Youth serves Metea Valley
well against Waubonsie Valley
Soph Barry's goal, assist lead Mustangs to 3-0 win
By Matt Le Cren
AURORA – Metea Valley and Waubonsie Valley had been in this situation before.
Both teams have struggled mightily to dent the net this fall and for 35 minutes it appeared the District 204 rivals would battle to a scoreless tie Tuesday night, Metea Valley because it couldn’t capitalize on the chances it was creating and visiting Warriors because they struggled to create any.
Then Ryan Barry ended the agony for the Mustangs while extending it for the Warriors.
The sophomore midfielder booted a 25-yard shot into the upper left corner of the net to break the ice with 4:50 to go in the first half and Metea Valley rolled to a 3-0 DuPage Valley Conference win.
It was the second goal of the season but first game-winner for Barry, who also had an assist and was named Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match.
“I had scored one goal earlier this season, but this is like my first really important goal, so it felt great,” Barry said. “I was really happy when I saw the ball go in.”
As were his teammates, who had controlled the action in the early going but had nothing to show for it.
Senior Michael Adams led the Metea attack, which produced a 12-2 shot advantage before intermission. He saw a shot hit the outside of the left post in the ninth minute and another drive miss the right post eight minute after that.
Adams appeared ready to give his team the lead in the 17th minute with a great dribble-drive in which he first went right and then left to get loose in the left side of the box.
Rather than shoot, Adams crossed in front to Nathan Barrett, whose volley from four yards out somehow went nearly straight up in the air and over the bar.
Given the team’s offensive struggles, which included a 1-0 overtime loss to Glenbard North on Saturday, the Mustangs (6-7-0, 3-3-0) were understandably anxious.
“The ball was in their half the whole half and we did some good stuff, but it was like, ‘Can we get a goal?’” Metea Valley coach Josh Robinson said. “Finally it was like, 'Thank you.'
“I think we were getting a little nervous as a team knowing some of the scoring woes we’ve had but once we got it it’s like, ‘OK, now we can slow down and do the things we want to do.’ The second half was much better.”
Barry’s goal was a big reason why. With a stout backline led by Ryan Donovan and Brandon Howard playing in front of senior goalkeeper Joey Coryell, Metea Valley rarely gives up a lead.
“It took a lot of pressure off,” Adams said. “We had been pushing for a goal the entire first half and with Ryan scoring we were able to settle the game down and play our game.
“That really helped us, which led to the second and third (goals). Once we got the first one, we knew we had the game.”
Barry continued to make an impact after the break, setting up Adams’ team-leading fourth goal with a cross from the right wing at the 21:10 mark.
“Ryan brings a new element to the team,” Adams said. “He likes to dribble a lot. Sometimes we get on him for it because he needs to release the ball a little bit earlier, but today he did better and he got his goal.”
Robinson was pleased to see it.
“I’m really happy with how he played,” Robinson said. “The kid has amazing talent, it’s just, sophomores! Even the ones we brought up, those first couple games they just kind of played and now that they’re settled in they get a little nervous.”
Robinson elevated four sophomores to the varsity following a 1-5-0 start and the Mustangs now have won five of their last seven games. Barry, ironically, was not one of them, having played on the varsity since last season.
“We brought up four sophomores a few games ago and they really brought a new energy to the team,” Adams noted. “That’s been good (because there is) a lot of competition now, so everyone’s working for a spot.”
That includes Barry, who joins Barrett in the ranks of sophomores who have tallied game-winners.
“We changed formations a while ago (to a 4-4-2 diamond) and after we’ve been using it for a while it’s starting to click,” Barry said. “Now everything is starting to click, and we’re hitting the high point of our season. (Our confidence) is a lot better than at the beginning of the season.”
The Mustangs received key contributions from veteran and rookie alike. Senior midfielder John Lynch capped the scoring with a brilliant 20-yard free kick with 5:24 to go, bending the ball from the top left corner of the box over the head of Warriors’ goalkeeper Jacob Vandrie and into the side netting of the far post.
Robinson also noted the play of junior defender Wesley Anderson, who played defensive midfield and was tasked with shadowing Waubonsie Valley playmaker Leo Mendoza.
Mendoza rarely got the ball and had only one shot, a 25-yard liner that went over the bar with 1:40 left in the first half.
“We started to play a little smarter, we were winning some balls in the midfield, plus Anderson stepped in and played amazing today,” Robinson said. “We’re really happy with his performance. (It was) probably not noticeable, but he solidified everything we wanted to do defensively. That was exciting to see.”
Metea Valley might have gotten a little extra help with its strategy.
"Our top scorer Leo Mendoza was injured for most of the game but played through it," Waubonsie coach Jose Garcia said. "We need to find a way to get our other players to put it in the net and not rely on Leo so much. We have the talent to score but (they) have to find the confidence in themselves to do it."
Robinson was also excited by Metea’s production. It was only the second time they’ve tallied three goals in a game, but both have come in the last three games.
“It was nice to get three today,” Robinson said. “We played fantastic against Glenbard North, better than we did today, and just couldn’t get the goal. We hit the post, and their goal in overtime was a free kick, their one real opportunity. Today was a nice (win) to get.”
Wins have been hard to come by for the Warriors (1-9-1, 0-5-0). They have scored just 11 goals and been shut out five times.
More worrisome may be the performance of the defense, which kept the Warriors in games early in the season but has conceded 11 goals in the past four games.
"We knew going in it was going to be a tough game," said Waubonsie coach Jose Garcia. "Offensively Metea is very dynamic and plays quick. We tried countering that by flooding the defense and covering the gaps.
"We did this well for most of the first half, but Metea had a brilliant goal from 20 yards out. After the first goal we could not find the energy to fight back. Metea was able to capitalize on our mistakes in the back on two separate occasions."
Waubonsie Valley gets another crack at its first DVC win when it hosts Wheaton Warrenville South on Thursday. Metea Valley visits Lake Park the same night.
Starting lineups
Waubonsie Valley
G Les Kruchten
D Eric Ninmann
D Rogelio Grimaldo
D Brett Babcock
D Charles Zehnal
D Adam Gabr
M Noah Michael
M Ryan Dittmer
M Stephan Spano
F Alfonso Pizzo
F Justin Fitzpatrick
Metea Valley
G Joey Coryell
D Ryan Donovan
D Brandon Howard
D Ethan Williams
M John Lynch
M Lucas Francisco
M Estaban Castillo
M Nathan Barrett
M Jacob Kellogg
F Michael Adams
F Dominic Duffy
Man of the Match – Ryan Barry, MF, Metea Valley
well against Waubonsie Valley
Soph Barry's goal, assist lead Mustangs to 3-0 win
By Matt Le Cren
AURORA – Metea Valley and Waubonsie Valley had been in this situation before.
Both teams have struggled mightily to dent the net this fall and for 35 minutes it appeared the District 204 rivals would battle to a scoreless tie Tuesday night, Metea Valley because it couldn’t capitalize on the chances it was creating and visiting Warriors because they struggled to create any.
Then Ryan Barry ended the agony for the Mustangs while extending it for the Warriors.
The sophomore midfielder booted a 25-yard shot into the upper left corner of the net to break the ice with 4:50 to go in the first half and Metea Valley rolled to a 3-0 DuPage Valley Conference win.
It was the second goal of the season but first game-winner for Barry, who also had an assist and was named Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match.
“I had scored one goal earlier this season, but this is like my first really important goal, so it felt great,” Barry said. “I was really happy when I saw the ball go in.”
As were his teammates, who had controlled the action in the early going but had nothing to show for it.
Senior Michael Adams led the Metea attack, which produced a 12-2 shot advantage before intermission. He saw a shot hit the outside of the left post in the ninth minute and another drive miss the right post eight minute after that.
Adams appeared ready to give his team the lead in the 17th minute with a great dribble-drive in which he first went right and then left to get loose in the left side of the box.
Rather than shoot, Adams crossed in front to Nathan Barrett, whose volley from four yards out somehow went nearly straight up in the air and over the bar.
Given the team’s offensive struggles, which included a 1-0 overtime loss to Glenbard North on Saturday, the Mustangs (6-7-0, 3-3-0) were understandably anxious.
“The ball was in their half the whole half and we did some good stuff, but it was like, ‘Can we get a goal?’” Metea Valley coach Josh Robinson said. “Finally it was like, 'Thank you.'
“I think we were getting a little nervous as a team knowing some of the scoring woes we’ve had but once we got it it’s like, ‘OK, now we can slow down and do the things we want to do.’ The second half was much better.”
Barry’s goal was a big reason why. With a stout backline led by Ryan Donovan and Brandon Howard playing in front of senior goalkeeper Joey Coryell, Metea Valley rarely gives up a lead.
“It took a lot of pressure off,” Adams said. “We had been pushing for a goal the entire first half and with Ryan scoring we were able to settle the game down and play our game.
“That really helped us, which led to the second and third (goals). Once we got the first one, we knew we had the game.”
Barry continued to make an impact after the break, setting up Adams’ team-leading fourth goal with a cross from the right wing at the 21:10 mark.
“Ryan brings a new element to the team,” Adams said. “He likes to dribble a lot. Sometimes we get on him for it because he needs to release the ball a little bit earlier, but today he did better and he got his goal.”
Robinson was pleased to see it.
“I’m really happy with how he played,” Robinson said. “The kid has amazing talent, it’s just, sophomores! Even the ones we brought up, those first couple games they just kind of played and now that they’re settled in they get a little nervous.”
Robinson elevated four sophomores to the varsity following a 1-5-0 start and the Mustangs now have won five of their last seven games. Barry, ironically, was not one of them, having played on the varsity since last season.
“We brought up four sophomores a few games ago and they really brought a new energy to the team,” Adams noted. “That’s been good (because there is) a lot of competition now, so everyone’s working for a spot.”
That includes Barry, who joins Barrett in the ranks of sophomores who have tallied game-winners.
“We changed formations a while ago (to a 4-4-2 diamond) and after we’ve been using it for a while it’s starting to click,” Barry said. “Now everything is starting to click, and we’re hitting the high point of our season. (Our confidence) is a lot better than at the beginning of the season.”
The Mustangs received key contributions from veteran and rookie alike. Senior midfielder John Lynch capped the scoring with a brilliant 20-yard free kick with 5:24 to go, bending the ball from the top left corner of the box over the head of Warriors’ goalkeeper Jacob Vandrie and into the side netting of the far post.
Robinson also noted the play of junior defender Wesley Anderson, who played defensive midfield and was tasked with shadowing Waubonsie Valley playmaker Leo Mendoza.
Mendoza rarely got the ball and had only one shot, a 25-yard liner that went over the bar with 1:40 left in the first half.
“We started to play a little smarter, we were winning some balls in the midfield, plus Anderson stepped in and played amazing today,” Robinson said. “We’re really happy with his performance. (It was) probably not noticeable, but he solidified everything we wanted to do defensively. That was exciting to see.”
Metea Valley might have gotten a little extra help with its strategy.
"Our top scorer Leo Mendoza was injured for most of the game but played through it," Waubonsie coach Jose Garcia said. "We need to find a way to get our other players to put it in the net and not rely on Leo so much. We have the talent to score but (they) have to find the confidence in themselves to do it."
Robinson was also excited by Metea’s production. It was only the second time they’ve tallied three goals in a game, but both have come in the last three games.
“It was nice to get three today,” Robinson said. “We played fantastic against Glenbard North, better than we did today, and just couldn’t get the goal. We hit the post, and their goal in overtime was a free kick, their one real opportunity. Today was a nice (win) to get.”
Wins have been hard to come by for the Warriors (1-9-1, 0-5-0). They have scored just 11 goals and been shut out five times.
More worrisome may be the performance of the defense, which kept the Warriors in games early in the season but has conceded 11 goals in the past four games.
"We knew going in it was going to be a tough game," said Waubonsie coach Jose Garcia. "Offensively Metea is very dynamic and plays quick. We tried countering that by flooding the defense and covering the gaps.
"We did this well for most of the first half, but Metea had a brilliant goal from 20 yards out. After the first goal we could not find the energy to fight back. Metea was able to capitalize on our mistakes in the back on two separate occasions."
Waubonsie Valley gets another crack at its first DVC win when it hosts Wheaton Warrenville South on Thursday. Metea Valley visits Lake Park the same night.
Starting lineups
Waubonsie Valley
G Les Kruchten
D Eric Ninmann
D Rogelio Grimaldo
D Brett Babcock
D Charles Zehnal
D Adam Gabr
M Noah Michael
M Ryan Dittmer
M Stephan Spano
F Alfonso Pizzo
F Justin Fitzpatrick
Metea Valley
G Joey Coryell
D Ryan Donovan
D Brandon Howard
D Ethan Williams
M John Lynch
M Lucas Francisco
M Estaban Castillo
M Nathan Barrett
M Jacob Kellogg
F Michael Adams
F Dominic Duffy
Man of the Match – Ryan Barry, MF, Metea Valley