Benet nips Morton late in instant classic
Redwings advance to sectional final on Roe goal in 77th minute
By Curt Herron
HINSDALE -- As the lone member of Benet's 2019 Class AA championship squad on this season's roster, senior Nico Picha has stepped up frequently throughout his career to lead his team in important situations.
But when one of the biggest moments of Tuesday's Class 3A Hinsdale Central Sectional semifinal against Morton occurred in the 77th minute, the four-year performer allowed someone else to step to the forefront at a critical moment. Based on what transpired, it was definitely the right call.
After getting fouled about 25 yards from the Mustangs net, Picha opted not to take the free kick due to a balky ankle and deferred to Nicholas Roe. The junior masterfully placed his attempt inside the near post for the game-winner in a 1-0 upset win over Morton, which is ranked fourth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
It was a case of sweet revenge for the no. 17 Redwings (15-4-1), who lost 2-0 to the Mustangs (20-3-0) Sept. 16 and also fell to them 1-0 last season in the Class 3A Morton Sectional final. The win advanced Benet to the sectional final round for the third-straight time and 10th since 1998.
Morton was denied a chance at its third-consecutive sectional final and trip downstate. The Mustangs have competed in 17 sectional championship games since 1997.
"It was something that we worked toward this entire year and beating these guys was definitely one of the number ones on our board of things to accomplish," Picha said. "And we felt that this was probably one of the games that would propel us into a great position to contest for state.
"I think we dominated more in terms of possession, especially in the first 20 minutes. We came out really aggressive, and I thought that our mentality was just better than theirs. That's really what helped to set the tempo for the game.
"We practice those free kicks a lot, where it's me and him setting up. I took the foul, and my ankle was a little bit sore. Nick said, 'Let me take it,' and I said, 'Go for it.'
“I believed in him since I've seen some of the free kicks that he's taken. They all go pretty much like it did today. The fact that the goalkeeper was not on the left but was right in the middle, and he was still able to slot it in the top corner was amazing.
"I like our mentality. Coming into the season, I wasn't sure how far we'd be able to go in state with losing so many key players. But with the amount of guys who have stepped up, like the guys from JV or who were freshmen last year, it is something that has really impressed me.
“Their ability to keep playing at the highest level and taking it to the best teams in the state has allowed us to get just as far as we did last year, and we feel like we can go even farther."
Roe and Picha have a club connection. It's not surprising that Picha was very confident that Roe, a 2021 Chicagoland Soccer First Team all-stater, could end the drama when he lined up the free kick that was the difference in a match with the atmosphere and intensity of a state semifinal match rather than a sectional semifinal.
"In training, our coaches have given us some new options on free kicks, especially setting Nico and I up. We have some certain things that we can do with them," Roe said. "We play on the same club team, so we're together a lot.
"Morton's a great team and every year when we play them, they give us an amazing game. The conditions today were almost the same as when we played them last year. I like our camaraderie. We've worked so hard this season, and it's easy to work hard for each other. We like each other so much."
Coach Sean Wesley's Redwings advance to Friday's 6 p.m. sectional championship match against host and fourth-seeded Hinsdale Central (16-4-1), which upset the top-seeded Lions 2-0 in the first semifinal match. Benet is seeded third and the no. 19 Red Devils are the four-seed. Fifteenth-ranked Lyons was the top-seed, and Morton was seeded second.
Benet has won five in a row and gone 9-1-1 since its loss at Morton’s Premier Invitational. It was the 11th shutout of the season and the fourth in a row for the Redwings, who started senior goalkeeper Evan Lucas with senior Owen McGarry and juniors Matthew Benka, Nick Nirtaut and Roe along the backline.
Another significant key to the Redwings' success this season is the contributions that have been made by first-year varsity performers. Only seven of the players on their 19-man roster were on last year's 15-6-1 squad. They are seniors Danny Boyle, Peter Hepburn, Colin McGuinn, Lucas, McGarry and Picha and junior Roe.
"This feels great," Wesley said. "I said before the game that I think we should get a ring if we win this game. They're loaded and even when they go to the bench, the guys coming off the bench, they don't drop off at all.
“I'd have agreed if you asked me at the beginning if a 1-0 score for either team is probably what the result would be. I thought we defended really well considering the amount of talent that they have. I thought we actually started the game well, and that set the tone kind of for the whole rest of it.
“It was fun to see out of the boys how hard we worked and doing the little things and winning 50/50 balls, the things that you have to do.
"Brayden (Fagbemi) was an outside winger for us at the beginning of the year, and now he's playing defensive center mid and doing it with a smile. His effort is contagious. Next to him is Peter Hepburn and they are two guys who we count on to kind of do all of the dirty work.
"It showed in the first 15 minutes that there's a determination and a resilience to the group. Sometimes that wavers when you coach a high school team. I say it flows, not just from our top guys. Our no. 22 guy at practice yesterday was going just as hard. It makes the difference, and it's the reason why you win games like this."
Morton fell short in its quest of capturing a third-straight state trophy after seeing an 11-match winning streak halted and losing for the first time since falling 1-0 to Lyons in its Premier Invitational on Sept. 17. It was just the squad's second defeat since falling to Naperville Central in their season opener. Roe's goal was just the ninth that Morton had allowed this season and only the fifth given up during its final 19 matches.
Just as Picha has been a staple on the Redwings' last three successful playoff teams, Ismael Zepeda is the lone Mustangs player to be a member of the program's last three playoff teams. Two of them achieved two of the program's seven state appearances and captured two of the program’s five trophies.
Zepeda played on the 2019 state runnerup team that went 23-4-2, and the 2021 crew that finished fourth at 21-3-3.
Senior Edgar Quintero joined Zepeda on the 8-1-2 2021 spring team. Others who were members of last year's fourth place squad were seniors Juan Ayala, Brandon Flores, Leo Ramirez, Deyair Ruiz and Julian Sotelo, and juniors Francisco Barrera, Alexis Meza, Ivan Ramirez, Josh Trujillo and Sergio Villegas.
"We knew that we were giving a few too many set pieces and eventually that was going to catch up with us," Mustangs coach Jim Bageanis said. "The kid hit a perfect ball. It was no one's fault; we just got beat by a good shot.
“As I told the guys, there's nothing to be ashamed of. We had chances at the end there and Ismael Zepeda was at the end of one that probably was our best chance of the half, but we just didn't get it in there. And that's the way it goes.
"We played our hearts out, and there was no one that didn't give a good effort. But it didn’t go our way tonight, and that's playoff soccer. There were some really good teams that were upset earlier (in the playoffs), and there's no shame being in the sectionals.
“The kids are so dedicated, and they come every day willing to give everything that they have. We've never had to question anyone’s effort. They're a pleasure to coach.
"They come in skilled and are already where they need to be, for the most part. So, we just try to put them in the right positions and get them to jell together by the end of the year for the playoffs and then try to do the best that we can."
Both sides created plenty of drama after the match reached the hour mark. While it looked like extra time might be necessary, there were certainly good opportunities being created.
Some of the top attempts by the Redwings against goalkeeper Brandon Flores during the final stretch were provided by Fagbemi, who had several chances, and Picha. The Mustangs received some of their most threatening tries from Leo Ramirez, Ruiz and Zepeda.
Morton put a lot of pressure on Lucas at the start of the final half. Senior David Cisneros, junior Caleb Mendoza, Ivan Ramirez, Zepeda and Quintero all had dangerous attempts. Lucas finished the game with eight saves.
Benet saw good efforts from senior Ryan Augustyn, sophomore Jack Kuelthau, Picha and Roe.
"I told the team at halftime that it might take one opportunity to win the game," Fagbemi said. "It was back-and-forth. Both teams dominated the game at certain points. Then we got one chance and made it happen, and that's all it takes.
“I like our attitude. We're always encouraging each other and have a positive attitude on the field and off the field. We're really bonding with each other, and it just translates into the game."
Some of Benet's best chances early in the match were offered up by Augustyn, Picha and Fagbemi.
Morton received good tries from Zepeda, Ruiz and Quintero. The Mustangs had most of the threatening attempts during the latter part of the opening half, with the best coming from Zepeda, Ivan Ramirez and Cisneros.
Starting lineups
Benet
GK: Evan Lucas
D: Matthew Benka
D: Owen McGarry
D: Nick Nirtaut
D: Nicholas Roe
MF: Brayden Fagbemi
MF: Nico Picha
MF: Peter Hepburn
MF: Drew Fieldman
F: Jack Kuelthau
F: Ryan Augustyn
Morton
GK: Brandon Flores
D: Leo Ramirez
D: David Cisneros
D: Josh Trujillo
D: Christian Valadez
MF: Edgar Quintero
MF: Julian Sotelo
MF: Caleb Mendoza
MF: Ivan Ramirez
F: Deyair Ruiz
F: Ismael Zepeda
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match:
Nico Picha, sr., MF, Benet;
Nicholas Roe, jr., D, Benet
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Benet: Nicholas Roe [FK], 77'
Redwings advance to sectional final on Roe goal in 77th minute
By Curt Herron
HINSDALE -- As the lone member of Benet's 2019 Class AA championship squad on this season's roster, senior Nico Picha has stepped up frequently throughout his career to lead his team in important situations.
But when one of the biggest moments of Tuesday's Class 3A Hinsdale Central Sectional semifinal against Morton occurred in the 77th minute, the four-year performer allowed someone else to step to the forefront at a critical moment. Based on what transpired, it was definitely the right call.
After getting fouled about 25 yards from the Mustangs net, Picha opted not to take the free kick due to a balky ankle and deferred to Nicholas Roe. The junior masterfully placed his attempt inside the near post for the game-winner in a 1-0 upset win over Morton, which is ranked fourth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
It was a case of sweet revenge for the no. 17 Redwings (15-4-1), who lost 2-0 to the Mustangs (20-3-0) Sept. 16 and also fell to them 1-0 last season in the Class 3A Morton Sectional final. The win advanced Benet to the sectional final round for the third-straight time and 10th since 1998.
Morton was denied a chance at its third-consecutive sectional final and trip downstate. The Mustangs have competed in 17 sectional championship games since 1997.
"It was something that we worked toward this entire year and beating these guys was definitely one of the number ones on our board of things to accomplish," Picha said. "And we felt that this was probably one of the games that would propel us into a great position to contest for state.
"I think we dominated more in terms of possession, especially in the first 20 minutes. We came out really aggressive, and I thought that our mentality was just better than theirs. That's really what helped to set the tempo for the game.
"We practice those free kicks a lot, where it's me and him setting up. I took the foul, and my ankle was a little bit sore. Nick said, 'Let me take it,' and I said, 'Go for it.'
“I believed in him since I've seen some of the free kicks that he's taken. They all go pretty much like it did today. The fact that the goalkeeper was not on the left but was right in the middle, and he was still able to slot it in the top corner was amazing.
"I like our mentality. Coming into the season, I wasn't sure how far we'd be able to go in state with losing so many key players. But with the amount of guys who have stepped up, like the guys from JV or who were freshmen last year, it is something that has really impressed me.
“Their ability to keep playing at the highest level and taking it to the best teams in the state has allowed us to get just as far as we did last year, and we feel like we can go even farther."
Roe and Picha have a club connection. It's not surprising that Picha was very confident that Roe, a 2021 Chicagoland Soccer First Team all-stater, could end the drama when he lined up the free kick that was the difference in a match with the atmosphere and intensity of a state semifinal match rather than a sectional semifinal.
"In training, our coaches have given us some new options on free kicks, especially setting Nico and I up. We have some certain things that we can do with them," Roe said. "We play on the same club team, so we're together a lot.
"Morton's a great team and every year when we play them, they give us an amazing game. The conditions today were almost the same as when we played them last year. I like our camaraderie. We've worked so hard this season, and it's easy to work hard for each other. We like each other so much."
Coach Sean Wesley's Redwings advance to Friday's 6 p.m. sectional championship match against host and fourth-seeded Hinsdale Central (16-4-1), which upset the top-seeded Lions 2-0 in the first semifinal match. Benet is seeded third and the no. 19 Red Devils are the four-seed. Fifteenth-ranked Lyons was the top-seed, and Morton was seeded second.
Benet has won five in a row and gone 9-1-1 since its loss at Morton’s Premier Invitational. It was the 11th shutout of the season and the fourth in a row for the Redwings, who started senior goalkeeper Evan Lucas with senior Owen McGarry and juniors Matthew Benka, Nick Nirtaut and Roe along the backline.
Another significant key to the Redwings' success this season is the contributions that have been made by first-year varsity performers. Only seven of the players on their 19-man roster were on last year's 15-6-1 squad. They are seniors Danny Boyle, Peter Hepburn, Colin McGuinn, Lucas, McGarry and Picha and junior Roe.
"This feels great," Wesley said. "I said before the game that I think we should get a ring if we win this game. They're loaded and even when they go to the bench, the guys coming off the bench, they don't drop off at all.
“I'd have agreed if you asked me at the beginning if a 1-0 score for either team is probably what the result would be. I thought we defended really well considering the amount of talent that they have. I thought we actually started the game well, and that set the tone kind of for the whole rest of it.
“It was fun to see out of the boys how hard we worked and doing the little things and winning 50/50 balls, the things that you have to do.
"Brayden (Fagbemi) was an outside winger for us at the beginning of the year, and now he's playing defensive center mid and doing it with a smile. His effort is contagious. Next to him is Peter Hepburn and they are two guys who we count on to kind of do all of the dirty work.
"It showed in the first 15 minutes that there's a determination and a resilience to the group. Sometimes that wavers when you coach a high school team. I say it flows, not just from our top guys. Our no. 22 guy at practice yesterday was going just as hard. It makes the difference, and it's the reason why you win games like this."
Morton fell short in its quest of capturing a third-straight state trophy after seeing an 11-match winning streak halted and losing for the first time since falling 1-0 to Lyons in its Premier Invitational on Sept. 17. It was just the squad's second defeat since falling to Naperville Central in their season opener. Roe's goal was just the ninth that Morton had allowed this season and only the fifth given up during its final 19 matches.
Just as Picha has been a staple on the Redwings' last three successful playoff teams, Ismael Zepeda is the lone Mustangs player to be a member of the program's last three playoff teams. Two of them achieved two of the program's seven state appearances and captured two of the program’s five trophies.
Zepeda played on the 2019 state runnerup team that went 23-4-2, and the 2021 crew that finished fourth at 21-3-3.
Senior Edgar Quintero joined Zepeda on the 8-1-2 2021 spring team. Others who were members of last year's fourth place squad were seniors Juan Ayala, Brandon Flores, Leo Ramirez, Deyair Ruiz and Julian Sotelo, and juniors Francisco Barrera, Alexis Meza, Ivan Ramirez, Josh Trujillo and Sergio Villegas.
"We knew that we were giving a few too many set pieces and eventually that was going to catch up with us," Mustangs coach Jim Bageanis said. "The kid hit a perfect ball. It was no one's fault; we just got beat by a good shot.
“As I told the guys, there's nothing to be ashamed of. We had chances at the end there and Ismael Zepeda was at the end of one that probably was our best chance of the half, but we just didn't get it in there. And that's the way it goes.
"We played our hearts out, and there was no one that didn't give a good effort. But it didn’t go our way tonight, and that's playoff soccer. There were some really good teams that were upset earlier (in the playoffs), and there's no shame being in the sectionals.
“The kids are so dedicated, and they come every day willing to give everything that they have. We've never had to question anyone’s effort. They're a pleasure to coach.
"They come in skilled and are already where they need to be, for the most part. So, we just try to put them in the right positions and get them to jell together by the end of the year for the playoffs and then try to do the best that we can."
Both sides created plenty of drama after the match reached the hour mark. While it looked like extra time might be necessary, there were certainly good opportunities being created.
Some of the top attempts by the Redwings against goalkeeper Brandon Flores during the final stretch were provided by Fagbemi, who had several chances, and Picha. The Mustangs received some of their most threatening tries from Leo Ramirez, Ruiz and Zepeda.
Morton put a lot of pressure on Lucas at the start of the final half. Senior David Cisneros, junior Caleb Mendoza, Ivan Ramirez, Zepeda and Quintero all had dangerous attempts. Lucas finished the game with eight saves.
Benet saw good efforts from senior Ryan Augustyn, sophomore Jack Kuelthau, Picha and Roe.
"I told the team at halftime that it might take one opportunity to win the game," Fagbemi said. "It was back-and-forth. Both teams dominated the game at certain points. Then we got one chance and made it happen, and that's all it takes.
“I like our attitude. We're always encouraging each other and have a positive attitude on the field and off the field. We're really bonding with each other, and it just translates into the game."
Some of Benet's best chances early in the match were offered up by Augustyn, Picha and Fagbemi.
Morton received good tries from Zepeda, Ruiz and Quintero. The Mustangs had most of the threatening attempts during the latter part of the opening half, with the best coming from Zepeda, Ivan Ramirez and Cisneros.
Starting lineups
Benet
GK: Evan Lucas
D: Matthew Benka
D: Owen McGarry
D: Nick Nirtaut
D: Nicholas Roe
MF: Brayden Fagbemi
MF: Nico Picha
MF: Peter Hepburn
MF: Drew Fieldman
F: Jack Kuelthau
F: Ryan Augustyn
Morton
GK: Brandon Flores
D: Leo Ramirez
D: David Cisneros
D: Josh Trujillo
D: Christian Valadez
MF: Edgar Quintero
MF: Julian Sotelo
MF: Caleb Mendoza
MF: Ivan Ramirez
F: Deyair Ruiz
F: Ismael Zepeda
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match:
Nico Picha, sr., MF, Benet;
Nicholas Roe, jr., D, Benet
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Benet: Nicholas Roe [FK], 77'