Hansen brace leads DGN to crosstown win
Senior striker has 4 goals in first 3 games after after 3-0 victory
By Matt Le Cren
DOWNERS GROVE – Trygve Hansen has long been able to beat opponents with his speed.
Now he can do it with his strength, too.
The Downers Grove North senior used both attributes to find the back of the net twice Saturday to lead the visiting Trojans to a 3-0 victory over crosstown rival Downers Grove South.
Hansen, an uncommitted striker who is talking to several schools, including Wisconsin and Colorado School of Mines, has bagged four goals in the first three matches of the season. That production can be attributed to the weightlifting regimen Hansen embraced in an offseason that was lengthened to more than 16 months by the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’d say I’m a lot stronger,” Hansen said. “I feel like that’s an important aspect, especially for high school, to get stronger, because it’s a lot more physical game in high school than in club.”
Downers Grove North coach Mike Schmitt has noticed the difference in Hansen, who was one of the Trojans’ best offensive players as a junior when he operated out of the midfield. The addition of senior midfielder Ben Schaub, who is playing high school for the first time after three years in the club ranks, has allowed Schmitt to change Hansen’s positioning, which has enhanced the effect of his skills.
“He was a center mid for us last year, but this year we’re reflecting him between a couple different spots just to get him more up the field and involved in the attack a little bit more,” Schmitt said. “We’re trying to find space for him to operate.”
Hansen is a smooth operator, able to pounce on mistakes, maneuver around defenders and fend off challenges. And the left-footed forward can fire ferociously with either foot.
“He’s a very talented player,” Schmitt said. “His pace and touch is second-to-none.
“He’s got such an explosive first step, and he can create separation so fast.
“He’s a really special player, and we’re lucky to have him this season. His output today and in the first two games -- he’s been our top scorer, and it’s been clear why. His pace is very dangerous.”
Downers Grove South (2-2-0) did well to contain Hansen during a scoreless first half. He took three of the Trojans’ five shots before intermission, though all three were contested.
Hansen’s best chance came on a seemingly harmless 1-on-3 foray into the left side of the box, where he managed to get off a roller from 12 yards. Downers Grove South goalkeeper Tom Maras dove to his left to make the stop.
But there was no stopping Hansen early in the second half. He made a steal in the back and quickly finished a short rush to put the Trojans (2-0-1) up 1-0 at the 38:41 mark.
“I thought I’d press (the defender), so I won the ball,” Hansen said. “I saw a defender was going to reach out with his foot so I needed to go back post, through his legs, and it went in.”
That wasn’t the only shot that went in. After barely missing wide of the left post on a 30-yard drive wide with 10:35 to go, he broke through again a minute later after running onto a perfect lead pass from senior midfielder Lucas Turk.
Before any Mustangs could get react, Hansen fired a beautifully struck shot from the top left corner of the 18 and under the crossbar for a 2-0 cushion.
“Me and him, we’ve had a pretty good bond because we’ve been playing since we’re like 7 years old,” Turk said. “So whenever I pick up my head, he knows to make the run.
“We’ve had a good link for as long as I can remember.”
Hansen has quickly become the strongest link in a muscular chain that stretches from him through the midfield to a backline that is anchored by four-year varsity stalwart Sam Bull.
“It’s really incredible,” Bull said. “He just carries our whole attack.
“We have such a strong midfield, and he just tops it off. He can play center attacking mid or striker.
“He’s just so crafty on the ball, and he’s so agile that he can really just dribble around anyone.”
Hansen isn’t the only skilled attacker the Trojans have. Schaub can be a handful, as he showed when he and Franklin Griffin broke down South’s defense with a give-and-go in the final third in the penultimate minute.
The play resulted in Schaub getting free at the top of the box and whipping a shot inside the left post with 1:39 left. That made it 3-0, which was the same lead the Trojans built – and failed to hold – in their last meeting with the Mustangs, which ended in a 3-3 tie during the 2019 season.
“We were up 3-0 last (school) year,” Hansen said. “It was awesome to get revenge.”
Schmitt thinks it is awesome just to be playing soccer after so much uncertainty. The Trojans and Mustangs will be limited to playing West Suburban Conference opponents, but the lack of a postseason has merely served to shine a greater spotlight on each match.
“Our team, like everyone else’s team, is hitting the ground running,” Schmitt said. “They’re just excited to play.
“Without a postseason, there’s not a postseason vibe, but the intensity is there and the energy is there. They’re just happy to be on the field and as coaches we’re just happy to provide a space where they can play and express themselves and have fun, especially the seniors.”
For the seniors, it is the last opportunity to wear their school’s uniform. But it likely won’t be the last chance to see Hansen play.
“Every single year, he takes another leap,” Turk said. “It’s pretty crazy.
“I’m just really excited to see what his future holds, because I think he can do great things.”
Starting lineups
Downers Grove North
GK Gavin Crowson
D Brian Benton
D Sam Bull
D Owen Lesley
D Bradley Szyklowski
M Ben Schaub
M Lucas Turk
M Ryan Wilson
F Alexander Dilkovksi
F Trygve Hansen
F Andrew Janowiak
Downers Grove South
GK Tom Macas
D Victor Carrasco
D Jack Storrs
D James Rappel
M Kyle Niziolek
M Nick Opacian
M Jony Flores
M Kyle Fenner
M Jerry Smazil
F Josh Venouziou
F Aaron Venouziou
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Trygve Hansen, sr., F, Downers Grove North
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
DGN – Trygve Hansen (unassisted), 42nd
DGN – Hansen (Lucas Turk), 71st
DGN – Ben Schaub (Franklin Griffin), 79th
Senior striker has 4 goals in first 3 games after after 3-0 victory
By Matt Le Cren
DOWNERS GROVE – Trygve Hansen has long been able to beat opponents with his speed.
Now he can do it with his strength, too.
The Downers Grove North senior used both attributes to find the back of the net twice Saturday to lead the visiting Trojans to a 3-0 victory over crosstown rival Downers Grove South.
Hansen, an uncommitted striker who is talking to several schools, including Wisconsin and Colorado School of Mines, has bagged four goals in the first three matches of the season. That production can be attributed to the weightlifting regimen Hansen embraced in an offseason that was lengthened to more than 16 months by the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’d say I’m a lot stronger,” Hansen said. “I feel like that’s an important aspect, especially for high school, to get stronger, because it’s a lot more physical game in high school than in club.”
Downers Grove North coach Mike Schmitt has noticed the difference in Hansen, who was one of the Trojans’ best offensive players as a junior when he operated out of the midfield. The addition of senior midfielder Ben Schaub, who is playing high school for the first time after three years in the club ranks, has allowed Schmitt to change Hansen’s positioning, which has enhanced the effect of his skills.
“He was a center mid for us last year, but this year we’re reflecting him between a couple different spots just to get him more up the field and involved in the attack a little bit more,” Schmitt said. “We’re trying to find space for him to operate.”
Hansen is a smooth operator, able to pounce on mistakes, maneuver around defenders and fend off challenges. And the left-footed forward can fire ferociously with either foot.
“He’s a very talented player,” Schmitt said. “His pace and touch is second-to-none.
“He’s got such an explosive first step, and he can create separation so fast.
“He’s a really special player, and we’re lucky to have him this season. His output today and in the first two games -- he’s been our top scorer, and it’s been clear why. His pace is very dangerous.”
Downers Grove South (2-2-0) did well to contain Hansen during a scoreless first half. He took three of the Trojans’ five shots before intermission, though all three were contested.
Hansen’s best chance came on a seemingly harmless 1-on-3 foray into the left side of the box, where he managed to get off a roller from 12 yards. Downers Grove South goalkeeper Tom Maras dove to his left to make the stop.
But there was no stopping Hansen early in the second half. He made a steal in the back and quickly finished a short rush to put the Trojans (2-0-1) up 1-0 at the 38:41 mark.
“I thought I’d press (the defender), so I won the ball,” Hansen said. “I saw a defender was going to reach out with his foot so I needed to go back post, through his legs, and it went in.”
That wasn’t the only shot that went in. After barely missing wide of the left post on a 30-yard drive wide with 10:35 to go, he broke through again a minute later after running onto a perfect lead pass from senior midfielder Lucas Turk.
Before any Mustangs could get react, Hansen fired a beautifully struck shot from the top left corner of the 18 and under the crossbar for a 2-0 cushion.
“Me and him, we’ve had a pretty good bond because we’ve been playing since we’re like 7 years old,” Turk said. “So whenever I pick up my head, he knows to make the run.
“We’ve had a good link for as long as I can remember.”
Hansen has quickly become the strongest link in a muscular chain that stretches from him through the midfield to a backline that is anchored by four-year varsity stalwart Sam Bull.
“It’s really incredible,” Bull said. “He just carries our whole attack.
“We have such a strong midfield, and he just tops it off. He can play center attacking mid or striker.
“He’s just so crafty on the ball, and he’s so agile that he can really just dribble around anyone.”
Hansen isn’t the only skilled attacker the Trojans have. Schaub can be a handful, as he showed when he and Franklin Griffin broke down South’s defense with a give-and-go in the final third in the penultimate minute.
The play resulted in Schaub getting free at the top of the box and whipping a shot inside the left post with 1:39 left. That made it 3-0, which was the same lead the Trojans built – and failed to hold – in their last meeting with the Mustangs, which ended in a 3-3 tie during the 2019 season.
“We were up 3-0 last (school) year,” Hansen said. “It was awesome to get revenge.”
Schmitt thinks it is awesome just to be playing soccer after so much uncertainty. The Trojans and Mustangs will be limited to playing West Suburban Conference opponents, but the lack of a postseason has merely served to shine a greater spotlight on each match.
“Our team, like everyone else’s team, is hitting the ground running,” Schmitt said. “They’re just excited to play.
“Without a postseason, there’s not a postseason vibe, but the intensity is there and the energy is there. They’re just happy to be on the field and as coaches we’re just happy to provide a space where they can play and express themselves and have fun, especially the seniors.”
For the seniors, it is the last opportunity to wear their school’s uniform. But it likely won’t be the last chance to see Hansen play.
“Every single year, he takes another leap,” Turk said. “It’s pretty crazy.
“I’m just really excited to see what his future holds, because I think he can do great things.”
Starting lineups
Downers Grove North
GK Gavin Crowson
D Brian Benton
D Sam Bull
D Owen Lesley
D Bradley Szyklowski
M Ben Schaub
M Lucas Turk
M Ryan Wilson
F Alexander Dilkovksi
F Trygve Hansen
F Andrew Janowiak
Downers Grove South
GK Tom Macas
D Victor Carrasco
D Jack Storrs
D James Rappel
M Kyle Niziolek
M Nick Opacian
M Jony Flores
M Kyle Fenner
M Jerry Smazil
F Josh Venouziou
F Aaron Venouziou
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Trygve Hansen, sr., F, Downers Grove North
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
DGN – Trygve Hansen (unassisted), 42nd
DGN – Hansen (Lucas Turk), 71st
DGN – Ben Schaub (Franklin Griffin), 79th