St. Francis extends
win streak, stops Marmion’s
Spartans defense continues to be rock solid
By Steve Nemeth
WHEATON -- Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin” blared from the Kuhn Stadium speakers after St. Francis ran its current winning streak to seven.
Quite frankly, faith in their system isn’t something the Spartans are lacking.
That’s why Queen’s “Another One Bites The Dust” could have been played.
Tuesday’s 1-0 victory over visiting Marmion was sweet music to St. Francis for a number of reasons. In addition to the aforementioned win streak all via shutouts, the Spartans: improved to 9-1-2 on the season; improved to 3-1-0 in Chicago Catholic League South Division play; ended a string of four straight losses to Marmion; and added the Cadets to the list of seven Class 3A programs that have been unable to beat the 2A program.
None of the above is an indication that the victory was easy or that Marmion didn’t play well. The Cadets’ attack was reflected by a 23-12 advantage for overall attempts and an 11-6 edge for shots on goal.
However, the scoreboard reflected St. Francis’ greater success on defense.
With both teams cutting off attacks, denying or stopping quality shots, the decisive goal produced by St. Francis’ Nick Roehl made him a clear choice for Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match honor.
Although Marmion was fresh off 2-0 triumphs over defending CCL South champ St. Laurence and a solid Huntley program, the ledgers dipped back below .500 at 4-5-3 overall and 1-2-1 for league play.
“We fought throughout and didn’t give up, and it may sound a bit simple, but in soccer, one mistake can cost you a game,” St. Francis coach Kevin Ward said. “Fundamentals, executing fundamentals is key. Not saying we were or have been perfect, but we're working at it.”
At the very least St. Francis was perfect on one particular combination. With just 1:23 left before halftime, David Gianos booted a cross that was deflected just enough to have Marmion goalie Danny Galush and the Cadet defense scrambling toward the far post, however, Roehl cut into the middle for an eight-yard strike into the wide-open left half of the goal.
“Once I got to the ball, I picked my head up and noticed Nick heading to the right spot, so it was a matter of getting it to him,” Gianos said in explaining his fourth assist on the year.
“For a split second I thought it looked too easy, so I just focused on a solid kick and making certain the contact was solid enough to keep it down,” Roehl noted after notching his fifth goal. “Quite honestly this win was a whole team effort. We have worked hard, and continue to focus on going from defense to offense.”
Gianos made the same assessment.
“Coach has preached defense to offense all year, and it’s what we work on and that can be in any portion of the field. If you’re up top, defend the ball from getting out of there, and then turn it into offense,” Gianos explained.
Both sides demonstrated that same philosophy during moments in both halves. After exchanging fairly routine shots followed by saves, Marmion’s Tim Wheeler placed a through ball that could have led to a score if not for St. Francis goalie Jonathan Burke rushing out to cover the ball.
Not long after that, Galush raced six yards beyond the top of the box gambling on a sliding clearance. The Spartans’ Keenan Corrigan put a direct free kick over the crossbar shortly before the Cadets’ Joe Duffield blasted a 41-yard bomb that caromed downward off the crossbar with 16:03 to play before halftime.
“It’s not an excuse and not acceptable to me, but I misjudged that one,” Burke said in critiquing the Spartans’ ninth clean sheet. “Overall we fought hard and shutout wins always feel great, but I also know I have to give credit to my defensive guys.”
Neither Burke or Ward miss a chance to acknowledge the work of a backline that includes Jacob Power, Timmy Pisarski, Carney Herard, and Ethan Grosman. However, Burke’s 11 saves didn’t include another five plays falling under the heading of a defensive catch or clear. One of his better saves on a high ball near a post came just 48 seconds before intermission.
The second half began with Galush stopping a Zach Crescenzo cannon shot from the right side and also beating the speedy Spartan junior to another breakaway attempt. Then it was Burke’s turn to avoid yielding an equalizer.
Marmion’s Brian Miller had a booming shot from distance knuckle before being caught and then Grant was denied on another long-distance blast. With just over seven minutes left in regulation, the Spartan keeper made consecutive blocks on Cadet headers. Unfortunately for Marmion, that sequence sent Wheeler to the sideline with a bloody nose.
While Crescenzo managed to get a ball away from Galush, his pass to the opposite side of where the Marmion goalie was on the ground didn’t find a teammate and then came a Cadet counterattack. Burke soared to catch a dangerous throw-in.
St. Francis nearly caught their foes off balance on a through ball, but Duffield raced back and took the ball from Henry Roback to avert that threat. Burke turned away a Sean Miller rocket and a Duffield laser curved wide right.
“For much of the game I thought we had great possession and worked the ball around,” Duffield said. “But you have to have that final touch, and either we just missed or their keeper made some really good saves. We came out pumped, and there was certainly no lack of desire to win on our part. We just weren’t able to finish into the net.”
Marmion coach Ricky Del Toro had the same lament.
“I’m not sure, but I don’t think we’ve scored off a set piece all season. It has to happen sooner or later,” Del Toro insisted. “We’ve worked on them, and we’ve either been so close or stopped. Tonight, they defended well as a unit, and when we got through, their keeper made the saves needed to keep us out.”
Starting lineups
Marmion
G Danny Galush
D Benjamin Garcia
D Brian Miller
D Joe Duffield
D Matt Lagman
M Nick Grant
M Dolan Hunt
M Quin Turcich
M Tim Wheeler
F Quinn Gratz
F Sean Miller
St. Francis
G Jonathan Burke
D Jacob Power
D Timmy Pisarski
D Carney Herard
D Ethan Grosman
M Nick Roehl
M Keenan Corrigan
M Matt Martin
M David Gianos
M Josh Baker
F Zach Crescenzo
Man of the Match: Nick Roehl, MF, St. Francis
Officials: David Holbrook (center), Carlos Herrera, Sam Paisley
win streak, stops Marmion’s
Spartans defense continues to be rock solid
By Steve Nemeth
WHEATON -- Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin” blared from the Kuhn Stadium speakers after St. Francis ran its current winning streak to seven.
Quite frankly, faith in their system isn’t something the Spartans are lacking.
That’s why Queen’s “Another One Bites The Dust” could have been played.
Tuesday’s 1-0 victory over visiting Marmion was sweet music to St. Francis for a number of reasons. In addition to the aforementioned win streak all via shutouts, the Spartans: improved to 9-1-2 on the season; improved to 3-1-0 in Chicago Catholic League South Division play; ended a string of four straight losses to Marmion; and added the Cadets to the list of seven Class 3A programs that have been unable to beat the 2A program.
None of the above is an indication that the victory was easy or that Marmion didn’t play well. The Cadets’ attack was reflected by a 23-12 advantage for overall attempts and an 11-6 edge for shots on goal.
However, the scoreboard reflected St. Francis’ greater success on defense.
With both teams cutting off attacks, denying or stopping quality shots, the decisive goal produced by St. Francis’ Nick Roehl made him a clear choice for Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match honor.
Although Marmion was fresh off 2-0 triumphs over defending CCL South champ St. Laurence and a solid Huntley program, the ledgers dipped back below .500 at 4-5-3 overall and 1-2-1 for league play.
“We fought throughout and didn’t give up, and it may sound a bit simple, but in soccer, one mistake can cost you a game,” St. Francis coach Kevin Ward said. “Fundamentals, executing fundamentals is key. Not saying we were or have been perfect, but we're working at it.”
At the very least St. Francis was perfect on one particular combination. With just 1:23 left before halftime, David Gianos booted a cross that was deflected just enough to have Marmion goalie Danny Galush and the Cadet defense scrambling toward the far post, however, Roehl cut into the middle for an eight-yard strike into the wide-open left half of the goal.
“Once I got to the ball, I picked my head up and noticed Nick heading to the right spot, so it was a matter of getting it to him,” Gianos said in explaining his fourth assist on the year.
“For a split second I thought it looked too easy, so I just focused on a solid kick and making certain the contact was solid enough to keep it down,” Roehl noted after notching his fifth goal. “Quite honestly this win was a whole team effort. We have worked hard, and continue to focus on going from defense to offense.”
Gianos made the same assessment.
“Coach has preached defense to offense all year, and it’s what we work on and that can be in any portion of the field. If you’re up top, defend the ball from getting out of there, and then turn it into offense,” Gianos explained.
Both sides demonstrated that same philosophy during moments in both halves. After exchanging fairly routine shots followed by saves, Marmion’s Tim Wheeler placed a through ball that could have led to a score if not for St. Francis goalie Jonathan Burke rushing out to cover the ball.
Not long after that, Galush raced six yards beyond the top of the box gambling on a sliding clearance. The Spartans’ Keenan Corrigan put a direct free kick over the crossbar shortly before the Cadets’ Joe Duffield blasted a 41-yard bomb that caromed downward off the crossbar with 16:03 to play before halftime.
“It’s not an excuse and not acceptable to me, but I misjudged that one,” Burke said in critiquing the Spartans’ ninth clean sheet. “Overall we fought hard and shutout wins always feel great, but I also know I have to give credit to my defensive guys.”
Neither Burke or Ward miss a chance to acknowledge the work of a backline that includes Jacob Power, Timmy Pisarski, Carney Herard, and Ethan Grosman. However, Burke’s 11 saves didn’t include another five plays falling under the heading of a defensive catch or clear. One of his better saves on a high ball near a post came just 48 seconds before intermission.
The second half began with Galush stopping a Zach Crescenzo cannon shot from the right side and also beating the speedy Spartan junior to another breakaway attempt. Then it was Burke’s turn to avoid yielding an equalizer.
Marmion’s Brian Miller had a booming shot from distance knuckle before being caught and then Grant was denied on another long-distance blast. With just over seven minutes left in regulation, the Spartan keeper made consecutive blocks on Cadet headers. Unfortunately for Marmion, that sequence sent Wheeler to the sideline with a bloody nose.
While Crescenzo managed to get a ball away from Galush, his pass to the opposite side of where the Marmion goalie was on the ground didn’t find a teammate and then came a Cadet counterattack. Burke soared to catch a dangerous throw-in.
St. Francis nearly caught their foes off balance on a through ball, but Duffield raced back and took the ball from Henry Roback to avert that threat. Burke turned away a Sean Miller rocket and a Duffield laser curved wide right.
“For much of the game I thought we had great possession and worked the ball around,” Duffield said. “But you have to have that final touch, and either we just missed or their keeper made some really good saves. We came out pumped, and there was certainly no lack of desire to win on our part. We just weren’t able to finish into the net.”
Marmion coach Ricky Del Toro had the same lament.
“I’m not sure, but I don’t think we’ve scored off a set piece all season. It has to happen sooner or later,” Del Toro insisted. “We’ve worked on them, and we’ve either been so close or stopped. Tonight, they defended well as a unit, and when we got through, their keeper made the saves needed to keep us out.”
Starting lineups
Marmion
G Danny Galush
D Benjamin Garcia
D Brian Miller
D Joe Duffield
D Matt Lagman
M Nick Grant
M Dolan Hunt
M Quin Turcich
M Tim Wheeler
F Quinn Gratz
F Sean Miller
St. Francis
G Jonathan Burke
D Jacob Power
D Timmy Pisarski
D Carney Herard
D Ethan Grosman
M Nick Roehl
M Keenan Corrigan
M Matt Martin
M David Gianos
M Josh Baker
F Zach Crescenzo
Man of the Match: Nick Roehl, MF, St. Francis
Officials: David Holbrook (center), Carlos Herrera, Sam Paisley