Metea makes Neuqua
earn regional title berth
Valley battle is source of pride for both coaches
By Steve Nemeth
AURORA -- It didn’t take long for the scoreboard image of Neuqua Valley’s 2-1 victory Tuesday in the second semifinal of the Class 3A Metea Valley Regional to be electronically erased.
But the post-match comments of the coaches lingered quite a bit longer than the sight of their breath on the cold night.
“We didn’t panic, stayed with the concept of our offense and found a way to move on,” Neuqua Valley boss Skip Begley said with relief reflected in the wisdom lines of a veteran coach’s face
Metea Valley's Josh Robinson reveled in a job well done.
“I couldn’t be prouder," he said. "I asked them to leave it all on the field, and they did that. We made them earn it.”
As per the seeding within the 19-school Bolingbrook Sectional, Saturday’s 7 p.m. battle for a regional plaque will pit second-seeded Batavia (17-2-3) against seventh-seeded Neuqua Valley (14-7).
However, it’s safe to say the rematch of the Upstate Eight Conference Championship didn’t become a reality until the final horn sounded and the Mustangs' upset bid came up short.
“They’re a very underestimated team,” Neuqua Valley senior defender Jack Schoonenberg said with a measure of relief after the win. “Any lower-seeded team has a chip on their shoulder to start with; then add the desire for revenge (on a 2-0 early season loss) and they’re going to come out with a great deal of intensity.
“Metea did just that. We knew we couldn’t just match it and simply play our game, we had to raise our intensity.”
Both teams registered shots on goal that required keeper saves within the initial 60 seconds, setting the tone for the night. Just past the midpoint of the opening half, the Wildcats’ Xavi Ortiz had a 19-yard blast that Metea Valley goalie Joey Coryell tip-saved over the crossbar. The 27th minute had the Mustangs’ Michael Adams power a shot from the left wing that Neuqua Valley goalkeeper Brady Moody had to clutch tightly.
Neuqua Valley broke through when Jacob Graham initiated an attack, working a give-and-go with Chibuike Nwachukwu down the far sideline before a volley toward the middle. That’s when Ryan Ross chested the ball and worked past a defender for a nine-yard cannon shot from the right side for a 1-0 lead exactly six minutes before halftime.
Metea Valley pressed for the equalizer with several passes to the middle. There was just more than a minute left when Moody made a horizontal dive forward to punch a ball toward midfield. The Mustangs came right back, and a long blast required another save by Moody 10 seconds prior to the intermission horn.
Moody and counterpart Coryell each raced off their line to thwart breakaway attacks within the first three minutes of the second half.
Then At 47:22, Metea Valley's Estaban Castillo’s cross from the left wing was headed sharply into the net by teammate Jake Celinski.
“Seeing the keeper’s position, I aimed for the back post and knew as soon as I struck it, it was good,” Celinski said. “We played strong to start and still were down at half, so I was thinking we need this goal. We had to keep going hard at them in the second half. Unfortunately we didn’t get the next goal.
“We played hard and made them earn it. However, it is tough to have your (senior) season end. I’m hoping it’s not my last match.”
Celinski, a tri-captain, embodies the type of heart and hustle that an area Division II or III program could label as a recruiting gem. He took the Mustangs’ best effort for a lead -- a 21-yard blast that Moody added to his collection of five saves.
Unfortunately for host Metea Valley, Ross put the Wildcats offense on his back and sparked a sequence of attacks. One advance from the right side required Coryell to block a laser and then scramble for a second save when Ross followed up. Ortiz and Ross continued to test Coryell as regulation time decreased.
“Losing is not an oprtion for me or my teammates,” insisted Ross, Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match. “I’ll do anything I have to for us to be ahead before the final whistle. Jack picked up his head and made eye contact with me and gave me the perfect ball to work with.”
Schoonenberg’s long pass allowed Ross to dribble away from a defender and come in from the left wing for his 20th goal of the year.
“The kid is a difference maker,” Begley said. “Twenty goals is just one indication of how dangerous he is. While we don’t have just one guy to rely on, he does make those around him play better. We generate more chances thanks to team chemistry.”
“Metea was using a much higher line on offense and defense,” Schoonenberg added. “One way for us to counter was to pressure their backs. Knowing Ryan’s up ahead, I believed we would capitalize on a counter and we did.”
That goal with 6:52 stood up despite Metea Valley’s attempts over the remainder of the match.
“Ross does a lot of good things, and he certainly put them over the top,” Robinson said. “We’ve had our share of close contests, and soccer is about more than wins and losses. I do believe this team has come a long way in terms of maturing, developing composure and effort.”
Neuqua Valley’s Begley certainly viewed the Mustangs as more than a 9-10-3 club in the path to a regional plaque. Several performances stood out to him.
“Their goalie (Coryell) played exceptionally well for them. He had some big saves on Ross and (Austin) Flatt. And their big kid in back (Brandon Howard) is a strong player as well,” Begley said.
Starting lineups
Metea Valley
G Joey Coryell
D Johnathan Ramos
D Brandon Howard
D Devon Wardell
D Dakota Rowsey
M Brian Diebold
M Estaban Castillo
M Max Graf
M Michael Lothridge
F Jake Cielinski
F Michael Adams
Neuqua Valley
G Brady Moody
D Reed Kurtenbach
D Max Plesh
D Jacob Graham
D Jack Schoonenberg
M Joel Algrem
M Xavi Ortiz
M Kas Baladi
M Doug Smith
F Austin Flatt
F Ryan Ross
Man of the Match: Ryan Ross, Neuqua Valley
Referees: Melvin Sinnock, Scott Lichtfuss, John Flynn
earn regional title berth
Valley battle is source of pride for both coaches
By Steve Nemeth
AURORA -- It didn’t take long for the scoreboard image of Neuqua Valley’s 2-1 victory Tuesday in the second semifinal of the Class 3A Metea Valley Regional to be electronically erased.
But the post-match comments of the coaches lingered quite a bit longer than the sight of their breath on the cold night.
“We didn’t panic, stayed with the concept of our offense and found a way to move on,” Neuqua Valley boss Skip Begley said with relief reflected in the wisdom lines of a veteran coach’s face
Metea Valley's Josh Robinson reveled in a job well done.
“I couldn’t be prouder," he said. "I asked them to leave it all on the field, and they did that. We made them earn it.”
As per the seeding within the 19-school Bolingbrook Sectional, Saturday’s 7 p.m. battle for a regional plaque will pit second-seeded Batavia (17-2-3) against seventh-seeded Neuqua Valley (14-7).
However, it’s safe to say the rematch of the Upstate Eight Conference Championship didn’t become a reality until the final horn sounded and the Mustangs' upset bid came up short.
“They’re a very underestimated team,” Neuqua Valley senior defender Jack Schoonenberg said with a measure of relief after the win. “Any lower-seeded team has a chip on their shoulder to start with; then add the desire for revenge (on a 2-0 early season loss) and they’re going to come out with a great deal of intensity.
“Metea did just that. We knew we couldn’t just match it and simply play our game, we had to raise our intensity.”
Both teams registered shots on goal that required keeper saves within the initial 60 seconds, setting the tone for the night. Just past the midpoint of the opening half, the Wildcats’ Xavi Ortiz had a 19-yard blast that Metea Valley goalie Joey Coryell tip-saved over the crossbar. The 27th minute had the Mustangs’ Michael Adams power a shot from the left wing that Neuqua Valley goalkeeper Brady Moody had to clutch tightly.
Neuqua Valley broke through when Jacob Graham initiated an attack, working a give-and-go with Chibuike Nwachukwu down the far sideline before a volley toward the middle. That’s when Ryan Ross chested the ball and worked past a defender for a nine-yard cannon shot from the right side for a 1-0 lead exactly six minutes before halftime.
Metea Valley pressed for the equalizer with several passes to the middle. There was just more than a minute left when Moody made a horizontal dive forward to punch a ball toward midfield. The Mustangs came right back, and a long blast required another save by Moody 10 seconds prior to the intermission horn.
Moody and counterpart Coryell each raced off their line to thwart breakaway attacks within the first three minutes of the second half.
Then At 47:22, Metea Valley's Estaban Castillo’s cross from the left wing was headed sharply into the net by teammate Jake Celinski.
“Seeing the keeper’s position, I aimed for the back post and knew as soon as I struck it, it was good,” Celinski said. “We played strong to start and still were down at half, so I was thinking we need this goal. We had to keep going hard at them in the second half. Unfortunately we didn’t get the next goal.
“We played hard and made them earn it. However, it is tough to have your (senior) season end. I’m hoping it’s not my last match.”
Celinski, a tri-captain, embodies the type of heart and hustle that an area Division II or III program could label as a recruiting gem. He took the Mustangs’ best effort for a lead -- a 21-yard blast that Moody added to his collection of five saves.
Unfortunately for host Metea Valley, Ross put the Wildcats offense on his back and sparked a sequence of attacks. One advance from the right side required Coryell to block a laser and then scramble for a second save when Ross followed up. Ortiz and Ross continued to test Coryell as regulation time decreased.
“Losing is not an oprtion for me or my teammates,” insisted Ross, Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match. “I’ll do anything I have to for us to be ahead before the final whistle. Jack picked up his head and made eye contact with me and gave me the perfect ball to work with.”
Schoonenberg’s long pass allowed Ross to dribble away from a defender and come in from the left wing for his 20th goal of the year.
“The kid is a difference maker,” Begley said. “Twenty goals is just one indication of how dangerous he is. While we don’t have just one guy to rely on, he does make those around him play better. We generate more chances thanks to team chemistry.”
“Metea was using a much higher line on offense and defense,” Schoonenberg added. “One way for us to counter was to pressure their backs. Knowing Ryan’s up ahead, I believed we would capitalize on a counter and we did.”
That goal with 6:52 stood up despite Metea Valley’s attempts over the remainder of the match.
“Ross does a lot of good things, and he certainly put them over the top,” Robinson said. “We’ve had our share of close contests, and soccer is about more than wins and losses. I do believe this team has come a long way in terms of maturing, developing composure and effort.”
Neuqua Valley’s Begley certainly viewed the Mustangs as more than a 9-10-3 club in the path to a regional plaque. Several performances stood out to him.
“Their goalie (Coryell) played exceptionally well for them. He had some big saves on Ross and (Austin) Flatt. And their big kid in back (Brandon Howard) is a strong player as well,” Begley said.
Starting lineups
Metea Valley
G Joey Coryell
D Johnathan Ramos
D Brandon Howard
D Devon Wardell
D Dakota Rowsey
M Brian Diebold
M Estaban Castillo
M Max Graf
M Michael Lothridge
F Jake Cielinski
F Michael Adams
Neuqua Valley
G Brady Moody
D Reed Kurtenbach
D Max Plesh
D Jacob Graham
D Jack Schoonenberg
M Joel Algrem
M Xavi Ortiz
M Kas Baladi
M Doug Smith
F Austin Flatt
F Ryan Ross
Man of the Match: Ryan Ross, Neuqua Valley
Referees: Melvin Sinnock, Scott Lichtfuss, John Flynn