Own goal lifts Plainfield S.
to 2-1 win over Metea Valley
Aggressive Cougars take advantage of break
By Derek Wolff
AURORA — After falling behind in the first half, Plainfield South rallied to defeat Metea Valley 2-1 with some help from the hosts.
The Cougars (9-1-1) won their sixth straight game Tuesday afternoon on an own goal in the 56th minute.
Midfielder Parker Gallt made an attacking run inside the Metea Valley 18, dribbling around a defender to get an open chance, but his shot was deflected out of play by Mustangs defender Brandon Howard.
Freshman midfielder and Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match Dominick Skrip boomed the ensuing corner kick into traffic, connecting with Cougars defender Chase Cleasby.
Cleasby’s shot bounced off a defender and was redirected over goalkeeper Jimmy Wyma’s head and in for the game winner.
Wyma was injured on the play, forcing the Mustangs to turn to backup Joey Coryell, who had scored the Mustangs goal in the 24th minute playing as a forward.
Plainfield South continued to push the play after taking the lead and limited the Mustangs' chances for an equalizer, with goalkeeper Eric Fischer smothering a couple of ranged efforts down the stretch.
Coryell’s absence on offense because of the injury certainly hurt, as the Mustangs were a bit worn out, said coach Josh Robinson.
“Story of the year, where we can’t get goals and struggle to get goals so we keep teams in it,” Robinson said. “Because we can’t put a couple away early, we let them in it. We get one early and give up an unfortunate one, but we’re worn out a little bit. We’re struggling to get guys to support how well guys are playing at the back, so we’re leaning on some guys right now who are just worn out.”
Metea Valley (6-6-1) played its third game in four days, fresh off of a 2-0 defeat against Plainfield North on Monday.
Robinson stressed that losing individual battles was detrimental to his side’s overall performance in both losses.
“I think we played a better team game in both games, and nothing against (Plainfield North and Plainfield South), I think both teams are great but we’ve had a good team game. They’ve won individual battles against us and because they’ve won individual battles they were able to get goals.”
Trailing 1-0 after Coryell’s goal in the 24th minute, Skrip turned the tide for the Cougars with two minutes remaining in the first half, moments after he missed a left-footed attempt high over the bar.
Skrip intercepted a pass just outside the 18 and slotted the ball back post to tie the game.
It was the first of two points on the day for Skrip, who said he wasn’t fazed by the near miss moments before his goal.
“I just got over it right away,” Skrip said. “I turned the defender and hit it back post because I saw the goalie near post.”
The back line kept the Cougars in the game after an early mistake as it found its form in the second half.
After a defensive miscue between Fischer and defender Aaron Hernandez directly led to Coryell’s goal, the back line found its focus and was able to keep the Mustangs’ forwards at bay.
Then, with the score tied in the 49th minute, Fischer made a bad read on a ball crossing his box from the far side, diving out and missing it on the stab.
Mustangs forward Michael Adams seemingly had a wide-open net, but Hernandez was able to jump in front of his shot to keep the ball out and the score tied.
“I looked at the guy and saw he was looking for goal,” Hernandez said. “I just had to do whatever it took to stop him. I think the chemistry we have together helps us play as a unit, and we know how each other plays and how to cover each other. We picked our heads up after a mistake, and playing together really woke us up.”
With four straight upcoming conference games, Plainfield South coach Dave Brown was pleased with the result after the slow start.
“I think we were sleepwalking a little bit when the game began,” Brown said. “Sometimes when you’re playing a team for the first time, non-conference, there’s not much of an incentive to play well. I think we came in here off of the tournament last week and didn’t really get our focus right away for this one. It happens.
“Sometimes getting scored on can wake you up a little bit, and I thought after we got scored on we stepped up the energy level, stepped up our defensive pressure and started creating chances.”
On the road against a tough non-conference opponent, the win was another feather in the cap for the Cougars, though Brown knows to take things in stride and credited his senior leadership at the back end for the win.
“They didn’t let one mistake become two, which I’m proud of. Like every game, it shows us where we’re at in the area and that we can compete with good teams in the area.”
For Metea Valley, it will have a week off to prepare for a large stretch of conference and tournament play, beginning with conference foe East Aurora next Tuesday.
Coryell echoed his coach’s sentiments that his side needs to step it up and increase its competitiveness to get results.
“A lot of guys need to step up and start thinking about what they’re doing this for and why they’re out there and almost kind of light a fire under themselves to play better next week.”
Plainfield South will next take on Minooka at home on Thursday in Southwest Prairie Conference action.
Starting lineups
Plainfield South
G-Eric Fischer
D-Michael Santillo
D-Anthony Hernandez
D-Chase Cleasby
D-Ben Graunke
M-Dominick Skrip
M-Parker Gallt
M-Adam Burt
M-Dominic Nirchi
M-Diego Fernandez
F-Michael Decker
Metea Valley
G-Jimmy Wyma
D-Jonathan Ramos
D-Ryan Donovan
D-Brandon Howard
M-Michael Lothridge
M-Max Graf
M-Brian Diebold
M-Joey Coryell
F-Dominic Duffy
F-Michael Adams
F-Jakub Celinski
Referees: Alin Popescu, John O’Bryan, Dave Lucke
Man of the Match: Dominick Skrip, Plainfield South
to 2-1 win over Metea Valley
Aggressive Cougars take advantage of break
By Derek Wolff
AURORA — After falling behind in the first half, Plainfield South rallied to defeat Metea Valley 2-1 with some help from the hosts.
The Cougars (9-1-1) won their sixth straight game Tuesday afternoon on an own goal in the 56th minute.
Midfielder Parker Gallt made an attacking run inside the Metea Valley 18, dribbling around a defender to get an open chance, but his shot was deflected out of play by Mustangs defender Brandon Howard.
Freshman midfielder and Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match Dominick Skrip boomed the ensuing corner kick into traffic, connecting with Cougars defender Chase Cleasby.
Cleasby’s shot bounced off a defender and was redirected over goalkeeper Jimmy Wyma’s head and in for the game winner.
Wyma was injured on the play, forcing the Mustangs to turn to backup Joey Coryell, who had scored the Mustangs goal in the 24th minute playing as a forward.
Plainfield South continued to push the play after taking the lead and limited the Mustangs' chances for an equalizer, with goalkeeper Eric Fischer smothering a couple of ranged efforts down the stretch.
Coryell’s absence on offense because of the injury certainly hurt, as the Mustangs were a bit worn out, said coach Josh Robinson.
“Story of the year, where we can’t get goals and struggle to get goals so we keep teams in it,” Robinson said. “Because we can’t put a couple away early, we let them in it. We get one early and give up an unfortunate one, but we’re worn out a little bit. We’re struggling to get guys to support how well guys are playing at the back, so we’re leaning on some guys right now who are just worn out.”
Metea Valley (6-6-1) played its third game in four days, fresh off of a 2-0 defeat against Plainfield North on Monday.
Robinson stressed that losing individual battles was detrimental to his side’s overall performance in both losses.
“I think we played a better team game in both games, and nothing against (Plainfield North and Plainfield South), I think both teams are great but we’ve had a good team game. They’ve won individual battles against us and because they’ve won individual battles they were able to get goals.”
Trailing 1-0 after Coryell’s goal in the 24th minute, Skrip turned the tide for the Cougars with two minutes remaining in the first half, moments after he missed a left-footed attempt high over the bar.
Skrip intercepted a pass just outside the 18 and slotted the ball back post to tie the game.
It was the first of two points on the day for Skrip, who said he wasn’t fazed by the near miss moments before his goal.
“I just got over it right away,” Skrip said. “I turned the defender and hit it back post because I saw the goalie near post.”
The back line kept the Cougars in the game after an early mistake as it found its form in the second half.
After a defensive miscue between Fischer and defender Aaron Hernandez directly led to Coryell’s goal, the back line found its focus and was able to keep the Mustangs’ forwards at bay.
Then, with the score tied in the 49th minute, Fischer made a bad read on a ball crossing his box from the far side, diving out and missing it on the stab.
Mustangs forward Michael Adams seemingly had a wide-open net, but Hernandez was able to jump in front of his shot to keep the ball out and the score tied.
“I looked at the guy and saw he was looking for goal,” Hernandez said. “I just had to do whatever it took to stop him. I think the chemistry we have together helps us play as a unit, and we know how each other plays and how to cover each other. We picked our heads up after a mistake, and playing together really woke us up.”
With four straight upcoming conference games, Plainfield South coach Dave Brown was pleased with the result after the slow start.
“I think we were sleepwalking a little bit when the game began,” Brown said. “Sometimes when you’re playing a team for the first time, non-conference, there’s not much of an incentive to play well. I think we came in here off of the tournament last week and didn’t really get our focus right away for this one. It happens.
“Sometimes getting scored on can wake you up a little bit, and I thought after we got scored on we stepped up the energy level, stepped up our defensive pressure and started creating chances.”
On the road against a tough non-conference opponent, the win was another feather in the cap for the Cougars, though Brown knows to take things in stride and credited his senior leadership at the back end for the win.
“They didn’t let one mistake become two, which I’m proud of. Like every game, it shows us where we’re at in the area and that we can compete with good teams in the area.”
For Metea Valley, it will have a week off to prepare for a large stretch of conference and tournament play, beginning with conference foe East Aurora next Tuesday.
Coryell echoed his coach’s sentiments that his side needs to step it up and increase its competitiveness to get results.
“A lot of guys need to step up and start thinking about what they’re doing this for and why they’re out there and almost kind of light a fire under themselves to play better next week.”
Plainfield South will next take on Minooka at home on Thursday in Southwest Prairie Conference action.
Starting lineups
Plainfield South
G-Eric Fischer
D-Michael Santillo
D-Anthony Hernandez
D-Chase Cleasby
D-Ben Graunke
M-Dominick Skrip
M-Parker Gallt
M-Adam Burt
M-Dominic Nirchi
M-Diego Fernandez
F-Michael Decker
Metea Valley
G-Jimmy Wyma
D-Jonathan Ramos
D-Ryan Donovan
D-Brandon Howard
M-Michael Lothridge
M-Max Graf
M-Brian Diebold
M-Joey Coryell
F-Dominic Duffy
F-Michael Adams
F-Jakub Celinski
Referees: Alin Popescu, John O’Bryan, Dave Lucke
Man of the Match: Dominick Skrip, Plainfield South