Steaking Wheaton Academy
scores four against Batavia
Nicoski-Rios scores twice in 4-1 Saturday night win
By Matt Le Cren
WEST CHICAGO – Wheaton Academy’s coaching staff still hasn’t figured out where to put senior Giovanni Nicoski-Rios.
He started Saturday night’s game against Batavia on the bench. If opponents had their way, that’s where he’d stay.
There’s no chance of that happening after Nicoski-Rios caused all sorts of chaos for the visiting Bulldogs. He scored twice to lift the Warriors to a 4-1 win.
It was the fourth-straight victory for Wheaton Academy (4-2-1). Three of the wins have come against Class 3A schools.
Nicoski-Rios is listed as a midfielder, but he’s seen action at all three levels of the field and has scored four times.
“He’s a real special player,” Wheaton Academy coach Cody Snouffer said. “One of our challenges is finding where the best place to put him is.
“He’s versatile, and he causes trouble for people. We, as coaches, like to try to read the game and put him where he can create some danger. Today that was up-top.
“We originally started him out as a center back, but we moved him up so he can roam around. Really happy for him tonight getting two goals.”
Nicoski-Rios used a combination of blazing speed and significant size to put pressure on the right flank. It paid off when he was taken down in the box with 21:47 left in the first half.
There was some discussion as to who would take the resulting penalty kick. Nicoski-Rios ultimately stepped to the spot and buried the kick into the lower right corner for a 2-0 lead.
“I was telling one of my teammates (Robert Platt) to take it, but he demanded I take it,” Nicoski-Rios said. “I guess he trusted me, so I took the penalty and scored.”
It wouldn’t be the last time he struck paydirt.
Nicoski-Rios connected again at the 22:20 mark of the second half, putting what had been a tight game out of reach.
Batavia (4-4-0) had a great look at cutting Wheaton Academy’s lead to 3-2 when leading scorer Ryan Kahley met a long free kick with a powerful header that was on frame. But Warriors goalkeeper Brandon Hoekstra made a leaping save.
That triggered a counterattack that led to junior midfielder Evan Eckert feeding a lead pass to Nicoski-Rios, who broke free into the box, juked the goalkeeper and scored to make it 4-1.
“My goal is always to pressure and keep them on their toes,” Nicoski-Rios said. “I think I got on the better side of them tonight.”
Batavia coach Mark Gianfrancesco agreed.
“Their middle just controlled us,” Gianfrancesco said. “They were pinging the ball around a lot in the middle.
“We had trouble handling (Nicoski-Rios) as well. He’s big and fast, and we didn’t control the middle. He caused us a lot of problems.”
That wasn’t the only problem the Bulldogs had. Though they had some significant stretches of good play, particularly in the fast-paced opening 15 minutes, they couldn’t capitalize.
But Wheaton Academy did just that against the run of play when Eckert blasted a wide-open 30-yard shot inside the right post to begin the scoring at the 29:22 mark of the opening period. It was Eckert’s first goal of the season.
“It felt amazing,” Eckert said. “It’s been a rough couple weeks for me as a player.
“I haven’t been playing as well as I’d wished, so it feels good to get my confidence boosted up with that goal.”
Eckert’s goal came on the Warriors’ first shot of the game. Nicoski-Rios’ penalty was their second.
Kahley answered that on Batavia’s third shot of the match, converting a penalty of his own for his eighth goal of the season to bring the visitors within 2-1 with 15:49 to go in the half.
But the Bulldogs could not score in the run of play, though Kahley and his teammates tried hard.
Kahley had two near-misses in the second half, one being a runner from the top of the box that missed wide right with 28:40 to go and the other a hard shot from the left side of the box three minutes later that Hoekstra parried around the left post.
Kahley took the resulting corner kick, which Eric Perkins nodded just wide of the left pipe.
“We definitely had chances to put some goals on the board,” Kahley said. “We don’t finish, and we don’t get back on defense. That’s when there are breakdowns.”
The outcome might have been different had the Bulldogs scored first during the first 10 minutes. Kahley nearly did when he weaved through three defenders until Hoekstra slide-tackled the ball away from him at the 31:30 mark.
Two minutes later, Eckert swung the momentum Wheaton’s way.
“They got that goal and then it turned on us a little,” Gianfrancesco said. “This is the third game of the week, but it was very spotty.
“It wasn’t very consistent, but we did great some chances. We just didn’t finish on those opportunities.”
Snouffer said the Warriors, who were playing their second home game of the season, relished the chance to play a big school under the Saturday night lights. It was a particularly special moment considering it came on the 20th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks.
Former Wheaton Academy soccer player Todd Beamer was one of the heroic passengers who tried to retake control of Flight 93 from the terrorist hijackers. The plane crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, instead of its intended target of Washington, D.C.
“I was really pleased with the effort,” Snouffer said. “It was really good to bring that energy and excitement to our play, and we love playing schools that are bigger than us but close to us.
“Batavia has been off to a great start so it was exciting to come out and get a good result.”
Despite the loss, Kahley is optimistic, especially if the Bulldogs can be more consistent.
“I’m really proud of these guys,” Kahley said. “We had a tournament out in Morton (Ill.), and we played phenomenally well. Came out against Kaneland and played great.
“It’s just we tend to play to the level of our opponents and so when we play a good team, we play well, but then we break down here and there.”
Nicoski-Rios has been playing here and there on the field. Where he eventually settles remains unresolved, and where he is best depends on whom you ask.
“All my life I’ve always been all-around,” Nicoski-Rios said. “I like every position, but striker is probably my favorite because I can get balls from (Eckert).”
What does Eckert think?
“I prefer playing in the middle with him, just because that’s where I play,” Eckert said. “But he’s a threat all around the field. It’s so good playing with him.”
Starting lineups
Batavia
GK Ryan Harlock
D Grant LeRette-Kauffman
D Broady Seitzinger
D Owen Stahl
D Quinn Salyers
M Ben Hanson
M Will Bardol
F Josh Denault
F Manasas Monarrez
F Ryan Kahley
F Alec Crum
Wheaton Academy
GK Brandon Hoekstra
D Xander Anaya
D Kaiden Massie
D Gabe Olson
M Joshua Mariotti
M Caleb Mariotti
M Evan Eckert
M Haethem Nasr
F Scotty Murray
F Robert Platt
F Troy Erickson
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Giovanni Nicoski-Rios, sr., MF, Wheaton Academy
Scoring summary
First half
Wheaton Academy – Evan Eckert (unassisted) 29:22 remaining
Wheaton Academy –Giovanni Nicoski-Rios (PK) 21:47 remaining
Batavia – Ryan Kahley (PK) 15:49 remaining
Wheaton Academy – Haetham Nasr (unassisted) 7:42 remaining
Second half
Wheaton Academy –Nicoski-Rios (Eckert) 22:20 remaining
scores four against Batavia
Nicoski-Rios scores twice in 4-1 Saturday night win
By Matt Le Cren
WEST CHICAGO – Wheaton Academy’s coaching staff still hasn’t figured out where to put senior Giovanni Nicoski-Rios.
He started Saturday night’s game against Batavia on the bench. If opponents had their way, that’s where he’d stay.
There’s no chance of that happening after Nicoski-Rios caused all sorts of chaos for the visiting Bulldogs. He scored twice to lift the Warriors to a 4-1 win.
It was the fourth-straight victory for Wheaton Academy (4-2-1). Three of the wins have come against Class 3A schools.
Nicoski-Rios is listed as a midfielder, but he’s seen action at all three levels of the field and has scored four times.
“He’s a real special player,” Wheaton Academy coach Cody Snouffer said. “One of our challenges is finding where the best place to put him is.
“He’s versatile, and he causes trouble for people. We, as coaches, like to try to read the game and put him where he can create some danger. Today that was up-top.
“We originally started him out as a center back, but we moved him up so he can roam around. Really happy for him tonight getting two goals.”
Nicoski-Rios used a combination of blazing speed and significant size to put pressure on the right flank. It paid off when he was taken down in the box with 21:47 left in the first half.
There was some discussion as to who would take the resulting penalty kick. Nicoski-Rios ultimately stepped to the spot and buried the kick into the lower right corner for a 2-0 lead.
“I was telling one of my teammates (Robert Platt) to take it, but he demanded I take it,” Nicoski-Rios said. “I guess he trusted me, so I took the penalty and scored.”
It wouldn’t be the last time he struck paydirt.
Nicoski-Rios connected again at the 22:20 mark of the second half, putting what had been a tight game out of reach.
Batavia (4-4-0) had a great look at cutting Wheaton Academy’s lead to 3-2 when leading scorer Ryan Kahley met a long free kick with a powerful header that was on frame. But Warriors goalkeeper Brandon Hoekstra made a leaping save.
That triggered a counterattack that led to junior midfielder Evan Eckert feeding a lead pass to Nicoski-Rios, who broke free into the box, juked the goalkeeper and scored to make it 4-1.
“My goal is always to pressure and keep them on their toes,” Nicoski-Rios said. “I think I got on the better side of them tonight.”
Batavia coach Mark Gianfrancesco agreed.
“Their middle just controlled us,” Gianfrancesco said. “They were pinging the ball around a lot in the middle.
“We had trouble handling (Nicoski-Rios) as well. He’s big and fast, and we didn’t control the middle. He caused us a lot of problems.”
That wasn’t the only problem the Bulldogs had. Though they had some significant stretches of good play, particularly in the fast-paced opening 15 minutes, they couldn’t capitalize.
But Wheaton Academy did just that against the run of play when Eckert blasted a wide-open 30-yard shot inside the right post to begin the scoring at the 29:22 mark of the opening period. It was Eckert’s first goal of the season.
“It felt amazing,” Eckert said. “It’s been a rough couple weeks for me as a player.
“I haven’t been playing as well as I’d wished, so it feels good to get my confidence boosted up with that goal.”
Eckert’s goal came on the Warriors’ first shot of the game. Nicoski-Rios’ penalty was their second.
Kahley answered that on Batavia’s third shot of the match, converting a penalty of his own for his eighth goal of the season to bring the visitors within 2-1 with 15:49 to go in the half.
But the Bulldogs could not score in the run of play, though Kahley and his teammates tried hard.
Kahley had two near-misses in the second half, one being a runner from the top of the box that missed wide right with 28:40 to go and the other a hard shot from the left side of the box three minutes later that Hoekstra parried around the left post.
Kahley took the resulting corner kick, which Eric Perkins nodded just wide of the left pipe.
“We definitely had chances to put some goals on the board,” Kahley said. “We don’t finish, and we don’t get back on defense. That’s when there are breakdowns.”
The outcome might have been different had the Bulldogs scored first during the first 10 minutes. Kahley nearly did when he weaved through three defenders until Hoekstra slide-tackled the ball away from him at the 31:30 mark.
Two minutes later, Eckert swung the momentum Wheaton’s way.
“They got that goal and then it turned on us a little,” Gianfrancesco said. “This is the third game of the week, but it was very spotty.
“It wasn’t very consistent, but we did great some chances. We just didn’t finish on those opportunities.”
Snouffer said the Warriors, who were playing their second home game of the season, relished the chance to play a big school under the Saturday night lights. It was a particularly special moment considering it came on the 20th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks.
Former Wheaton Academy soccer player Todd Beamer was one of the heroic passengers who tried to retake control of Flight 93 from the terrorist hijackers. The plane crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, instead of its intended target of Washington, D.C.
“I was really pleased with the effort,” Snouffer said. “It was really good to bring that energy and excitement to our play, and we love playing schools that are bigger than us but close to us.
“Batavia has been off to a great start so it was exciting to come out and get a good result.”
Despite the loss, Kahley is optimistic, especially if the Bulldogs can be more consistent.
“I’m really proud of these guys,” Kahley said. “We had a tournament out in Morton (Ill.), and we played phenomenally well. Came out against Kaneland and played great.
“It’s just we tend to play to the level of our opponents and so when we play a good team, we play well, but then we break down here and there.”
Nicoski-Rios has been playing here and there on the field. Where he eventually settles remains unresolved, and where he is best depends on whom you ask.
“All my life I’ve always been all-around,” Nicoski-Rios said. “I like every position, but striker is probably my favorite because I can get balls from (Eckert).”
What does Eckert think?
“I prefer playing in the middle with him, just because that’s where I play,” Eckert said. “But he’s a threat all around the field. It’s so good playing with him.”
Starting lineups
Batavia
GK Ryan Harlock
D Grant LeRette-Kauffman
D Broady Seitzinger
D Owen Stahl
D Quinn Salyers
M Ben Hanson
M Will Bardol
F Josh Denault
F Manasas Monarrez
F Ryan Kahley
F Alec Crum
Wheaton Academy
GK Brandon Hoekstra
D Xander Anaya
D Kaiden Massie
D Gabe Olson
M Joshua Mariotti
M Caleb Mariotti
M Evan Eckert
M Haethem Nasr
F Scotty Murray
F Robert Platt
F Troy Erickson
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Giovanni Nicoski-Rios, sr., MF, Wheaton Academy
Scoring summary
First half
Wheaton Academy – Evan Eckert (unassisted) 29:22 remaining
Wheaton Academy –Giovanni Nicoski-Rios (PK) 21:47 remaining
Batavia – Ryan Kahley (PK) 15:49 remaining
Wheaton Academy – Haetham Nasr (unassisted) 7:42 remaining
Second half
Wheaton Academy –Nicoski-Rios (Eckert) 22:20 remaining