Cepeda asks, and Oswego East receives milestone win vs. Waubonsie Valley
Scores on give-and-go with Phetchanpheng
in Wolves first win over Warriors
By Derek Wolff
OSWEGO — After a disappointing loss against South Elgin earlier in the week, Oswego East found redemption in its 2-1 victory over visiting Waubonsie Valley on Saturday morning.
Jesus Cepeda had the winning goal for the Wolves in the 65th minute when he chipped the ball over Waubonise Valley goalkeeper Eddie Sanchez, who had rushed off his line trying to make a play.
“I gave it to Sean (Phetchanpheng) and asked for it back, and he played it to me,” Cepeda said. “I just saw the goalkeeper coming out so I had to chip it over him and it went in.”
It was an unlucky play for Sanchez in what otherwise was a stellar performance. He consistently kept the Warriors in the game while his net was under siege for most of the second half.
Waubonsie Valley controlled the pace of play from the onset, but it was Oswego East who struck first.
Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match, Sean Phetchanpheng, made an attacking run through the midfield, dribbling past a pair of defenders before getting off a shot in the 19th minute.
Freshman forward Michael Waclaw pounced on the rebound and buried it to give the Wolves the 1-0 lead.
But Waubonsie Valley tied things up late in the half when Sohum Buch found space in the middle of the 18 and scored after controlling a low cross into the box.
“Since we were a goal down I knew we had to get back in the game quick,” Buch said. “We worked it down the sideline, and I saw a cross coming in, got in front of my man and just did the work there. Got an open shot in front of the net, and it turned out well.”
From the start of the second half, Oswego East looked like a different team and began to dominate possession in the attacking third while creating a number of chances.
In the 55th minute with the score tied Phetchanpheng looked to get the Wolves a goal up but a diving save from Sanchez thwarted him and pushed the ball out of play.
On the ensuing corner Oswego East put a shot towards the net, but redirected off a defender and bounced out of play.
Eight minutes later another save from Sanchez left him scrambling to return to his position. Fortunately for the Warriors, defender Rogelio Grimaldo saved a goal on the empty net chance by putting his body in front of the ball.
But two minutes later, Cepeda put the home side up for good on Phetchanpheng's second assist of the match.
Oswego coach Steve Syzmanski said his team didn’t make many adjustments at halftime and that he encouraged them to continue to play hard. Postgame he credited Wabonsie Valley's Sanchez with keeping the Wolves attack at bay.
“I didn’t think we were playing terrible in the first half,” Syzmanski said. “Their goalie made some unbelievable saves, and they had the one defender that came out of nowhere and saved a goal. We easily could have had a couple more so they did a great job in that.”
The win was the first varsity soccer triumph against Waubonsie Valley in Oswego East’s 11-year school history -- a point of pride for its coach and players.
“It gives us a lot of confidence knowing we can compete with a team like Waubonsie Valley,” Phetchanpheng said. “All these years, they’re a very good team, big team, with their tournament history.
“We had to go in the second half with a different mindset knowing they were going to come out stronger, going faster. We knew we had to possess the ball more, move the ball because if we didn’t then they’d be all over us. That’s how we got the attacking advantage.”
Szymanski said his team had a complete turnaround between the loss to South Elgin on Thursday to Saturday’s performance and that he was proud to finally beat Waubonsie Valley.
“It was like two different teams,” he said. “Thursday we played our absolute worst. Credit to South Elgin because they played well and beat us, but we did not look like the same team. We didn’t connect our passes as well as we did today.
"(Waubonsie Valley is) a sectional opponent, always a very, very good program, good team. I liked the way our guys came out and played with energy. They responded. We had one day of practice to prepare, and they did a great job.”
Waubonsie Valley, fresh off a Thursday draw against No. 1 St. Charles East, showed its frustration after the loss to Oswego East.
“We’ve been in this situation before,” Garcia said. “It’s not good to be in this position. We know how to get ourselves out of it. We’ve just got to get ourselves out of it; it’s as simple as that. And they’ve got to do it on their own.
"Coming out and playing the last game and then coming out and doing this, it’s frustrating. We just have to figure out what went wrong and try to correct it.”
Starting lineups
Waubonsie Valley
G-Eddie Sanchez
D-Rogelio Grimaldo
D-Jeff Ito
D-Jason Wolfe
M-Henry Zehnal
M-Leo Mendoza
M-Jon Braun
M-Drew Valek
M-Ryan Dittmer
F-Tyler Barker
F-Sohum Buch
Oswego East
G-Jake Leonard
D-Arnold Arevalo
D-James Jones
D-Spencer Moriaty
M-Austin Patsch
M-Victor Cuevas
M-Tristen Stewart
M-Jesus Cepada
F-Jackson Frazor
F-Sean Phetchanpheng
F-Michael Waclaw
Referees: Alin Luchian, Jose Gonzalez, John O’Bryan.
Man of the match: Sean Phetchanpheng, Oswego East
Scores on give-and-go with Phetchanpheng
in Wolves first win over Warriors
By Derek Wolff
OSWEGO — After a disappointing loss against South Elgin earlier in the week, Oswego East found redemption in its 2-1 victory over visiting Waubonsie Valley on Saturday morning.
Jesus Cepeda had the winning goal for the Wolves in the 65th minute when he chipped the ball over Waubonise Valley goalkeeper Eddie Sanchez, who had rushed off his line trying to make a play.
“I gave it to Sean (Phetchanpheng) and asked for it back, and he played it to me,” Cepeda said. “I just saw the goalkeeper coming out so I had to chip it over him and it went in.”
It was an unlucky play for Sanchez in what otherwise was a stellar performance. He consistently kept the Warriors in the game while his net was under siege for most of the second half.
Waubonsie Valley controlled the pace of play from the onset, but it was Oswego East who struck first.
Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match, Sean Phetchanpheng, made an attacking run through the midfield, dribbling past a pair of defenders before getting off a shot in the 19th minute.
Freshman forward Michael Waclaw pounced on the rebound and buried it to give the Wolves the 1-0 lead.
But Waubonsie Valley tied things up late in the half when Sohum Buch found space in the middle of the 18 and scored after controlling a low cross into the box.
“Since we were a goal down I knew we had to get back in the game quick,” Buch said. “We worked it down the sideline, and I saw a cross coming in, got in front of my man and just did the work there. Got an open shot in front of the net, and it turned out well.”
From the start of the second half, Oswego East looked like a different team and began to dominate possession in the attacking third while creating a number of chances.
In the 55th minute with the score tied Phetchanpheng looked to get the Wolves a goal up but a diving save from Sanchez thwarted him and pushed the ball out of play.
On the ensuing corner Oswego East put a shot towards the net, but redirected off a defender and bounced out of play.
Eight minutes later another save from Sanchez left him scrambling to return to his position. Fortunately for the Warriors, defender Rogelio Grimaldo saved a goal on the empty net chance by putting his body in front of the ball.
But two minutes later, Cepeda put the home side up for good on Phetchanpheng's second assist of the match.
Oswego coach Steve Syzmanski said his team didn’t make many adjustments at halftime and that he encouraged them to continue to play hard. Postgame he credited Wabonsie Valley's Sanchez with keeping the Wolves attack at bay.
“I didn’t think we were playing terrible in the first half,” Syzmanski said. “Their goalie made some unbelievable saves, and they had the one defender that came out of nowhere and saved a goal. We easily could have had a couple more so they did a great job in that.”
The win was the first varsity soccer triumph against Waubonsie Valley in Oswego East’s 11-year school history -- a point of pride for its coach and players.
“It gives us a lot of confidence knowing we can compete with a team like Waubonsie Valley,” Phetchanpheng said. “All these years, they’re a very good team, big team, with their tournament history.
“We had to go in the second half with a different mindset knowing they were going to come out stronger, going faster. We knew we had to possess the ball more, move the ball because if we didn’t then they’d be all over us. That’s how we got the attacking advantage.”
Szymanski said his team had a complete turnaround between the loss to South Elgin on Thursday to Saturday’s performance and that he was proud to finally beat Waubonsie Valley.
“It was like two different teams,” he said. “Thursday we played our absolute worst. Credit to South Elgin because they played well and beat us, but we did not look like the same team. We didn’t connect our passes as well as we did today.
"(Waubonsie Valley is) a sectional opponent, always a very, very good program, good team. I liked the way our guys came out and played with energy. They responded. We had one day of practice to prepare, and they did a great job.”
Waubonsie Valley, fresh off a Thursday draw against No. 1 St. Charles East, showed its frustration after the loss to Oswego East.
“We’ve been in this situation before,” Garcia said. “It’s not good to be in this position. We know how to get ourselves out of it. We’ve just got to get ourselves out of it; it’s as simple as that. And they’ve got to do it on their own.
"Coming out and playing the last game and then coming out and doing this, it’s frustrating. We just have to figure out what went wrong and try to correct it.”
Starting lineups
Waubonsie Valley
G-Eddie Sanchez
D-Rogelio Grimaldo
D-Jeff Ito
D-Jason Wolfe
M-Henry Zehnal
M-Leo Mendoza
M-Jon Braun
M-Drew Valek
M-Ryan Dittmer
F-Tyler Barker
F-Sohum Buch
Oswego East
G-Jake Leonard
D-Arnold Arevalo
D-James Jones
D-Spencer Moriaty
M-Austin Patsch
M-Victor Cuevas
M-Tristen Stewart
M-Jesus Cepada
F-Jackson Frazor
F-Sean Phetchanpheng
F-Michael Waclaw
Referees: Alin Luchian, Jose Gonzalez, John O’Bryan.
Man of the match: Sean Phetchanpheng, Oswego East