Benet doesn't need full time vs. Geneva
Hepburn, McVey score braces in 5-0 win in shortened game
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – Lightning ended Tuesday’s Best of the West match between Benet and Geneva in the 67th minute but the outcome had been determined long before that.
Three brilliant first half goals from Benet left Geneva thunderstruck and the Vikings never could recover as the battle of unbeaten teams went to Benet by a 5-0 tally in Group 2 opening round action in the Best of the West tourment at Naperville North.
Nobody was surprised that Class AA state title contender Benet won the game, but the margin came as a shock because the Redwings probably aren’t five goals better than Geneva.
“I hope not,” Geneva coach Jason Bhatta said. “I don’t think our boys were up for it.
“Before the game started, I said the first 15 minutes we need to be able to start the game well because against Wheaton Academy, we gave up two in the first 15 minutes.
“At Kaneland, we gave up one. Those were the only goals scored against us so far.”
The Vikings (2-1-1) rallied to salvage a 2-2 tie against Wheaton Academy and came back to beat Kaneland 2-1 last week. They had no such luck against the Redwings, who struck just 1:57 into the game and added two more less than two minutes apart just before halftime.
“I said we needed to survive the first 15 minutes and then what happens? (Two) minutes into the game, they put one away,” Bhatta said. “I feel like it deflated us to a point where the boys’ heads were down within (two) minutes of the game. After that we were able to defend for most of that first half and then they popped two away real quick.”
Benet junior Sam Hepburn, playing his first varsity season, scored the first and last goals for the Redwings. He bookended a powerful offensive showing that saw sophomore T.J. McVey also tally a brace and junior Chris Mankowski score on a bicycle kick.
“It felt good just to get my first goals for varsity, start off the season pretty good,” Hepburn said. “Hopefully there is more to come.”
Hepburn is one of the main newcomers to a strong midfield that also includes Nick Renfro, Anthony Klos and Nick Augustyn. His finish off a cross from Hans Haenicke at with just 1:57 gone in the first half set the tone for the Redwings, who improved to 3-0-0.
Hepburn’s seven-yard rip off a cross from Preston Wray, who finished with two assists, completed the scoring with 25:31 left in the second half.
“His goals were great but just his calmness in the middle and just how composed he is on the ball (is impressive),” Benet coach Sean Wesley said. “He really changes the pace of a game, even a game like this that was that intense.
“You see him ... play at different speeds and be effective. He’s fun to watch. We’re glad to have him.”
Geneva’s young backline of Jack Cannon, Mark Migliazzo, Braden McPheron and Clayton Williams combined to allow nine shots, which at first glance doesn’t seem poor. And the Redwings actually went nearly 30 minutes in the first half without a shot.
But when Benet did squeeze one off, it invariably went in. And the goals were far from gifts.
Mankowski’s bicycle kick goal was particularly memorable, coming from 14 yards and going under the crossbar for a 2-0 lead with 4:30 to go before intermission. He had never before scored on such a shot.
“I’ve tried a couple times, but it’s never really worked before,” Mankowski said. “I was facing away from goal, so I knew I couldn’t head it or really bring it across my body, so I thought I should just try it. It was going slow enough for it to work.”
Mankowski didn’t even feel any pain after landing on his back.
“No, the adrenaline is rushing too much,” he said with a grin.
The Redwings were smiling again 106 seconds later. A free kick from just outside the box deflected off Renfro to McVey, whose emphatic finish increased the Benet cushion to 3-0.
“It was definitely a good boost to score first and score early because it helped us keep the momentum and keep control and dictate the game,” Mankowski said. “Then once we scored two, I like to think of 2-0 as a poison score.
“I think once you get three, you pretty much dictate the game.”
McVey made it 4-0 at the 32:45 mark of the second half when he found the ball in space and unleashed a 25-yard rocket into the lower left corner of the Geneva net.
“It was good,” McVey said of his brace. “The first one was crucial because we pretty much put the game away after that. Then the one in the second half was just a bonus on top of our good performance. It even more sealed the game.”
While the Redwings started five seniors against the Vikings and have a particularly strong junior class, McVey could end up being a linchpin with his ability to put the ball in the back of the net on a regular basis.
“T.J. is always a solid player,” Mankowski said. “We can always count on him to score for us in big games and whenever we need it.
“He always holds up the ball, keeps the ball and helps us get a win.”
The Redwings have done nothing but win so far this fall and have yet to give up a goal. But they are far from satisfied.
“It’s a great start,” McVey said. “We’ve been playing well.
“I don’t think we’ve been playing our greatest. We can definitely do better but our defense has been solid and we’re scoring, so we’re doing the right things.”
For all of the offensive fireworks his team produced, Wesley wasn’t as happy about the style of play.
“We played sloppy,” Wesley said. “I’m happy that the kids were ruthless in the box.
“We weren’t that way in our first two games, so that was nice to see. But we’d like to play a little better soccer than we did tonight.
“We haven’t been on turf a lot yet this year, and we’re not really connecting passes the way we do in training. Hopefully if that comes, we’ll create more quality chances and if the kids are this ruthless, we’ll have a pretty good year.”
Bhatta is still hopeful the Vikings will be successful but noted they need to regroup ahead of Thursday’s game with three-time defending state champion Naperville North.
“I don’t think the energy and effort were there from us and when you play against good teams, the minimum is coming out ready to play,” Bhatta said. “Hopefully, we get a quick turnaround and have the boys ready to play Thursday against a great team in Naperville North and hopefully we can go from there.”
Starting lineups
Benet
GK Vytautus Staniskis
D Thomas Miskin
D Zach Serafin
D Connor Perkins
D Preston Wray
M Sam Hepburn
M Anthony Klos
M Nick Renfro
M Nick Augustyn
F Trent McVey
F Chris Mankowski
Geneva
GK Cal Parise
D Jack Cannon
D Mark Migliazzo
D Braden McPheron
D Clayton WIlliams
M Dominick Peri
M Josh Eiss
M Joe Carli
M Shun Yonchara
F Ethan Hipp
F Christian Diaz
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Sam Hepburn, jr., MF, Benet
Scoring summary
First half
Benet – Sam Hepburn (Hans Haenicke) 38:03
Benet – Chris Mankowski (Preston Wray) 4:30
Benet – Trent McVey (Nick Renfro) 2:44
Second half
Benet – McVey 32:45
Benet – Hepburn (Wray) 25:31
Hepburn, McVey score braces in 5-0 win in shortened game
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – Lightning ended Tuesday’s Best of the West match between Benet and Geneva in the 67th minute but the outcome had been determined long before that.
Three brilliant first half goals from Benet left Geneva thunderstruck and the Vikings never could recover as the battle of unbeaten teams went to Benet by a 5-0 tally in Group 2 opening round action in the Best of the West tourment at Naperville North.
Nobody was surprised that Class AA state title contender Benet won the game, but the margin came as a shock because the Redwings probably aren’t five goals better than Geneva.
“I hope not,” Geneva coach Jason Bhatta said. “I don’t think our boys were up for it.
“Before the game started, I said the first 15 minutes we need to be able to start the game well because against Wheaton Academy, we gave up two in the first 15 minutes.
“At Kaneland, we gave up one. Those were the only goals scored against us so far.”
The Vikings (2-1-1) rallied to salvage a 2-2 tie against Wheaton Academy and came back to beat Kaneland 2-1 last week. They had no such luck against the Redwings, who struck just 1:57 into the game and added two more less than two minutes apart just before halftime.
“I said we needed to survive the first 15 minutes and then what happens? (Two) minutes into the game, they put one away,” Bhatta said. “I feel like it deflated us to a point where the boys’ heads were down within (two) minutes of the game. After that we were able to defend for most of that first half and then they popped two away real quick.”
Benet junior Sam Hepburn, playing his first varsity season, scored the first and last goals for the Redwings. He bookended a powerful offensive showing that saw sophomore T.J. McVey also tally a brace and junior Chris Mankowski score on a bicycle kick.
“It felt good just to get my first goals for varsity, start off the season pretty good,” Hepburn said. “Hopefully there is more to come.”
Hepburn is one of the main newcomers to a strong midfield that also includes Nick Renfro, Anthony Klos and Nick Augustyn. His finish off a cross from Hans Haenicke at with just 1:57 gone in the first half set the tone for the Redwings, who improved to 3-0-0.
Hepburn’s seven-yard rip off a cross from Preston Wray, who finished with two assists, completed the scoring with 25:31 left in the second half.
“His goals were great but just his calmness in the middle and just how composed he is on the ball (is impressive),” Benet coach Sean Wesley said. “He really changes the pace of a game, even a game like this that was that intense.
“You see him ... play at different speeds and be effective. He’s fun to watch. We’re glad to have him.”
Geneva’s young backline of Jack Cannon, Mark Migliazzo, Braden McPheron and Clayton Williams combined to allow nine shots, which at first glance doesn’t seem poor. And the Redwings actually went nearly 30 minutes in the first half without a shot.
But when Benet did squeeze one off, it invariably went in. And the goals were far from gifts.
Mankowski’s bicycle kick goal was particularly memorable, coming from 14 yards and going under the crossbar for a 2-0 lead with 4:30 to go before intermission. He had never before scored on such a shot.
“I’ve tried a couple times, but it’s never really worked before,” Mankowski said. “I was facing away from goal, so I knew I couldn’t head it or really bring it across my body, so I thought I should just try it. It was going slow enough for it to work.”
Mankowski didn’t even feel any pain after landing on his back.
“No, the adrenaline is rushing too much,” he said with a grin.
The Redwings were smiling again 106 seconds later. A free kick from just outside the box deflected off Renfro to McVey, whose emphatic finish increased the Benet cushion to 3-0.
“It was definitely a good boost to score first and score early because it helped us keep the momentum and keep control and dictate the game,” Mankowski said. “Then once we scored two, I like to think of 2-0 as a poison score.
“I think once you get three, you pretty much dictate the game.”
McVey made it 4-0 at the 32:45 mark of the second half when he found the ball in space and unleashed a 25-yard rocket into the lower left corner of the Geneva net.
“It was good,” McVey said of his brace. “The first one was crucial because we pretty much put the game away after that. Then the one in the second half was just a bonus on top of our good performance. It even more sealed the game.”
While the Redwings started five seniors against the Vikings and have a particularly strong junior class, McVey could end up being a linchpin with his ability to put the ball in the back of the net on a regular basis.
“T.J. is always a solid player,” Mankowski said. “We can always count on him to score for us in big games and whenever we need it.
“He always holds up the ball, keeps the ball and helps us get a win.”
The Redwings have done nothing but win so far this fall and have yet to give up a goal. But they are far from satisfied.
“It’s a great start,” McVey said. “We’ve been playing well.
“I don’t think we’ve been playing our greatest. We can definitely do better but our defense has been solid and we’re scoring, so we’re doing the right things.”
For all of the offensive fireworks his team produced, Wesley wasn’t as happy about the style of play.
“We played sloppy,” Wesley said. “I’m happy that the kids were ruthless in the box.
“We weren’t that way in our first two games, so that was nice to see. But we’d like to play a little better soccer than we did tonight.
“We haven’t been on turf a lot yet this year, and we’re not really connecting passes the way we do in training. Hopefully if that comes, we’ll create more quality chances and if the kids are this ruthless, we’ll have a pretty good year.”
Bhatta is still hopeful the Vikings will be successful but noted they need to regroup ahead of Thursday’s game with three-time defending state champion Naperville North.
“I don’t think the energy and effort were there from us and when you play against good teams, the minimum is coming out ready to play,” Bhatta said. “Hopefully, we get a quick turnaround and have the boys ready to play Thursday against a great team in Naperville North and hopefully we can go from there.”
Starting lineups
Benet
GK Vytautus Staniskis
D Thomas Miskin
D Zach Serafin
D Connor Perkins
D Preston Wray
M Sam Hepburn
M Anthony Klos
M Nick Renfro
M Nick Augustyn
F Trent McVey
F Chris Mankowski
Geneva
GK Cal Parise
D Jack Cannon
D Mark Migliazzo
D Braden McPheron
D Clayton WIlliams
M Dominick Peri
M Josh Eiss
M Joe Carli
M Shun Yonchara
F Ethan Hipp
F Christian Diaz
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Sam Hepburn, jr., MF, Benet
Scoring summary
First half
Benet – Sam Hepburn (Hans Haenicke) 38:03
Benet – Chris Mankowski (Preston Wray) 4:30
Benet – Trent McVey (Nick Renfro) 2:44
Second half
Benet – McVey 32:45
Benet – Hepburn (Wray) 25:31