Willowbrook gets defensive
against Maine West
Warriors post 3-0 win to take third in Novy Invitational
By Dave Owen
ADDISON - Since a 5-3 loss to Glenbard North in the second game of the season, Willowbrook has been a different team defensively.
The Warriors (4-1) continued their rise Saturday in the third place match of the Joe Novy Invitational at Addison Trail, beating Maine West 3-0. It was Willowbrook’s third-straight win and second shutout of the fall.
“The one thing I really liked today is how we played team defense, and that’s an important area of improvement,” Willowbrook coach Peter Ginter said. “When the other team tries to bring the ball out of the back, we fortify the middle and we don’t give them a lot of options. That requires teamwork and verbally communicating, and they did a much better job of that.
“And that gives us good counterattack abilities. When (opponents) turn over a ball, it’s closer to the middle of the field than our end. And we have good skill players who are good for the counterattack.”
Willowbrook’s offensive attack kicked in as well against Maine West (1-4-1). Usual table setter Arkadiusz Szlachta started the ball rolling in the first 10 minutes of play, with his goal providing all the offense his team would ultimately need.
“I saw Saul (Hernandez) at the top of the box, and he’s really good at turning,” Szlachta said. “So I decided I’d make a run into the middle since there’s nobody there.
“He hit a nice ball in, slotted it and (I shot it) first time past the keeper. We work on that in practice all the time.”
It was Szlachta’s first goal of the year.
“He does a lot of setting up goals but doesn’t get a chance to put them in,” Ginter said. “It was nice to see him score today.”
Szlachta was back in his usual role in the 27th minute. His line drive corner kick across the box connected with Aaron Johnson, who lined a shot inside the right post for a 2-0 Willowbrook lead12:43 before halftime.
“You always want to aim for the biggest heads, usually Lucas (Betts) or Collin Doherty,” Szlachta said of his strategy on corner kicks. “You also just swing it into the right area and hope for the best.”
Willowbrook’s best possible end to that restart continued a rough half for Maine West.
“I think we came flat,” Maine West coach Alan Matan said. “It was evident even in the first couple of minutes.
“Willowbrook wanted the win – they beat us to 50/50 balls today, and it was tough for us to get going. There were spurts when we were able to control the ball, but for the most part we were on our heels today.”
A 3-0 lead barely eluded Willowbrook 8:40 before halftime. After a 48-yard Lucas Betts direct kick was initially cleared, Doherty won back possession and lined a 12-yard shot that Maine West goalkeeper Edgar Vallejo blocked. Hernandez’s rebound attempt then went wide.
Hernandez’s next decent chance would be rewarded.
With 29:27 to play, Correa raced in on left wing and sent a cross to Hernandez wide open at the right post. The open net finish was Hernandez’s fifth goal of 2015.
“I’m the only forward (with five midfielders), so I have to be the one working up there,” Hernandez said. “I have to move all around, so attack is my main priority. I try to create as many chances as I can so we can put as many balls in the net as we can.”
Hernandez had just missed an assist one minute earlier, crossing the ball to Doherty for a point-blank shot caught by goalkeeper Vallejo. Johnson was also denied by Vallejo on an 8-yard shot 35 seconds into the second half.
The first eight minutes of the second half also featured the defensive play of the match, provided suitably by Willowbrook star defender Stasiu Szudrowicz.
With Maine West standout Joey Polvino free at the end line for a close-in try, Szudrowicz made a great sliding block to deny the great scoring chance. The score was still 2-0 at the time.
“Stasiu played fabulous on defense – he made a great defensive play over there,” Ginter said. “Overall he’s just a consistently solid defender.”
Szudrowicz also just missed a goal. His 35-yard low liner with 8:20 left in the match was deflected just wide of the post by diving Maine West goalkeeper Vallejo.
With brilliant plays when needed and dependable consistency, Szudrowicz earned Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors.
Willowbrook has allowed just two goals in its last three games.
“I think we were just firing all game, playing confident,” Szudrowicz said. “And with Lucas, he’s getting used to playing back (at defender after shifting from midfield) and the chemistry is really coming together. That’s the main thing, chemistry back there.
“We’ve slowed the game down when we get it back there (since Glenbard North).”
Hernandez has also seen a new outlook for the entire team since the loss to the Panthers, who captured the tournament title with a 2-0 win over Addison Trail.
“That game we played really bad – it was a hard lesson,” Hernandez said. “We learned from it, and now we just have to keep going.
“It had to happen for us to learn, and the coaches were trying after that game to boost our confidence. And they really did.”
Hernandez has been one of a core of standouts all year for Willowbrook.
“Saul Hernandez, you give him the ball, and he makes things happen up front,” Ginter said. “Aaron today played much better, he was into the game offensively and defensively which is what I want to see. When he’s playing his game, up there with Saul we’re lethal up the middle.
“I thought Arkadiusz played well and gave us some great scoring opportunities by bringing the ball in from the end line, and Asmir (Perviz) is pretty solid back there.”
Third-year starting goalkeeper Perviz literally saved his best for last in a shutout effort.
After officials ruled a Willowbrook foul with 1.1 seconds left, Edgar Montesinos’ high 43-yard direct kick was batted over the crossbar by a leaping Perviz as time expired.
“The defense is taking pride in trying to keep clean sheets (shutouts) and just playing smart,” Ginter said.
That last second near miss capped a frustrating day for Maine West.
“I feel like our biggest concern is that we need a little more chemistry,” Pulvino said. “Once we have that…I know we definitely have the skills to do it. When we have our work ethic and build up our chemistry we’ll be good and it’ll click.”
Willowbrook made major strides last season with an essentially .500 record and a tie with eventual state champion Hinsdale Central. So far this fall, the improvement goes on.
“I think we’re in a pretty good position,” Szlachta said. “If we keep this up the rest of the season with a good mentality, I think we’ll do well.”
Starting lineups
Willowbrook
GK- Asmir Perviz
D- Stasiu Szudrowicz
D- Lucas Betts
D- Ali Saleh
D- Tomas Hernandez
M- Aaron Johnson
M- Arkadiusz Szlachta
M- Miguel Correa
M- Collin Doherty
M- Benigno Heredia
F- Saul Hernandez
Maine West
GK- Edgar Vallejo
D- Ozzie Espinoza
D- Juan Vallejo
D- Edgar Montesinos
D- Leo Hernandez
M- Jonathan Reynoso
M- Joey Pulvino
M- Michael Podsiadly
M- Brant Ibarra
F- Geronimo Xolio
F- Krystian Dabrowski
Man of the Match: Stasiu Szudrowicz, D, Willowbrook
against Maine West
Warriors post 3-0 win to take third in Novy Invitational
By Dave Owen
ADDISON - Since a 5-3 loss to Glenbard North in the second game of the season, Willowbrook has been a different team defensively.
The Warriors (4-1) continued their rise Saturday in the third place match of the Joe Novy Invitational at Addison Trail, beating Maine West 3-0. It was Willowbrook’s third-straight win and second shutout of the fall.
“The one thing I really liked today is how we played team defense, and that’s an important area of improvement,” Willowbrook coach Peter Ginter said. “When the other team tries to bring the ball out of the back, we fortify the middle and we don’t give them a lot of options. That requires teamwork and verbally communicating, and they did a much better job of that.
“And that gives us good counterattack abilities. When (opponents) turn over a ball, it’s closer to the middle of the field than our end. And we have good skill players who are good for the counterattack.”
Willowbrook’s offensive attack kicked in as well against Maine West (1-4-1). Usual table setter Arkadiusz Szlachta started the ball rolling in the first 10 minutes of play, with his goal providing all the offense his team would ultimately need.
“I saw Saul (Hernandez) at the top of the box, and he’s really good at turning,” Szlachta said. “So I decided I’d make a run into the middle since there’s nobody there.
“He hit a nice ball in, slotted it and (I shot it) first time past the keeper. We work on that in practice all the time.”
It was Szlachta’s first goal of the year.
“He does a lot of setting up goals but doesn’t get a chance to put them in,” Ginter said. “It was nice to see him score today.”
Szlachta was back in his usual role in the 27th minute. His line drive corner kick across the box connected with Aaron Johnson, who lined a shot inside the right post for a 2-0 Willowbrook lead12:43 before halftime.
“You always want to aim for the biggest heads, usually Lucas (Betts) or Collin Doherty,” Szlachta said of his strategy on corner kicks. “You also just swing it into the right area and hope for the best.”
Willowbrook’s best possible end to that restart continued a rough half for Maine West.
“I think we came flat,” Maine West coach Alan Matan said. “It was evident even in the first couple of minutes.
“Willowbrook wanted the win – they beat us to 50/50 balls today, and it was tough for us to get going. There were spurts when we were able to control the ball, but for the most part we were on our heels today.”
A 3-0 lead barely eluded Willowbrook 8:40 before halftime. After a 48-yard Lucas Betts direct kick was initially cleared, Doherty won back possession and lined a 12-yard shot that Maine West goalkeeper Edgar Vallejo blocked. Hernandez’s rebound attempt then went wide.
Hernandez’s next decent chance would be rewarded.
With 29:27 to play, Correa raced in on left wing and sent a cross to Hernandez wide open at the right post. The open net finish was Hernandez’s fifth goal of 2015.
“I’m the only forward (with five midfielders), so I have to be the one working up there,” Hernandez said. “I have to move all around, so attack is my main priority. I try to create as many chances as I can so we can put as many balls in the net as we can.”
Hernandez had just missed an assist one minute earlier, crossing the ball to Doherty for a point-blank shot caught by goalkeeper Vallejo. Johnson was also denied by Vallejo on an 8-yard shot 35 seconds into the second half.
The first eight minutes of the second half also featured the defensive play of the match, provided suitably by Willowbrook star defender Stasiu Szudrowicz.
With Maine West standout Joey Polvino free at the end line for a close-in try, Szudrowicz made a great sliding block to deny the great scoring chance. The score was still 2-0 at the time.
“Stasiu played fabulous on defense – he made a great defensive play over there,” Ginter said. “Overall he’s just a consistently solid defender.”
Szudrowicz also just missed a goal. His 35-yard low liner with 8:20 left in the match was deflected just wide of the post by diving Maine West goalkeeper Vallejo.
With brilliant plays when needed and dependable consistency, Szudrowicz earned Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors.
Willowbrook has allowed just two goals in its last three games.
“I think we were just firing all game, playing confident,” Szudrowicz said. “And with Lucas, he’s getting used to playing back (at defender after shifting from midfield) and the chemistry is really coming together. That’s the main thing, chemistry back there.
“We’ve slowed the game down when we get it back there (since Glenbard North).”
Hernandez has also seen a new outlook for the entire team since the loss to the Panthers, who captured the tournament title with a 2-0 win over Addison Trail.
“That game we played really bad – it was a hard lesson,” Hernandez said. “We learned from it, and now we just have to keep going.
“It had to happen for us to learn, and the coaches were trying after that game to boost our confidence. And they really did.”
Hernandez has been one of a core of standouts all year for Willowbrook.
“Saul Hernandez, you give him the ball, and he makes things happen up front,” Ginter said. “Aaron today played much better, he was into the game offensively and defensively which is what I want to see. When he’s playing his game, up there with Saul we’re lethal up the middle.
“I thought Arkadiusz played well and gave us some great scoring opportunities by bringing the ball in from the end line, and Asmir (Perviz) is pretty solid back there.”
Third-year starting goalkeeper Perviz literally saved his best for last in a shutout effort.
After officials ruled a Willowbrook foul with 1.1 seconds left, Edgar Montesinos’ high 43-yard direct kick was batted over the crossbar by a leaping Perviz as time expired.
“The defense is taking pride in trying to keep clean sheets (shutouts) and just playing smart,” Ginter said.
That last second near miss capped a frustrating day for Maine West.
“I feel like our biggest concern is that we need a little more chemistry,” Pulvino said. “Once we have that…I know we definitely have the skills to do it. When we have our work ethic and build up our chemistry we’ll be good and it’ll click.”
Willowbrook made major strides last season with an essentially .500 record and a tie with eventual state champion Hinsdale Central. So far this fall, the improvement goes on.
“I think we’re in a pretty good position,” Szlachta said. “If we keep this up the rest of the season with a good mentality, I think we’ll do well.”
Starting lineups
Willowbrook
GK- Asmir Perviz
D- Stasiu Szudrowicz
D- Lucas Betts
D- Ali Saleh
D- Tomas Hernandez
M- Aaron Johnson
M- Arkadiusz Szlachta
M- Miguel Correa
M- Collin Doherty
M- Benigno Heredia
F- Saul Hernandez
Maine West
GK- Edgar Vallejo
D- Ozzie Espinoza
D- Juan Vallejo
D- Edgar Montesinos
D- Leo Hernandez
M- Jonathan Reynoso
M- Joey Pulvino
M- Michael Podsiadly
M- Brant Ibarra
F- Geronimo Xolio
F- Krystian Dabrowski
Man of the Match: Stasiu Szudrowicz, D, Willowbrook