Quick start propels
Warriors past Geneva
Goal in first 21 seconds keys 3-0 win for Wheaton Academy
By Steve Nemeth
GENEVA – “We wanted to come out guns blazing,” Wheaton Academy’s Ty Seager said with a grin.
The junior forward did just that, scoring 21 seconds into the Warriors’ season opener Saturday to propel the Warriors (1-0) to a 3-0 road win over Geneva.
A poorly timed and executed back pass resulted in Geneva goalie Duncan Turnbull having to scramble to gain control, so Seager opportunistically slid into the ball for the quick advantage.
“It feels like we’ve been practicing so long, and I was just anxious to play. When I noticed the keeper had to take an extra touch on the ball, I just figured I'd pressure the ball,” said Seager, whose tone-setting play earned him Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match status. “One of the best ways to calm nerves is putting the ball in the net.”
Obviously that wasn’t a soothing start for Geneva (1-2).
“I doubt there are too many other teams in the state that began this season getting the first goal of their first match within 21 seconds. They made us chase the lead for 80 minutes,” Geneva coach Ryan Estabrook said. “They came out ready to play and then continued to play smart with the lead, and we certainly didn’t do too well playing catchup.”
After both sides settled in, the host Vikings dodged a bullet after 17:56 when a Wheaton Academy cross through the goalie box went begging for a redirect. Geneva’s best chance for an equalizer came five minutes later when Derik Rush’s partially blocked shot eluded both Warrior keeper Drew Sezomov and Viking teammate Matt Waldoch before sailing outside the right post.
A whistle for tripping gave Wheaton Academy a penalty kick with 10:51 remaining before intermission, and Jacob Kapitaniuk converted to his left for the 2-0 lead.
“First game of the season I was a little worried about nerves, and if there’d be a lack of control on our part. But I was really pleased with our technique and our offense,” Wheaton Academy coach Jeff Brooke said.
The Warriors’ Reid Culbertson had a header go wide left just 38 seconds into the second half, but the senior forward didn’t miss a followup chance. Wheaton Academy’s throw-in 5:07 after halftime seemingly popped up on the far side of the goal, and that’s where Culbertson got his foot on it for a 5-yard tap-in.
Varying wind gusts kept things interesting throughout the contest, and a Geneva throw-in with 32:18 left in regulation managed to carry over Sezomov and a pack of players trying to head the ball. But there was no Viking on that side for a potential empty-netter.
Geneva’s Dylan Lange had a solid header with 25:44 to go, but Sezomov made his fourth save of the match. Fellow senior Jon Cantey took over in goal for the final 10 minutes to complete the clean sheet for Wheaton Academy.
“Defensively I was really pleased with Michael Carver’s play,” Brooke said. “He moved from center mid to center back for us and he controlled things back there with his voice and his command of the game. I really liked (Geneva’s) No. 10 (Jason Lagger), and Michael slowed him and their offense down.”
The Vikings trailed 13-5 in overall attempts and 5-2 in shots on goal as well as 8-3 for corner kicks.
“We knew Geneva would defend well and try to get us on counterattacks, so I wanted to make certain we stayed organized and ready for whatever they did,” Carver explained. “I think we limited them pretty well, and during the chances they created, we kept our composure and kept them off the scoreboard.”
After opening the season with a 2-0 victory at Glenbard East, Geneva came up short in a 2-1 Upstate Eight Conference River Division home match versus St. Charles North.
“With two-straight losses, it’s all about bouncing back,” Viking senior tri-captain Calen Colbert said. “Yes, we’ve got some injuries, but it’s early in the season and the bottom line is we have to rely on our training and focus. It may sound cliché, but we, meaning all 20 players, have to fix little mistakes, avoid mental lapses and play hard for all 80 minutes.”
Starting lineups
Wheaton Academy
GK Drew Sezomov
D Michael Carver
D Hunter Ferguson
D Andrew VanNispen
D Parker Setran
M Grant Rougas
M JhaLon Johnson
M Jacob Kapitaniuk
F Lucas Hoepner
F Reid Culbertson
F Ty Seager
Geneva
GK Duncan Turnbull
D Matt D’Onorfrio
D Drew Klaus
D Matt Sweet
D Canan Ciesielski
M Calen Colbert
M Dylan Lange
M Jason Lagger
M Matt Luetzen
F Ryan Anderson
F Matt Waldoch
Man of the Match: Ty Seager, Wheaton Academy
Referees: Andy Maratto, Steve Sarto, Keith Angel.
Warriors past Geneva
Goal in first 21 seconds keys 3-0 win for Wheaton Academy
By Steve Nemeth
GENEVA – “We wanted to come out guns blazing,” Wheaton Academy’s Ty Seager said with a grin.
The junior forward did just that, scoring 21 seconds into the Warriors’ season opener Saturday to propel the Warriors (1-0) to a 3-0 road win over Geneva.
A poorly timed and executed back pass resulted in Geneva goalie Duncan Turnbull having to scramble to gain control, so Seager opportunistically slid into the ball for the quick advantage.
“It feels like we’ve been practicing so long, and I was just anxious to play. When I noticed the keeper had to take an extra touch on the ball, I just figured I'd pressure the ball,” said Seager, whose tone-setting play earned him Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match status. “One of the best ways to calm nerves is putting the ball in the net.”
Obviously that wasn’t a soothing start for Geneva (1-2).
“I doubt there are too many other teams in the state that began this season getting the first goal of their first match within 21 seconds. They made us chase the lead for 80 minutes,” Geneva coach Ryan Estabrook said. “They came out ready to play and then continued to play smart with the lead, and we certainly didn’t do too well playing catchup.”
After both sides settled in, the host Vikings dodged a bullet after 17:56 when a Wheaton Academy cross through the goalie box went begging for a redirect. Geneva’s best chance for an equalizer came five minutes later when Derik Rush’s partially blocked shot eluded both Warrior keeper Drew Sezomov and Viking teammate Matt Waldoch before sailing outside the right post.
A whistle for tripping gave Wheaton Academy a penalty kick with 10:51 remaining before intermission, and Jacob Kapitaniuk converted to his left for the 2-0 lead.
“First game of the season I was a little worried about nerves, and if there’d be a lack of control on our part. But I was really pleased with our technique and our offense,” Wheaton Academy coach Jeff Brooke said.
The Warriors’ Reid Culbertson had a header go wide left just 38 seconds into the second half, but the senior forward didn’t miss a followup chance. Wheaton Academy’s throw-in 5:07 after halftime seemingly popped up on the far side of the goal, and that’s where Culbertson got his foot on it for a 5-yard tap-in.
Varying wind gusts kept things interesting throughout the contest, and a Geneva throw-in with 32:18 left in regulation managed to carry over Sezomov and a pack of players trying to head the ball. But there was no Viking on that side for a potential empty-netter.
Geneva’s Dylan Lange had a solid header with 25:44 to go, but Sezomov made his fourth save of the match. Fellow senior Jon Cantey took over in goal for the final 10 minutes to complete the clean sheet for Wheaton Academy.
“Defensively I was really pleased with Michael Carver’s play,” Brooke said. “He moved from center mid to center back for us and he controlled things back there with his voice and his command of the game. I really liked (Geneva’s) No. 10 (Jason Lagger), and Michael slowed him and their offense down.”
The Vikings trailed 13-5 in overall attempts and 5-2 in shots on goal as well as 8-3 for corner kicks.
“We knew Geneva would defend well and try to get us on counterattacks, so I wanted to make certain we stayed organized and ready for whatever they did,” Carver explained. “I think we limited them pretty well, and during the chances they created, we kept our composure and kept them off the scoreboard.”
After opening the season with a 2-0 victory at Glenbard East, Geneva came up short in a 2-1 Upstate Eight Conference River Division home match versus St. Charles North.
“With two-straight losses, it’s all about bouncing back,” Viking senior tri-captain Calen Colbert said. “Yes, we’ve got some injuries, but it’s early in the season and the bottom line is we have to rely on our training and focus. It may sound cliché, but we, meaning all 20 players, have to fix little mistakes, avoid mental lapses and play hard for all 80 minutes.”
Starting lineups
Wheaton Academy
GK Drew Sezomov
D Michael Carver
D Hunter Ferguson
D Andrew VanNispen
D Parker Setran
M Grant Rougas
M JhaLon Johnson
M Jacob Kapitaniuk
F Lucas Hoepner
F Reid Culbertson
F Ty Seager
Geneva
GK Duncan Turnbull
D Matt D’Onorfrio
D Drew Klaus
D Matt Sweet
D Canan Ciesielski
M Calen Colbert
M Dylan Lange
M Jason Lagger
M Matt Luetzen
F Ryan Anderson
F Matt Waldoch
Man of the Match: Ty Seager, Wheaton Academy
Referees: Andy Maratto, Steve Sarto, Keith Angel.