Loyola works overtime to oust Taft
Ramblers' 85th-minute score gains 2-1 win, regional final berth
By Dave Surico
EVANSTON -- If patience is indeed a virtue, Loyola increased its quotient exponentially against Taft in the Tuesday nightcap of the Class 3A Evanston Regional
The Ramblers, ranked 25th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, learned how to cope with its foes' defensive strategy, but needed overtime to do it in a 2-1 semifinal win.
Taft went into a shell after Jonathan Meneses turned a clever individual play into a 1-0 Eagles lead.
The junior midfielder/forward took a centering pass from defender Marek Klimek and worked left to right across the field to try to find space for a shot. When that didn't work, he took a two-step right turn toward midfield, then quickly changed direction back toward the net and had a go. The 20-yard attempt looked like it was headed right toward Loyola keeper Jack McMenamin, who was positioned at the near post, but somehow it squeezed between him and the frame in the 26th minute.
Taft's defensive shape of a double-stacked four-man back, that was aimed to jam up the Loyola attack, now focused solely on keeping Loyola out of the net.
"I thought the first half we played right into their hands" said Loyola coach Baer Fisher. "They're really well organized; they played really defensive, and we couldn't keep the ball. They scored one against the run of play, and finally we woke up. I think the second half we were really good.
"We actually trained it this week, how it basically turns into six backs really. They play to their strengths, and it's a credit to them. We had trouble breaking it down pretty much all game. I'm proud of my guys. They kept battling; they didn't quit. And we got a W at the end."
Taft carried the lead into the half, but Eagles coach Jeff Lucco knew what was in store.
"We told them at halftime 'Guys, they're going to come after you,'" he said. "We tend to get complacent when we get the lead. What we did to get the lead, we stopped doing it all of a sudden, and we get comfortable. That's happened several times this year.
"And then we play defense the whole time. And if you pay defense the whole time, you're gonna wear down, and there's going to be a mistake."
For most of the game, the compact Taft defense allowed Loyola tons of possession in the middle third with only token opposition. In one sequence the Ramblers switched the field three times as they scanned their offensive third for opportunities.
And as Lucco feared, the Ramblers started to find them. Senior forward Sean Hickey hit a low, bending 10-yard volley that was blocked by the Taft defense in the 46th minute. Classmate Julian Hilpüsch, who impressed with his work rate and skill, went just over from 20 yards moments later. Sophomore midfielder David Gripman found wide-open teammate Daniel Montaquila near the spot, but his low volley skirted just left of the post in the 50th minute.
Loyola's time in its offensive half of the field finally paid off in the 65th minute, thanks to Gripman and his eye-catching technical skills. While about 25 yards out on the right side, the sophomore hit a perfect diagonal pass off the outside of his right foot to Hilpüsch. The helper left the senior midfielder with little to do.
"It was a great through-ball," Hilpüsch said. "I was able to cut behind him (defender) and all I had to do was tap it."
Lucco's assessment had come true, and an Eagles' shortcoming didn't help.
"We've been horrible at tracking guys all season, and that came back to bite us again," said the Taft coach.
And it didn't stop there as Loyola started to regularly find cracks in the Taft defense. The wide Evanston field added to the Eagles' dilemma.
"During the season because the fields that we usually play on are more narrow,'" said defender Marek Klimek, who was rock solid at center-back. "Whenever we have tough games and we're winning by one goal there's 30 minutes left in the game we usually play defensive like that. Most of the time it works perfectly."
It didn't Tuesday as Loyola continued to press.
A pass on the ground found two Ramblers open at the far post. But as it has all season, Taft relied on keeper Patrick Mieczkowski to make a big play. The senior charged out to block Collin Leider's close-in shot in the 70th minute.
"My goalie had another outstanding game," Lucco said. "Without him I think we lose 4-1, 5-1. He's unbelieveable."
Loyola kept the pressure on, Hilpüsch's header off a corner squirted just outside the right post a minute later.
As overtime loomed, the Ramblers now held the upper hand with Taft's offense all but nonexistent.
In the 85th minute, Loyola found the dagger.
Hilpüsch launched a throw-in from the left sideline aimed for the head of Montaquila, that Taft's Klimek made a play for. The ball made a path at the crossbar, and Mieczkowski, elevated but was only able to deflect the ball straight up. He jumped after it again, but Loyola's Hickey challenged him and the two made contact. Gripman ran on the short ball and a professional 6-yard, upper-90 finish ensued.
"It was kind of a wierd angle, and I had to get it over two guys' heads, but I got lucky and managed it," said Gripman, whose goal and assist earned him Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors. "I was just sitting at the top of the box. I saw him punch it up, I ran in.
"Before you hit a ball you have to analyze where you're going to hit it. I saw two (defenders') heads, a tiny space above and the goalie was in the middle, so that was the only place I could put it."
Taft fell victim to great execution, hustle and a brilliant finish.
"They did the same thing (on throw-ins) the whole game, putting the ball in to the short post," said Mieczkowski. "Their no. 7 (Hilpüsch) made great throws into the box. Anytime he was within 30 yards, we knew it was gonna go to the five.
"I had pressure in front of me. I tried to pop it behind me but got a little nudge on me, and I didn't get my hand hard enough against the ball. There was a wide open guy on the far post and just great placement put it in. ... There was nothing i could have done."
Loyola rode out the clock to book a meeting for the regional title with 14th-ranked and third-seeded host Evanston at 6 p.m. Saturday.
"We're definitely looking forward to a rematch against Evanston," said Hilpüsch, who clearly hadn't forgotten a 4-0 loss to the Wildkits in the Ramblers regional last year. "We've gotten stronger this year, and it's definitely going to be a fun match. It's going to be a good game."
As Loyola looked ahead, Taft (14-7-2) reflected on a great and historic season.
"It's been really fun to watch us play over the season," Lucco said. "We've developed into a cohesive unit. We don't always play the best soccer -- I've been saying that all season -- but they try super hard. And they do have moments. It was a fun game.
"This is not the team we started with. I knew we could be good, good against city competition though tends to be a little different than playing against these (suburban) teams. In my eyes, at least, we gained a lot of respect from these teams.
"Last year we would go down a goal and get beat bad. but this year, they hung with Wheeling, Loyola. We took Lane to PKs (in the CPL championship game) and tied Lane (in season opener). These are respected teams.
"They grew. They started to believe in themselves which is the hardest part, especially for teenage boys. They're hard on themselves, and we're hard on them as coaches. Throughout the season they adapted to that, and they kind of took it personally. The came together as a team, a family.
"For the first time in four years since I've been here we didn't have to play in a play-in game, which is saying a lot. Our sectional is so hard, that even to get where we were (10th seed) meant a lot to us. It was a great game. I loved it. It was the most fun I've ever had playing or coaching."
Mieczkowski was the last player off the bench and to walk off the field.
"It was a hard fought game. They are a great program, and I wish they luck going further into the state playoffs," he said.
"It was remarkable season, coming from last season winning only four games and this year winning 14, getting a 10-seed which is the highest seed our school has gotten in a while. Us being a CPS program I think we earned some respect.
"And us going on our deep playoff run in the city playoffs and getting to the finals for the first time in school history, it's something that as a senior I'll remember for the rest of my life. And I hope I can come back next year and this team will keep going and keep building on what we did this year."
Starting lineups
Taft
GK: Patrick Mieczkowski
D: Marek Klimek
D: Mateusz Koziara
D: Byron Abayay
D: Melvin Zamora
MF: Jonathan Meneses
MF: Julio Zamora
MF: Thomas Wojtyga
MF: Alex Labastida
MF: Alexis Sanchez
F: Patryk Knap
Loyola
GK: Jack McMenamin
D: Matt Salter
D: Matt Brennan
D: Luke Phillips
D: Daniel Montaquila
MF: Julian Hilpüsch
MF: Nick Roscoe
MF: Collin Lieder
MF: David Gripman
MF: Christian Jimenez
F: Sean Hickey
Man of the Match: David Gripman, MF, Loyola
Ramblers' 85th-minute score gains 2-1 win, regional final berth
By Dave Surico
EVANSTON -- If patience is indeed a virtue, Loyola increased its quotient exponentially against Taft in the Tuesday nightcap of the Class 3A Evanston Regional
The Ramblers, ranked 25th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, learned how to cope with its foes' defensive strategy, but needed overtime to do it in a 2-1 semifinal win.
Taft went into a shell after Jonathan Meneses turned a clever individual play into a 1-0 Eagles lead.
The junior midfielder/forward took a centering pass from defender Marek Klimek and worked left to right across the field to try to find space for a shot. When that didn't work, he took a two-step right turn toward midfield, then quickly changed direction back toward the net and had a go. The 20-yard attempt looked like it was headed right toward Loyola keeper Jack McMenamin, who was positioned at the near post, but somehow it squeezed between him and the frame in the 26th minute.
Taft's defensive shape of a double-stacked four-man back, that was aimed to jam up the Loyola attack, now focused solely on keeping Loyola out of the net.
"I thought the first half we played right into their hands" said Loyola coach Baer Fisher. "They're really well organized; they played really defensive, and we couldn't keep the ball. They scored one against the run of play, and finally we woke up. I think the second half we were really good.
"We actually trained it this week, how it basically turns into six backs really. They play to their strengths, and it's a credit to them. We had trouble breaking it down pretty much all game. I'm proud of my guys. They kept battling; they didn't quit. And we got a W at the end."
Taft carried the lead into the half, but Eagles coach Jeff Lucco knew what was in store.
"We told them at halftime 'Guys, they're going to come after you,'" he said. "We tend to get complacent when we get the lead. What we did to get the lead, we stopped doing it all of a sudden, and we get comfortable. That's happened several times this year.
"And then we play defense the whole time. And if you pay defense the whole time, you're gonna wear down, and there's going to be a mistake."
For most of the game, the compact Taft defense allowed Loyola tons of possession in the middle third with only token opposition. In one sequence the Ramblers switched the field three times as they scanned their offensive third for opportunities.
And as Lucco feared, the Ramblers started to find them. Senior forward Sean Hickey hit a low, bending 10-yard volley that was blocked by the Taft defense in the 46th minute. Classmate Julian Hilpüsch, who impressed with his work rate and skill, went just over from 20 yards moments later. Sophomore midfielder David Gripman found wide-open teammate Daniel Montaquila near the spot, but his low volley skirted just left of the post in the 50th minute.
Loyola's time in its offensive half of the field finally paid off in the 65th minute, thanks to Gripman and his eye-catching technical skills. While about 25 yards out on the right side, the sophomore hit a perfect diagonal pass off the outside of his right foot to Hilpüsch. The helper left the senior midfielder with little to do.
"It was a great through-ball," Hilpüsch said. "I was able to cut behind him (defender) and all I had to do was tap it."
Lucco's assessment had come true, and an Eagles' shortcoming didn't help.
"We've been horrible at tracking guys all season, and that came back to bite us again," said the Taft coach.
And it didn't stop there as Loyola started to regularly find cracks in the Taft defense. The wide Evanston field added to the Eagles' dilemma.
"During the season because the fields that we usually play on are more narrow,'" said defender Marek Klimek, who was rock solid at center-back. "Whenever we have tough games and we're winning by one goal there's 30 minutes left in the game we usually play defensive like that. Most of the time it works perfectly."
It didn't Tuesday as Loyola continued to press.
A pass on the ground found two Ramblers open at the far post. But as it has all season, Taft relied on keeper Patrick Mieczkowski to make a big play. The senior charged out to block Collin Leider's close-in shot in the 70th minute.
"My goalie had another outstanding game," Lucco said. "Without him I think we lose 4-1, 5-1. He's unbelieveable."
Loyola kept the pressure on, Hilpüsch's header off a corner squirted just outside the right post a minute later.
As overtime loomed, the Ramblers now held the upper hand with Taft's offense all but nonexistent.
In the 85th minute, Loyola found the dagger.
Hilpüsch launched a throw-in from the left sideline aimed for the head of Montaquila, that Taft's Klimek made a play for. The ball made a path at the crossbar, and Mieczkowski, elevated but was only able to deflect the ball straight up. He jumped after it again, but Loyola's Hickey challenged him and the two made contact. Gripman ran on the short ball and a professional 6-yard, upper-90 finish ensued.
"It was kind of a wierd angle, and I had to get it over two guys' heads, but I got lucky and managed it," said Gripman, whose goal and assist earned him Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors. "I was just sitting at the top of the box. I saw him punch it up, I ran in.
"Before you hit a ball you have to analyze where you're going to hit it. I saw two (defenders') heads, a tiny space above and the goalie was in the middle, so that was the only place I could put it."
Taft fell victim to great execution, hustle and a brilliant finish.
"They did the same thing (on throw-ins) the whole game, putting the ball in to the short post," said Mieczkowski. "Their no. 7 (Hilpüsch) made great throws into the box. Anytime he was within 30 yards, we knew it was gonna go to the five.
"I had pressure in front of me. I tried to pop it behind me but got a little nudge on me, and I didn't get my hand hard enough against the ball. There was a wide open guy on the far post and just great placement put it in. ... There was nothing i could have done."
Loyola rode out the clock to book a meeting for the regional title with 14th-ranked and third-seeded host Evanston at 6 p.m. Saturday.
"We're definitely looking forward to a rematch against Evanston," said Hilpüsch, who clearly hadn't forgotten a 4-0 loss to the Wildkits in the Ramblers regional last year. "We've gotten stronger this year, and it's definitely going to be a fun match. It's going to be a good game."
As Loyola looked ahead, Taft (14-7-2) reflected on a great and historic season.
"It's been really fun to watch us play over the season," Lucco said. "We've developed into a cohesive unit. We don't always play the best soccer -- I've been saying that all season -- but they try super hard. And they do have moments. It was a fun game.
"This is not the team we started with. I knew we could be good, good against city competition though tends to be a little different than playing against these (suburban) teams. In my eyes, at least, we gained a lot of respect from these teams.
"Last year we would go down a goal and get beat bad. but this year, they hung with Wheeling, Loyola. We took Lane to PKs (in the CPL championship game) and tied Lane (in season opener). These are respected teams.
"They grew. They started to believe in themselves which is the hardest part, especially for teenage boys. They're hard on themselves, and we're hard on them as coaches. Throughout the season they adapted to that, and they kind of took it personally. The came together as a team, a family.
"For the first time in four years since I've been here we didn't have to play in a play-in game, which is saying a lot. Our sectional is so hard, that even to get where we were (10th seed) meant a lot to us. It was a great game. I loved it. It was the most fun I've ever had playing or coaching."
Mieczkowski was the last player off the bench and to walk off the field.
"It was a hard fought game. They are a great program, and I wish they luck going further into the state playoffs," he said.
"It was remarkable season, coming from last season winning only four games and this year winning 14, getting a 10-seed which is the highest seed our school has gotten in a while. Us being a CPS program I think we earned some respect.
"And us going on our deep playoff run in the city playoffs and getting to the finals for the first time in school history, it's something that as a senior I'll remember for the rest of my life. And I hope I can come back next year and this team will keep going and keep building on what we did this year."
Starting lineups
Taft
GK: Patrick Mieczkowski
D: Marek Klimek
D: Mateusz Koziara
D: Byron Abayay
D: Melvin Zamora
MF: Jonathan Meneses
MF: Julio Zamora
MF: Thomas Wojtyga
MF: Alex Labastida
MF: Alexis Sanchez
F: Patryk Knap
Loyola
GK: Jack McMenamin
D: Matt Salter
D: Matt Brennan
D: Luke Phillips
D: Daniel Montaquila
MF: Julian Hilpüsch
MF: Nick Roscoe
MF: Collin Lieder
MF: David Gripman
MF: Christian Jimenez
F: Sean Hickey
Man of the Match: David Gripman, MF, Loyola