Janda stars again,
Stevenson tops Waukegan
By Mike Garofola
BUFFALO GROVE -- Filip Janda's goal-scoring heroics for the second-consecutive game sent top-seed Stevenson past no. 14 Waukegan and into possession of the Buffalo Grove Sectional title on Friday night at Grant Blaney Stadium.
The Patriots lifted their first sectional trophy since 2012. The Hersey Supersectional on Tuesday in Arlington Heights is a battle of top seeds. Stevenson (20-0-3) is the fifth-ranked team in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25; New Trier (18-1-5) sits at no. 6.
On Tuesday night, Janda propelled the Patriots in the semifinal win with his 94th-minute game-winner against fifth-seeded and 18th-ranked Fremd. After that match, he claimed the moment was his greatest moment in high school soccer. Now, it ranks second.
"Tuesday was pretty great, but tonight is just amazing," beamed Janda, whose sublime finish in the 70th minute completed a dramatic comeback for the North Suburban Conference champions.
Stevenson found itself chasing the game against a Waukegan (8-11-3) club which played nohing like an underdog.
"Julio Farfan is a great manager and person. … He's done a remarkable job with his team this year. They showed they truly belonged in this game tonight," said the Patriots classy manager PepeJon Chavez.
Waukegan senior Andy Tobar joined with teammates Alejandro Cruz, Ezekiel Maya and Keibin Ulloa-Munoz as key figures in the success their club had over the favored Patriots. The quartet were at the heart of most of the chances they were able to create.
The opening goal came from Tobar when he made the Patriots pay for a mistake in their end in the 14th minute. He smashed an unstoppable 25-yard cracker past Patriots keeper Aidan Morris.
"We just were not mentally or physically sharp at the start to compete with Waukegan," said Stevenson’s brilliant center back and captain Steven Nyc. “They came out much stronger than us and really kept us under pressure for most of the first half.”
Both sides drove forward at every opportunity after the break. Each had a chance or two before the Patriots pulled level at 58 minutes when Bryant Rouse' redirected header beat Bulldogs keeper Julian Mendoza high into the right corner.
The equalizer turned up the intensity twofold before the ever-present Janda came to Stevenson’s rescue 10 minutes from time.
That's when Rouse drew two Bulldogs with him on the end of an enterprising run up the center channel with Janda left alone on his right.
Rouse waited patiently for Janda to get deeper in his run before providing an inch-perfect helper to his teammate, who took two touches before firing low into the far-inside netting.
"(Not) the ideal start tonight, but we stayed focused, and never panicked and made a couple of adjustments at the half," said a proud Chavez. “The boys came out to play a better all-around game in the second half to get a big win for themselves and the program.
Of its now three sectional titles, Stevenson only advanced to a Final Four in 2012. After defeating Glenbrook North 2-0 in the supersectional appearance, the Patriots collected a fourth-place trophy after a 18-6-1 season under Hall of Fame manager Mark Schartner.
Stevenson tops Waukegan
By Mike Garofola
BUFFALO GROVE -- Filip Janda's goal-scoring heroics for the second-consecutive game sent top-seed Stevenson past no. 14 Waukegan and into possession of the Buffalo Grove Sectional title on Friday night at Grant Blaney Stadium.
The Patriots lifted their first sectional trophy since 2012. The Hersey Supersectional on Tuesday in Arlington Heights is a battle of top seeds. Stevenson (20-0-3) is the fifth-ranked team in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25; New Trier (18-1-5) sits at no. 6.
On Tuesday night, Janda propelled the Patriots in the semifinal win with his 94th-minute game-winner against fifth-seeded and 18th-ranked Fremd. After that match, he claimed the moment was his greatest moment in high school soccer. Now, it ranks second.
"Tuesday was pretty great, but tonight is just amazing," beamed Janda, whose sublime finish in the 70th minute completed a dramatic comeback for the North Suburban Conference champions.
Stevenson found itself chasing the game against a Waukegan (8-11-3) club which played nohing like an underdog.
"Julio Farfan is a great manager and person. … He's done a remarkable job with his team this year. They showed they truly belonged in this game tonight," said the Patriots classy manager PepeJon Chavez.
Waukegan senior Andy Tobar joined with teammates Alejandro Cruz, Ezekiel Maya and Keibin Ulloa-Munoz as key figures in the success their club had over the favored Patriots. The quartet were at the heart of most of the chances they were able to create.
The opening goal came from Tobar when he made the Patriots pay for a mistake in their end in the 14th minute. He smashed an unstoppable 25-yard cracker past Patriots keeper Aidan Morris.
"We just were not mentally or physically sharp at the start to compete with Waukegan," said Stevenson’s brilliant center back and captain Steven Nyc. “They came out much stronger than us and really kept us under pressure for most of the first half.”
Both sides drove forward at every opportunity after the break. Each had a chance or two before the Patriots pulled level at 58 minutes when Bryant Rouse' redirected header beat Bulldogs keeper Julian Mendoza high into the right corner.
The equalizer turned up the intensity twofold before the ever-present Janda came to Stevenson’s rescue 10 minutes from time.
That's when Rouse drew two Bulldogs with him on the end of an enterprising run up the center channel with Janda left alone on his right.
Rouse waited patiently for Janda to get deeper in his run before providing an inch-perfect helper to his teammate, who took two touches before firing low into the far-inside netting.
"(Not) the ideal start tonight, but we stayed focused, and never panicked and made a couple of adjustments at the half," said a proud Chavez. “The boys came out to play a better all-around game in the second half to get a big win for themselves and the program.
Of its now three sectional titles, Stevenson only advanced to a Final Four in 2012. After defeating Glenbrook North 2-0 in the supersectional appearance, the Patriots collected a fourth-place trophy after a 18-6-1 season under Hall of Fame manager Mark Schartner.