Naperville C. comes out on top
in emotional match with Plainfield S.
Satisfaction in short supply for both teams
By Steve Nemeth
NAPERVILLE -- Emotions were in abundance during Thursday’s Plainfield South visit to Naperville Central. Unfortunately there wasn’t enough quality soccer to satisfy either side.
On the scoreboard, host Central (1-0-1) emerged as a 1-0 victor, but both coaches struggled to find positive things to say.
“This was a huge step backward,” Redhawks coach Troy Adams insisted. “It wasn't necessarily on the field. We had players not meeting expectations off the field, and we were out of sorts from the start and that hampered us mentally, which is a key component.
“We've had three good years,” Adams said in reference to last season’s third-place state finish after back-to-back runner-up showings. “So we can be a feather-on-their-cap win for any opponent, and our guys have to rise up to that challenge every time. It's not just one or two players, but we've got to figure out how to have 22 guys playing together.”
Plainfield South (1-1) was hoping to build off its 4-1 season-opening road win over Lincoln-Way Central, but Cougar boss Dave Brown was clearly disappointed.
“Our nerves got the better of us in the first half when we were relying too much on the long ball to get by their speed and physicality,” Brown said. “There was a point in the second half where we started to play two- or three-touch soccer and used the field, but it was nowhere near enough.”
Stoppages of play for either injuries or too much intensity characterized the match more than statistics. Neither team had anything worth noting until the contest was 10 minutes in when John McCormack sent a sharp grounder toward the Cougars net where keeper Eric Fischer scooped it up.
It was, however, perfect practice for the next opportunity as Redhawks senior midfielder McCormack became the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match with a 26-yard left-footed laser that sailed inside the right post. Daniel Poole earned the assist for the match winner, which came with 22:43 before intermission.
“Seeing some space, I checked to the middle and called for it. Once Danny got me the ball, I saw a defender and faked to the right to set it,” McCormack said. “I prefer my left, and it felt like a solid contact.”
Three minutes later Jordi Heeneman rocketed a direct free kick which Fischer blocked. The Cougars goalie also rushed out to cut down the angle when Central’s Jon Hrebert had a breakaway run that ended with a shot wide left.
“To be honest, I don't think we improved in any respect,” Redhawks senior defender Derek Kerbs admitted. “We certainly didn't possess the ball as well and didn't do the job offensively. We got the result on the scoreboard, but this team can be and should be much better than this.”
Adams certainly hopes that will be the case as Central moves forward.
“By the end of the year, you can probably identify 10 to 15 teams that are similar in potential to make it to state, but the one with the mental focus will get further,” Adams said before deciding on a lone bright spot. “I thought overall, our defense played pretty well.”
It was the first starting assignment and clean sheet for Redhawks goalie Adam Daas.
Plainfield Central's offense sputtered in contrast to a season-opening 4-1 road win at Lincoln-Way Central. In that game, the Cougars scored nine minutes in and jumped to a 4-0 lead.
“We came out way too slow, and because they were using a lot of guys to pressure the attack, we struggled throughout the field,” Adam Burt said. “Initially we panicked some and had to settle down and start finding feet. Obviously we need to put away any chances we create. We also need to keep our emotions in check regardless of how intense the match gets.”
The notion that Plainfield South got closer than the 2-0 loss in the 2013 meeting wasn’t of any interest to Anthony Hernandez, who started the scoring in the win over LWC.
“We simply didn’t play our game. We’re a different and better team this year,” Hernandez said. “It came down to who wanted it more, and they put away the one chance that ended up being the difference.”
Starting lineups
Plainfield South
GK Eric Fischer
D Michael Santillo
D Chase Cleasby
D Anthony Hernandez
D Benjamin Gruanke
M Collin Marmoil
M Dominic Nirchi
M Adam Burt
M Parker Gallt
F Michael Decker
F Dominick Skrip
Naperville Central
GK Adam Daas
D Derek Kerbs
D Sean Flading
D Griffin Geisler
M Nick Coon
M Noah Hey
M Jordi McCormack
M Noah Canlas
F Ethan Mohr
F Daniel Poole
F Jordi Heeneman
Man of the Match: Jordi McCormack, Naperville Central
Referees: Mel Sinnock, Tom Allegretti, Pete Maher
in emotional match with Plainfield S.
Satisfaction in short supply for both teams
By Steve Nemeth
NAPERVILLE -- Emotions were in abundance during Thursday’s Plainfield South visit to Naperville Central. Unfortunately there wasn’t enough quality soccer to satisfy either side.
On the scoreboard, host Central (1-0-1) emerged as a 1-0 victor, but both coaches struggled to find positive things to say.
“This was a huge step backward,” Redhawks coach Troy Adams insisted. “It wasn't necessarily on the field. We had players not meeting expectations off the field, and we were out of sorts from the start and that hampered us mentally, which is a key component.
“We've had three good years,” Adams said in reference to last season’s third-place state finish after back-to-back runner-up showings. “So we can be a feather-on-their-cap win for any opponent, and our guys have to rise up to that challenge every time. It's not just one or two players, but we've got to figure out how to have 22 guys playing together.”
Plainfield South (1-1) was hoping to build off its 4-1 season-opening road win over Lincoln-Way Central, but Cougar boss Dave Brown was clearly disappointed.
“Our nerves got the better of us in the first half when we were relying too much on the long ball to get by their speed and physicality,” Brown said. “There was a point in the second half where we started to play two- or three-touch soccer and used the field, but it was nowhere near enough.”
Stoppages of play for either injuries or too much intensity characterized the match more than statistics. Neither team had anything worth noting until the contest was 10 minutes in when John McCormack sent a sharp grounder toward the Cougars net where keeper Eric Fischer scooped it up.
It was, however, perfect practice for the next opportunity as Redhawks senior midfielder McCormack became the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match with a 26-yard left-footed laser that sailed inside the right post. Daniel Poole earned the assist for the match winner, which came with 22:43 before intermission.
“Seeing some space, I checked to the middle and called for it. Once Danny got me the ball, I saw a defender and faked to the right to set it,” McCormack said. “I prefer my left, and it felt like a solid contact.”
Three minutes later Jordi Heeneman rocketed a direct free kick which Fischer blocked. The Cougars goalie also rushed out to cut down the angle when Central’s Jon Hrebert had a breakaway run that ended with a shot wide left.
“To be honest, I don't think we improved in any respect,” Redhawks senior defender Derek Kerbs admitted. “We certainly didn't possess the ball as well and didn't do the job offensively. We got the result on the scoreboard, but this team can be and should be much better than this.”
Adams certainly hopes that will be the case as Central moves forward.
“By the end of the year, you can probably identify 10 to 15 teams that are similar in potential to make it to state, but the one with the mental focus will get further,” Adams said before deciding on a lone bright spot. “I thought overall, our defense played pretty well.”
It was the first starting assignment and clean sheet for Redhawks goalie Adam Daas.
Plainfield Central's offense sputtered in contrast to a season-opening 4-1 road win at Lincoln-Way Central. In that game, the Cougars scored nine minutes in and jumped to a 4-0 lead.
“We came out way too slow, and because they were using a lot of guys to pressure the attack, we struggled throughout the field,” Adam Burt said. “Initially we panicked some and had to settle down and start finding feet. Obviously we need to put away any chances we create. We also need to keep our emotions in check regardless of how intense the match gets.”
The notion that Plainfield South got closer than the 2-0 loss in the 2013 meeting wasn’t of any interest to Anthony Hernandez, who started the scoring in the win over LWC.
“We simply didn’t play our game. We’re a different and better team this year,” Hernandez said. “It came down to who wanted it more, and they put away the one chance that ended up being the difference.”
Starting lineups
Plainfield South
GK Eric Fischer
D Michael Santillo
D Chase Cleasby
D Anthony Hernandez
D Benjamin Gruanke
M Collin Marmoil
M Dominic Nirchi
M Adam Burt
M Parker Gallt
F Michael Decker
F Dominick Skrip
Naperville Central
GK Adam Daas
D Derek Kerbs
D Sean Flading
D Griffin Geisler
M Nick Coon
M Noah Hey
M Jordi McCormack
M Noah Canlas
F Ethan Mohr
F Daniel Poole
F Jordi Heeneman
Man of the Match: Jordi McCormack, Naperville Central
Referees: Mel Sinnock, Tom Allegretti, Pete Maher