Grayslake Central tops Vernon Hills
for repeat sectional title
By Mike Garofola
GRAYSLAKE – Top-seeded Grayslake Central (17-1-3) has reached its second-consecutive Class AA supersectional after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over valiant no. 2-seed Vernon Hills, which played a man down for the last 29 minutes, yet still forced the big crowd at William Eiserman Field plenty of nervous moments until the final whistle.
"Both teams played hard today," said relieved manager Keith Andersson, who will now prepare for Notre Dame (16-5-1) at home against a Dons squad looking to avenge a supersectional defeat from a year ago.
“I know my guys are just worn out. In a game where their keeper made some amazing saves to keep it close anything can happen, and all of sudden it's a 1-1 game.”
The Rams, ranked 13th in the final Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, have maintained a high standard of play in their current 10-game undefeated string (8-0-2) after losing 2021 all-state forward Danik Marynevych and defensive starting stalwart Jose Chavez for the season in a 4-1 loss to Round Lake on Sept. 22.
"We trained and worked all season to get back in the supers," said Rams senior and captain Lucas Veenstra, who plays the six with composure, confidence and soccer smarts, and gives his club a key figure in front of his backline and in the middle of the park. “I know that Notre Dame will come after us real hard, but this team has done well dealing with adversity. I know we will be ready on Tuesday.”
Vernon Hills has done a remarkable job to advance this far into the postseason during the last several years but has been stopped cold in its tracks by eventual state champions Crystal Lake South in 2018 and Latin in 2016, and fourth place Grayslake Central a year ago in a sectional semifinal.
"We've had a very good year, thanks in part to a tremendous group of young men, led by a great senior class," said proud Cougars manager Mike McCaulou, whose club lifted the first Central Suburban League North Division trophy in program history two weeks ago. “We came here today looking to get back to the supers (then) go one step further.”
Each side had a quality chance in the early stages, and one more before the intermission. If not for the superb efforts from Cougars sophomore keeper Brandon Grunfeld, the visitors likely would have been chasing the game at the break.
"In my opinion, Brandon deserved to be an all-state keeper, but he's only a sophomore. Along with Eddie Fitzgerald, we have a great one-two situation between the sticks for us in the next two seasons," said McCaulou.
Grunfeld showed terrific bravery in the half dozen point-blank saves he made on the day, his first two coming against Rams senior Alan Alonso.
Grunfeld was unable to stop the eventual game-winner from Raymond Sereno in the 44th minute. The senior collected his chance after Nick Molochnikov started things off with a serve into the box that created trouble for the Cougars.
"The ball just fell to me, and I had to take a shot,” recounted Sereno, who with a deft touch to his right smashed home his right-footed effort into a slight opening at the far post.
"It's been a year when I haven't any assists, but I've been able to score 8-9 goals for us. (This) one is the biggest for me and the team so far," said Sereno through a smile.
Minutes later, a hard, crisp tackle at the midline initially looked be called a foul or at the very most a yellow card issued to the Cougars Aleksa Arbutina, who along with the Cougars staff was shocked to see the referee show the senior a red card instead.
"A yellow card seemed to be appropriate -- certainly not a red,” said McCaulou. “We didn't agree on the call, but we had to regroup and play the last half hour a man down."
The home side looked to put the dagger in the Cougars’ hearts as it went in search of a goal to double its advantage, but Grunfeld stood in the way of a trio of glorious chances. Then the Rams faithful held its collective breath when senior Milan Revel chested the ball and turned before firing his close, left-footed effort wide in the 68th minute.
"It's been always one game at a time," said Andersson. “We knew today would be a tough one, but the boys stepped up when they had to and now it's on to the next game.”
for repeat sectional title
By Mike Garofola
GRAYSLAKE – Top-seeded Grayslake Central (17-1-3) has reached its second-consecutive Class AA supersectional after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over valiant no. 2-seed Vernon Hills, which played a man down for the last 29 minutes, yet still forced the big crowd at William Eiserman Field plenty of nervous moments until the final whistle.
"Both teams played hard today," said relieved manager Keith Andersson, who will now prepare for Notre Dame (16-5-1) at home against a Dons squad looking to avenge a supersectional defeat from a year ago.
“I know my guys are just worn out. In a game where their keeper made some amazing saves to keep it close anything can happen, and all of sudden it's a 1-1 game.”
The Rams, ranked 13th in the final Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, have maintained a high standard of play in their current 10-game undefeated string (8-0-2) after losing 2021 all-state forward Danik Marynevych and defensive starting stalwart Jose Chavez for the season in a 4-1 loss to Round Lake on Sept. 22.
"We trained and worked all season to get back in the supers," said Rams senior and captain Lucas Veenstra, who plays the six with composure, confidence and soccer smarts, and gives his club a key figure in front of his backline and in the middle of the park. “I know that Notre Dame will come after us real hard, but this team has done well dealing with adversity. I know we will be ready on Tuesday.”
Vernon Hills has done a remarkable job to advance this far into the postseason during the last several years but has been stopped cold in its tracks by eventual state champions Crystal Lake South in 2018 and Latin in 2016, and fourth place Grayslake Central a year ago in a sectional semifinal.
"We've had a very good year, thanks in part to a tremendous group of young men, led by a great senior class," said proud Cougars manager Mike McCaulou, whose club lifted the first Central Suburban League North Division trophy in program history two weeks ago. “We came here today looking to get back to the supers (then) go one step further.”
Each side had a quality chance in the early stages, and one more before the intermission. If not for the superb efforts from Cougars sophomore keeper Brandon Grunfeld, the visitors likely would have been chasing the game at the break.
"In my opinion, Brandon deserved to be an all-state keeper, but he's only a sophomore. Along with Eddie Fitzgerald, we have a great one-two situation between the sticks for us in the next two seasons," said McCaulou.
Grunfeld showed terrific bravery in the half dozen point-blank saves he made on the day, his first two coming against Rams senior Alan Alonso.
Grunfeld was unable to stop the eventual game-winner from Raymond Sereno in the 44th minute. The senior collected his chance after Nick Molochnikov started things off with a serve into the box that created trouble for the Cougars.
"The ball just fell to me, and I had to take a shot,” recounted Sereno, who with a deft touch to his right smashed home his right-footed effort into a slight opening at the far post.
"It's been a year when I haven't any assists, but I've been able to score 8-9 goals for us. (This) one is the biggest for me and the team so far," said Sereno through a smile.
Minutes later, a hard, crisp tackle at the midline initially looked be called a foul or at the very most a yellow card issued to the Cougars Aleksa Arbutina, who along with the Cougars staff was shocked to see the referee show the senior a red card instead.
"A yellow card seemed to be appropriate -- certainly not a red,” said McCaulou. “We didn't agree on the call, but we had to regroup and play the last half hour a man down."
The home side looked to put the dagger in the Cougars’ hearts as it went in search of a goal to double its advantage, but Grunfeld stood in the way of a trio of glorious chances. Then the Rams faithful held its collective breath when senior Milan Revel chested the ball and turned before firing his close, left-footed effort wide in the 68th minute.
"It's been always one game at a time," said Andersson. “We knew today would be a tough one, but the boys stepped up when they had to and now it's on to the next game.”