Warren grinds its way to
victory over St. Charles North
Blue Devils open Barrington tourney with 1st win of season
By Rusty Silber
BARRINGTON -- If you haven't heard of Alex Fratila, who plays in the midfield for Warren, it might be time to take a look at what he does for the Blue Devils.
His efforts show that he gives his all in leading the team on offense or helping back on defense. His work rate rates on the high end of 100 percent.
Fratila had an assist in his team's opening game of the Barrington Classic and helped Warren get past St. Charles North 2-1 on Monday night. Ivan Esquivel and Jeremy Richter scored the goals for the Blue Devils.
"Once we get a lead, I normally play more of a defensive mid," said Fratila, Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match. "If we need a goal, then I'm more of an attacking mid. I really don't mind and just want to be on the field.
"I like to keep the ball, possess it and play good soccer. As long as we win it's fine, but it's also good to have a good performance and a good result."
Fratilla is only in his second year with the Blue Devils varsity squad. He joined the team as a junior year after playing club ball and has provided the team with a great deal of leadership entering his senior year.
"Coming to high school is a new life," Fratila said. "To play with your friends and in the community is fun. I feel I bring a sense of calm and experience to the team. It all helps. I'm definitely a guy that leaves his emotions on his sleeve. I do whatever it takes to win. No matter, wherever I play I give 110 percent."
Warren earned its first win of the season after a scoreless draw with Grayslake Central (5-0-1) to open the season and a 1-0 loss to Evanston on Saturday.
To continue winning, the Blue Devils (1-1-1) really need Fratila and his fellow seniors to take on the leadership role with this team.
"He plays tremendous out there," Warren coach Jason Ahonen said, "There's a reason why he's being recruited by a number of Division I programs including Xavier. He does a lot of things. He's the glue that allows Ivan (Esquivel) to be successful and other guys to be successful.
"You need to be a little gritty, You need to be physical. High school soccer is not always the prettiest soccer. It's who wants it more. Out of the three games so far, this was the one that we were outplayed at times. For us to get the one that trickled in and the other one, with the way we're struggling offensively right now, I'll take goals anyway we can get them."
Richter was awarded the game-winning goal in the 43rd minute. He sent a cross from the right side that found its way off of St. Charles North keeper Zack Nortan's hands and was ruled to have crossed the goal line.
Warren opened the scoring in the 22nd minute of play. Fratila set up the goal with a pass up top to Esquivel, who beat a couple of defenders. While falling down he managed to put the ball past the keeper.
St. Charles North (2-1-0) responded and tied the game in the 33rd minute. Alex Umro hit a shot that was slightly deflected off a Blue Devils defender and found its way into the corner. Dylan Mientus set up the opportunity with the assist.
"Basically, I saw some space," said Umro, who scored his second goal in three games. "They were leaving the middle open for the majority of the first half. I felt like the keeper was a little shaky, and we were testing him two or three times before I could see that shot. It had to be a good shot and luckily there was a deflection before it went in."
The North Stars didn't want to see this one get away and hoped to mirror their last game, when they came from behind to beat Bartlett late. So, they pushed numbers forward in the second half and tried to find the tying goal and maybe an extra tally for the win. St. Charles North did hold possession and kept the ball on Warren's side of the field for most of the second half but had nothing to show for it.
"I thought the second half was a much different half for us," St. Charles North coach Eric Willson said. "Obviously, giving up a goal in the first three minutes of the second half was a bit challenging. I think we do have some capabilities to score some goals. I think we have a very dangerous offense, and traditionally we've got a steady backline that we've got a lot of faith in. I don't think the backline played its best game, and they would tell you the same thing."
St. Charles North will next play Crystal Lake South Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the stadium at Barrington. While, Warren takes on Wheaton Warrenville South at 5 p.m. on back field 2.
Starting lineups
Warren
GK-Blair McCormick
D-Jack Tully
D-Declan Porter
D-Matt Haight
MF-Alex Fratila
MF-Niko Jokic
MF-Martin Fuentes
MF-Curis Bae
MF-Kody Anderson
F-Ivan Esquivel
F-Jeremy Richter
St. Charles North
GK-Zach Norton
D-Hanson Hagemann
D-Sean O'Leary
D-Luke Denson
MF-Alex Amro
MF-Ryan Olson
MF-Garrett Morgando
MF-Brandon Stricker
MF-Matt McCullough
F-Dylan Mientus
F-Johnny Acevedo
Man of the Match: Alex Fratila, MF, Warren
Officials Boguszaw Rosinski (center); Jay Gummings; and Mohammed Mushtaq
victory over St. Charles North
Blue Devils open Barrington tourney with 1st win of season
By Rusty Silber
BARRINGTON -- If you haven't heard of Alex Fratila, who plays in the midfield for Warren, it might be time to take a look at what he does for the Blue Devils.
His efforts show that he gives his all in leading the team on offense or helping back on defense. His work rate rates on the high end of 100 percent.
Fratila had an assist in his team's opening game of the Barrington Classic and helped Warren get past St. Charles North 2-1 on Monday night. Ivan Esquivel and Jeremy Richter scored the goals for the Blue Devils.
"Once we get a lead, I normally play more of a defensive mid," said Fratila, Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match. "If we need a goal, then I'm more of an attacking mid. I really don't mind and just want to be on the field.
"I like to keep the ball, possess it and play good soccer. As long as we win it's fine, but it's also good to have a good performance and a good result."
Fratilla is only in his second year with the Blue Devils varsity squad. He joined the team as a junior year after playing club ball and has provided the team with a great deal of leadership entering his senior year.
"Coming to high school is a new life," Fratila said. "To play with your friends and in the community is fun. I feel I bring a sense of calm and experience to the team. It all helps. I'm definitely a guy that leaves his emotions on his sleeve. I do whatever it takes to win. No matter, wherever I play I give 110 percent."
Warren earned its first win of the season after a scoreless draw with Grayslake Central (5-0-1) to open the season and a 1-0 loss to Evanston on Saturday.
To continue winning, the Blue Devils (1-1-1) really need Fratila and his fellow seniors to take on the leadership role with this team.
"He plays tremendous out there," Warren coach Jason Ahonen said, "There's a reason why he's being recruited by a number of Division I programs including Xavier. He does a lot of things. He's the glue that allows Ivan (Esquivel) to be successful and other guys to be successful.
"You need to be a little gritty, You need to be physical. High school soccer is not always the prettiest soccer. It's who wants it more. Out of the three games so far, this was the one that we were outplayed at times. For us to get the one that trickled in and the other one, with the way we're struggling offensively right now, I'll take goals anyway we can get them."
Richter was awarded the game-winning goal in the 43rd minute. He sent a cross from the right side that found its way off of St. Charles North keeper Zack Nortan's hands and was ruled to have crossed the goal line.
Warren opened the scoring in the 22nd minute of play. Fratila set up the goal with a pass up top to Esquivel, who beat a couple of defenders. While falling down he managed to put the ball past the keeper.
St. Charles North (2-1-0) responded and tied the game in the 33rd minute. Alex Umro hit a shot that was slightly deflected off a Blue Devils defender and found its way into the corner. Dylan Mientus set up the opportunity with the assist.
"Basically, I saw some space," said Umro, who scored his second goal in three games. "They were leaving the middle open for the majority of the first half. I felt like the keeper was a little shaky, and we were testing him two or three times before I could see that shot. It had to be a good shot and luckily there was a deflection before it went in."
The North Stars didn't want to see this one get away and hoped to mirror their last game, when they came from behind to beat Bartlett late. So, they pushed numbers forward in the second half and tried to find the tying goal and maybe an extra tally for the win. St. Charles North did hold possession and kept the ball on Warren's side of the field for most of the second half but had nothing to show for it.
"I thought the second half was a much different half for us," St. Charles North coach Eric Willson said. "Obviously, giving up a goal in the first three minutes of the second half was a bit challenging. I think we do have some capabilities to score some goals. I think we have a very dangerous offense, and traditionally we've got a steady backline that we've got a lot of faith in. I don't think the backline played its best game, and they would tell you the same thing."
St. Charles North will next play Crystal Lake South Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the stadium at Barrington. While, Warren takes on Wheaton Warrenville South at 5 p.m. on back field 2.
Starting lineups
Warren
GK-Blair McCormick
D-Jack Tully
D-Declan Porter
D-Matt Haight
MF-Alex Fratila
MF-Niko Jokic
MF-Martin Fuentes
MF-Curis Bae
MF-Kody Anderson
F-Ivan Esquivel
F-Jeremy Richter
St. Charles North
GK-Zach Norton
D-Hanson Hagemann
D-Sean O'Leary
D-Luke Denson
MF-Alex Amro
MF-Ryan Olson
MF-Garrett Morgando
MF-Brandon Stricker
MF-Matt McCullough
F-Dylan Mientus
F-Johnny Acevedo
Man of the Match: Alex Fratila, MF, Warren
Officials Boguszaw Rosinski (center); Jay Gummings; and Mohammed Mushtaq