis sent a cross that required Waubonsie Valley starting goalie Les Kruchten to punch the ball clear before it could turn into an assist. With 8:42 gone, Mote produced a left-side blast that required the first of five saves by Kruchten, who also had six defensive clears.
However, 18:09 prior to halftime, there was no denying a Benet scoring combination that began with Trakszelis chipping a cross from the right side. Riley Guay’s head flick – his second assist of the year – led to Jacob Grabier’s six-yard finish to the right.
“Seeing the cross coming, I just wanted to head flick it toward the post,” Guay explained. “It’s always good to be a part of any goal. I also think our pressure made it difficult for them to have a positive mindset.”
As for Grabier’s fourth goal of the year, humility credited the play to fortune and team chemistry.
“I was just in the right spot,” Grabier said. “When you have such a good pass, it just requires the kind of simple touch needed to tuck it away. I’m okay with also being a facilitator for others.”
After Jason Rowalye drew a trip just beyond the top of the penalty box, Mote’s direct kick didn’t quite curve enough to find the upper right corner. But the Redwings remained aggressive with Krutchen blocking a Rowalye breakaway shot, punching out another dangerous Trakszelis corner, and watching another Mote shot sail high before the horn sounded.
The second half began with a stellar Devin Martini through ball which Trakszelis shot just wide of the right post. But after 5:08, Ben Kelly earned a third assist via a shot deflection that eluded second half Warrior keeper Jacob Hennessy and was finished by Mote for his team-best fifth goal.
The Redwings compiled a 21-7 advantage in overall attempts and a 13-3 edge in shots on goal, boosted in part by a 7-2 lead in corner kicks. Benet was also whistled offside four times to the Warriors’ one.
It’s the second clean sheet for Redwing goalie Konrad Bayer, who had to erase the frustrating memories of two-straight losses that kept his side from returning to the finals of Best Of The West championship. Neuqua Valley squeezed by Benet via a penalty kick shootout for a win followed by a 2-1 loss to tournament champion Naperville North.
“Shutouts are always nice but those belong to the defense as a whole, not just to a goalie,” Bayer said. “After the last two matches, we knew we needed to be more defensive, and I came in with my mind made up for us to have a different outcome.”
That improved defensive mindset is good news for Benet fans and bad news for Redwing foes. Wesley believes his squad is still capable of more.
“We’re still trying to see where guys belong for us to be at our best,” Wesley noted. “Bennett (Curtis) played center back for us and made a big difference in terms of organizing things. Ben (Kelly) did a nice job in the middle. We did a good job of keeping possession and much of that was people stepping to the ball.”
Waubonsie Valley (0-4-1) stepped up its play late in the game, too late.
The Warriors’ Adam Gabert took a long-distance try with 24:17 left in regulation that served as the home side’s first genuine shot on goal. The best opportunity may have belonged to Mitch Mueller with 11:13 remaining, but Bayer snuffed that as well.
“We know we need to possess the ball better, especially in the attacking third,” Mueller said. “We need to get the ball to our forwards. A key is to stay patient, we can’t rush it, but we need better starts. We’ve started games too slowly and fallen behind.”
Waubonsie Valley coach Jose Garcia continued to ask each player to be accountable.
“I told them formations don’t win games, players do; it all comes down to effort,” Garcia said. “We need a little help, an extra spark on offense. Perhaps it’s one more possession, or that extra little effort. Benet played harder, and they basically walked it in (on their goals). We’re lacking that on offense, lacking shots on goal. It’s obvious we can’t win games like that.”
Technically, Waubonsie Valley has a chance for another reset as the second home game of the season marks the start of DuPage Valley Conference action. The Warriors’ DVC debut comes Saturday at noon against a Lake Park squad that was the DVC runner-up in 2014 with a 5-0-2 league record.
Benet returns home for a Saturday noon showdown with St. Patrick, which marks the beginning of the Redwings’ quest for East Suburban Catholic Conference success.
Staring lineups
Benet
G Konrad Bayer
D Richie Michalik
D Bennett Curtis
D Harrison Burke
D Ben Kelly
M Connor Mote
M Jacob Graiber
M Daniel Morefield
M Ryley Guay
F Nicholas Trakszelis
F David Diltz
Waubonsie Valley
G Les Kruchten
D Eric Ninmann
D Nate Bailey
D Brett Babcock
D Rogell Grimaldo
M Cody Schroder
M Ryan Dittmer
M Charles Zehnel
M Mitch Mueller
F Leo Mendoza
F Giacomo Parrino
Man of the Match: Connor Mote, MF, Benet
Officials: Miguel Chavez (center), Dave Rubini, Manou Chahmirzadi