Deerfield's Klabjan serves
notice in high school debut
Senior leads Warriors to 2-1 win over Rolling Meadows
DEERFIELD -- "High expectations."
That's what Deerfield has in their sights for the 2015 soccer season. And the Warriors didn't wait long to get started on the right foot.
The hosts received goals from Steven Shore and Wisconsin recruit Nick Klabjan to defeat Rolling Meadows 2-1 in the 8th annual Central Suburban League/Mid-Suburban League Challenge on Monday night.
"It's a nice win and a good way to start the season," Deerfield coach Elliott Hurtig said. "We're expecting a lot out of this team, and we've got high expectations. We know that we've got a great group of seniors, and we know that we've got a lot of talent. We're fast and have a great touch with good defense and strong goalkeeping.
"If we're working hard in our training sessions and challenging each other, then we expect to do great."
Klabjan joined the Warriors this season after playing club ball the first three years of his high school career. He brings a lot of talent to the pitch, and that can help his teammates.
"He's one of those players whose presence changes the whole game because he's so calm on the ball and sees things before they happen," Hurtig said. "So's he's able to find the right space, find the right player and the guys always look to him because they know his touch is so strong and his vision is so incredible. The main thing is that the guys want to play better to play at his level."
It his first game for the program, Klabjan's efforts in the midfield showed that the Warriors offense can be very productive and one to keep an eye on.
"It's not something different coming in," Klabjan said. "I definitely work well with the team. I try to work the passes where the next one is supposed to be, and I try to help my teammates the best I can. I want to make them better, and they can make me better."
Back on the soccer field Monday, Klabjan demonstrated some of the combinations he has developed up top with his teammates. Matt Grady worked a one-two touch that set up the first goal for Klabjan in the 10th minute.
"It was a great one-two, and I played the pass again," Klabjan said. "I was finding space, and I had time. I looked up and saw the far post was open. I was able to put it in."
Klabjan had several other scoring chances. He had a couple misses go just wide of the post and another caromed off the crossbar.
Rolling Meadows didn't have many opportunities to get through the defense of the Warriors. Deerfield keeper Zach Zusman made three stops and the defense in front of him, consisting of Levi Goldstein, Ari Patterson, Will Schmetterer and Michael Such, kept the ball out of the back.
The Mustangs did find a way to tie the game in the 28th minute when Jacob Koutas broke loose and scored an unassisted goal.
But Deerfield kept its composure and made a push forward in the last 20 minutes.
Shore battled his way into the penalty area and broke free of two Rolling Meadows' defenders. He found himself one-on-one with keeper Pan Zervas and scored the game-winning goal in the 68th minute.
"I was in the spot with my left foot and put it in," Schore said. "It was hard to get through but you have to trust your teammates to get the ball to you. It was all about chemistry."
Rolling Meadows was satisfied with the effort in its debut.
"I thought we did all right, but we need to clean up some things," Rolling Meadows coach Peter Mikulak said. "Some of our passes weren't good and some of our traps weren't good. We made some bad decisions in giving the ball away in the middle. We did a good job in creating a couple of chances. I don't think either team created as many chances as they would've liked."
The Rolling Meadows coach liked what he saw of Deerfield's new player.
"I thought he played well," Mikulak said. "He seemed to be the one they were looking for starting their offense. I also thought (Seth Bornstein and Matt Record) did a better job higher up for them."
Starting lineups
Deerfield
GK-Zach Zusman
D-Will Schmetterer
D-Ari Patterson
D-Michael Such
D-Levi Goldstein
MF-Nick Kabjan
MF-Matt Record
MF-Seth Bornstein
MF-A.J. Simo
F-Matt Grady
F-Eli Perez
Rolling Meadows
GK-Pan Zervas
D-Zach Kacimi
D-Ryan Burke
D-Joseph Perez
D-Benny Masi
MF-Alex Bielic
MF-Pedro Botello
MF-Tony Montesinos
MF-Jash Snopek
MF-Edgar Avolos
F-Jacob Koutas
Man of the Match: Nick Klabjan, MF, Deerfield
Officials: Rafal Zielinski (center); Shahram Tousi; Gerasimos Valsamis
notice in high school debut
Senior leads Warriors to 2-1 win over Rolling Meadows
DEERFIELD -- "High expectations."
That's what Deerfield has in their sights for the 2015 soccer season. And the Warriors didn't wait long to get started on the right foot.
The hosts received goals from Steven Shore and Wisconsin recruit Nick Klabjan to defeat Rolling Meadows 2-1 in the 8th annual Central Suburban League/Mid-Suburban League Challenge on Monday night.
"It's a nice win and a good way to start the season," Deerfield coach Elliott Hurtig said. "We're expecting a lot out of this team, and we've got high expectations. We know that we've got a great group of seniors, and we know that we've got a lot of talent. We're fast and have a great touch with good defense and strong goalkeeping.
"If we're working hard in our training sessions and challenging each other, then we expect to do great."
Klabjan joined the Warriors this season after playing club ball the first three years of his high school career. He brings a lot of talent to the pitch, and that can help his teammates.
"He's one of those players whose presence changes the whole game because he's so calm on the ball and sees things before they happen," Hurtig said. "So's he's able to find the right space, find the right player and the guys always look to him because they know his touch is so strong and his vision is so incredible. The main thing is that the guys want to play better to play at his level."
It his first game for the program, Klabjan's efforts in the midfield showed that the Warriors offense can be very productive and one to keep an eye on.
"It's not something different coming in," Klabjan said. "I definitely work well with the team. I try to work the passes where the next one is supposed to be, and I try to help my teammates the best I can. I want to make them better, and they can make me better."
Back on the soccer field Monday, Klabjan demonstrated some of the combinations he has developed up top with his teammates. Matt Grady worked a one-two touch that set up the first goal for Klabjan in the 10th minute.
"It was a great one-two, and I played the pass again," Klabjan said. "I was finding space, and I had time. I looked up and saw the far post was open. I was able to put it in."
Klabjan had several other scoring chances. He had a couple misses go just wide of the post and another caromed off the crossbar.
Rolling Meadows didn't have many opportunities to get through the defense of the Warriors. Deerfield keeper Zach Zusman made three stops and the defense in front of him, consisting of Levi Goldstein, Ari Patterson, Will Schmetterer and Michael Such, kept the ball out of the back.
The Mustangs did find a way to tie the game in the 28th minute when Jacob Koutas broke loose and scored an unassisted goal.
But Deerfield kept its composure and made a push forward in the last 20 minutes.
Shore battled his way into the penalty area and broke free of two Rolling Meadows' defenders. He found himself one-on-one with keeper Pan Zervas and scored the game-winning goal in the 68th minute.
"I was in the spot with my left foot and put it in," Schore said. "It was hard to get through but you have to trust your teammates to get the ball to you. It was all about chemistry."
Rolling Meadows was satisfied with the effort in its debut.
"I thought we did all right, but we need to clean up some things," Rolling Meadows coach Peter Mikulak said. "Some of our passes weren't good and some of our traps weren't good. We made some bad decisions in giving the ball away in the middle. We did a good job in creating a couple of chances. I don't think either team created as many chances as they would've liked."
The Rolling Meadows coach liked what he saw of Deerfield's new player.
"I thought he played well," Mikulak said. "He seemed to be the one they were looking for starting their offense. I also thought (Seth Bornstein and Matt Record) did a better job higher up for them."
Starting lineups
Deerfield
GK-Zach Zusman
D-Will Schmetterer
D-Ari Patterson
D-Michael Such
D-Levi Goldstein
MF-Nick Kabjan
MF-Matt Record
MF-Seth Bornstein
MF-A.J. Simo
F-Matt Grady
F-Eli Perez
Rolling Meadows
GK-Pan Zervas
D-Zach Kacimi
D-Ryan Burke
D-Joseph Perez
D-Benny Masi
MF-Alex Bielic
MF-Pedro Botello
MF-Tony Montesinos
MF-Jash Snopek
MF-Edgar Avolos
F-Jacob Koutas
Man of the Match: Nick Klabjan, MF, Deerfield
Officials: Rafal Zielinski (center); Shahram Tousi; Gerasimos Valsamis