Waubonsie Valley stays
ahead of Naperville North
Huskies unable to finish late tries
By Steve Nemeth
AURORA – When it comes to the ups and downs of a season or game, Saturday’s see-saw battle ended with host Waubonsie Valley on the high side of a 3-2 victory over Naperville North.
The Warriors improved to 5-2-1, thanks largely to Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match Leo Mendoza, who made a notable play in each third of the field.
Although both teams entered the non-conference outing seeking a second straight win and a fifth for the year, North only teetered toward a successful outing. The Huskies erased an early deficit, only to trail by one at halftime. They pulled to within a goal to make the final 14-plus minutes interesting, but the equalizer never materialized.
“We had infinite chances, but just couldn’t find the back of the net,” North coach Jim Konrad admitted. “We did a decent job of connecting passes and creating chances, especially late in the match, but those don’t count unless you finish them.”
The match began with the Huskies’ Adonay Hammond having a header sail over the goal within in the first minute. Despite that close call, North found itself trailing 8:50 into opening half when Tyler Barker earned his initial assist of the season setting up Mendoza for a 12-yarder from left of center.
“It was simply a great cross from Jon (Braun) that started it all. Tyler got to it to draw the defense and fed it back to the middle, where I was able to get a one-time strike past the keeper,” Mendoza said in regard to his third goal of the year. ”It was one of those that felt great off my foot.”
Two minutes later, Naperville North’s Brandon Hipp had a shot carom off the left post, but the equalizer came at the 14-minute mark when Chris Sullivan set up Chris Ensign for a cut-back move to the middle. Ensign nailed the opportunity inside the left post.
“Once I saw Chris get his shoulder inside his defender, it was just a matter of slotting the ball to him so he could do the rest,” explained Sullivan, who was hoping for an encore to his frosh and soph seasons. In his first year, Sullivan had an assist and a goal in a 3-1 win over the Warriors, and in 2012, he assisted on a tying goal and the match winner of a 2-1 triumph over Waubonsie.
Ensign actually had the match winner in last year’s 1-0 regular-season meeting against Waubonsie. But the Warriors avenged that loss by coming out on top of a 1-0 sectional semifinal.
One of the Huskies’ senior quad captains, Ensign hoped the 1-1 tally would be the precursor to another come-from-behind win. On Thursday, Ensign assisted on a Connor McBride goal that not only pulled North even with Batavia, but also ended a streak of 381 minutes and 49 seconds of shutout soccer by the Bulldogs. Ensign combined with McBride again for that 2-1 win.
“I’d trade a goal in this match or any match for a couple of assists and another victory if I could,” Ensign admitted. “Sully gave me a great setup, but this (loss) is very frustrating. We definitely could’ve put this game away a few times and didn’t finish the job.”
One of those occasions came two minutes later when Grant Borg had a 19-yard rocket that Warrior goalie Eddie Sanchez couldn’t reach with a leap before the ball sailed over the crossbar.
Instead the Warriors experienced the high of a 2-1 lead nine minutes prior to the halftime horn. Mendoza chalked up his team-high fourth assist on a nine-yard head flick by Braun.
“Leo and I caught each other’s eye and he hit it well to the middle; I got the right touch on it to get it past their keeper,” Braun said.
Waubonsie opened the final 40 minutes with an early Drew Valek shot that glanced off the top of the crossbar. The Warriors remained on the offensive, and it paid off at 42:34. Ryan Dittmer’s initial try was deflected by North goalie Christian Robert, only to have Braun park the putback for a 3-1 lead. That tally enabled Braun to match Sohum Buch for the team lead in goals with four, while his 10 points equal that of Mendoza.
“Ryan had a solid shot, and the save ended up right there for me to put it in,” Braun acknowledged. “Sometimes a little luck doesn’t hurt.”
Naperville North’s Sullivan had a header rise over the crossbar to elicit a groan from the Huskies bench. The Huskies breathed a sign of relief when Robert made a tip save on a 20-yard right wing blast from Mendoza.
The Huskies narrowed the gap with 14:34 left in regulation as a scramble created a ricochet, leading to a six-yard strike by Martin Li. The visitors ramped up the attack, trying to produce at least a tie. At one point, Mendoza dropped back on defense for a crucial clear to help Sanchez keep the Warriors' net unruffled.
“We had a couple of senior starters unavailable, and I really credit our bench for stepping forward, giving us a burst of energy,” Waubonsie Valley coach Jose Garcia said. “Our intensity and communication continue to improve; the latter was an Achilles Heel for us in the past.”
Both schools return to conference play with Waubonsie traveling to South Elgin on Tuesday with hopes of balancing out an 0-1-1 ledger in the Upstate Eight Conference’s Valley Division. Naperville North (0-0-1) aims for DuPage Valley Conference success that same night, hosting top rival Naperville Central.
Starting lineups
Naperville North
G Christian Robert
D Matty Sylvester
D Kevin Keane
D Wesley Wong
D Grant Borg
M Brandon Hipp
M Adonay Hammond
M Connor McBride
M Adam Helf
F Chris Ensign
F Chris Sullivan
Waubonsie Valley
G Eddie Sanchez
D Rogelio Grimaldo
D Jeff Ito
D Jason Wolfe
D Chris Vitro
M Drew Valek
M Ryan Dittmer
M Jon Braun
M Leo Mendoza
F Tyler Barker
F Sohum Buch
Man of the Match: Leo Mendoza, Waubonsie Valley
Referees: James Sowa, Scott Lichtfuss, Dave Rubini
ahead of Naperville North
Huskies unable to finish late tries
By Steve Nemeth
AURORA – When it comes to the ups and downs of a season or game, Saturday’s see-saw battle ended with host Waubonsie Valley on the high side of a 3-2 victory over Naperville North.
The Warriors improved to 5-2-1, thanks largely to Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match Leo Mendoza, who made a notable play in each third of the field.
Although both teams entered the non-conference outing seeking a second straight win and a fifth for the year, North only teetered toward a successful outing. The Huskies erased an early deficit, only to trail by one at halftime. They pulled to within a goal to make the final 14-plus minutes interesting, but the equalizer never materialized.
“We had infinite chances, but just couldn’t find the back of the net,” North coach Jim Konrad admitted. “We did a decent job of connecting passes and creating chances, especially late in the match, but those don’t count unless you finish them.”
The match began with the Huskies’ Adonay Hammond having a header sail over the goal within in the first minute. Despite that close call, North found itself trailing 8:50 into opening half when Tyler Barker earned his initial assist of the season setting up Mendoza for a 12-yarder from left of center.
“It was simply a great cross from Jon (Braun) that started it all. Tyler got to it to draw the defense and fed it back to the middle, where I was able to get a one-time strike past the keeper,” Mendoza said in regard to his third goal of the year. ”It was one of those that felt great off my foot.”
Two minutes later, Naperville North’s Brandon Hipp had a shot carom off the left post, but the equalizer came at the 14-minute mark when Chris Sullivan set up Chris Ensign for a cut-back move to the middle. Ensign nailed the opportunity inside the left post.
“Once I saw Chris get his shoulder inside his defender, it was just a matter of slotting the ball to him so he could do the rest,” explained Sullivan, who was hoping for an encore to his frosh and soph seasons. In his first year, Sullivan had an assist and a goal in a 3-1 win over the Warriors, and in 2012, he assisted on a tying goal and the match winner of a 2-1 triumph over Waubonsie.
Ensign actually had the match winner in last year’s 1-0 regular-season meeting against Waubonsie. But the Warriors avenged that loss by coming out on top of a 1-0 sectional semifinal.
One of the Huskies’ senior quad captains, Ensign hoped the 1-1 tally would be the precursor to another come-from-behind win. On Thursday, Ensign assisted on a Connor McBride goal that not only pulled North even with Batavia, but also ended a streak of 381 minutes and 49 seconds of shutout soccer by the Bulldogs. Ensign combined with McBride again for that 2-1 win.
“I’d trade a goal in this match or any match for a couple of assists and another victory if I could,” Ensign admitted. “Sully gave me a great setup, but this (loss) is very frustrating. We definitely could’ve put this game away a few times and didn’t finish the job.”
One of those occasions came two minutes later when Grant Borg had a 19-yard rocket that Warrior goalie Eddie Sanchez couldn’t reach with a leap before the ball sailed over the crossbar.
Instead the Warriors experienced the high of a 2-1 lead nine minutes prior to the halftime horn. Mendoza chalked up his team-high fourth assist on a nine-yard head flick by Braun.
“Leo and I caught each other’s eye and he hit it well to the middle; I got the right touch on it to get it past their keeper,” Braun said.
Waubonsie opened the final 40 minutes with an early Drew Valek shot that glanced off the top of the crossbar. The Warriors remained on the offensive, and it paid off at 42:34. Ryan Dittmer’s initial try was deflected by North goalie Christian Robert, only to have Braun park the putback for a 3-1 lead. That tally enabled Braun to match Sohum Buch for the team lead in goals with four, while his 10 points equal that of Mendoza.
“Ryan had a solid shot, and the save ended up right there for me to put it in,” Braun acknowledged. “Sometimes a little luck doesn’t hurt.”
Naperville North’s Sullivan had a header rise over the crossbar to elicit a groan from the Huskies bench. The Huskies breathed a sign of relief when Robert made a tip save on a 20-yard right wing blast from Mendoza.
The Huskies narrowed the gap with 14:34 left in regulation as a scramble created a ricochet, leading to a six-yard strike by Martin Li. The visitors ramped up the attack, trying to produce at least a tie. At one point, Mendoza dropped back on defense for a crucial clear to help Sanchez keep the Warriors' net unruffled.
“We had a couple of senior starters unavailable, and I really credit our bench for stepping forward, giving us a burst of energy,” Waubonsie Valley coach Jose Garcia said. “Our intensity and communication continue to improve; the latter was an Achilles Heel for us in the past.”
Both schools return to conference play with Waubonsie traveling to South Elgin on Tuesday with hopes of balancing out an 0-1-1 ledger in the Upstate Eight Conference’s Valley Division. Naperville North (0-0-1) aims for DuPage Valley Conference success that same night, hosting top rival Naperville Central.
Starting lineups
Naperville North
G Christian Robert
D Matty Sylvester
D Kevin Keane
D Wesley Wong
D Grant Borg
M Brandon Hipp
M Adonay Hammond
M Connor McBride
M Adam Helf
F Chris Ensign
F Chris Sullivan
Waubonsie Valley
G Eddie Sanchez
D Rogelio Grimaldo
D Jeff Ito
D Jason Wolfe
D Chris Vitro
M Drew Valek
M Ryan Dittmer
M Jon Braun
M Leo Mendoza
F Tyler Barker
F Sohum Buch
Man of the Match: Leo Mendoza, Waubonsie Valley
Referees: James Sowa, Scott Lichtfuss, Dave Rubini