Benet closes with a rush to top Fremd
Redwings’ multiple arsenal provides difference in 4-2 win
By Steve Nemeth
NAPERVILLE -- Soccer coaches often talk about finishing chances, but the oft-overlooked element is having someone create those opportunities.
In Tuesday night’s Best of the West Tournament opener for Benet, both Jacob Graiber and Daniel Morefield did a lot of table-setting. However, the Redwings’ 4-2 triumph over Fremd was due in part to Benet’s arsenal of finishers.
Four Redwings accounted for the goals as Benet improved to 2-1, while Fremd slipped to 1-3 on the season. Fremd also fell to 1-3 a year ago when losing to Benet.
“The last two goals were a result of us working the ball much better through midfield,” Graiber explained. “We connected critical passes that led to goals.”
Graiber scored from distance and had a foot in two other scores to earn Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match accolade.
In mirror fashion to the previous year’s event, next up in group play on Thursday for Fremd is site host Naperville North at 5 p.m., while Benet meets Neuqua Valley at 7 p.m.
In Tuesday’s first game, the host Huskies’ landfill of offense literally leveled their record at 2-2 and figuratively leveled the Valley, tagging the Wildcats with their first loss, a 4-1 defeat. In 2014, Benet ruled the same group only to fall short of defending its 2013 title with a 1-0 championship loss to Naperville Central. Fremd dropped two of three group play outings but then went on to finish third in the state in Class 3A.
“The first 20 minutes, with one exception, were a definite highlight,” Benet coach Sean Wesley said. “We looked great, kept possession, created chances and were dangerous on the attack.”
Indeed the Redwings were the aggressors and just 4:24 into play, Ryley Guay deserved to be part of a double assist with a pass that Graiber touched toward Morefield for his third goal of the season.
However, less than a minute elapsed before the scoreboard was even again at 1-1. A handling the ball violation was whistled and Fremd’s Luke Schoffstall converted.
“Basically on PKs I try to look one way and go the other with as much power as possible,” Schoffstall said.
Wesley stated, “That was so unlike Harrison (Burke), and I chalk it up to being our first game on turf and an unlucky bounce that connected with his hand. But that equalizer changed the game. For one, it gave them some confidence, and for a while, we were chasing them.”
Benet had a golden opportunity to take the lead off a breakaway. But the shot went wide left as the best of a series of attacks. Fremd nearly produced a momentum reversal when Tyler Alfirivic had a long try carom off the left post.
There was 18:45 left before intermission when a stellar cross by Ben Kelly had Morefield find the back of the net, but the play was negated by an offsides whistle. Minutes later, Benet was back with a breakaway, only to have Fremd first half goalie Josh Kasser win the race to the ball for a defensive clear.
Unfortunately for the Vikings, there was no denying the Redwings. Kelly earned his second assist of the year with a cross from the left side to the far right, where Nicholas Trakszelis rocketed home a 10-yarder for the 2-1 halftime lead.
But the second half produced an early scramble in front of the Redwings goal after just 3:35 had elapsed, and Schoffstall netted his fourth goal of the year by pouncing on a loose ball to make it 2-2.
“The ball went in high and somehow hit the ground in such a manner as to pop up by me so that I could just turn and nail it,” Schoffstall said.
Benet goalkeeper Konrad Bayer admitted, "Any goal scored on me makes me angry. The second it happens it messes with your mind, but just as quickly you have to forget about it and move on. I always have faith in our team being able to score and add goals, so for me it’s just be certain to make the next stop.”
Initially that deadlock was a high point for Fremd coach Steve Keller.
“Second half we got an equalizer and then we were knocking on the door for a lead,” Keller said. “However, we got a little sloppy in back, and the third goal of the match came their way. We needed to be the first to the ball, be alert, be more sharp. Instead we were back on our heels, and they got a fourth goal.
“We did keep fighting. We had a good opportunity late. We needed more of that throughout 80 minutes. Matt (Austin) was an example of the kind of energy necessary. He always gives us a good effort.”
From a leadership standpoint, Fremd has the right view thanks to Schoffstall.
“We’re still getting things together as a team. We need to realize our strengths and weaknesses and go from there,” Schoffstall said. “Last year’s (third place) experience made that clear. I already believe our sophomores are starting to pick up the pace, and we can accomplish a lot more as a team.”
With 22 minutes left in regulation, a Fremd corner kick was curving just right but Bayer made a solid punch save to thwart that chance. He also had a stellar catch of another dangerous ball as part of his three saves.
Graiber hustled after a Morefield pass to open space, and the resulting 40-yard bomb was high enough to sail over second half Viking goalie Michael Kramer but low enough to dip under the crossbar with 13:40 remaining.
Three minutes later, Morefield and Graiber again combined on the passes leading to Connor Mote’s fourth goal of the season.
“I believe it’s accurate to say our goals were built off someone’s hard work,” Wesley stated. “Either eluding a defender and a great ball forward, or a quality pass and then someone to finish it. Tonight it was four different people ending the play. Perhaps the third one by Jacob won’t be his prettiest goal of the year, but it was pivotal.”
Whether the topic was that particular goal or helping set up two others, Graiber obviously relished his decision to spend his senior year playing high school in addition to his Chicago Fire Academy club ball.
“I’m just trying to help this team. It’s a great group of guys, and it’s easy to enjoy setting someone up knowing they’ll do the same for me. That third goal I was trying to run through the ball and had the right amount of power on it,” Graiber said. “High school soccer may be a little more physical and require a combination of physical and mental strength, while the academy emphasis was more technical.”
Starting lineups
Fremd
G Josh Kasser
D Ryan Rowden
D Dalton Rogres
D James LeFevre
D Tyler Alfrivic
M Seiya Iguchi
M Rohan Menon
M Max Clark
M Jake Arbour
F Luke Shoffstall
F Matt Austin
Benet
G Konrad Bayer
D Ryan Tomecek
D Richie Michalik
D Harrison Burke
D Charlie Kane
M David Diltz
M Bennett Curtis
M Ryle Guay
M Daniel Morefield
F Connor Mote
F Jacob Graiber
Man of the Match: Jacob Graiber, F, Benet
Officials: Dave Holbrook (center), Harry Arroyo, Alex Alvarado
Redwings’ multiple arsenal provides difference in 4-2 win
By Steve Nemeth
NAPERVILLE -- Soccer coaches often talk about finishing chances, but the oft-overlooked element is having someone create those opportunities.
In Tuesday night’s Best of the West Tournament opener for Benet, both Jacob Graiber and Daniel Morefield did a lot of table-setting. However, the Redwings’ 4-2 triumph over Fremd was due in part to Benet’s arsenal of finishers.
Four Redwings accounted for the goals as Benet improved to 2-1, while Fremd slipped to 1-3 on the season. Fremd also fell to 1-3 a year ago when losing to Benet.
“The last two goals were a result of us working the ball much better through midfield,” Graiber explained. “We connected critical passes that led to goals.”
Graiber scored from distance and had a foot in two other scores to earn Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match accolade.
In mirror fashion to the previous year’s event, next up in group play on Thursday for Fremd is site host Naperville North at 5 p.m., while Benet meets Neuqua Valley at 7 p.m.
In Tuesday’s first game, the host Huskies’ landfill of offense literally leveled their record at 2-2 and figuratively leveled the Valley, tagging the Wildcats with their first loss, a 4-1 defeat. In 2014, Benet ruled the same group only to fall short of defending its 2013 title with a 1-0 championship loss to Naperville Central. Fremd dropped two of three group play outings but then went on to finish third in the state in Class 3A.
“The first 20 minutes, with one exception, were a definite highlight,” Benet coach Sean Wesley said. “We looked great, kept possession, created chances and were dangerous on the attack.”
Indeed the Redwings were the aggressors and just 4:24 into play, Ryley Guay deserved to be part of a double assist with a pass that Graiber touched toward Morefield for his third goal of the season.
However, less than a minute elapsed before the scoreboard was even again at 1-1. A handling the ball violation was whistled and Fremd’s Luke Schoffstall converted.
“Basically on PKs I try to look one way and go the other with as much power as possible,” Schoffstall said.
Wesley stated, “That was so unlike Harrison (Burke), and I chalk it up to being our first game on turf and an unlucky bounce that connected with his hand. But that equalizer changed the game. For one, it gave them some confidence, and for a while, we were chasing them.”
Benet had a golden opportunity to take the lead off a breakaway. But the shot went wide left as the best of a series of attacks. Fremd nearly produced a momentum reversal when Tyler Alfirivic had a long try carom off the left post.
There was 18:45 left before intermission when a stellar cross by Ben Kelly had Morefield find the back of the net, but the play was negated by an offsides whistle. Minutes later, Benet was back with a breakaway, only to have Fremd first half goalie Josh Kasser win the race to the ball for a defensive clear.
Unfortunately for the Vikings, there was no denying the Redwings. Kelly earned his second assist of the year with a cross from the left side to the far right, where Nicholas Trakszelis rocketed home a 10-yarder for the 2-1 halftime lead.
But the second half produced an early scramble in front of the Redwings goal after just 3:35 had elapsed, and Schoffstall netted his fourth goal of the year by pouncing on a loose ball to make it 2-2.
“The ball went in high and somehow hit the ground in such a manner as to pop up by me so that I could just turn and nail it,” Schoffstall said.
Benet goalkeeper Konrad Bayer admitted, "Any goal scored on me makes me angry. The second it happens it messes with your mind, but just as quickly you have to forget about it and move on. I always have faith in our team being able to score and add goals, so for me it’s just be certain to make the next stop.”
Initially that deadlock was a high point for Fremd coach Steve Keller.
“Second half we got an equalizer and then we were knocking on the door for a lead,” Keller said. “However, we got a little sloppy in back, and the third goal of the match came their way. We needed to be the first to the ball, be alert, be more sharp. Instead we were back on our heels, and they got a fourth goal.
“We did keep fighting. We had a good opportunity late. We needed more of that throughout 80 minutes. Matt (Austin) was an example of the kind of energy necessary. He always gives us a good effort.”
From a leadership standpoint, Fremd has the right view thanks to Schoffstall.
“We’re still getting things together as a team. We need to realize our strengths and weaknesses and go from there,” Schoffstall said. “Last year’s (third place) experience made that clear. I already believe our sophomores are starting to pick up the pace, and we can accomplish a lot more as a team.”
With 22 minutes left in regulation, a Fremd corner kick was curving just right but Bayer made a solid punch save to thwart that chance. He also had a stellar catch of another dangerous ball as part of his three saves.
Graiber hustled after a Morefield pass to open space, and the resulting 40-yard bomb was high enough to sail over second half Viking goalie Michael Kramer but low enough to dip under the crossbar with 13:40 remaining.
Three minutes later, Morefield and Graiber again combined on the passes leading to Connor Mote’s fourth goal of the season.
“I believe it’s accurate to say our goals were built off someone’s hard work,” Wesley stated. “Either eluding a defender and a great ball forward, or a quality pass and then someone to finish it. Tonight it was four different people ending the play. Perhaps the third one by Jacob won’t be his prettiest goal of the year, but it was pivotal.”
Whether the topic was that particular goal or helping set up two others, Graiber obviously relished his decision to spend his senior year playing high school in addition to his Chicago Fire Academy club ball.
“I’m just trying to help this team. It’s a great group of guys, and it’s easy to enjoy setting someone up knowing they’ll do the same for me. That third goal I was trying to run through the ball and had the right amount of power on it,” Graiber said. “High school soccer may be a little more physical and require a combination of physical and mental strength, while the academy emphasis was more technical.”
Starting lineups
Fremd
G Josh Kasser
D Ryan Rowden
D Dalton Rogres
D James LeFevre
D Tyler Alfrivic
M Seiya Iguchi
M Rohan Menon
M Max Clark
M Jake Arbour
F Luke Shoffstall
F Matt Austin
Benet
G Konrad Bayer
D Ryan Tomecek
D Richie Michalik
D Harrison Burke
D Charlie Kane
M David Diltz
M Bennett Curtis
M Ryle Guay
M Daniel Morefield
F Connor Mote
F Jacob Graiber
Man of the Match: Jacob Graiber, F, Benet
Officials: Dave Holbrook (center), Harry Arroyo, Alex Alvarado