Deerfield picture perfect against Antioch
Warriors light up new video board in 4-3 win
By Bobby Narang
DEERFIELD -- Senior forward Peter Straus is still trying to get a good handle on his team.
Through three games, Deerfield has shown flashes of piecing together a memorable season, but also displayed some kinks that need immediate attention.
The Warriors failed to score a goal in their first two defeats, but bounced back with a 4-3 comeback home win Tuesday night.
Deerfield (1-2-0) scored three goals in the first half in the high-scoring match. Straus, a three-year varsity player, did his part to end the two-game losing skid, setting the tone by scoring the opener in the eighth minute.
“We started off our first two games not so strong,” Straus said. “Even though it was good soccer, we didn’t pull out of the wins. Tonight, it was a good win, the first ‘W’ at home. We all feel the level could be little bit higher and expect more out of ourselves.
“Our potential is unknown. I’ve been with this team for three years. Anything could happen. I think this is a state championship team, if we put our minds to do anything we want to do.
“It’s important to keep going through with the game and not let off the gas and keep on the pressure and play your whole game through the whole 80 (minutes).”
The Warriors entertained their biggest crowd in two years with the four-goal output. Four players tallied a goal and had their replay shown in the soccer debut of Deerfield’s new Samsung digital scoreboard. It has a nearly 500 square-foot display according to Deerfield athletic director Nathan Flannery.
Deerfield Sports Information, also known as DSI, had four workers running the scoreboard, which also included shots, saves, corner kicks and fouls. The DSI has 30 students rotating replays, graphics and advertising on the video board. Deerfield graduate Sam Schwartz played a big role in setting up the graphics, Flannery said.
Midway through the second half, a middle school youth was among those curious at all the workers. He peeked his head into the press box and remarked “Wow, there’s a lot of people up there for soccer.”
The Warriors also hosted its annual “Pegasus FC Soccer Night” for local youth soccer players. That added a festive atmosphere that included a short halftime game.
“We had a great crowd,” Deerfield senior David Jotkus said. “Everybody likes to play in front of a big group. We had a good atmosphere tonight, so it was special to get the win.”
Antioch (2-3-0) scored two-straight goals to grab a 2-1 lead with 19:42 left in the first half, but couldn’t sustain the momentum nor hold off the Warriors.
Antioch senior Brock Jurinek tied the game in the 13th minute, connecting from 15 yards inside the near post. Less than eight minutes later, Remi Ivanovas gave the Sequoits a 2-1 lead.
Antioch, which returns nine starters from last spring’s 4-4-0 team, hopes to ride its strong group of returnees to a winning season.
“We’ve played a couple of tough games early in the season which allows us to see what we have,” Antioch coach Michael McDermott said. “We wanted to give our guys some tests early in the season after replacing some guys from the spring.
“Everyone played together, but we have to play a full game. It was great to just see them play and smiling. I wish we could’ve had a better outcome.
“We’ve been really trying to widening the field out of the back and trying to get better touches. We have to work on that first touch, setting teammates up for the next good touch. We’re going through some growing pains, but it’s early in the season. We’re looking forward to making some noise in conference.”
Straus missed the Deerfield equalizer when his shot smacked off the post, but it came soon after when Jotkus sent in a header from 13 yards in the 29th minute.
“I was just in the right place at the right time and was tracking the ball,” Jotkus said as the lights in the stadium turned off. “I kind of predicted where it was going to go and was able to get it in the back of the net. I feel this team can do a lot. We lost a lost of seniors, but we learned a lot from those first two games.”
Sophomore Nathan Garcia added to the Warriors’ momentum, scoring a goal to hand his team a 3-2 lead in the 34th minute that held up to halftime.
“It feels amazing to score and play with these new players,” Garcia said. “It was motivating to have all these faces cheering for us. I didn’t expect scoring, so that was amazing. We’re all trying to win. We have a really good team and just have to keep playing hard.”
Antioch fought back on four-year starter Jurinek’s second goal of the game -- a free kick in the 50th minute. It was his fourth score of the season.
“I was going to go to the far post, but then they added a big guy so I knew not to go over him. I just looked to slot it to the near post, and it worked out nice,” Jurinek said. “I’m trying to have a good senior year. I don’t want to stop playing soccer. It’s my focus at the moment. I want to play soccer (in college).”
The Sequoits lead didn’t hold for long.
Thirty-seven seconds later, Addison Simon notched the winning goal after a loose ball bounced to him on a perfect hop. It allowed him to set up and drill in a shot from short range.
Deerfield coach Elliott Hurtig praised his players for not letting the early deficit bring them down.
“It was an exciting evening because we had Pegasus soccer night, and we had a big crowd. The guys really worked to get a lot of kids out there and their fans,” Hurtig said. “We had a lot of energy out here with the new scoreboard. It was nice to get the first win.
“We needed that, against an Antioch team that played really well and has some really good players. It was an exciting soccer game. Addison has a fantastic goal to finish it. He had a tough first half, but bounced back with a strong second half and played with some good poise. Nathan Garcia also played a great game. We need to play the game with little more composure.
“We’re playing with a lot of energy with a lot of good support from our teammates, but just need to play with a little more composure.”
Despite the Antioch loss, senior captain Dax Foote, a four-year player, said the Sequoits have seen some good signs in the first two weeks.
“It’s a promising start,” Foote said. “We’re playing better and better every year. I think this year is our strongest year in my time. It was nice to play at the night with a big crowd. We have to keep working hard.”
Starting lineups
Antioch
GK Camilo Carrillo Rodriguez
D Evan Vazquez
D Carter Webb
D Alex Correa
D Spencer Wood
M Dax Foote
M Remi Ivanovas
M Cody Basovsky
M Rex Eifert
F Cade Ternes
F Brock Jurinek
Deerfield
GK Daniel Simmons
D Ethan Helfand
D Justin Blumenthal
D Noah Weil
M James Weiner
M David Jotkus
M Nathan Garcia
M Addison Simon
M Cole Gawin
F Ryder Coleman
F Peter Straus
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Brock Jurinek, sr., F, Antioch.
Scoring summary
First half
Deerfield— Peter Straus (unassisted), 8th minute
Antioch— Brock Jurinek (Cade Ternes), 13th minute
Antioch — Remi Ivanovas (unassisted), 21st minute
Deerfield —David Jotkus (Luke Barhoumeh) 29th minute
Deerfield — Nathan Garcia (Ethan Helfand) 34th minute
Second half
Antioch — Brock Jurinek (unasisted), 50th minute
Deerfield — Addison Simon (unassisted), 51st minute
Warriors light up new video board in 4-3 win
By Bobby Narang
DEERFIELD -- Senior forward Peter Straus is still trying to get a good handle on his team.
Through three games, Deerfield has shown flashes of piecing together a memorable season, but also displayed some kinks that need immediate attention.
The Warriors failed to score a goal in their first two defeats, but bounced back with a 4-3 comeback home win Tuesday night.
Deerfield (1-2-0) scored three goals in the first half in the high-scoring match. Straus, a three-year varsity player, did his part to end the two-game losing skid, setting the tone by scoring the opener in the eighth minute.
“We started off our first two games not so strong,” Straus said. “Even though it was good soccer, we didn’t pull out of the wins. Tonight, it was a good win, the first ‘W’ at home. We all feel the level could be little bit higher and expect more out of ourselves.
“Our potential is unknown. I’ve been with this team for three years. Anything could happen. I think this is a state championship team, if we put our minds to do anything we want to do.
“It’s important to keep going through with the game and not let off the gas and keep on the pressure and play your whole game through the whole 80 (minutes).”
The Warriors entertained their biggest crowd in two years with the four-goal output. Four players tallied a goal and had their replay shown in the soccer debut of Deerfield’s new Samsung digital scoreboard. It has a nearly 500 square-foot display according to Deerfield athletic director Nathan Flannery.
Deerfield Sports Information, also known as DSI, had four workers running the scoreboard, which also included shots, saves, corner kicks and fouls. The DSI has 30 students rotating replays, graphics and advertising on the video board. Deerfield graduate Sam Schwartz played a big role in setting up the graphics, Flannery said.
Midway through the second half, a middle school youth was among those curious at all the workers. He peeked his head into the press box and remarked “Wow, there’s a lot of people up there for soccer.”
The Warriors also hosted its annual “Pegasus FC Soccer Night” for local youth soccer players. That added a festive atmosphere that included a short halftime game.
“We had a great crowd,” Deerfield senior David Jotkus said. “Everybody likes to play in front of a big group. We had a good atmosphere tonight, so it was special to get the win.”
Antioch (2-3-0) scored two-straight goals to grab a 2-1 lead with 19:42 left in the first half, but couldn’t sustain the momentum nor hold off the Warriors.
Antioch senior Brock Jurinek tied the game in the 13th minute, connecting from 15 yards inside the near post. Less than eight minutes later, Remi Ivanovas gave the Sequoits a 2-1 lead.
Antioch, which returns nine starters from last spring’s 4-4-0 team, hopes to ride its strong group of returnees to a winning season.
“We’ve played a couple of tough games early in the season which allows us to see what we have,” Antioch coach Michael McDermott said. “We wanted to give our guys some tests early in the season after replacing some guys from the spring.
“Everyone played together, but we have to play a full game. It was great to just see them play and smiling. I wish we could’ve had a better outcome.
“We’ve been really trying to widening the field out of the back and trying to get better touches. We have to work on that first touch, setting teammates up for the next good touch. We’re going through some growing pains, but it’s early in the season. We’re looking forward to making some noise in conference.”
Straus missed the Deerfield equalizer when his shot smacked off the post, but it came soon after when Jotkus sent in a header from 13 yards in the 29th minute.
“I was just in the right place at the right time and was tracking the ball,” Jotkus said as the lights in the stadium turned off. “I kind of predicted where it was going to go and was able to get it in the back of the net. I feel this team can do a lot. We lost a lost of seniors, but we learned a lot from those first two games.”
Sophomore Nathan Garcia added to the Warriors’ momentum, scoring a goal to hand his team a 3-2 lead in the 34th minute that held up to halftime.
“It feels amazing to score and play with these new players,” Garcia said. “It was motivating to have all these faces cheering for us. I didn’t expect scoring, so that was amazing. We’re all trying to win. We have a really good team and just have to keep playing hard.”
Antioch fought back on four-year starter Jurinek’s second goal of the game -- a free kick in the 50th minute. It was his fourth score of the season.
“I was going to go to the far post, but then they added a big guy so I knew not to go over him. I just looked to slot it to the near post, and it worked out nice,” Jurinek said. “I’m trying to have a good senior year. I don’t want to stop playing soccer. It’s my focus at the moment. I want to play soccer (in college).”
The Sequoits lead didn’t hold for long.
Thirty-seven seconds later, Addison Simon notched the winning goal after a loose ball bounced to him on a perfect hop. It allowed him to set up and drill in a shot from short range.
Deerfield coach Elliott Hurtig praised his players for not letting the early deficit bring them down.
“It was an exciting evening because we had Pegasus soccer night, and we had a big crowd. The guys really worked to get a lot of kids out there and their fans,” Hurtig said. “We had a lot of energy out here with the new scoreboard. It was nice to get the first win.
“We needed that, against an Antioch team that played really well and has some really good players. It was an exciting soccer game. Addison has a fantastic goal to finish it. He had a tough first half, but bounced back with a strong second half and played with some good poise. Nathan Garcia also played a great game. We need to play the game with little more composure.
“We’re playing with a lot of energy with a lot of good support from our teammates, but just need to play with a little more composure.”
Despite the Antioch loss, senior captain Dax Foote, a four-year player, said the Sequoits have seen some good signs in the first two weeks.
“It’s a promising start,” Foote said. “We’re playing better and better every year. I think this year is our strongest year in my time. It was nice to play at the night with a big crowd. We have to keep working hard.”
Starting lineups
Antioch
GK Camilo Carrillo Rodriguez
D Evan Vazquez
D Carter Webb
D Alex Correa
D Spencer Wood
M Dax Foote
M Remi Ivanovas
M Cody Basovsky
M Rex Eifert
F Cade Ternes
F Brock Jurinek
Deerfield
GK Daniel Simmons
D Ethan Helfand
D Justin Blumenthal
D Noah Weil
M James Weiner
M David Jotkus
M Nathan Garcia
M Addison Simon
M Cole Gawin
F Ryder Coleman
F Peter Straus
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Brock Jurinek, sr., F, Antioch.
Scoring summary
First half
Deerfield— Peter Straus (unassisted), 8th minute
Antioch— Brock Jurinek (Cade Ternes), 13th minute
Antioch — Remi Ivanovas (unassisted), 21st minute
Deerfield —David Jotkus (Luke Barhoumeh) 29th minute
Deerfield — Nathan Garcia (Ethan Helfand) 34th minute
Second half
Antioch — Brock Jurinek (unasisted), 50th minute
Deerfield — Addison Simon (unassisted), 51st minute