Boylan wears down Washington
Titans' possession game keys 2nd half comeback in 2-1 win
By Dave Owen
HOFFMAN ESTATES – As a game progresses, Boylan truly does start boiling.
“We play a possession game,” first-year coach Bart Boguszewski said. “So as the game goes on we usually break a team down just because of them having to chase the ball. We average I think three goals in the second half and only one and a half in the first.
“It (the game) usually goes our way the second half. We've gone 0-0 first half and won games 7-0.”
While Friday’s Class AA state semifinal match with Washington didn’t tilt quite that much after the break, the Titans (26-1-0) did enough to battle back from a 1-0 halftime deficit to edge Washington (18-5-2) from the Chicago Public League.
Boylan advances to face Triad in Saturday’s 1 p.m. state title match. Washington faces Grayslake Central in the 11 a.m. third place match.
If wearing down foes is an 80-minute goal for the Titans, Washington senior Julian Martinez accomplished the task in a matter of seconds 26:20 before halftime.
On a play initiated by Jose Espinoza’s corner kick, Martinez took the ensuing 10-yard shot off the set piece send which was stopped at the right post.
After Boylan goalkeeper Alyas Fritz’s diving save at the right post, Martinez hustled to the loose rebound and netted his 26th goal of the year to put the Patriots up 1-0.
“We had a corner kick,” Martinez said. “He (Espinoza) played it first post, and the other team I guess was caught sleeping.
“The ball came to me, I hit it; it rebounded off the post. I was the only one to react in time, and I put it (the rebound) in the back of the net.”
Martinez’s extra effort was again on display in the 17th minute. With Boylan making a series of cross-field passes in the defensive zone to set up a play, Martinez burst into the passing lane to tip the ball forward and come an eyelash away from a breakaway when goalkeeper Fritz narrowly beat him to the loose ball in the box.
Beyond his speed and alertness, Martinez noted another key to Washington’s strong start.
“We were getting the ball to our striker (Lenardo Solis) and letting him distribute,” he said. “I thought that was when our attack was strongest.”
Boylan began to unleash its own attack late in the first half.
In the 36th minute, Taylor Sowell was fouled to set up a 23-yard free kick. Sowell’s set piece liner was tipped just over the crossbar by leaping Washington goalkeeper Brayan Lozano.
The ensuing corner kick was cleared by Washington’s Cesar Martinez and Angel Huerta, and a Boylan 35-yard free kick in the final seconds of the half was cleared out of bounds by the Patriots’ Angel Larios.
For Boylan, a 1-0 hole was no cause for panic.
“I told the boys just to be patient,” Boguszewski said. “Don't rush anything, stay disciplined. Goals will come once a team wears out.”
Washington hardly appeared to be wearing out when Espinoza lined a 33-yard free kick over the crossbar with 35:40 left.
But Boylan followed with great teamwork four minutes later. Five players touched the ball in the offensive third before a Washington foul set up a 25-yard Sowell free kick. Sowell’s hard low one-hop liner was deftly saved by Lozano.
Sowell’s next quality chance would come with 28:52 to play – and tie the score.
“It's hard for teams to stick with a player,” Boguszewski said. “That's how we got that first goal, us just holding the ball a good 3-4 minutes.”
Another great passing sequence set the table.
“I think it was Jovanny Millan who played it to me,” Boylan midfielder Victor Ibarra said, “and I just slotted it in to Taylor.”
Ibarra’s nice pass hit Sowell in stride up the left side. Sowell did the rest, finding just enough space inside the near post on his 15-yard shot to make the score 1-1.
“We were playing the ball around the back,” Sowell said, “and then Victor slotted it through to me. Then I turned and shot it near the top of the box.”
Said Boguszewski: “We had the gap in the middle where we got the ball to Victor, and he looked up. It's really tough to mark a guy as quick as Taylor. When you can slot a ball in to him, he usually takes care of business.”
Washington attempted an answer with a great sustained chance three minutes later.
Fritz came out to break up an Angelo Williams-to-Huerta play in the box, but with the net vacated, Ibarra saved the day with a block of Martinez’s rebound try that would have put the Patriots back in front.
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match Ibarra made an impact all over the field and was again an offensive catalyst on Boylan’s go-ahead goal with 20:54 left.
Forward Jack Bonavia sprinted after Ibarra’s nice send and was taken down from behind in the box. Bonavia did the rest, depositing the penalty kick to the lower left of a diving Lozano to make the score 2-1 Boylan.
“I started in a routine of just a casual run up,” Bonavia said, “and then I stutter step. Then if the goalie takes a half step, I slot it into the corner. I just try to keep my composure every time I step up.”
The goal was Bonavia’s 21st this fall, just behind Bryan Sanchez (23) for the team lead.
“I think we've only had five PKs or so (this year),” Boguszewski said. “Usually when we get in the box, it’s so quick that teams don't get a chance to give us a whack.
“But all the PKs we have gotten have been in tournaments or championship games. In the Barrington tournament final with Lake Zurich, the same thing happened. Bryan got hit, and Jack put it away.
“The style of play the boys do is one-two touch, and we’re in shooting already. By the time they can hit us, it's too late.”
Washington assistant coach Ricardo Suarez summed up the turn of events that shifted the tide to Boylan’s favor.
“The penalty obviously hurt,” Suarez said. “That was the game-winning goal. And their movement with the ball was kind of confusing us a little bit. They got some attacks off good plays.
“We were prepared for them, but they're a really good team. And they showed that in the second half.”
Washington’s luck got even worse with 17:07 left to play.
After Lozano made an initial save on Jose Lopez’s shot, the goalkeeper charged out to his right to toward the upper corner of the 18-yard box in pursuit of the loose ball. He stumbled and fell hard to the turf; he stayed down for several minutes.
“It was more like a punch to the right eye,” said Washington head coach Alvaro Perez, whose 301-win career includes the 2013 Class AA title. “Initially he couldn't see, and with that he was out the rest of the game. But he appears to be OK for tomorrow, so he'll be back.”
Junior backup Samuel Cruz entered at goalkeeper, and was tested with 11:15 to play when he swatted Sowell’s 20-yard shot wide of the net.
Washington hardly went quietly. With 7:55 left, Christian Aparicio’s nice right-side send produced a Huerta header that went just wide of the left post.
An Aparicio steal with 5:05 to go led to a Martinez shot in the box that also went just wide left.
That would be Washington’s final quality chance. In the final 30 seconds, Sowell won a 50/50 ball 40 yards out and carried to midfield. He combined with Sanchez to send the ball to the offensive end line as time expired.
“We just were caught on our heels the whole second half,’ Martinez said. “We couldn't advance with the ball the way we did in the first half.”
For Boylan, the win adds a recent chapter to a rich program history. The Titans have claimed 10 previous state trophies, including the 2010 Class 3A title under coach Chris Mera and a pair of second places (most recently in 2005 under current Sycamore coach David Bachta).
But that 2010 title was Boylan’s last state trophy, a drought the program was eager to end.
“It means a lot,” Bonavia said. “We still hear about the guys who played in 2010. We want to take a step ahead and in 20 years be those guys that little kids are talking about when they play for Boylan.
“We want to represent Boylan as one of the best teams in history, and we're going to do that tomorrow.”
While Boylan seeks a state title, Washington can take pride in a great run that produced 10 wins in its last 12 games in crunch time. The other loss came in the Chicago Public League tournament championship against Payton, who they gained revenge against in the supersectional round.
“They've been special from the start,” Suarez said. “We have 14 seniors on varsity, and their leadership really showed throughout the year. And we have a strong sophomore class that surprised us.
“With last season not being a true season (a non-playoff spring campaign) we had some unknowns, and they really stepped up. As the season went on, they just jelled together. When the playoffs started we really took off.
“The city playoffs pushed us forward Then once state hit, we found a good groove until we ran into the game today.”
Starting lineups
Boylan
GK Alyas Fritz
D Cole Carter
D Nathan Dorado
D George Fey
D Adan Pina
M Jovanny Millan
M Taylor Sowell
M Victor Ibarra
M Jose Lopez
F Jack Bonavia
F Bryan Sanchez
Washington
GK Brayan Lozano
D Cesar Martinez
D Christian Ramirez
D Sebastian Ramirez
D Giovanni Rosas
M Raul Flores
M Julian Martinez
M Gabriel Fuentes
M Christian Aparicio
F Lenardo Solis
F Angelo Williams
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Victor Ibarra, jr. M, Boylan
Scoring summary
First half
W- Julian Martinez, 14’
Second half
B- Taylor Sowell (Victor Ibarra assist), 52’
B- Jack Bonavia (PK), 60’
Titans' possession game keys 2nd half comeback in 2-1 win
By Dave Owen
HOFFMAN ESTATES – As a game progresses, Boylan truly does start boiling.
“We play a possession game,” first-year coach Bart Boguszewski said. “So as the game goes on we usually break a team down just because of them having to chase the ball. We average I think three goals in the second half and only one and a half in the first.
“It (the game) usually goes our way the second half. We've gone 0-0 first half and won games 7-0.”
While Friday’s Class AA state semifinal match with Washington didn’t tilt quite that much after the break, the Titans (26-1-0) did enough to battle back from a 1-0 halftime deficit to edge Washington (18-5-2) from the Chicago Public League.
Boylan advances to face Triad in Saturday’s 1 p.m. state title match. Washington faces Grayslake Central in the 11 a.m. third place match.
If wearing down foes is an 80-minute goal for the Titans, Washington senior Julian Martinez accomplished the task in a matter of seconds 26:20 before halftime.
On a play initiated by Jose Espinoza’s corner kick, Martinez took the ensuing 10-yard shot off the set piece send which was stopped at the right post.
After Boylan goalkeeper Alyas Fritz’s diving save at the right post, Martinez hustled to the loose rebound and netted his 26th goal of the year to put the Patriots up 1-0.
“We had a corner kick,” Martinez said. “He (Espinoza) played it first post, and the other team I guess was caught sleeping.
“The ball came to me, I hit it; it rebounded off the post. I was the only one to react in time, and I put it (the rebound) in the back of the net.”
Martinez’s extra effort was again on display in the 17th minute. With Boylan making a series of cross-field passes in the defensive zone to set up a play, Martinez burst into the passing lane to tip the ball forward and come an eyelash away from a breakaway when goalkeeper Fritz narrowly beat him to the loose ball in the box.
Beyond his speed and alertness, Martinez noted another key to Washington’s strong start.
“We were getting the ball to our striker (Lenardo Solis) and letting him distribute,” he said. “I thought that was when our attack was strongest.”
Boylan began to unleash its own attack late in the first half.
In the 36th minute, Taylor Sowell was fouled to set up a 23-yard free kick. Sowell’s set piece liner was tipped just over the crossbar by leaping Washington goalkeeper Brayan Lozano.
The ensuing corner kick was cleared by Washington’s Cesar Martinez and Angel Huerta, and a Boylan 35-yard free kick in the final seconds of the half was cleared out of bounds by the Patriots’ Angel Larios.
For Boylan, a 1-0 hole was no cause for panic.
“I told the boys just to be patient,” Boguszewski said. “Don't rush anything, stay disciplined. Goals will come once a team wears out.”
Washington hardly appeared to be wearing out when Espinoza lined a 33-yard free kick over the crossbar with 35:40 left.
But Boylan followed with great teamwork four minutes later. Five players touched the ball in the offensive third before a Washington foul set up a 25-yard Sowell free kick. Sowell’s hard low one-hop liner was deftly saved by Lozano.
Sowell’s next quality chance would come with 28:52 to play – and tie the score.
“It's hard for teams to stick with a player,” Boguszewski said. “That's how we got that first goal, us just holding the ball a good 3-4 minutes.”
Another great passing sequence set the table.
“I think it was Jovanny Millan who played it to me,” Boylan midfielder Victor Ibarra said, “and I just slotted it in to Taylor.”
Ibarra’s nice pass hit Sowell in stride up the left side. Sowell did the rest, finding just enough space inside the near post on his 15-yard shot to make the score 1-1.
“We were playing the ball around the back,” Sowell said, “and then Victor slotted it through to me. Then I turned and shot it near the top of the box.”
Said Boguszewski: “We had the gap in the middle where we got the ball to Victor, and he looked up. It's really tough to mark a guy as quick as Taylor. When you can slot a ball in to him, he usually takes care of business.”
Washington attempted an answer with a great sustained chance three minutes later.
Fritz came out to break up an Angelo Williams-to-Huerta play in the box, but with the net vacated, Ibarra saved the day with a block of Martinez’s rebound try that would have put the Patriots back in front.
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match Ibarra made an impact all over the field and was again an offensive catalyst on Boylan’s go-ahead goal with 20:54 left.
Forward Jack Bonavia sprinted after Ibarra’s nice send and was taken down from behind in the box. Bonavia did the rest, depositing the penalty kick to the lower left of a diving Lozano to make the score 2-1 Boylan.
“I started in a routine of just a casual run up,” Bonavia said, “and then I stutter step. Then if the goalie takes a half step, I slot it into the corner. I just try to keep my composure every time I step up.”
The goal was Bonavia’s 21st this fall, just behind Bryan Sanchez (23) for the team lead.
“I think we've only had five PKs or so (this year),” Boguszewski said. “Usually when we get in the box, it’s so quick that teams don't get a chance to give us a whack.
“But all the PKs we have gotten have been in tournaments or championship games. In the Barrington tournament final with Lake Zurich, the same thing happened. Bryan got hit, and Jack put it away.
“The style of play the boys do is one-two touch, and we’re in shooting already. By the time they can hit us, it's too late.”
Washington assistant coach Ricardo Suarez summed up the turn of events that shifted the tide to Boylan’s favor.
“The penalty obviously hurt,” Suarez said. “That was the game-winning goal. And their movement with the ball was kind of confusing us a little bit. They got some attacks off good plays.
“We were prepared for them, but they're a really good team. And they showed that in the second half.”
Washington’s luck got even worse with 17:07 left to play.
After Lozano made an initial save on Jose Lopez’s shot, the goalkeeper charged out to his right to toward the upper corner of the 18-yard box in pursuit of the loose ball. He stumbled and fell hard to the turf; he stayed down for several minutes.
“It was more like a punch to the right eye,” said Washington head coach Alvaro Perez, whose 301-win career includes the 2013 Class AA title. “Initially he couldn't see, and with that he was out the rest of the game. But he appears to be OK for tomorrow, so he'll be back.”
Junior backup Samuel Cruz entered at goalkeeper, and was tested with 11:15 to play when he swatted Sowell’s 20-yard shot wide of the net.
Washington hardly went quietly. With 7:55 left, Christian Aparicio’s nice right-side send produced a Huerta header that went just wide of the left post.
An Aparicio steal with 5:05 to go led to a Martinez shot in the box that also went just wide left.
That would be Washington’s final quality chance. In the final 30 seconds, Sowell won a 50/50 ball 40 yards out and carried to midfield. He combined with Sanchez to send the ball to the offensive end line as time expired.
“We just were caught on our heels the whole second half,’ Martinez said. “We couldn't advance with the ball the way we did in the first half.”
For Boylan, the win adds a recent chapter to a rich program history. The Titans have claimed 10 previous state trophies, including the 2010 Class 3A title under coach Chris Mera and a pair of second places (most recently in 2005 under current Sycamore coach David Bachta).
But that 2010 title was Boylan’s last state trophy, a drought the program was eager to end.
“It means a lot,” Bonavia said. “We still hear about the guys who played in 2010. We want to take a step ahead and in 20 years be those guys that little kids are talking about when they play for Boylan.
“We want to represent Boylan as one of the best teams in history, and we're going to do that tomorrow.”
While Boylan seeks a state title, Washington can take pride in a great run that produced 10 wins in its last 12 games in crunch time. The other loss came in the Chicago Public League tournament championship against Payton, who they gained revenge against in the supersectional round.
“They've been special from the start,” Suarez said. “We have 14 seniors on varsity, and their leadership really showed throughout the year. And we have a strong sophomore class that surprised us.
“With last season not being a true season (a non-playoff spring campaign) we had some unknowns, and they really stepped up. As the season went on, they just jelled together. When the playoffs started we really took off.
“The city playoffs pushed us forward Then once state hit, we found a good groove until we ran into the game today.”
Starting lineups
Boylan
GK Alyas Fritz
D Cole Carter
D Nathan Dorado
D George Fey
D Adan Pina
M Jovanny Millan
M Taylor Sowell
M Victor Ibarra
M Jose Lopez
F Jack Bonavia
F Bryan Sanchez
Washington
GK Brayan Lozano
D Cesar Martinez
D Christian Ramirez
D Sebastian Ramirez
D Giovanni Rosas
M Raul Flores
M Julian Martinez
M Gabriel Fuentes
M Christian Aparicio
F Lenardo Solis
F Angelo Williams
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Victor Ibarra, jr. M, Boylan
Scoring summary
First half
W- Julian Martinez, 14’
Second half
B- Taylor Sowell (Victor Ibarra assist), 52’
B- Jack Bonavia (PK), 60’