Taft's Knap, Solorio's Sanchez forge 2-2 tie
Stars record brace; Solorio rallies; Taft holds on after soft red
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO -- Brothers have a palpable awareness of the other’s existence, especially when they share the same space. Familiarity is sometimes a double-edged sword.
Taft senior forward Patrick Knap has emerged as one of the top players in the city at the start of this season. He is off to a scorching start with six goals in as many games.
The Eagles (4-0-2) has ridden his electric start to a very impressive beginning. The week began with a statement win in a very impressive 2-0 road victory over no. 23 Loyola on Tuesday night.
Knap has exhibited strong finishing skills, a sense for finding the ball and a strong feel for space and how to generate sufficient room to become dangerous. The biggest different is perhaps a psychological one, the absence of a presence. The person missing is his older brother Konrad Knap, who graduated last year.
“Last year I was in my brother’s shadow, and now he is gone. And it is my time to shine, I guess,” Knap said.
He maintained his torrid streak by scoring two goals in the opening 15 minutes in staking the visiting Eagles to the fast start against Solorio. But the Sun Warriors responded behind emerging star sophomore Alex Sanchez and forged a 2-2 draw in a nonconference game between the Chicago Public League clubs Friday afternoon in Brighton Park on the Southwest Side.
Sanchez matched Knap by scoring this pair of goals four minutes apart, bisecting the end of the first half and the start of the second half. The draw was the Sun Warriors’ third consecutive tie this week, after playing Premier Division opponents Lane and Washington.
Against no. 16 Lane on Monday night, Solorio (2-2-3) rallied from the 2-0 deficit behind goals by Sanchez and an 80th-minute goal by defender Omar Salgado. Solorio is showing steely resolve and the ability to never be fully out of a match. It is a habit they are trying to break.
“Usually we start out badly, that’s why teams are scoring these goals on us,” said Sanchez, whose team has only lost at third-ranked Bradley-Bourbonnais and against preseason no. 25 Neuqua Valley. “It’s not what we expected, but we have to fight back. We can’t afford to lose or give up easy goals like this.”
Taft (4-0-2) was playing its fourth game in five days. Despite missing a couple of crucial players, the Eagles were the dominant team, moving into the wind, playing with pace and speed and dictating the tempo and rhythm of the game.
In the eighth minute, Knap broke through by working a beautiful combination with midfielder Jonathan Meneses and drilling a shot for the Eagles’ early advantage.
In the 15th minute he took advantage of a critical error by the Sun Warriors and their inability to make a defensive clearance. After a Solorio defender failed to make contact, Knap found himself in a one-on-one against Solorio sophomore keeper Joel Estrada and buried a laser for the shocking 2-0 Taft lead.
“Going into the season we had very high expectations for our team,” Taft coach Jeffrey Lucco said. “Not just me, but even the boys. I don’t think they realized how good they really are.
"We have eight kids who have played on varsity since they were sophomores, and four of them have started since they were freshmen. They are a very experienced group. They realized this was the year they could really do something.”
In last year’s meeting, Taft scored in the eighth minute and used its shutdown defense and brilliant keeper play by senior Patrick Mieczokowski to carry out the 1-0 victory.
This new iteration is much more explosive offensively. The defense has been solid and the Eagles entered the Solorio game riding a three-game shutout streak. The graduation of Patrick’s older brother has also had a strangely impactful influence.
“His brother (Konrad) was on the team the last two years, and I think being in his shadow really hurt Patrick,” Lucco said. “He has flourished since then. He and his brother are close, but I think not having his brother around has allowed him to be more himself and that shows on the field.”
The game changed significantly late in the first half. In the 38th minute, Taft senior Melvin Zamora, a midfielder/defender hybrid, incurred a foul inside the box against Sanchez that resulted in a penalty kick attempt for the Sun Warriors.
Sanchez buried the shot inside the near post to halve the Eagles’ lead.
“On penalty kicks I look to one side and try to make the keeper think I am going to go to that side, but then at the last minute I try to cross him up or switch,” Sanchez said.
Making matters even worse for the Eagles, Zamora's yellow card was his second of the match, and he was disqualified for the “soft red.” That meant Taft had to play the final 42 minutes with just nine field players.
“We started really well, and we have not started well this year,” Lucco said. “Before we lost that guy, we were up 2-0 and I did not think they had anything really dangerous going up against us.
"But once the (second yellow card) happened we were defeated, because we were already exhausted but also down a man. Melvin is one of our emotional leaders and the rest of the team feeds off of him.”
By contrast, Solorio (2-2-3) had its reprieve and looked to strike back. Sanchez delivered in the 42nd minute. The Sun Warriors opened the second half with tremendous pressure, and junior midfielder Julian Arroyo played an up-top ball from the left wing to Sanchez, who forced Taft junior keeper Michael Pierri off the line. He hit a sharp volley that eluded him and two Taft defenders who desperately lunged to prevent the ball from crossing the line.
“When I saw (Pierri) come out I just looked to float it over. I got a touch on it, and he was not there,” Sanchez said.
The sophomore is the physical opposite of Knap, smaller, lithe. But he is quick and explosive.
“His speed sets him apart, and he is willing to play with both feet,” Calleros said about Sanchez. “He is not your typical forward or young kid who only uses his right or left foot. He goes both ways, hitting the ball with his right and his left foot.”
Knap and Sanchez shared the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match prize for their performances.
Senior forward Jose Solis is the heady leader and calming influence for the young Solorio team. His creativity with the ball allows Sanchez and Arroyo to make their runs.
“I don’t know about why we start so slowly,” he said. “I guess it is just the motivation we have. Just like the Lane game, we were down 2-0, and we try to catch up to tie or win. I guess it is better to motivate yourself from the beginning rather than the second half.”
Solorio had the better play and more dangerous opportunities after the second Sanchez goal. The game was ostensibly a stalemate. Taft also generated some good set pieces, with senior midfielder Jesus Perez creating interesting possibilities on two separate free kicks into the Sun Warriors’ box.
Solorio walked away knowing it must put an entire game together.
“These (draws) aren't bad, but they are not what we want,” Sanchez said. “We want to win these games, not only tie.”
Taft positioned the games against Kennedy and Solorio this week to clear out time for its appearence in the upcoming PepsiCo Showdown. Now the Eagles have survived the gauntlet and discovered something essential.
“This was our hardest game of the season so far: against a good team we were tired; and that is basically it,” Knap said. “Mentally I thought we did well these four games this week. Physically, I think, we have to do better. I feel good about today. We went up against a great team, one of the best, maybe in the state and definitely top five in the city.
“We have a bright future in front of us.”
Starting lineups
Taft
GK: Michael Pierri
D: Marek Klimek
D: Jesus Perez
D: Konrad Bryla
D: Alexis Sanchez
MF: Jonathan Meneses
MF: Augustin Gallo
MF: Joshua Andreu
MF: Melvin Zamora
MF: Byron Abaaya
F: Patrick Knap
Solorio
GK: Joel Estrada
D: Omar Salgado
D: Julian Arroyo
D: Jonathan Vasquez
D: Oscar Ramirez
MF: Eduardo Franco
MF: Alex Sanchez
MF: David Diaz
MF: David Gamez
F: Jose Solis
F: Carlos Villa
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match: Patrick Knap, sr., F, Taft
Alex Sanchez, so., MF, Solorio
Scoring summary
First half
Taft --Patrick Knap (Jonathan Meneses), 8th minute
Lane -- Knap (unassisted), 15th minute
Solorio -- Alex Sanchez, penalty kick, 38th minute
Second half
Solorio -- Sanchez (Julian Arroyo) 42nd minute
Stars record brace; Solorio rallies; Taft holds on after soft red
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO -- Brothers have a palpable awareness of the other’s existence, especially when they share the same space. Familiarity is sometimes a double-edged sword.
Taft senior forward Patrick Knap has emerged as one of the top players in the city at the start of this season. He is off to a scorching start with six goals in as many games.
The Eagles (4-0-2) has ridden his electric start to a very impressive beginning. The week began with a statement win in a very impressive 2-0 road victory over no. 23 Loyola on Tuesday night.
Knap has exhibited strong finishing skills, a sense for finding the ball and a strong feel for space and how to generate sufficient room to become dangerous. The biggest different is perhaps a psychological one, the absence of a presence. The person missing is his older brother Konrad Knap, who graduated last year.
“Last year I was in my brother’s shadow, and now he is gone. And it is my time to shine, I guess,” Knap said.
He maintained his torrid streak by scoring two goals in the opening 15 minutes in staking the visiting Eagles to the fast start against Solorio. But the Sun Warriors responded behind emerging star sophomore Alex Sanchez and forged a 2-2 draw in a nonconference game between the Chicago Public League clubs Friday afternoon in Brighton Park on the Southwest Side.
Sanchez matched Knap by scoring this pair of goals four minutes apart, bisecting the end of the first half and the start of the second half. The draw was the Sun Warriors’ third consecutive tie this week, after playing Premier Division opponents Lane and Washington.
Against no. 16 Lane on Monday night, Solorio (2-2-3) rallied from the 2-0 deficit behind goals by Sanchez and an 80th-minute goal by defender Omar Salgado. Solorio is showing steely resolve and the ability to never be fully out of a match. It is a habit they are trying to break.
“Usually we start out badly, that’s why teams are scoring these goals on us,” said Sanchez, whose team has only lost at third-ranked Bradley-Bourbonnais and against preseason no. 25 Neuqua Valley. “It’s not what we expected, but we have to fight back. We can’t afford to lose or give up easy goals like this.”
Taft (4-0-2) was playing its fourth game in five days. Despite missing a couple of crucial players, the Eagles were the dominant team, moving into the wind, playing with pace and speed and dictating the tempo and rhythm of the game.
In the eighth minute, Knap broke through by working a beautiful combination with midfielder Jonathan Meneses and drilling a shot for the Eagles’ early advantage.
In the 15th minute he took advantage of a critical error by the Sun Warriors and their inability to make a defensive clearance. After a Solorio defender failed to make contact, Knap found himself in a one-on-one against Solorio sophomore keeper Joel Estrada and buried a laser for the shocking 2-0 Taft lead.
“Going into the season we had very high expectations for our team,” Taft coach Jeffrey Lucco said. “Not just me, but even the boys. I don’t think they realized how good they really are.
"We have eight kids who have played on varsity since they were sophomores, and four of them have started since they were freshmen. They are a very experienced group. They realized this was the year they could really do something.”
In last year’s meeting, Taft scored in the eighth minute and used its shutdown defense and brilliant keeper play by senior Patrick Mieczokowski to carry out the 1-0 victory.
This new iteration is much more explosive offensively. The defense has been solid and the Eagles entered the Solorio game riding a three-game shutout streak. The graduation of Patrick’s older brother has also had a strangely impactful influence.
“His brother (Konrad) was on the team the last two years, and I think being in his shadow really hurt Patrick,” Lucco said. “He has flourished since then. He and his brother are close, but I think not having his brother around has allowed him to be more himself and that shows on the field.”
The game changed significantly late in the first half. In the 38th minute, Taft senior Melvin Zamora, a midfielder/defender hybrid, incurred a foul inside the box against Sanchez that resulted in a penalty kick attempt for the Sun Warriors.
Sanchez buried the shot inside the near post to halve the Eagles’ lead.
“On penalty kicks I look to one side and try to make the keeper think I am going to go to that side, but then at the last minute I try to cross him up or switch,” Sanchez said.
Making matters even worse for the Eagles, Zamora's yellow card was his second of the match, and he was disqualified for the “soft red.” That meant Taft had to play the final 42 minutes with just nine field players.
“We started really well, and we have not started well this year,” Lucco said. “Before we lost that guy, we were up 2-0 and I did not think they had anything really dangerous going up against us.
"But once the (second yellow card) happened we were defeated, because we were already exhausted but also down a man. Melvin is one of our emotional leaders and the rest of the team feeds off of him.”
By contrast, Solorio (2-2-3) had its reprieve and looked to strike back. Sanchez delivered in the 42nd minute. The Sun Warriors opened the second half with tremendous pressure, and junior midfielder Julian Arroyo played an up-top ball from the left wing to Sanchez, who forced Taft junior keeper Michael Pierri off the line. He hit a sharp volley that eluded him and two Taft defenders who desperately lunged to prevent the ball from crossing the line.
“When I saw (Pierri) come out I just looked to float it over. I got a touch on it, and he was not there,” Sanchez said.
The sophomore is the physical opposite of Knap, smaller, lithe. But he is quick and explosive.
“His speed sets him apart, and he is willing to play with both feet,” Calleros said about Sanchez. “He is not your typical forward or young kid who only uses his right or left foot. He goes both ways, hitting the ball with his right and his left foot.”
Knap and Sanchez shared the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match prize for their performances.
Senior forward Jose Solis is the heady leader and calming influence for the young Solorio team. His creativity with the ball allows Sanchez and Arroyo to make their runs.
“I don’t know about why we start so slowly,” he said. “I guess it is just the motivation we have. Just like the Lane game, we were down 2-0, and we try to catch up to tie or win. I guess it is better to motivate yourself from the beginning rather than the second half.”
Solorio had the better play and more dangerous opportunities after the second Sanchez goal. The game was ostensibly a stalemate. Taft also generated some good set pieces, with senior midfielder Jesus Perez creating interesting possibilities on two separate free kicks into the Sun Warriors’ box.
Solorio walked away knowing it must put an entire game together.
“These (draws) aren't bad, but they are not what we want,” Sanchez said. “We want to win these games, not only tie.”
Taft positioned the games against Kennedy and Solorio this week to clear out time for its appearence in the upcoming PepsiCo Showdown. Now the Eagles have survived the gauntlet and discovered something essential.
“This was our hardest game of the season so far: against a good team we were tired; and that is basically it,” Knap said. “Mentally I thought we did well these four games this week. Physically, I think, we have to do better. I feel good about today. We went up against a great team, one of the best, maybe in the state and definitely top five in the city.
“We have a bright future in front of us.”
Starting lineups
Taft
GK: Michael Pierri
D: Marek Klimek
D: Jesus Perez
D: Konrad Bryla
D: Alexis Sanchez
MF: Jonathan Meneses
MF: Augustin Gallo
MF: Joshua Andreu
MF: Melvin Zamora
MF: Byron Abaaya
F: Patrick Knap
Solorio
GK: Joel Estrada
D: Omar Salgado
D: Julian Arroyo
D: Jonathan Vasquez
D: Oscar Ramirez
MF: Eduardo Franco
MF: Alex Sanchez
MF: David Diaz
MF: David Gamez
F: Jose Solis
F: Carlos Villa
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match: Patrick Knap, sr., F, Taft
Alex Sanchez, so., MF, Solorio
Scoring summary
First half
Taft --Patrick Knap (Jonathan Meneses), 8th minute
Lane -- Knap (unassisted), 15th minute
Solorio -- Alex Sanchez, penalty kick, 38th minute
Second half
Solorio -- Sanchez (Julian Arroyo) 42nd minute