October is drama month at Hinsdale Central
Red Devils produce a nail-biter in 1-0 win over New Trier
By Dave Owen
HINSDALE -- For Hinsdale Central, October 2014 ended with a dramatic sectional win over Lyons and the first big step towards the Class 3A state title.
October 2015 has started in similar amazing fashion.
Hosting New Trier on Friday, the Red Devils (12-1-1) endured everything from game-altering high winds to an unusual obstruction call that set up a rare Trevian indirect kick inside the box.
But the deciding moment brought another clutch finish for a team that has thrived on them for the past two years.
Rigo Rojas’ nice 10-yard header off a Louis St. John direct kick with just 2:23 to play earned the Red Devils a 1-0 win over the Trevians (6-8-4).
“I knew they were playing the ball inside,” Rojas said, “so I tried to get on his back shoulder. It was a good ball by Louis, and I was lucky enough to get behind the ball and header it.”
After a New Trier foul, St. John sent a 47-yard free kick with the wind from the left sideline.
The dangerous 6-foot-5 Rojas (14 goals) somehow shook defenders and was unmarked at the right side of the box 10 yards out, and his high header past charging goalkeeper Sam Rutherford was a game-winner.
“That’s why he’s a special player,” Hinsdale Central coach Mike Wiggins said. “It’s just another example of why he’s at that level.
“You can’t ever lose him (on defense). He knows how to find those seams and openings, and credit to him. It was a great ball by Louis, and a great finish by Rigo.”
The night started with a tremendous performance of the National Anthem, sung by Red Devil senior midfielder Jim Walker.
It ended with payback of sorts – New Trier was the last Illinois team to defeat the Red Devils (3-1 last Oct. 16), but Rojas’ goal avenged that setback and continued an unwelcome recent trend for the visitors.
“We’ve lost a lot of 1-0 games in the last couple minutes,” Trevians coach Wes Molyneaux said.
“I’ll have to look at film to see how he broke free on that. Our goalkeeper came out and did a heck of a job. They had long throws and free kicks that were very dangerous, quite a few of those, and Sam dealt with those well all night.”
Perfect execution by St. John and Rojas produced the play of the night. But the second most memorable play looked like something straight out of rugby.
What began as a Hinsdale Central corner kick with 14 minutes left quickly developed into a New Trier chance. Michael Gallo’s clear began the counterattack, with Red Devil goalkeeper Ethan Gama seemingly winning a loose ball sent to the box.
But officials ruled a Red Devil player had impeded a Trevian’s path to the ball, resulting in an obstruction call and an indirect free kick from 12 yards out inside the box.
A rare scene followed, with every Red Devil and most of the Trevians herded either in or near the net for the restart. Off a short pass, Jacob Moskowitz’s 8-yard shot was blocked by the Red Devil defense and subsequently cleared by Mitch Collins.
For Wiggins, the strange play was another chance for his team to rise to the challenge.
“That was not necessary and something that was a mistake on our part,” Wiggins said. “But I have to tell you, regardless of how that turned out, we were forced to deal with a dire situation in front of the goal and we handled it well.
“We had guys in the right spots, we had guys ready to charge the ball when they took their touch, and we were able to block it. And that’s because our guys were prepared.”
New Trier is amazingly becoming used to such obstruction set plays.
“In my 12 years coaching soccer I’d never had any of those, and that’s our fourth this year,” Molyneaux said. “And we’re one for four (scoring).”
The Hinsdale Central defense stood tall in both unusual and standard situations Friday, posting a shutout for the fifth time in the last six games and eighth of 2015.
“They had a lot of guys that were strong and fast up top,” Hinsdale Central defender Nick Silva said. “No. 7 (Amine Salako) gave us a lot of trouble.
“We stuck to our game though. We talk a lot about 1-on-1 defending in practice, and we did a really good job of that tonight as a team from the back to the front.”
Salako generated one of New Trier’s few first-half chances, as his race in to the right endline ended with Gamma’s one-armed block at the right post in the 19th minute. With 12:30 left in the half, Silva’s nice blocked shot and clear from 3-yards out of a 15-yard Louis Shaw shot was a defensive highlight.
Otherwise, the first 45 minutes were firmly controlled by the Red Devils.
St. John’s high 39-yard direct kick four minutes into play required a leaping catch by Rutherford. Then in the 14th minute, a Stephen Coan throw-in was headed just wide by Daniel Lillard in a jump ball with Rutherford at the right post.
After Bryan Loebig was fouled 7:40 before halftime, another dangerous St. John free kick from 29 yards out was again headed just wide by Lillard.
“At halftime I was talking about how we were going to solve them,” Wiggins said. “It was to our benefit that we got through the first half with a quality run of play, and then to have the wind at our backs in the second half, it was knowing that if we stuck with it and stayed strong, we would eventually get one.”
Rojas nearly struck with 38:30 left. Despite being well marked, he perfectly lined a 20-yarder from the right side that rattled off the crossbar.
New Trier momentarily appeared to take a 1-0 lead with 28:55 left on Michael Gallo’s redirection into the net off a cross, but Gallo was ruled to have pushed off a Red Devil defender and the foul nullified the score.
“I thought we played a heck of a game,” Molyneaux said. “We had a lot of good chances – obviously a goal called back by a foul, which is unfortunate but it was a foul.
And then the direct kick in the box and a couple of other really good opportunities.
“I thought we played some dynamic offense and moved the ball really well in the midfield. They’re a good team and their backs made some last ditch efforts to block balls, and they always got to them. Hats off to them for playing really good defense, but we were really close to getting it in.”
Molyneaux praised the play of Salako, midfielder Michael McCue and Michael Gallo.
“And our two center backs Jake (Moskowitz) and Cameron (Zwick) did a heck of a job back there,” he said. “Hinsdale has a lot of good forwards that did a great job putting pressure on us.
“Hinsdale Central’s a quality team. That’s one of the reasons why we choose to play each other towards the end of the year to try to gear up for the playoffs.”
Before the obstruction call created nervous moments for the Red Devils, their offense surged.
Over a seven minute span starting with 26:05 left, Lillard sent two headers just wide (first off a Coan cross, then a 13-yard header set up by a St. John 62-yard direct kick).
During that stretch, Rutherford also stopped Rojas’ low 28-yarder and Collins’ drive in on the right post. Collins’ play set up a corner kick that Mikey Usher headed just over the net.
“The second half we had the wind at our backs,” Rojas said, “so we tried to emphasize taking shots, getting behind the ball and playing our style of ball.”
But more defense was needed with 7:35 left, when Gamma came off his line to deflect a Gallo right side try wide. Silva later made a nice sliding block of a New Trier pass with 5:30 to go, denying a threat.
“They did a really good job in the air tonight,” Silva said of New Trier. “We need to do a little better on that, but I think we’ll be good for the playoffs and fix that up.”
The last New Trier chance immediately led to Red Devil success. Gamma saved a 35-yard Will Felito shot, and Gamma’s ensuing long punt set up the offensive zone foul that St. John and Rojas turned into a goal.
“Louis floated the ball in, we work a lot on that in practice too,” Silva said. “Rigo was able to box out the keeper, came out and get his head on it and put it away. That was a really big goal.”
The clutch finish produced a happy ending, after the Red Devils’ sluggish 1-0 win over Proviso West on Tuesday.
“I think we could have come out a little harder than we did,” Silva said of Tuesday’s match. “They’re a really talented team, and we weren’t expecting what they brought out. I’m sure we’ll see them again in the playoffs. They have a lot of skill.”
Rojas was sidelined Tuesday, but was a difference-maker Friday.
“Tonight we wanted to come out with a different energy than in the Proviso game,” Rojas said. “It was frustrating watching because we couldn’t get a goal.
“We just have to come out with the same energy every time we step on the field.”
The New Trier match began a fast-paced weekend. The Red Devils host Willowbrook at 3 p.m. Saturday.
“We schedule these games back-to-back Friday and Saturday to have that feeling of the state final weekend,” Wiggins said.
“This for us is a state semifinal-type game against a very good team, well coached and well organized. So we put that responsibility on us to find a way to a get a result against a very good team.”
With just one loss in 2015 (Sept. 12 to Marquette (Wis.), the defending state champion Red Devils are hardly resting on their laurels.
“We’re trying not to focus as much on last year,” Silva said. “We have a lot of new guys. We lost a lot of key players like Evan Floersch and Wes Bergevin. We’re a new team, but we’re just as skilled if not better, and we’re looking to do the same thing this year.
“We just have to keep playing hard. I think we’re peaking at the right moment, so I think we’ll be good for the playoffs.”
Starting lineups
New Trier
GK- Sam Rutherford
D- Michael Zummer
D- Jake Moskowitz
D- Cameron Zwick
D- Danny Ladik
MF- Michael McCue
MF- Michael Gallo
MF- Louis Shaw
MF- Matt Gallo
F- Amine Salako
F- Will Felito
Hinsdale Central
GK- Ethan Gamma
D- Nick Silva
D- Daniel Lillard
D- Nikash Tejpal
D- Mikey Usher
MF- Jim Walker
MF- Stephen Coan
MF- Louis St. John
MF- Jake Semba
F- Bryan Loebig
F- Mitch Collins
MVP of the Match: Rigo Rojas, F, Hinsdale Central
Red Devils produce a nail-biter in 1-0 win over New Trier
By Dave Owen
HINSDALE -- For Hinsdale Central, October 2014 ended with a dramatic sectional win over Lyons and the first big step towards the Class 3A state title.
October 2015 has started in similar amazing fashion.
Hosting New Trier on Friday, the Red Devils (12-1-1) endured everything from game-altering high winds to an unusual obstruction call that set up a rare Trevian indirect kick inside the box.
But the deciding moment brought another clutch finish for a team that has thrived on them for the past two years.
Rigo Rojas’ nice 10-yard header off a Louis St. John direct kick with just 2:23 to play earned the Red Devils a 1-0 win over the Trevians (6-8-4).
“I knew they were playing the ball inside,” Rojas said, “so I tried to get on his back shoulder. It was a good ball by Louis, and I was lucky enough to get behind the ball and header it.”
After a New Trier foul, St. John sent a 47-yard free kick with the wind from the left sideline.
The dangerous 6-foot-5 Rojas (14 goals) somehow shook defenders and was unmarked at the right side of the box 10 yards out, and his high header past charging goalkeeper Sam Rutherford was a game-winner.
“That’s why he’s a special player,” Hinsdale Central coach Mike Wiggins said. “It’s just another example of why he’s at that level.
“You can’t ever lose him (on defense). He knows how to find those seams and openings, and credit to him. It was a great ball by Louis, and a great finish by Rigo.”
The night started with a tremendous performance of the National Anthem, sung by Red Devil senior midfielder Jim Walker.
It ended with payback of sorts – New Trier was the last Illinois team to defeat the Red Devils (3-1 last Oct. 16), but Rojas’ goal avenged that setback and continued an unwelcome recent trend for the visitors.
“We’ve lost a lot of 1-0 games in the last couple minutes,” Trevians coach Wes Molyneaux said.
“I’ll have to look at film to see how he broke free on that. Our goalkeeper came out and did a heck of a job. They had long throws and free kicks that were very dangerous, quite a few of those, and Sam dealt with those well all night.”
Perfect execution by St. John and Rojas produced the play of the night. But the second most memorable play looked like something straight out of rugby.
What began as a Hinsdale Central corner kick with 14 minutes left quickly developed into a New Trier chance. Michael Gallo’s clear began the counterattack, with Red Devil goalkeeper Ethan Gama seemingly winning a loose ball sent to the box.
But officials ruled a Red Devil player had impeded a Trevian’s path to the ball, resulting in an obstruction call and an indirect free kick from 12 yards out inside the box.
A rare scene followed, with every Red Devil and most of the Trevians herded either in or near the net for the restart. Off a short pass, Jacob Moskowitz’s 8-yard shot was blocked by the Red Devil defense and subsequently cleared by Mitch Collins.
For Wiggins, the strange play was another chance for his team to rise to the challenge.
“That was not necessary and something that was a mistake on our part,” Wiggins said. “But I have to tell you, regardless of how that turned out, we were forced to deal with a dire situation in front of the goal and we handled it well.
“We had guys in the right spots, we had guys ready to charge the ball when they took their touch, and we were able to block it. And that’s because our guys were prepared.”
New Trier is amazingly becoming used to such obstruction set plays.
“In my 12 years coaching soccer I’d never had any of those, and that’s our fourth this year,” Molyneaux said. “And we’re one for four (scoring).”
The Hinsdale Central defense stood tall in both unusual and standard situations Friday, posting a shutout for the fifth time in the last six games and eighth of 2015.
“They had a lot of guys that were strong and fast up top,” Hinsdale Central defender Nick Silva said. “No. 7 (Amine Salako) gave us a lot of trouble.
“We stuck to our game though. We talk a lot about 1-on-1 defending in practice, and we did a really good job of that tonight as a team from the back to the front.”
Salako generated one of New Trier’s few first-half chances, as his race in to the right endline ended with Gamma’s one-armed block at the right post in the 19th minute. With 12:30 left in the half, Silva’s nice blocked shot and clear from 3-yards out of a 15-yard Louis Shaw shot was a defensive highlight.
Otherwise, the first 45 minutes were firmly controlled by the Red Devils.
St. John’s high 39-yard direct kick four minutes into play required a leaping catch by Rutherford. Then in the 14th minute, a Stephen Coan throw-in was headed just wide by Daniel Lillard in a jump ball with Rutherford at the right post.
After Bryan Loebig was fouled 7:40 before halftime, another dangerous St. John free kick from 29 yards out was again headed just wide by Lillard.
“At halftime I was talking about how we were going to solve them,” Wiggins said. “It was to our benefit that we got through the first half with a quality run of play, and then to have the wind at our backs in the second half, it was knowing that if we stuck with it and stayed strong, we would eventually get one.”
Rojas nearly struck with 38:30 left. Despite being well marked, he perfectly lined a 20-yarder from the right side that rattled off the crossbar.
New Trier momentarily appeared to take a 1-0 lead with 28:55 left on Michael Gallo’s redirection into the net off a cross, but Gallo was ruled to have pushed off a Red Devil defender and the foul nullified the score.
“I thought we played a heck of a game,” Molyneaux said. “We had a lot of good chances – obviously a goal called back by a foul, which is unfortunate but it was a foul.
And then the direct kick in the box and a couple of other really good opportunities.
“I thought we played some dynamic offense and moved the ball really well in the midfield. They’re a good team and their backs made some last ditch efforts to block balls, and they always got to them. Hats off to them for playing really good defense, but we were really close to getting it in.”
Molyneaux praised the play of Salako, midfielder Michael McCue and Michael Gallo.
“And our two center backs Jake (Moskowitz) and Cameron (Zwick) did a heck of a job back there,” he said. “Hinsdale has a lot of good forwards that did a great job putting pressure on us.
“Hinsdale Central’s a quality team. That’s one of the reasons why we choose to play each other towards the end of the year to try to gear up for the playoffs.”
Before the obstruction call created nervous moments for the Red Devils, their offense surged.
Over a seven minute span starting with 26:05 left, Lillard sent two headers just wide (first off a Coan cross, then a 13-yard header set up by a St. John 62-yard direct kick).
During that stretch, Rutherford also stopped Rojas’ low 28-yarder and Collins’ drive in on the right post. Collins’ play set up a corner kick that Mikey Usher headed just over the net.
“The second half we had the wind at our backs,” Rojas said, “so we tried to emphasize taking shots, getting behind the ball and playing our style of ball.”
But more defense was needed with 7:35 left, when Gamma came off his line to deflect a Gallo right side try wide. Silva later made a nice sliding block of a New Trier pass with 5:30 to go, denying a threat.
“They did a really good job in the air tonight,” Silva said of New Trier. “We need to do a little better on that, but I think we’ll be good for the playoffs and fix that up.”
The last New Trier chance immediately led to Red Devil success. Gamma saved a 35-yard Will Felito shot, and Gamma’s ensuing long punt set up the offensive zone foul that St. John and Rojas turned into a goal.
“Louis floated the ball in, we work a lot on that in practice too,” Silva said. “Rigo was able to box out the keeper, came out and get his head on it and put it away. That was a really big goal.”
The clutch finish produced a happy ending, after the Red Devils’ sluggish 1-0 win over Proviso West on Tuesday.
“I think we could have come out a little harder than we did,” Silva said of Tuesday’s match. “They’re a really talented team, and we weren’t expecting what they brought out. I’m sure we’ll see them again in the playoffs. They have a lot of skill.”
Rojas was sidelined Tuesday, but was a difference-maker Friday.
“Tonight we wanted to come out with a different energy than in the Proviso game,” Rojas said. “It was frustrating watching because we couldn’t get a goal.
“We just have to come out with the same energy every time we step on the field.”
The New Trier match began a fast-paced weekend. The Red Devils host Willowbrook at 3 p.m. Saturday.
“We schedule these games back-to-back Friday and Saturday to have that feeling of the state final weekend,” Wiggins said.
“This for us is a state semifinal-type game against a very good team, well coached and well organized. So we put that responsibility on us to find a way to a get a result against a very good team.”
With just one loss in 2015 (Sept. 12 to Marquette (Wis.), the defending state champion Red Devils are hardly resting on their laurels.
“We’re trying not to focus as much on last year,” Silva said. “We have a lot of new guys. We lost a lot of key players like Evan Floersch and Wes Bergevin. We’re a new team, but we’re just as skilled if not better, and we’re looking to do the same thing this year.
“We just have to keep playing hard. I think we’re peaking at the right moment, so I think we’ll be good for the playoffs.”
Starting lineups
New Trier
GK- Sam Rutherford
D- Michael Zummer
D- Jake Moskowitz
D- Cameron Zwick
D- Danny Ladik
MF- Michael McCue
MF- Michael Gallo
MF- Louis Shaw
MF- Matt Gallo
F- Amine Salako
F- Will Felito
Hinsdale Central
GK- Ethan Gamma
D- Nick Silva
D- Daniel Lillard
D- Nikash Tejpal
D- Mikey Usher
MF- Jim Walker
MF- Stephen Coan
MF- Louis St. John
MF- Jake Semba
F- Bryan Loebig
F- Mitch Collins
MVP of the Match: Rigo Rojas, F, Hinsdale Central