Mundelein's second half gallop
catches Crystal Lake South
Against the wind, Mustang pressure
leads to season-opening draw
By Matt Misiek
CRYSTAL LAKE -- On the campus of Crystal Lake South High School, winds were blowing Monday afternoon
There were the winds that blew in a new season for the host Gators and visiting Mustangs.
And there were winds that made you double-check the calendar and ensure that it was August and not October.
A stiff left-to-right breeze accompanied the teams throughout an entertaining contest which ended with both squads sharing the honors in a 2-2 draw that kickstarted their respective campaigns.
The breeze was the topic of conversation on both sides of the scorer's table before the match. Mundelein coach Ernie Billittier and Crystal Lake South coach Brian Allen each strategized on how they would cope with the conditions.
However, the side going against the wind struck first, and early. In the second minute, the Gators executed a brilliant move off of a free kick near the top of the box. A deflected cross from the right from junior Andrew Grabowski wound up in front of senior defender Jacob Canfield, who poked the ball home from inside the six to give hosts a dream start.
The start got dreamier for Crystal Lake South when Grabowski, in the middle of things once again, played a lovely over the top ball to Ryan Coughlin. The freshman, in his first prep game, settled the ball like a poised veteran and slotted it past Mustang keeper Donnie Kvien to double the lead for South 23 minutes in.
The tone of the game changed after the score, and soon the Gator defense started to face an invigorated Mundelein attack.
However, the play of seniors Ryan Yazel and Zachary Schmidt, who several times snuffed out Mundelein players in space, kept the Mustangs off the board through the first thirty minutes. Midfielder Carlos Merida also came up with a crucial play in the stretch of play, blocking an inswinging cross from Kenny Adiyah just outside the 18.
“We had a pretty good game today,” said Yazel. “Our whole backline did pretty good and made some pretty good stops.”
The defensive performance early was welcome by coach Allen, who had some challenges putting a back four in place for the match.
“Actually we had two senior defenders that were not here today due to disciplinary issues,” said Allen. “They missed a few training sessions so we had a freshman and sophomore start. I give them a lot of credit for stepping in when we expected to have an all-senior backline.”
Mundelein went to work in the 31st minute. Dominic Cristino launched a shot that was saved beautifully by Gators goalie Spencer Traub. On the next Mustang attack, Yann Nsoga raced through the middle and was nudged by Yazel inside the penalty area and a spot kick was awarded to the Mustangs.
Nsoga capitalized when he slotted it in the right side of the net asTroub guessed left to bring Mundelein within 2-1, which is how the half ended.
“I think it’s a good sign for our team,” said Nsoga. “We don’t give up, and that’s a positive thing to look at for us.”
While the midfielder brought his team closer, Mustang goalie Donnie Kvien kept Crystal Lake South in check with a remarkable second-half effort. The top highlight came in the 51st minute when he deflected Grabowski's initial attempt and then scurried across the goalmouth to his left and stretched to keep the ball from crossing the goal line.
“I was a little disappointed in giving up the first goal," said Kvien. “I could have held that."
The save on Grabowski was vindication.
"As soon as I saved the first shot, I immediately saw the guys in on goal for a rebound chance," he said. "I started back, and I knew I could get there. I held it on the line so that the refs could see it.”
Crystal Lake South's Grabowski had a different view of the play.
“I was expecting the ball to come back, and it was too far behind,: he said. “I didn’t have a great angle, but I thought the ball went in. My teammate was right there, and he said it went in. However, it is the referee’s call.
“We started the game and played really well. However, there was a drop to our intensity.”
Kvien, the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match, made another absolutely crucial stop on Grabowski in the 78th minute. He saved a low direct shot and held on to the ball to prevent a rebound.
The play became even bigger play a few seconds later when the equalizer came for Mundelein. A dangerous cross from the left came into the six. Defender Zachary Schmidt slid to try and clear the ball but instead put it into his own net to draw the sides level.
The Mundelein bench was satisfied with the draw.
“I think we deserved that result,” said coach Billittier. “They (Crystal Lake South) are a quality opponent.
"It was disappointing to be down two goals in that span of time, but it happened. It would have been easy to pack it in and just quit. After those first 25 minutes we played really well. We calmed down and built some good attacks. We are getting out of here with a draw but obviously a win would have been nice.”
Billittier mentioned many standout performances in the match.
“Donnie played really well in goal with really big gutsy saves,“ he said. “I thought Yann did an outstanding job. We had a freshman Bryan (Alba) come in the second half and do a great job. Nick Ramirez did a nice job. Also Edson (Suaste) did a nice job at the holding midfielder spot which doesn’t get a lot of praise.”
Despite giving up the early lead, coach Allen was upbeat about his Gators and their afternoon's work.
“A good first game, a lot of room for improvement but a lot of positive stuff that we can take from this as well,” said Allen. “I think we did a great job getting two goals early against the wind.
"In the second half, they (Mundelein) made adjustments and put us on our heels. We had some really good chances to put them away but we need to be more efficient in the final third and that will come.
“Standouts today include Nikolas Getzinger winning a lot of 50/50 balls. I thought Grabowski did a great job up top cutting the field in half. And the back four of Langdon, Yazel, Jake (Canfield) and Schmitty (Zackary Schmidt) did a great job in their first action as a unit.”
Starting lineups
Mundelein
GK: Donnie Kvien
D: Jake Floska
D: Victor Casas
D: Elliott Sachnoff
D: Danny Ford
MF: Edson Suaste
MF: Yann Nsoga
MF: Nick Ramirez
MF: Jose Ortega
MF: Kenny Adiyah
F: Dillion Smith
Crystal Lake South
GK: Spencer Traub
D: Zachary Schmidt
D: Nicholas Langdon
D: Ryan Yazel
D: Jacob Canfield
MF: Michael Woeste
MF: Skyler Pentico
MF: Ryan Coughlin
MF: Nikolas Getzinger
MF: Zachary Bimbi
F: Andrew Grabowski
Man of the Match: Donnie Kvien, GK, Mundelein.
Officials: Gary Kardell (center); David Holbrook; Bob Hansen.
catches Crystal Lake South
Against the wind, Mustang pressure
leads to season-opening draw
By Matt Misiek
CRYSTAL LAKE -- On the campus of Crystal Lake South High School, winds were blowing Monday afternoon
There were the winds that blew in a new season for the host Gators and visiting Mustangs.
And there were winds that made you double-check the calendar and ensure that it was August and not October.
A stiff left-to-right breeze accompanied the teams throughout an entertaining contest which ended with both squads sharing the honors in a 2-2 draw that kickstarted their respective campaigns.
The breeze was the topic of conversation on both sides of the scorer's table before the match. Mundelein coach Ernie Billittier and Crystal Lake South coach Brian Allen each strategized on how they would cope with the conditions.
However, the side going against the wind struck first, and early. In the second minute, the Gators executed a brilliant move off of a free kick near the top of the box. A deflected cross from the right from junior Andrew Grabowski wound up in front of senior defender Jacob Canfield, who poked the ball home from inside the six to give hosts a dream start.
The start got dreamier for Crystal Lake South when Grabowski, in the middle of things once again, played a lovely over the top ball to Ryan Coughlin. The freshman, in his first prep game, settled the ball like a poised veteran and slotted it past Mustang keeper Donnie Kvien to double the lead for South 23 minutes in.
The tone of the game changed after the score, and soon the Gator defense started to face an invigorated Mundelein attack.
However, the play of seniors Ryan Yazel and Zachary Schmidt, who several times snuffed out Mundelein players in space, kept the Mustangs off the board through the first thirty minutes. Midfielder Carlos Merida also came up with a crucial play in the stretch of play, blocking an inswinging cross from Kenny Adiyah just outside the 18.
“We had a pretty good game today,” said Yazel. “Our whole backline did pretty good and made some pretty good stops.”
The defensive performance early was welcome by coach Allen, who had some challenges putting a back four in place for the match.
“Actually we had two senior defenders that were not here today due to disciplinary issues,” said Allen. “They missed a few training sessions so we had a freshman and sophomore start. I give them a lot of credit for stepping in when we expected to have an all-senior backline.”
Mundelein went to work in the 31st minute. Dominic Cristino launched a shot that was saved beautifully by Gators goalie Spencer Traub. On the next Mustang attack, Yann Nsoga raced through the middle and was nudged by Yazel inside the penalty area and a spot kick was awarded to the Mustangs.
Nsoga capitalized when he slotted it in the right side of the net asTroub guessed left to bring Mundelein within 2-1, which is how the half ended.
“I think it’s a good sign for our team,” said Nsoga. “We don’t give up, and that’s a positive thing to look at for us.”
While the midfielder brought his team closer, Mustang goalie Donnie Kvien kept Crystal Lake South in check with a remarkable second-half effort. The top highlight came in the 51st minute when he deflected Grabowski's initial attempt and then scurried across the goalmouth to his left and stretched to keep the ball from crossing the goal line.
“I was a little disappointed in giving up the first goal," said Kvien. “I could have held that."
The save on Grabowski was vindication.
"As soon as I saved the first shot, I immediately saw the guys in on goal for a rebound chance," he said. "I started back, and I knew I could get there. I held it on the line so that the refs could see it.”
Crystal Lake South's Grabowski had a different view of the play.
“I was expecting the ball to come back, and it was too far behind,: he said. “I didn’t have a great angle, but I thought the ball went in. My teammate was right there, and he said it went in. However, it is the referee’s call.
“We started the game and played really well. However, there was a drop to our intensity.”
Kvien, the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match, made another absolutely crucial stop on Grabowski in the 78th minute. He saved a low direct shot and held on to the ball to prevent a rebound.
The play became even bigger play a few seconds later when the equalizer came for Mundelein. A dangerous cross from the left came into the six. Defender Zachary Schmidt slid to try and clear the ball but instead put it into his own net to draw the sides level.
The Mundelein bench was satisfied with the draw.
“I think we deserved that result,” said coach Billittier. “They (Crystal Lake South) are a quality opponent.
"It was disappointing to be down two goals in that span of time, but it happened. It would have been easy to pack it in and just quit. After those first 25 minutes we played really well. We calmed down and built some good attacks. We are getting out of here with a draw but obviously a win would have been nice.”
Billittier mentioned many standout performances in the match.
“Donnie played really well in goal with really big gutsy saves,“ he said. “I thought Yann did an outstanding job. We had a freshman Bryan (Alba) come in the second half and do a great job. Nick Ramirez did a nice job. Also Edson (Suaste) did a nice job at the holding midfielder spot which doesn’t get a lot of praise.”
Despite giving up the early lead, coach Allen was upbeat about his Gators and their afternoon's work.
“A good first game, a lot of room for improvement but a lot of positive stuff that we can take from this as well,” said Allen. “I think we did a great job getting two goals early against the wind.
"In the second half, they (Mundelein) made adjustments and put us on our heels. We had some really good chances to put them away but we need to be more efficient in the final third and that will come.
“Standouts today include Nikolas Getzinger winning a lot of 50/50 balls. I thought Grabowski did a great job up top cutting the field in half. And the back four of Langdon, Yazel, Jake (Canfield) and Schmitty (Zackary Schmidt) did a great job in their first action as a unit.”
Starting lineups
Mundelein
GK: Donnie Kvien
D: Jake Floska
D: Victor Casas
D: Elliott Sachnoff
D: Danny Ford
MF: Edson Suaste
MF: Yann Nsoga
MF: Nick Ramirez
MF: Jose Ortega
MF: Kenny Adiyah
F: Dillion Smith
Crystal Lake South
GK: Spencer Traub
D: Zachary Schmidt
D: Nicholas Langdon
D: Ryan Yazel
D: Jacob Canfield
MF: Michael Woeste
MF: Skyler Pentico
MF: Ryan Coughlin
MF: Nikolas Getzinger
MF: Zachary Bimbi
F: Andrew Grabowski
Man of the Match: Donnie Kvien, GK, Mundelein.
Officials: Gary Kardell (center); David Holbrook; Bob Hansen.