St. Charles East finally finds net,
keeps 'Fox' from Batavia
Saints solve Mefford, post 1-0 travelling trophy win over Bulldogs
By Steve Nemeth
ST. CHARLES -- There were no shortage of attempts by St. Charles East which meant underdog Batavia was a counterattack away from pulling off a surprise.
But like the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back, the host Saints – ranked no. 21 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 -- eventually knocked on on the door often enough to get one in and chalk up a 1-0 victory.
The victory allowed St. Charles East (8-3-0, 3-1-0) to keep possession of the Painted Fox. The traveling trophy remains in the Saints' possession for another year after they topped Geneva 2-0, St. Charles North 5-3 and beat Batavia.
The trophy will still get a new orange and black paint job that will incorporate an indication of its back-to-back lodging at East.
All of this only became a reality with 7:16 left in regulation when Alex Mancera’s free kick service from 38 yards was knocked in by Luke Schnitker, Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match.
“I’d call it a half bicycle kick,” Schnitker said in regard to having his back to the goal. He stood on one leg while kicking the ball with his other foot; it sailed perfectly over his shoulder and past Batavia goalie Jacob Mefford.
More frustrating to Mefford and veteran Bulldogs boss Mark Gianfrancesco was the lack of a whistle on the play that ultimately led to that free kick.
“For the most part we played well but were unable to score, so that makes the lack of a call more frustrating,” explained Mefford who deservedly drew compliments from both sides. “Even without the call, we were not perfect enough to make the outcome go the other way.”
“My goalie played really well,” Gianfrancesco said. “I really believe there was a call missed that would have given us the kick. However, it still comes down to having the opportunity to clear it, and we didn’t.”
If the expression “were ifs ands buts candy and nuts ... ” was applied, then Batavia (2-6-4, 1-2-2) would have much better records as well as a Merry Christmas. The Bulldogs have come up short in a variety of ways that define being unlucky.
“They’re certainly better than a 2-6-4 record and tonight’s one-goal margin is a credit to them and especially to their keeper,” St. Charles East coach Vince DiNuzzo said. “He played really well, and they stayed in the game despite the fact we had a ton of chances.”
That’s no understatement.
St. Charles East boasted a 29-10 advantage for overall attempts including a 17-3 edge for shots on goal, plus a whopping 11-1 edge for corner kicks.
Less than a minute into the match Mefford made the first of his 16 saves.
More followed.
East’s Renato Avendano attacked from the right wing at 11:19 and Mefford deflected the ball wide to give up a corner. Four minutes later it was Sebastian Carranza on a breakaway, and the Bulldog senior keeper came up big. With 13:13 to go before halftime, Truitt Battin had a blazing direct kick that was blocked by Mefford and teammate Kipp Knecht cleared it away.
The second half began in similar fashion, just 25 seconds in a Battin boomer was saved by Mefford. At 54:19, Carranza drilled a shot off the turf, but Mefford jumped and stretched to catch the bounce that appeared to be dipping under the crossbar. The next minute Mefford was denying a 38-yard rocket from Mancera.
“When I’m kept busy like that I have to be continually ready to make saves,” Mefford admitted. “That’s my job, but it also means we’re giving up more chances than we’d like.”
With 13:28 left in regulation, Geoff Unterberg’s well-placed through ball launched Carranza on another breakaway, but like a few other blasts that sailed wide or high, it produced only another chorus of “ohs” from the home bench. Avendano hit a cracker from the right wing but Mefford dove to his right for the save. A minute later he caught a Saints header off a corner kick.
The odds finally tipped in East’s favor as Mancera registered his first assist of the season, and Schnitker tallied his fourth goal and third game-winner.
“Getting an assist on a game-winner and especially on that play feels awesome,” Mancera said. “The key is simply to try to be consistent with the placement of a free kick so your teammates can use them.”
“Credit Alex for putting that right on my strong foot,” Schnitker noted. “Scoring is always a good feeling, but it is nicer against friends that you know from club ball, and it reflects well on your school team.
“Their goalie was making some tremendous saves, so we needed to keep our focus, continue to press the attack and create chances until we got one in,” Schnitker added. “Getting (the Painted Fox) is an extra incentive to help us win. Back-to-back shows our dominance and the additional pride comes in adding to our tradition of success.”
“It is amazing what a trophy like that can do for motivation,” DiNuzzo admitted. “All day at school players were saying ‘Coach we’re going to get that Fox.” It is a matter of pride in getting it, and it may sound funny to others, but it’s part of why the Tri-Cities games are never easy.”
While goals did not come easily for the Saints, the plethora of opportunities was a positive.
“Obviously a few guys put their heads down in frustration when it seemed like nothing would go in the net, but continuing to create chances kept them engaged,” DiNuzzo said. “I told them at halftime ‘One will go in.’ We were 1-v.-1 with the goalie a couple times, but it was one of those games when you had to keep trying.”
At the same time the Saints needed to keep Batavia from scoring, and the end result was a fourth shutout for East goalie Zach Doerr.
“They didn’t get too many opportunities,” DiNuzzo added. “I think Ryan (Champine) has been great in back for us. Plus (Grayson) Biddle was solid on defense while also creating chances down the left side. He doesn’t get a lot of recognition, but his recovery speed and ability to defend one on one makes a big difference.”
The Saints seniors can also boast of being unbeaten in meetings with Batavia during their tenure. East won 1-0 in 2015, 4-1 in 2016, and drew even 2-2 last year thanks to a second half goal by Battin.
However a huge challenge awaits St. Charles East this weekend at the Goal 4 The Goal Fall Classic in Burlington, Ia. The Saints are in the Heartland Lodge Bracket and Friday’s opener is against a Neenah (Wis.) squad that is ranked sixth nationally by MaxPreps. The bracketed tourney then means either a championship or consolation side meeting with either Dunbar (ky.) or Normal (IL) West on Saturday morning. Success of failure determines which place-finish they will contest that afternoon.
Batavia returns home Saturday to welcome Plainfield Central as the first of four matches in a five-day span stretching into the 21st annual Warstang (Warrior) Invitational. The Bulldogs meet Lemont on Monday before hosting no. 22-ranked St. Charles North on Tuesday in a DuKane Conference match.
“Once again we stayed with them even. though they may have anticipated having an easier time. Especially in the first half we connected passes and kept them from executing the way they’d prefer,” Gianfrancesco said. “We didn’t connect things as well in the second half and definitely need to get more possessions in the opposition’s box.
“I’m proud of everyone’s efforts and once again Max (Hardin) did a nice job for us. We also pushed Miguel (Garcia) to left back to help counter their speed. I thought he did well and solidified that slot for us.”
Starting lineups
Batavia
GK Jacob Mefford
D Austin Sanez
D Kipp Knecht
D Ian Wood
D Jason Nichols
M Drew Lillig
M Joe Grendzinski
M Eddie Torres
M Gunner Knox
M Adler Palos
F Max Hardin
St. Charles East
GK Zach Doerr
D Grayson Biddle
D Geoff Unterberg
D Ryan Champine
D Ulises Cabellero
M Truitt Battin
M Alex Mancera
M Brandan Adams
M Luke Schnitker
M Renato Avendano
F Sebastian Carranza
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Luke Schnitker, Sr., M, St. Charles East vs. Batavia
Referees: Guy Ross (center), Matt Loeb, Chuck Raksinh
Game summary
S. Charles East 1, Batavia 0
Batavia 0 0 --- 0 (2-6-4, 1-2-2)
St. Charles East 0 1 --- 1 (8-3-0, 3-1-0)
Scoring
First half
None
Second half
SCE – Schnitker 10-yard half bicycle kick ahead of right post (Mancera assist), 72:44 gone
Shots
B 5 – 5 --- 10
SCE 12 – 17 --- 29
Shots on goal
B 1 – 2 --- 3
SCE 8 – 9 --- 17
Saves (goalie)
B (Mefford, 80 min.) 8 – 8 --- 16
SCE (Doerr, 80 min.) 1 – 2 --- 3
Corner kicks
B 1 - 0 --- 1
SCE 6 – 5 --- 11
Offsides
B 0 – 0 --- 0
SCE 1 – 0 --- 1
keeps 'Fox' from Batavia
Saints solve Mefford, post 1-0 travelling trophy win over Bulldogs
By Steve Nemeth
ST. CHARLES -- There were no shortage of attempts by St. Charles East which meant underdog Batavia was a counterattack away from pulling off a surprise.
But like the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back, the host Saints – ranked no. 21 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 -- eventually knocked on on the door often enough to get one in and chalk up a 1-0 victory.
The victory allowed St. Charles East (8-3-0, 3-1-0) to keep possession of the Painted Fox. The traveling trophy remains in the Saints' possession for another year after they topped Geneva 2-0, St. Charles North 5-3 and beat Batavia.
The trophy will still get a new orange and black paint job that will incorporate an indication of its back-to-back lodging at East.
All of this only became a reality with 7:16 left in regulation when Alex Mancera’s free kick service from 38 yards was knocked in by Luke Schnitker, Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match.
“I’d call it a half bicycle kick,” Schnitker said in regard to having his back to the goal. He stood on one leg while kicking the ball with his other foot; it sailed perfectly over his shoulder and past Batavia goalie Jacob Mefford.
More frustrating to Mefford and veteran Bulldogs boss Mark Gianfrancesco was the lack of a whistle on the play that ultimately led to that free kick.
“For the most part we played well but were unable to score, so that makes the lack of a call more frustrating,” explained Mefford who deservedly drew compliments from both sides. “Even without the call, we were not perfect enough to make the outcome go the other way.”
“My goalie played really well,” Gianfrancesco said. “I really believe there was a call missed that would have given us the kick. However, it still comes down to having the opportunity to clear it, and we didn’t.”
If the expression “were ifs ands buts candy and nuts ... ” was applied, then Batavia (2-6-4, 1-2-2) would have much better records as well as a Merry Christmas. The Bulldogs have come up short in a variety of ways that define being unlucky.
“They’re certainly better than a 2-6-4 record and tonight’s one-goal margin is a credit to them and especially to their keeper,” St. Charles East coach Vince DiNuzzo said. “He played really well, and they stayed in the game despite the fact we had a ton of chances.”
That’s no understatement.
St. Charles East boasted a 29-10 advantage for overall attempts including a 17-3 edge for shots on goal, plus a whopping 11-1 edge for corner kicks.
Less than a minute into the match Mefford made the first of his 16 saves.
More followed.
East’s Renato Avendano attacked from the right wing at 11:19 and Mefford deflected the ball wide to give up a corner. Four minutes later it was Sebastian Carranza on a breakaway, and the Bulldog senior keeper came up big. With 13:13 to go before halftime, Truitt Battin had a blazing direct kick that was blocked by Mefford and teammate Kipp Knecht cleared it away.
The second half began in similar fashion, just 25 seconds in a Battin boomer was saved by Mefford. At 54:19, Carranza drilled a shot off the turf, but Mefford jumped and stretched to catch the bounce that appeared to be dipping under the crossbar. The next minute Mefford was denying a 38-yard rocket from Mancera.
“When I’m kept busy like that I have to be continually ready to make saves,” Mefford admitted. “That’s my job, but it also means we’re giving up more chances than we’d like.”
With 13:28 left in regulation, Geoff Unterberg’s well-placed through ball launched Carranza on another breakaway, but like a few other blasts that sailed wide or high, it produced only another chorus of “ohs” from the home bench. Avendano hit a cracker from the right wing but Mefford dove to his right for the save. A minute later he caught a Saints header off a corner kick.
The odds finally tipped in East’s favor as Mancera registered his first assist of the season, and Schnitker tallied his fourth goal and third game-winner.
“Getting an assist on a game-winner and especially on that play feels awesome,” Mancera said. “The key is simply to try to be consistent with the placement of a free kick so your teammates can use them.”
“Credit Alex for putting that right on my strong foot,” Schnitker noted. “Scoring is always a good feeling, but it is nicer against friends that you know from club ball, and it reflects well on your school team.
“Their goalie was making some tremendous saves, so we needed to keep our focus, continue to press the attack and create chances until we got one in,” Schnitker added. “Getting (the Painted Fox) is an extra incentive to help us win. Back-to-back shows our dominance and the additional pride comes in adding to our tradition of success.”
“It is amazing what a trophy like that can do for motivation,” DiNuzzo admitted. “All day at school players were saying ‘Coach we’re going to get that Fox.” It is a matter of pride in getting it, and it may sound funny to others, but it’s part of why the Tri-Cities games are never easy.”
While goals did not come easily for the Saints, the plethora of opportunities was a positive.
“Obviously a few guys put their heads down in frustration when it seemed like nothing would go in the net, but continuing to create chances kept them engaged,” DiNuzzo said. “I told them at halftime ‘One will go in.’ We were 1-v.-1 with the goalie a couple times, but it was one of those games when you had to keep trying.”
At the same time the Saints needed to keep Batavia from scoring, and the end result was a fourth shutout for East goalie Zach Doerr.
“They didn’t get too many opportunities,” DiNuzzo added. “I think Ryan (Champine) has been great in back for us. Plus (Grayson) Biddle was solid on defense while also creating chances down the left side. He doesn’t get a lot of recognition, but his recovery speed and ability to defend one on one makes a big difference.”
The Saints seniors can also boast of being unbeaten in meetings with Batavia during their tenure. East won 1-0 in 2015, 4-1 in 2016, and drew even 2-2 last year thanks to a second half goal by Battin.
However a huge challenge awaits St. Charles East this weekend at the Goal 4 The Goal Fall Classic in Burlington, Ia. The Saints are in the Heartland Lodge Bracket and Friday’s opener is against a Neenah (Wis.) squad that is ranked sixth nationally by MaxPreps. The bracketed tourney then means either a championship or consolation side meeting with either Dunbar (ky.) or Normal (IL) West on Saturday morning. Success of failure determines which place-finish they will contest that afternoon.
Batavia returns home Saturday to welcome Plainfield Central as the first of four matches in a five-day span stretching into the 21st annual Warstang (Warrior) Invitational. The Bulldogs meet Lemont on Monday before hosting no. 22-ranked St. Charles North on Tuesday in a DuKane Conference match.
“Once again we stayed with them even. though they may have anticipated having an easier time. Especially in the first half we connected passes and kept them from executing the way they’d prefer,” Gianfrancesco said. “We didn’t connect things as well in the second half and definitely need to get more possessions in the opposition’s box.
“I’m proud of everyone’s efforts and once again Max (Hardin) did a nice job for us. We also pushed Miguel (Garcia) to left back to help counter their speed. I thought he did well and solidified that slot for us.”
Starting lineups
Batavia
GK Jacob Mefford
D Austin Sanez
D Kipp Knecht
D Ian Wood
D Jason Nichols
M Drew Lillig
M Joe Grendzinski
M Eddie Torres
M Gunner Knox
M Adler Palos
F Max Hardin
St. Charles East
GK Zach Doerr
D Grayson Biddle
D Geoff Unterberg
D Ryan Champine
D Ulises Cabellero
M Truitt Battin
M Alex Mancera
M Brandan Adams
M Luke Schnitker
M Renato Avendano
F Sebastian Carranza
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Luke Schnitker, Sr., M, St. Charles East vs. Batavia
Referees: Guy Ross (center), Matt Loeb, Chuck Raksinh
Game summary
S. Charles East 1, Batavia 0
Batavia 0 0 --- 0 (2-6-4, 1-2-2)
St. Charles East 0 1 --- 1 (8-3-0, 3-1-0)
Scoring
First half
None
Second half
SCE – Schnitker 10-yard half bicycle kick ahead of right post (Mancera assist), 72:44 gone
Shots
B 5 – 5 --- 10
SCE 12 – 17 --- 29
Shots on goal
B 1 – 2 --- 3
SCE 8 – 9 --- 17
Saves (goalie)
B (Mefford, 80 min.) 8 – 8 --- 16
SCE (Doerr, 80 min.) 1 – 2 --- 3
Corner kicks
B 1 - 0 --- 1
SCE 6 – 5 --- 11
Offsides
B 0 – 0 --- 0
SCE 1 – 0 --- 1