Working overtime pays off
for Hinsdale C. vs. Oak Park
West Suburban Silver showdown provides golden moments
By Patrick Z. McGavin
HINSDALE — Imagine trying to catch lightning in a bottle, or any marvel of science that defies the laws of physics.
As Tuesday afternoon bled into the cover of night here, the West Suburban Silver showdown between Oak Park & River Forest and Hinsdale Central was more than just a soccer game. It was something pure and elemental.
The final movement occurred at 6:54 p.m., after 100 minutes of play and the penalty shootout necessary to finally crown a winner.
The backdrop made the play of both sides all the more remarkable.
In a pulse-pounding final, Hinsdale Central won 3-2 twice, in the official score and the penalty shootout that was not settled until its star keeper Wes Bergevin stopped the Huskies' final shot.
The penalty phase was a game within itself, marked by huge and pivotal swings of momentum. Oak Park & River Forest had the early advantage until suddenly it didn't, and then the Huskies found their own strength and power to get one final chance.
Typically in a shootout, the first team to blink falls behind and struggles to catch up. The first shot by the Red Devils cleared the top crossbar. Oak Park & River Forest responded by converting its first two shots, by Quentin Drane and Paul Clancy, respectively.
"The guys stuck to it and they fought until the end," said Bergevin, who was selected as Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match. "I have to give props to our guys and our coaches."
Also to himself. Bergevin blocked the Huskies' third shot and forced their fourth shooter to go high and wide. Meanwhile, after its early struggle, Hinsdale Central coverted three consecutive kicks, by star defender Evan Floersch, Justin Yi and the eventual game winner by Bryan Loebig.
"These situations amost seem to rally us," Hinsdale Central coach Michael Wiggins said. "Against Peoria Notre Dame, we were down 3-1 at the half and won 4-3. We find ourselves in this situation, and yet we find ways to come back."
Hinsdale Central (10-3-3, 5-0) clinched at least a tie for the conference title. The Red Devils' rivalry with Lyons has it own prize, the Silver Brick, but the matchup with Oak Park & River Forest is also one of fierce competitiveness.
The two bring out the best in both sides.
Oak Park & River Forest (8-5-1, 2-2) had its five game winning streak ended. "We have some feelings about them," Oak Park junior midfielder Evan Kindler said. "Whenever we play them, we really want to win."
The game's rhythm was hard and physical. "We know how they play," Floersch said. "They always come out hard and they're very good on the 50-50 balls and very good on set pieces in the air.
"I think in the first half we got a little wakeup call."
Hinsdale Central led 1-0 at the break after reserve midfielder Mitch Collins cleaned up the early work of Loebig. After taking a cross, Loebig worked in the the tight final third of the Huskies backline and fired consecutive shots at the goal. Both shots were cleared, but Collins alertly pounced on the second rebound and drilled the short ball home.
A new face for Oak Park & River Forest
He has an unpronounceable name and a very compelling game. Freshman Andrew Barkidjija made an auspicious start to his varsity career. Recently elevated from the sophomore team, the rangy and physical forward recorded his first career goal and assist in his first extended minutes.
In the 50th minute, Barkidjija created the equalizer by finishing a rebound in traffic for the Huskies. "It was a great overall effort by everyone," he said. The game was tied for only an instant.
In the 53rd minute, Hinsdale Central took advantage of a re-start to orchestrate a beautiful set piece of its own. With the ball on the left edge, Jack Baderman played a beautiful one-touch that midfielder Will McGowen smashed in with a header.
Oak Park refused to break and applied considerable pressure the balance of the game. One apparent tying goal was nullified by a hand ball. Still, Barkidjija is not just precocious but alert to the subtleties of the game.
He played a beautiful ball that Kindler finished with his left foot in the 76th minute. "He came in and told me I had to stay on the last defender because we were playing through the top," Kinder said. "He got the ball in the middle, and we made eye contact.
"I knew he saw me and I ran as hard as I could toward the backline. He played a beautiful through ball, and I held onto it just long enough to draw the two defenders away so that I had an open shot."
Kindler nearly won the game in the the 84th minute. His header off a service ball constituted the best scoring of either side in the extra time. Bergevin made a great save to preserve the tie. "I was going to come out and meet the ball," he said. "The guy made a great play, and I just tried to get out there and keep it off the ground."
Hinsdale Central's best players rose to the occasion.
"For us, it's evolving," Wiggins said. "We have a solid group of hardworking guys who are ver coachable. We play a good, effective style, we're organized in the back and we have, arguably, the best keeper in the state and arguably the best defender in the state with Evan Floersch."
Starting lineups
Oak Park & River Forest
GK: William Dunne
D: Quentin Drane
D: Graham Nagle-Deamer
D: Justin Bruce
D: Mavin Gill
M: Noah Fluharty
M: Joe Gullo
M: Evan Kindler
M: Harrison Engoren
F: Quinn Neuman
F: Zach El Metennani
Hinsdale Central
GK: Wes Bergevin
D: Nick Silva
D: Daniel Lillard
D: Will McGowen
D: Evan Floersch
M: Jimmy Walker
M: Justin Yi
M: Bryan Loebig
M: Jack Baderman
M: Jeremy Yi
F: Jake Semba
Officials: Tom Evins, Eric Krygier, David Accardi
Man of the Match: Wes Bergevin, Hinsdale Central
for Hinsdale C. vs. Oak Park
West Suburban Silver showdown provides golden moments
By Patrick Z. McGavin
HINSDALE — Imagine trying to catch lightning in a bottle, or any marvel of science that defies the laws of physics.
As Tuesday afternoon bled into the cover of night here, the West Suburban Silver showdown between Oak Park & River Forest and Hinsdale Central was more than just a soccer game. It was something pure and elemental.
The final movement occurred at 6:54 p.m., after 100 minutes of play and the penalty shootout necessary to finally crown a winner.
The backdrop made the play of both sides all the more remarkable.
In a pulse-pounding final, Hinsdale Central won 3-2 twice, in the official score and the penalty shootout that was not settled until its star keeper Wes Bergevin stopped the Huskies' final shot.
The penalty phase was a game within itself, marked by huge and pivotal swings of momentum. Oak Park & River Forest had the early advantage until suddenly it didn't, and then the Huskies found their own strength and power to get one final chance.
Typically in a shootout, the first team to blink falls behind and struggles to catch up. The first shot by the Red Devils cleared the top crossbar. Oak Park & River Forest responded by converting its first two shots, by Quentin Drane and Paul Clancy, respectively.
"The guys stuck to it and they fought until the end," said Bergevin, who was selected as Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match. "I have to give props to our guys and our coaches."
Also to himself. Bergevin blocked the Huskies' third shot and forced their fourth shooter to go high and wide. Meanwhile, after its early struggle, Hinsdale Central coverted three consecutive kicks, by star defender Evan Floersch, Justin Yi and the eventual game winner by Bryan Loebig.
"These situations amost seem to rally us," Hinsdale Central coach Michael Wiggins said. "Against Peoria Notre Dame, we were down 3-1 at the half and won 4-3. We find ourselves in this situation, and yet we find ways to come back."
Hinsdale Central (10-3-3, 5-0) clinched at least a tie for the conference title. The Red Devils' rivalry with Lyons has it own prize, the Silver Brick, but the matchup with Oak Park & River Forest is also one of fierce competitiveness.
The two bring out the best in both sides.
Oak Park & River Forest (8-5-1, 2-2) had its five game winning streak ended. "We have some feelings about them," Oak Park junior midfielder Evan Kindler said. "Whenever we play them, we really want to win."
The game's rhythm was hard and physical. "We know how they play," Floersch said. "They always come out hard and they're very good on the 50-50 balls and very good on set pieces in the air.
"I think in the first half we got a little wakeup call."
Hinsdale Central led 1-0 at the break after reserve midfielder Mitch Collins cleaned up the early work of Loebig. After taking a cross, Loebig worked in the the tight final third of the Huskies backline and fired consecutive shots at the goal. Both shots were cleared, but Collins alertly pounced on the second rebound and drilled the short ball home.
A new face for Oak Park & River Forest
He has an unpronounceable name and a very compelling game. Freshman Andrew Barkidjija made an auspicious start to his varsity career. Recently elevated from the sophomore team, the rangy and physical forward recorded his first career goal and assist in his first extended minutes.
In the 50th minute, Barkidjija created the equalizer by finishing a rebound in traffic for the Huskies. "It was a great overall effort by everyone," he said. The game was tied for only an instant.
In the 53rd minute, Hinsdale Central took advantage of a re-start to orchestrate a beautiful set piece of its own. With the ball on the left edge, Jack Baderman played a beautiful one-touch that midfielder Will McGowen smashed in with a header.
Oak Park refused to break and applied considerable pressure the balance of the game. One apparent tying goal was nullified by a hand ball. Still, Barkidjija is not just precocious but alert to the subtleties of the game.
He played a beautiful ball that Kindler finished with his left foot in the 76th minute. "He came in and told me I had to stay on the last defender because we were playing through the top," Kinder said. "He got the ball in the middle, and we made eye contact.
"I knew he saw me and I ran as hard as I could toward the backline. He played a beautiful through ball, and I held onto it just long enough to draw the two defenders away so that I had an open shot."
Kindler nearly won the game in the the 84th minute. His header off a service ball constituted the best scoring of either side in the extra time. Bergevin made a great save to preserve the tie. "I was going to come out and meet the ball," he said. "The guy made a great play, and I just tried to get out there and keep it off the ground."
Hinsdale Central's best players rose to the occasion.
"For us, it's evolving," Wiggins said. "We have a solid group of hardworking guys who are ver coachable. We play a good, effective style, we're organized in the back and we have, arguably, the best keeper in the state and arguably the best defender in the state with Evan Floersch."
Starting lineups
Oak Park & River Forest
GK: William Dunne
D: Quentin Drane
D: Graham Nagle-Deamer
D: Justin Bruce
D: Mavin Gill
M: Noah Fluharty
M: Joe Gullo
M: Evan Kindler
M: Harrison Engoren
F: Quinn Neuman
F: Zach El Metennani
Hinsdale Central
GK: Wes Bergevin
D: Nick Silva
D: Daniel Lillard
D: Will McGowen
D: Evan Floersch
M: Jimmy Walker
M: Justin Yi
M: Bryan Loebig
M: Jack Baderman
M: Jeremy Yi
F: Jake Semba
Officials: Tom Evins, Eric Krygier, David Accardi
Man of the Match: Wes Bergevin, Hinsdale Central