5 Zell goals only enough for Senior Day tie
Cristo Rey rallies 3 times for 5-5 draw
By Rusty Silber
DEERFIELD -- Based on this season's history, the Sunday afternoon match between Cristo Rey and host Rochelle Zell might not have been expected to cause fireworks.
But that all changed quickly. Rochelle Zell went ahead 3-0 in the first 9 minutes, before the Cristeros rallied to tie the match in the 52nd minute. Cristo came back twice more to make final 5-5 in a wild Chicago Prep Conference matchup.
Sunday the conditions on the grass field were a bit slick and muddy in some areas from rain overnight and over the last week.
The first meeting between the two teams was an early-season affair that saw Rochelle Zell take a 2-1 win August 28 at Harrison Park in Chicago.
"We took care of business last time, and it was a very intense game," Rochelle Zell coach David Martinez said. "When you get up three goals you have to hold up that lead.
"We definitely made some mistakes defensively and all over the field. A lot of them led to breakaway goals which isn't good. Cristo Rey found a way to pass around us, pass through us and get easy opportunities. We just have to find a way to defend better."
Besides what Cristo Rey delivered, the Tigers had to process five shots saved off the line by their opponents and three other bang off the posts.
"We just didn't capitalize, and it's something to work on," Martinez said. "We just don't have the time with all of the games and the lack of practices. Since, we lose Fridays and Saturdays with Shabbat. It's really tough, but we're doing what we can."
As for Cristo Rey (2-9-1, 2-3-1), the comeback and holding off Rochelle Zell deivered relief and concern at the same time.
"Last time was a good game. (Rochelle Zell) is very competitive, and I like playing against them," Cristo Rey coach Manny Chavez said. "They have some nice, skilled kids and make it a good game. I just wanted our group to keep fighting, and I didn't expect us to comeback like that.
"It was a good matchup. We do have a young team, and our defense is pretty much all freshman. (Having defenders at the goal line) it's something that we stress to help out our goalie. It's not something I like, and at least the balls didn't go in."
It was also Senior Day for Rochelle Zell, which led to high energy in the opening minutes. Isaac Levitan scored first in the fourth minute off a service from Adam Budin. For the member of the Class of 2020's overall effort, Levitan was named Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match.
"It was Senior Day and we started out really strong," Levitan said. "We had three goals out of the gate with high intensity. We got too comfortable too early. That resulted in us slacking a little bit.
"Then they scored goals back, and we commited some stupid fouls in the box. I guess we did regroup a little and had some strong play from our forwards. I think we need to do a better job in the back."
Rochelle Zell extended its lead when Budin found Eli Gurin free, and he finished for a 2-0 advantage in the sixth minute. That was followed by Noah Brody's score on an assist from Levitan for a 3-0 lead before the 10th minute.
Cristo Rey worked its way back with a pair of goals before the end of half that closed the gap. After a tackle in the box for a foul, Angel Dominguez scored on a penalty kick in the 27th minute. Vincente Garcia brought the Cristeros closer with a finish off a cross from Marco Hernandez in the 39h minute.
The visitors tied the match up at 3-3 in the 52nd minute after a handball in the penalty area. Freddy Cardenas converted the PK.
Rochelle Zell needed just 20 seconds to bounce back. Yabi Silvers found the back of the net off a feed from Levitan for a 4-3 lead.
The Cristeros refused to yield and found an opening to draw even at 4-4 and cap an intense sequence that saw three goals scored in three minutes. Ronaldo Murillo tallied while left unmarked off a pass from Garcia in the 54th minute.
Rochelle Zell's final attempt to put the Senior Day game away came on an Ari Rose volley-kick goal in the 74th minute off a corner kick from Noah Brody.
"It was very hard to keep your composure as a team," said Rosen, who also plays baseball and basketball. "We just had to keep our shape. Anything can happen on the field."
Four minutes from time, Murillo brought Cristo Rey even. The score came from a feed from Fernando Alvarez.
"I just had balance with my feet with the wet field," Murillo said. "I just tried not to do any quick movements. You have to get the ball first before you get moving. You don't want to make the move right away."
Starting lineups
Cristo Rey
GK-Saul Flores Garcia
D-Guadalupa Rodriguez
D-Brian Rodriguez
D-Brandon Perez
D-Kevin Guzman
MF-Hector Delgado
MF-Freddy Cardenas
MF-Marco Hernandez
MF-Ronaldo Murillo
F-Angel Dominguez
F-Carlos Arroyo
Rochelle Zell
GK-Jonah Hammel
D-Adam Budin
D-Evan Dayan
D-Matt Weiss
D-Gabe Gruenberg
MF-Isaac Levitan
MF-Harrison Harkavy
MF-Josh Winick
F-Ari Rosen
F-Noah Brody
F-Eli Gurin
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Isaac Levitan, sr., MF, Rochelle Zell
Referees: Sam Nachampassak (center), Tom Guidara, Guy Ross
Scoring summary
First half
RZ-Isaac Levitan (Adam Budin) 4'
RZ-Eli Gurin (Budin) 6'
RZ-Noah Brody (Levitan) 9'
CR-Angel Dominguez (PK) 27'
CR-Vincente Garcia (Marco Hernandez) 39'
Second half
CR-Freddy Cardenas (PK) 52'
RZ-Yabi Silvers (Levitan) 52'
CR-Ronaldo Murillo (Garcia) 54'
RZ-Ari Rosen (Noah) 74'
CR-Murillo (Fernando Alvarez) 76'
Cristo Rey rallies 3 times for 5-5 draw
By Rusty Silber
DEERFIELD -- Based on this season's history, the Sunday afternoon match between Cristo Rey and host Rochelle Zell might not have been expected to cause fireworks.
But that all changed quickly. Rochelle Zell went ahead 3-0 in the first 9 minutes, before the Cristeros rallied to tie the match in the 52nd minute. Cristo came back twice more to make final 5-5 in a wild Chicago Prep Conference matchup.
Sunday the conditions on the grass field were a bit slick and muddy in some areas from rain overnight and over the last week.
The first meeting between the two teams was an early-season affair that saw Rochelle Zell take a 2-1 win August 28 at Harrison Park in Chicago.
"We took care of business last time, and it was a very intense game," Rochelle Zell coach David Martinez said. "When you get up three goals you have to hold up that lead.
"We definitely made some mistakes defensively and all over the field. A lot of them led to breakaway goals which isn't good. Cristo Rey found a way to pass around us, pass through us and get easy opportunities. We just have to find a way to defend better."
Besides what Cristo Rey delivered, the Tigers had to process five shots saved off the line by their opponents and three other bang off the posts.
"We just didn't capitalize, and it's something to work on," Martinez said. "We just don't have the time with all of the games and the lack of practices. Since, we lose Fridays and Saturdays with Shabbat. It's really tough, but we're doing what we can."
As for Cristo Rey (2-9-1, 2-3-1), the comeback and holding off Rochelle Zell deivered relief and concern at the same time.
"Last time was a good game. (Rochelle Zell) is very competitive, and I like playing against them," Cristo Rey coach Manny Chavez said. "They have some nice, skilled kids and make it a good game. I just wanted our group to keep fighting, and I didn't expect us to comeback like that.
"It was a good matchup. We do have a young team, and our defense is pretty much all freshman. (Having defenders at the goal line) it's something that we stress to help out our goalie. It's not something I like, and at least the balls didn't go in."
It was also Senior Day for Rochelle Zell, which led to high energy in the opening minutes. Isaac Levitan scored first in the fourth minute off a service from Adam Budin. For the member of the Class of 2020's overall effort, Levitan was named Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match.
"It was Senior Day and we started out really strong," Levitan said. "We had three goals out of the gate with high intensity. We got too comfortable too early. That resulted in us slacking a little bit.
"Then they scored goals back, and we commited some stupid fouls in the box. I guess we did regroup a little and had some strong play from our forwards. I think we need to do a better job in the back."
Rochelle Zell extended its lead when Budin found Eli Gurin free, and he finished for a 2-0 advantage in the sixth minute. That was followed by Noah Brody's score on an assist from Levitan for a 3-0 lead before the 10th minute.
Cristo Rey worked its way back with a pair of goals before the end of half that closed the gap. After a tackle in the box for a foul, Angel Dominguez scored on a penalty kick in the 27th minute. Vincente Garcia brought the Cristeros closer with a finish off a cross from Marco Hernandez in the 39h minute.
The visitors tied the match up at 3-3 in the 52nd minute after a handball in the penalty area. Freddy Cardenas converted the PK.
Rochelle Zell needed just 20 seconds to bounce back. Yabi Silvers found the back of the net off a feed from Levitan for a 4-3 lead.
The Cristeros refused to yield and found an opening to draw even at 4-4 and cap an intense sequence that saw three goals scored in three minutes. Ronaldo Murillo tallied while left unmarked off a pass from Garcia in the 54th minute.
Rochelle Zell's final attempt to put the Senior Day game away came on an Ari Rose volley-kick goal in the 74th minute off a corner kick from Noah Brody.
"It was very hard to keep your composure as a team," said Rosen, who also plays baseball and basketball. "We just had to keep our shape. Anything can happen on the field."
Four minutes from time, Murillo brought Cristo Rey even. The score came from a feed from Fernando Alvarez.
"I just had balance with my feet with the wet field," Murillo said. "I just tried not to do any quick movements. You have to get the ball first before you get moving. You don't want to make the move right away."
Starting lineups
Cristo Rey
GK-Saul Flores Garcia
D-Guadalupa Rodriguez
D-Brian Rodriguez
D-Brandon Perez
D-Kevin Guzman
MF-Hector Delgado
MF-Freddy Cardenas
MF-Marco Hernandez
MF-Ronaldo Murillo
F-Angel Dominguez
F-Carlos Arroyo
Rochelle Zell
GK-Jonah Hammel
D-Adam Budin
D-Evan Dayan
D-Matt Weiss
D-Gabe Gruenberg
MF-Isaac Levitan
MF-Harrison Harkavy
MF-Josh Winick
F-Ari Rosen
F-Noah Brody
F-Eli Gurin
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Isaac Levitan, sr., MF, Rochelle Zell
Referees: Sam Nachampassak (center), Tom Guidara, Guy Ross
Scoring summary
First half
RZ-Isaac Levitan (Adam Budin) 4'
RZ-Eli Gurin (Budin) 6'
RZ-Noah Brody (Levitan) 9'
CR-Angel Dominguez (PK) 27'
CR-Vincente Garcia (Marco Hernandez) 39'
Second half
CR-Freddy Cardenas (PK) 52'
RZ-Yabi Silvers (Levitan) 52'
CR-Ronaldo Murillo (Garcia) 54'
RZ-Ari Rosen (Noah) 74'
CR-Murillo (Fernando Alvarez) 76'