Crystal Lake South falls
to Stepanov, Vernon Hills
Cougars junior midfielder delivers 2 corner assists in 2-1 triumph
By Bill McLean
GRAYSLAKE — On your mark, get set … piece!
Second-seeded Vernon Hills and third-seeded Crystal Lake South combined for nothing but set-piece goals in a Grayslake Central Sectional semifinal Wednesday night at William C. Eiserman Stadium.
Vernon Hills got a pair of assists from corner kick ace, junior midfielder Nikita Stepanov, in a highly competitive 2-1 win. Now the Cougars are set to take on the host school in a sectional final Saturday at 3 p.m. Grayslake Central’s top-seeded Rams (16-1-3) edged fourth-seeded Northern Lake Country Conference foe Wauconda 1-0 in Wednesday’s first sectional semifinal.
Crystal Lake South coach Brian Allen was part exasperated, part proud afterward.
“Set pieces … that’s what it came down to,” said Allen, whose Gators (14-5-3) featured only five seniors and won the Fox Valley Conference championship by two points over runnerup Dundee-Crown with a mark of 8-1-0. “We knew what was coming, but you have to credit Vernon Hills.
“We performed ahead of the curve this season, to be honest,” he continued. “But this loss is still painful. I’m proud of what my team gave in 80 minutes tonight. Our guys played hard the whole game.”
Allen then came up with two words that best described his club in 2022.
“Resilient … gritty,” he said.
Winning keeper, Vernon Hills sophomore Brandon Grunfeld, and Crystal Lake South’s Logan Vargas stopped five shots apiece Wednesday night.
If Vernon Hills’ postgame reaction to its big win appeared a bit subdued, there’s a reason.
“We, as coaches, are never happy,” said Vernon Hills coach Mike McCaulou, cracking a brief smile. “But you know what? I don’t think our players are happy, either.
“Our guys keep pushing, keep pushing.
“Special,” he said of his side, which won its first Central Suburban League title (North Division) this fall and ranks as an honorable mention school in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 listings. The Cougars improved to 13-7-2 in brisk but pleasant conditions.
“They don’t even know how special they are,” McCaulou added.
Stepanov’s first corner found the top of the head of senior forward Aleksa Arbutina, whose crafty flick jostled twine in the fifth minute.
“We enjoyed momentum early,” said Stepanov, who estimated seven or eight of his assists this fall have come via corners. “We practice set pieces a lot, especially this time of year.
“I’ve been playing soccer since I was 3, and I think I was 4 when I kicked my first set-piece assist.”
The Cougars led 1-0 at the break and held on to the advantage until the 53rd minute, when Crystal Lake South reserve junior midfielder Garrett Hess drew a foul just outside an elbow of the Cougars’ box.
Gators’ junior midfielder Nolan Getzinger, took the free kick and somehow blasted a laser around foes and through a tight window near the far post for his 22nd goal of the season.
A loud, energetic team celebration ensued.
Stepanov stepped up again in the 66th minute. His corner met the forehead of senior midfielder Milan Raval, who nodded a short shot past senior goalkeeper Vargas.
Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match choice?
Easy.
Take a bow, Mr. Stepanov.
“Nikita strikes the ball well, and he’s technically sound,” McCaulou said. “He gets such whip on his services — whip with pace.”
Footnotes
There might not be a more intense coach in Illinois than Crystal Lake South’s Allen. His passion for the game and coaching was evident right after Wednesday night’s kickoff. Had there been 11 brick walls planted in Grayslake Central’s turf, each would have been obliterated by a starting Gator if Allen commanded it. “We feed off intensity,” Hess
said. “He fires all of us up.” … McCaulou, on Saturday’s Grayslake Central Sectional final. “Should be a great one, the one seed (Rams) versus the two seed.” … Hess’ favorite moment of 2022 was the sound of the final horn after the Gators’ 8-2 defeat of visiting Hampshire. The victory clinched the Fox Valley Conference title. … Getzinger had a one-word description for Crystal Lake South’s 2-1 home overtime defeat of Huntley on Oct. 11. “Huge.” … The three goals off set pieces Wednesday night didn’t surprise McCaulou in the least. “Every team works hard on set pieces in practices for playoff games, because the difference in so many postseason games is a set piece goal.” … Gators coach Allen, to his boys right after Vernon Hills scored the first tally of the night in the fifth minute: “Settle in. There’s an eternity left.”
Starting lineups
Crystal Lake South
GK Logan Vargas
D Andrew Smart
D Blake Marunde
D Pierce Johnson
D Josh Washington
MF Nick Prus
MF Brendan Lewis
MF Nick Velasco
MF Nolan Getzinger
MF Kevin Cardoso
F Ali Ahmed
Vernon Hills
GK Brandon Grunfeld
D Brandon Marquez
D Dylan Kaufman
D Sid Avula
MF Muxe Marhanele
MF Charlie Rogers
MF Ocho Finn
MF Milan Raval
MF Rudra Kukian
MF Nikita Stepanov
F Aleksa Arbutina
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match:
Nikita Stepanov, jr., MF, Vernon Hills
Scoring summary
First half
Vernon Hills — Arbutina (Stepanov), 5’
Second half
Crystal Lake South — Getzinger (FK), 53’
Vernon Hills — Raval (Stepanov), 66’
to Stepanov, Vernon Hills
Cougars junior midfielder delivers 2 corner assists in 2-1 triumph
By Bill McLean
GRAYSLAKE — On your mark, get set … piece!
Second-seeded Vernon Hills and third-seeded Crystal Lake South combined for nothing but set-piece goals in a Grayslake Central Sectional semifinal Wednesday night at William C. Eiserman Stadium.
Vernon Hills got a pair of assists from corner kick ace, junior midfielder Nikita Stepanov, in a highly competitive 2-1 win. Now the Cougars are set to take on the host school in a sectional final Saturday at 3 p.m. Grayslake Central’s top-seeded Rams (16-1-3) edged fourth-seeded Northern Lake Country Conference foe Wauconda 1-0 in Wednesday’s first sectional semifinal.
Crystal Lake South coach Brian Allen was part exasperated, part proud afterward.
“Set pieces … that’s what it came down to,” said Allen, whose Gators (14-5-3) featured only five seniors and won the Fox Valley Conference championship by two points over runnerup Dundee-Crown with a mark of 8-1-0. “We knew what was coming, but you have to credit Vernon Hills.
“We performed ahead of the curve this season, to be honest,” he continued. “But this loss is still painful. I’m proud of what my team gave in 80 minutes tonight. Our guys played hard the whole game.”
Allen then came up with two words that best described his club in 2022.
“Resilient … gritty,” he said.
Winning keeper, Vernon Hills sophomore Brandon Grunfeld, and Crystal Lake South’s Logan Vargas stopped five shots apiece Wednesday night.
If Vernon Hills’ postgame reaction to its big win appeared a bit subdued, there’s a reason.
“We, as coaches, are never happy,” said Vernon Hills coach Mike McCaulou, cracking a brief smile. “But you know what? I don’t think our players are happy, either.
“Our guys keep pushing, keep pushing.
“Special,” he said of his side, which won its first Central Suburban League title (North Division) this fall and ranks as an honorable mention school in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 listings. The Cougars improved to 13-7-2 in brisk but pleasant conditions.
“They don’t even know how special they are,” McCaulou added.
Stepanov’s first corner found the top of the head of senior forward Aleksa Arbutina, whose crafty flick jostled twine in the fifth minute.
“We enjoyed momentum early,” said Stepanov, who estimated seven or eight of his assists this fall have come via corners. “We practice set pieces a lot, especially this time of year.
“I’ve been playing soccer since I was 3, and I think I was 4 when I kicked my first set-piece assist.”
The Cougars led 1-0 at the break and held on to the advantage until the 53rd minute, when Crystal Lake South reserve junior midfielder Garrett Hess drew a foul just outside an elbow of the Cougars’ box.
Gators’ junior midfielder Nolan Getzinger, took the free kick and somehow blasted a laser around foes and through a tight window near the far post for his 22nd goal of the season.
A loud, energetic team celebration ensued.
Stepanov stepped up again in the 66th minute. His corner met the forehead of senior midfielder Milan Raval, who nodded a short shot past senior goalkeeper Vargas.
Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match choice?
Easy.
Take a bow, Mr. Stepanov.
“Nikita strikes the ball well, and he’s technically sound,” McCaulou said. “He gets such whip on his services — whip with pace.”
Footnotes
There might not be a more intense coach in Illinois than Crystal Lake South’s Allen. His passion for the game and coaching was evident right after Wednesday night’s kickoff. Had there been 11 brick walls planted in Grayslake Central’s turf, each would have been obliterated by a starting Gator if Allen commanded it. “We feed off intensity,” Hess
said. “He fires all of us up.” … McCaulou, on Saturday’s Grayslake Central Sectional final. “Should be a great one, the one seed (Rams) versus the two seed.” … Hess’ favorite moment of 2022 was the sound of the final horn after the Gators’ 8-2 defeat of visiting Hampshire. The victory clinched the Fox Valley Conference title. … Getzinger had a one-word description for Crystal Lake South’s 2-1 home overtime defeat of Huntley on Oct. 11. “Huge.” … The three goals off set pieces Wednesday night didn’t surprise McCaulou in the least. “Every team works hard on set pieces in practices for playoff games, because the difference in so many postseason games is a set piece goal.” … Gators coach Allen, to his boys right after Vernon Hills scored the first tally of the night in the fifth minute: “Settle in. There’s an eternity left.”
Starting lineups
Crystal Lake South
GK Logan Vargas
D Andrew Smart
D Blake Marunde
D Pierce Johnson
D Josh Washington
MF Nick Prus
MF Brendan Lewis
MF Nick Velasco
MF Nolan Getzinger
MF Kevin Cardoso
F Ali Ahmed
Vernon Hills
GK Brandon Grunfeld
D Brandon Marquez
D Dylan Kaufman
D Sid Avula
MF Muxe Marhanele
MF Charlie Rogers
MF Ocho Finn
MF Milan Raval
MF Rudra Kukian
MF Nikita Stepanov
F Aleksa Arbutina
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match:
Nikita Stepanov, jr., MF, Vernon Hills
Scoring summary
First half
Vernon Hills — Arbutina (Stepanov), 5’
Second half
Crystal Lake South — Getzinger (FK), 53’
Vernon Hills — Raval (Stepanov), 66’