Wisconsin power Marquette diffuses
Klujian bombs, tops Barrington
Defending state champ denies long-distance threats in 3-0 win
By Dave Owen
HINSDALE -- Barrington’s Mathew Klujian continues to be an early season menace for goalkeepers and a boost for Sherwin Williams sales.
But Wisconsin powerhouse Marquette (winners of 16 state titles since 2000) stole most of the thunder in Friday’s Hinsdale Central Red D& White Classic match vs. the Broncos.
Grabbing the lead in the 31st minute, Marquette added two goals late in the second half (the last on a penalty kick with just 21 seconds left) to produce a 3-0 win.
“We played a really good opponent,” Barrington coach Scott Steib said. “Man for man I thought they were technically ahead of us, probably tactically ahead of us, so we came in and tried to make things difficult for them. I think we did OK with that for a lot of the game.”
That plan certainly worked for the majority of the first half, starting with sophomore Nico Hausser’s block away from trouble of a Marquette corner kick send towards the net in the 6th minute.
An Ali Saber midfield steal (16th minute) and goalkeeper Iker Villagomez’s leaping one-handed deflection over the crossbar of a 23-yard free kick (28th minute) were among the other early defensive moments for the Broncos.
But 9:22 before halftime, a usually harmless throw-in developed into the game-winning goal for Marquette.
“Their first goal I really was disappointed with,” Steib said, “because we switched off and it turns into a throw in that ends up in a goal in a transition moment. We switched off, and that's not acceptable whether it's the best team I've ever had or the worst or where we are somewhere in the middle of all that. It's just not OK to switch off. That really opens the door, and then that changes things.”
Marquette’s Mason Brewer was the goal scorer of the play, pounding home a cross from the left sideline by Felix Huwiler.
“We had a quick throw in and Felix made a nice run down to the corner and there was just the 1-v-1,” Brewer said. “He made a perfect cross and I was wide open. No one followed me in, so we just played a quick through.”
Other than the lapse on that first goal, Barrington (0-1-1) had little to hang its collective head over.
The Broncos closed the first half with a quality chance in the 38th minute. Max Miller’s win of a ball at midfield led to an Alexis Salazar 18-yard shot saved by Marquette goalkeeper C.J. Deslongchamps.
Marquette (1-0-0) didn’t add to its lead until 19:02 remained in the game. The second goal came on a perfectly struck Aiden Myers 18-yard laser from the right edge of the box into the upper left corner of the net.
In the final minute of play, Huwiler was tripped on a dribble into the box to earn Marquette a penalty kick. Owen Marshall powered home the PK with 21 seconds left to make the final 3-0.
“We're playing four games in five days,” Steib said, “so i rested some kids once it was 1-0. I don't know if it changes the outcome, but I just want to get through these games without injuries.
“But that's a good team, and we want to play those teams and learn from it. I just don't like all of what we learned tonight. Some was good, some was just not acceptable. But it's August 26, and we’ll keep working at it and be OK.”
Marquette coach Steve Lawrence was both happy with the result and the challenge Barrington presented his side.
“Once we settled into the game in the first 5-10 minutes, I thought we did a good job,” Lawrence said. “We tried to overpass at times, but overall I was pleased with the performance. We possessed the ball and started creating more chances in the second half.
“We always like to see different styles. A team like Barrington plays you straight up. Coach Steib is very organized with his team.
“We knew they'd be organized and ready to go, and traditionally they have a strong program. We wanted to challenge ourselves and see where we're at, put ourselves in situations where we're not comfortable. I thought coming to a tournament like this helps us see where we're at right away.”
While Marquette lived up to its impressive resume, it could be argued that Barrington’s Klujian was the most prominent player on the field much of the night.
His 35-yard free kick with 32:45 left that required an excellent high grab by Deslongchamps is becoming a 2022 norm: in two games he has four long free kicks on target, and three off the crossbar.
“I'm just a center back, but I have a good left foot,” Kuljian said. “So when I get a chance (on set pieces), like the first one I had, I saw (the keeper) cheating off his line so I tried hitting one.
“Even though it was a bit far out of my range I was still confident, and I thought it was going in. It was a great save.”
Klujian was even more dangerous later Friday, as he loosened a few shards of paint on the crossbar and was inches from tying the game 1-1 with 24 minutes left.
After teammate Mac Herran was fouled, Klujian rocketed a right-side, 30-yard free kick that Deslongchamps had to leap high to deflect off the crossbar and over the net.
Klujian wasn’t done. When Alvarez was fouled on the left side with 12:30 to play, he quickly set the ball for a 30-yard free kick that Deslongchamps again had to deflect off and over the crossbar.
“I mishit that one,” Klujian said, “but I still felt like that was going straight in, because I caught them off guard.”
The ensuing corner kick produced a shot well wide of the net, and an Alvarez 35-yarder wide of frame with 4:10 to go marked the Broncos’ last scoring chance.
Midfielder Hausser is new to varsity this fall, but has been understandably impressed by his new teammate Klujian.
“Mathew is a great player,” Hausser said. “It's awesome playing with him. Last year he was all-sectional, and he's going for all-state this year.
“He can shoot it out of the box. Great set piece player, great leader, all-around great player.”
Steib is no stranger to Klujian’s excellent play.
“Mathew is probably the only kid who played the whole game (Friday), and he's fantastic,” Steib said. “And Jack Peterson, number 10, just runs and runs and runs. Jack is going to be good for us.
“Phillip (Jackowski), his play is getting better and better. I'm pleased with some of the individual things. I thought Iker (at goalkeeper) was very good tonight too. He was very active and played well. Logan Cidulka, our second center back and a junior first year varsity player, I think is going to be steady.
“We just have to keep growing,” Steib added. “We graduated 14 seniors last year: we only have six kids back and two of them are goalies. So, it's a process. We don't make a judgment until we've played 8 or 10 games.”
Until then, Barrington players see early areas of focus.
“Once we get the ball especially in the midfield we get all nervous,” Klujian said. “We just have to have a lot of composure on the ball, move it out of the midfield, and we'll be fine.
“And we need to create a lot more chances going forward. Last year we had a lot of talented guys that could score from out far, but this year we're not going to create as many chances as we did last year. We just have to put them on frame and score them.
“This (Marquette) is one of the best teams I feel like we will play all year. This will give us a good idea of where we are coming out of this tournament.''
Said Hausser: “We have to work on our passing. Our last game we weren't completing our passes in the middle either, so we've got to do a better job doing that, plus defending as a team and making sure everyone plays together.”
Hausser’s varsity debut has been no dipping of toes into a peaceful lake. First Evanston, then Marquette.
“This game is really good experience,” Hausser said. “To play this team beginning of the year is great.”
One of two sophomores on varsity along with Patrick Tabb, Hausser is happy to be on board.
“It’s a great program,” he said. “The coaches, (assistants) Ata (Ozbay) and (Joe) Zimka and coach Steib are really awesome."
For Marquette, playing together this weekend has meant a 100-mile trip together.
“This was the first real game of the season for us (after a rainout),” Brewer said, “and that's real exciting, especially for the underclassmen. And personally as a junior I love this, traveling as a team and getting to hang out, having bonding time.”
As for comparing Wisconsin soccer to its neighbors to the south, Brewer and his coach both offered opinions.
“It's very physical down here, that's for sure,” Brewer said. “Otherwise I would say it's a similar style of play, looking for the long through-ball and quick little combination balls. I don't notice a big difference, especially when the level is high with all the good teams down here.”
Said Lawrence: “Illinois is a little deeper. There's a lot of teams like Barrington that can push you and on any given night beat you. There's good teams in Wisconsin, but not as deep as Illinois is with teams.
“It's just fun to be here and see different teams you don't see all the time.”
Starting lineups
Barrington
GK Iker Villagomez
D Mathew Klujian
D Logan Cidulka
D Adam Walocha
M Alexis Salazar
M Daniel Gawronski
M Nico Hausser
M Patrick Tabb
M Max Miller
F Philip Jackowski
F Jack Peterson
Marquette
GK CJ Deslongchamps
D Owen Schneider
D Nico Mosca
D Liam Nelson
D Trey Cotey
M Owen Marshall
M Connor Kraus
M Ryan Hambrook
M Mason Brewer
F Felix Huwiler
F Aiden Myers
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match:
Mason Brewer, jr., MF, Marquette;
Mathew Klujian, sr., D, Barrington
Scoring summary
First half
Marq: Mason Brewer (Felix Huwiler assist), 31’
Second half
Marq- Aiden Myers (unassisted), 61’
Marq- Owen Marshall (PK), 80’
Klujian bombs, tops Barrington
Defending state champ denies long-distance threats in 3-0 win
By Dave Owen
HINSDALE -- Barrington’s Mathew Klujian continues to be an early season menace for goalkeepers and a boost for Sherwin Williams sales.
But Wisconsin powerhouse Marquette (winners of 16 state titles since 2000) stole most of the thunder in Friday’s Hinsdale Central Red D& White Classic match vs. the Broncos.
Grabbing the lead in the 31st minute, Marquette added two goals late in the second half (the last on a penalty kick with just 21 seconds left) to produce a 3-0 win.
“We played a really good opponent,” Barrington coach Scott Steib said. “Man for man I thought they were technically ahead of us, probably tactically ahead of us, so we came in and tried to make things difficult for them. I think we did OK with that for a lot of the game.”
That plan certainly worked for the majority of the first half, starting with sophomore Nico Hausser’s block away from trouble of a Marquette corner kick send towards the net in the 6th minute.
An Ali Saber midfield steal (16th minute) and goalkeeper Iker Villagomez’s leaping one-handed deflection over the crossbar of a 23-yard free kick (28th minute) were among the other early defensive moments for the Broncos.
But 9:22 before halftime, a usually harmless throw-in developed into the game-winning goal for Marquette.
“Their first goal I really was disappointed with,” Steib said, “because we switched off and it turns into a throw in that ends up in a goal in a transition moment. We switched off, and that's not acceptable whether it's the best team I've ever had or the worst or where we are somewhere in the middle of all that. It's just not OK to switch off. That really opens the door, and then that changes things.”
Marquette’s Mason Brewer was the goal scorer of the play, pounding home a cross from the left sideline by Felix Huwiler.
“We had a quick throw in and Felix made a nice run down to the corner and there was just the 1-v-1,” Brewer said. “He made a perfect cross and I was wide open. No one followed me in, so we just played a quick through.”
Other than the lapse on that first goal, Barrington (0-1-1) had little to hang its collective head over.
The Broncos closed the first half with a quality chance in the 38th minute. Max Miller’s win of a ball at midfield led to an Alexis Salazar 18-yard shot saved by Marquette goalkeeper C.J. Deslongchamps.
Marquette (1-0-0) didn’t add to its lead until 19:02 remained in the game. The second goal came on a perfectly struck Aiden Myers 18-yard laser from the right edge of the box into the upper left corner of the net.
In the final minute of play, Huwiler was tripped on a dribble into the box to earn Marquette a penalty kick. Owen Marshall powered home the PK with 21 seconds left to make the final 3-0.
“We're playing four games in five days,” Steib said, “so i rested some kids once it was 1-0. I don't know if it changes the outcome, but I just want to get through these games without injuries.
“But that's a good team, and we want to play those teams and learn from it. I just don't like all of what we learned tonight. Some was good, some was just not acceptable. But it's August 26, and we’ll keep working at it and be OK.”
Marquette coach Steve Lawrence was both happy with the result and the challenge Barrington presented his side.
“Once we settled into the game in the first 5-10 minutes, I thought we did a good job,” Lawrence said. “We tried to overpass at times, but overall I was pleased with the performance. We possessed the ball and started creating more chances in the second half.
“We always like to see different styles. A team like Barrington plays you straight up. Coach Steib is very organized with his team.
“We knew they'd be organized and ready to go, and traditionally they have a strong program. We wanted to challenge ourselves and see where we're at, put ourselves in situations where we're not comfortable. I thought coming to a tournament like this helps us see where we're at right away.”
While Marquette lived up to its impressive resume, it could be argued that Barrington’s Klujian was the most prominent player on the field much of the night.
His 35-yard free kick with 32:45 left that required an excellent high grab by Deslongchamps is becoming a 2022 norm: in two games he has four long free kicks on target, and three off the crossbar.
“I'm just a center back, but I have a good left foot,” Kuljian said. “So when I get a chance (on set pieces), like the first one I had, I saw (the keeper) cheating off his line so I tried hitting one.
“Even though it was a bit far out of my range I was still confident, and I thought it was going in. It was a great save.”
Klujian was even more dangerous later Friday, as he loosened a few shards of paint on the crossbar and was inches from tying the game 1-1 with 24 minutes left.
After teammate Mac Herran was fouled, Klujian rocketed a right-side, 30-yard free kick that Deslongchamps had to leap high to deflect off the crossbar and over the net.
Klujian wasn’t done. When Alvarez was fouled on the left side with 12:30 to play, he quickly set the ball for a 30-yard free kick that Deslongchamps again had to deflect off and over the crossbar.
“I mishit that one,” Klujian said, “but I still felt like that was going straight in, because I caught them off guard.”
The ensuing corner kick produced a shot well wide of the net, and an Alvarez 35-yarder wide of frame with 4:10 to go marked the Broncos’ last scoring chance.
Midfielder Hausser is new to varsity this fall, but has been understandably impressed by his new teammate Klujian.
“Mathew is a great player,” Hausser said. “It's awesome playing with him. Last year he was all-sectional, and he's going for all-state this year.
“He can shoot it out of the box. Great set piece player, great leader, all-around great player.”
Steib is no stranger to Klujian’s excellent play.
“Mathew is probably the only kid who played the whole game (Friday), and he's fantastic,” Steib said. “And Jack Peterson, number 10, just runs and runs and runs. Jack is going to be good for us.
“Phillip (Jackowski), his play is getting better and better. I'm pleased with some of the individual things. I thought Iker (at goalkeeper) was very good tonight too. He was very active and played well. Logan Cidulka, our second center back and a junior first year varsity player, I think is going to be steady.
“We just have to keep growing,” Steib added. “We graduated 14 seniors last year: we only have six kids back and two of them are goalies. So, it's a process. We don't make a judgment until we've played 8 or 10 games.”
Until then, Barrington players see early areas of focus.
“Once we get the ball especially in the midfield we get all nervous,” Klujian said. “We just have to have a lot of composure on the ball, move it out of the midfield, and we'll be fine.
“And we need to create a lot more chances going forward. Last year we had a lot of talented guys that could score from out far, but this year we're not going to create as many chances as we did last year. We just have to put them on frame and score them.
“This (Marquette) is one of the best teams I feel like we will play all year. This will give us a good idea of where we are coming out of this tournament.''
Said Hausser: “We have to work on our passing. Our last game we weren't completing our passes in the middle either, so we've got to do a better job doing that, plus defending as a team and making sure everyone plays together.”
Hausser’s varsity debut has been no dipping of toes into a peaceful lake. First Evanston, then Marquette.
“This game is really good experience,” Hausser said. “To play this team beginning of the year is great.”
One of two sophomores on varsity along with Patrick Tabb, Hausser is happy to be on board.
“It’s a great program,” he said. “The coaches, (assistants) Ata (Ozbay) and (Joe) Zimka and coach Steib are really awesome."
For Marquette, playing together this weekend has meant a 100-mile trip together.
“This was the first real game of the season for us (after a rainout),” Brewer said, “and that's real exciting, especially for the underclassmen. And personally as a junior I love this, traveling as a team and getting to hang out, having bonding time.”
As for comparing Wisconsin soccer to its neighbors to the south, Brewer and his coach both offered opinions.
“It's very physical down here, that's for sure,” Brewer said. “Otherwise I would say it's a similar style of play, looking for the long through-ball and quick little combination balls. I don't notice a big difference, especially when the level is high with all the good teams down here.”
Said Lawrence: “Illinois is a little deeper. There's a lot of teams like Barrington that can push you and on any given night beat you. There's good teams in Wisconsin, but not as deep as Illinois is with teams.
“It's just fun to be here and see different teams you don't see all the time.”
Starting lineups
Barrington
GK Iker Villagomez
D Mathew Klujian
D Logan Cidulka
D Adam Walocha
M Alexis Salazar
M Daniel Gawronski
M Nico Hausser
M Patrick Tabb
M Max Miller
F Philip Jackowski
F Jack Peterson
Marquette
GK CJ Deslongchamps
D Owen Schneider
D Nico Mosca
D Liam Nelson
D Trey Cotey
M Owen Marshall
M Connor Kraus
M Ryan Hambrook
M Mason Brewer
F Felix Huwiler
F Aiden Myers
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match:
Mason Brewer, jr., MF, Marquette;
Mathew Klujian, sr., D, Barrington
Scoring summary
First half
Marq: Mason Brewer (Felix Huwiler assist), 31’
Second half
Marq- Aiden Myers (unassisted), 61’
Marq- Owen Marshall (PK), 80’