Deerfield shakes up the Pepsi
Road Warriors pull stunner, upset top-seeded Morton
By Patrick Z. McGavin
BERWYN — Playing against Morton it is hard at times to not just stop and be swept away by the team's artistry and how they move the ball. The arrangement and flow is something to behold.
"They're obviously one of the best teams in the state," Deerfield coach Elliott Hurtig said. "Their speed and their ability to get the ball on the outside and then bring it in so impressive."
Great defense is its own reward and the Warriors' skilled and dynamic backline was up to the challenge. Deerfield conceded possession and watched the Mustangs dart and move about with their customary speed and fluidity. Just call this group the interrupters. Deerfield did an extraordinary job of disrupting the final sequence of the Mustangs' attack.
For Morton everything was just slightly off, like a blast by forward Steven Tovar from about seven yards out that appeared destined for the net until it ricochet hard off the crossbar.
Skill, discipline and luck all fused together as the Warriors, no. 16 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 and nine seed in the PepsiCo Showdown, achieved the previously unthinkable as star Nick Klabjan converted a penalty kick in the 31st minute and the defense played majestically in the stunning 1-0 victory over no. 3 and top-seeded Morton in a PepsiCo Showdown quarterfinal here Thursday night.
Deerfield advances to Saturday's semifinal round against the winner of the St. Charles North and Lyons game that was suspended.
Deerfield keeper Zach Zusman recorded his third-consecutive shutout in the tournament. No offense to the Warriors' first two tournament opponents, Oswego and West Chicago, but this was an achievement of a near unprecedented level. The last time Morton was shut out was in the championship of the PepsiCo Showdown was two years against Lane.
Deerfield knocked out the defending champion and ended the Mustangs' string of three-consecutive tournament title game appearances.
Morton features midfielder Leo Delgado, a top five player in the state and sophomore sensation Baltazar Duran, awarded the prestigious Sueno MLS award as the best young player in the country.
"That No. 10 [Duran], he made things pretty dicey against us," Zusman said.
The Chicagoland Soccer Man of the match, Zusman recorded six saves and made a spectacular stop of another howitzer shot by Tovar in the 62nd minute as Morton (10-2-0) applied consistent and repeated pressure against the Warriors.
That was the ruling metaphor for a game whose start was delayed by nearly 90 minutes by lightning and rain. Morton went for the jugular and put the Warriors on their heels. Deerfield was under near constant assault.
"I thought in the first half we definitely dodged a lot of bullets," Hurtig said. "I thought they were all over us.
"They couldn't finish on some of their chances. They hit the crossbar. I just felt after we survived that we started getting a little rhythm in the first half."
Deerfield (7-1-1) began to counter and find some seams in the Mustangs' backline to attack. Even in the team's blistering start, with their only loss on penalty kicks against No. 2 Hinsdale Central, Morton has been susceptible defensively. Coach Mike Caruso admitted his greatest concerns were about his inexperienced backline and new starting keeper Billy Castro, who replaced four-year starter and All-American Ian Chacon.
Deerfield midfielder Matt Record worked the left flank and crossed to Klabjan, whose shot was scooped up. The point was made. Deerfield found its own footing. The Warriors did just enough counterpunching to throw the Mustangs off their rhythm.
Like any underdog, Deerfield benefitted from peculiar bounces or failures of the Mustangs to put away shots they normally make. Duran worked the left edge and slotted a ball for an open look and the Morton shot went almost sideways in front of the open net.
"We're struggled with our composure and finishing in the final third our last three or four games," Caruso said.
"Eventually it came back and got us. You saw that when we missed the gimme in the first minute of the game, and there were two other ones in the next 15 minutes. That's the game of soccer."
Deerfield did not generate many creative chances of its own. The Warriors pounced on their one great opportunity after the referee ruled a Morton defender had his hand too far out and it deflected a Deerfield ball inside the box.
Klabjan coolly drilled the low ball in the lower right hand corner for the game-winner. Still some 50 minutes of play remained.
"Nick put away the penalty kick, but the problem was in the second half with the wind behind them I thought we were not playing with as much control in the midfield," Hurtig said.
Psychologically Deerfield held the advantage if not the tempo or state of play in the field. The deeper the game goes the team holding the lead increases its confidence while the team playing from behind grows in desperation. Morton held most of the nominal advantages, time of possession, corner kicks generated and throw-ins.
Deerfield rendered much of it irrelevant.
"They were all over us, but I was really proud of the guys," Hurtig said. "We really played well defensively."
Zusman's athleticism and instinctive play proved crucial. In the first half, he rushed off the line and deflected just enough of a Duran ball to alter its direction off frame.
"I thought [defensively] we communicated really well," Zusman said. "When we were playing with the wind we did a good job of clearing the line, and we didn't take any chances in the back. This was probably the best we defended against a team this skilled. They had very fast forwards and [Duran] was really hard to contain."
The Warriors' starting back of Evan Gerke, Will Schmetterer, Ari Patterson, Michael Such and rising star Levi Goldstein met every challenge. During one dramatic action, Duran earned the right edge against two defenders and forced Zusman off the line. The speed and onrushing defenders prevented Duran from achieving maximum velocity of the shot.
The net was open but Gerke was able to make the saving clearance, illustrating the composure and resilience of the Warriors' back.
"I just anticipated that ball," Gerke said. "I didn't know if it was going to come to me or not, but I got behind it and I cleared it right off. I'm thankful I was in the right position at the right time.
"I think together as a team we stayed tight as a [defensive] core. Even though they came at us very hard, we were still compact. We tried to not let them get anything and we achieved that."
At halftime Hurtig emphasized denial for the skilled Delgado and the explosive and creative Duran.
"We noticed who their [main] guys were and coach told us at the half we needed to shut those guys down," Gerke said.
Morton maintained the pressure. Duran had a ball from the top of the box that pushed just wide of the frame. Zusman made the great lunging stop of Tovar's shot.
"I just saw it last second between two defenders, and I got my hands on it," he said.
Deerfield made a statement win. Now the team is preparing for the next stage.
"We've played all quality teams in the tournament and I'm sure whoever we play in the next round going to be a quality opponent," Zusman said. "We're going to play how we have so far, stay positive and communicate on and off the field."
Starting lineups
Deerfield
GK: Zach Zusman
D: Evan Gerke
D: Will Schmetterer
D: Ari Patterson
D: Levi Goldstein
D: Michael Such
M: A.J. Simo
M: Matt Record
M: Nick Klabjan
F: Steve Shore
F: Matt Grady
Morton
GK: Billy Castro
D: Juan Sales
D: Diego Lopez
D: Rodrigo Gutierrez
M: Baltazar Duran
M: Danny Sanchez
M: Adan Carriedo
M: Rigo Lozano
M: Leo Delgado
F: Steven Tovar
F: Malik Jones
Man of the Match: Zach Zusman, GK, Deerfield
Road Warriors pull stunner, upset top-seeded Morton
By Patrick Z. McGavin
BERWYN — Playing against Morton it is hard at times to not just stop and be swept away by the team's artistry and how they move the ball. The arrangement and flow is something to behold.
"They're obviously one of the best teams in the state," Deerfield coach Elliott Hurtig said. "Their speed and their ability to get the ball on the outside and then bring it in so impressive."
Great defense is its own reward and the Warriors' skilled and dynamic backline was up to the challenge. Deerfield conceded possession and watched the Mustangs dart and move about with their customary speed and fluidity. Just call this group the interrupters. Deerfield did an extraordinary job of disrupting the final sequence of the Mustangs' attack.
For Morton everything was just slightly off, like a blast by forward Steven Tovar from about seven yards out that appeared destined for the net until it ricochet hard off the crossbar.
Skill, discipline and luck all fused together as the Warriors, no. 16 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 and nine seed in the PepsiCo Showdown, achieved the previously unthinkable as star Nick Klabjan converted a penalty kick in the 31st minute and the defense played majestically in the stunning 1-0 victory over no. 3 and top-seeded Morton in a PepsiCo Showdown quarterfinal here Thursday night.
Deerfield advances to Saturday's semifinal round against the winner of the St. Charles North and Lyons game that was suspended.
Deerfield keeper Zach Zusman recorded his third-consecutive shutout in the tournament. No offense to the Warriors' first two tournament opponents, Oswego and West Chicago, but this was an achievement of a near unprecedented level. The last time Morton was shut out was in the championship of the PepsiCo Showdown was two years against Lane.
Deerfield knocked out the defending champion and ended the Mustangs' string of three-consecutive tournament title game appearances.
Morton features midfielder Leo Delgado, a top five player in the state and sophomore sensation Baltazar Duran, awarded the prestigious Sueno MLS award as the best young player in the country.
"That No. 10 [Duran], he made things pretty dicey against us," Zusman said.
The Chicagoland Soccer Man of the match, Zusman recorded six saves and made a spectacular stop of another howitzer shot by Tovar in the 62nd minute as Morton (10-2-0) applied consistent and repeated pressure against the Warriors.
That was the ruling metaphor for a game whose start was delayed by nearly 90 minutes by lightning and rain. Morton went for the jugular and put the Warriors on their heels. Deerfield was under near constant assault.
"I thought in the first half we definitely dodged a lot of bullets," Hurtig said. "I thought they were all over us.
"They couldn't finish on some of their chances. They hit the crossbar. I just felt after we survived that we started getting a little rhythm in the first half."
Deerfield (7-1-1) began to counter and find some seams in the Mustangs' backline to attack. Even in the team's blistering start, with their only loss on penalty kicks against No. 2 Hinsdale Central, Morton has been susceptible defensively. Coach Mike Caruso admitted his greatest concerns were about his inexperienced backline and new starting keeper Billy Castro, who replaced four-year starter and All-American Ian Chacon.
Deerfield midfielder Matt Record worked the left flank and crossed to Klabjan, whose shot was scooped up. The point was made. Deerfield found its own footing. The Warriors did just enough counterpunching to throw the Mustangs off their rhythm.
Like any underdog, Deerfield benefitted from peculiar bounces or failures of the Mustangs to put away shots they normally make. Duran worked the left edge and slotted a ball for an open look and the Morton shot went almost sideways in front of the open net.
"We're struggled with our composure and finishing in the final third our last three or four games," Caruso said.
"Eventually it came back and got us. You saw that when we missed the gimme in the first minute of the game, and there were two other ones in the next 15 minutes. That's the game of soccer."
Deerfield did not generate many creative chances of its own. The Warriors pounced on their one great opportunity after the referee ruled a Morton defender had his hand too far out and it deflected a Deerfield ball inside the box.
Klabjan coolly drilled the low ball in the lower right hand corner for the game-winner. Still some 50 minutes of play remained.
"Nick put away the penalty kick, but the problem was in the second half with the wind behind them I thought we were not playing with as much control in the midfield," Hurtig said.
Psychologically Deerfield held the advantage if not the tempo or state of play in the field. The deeper the game goes the team holding the lead increases its confidence while the team playing from behind grows in desperation. Morton held most of the nominal advantages, time of possession, corner kicks generated and throw-ins.
Deerfield rendered much of it irrelevant.
"They were all over us, but I was really proud of the guys," Hurtig said. "We really played well defensively."
Zusman's athleticism and instinctive play proved crucial. In the first half, he rushed off the line and deflected just enough of a Duran ball to alter its direction off frame.
"I thought [defensively] we communicated really well," Zusman said. "When we were playing with the wind we did a good job of clearing the line, and we didn't take any chances in the back. This was probably the best we defended against a team this skilled. They had very fast forwards and [Duran] was really hard to contain."
The Warriors' starting back of Evan Gerke, Will Schmetterer, Ari Patterson, Michael Such and rising star Levi Goldstein met every challenge. During one dramatic action, Duran earned the right edge against two defenders and forced Zusman off the line. The speed and onrushing defenders prevented Duran from achieving maximum velocity of the shot.
The net was open but Gerke was able to make the saving clearance, illustrating the composure and resilience of the Warriors' back.
"I just anticipated that ball," Gerke said. "I didn't know if it was going to come to me or not, but I got behind it and I cleared it right off. I'm thankful I was in the right position at the right time.
"I think together as a team we stayed tight as a [defensive] core. Even though they came at us very hard, we were still compact. We tried to not let them get anything and we achieved that."
At halftime Hurtig emphasized denial for the skilled Delgado and the explosive and creative Duran.
"We noticed who their [main] guys were and coach told us at the half we needed to shut those guys down," Gerke said.
Morton maintained the pressure. Duran had a ball from the top of the box that pushed just wide of the frame. Zusman made the great lunging stop of Tovar's shot.
"I just saw it last second between two defenders, and I got my hands on it," he said.
Deerfield made a statement win. Now the team is preparing for the next stage.
"We've played all quality teams in the tournament and I'm sure whoever we play in the next round going to be a quality opponent," Zusman said. "We're going to play how we have so far, stay positive and communicate on and off the field."
Starting lineups
Deerfield
GK: Zach Zusman
D: Evan Gerke
D: Will Schmetterer
D: Ari Patterson
D: Levi Goldstein
D: Michael Such
M: A.J. Simo
M: Matt Record
M: Nick Klabjan
F: Steve Shore
F: Matt Grady
Morton
GK: Billy Castro
D: Juan Sales
D: Diego Lopez
D: Rodrigo Gutierrez
M: Baltazar Duran
M: Danny Sanchez
M: Adan Carriedo
M: Rigo Lozano
M: Leo Delgado
F: Steven Tovar
F: Malik Jones
Man of the Match: Zach Zusman, GK, Deerfield