Wainer rights ship for Deerfield
Goal after just 21 seconds leads Warriors to win over Vernon Hills
By Rusty Silber
VERNON HILLS -- A season that doesn't include a boatload more wins than losses isn't what anybody wants. Right now Deerfield find itself in an attempt to chart its path to more successful waters. The bow may now be pointing in a positive direction.
With its trademark work-rate in full display, Deerfield scored in the first minute and defended its lead for the rest of the voyage to top host Vernon Hills 1-0 in a Central Suburban League North Division match Thursday night.
The Warriors posted their second win this season and first in the state. Deerfield's previous successes came on a Wisconsin road trip Sept. 6 and 7 with a tie against Madison and win against Edgewood.
"In the terms of our play, the main thing was when we started moving the ball, we showed some grit and determination in play," Deerfield coach Elliott Hurtig said. "It never felt like Vernon Hills was to much of a threat.
"We kept our composure, and that's really important. There's gonna be a lot of games like this where the first team that scores usually will win. We played some good soccer at times. We just have to do better moving the ball and playing with the feet."
Confidence maybe the key heading forward for the Warriors (2-8-1, 1-1-0), who stuggled early with a season-opening, five-game losing streak.
"I think they needed this win to start to see that they can compete," Hurtig said. "You see them start losing games that are close, you start not believing you can do it.
"I believe the main thing that we're emphasizing is work hard, practice hard, and stay unified. They work and work hard in practice supporting each other, and good things are going too happen. Hopefully, we can build from this and get something to move forward."
Seeing the difference rom his midfield spot, junior Logan Wallis has started to get the feeling that the Warriors are getting better, and that this result has a meaning for the future compared to past games.
"I'm not sure if we wanted it more or if we've been frustrated with the season," Wallis said. "We had talked and knew what (Vernon Hills) has done from previous years and got what we actually wanted."
A big difference has been fewer key names on the injury report.
"It really has picked up a lot," Wallis said. "Because of the beginning of the season we had a number of players injured and most of them are back now. It feels more unified and a lot better. I don't think there's a cap on this. You can always improve, but it has gotton a lot better."
Deerfield got the only goal it needed just 21 seconds in the match. High pressure on Vernon Hills backline and goalkeeper from Adam Shore produced a chance that Ari Weiner buried for the ultra-early game-winner.
"We just high pressed from the start," Wainer said. "(Vernon Hills) wasn't ready for it. Adam (Shore) started it, and the ball came to me. I was able to get the ball into the back of the net. It was nice, especially with the result we ended up with."
Wainer earned Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors for his goal and creative efforts up-top.
A lot of credit has to go to the Warriors' defense and the efforts of Jack Hammontree, David Joktus, Peter Straus and Ben Taxman. Deerfield goalkeeper Josh Berman contributed 11 stops for the clean-sheet.
"I was really proud of my guys like Jack and David, because they stepped up hard to clear the ball and communicated," Berman said. "It was a team effort completely.
"I thought we did a good job when we had to and containing when we needed to do that. We talked before the game about letting (Vernon Hills) shoot outside the box, because, I haven't had a goal scored on me from outside the box. We were fine with those kind of shots. My team trusted me with my ability to make those saves.
"If they score, it has to be a heck of a shot. Our goal is to keep them out of the box. We did a great job of that."
Wainer almost helped his team get a insurance goal. As the game wound down, he made a move in the penalty area and was knocked down by a Vernon Hills defender. On the ensuing penalty kick, Nicholas Prus hit a low-lined shot aimed inside the right post, but Cougars' keeper Keven Martinez made a diving push-away save in the 70th minute for one of his eight stops.
Over the final couple of minutes, Vernon Hills (3-6-1, 0-1-0) tried to push for a final opportunity, but they couldn't get set up for a shot.
Finishing continues to be a problem for the Cougars.
"Honestly, I thought we were the better team again," Vernon Hills coach Mike McCaulou said. "We had more possession with the ball; the shape was better. We struggle in the final third. We've struggled in the final third all year. I think it's the youth; it's the inexperience, but this time of the season, half-way through, you have to get players that want it a little bit more. We have great kids, and we're not disappointed at all with the effort."
Vernon Hills' early foible led to the goal.
"Sometimes with our style of soccer you can make mistakes in the back," McCaulou said. "Maybe it was a bad distribution or a bad touch. That was us and had nothing to do with (Deerfield). It was a mistake on us, and they capitalized on us. You have to give them credit."
The Cougars are trying to find the right game-plan to make a run in the CSL North, but they have to find scoring.
"It is what it is, and we have to dig deep for players to be more hungry for the goal," McCaulou said. "We're almost there and need more players to step up -- maybe our two forwards and our outside midfielder to create something for us."
Starting lineups
DEERFIELD
GK-Josh Berman
D-Ben Taxman
D-Jack Hammontree
D-Peter Straus
D-David Jotkus
MF-Logan Wallis
MF-Kevin Tragiel
MF-Nicolas Prus
F-Ari Wainer
F-Adam Shore
F-Ryder Coleman
Vernon Hills
GK-Keven Martinez
D-Matthew quandt
D-Ryan KIm
D-Valdemar Nambo
D-Ben Krok
MF-Zaiden Chaires
MF-David Deng
MF-Carlos Aguilar
MF-Glen McGowean
MF-Nick Jahen
F-Demitri Lebedev
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Ari Wainer, jr., F, Deerfield
Scooring Summary
First Half
D-Ari Wainer (unassisted) 1'
Second half
No scoring
Goal after just 21 seconds leads Warriors to win over Vernon Hills
By Rusty Silber
VERNON HILLS -- A season that doesn't include a boatload more wins than losses isn't what anybody wants. Right now Deerfield find itself in an attempt to chart its path to more successful waters. The bow may now be pointing in a positive direction.
With its trademark work-rate in full display, Deerfield scored in the first minute and defended its lead for the rest of the voyage to top host Vernon Hills 1-0 in a Central Suburban League North Division match Thursday night.
The Warriors posted their second win this season and first in the state. Deerfield's previous successes came on a Wisconsin road trip Sept. 6 and 7 with a tie against Madison and win against Edgewood.
"In the terms of our play, the main thing was when we started moving the ball, we showed some grit and determination in play," Deerfield coach Elliott Hurtig said. "It never felt like Vernon Hills was to much of a threat.
"We kept our composure, and that's really important. There's gonna be a lot of games like this where the first team that scores usually will win. We played some good soccer at times. We just have to do better moving the ball and playing with the feet."
Confidence maybe the key heading forward for the Warriors (2-8-1, 1-1-0), who stuggled early with a season-opening, five-game losing streak.
"I think they needed this win to start to see that they can compete," Hurtig said. "You see them start losing games that are close, you start not believing you can do it.
"I believe the main thing that we're emphasizing is work hard, practice hard, and stay unified. They work and work hard in practice supporting each other, and good things are going too happen. Hopefully, we can build from this and get something to move forward."
Seeing the difference rom his midfield spot, junior Logan Wallis has started to get the feeling that the Warriors are getting better, and that this result has a meaning for the future compared to past games.
"I'm not sure if we wanted it more or if we've been frustrated with the season," Wallis said. "We had talked and knew what (Vernon Hills) has done from previous years and got what we actually wanted."
A big difference has been fewer key names on the injury report.
"It really has picked up a lot," Wallis said. "Because of the beginning of the season we had a number of players injured and most of them are back now. It feels more unified and a lot better. I don't think there's a cap on this. You can always improve, but it has gotton a lot better."
Deerfield got the only goal it needed just 21 seconds in the match. High pressure on Vernon Hills backline and goalkeeper from Adam Shore produced a chance that Ari Weiner buried for the ultra-early game-winner.
"We just high pressed from the start," Wainer said. "(Vernon Hills) wasn't ready for it. Adam (Shore) started it, and the ball came to me. I was able to get the ball into the back of the net. It was nice, especially with the result we ended up with."
Wainer earned Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors for his goal and creative efforts up-top.
A lot of credit has to go to the Warriors' defense and the efforts of Jack Hammontree, David Joktus, Peter Straus and Ben Taxman. Deerfield goalkeeper Josh Berman contributed 11 stops for the clean-sheet.
"I was really proud of my guys like Jack and David, because they stepped up hard to clear the ball and communicated," Berman said. "It was a team effort completely.
"I thought we did a good job when we had to and containing when we needed to do that. We talked before the game about letting (Vernon Hills) shoot outside the box, because, I haven't had a goal scored on me from outside the box. We were fine with those kind of shots. My team trusted me with my ability to make those saves.
"If they score, it has to be a heck of a shot. Our goal is to keep them out of the box. We did a great job of that."
Wainer almost helped his team get a insurance goal. As the game wound down, he made a move in the penalty area and was knocked down by a Vernon Hills defender. On the ensuing penalty kick, Nicholas Prus hit a low-lined shot aimed inside the right post, but Cougars' keeper Keven Martinez made a diving push-away save in the 70th minute for one of his eight stops.
Over the final couple of minutes, Vernon Hills (3-6-1, 0-1-0) tried to push for a final opportunity, but they couldn't get set up for a shot.
Finishing continues to be a problem for the Cougars.
"Honestly, I thought we were the better team again," Vernon Hills coach Mike McCaulou said. "We had more possession with the ball; the shape was better. We struggle in the final third. We've struggled in the final third all year. I think it's the youth; it's the inexperience, but this time of the season, half-way through, you have to get players that want it a little bit more. We have great kids, and we're not disappointed at all with the effort."
Vernon Hills' early foible led to the goal.
"Sometimes with our style of soccer you can make mistakes in the back," McCaulou said. "Maybe it was a bad distribution or a bad touch. That was us and had nothing to do with (Deerfield). It was a mistake on us, and they capitalized on us. You have to give them credit."
The Cougars are trying to find the right game-plan to make a run in the CSL North, but they have to find scoring.
"It is what it is, and we have to dig deep for players to be more hungry for the goal," McCaulou said. "We're almost there and need more players to step up -- maybe our two forwards and our outside midfielder to create something for us."
Starting lineups
DEERFIELD
GK-Josh Berman
D-Ben Taxman
D-Jack Hammontree
D-Peter Straus
D-David Jotkus
MF-Logan Wallis
MF-Kevin Tragiel
MF-Nicolas Prus
F-Ari Wainer
F-Adam Shore
F-Ryder Coleman
Vernon Hills
GK-Keven Martinez
D-Matthew quandt
D-Ryan KIm
D-Valdemar Nambo
D-Ben Krok
MF-Zaiden Chaires
MF-David Deng
MF-Carlos Aguilar
MF-Glen McGowean
MF-Nick Jahen
F-Demitri Lebedev
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Ari Wainer, jr., F, Deerfield
Scooring Summary
First Half
D-Ari Wainer (unassisted) 1'
Second half
No scoring