East Aurora prevails in penalties,
shocks Plainfield North
Tomcats rally from 4-1 deficit to win Plainfield Classic title
By Curt Herron
PLAINFIELD -- Things were looking great for host Plainfield North on Saturday as it approached the one-hour mark of the title match of its own Plainfield Classic against East Aurora.
The Tigers, ranked fourth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, took a 4-1 lead after converting on a penalty in the 44th minute and held their decisive advantage as play entered the 56th minute.
But that's when things began to unravel for the hosts and their hope of capturing top honors in their 14-team competition. Plainfield North had outscored its previous four opponents by a 21-4 margin in pool play and the Saturday semifinal.
East Aurora converted a penalty in the 56th minute and began an impressive rally. The Tomcats scored three goals in the final 24:56 to force a 4-4 deadlock at the end of regulation. They completed the stunning comeback by winning the subsequent shootout by a 3-1 margin in four rounds of kicks to take the championship.
The Tomcats (7-2-2), who took second in last year's Classic after falling to Oswego in the title match, started their second half rally on a penalty kick from junior Martin Gaytan. A rebound goal from junior Cristian Ibarra followed in the 65th minute before a last-minute score from sophomore Jay Umana, following a deflected shot, created the need for the tiebreaker.
To make the comeback even more impressive, East Aurora's third and fourth goals came while it was a man down.
In the penalty session, the visitors' senior captains Javier Aguirre and Erick Magallon gave their squad a 2-1 edge, and senior Sammy Camacho made it 3-1. Meanwhile sophomore goalkeeper Efrain Rosales came up big by making saves on the Tigers' final two penalty tries. Plainfield North senior captain Justin Williams converted on the first and the second effort went over.
Plainfield North (11-2-0), advanced to the finals with a 2-1 victory over Oswego East earlier Saturday afternoon. The Tigers, Chicagoland Soccer’s preseason no. 1 team, outscored its opponents by a 51-15 margin heading into the match. Prior to the semifinal, all of its victories had been by two goals or more.
Senior captain Cooper Allen scored the Tigers' first goal in the 21st minute and Williams sent in a free kick in the 27th minute to make it 2-0.
After Gaytan converted the second of three Tomcats penalties, this one in the 31st minute, Plainfield North answered with an impressive score from Williams in the 32nd minute.
The Tigers only previous defeat this season was a 3-2 setback to Naperville North on September 3 in the Best of the West championship. They had a five-match win streak heading into that game and saw a six-game skein end Saturday.
The four goals allowed in this match were the most Plainfield North conceded in a game this season. The Tigers also surrendered a trio in a three-goal win over Minooka on September 6 in their first Southwest Prairie Conference match.
"Absolutely, give those guys credit," Tigers coach Lukasz Majewski said of East Aurora. "They left everything on the field. They took every second that was given to them, and they made the most of the opportunity. So, credit is due, and I like the way those guys play.
"I talked to the boys about it. It's unfortunate, but we're coming back on Monday and doing another training session, and we'll be back at it on Tuesday (hosting Oswego).
“I don't think that we were not in control of the game. I kind of think that we did what we wanted to do. But when you get three PKs called against you, then you know that it's not your day."
Based on how things had unfolded thus far, scoring four goals in a match should have been sufficient for Plainfield North to prevail. But not capitalizing on some earlier opportunities may have bolstered their foes and led to the electrifying comeback.
"Twenty-five minutes to go and we're up 4-1, and we usually try to coast in those situations and know how to finish off a game. Today was just not one of those days," Majewski said. "I can't necessarily agree with the penalty call here (the final one), but sometimes when you give a team a lifeline, they take it.
"We had plenty of opportunities to put the game away early in the first half and maybe on a different day, those go in. Even though today wasn't that day, we still put a good number up there, but it wasn't enough.
“We have a very veteran group and most of the guys have been together for a while, and some of them are four-year varsity starters. We'll learn from it and will rebound from it. Maybe we'll come in a little more focused than we have been the last couple of days. Hopefully that's the case for us."
Allen collected his second goal of the match after he was fouled in the box in the 44th minute for a 4-1 edge. The Tigers tried to increase their lead, but Tomcats defenders cleared shot attempts.
In the 56th minute, Gaytan was fouled in the box and put in the subsequent penalty to pull his team to within 4-2.
In the 65th minute, East Aurora threatened again as Gaytan had a shot deflected by Tigers senior goalie Peyton Meyers, but the ball went to Ibarra, who put in a short rebound to pull his team to within a goal.
During the final 10 minutes of regulation, Plainfield North delivered a header from senior Paul McCormick and a liner from junior Owen MacPhail, but both were hauled in by Rosales.
The Tigers’ Meyers stopped a long liner from junior David Martinez.
Then in the 80th minute, Gaytan sent in a free kick that got loose in the box. Umana put in a short shot with 38 seconds left to even things.
That set the stage for the penalties, where the Tomcats connected on their first three efforts. Plainfield North was only successful on the initial try of its four kicks.
Down three, East Aurora kept its resolve.
"We were down 3-1 at half and then we made a mistake in the back and they got a PK and scored, so the chances looked even worse than it was in the first half," Aguirre said. "I told my team that we still had plenty of time left and even though they were a good team, I still believed in my boys.
"The feeling of winning this game is incredible. As a senior, you don't want to forget these types of moments with your friends. We were one of the underdogs in this whole tournament, and we were going against Plainfield North, which is one of the top teams in the state.
"So a lot of people looked down on us, but we just gave it our all and every second counted. Then the PKs came, and we finished it on PKs."
Previously, East Aurora hadn't given up more than two goals in any of its matches. Its sophomore goalie wanted to finish the match on a high note. He came up big by stopping the Tigers' final two penalty attempts.
"It was 4-1, and we wanted it more than ever. So we didn't stop; we just kept going," Rosales said. "During the game, I wasn't proud of my performance. But I knew that PKs was my time to show, so I gave it all that I've got."
East Aurora (7-2-2) has won five matches in a row. The Tomcats, whose only losses this season are to Bolingbrook and Elgin, won 5-2 over Lincoln-Way East in their semifinal earlier Saturday. In that match, senior Oziel Gallegos scored twice. Aguirre, Camacho and Gaytan also added goals.
"I like our perseverance," Tomcats coach Nathan Parry said. "A mantra that I have all the time is 'Full 80,' just real short and simple. We've been really inconsistent at the beginning of the season. We'd have a good first half in one game and second half in the next one.
"We definitely managed our semifinal. Once we got a comfortable lead, I was able to rest some of the key starters.
“Our goalie was upset because I sat him in the second half. His calmness out on the field does not make him look like a sophomore. I think he thrives under pressure, and he wants to be the guy.
"It was great to beat one of the best teams in the state. Plainfield North is going to be reckoned with for the rest of the season, and hopefully we don't get them in the first couple rounds of the playoffs.
“Hopefully this will catapult us, and we have the heart for our conference schedule coming up. We did lose a game in conference to a quality Elgin team (2-0 on Sept. 7). I hope that we can carry this forward. We have a quick turnaround with a game on Monday at Metea Valley."
Plainfield North had plenty of great chances in the early going but didn't connect until the 21st minute. The Tomcats didn't threaten much early, but did get the chance to convert on a penalty in the eighth minute. However, Meyers made a diving stop to halt a shot by Aguirre.
Some of the best early chances for the Tigers came from senior captain Brady Harwood, senior Timi Usikalu, McCormick and Allen, before Allen got past defenders and drove to net before scoring from about 10 yards in the 21st minute for the match's initial goal.
Plainfield North was back at it in the 27th minute when Allen was fouled and Williams took the free kick from 30 yards. He scored on the play to give his team a 2-0 lead.
Shortly after Gaytan sent a short attempt to Meyers, he was fouled in the box and converted the subsequent penalty to pull the Tomcats to within a goal in the 31st minute.
Plainfield North responded almost immediately. when Williams scored on another bomb on a liner toward the opposite side of the net from 30 yards.
Plainfield North has a busy week in Southwest Prairie Conference matches coming up. The Tigers host Oswego on Tuesday and then play at Oswego East on Thursday and travel to West Aurora on Saturday.
Starting lineups
East Aurora
GK: Efrain Rosales
D; J.P. Carranza
D: Jose Garcia
D: Isaac Escobar
D: Jose Sosa
MF: Sammy Camacho
MF: Javier Aguirre
MF: David Martinez
MF: Erick Magallon
F: Oziel Gallegos
F; Jay Umana
Plainfield North
GK: Peyton Meyers
D: Ryan Bechtel
D: Brady Harwood
D: Ryan Mauder
D: Mathew Hipolito
MF: Sean Elster
MF: Justin Williams
MF: Paul McCormick
F: Timi Usikalu
F: Cooper Allen
F: Emmanuel Saldivar
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match:
Justin Williams, sr., MF, Plainfield North
Scoring summary
First half
Plainfield North: Cooper Allen, 21'
Plainfield North: Justin Williams (FK), 27'
East Aurora: Martin Gaytan (PK), 31'
Plainfield North: Justin Williams, 32'
Second half
Plainfield North: Cooper Allen (PK), 44'
East Aurora: Martin Gaytan (PK), 56'
East Aurora: Cristian Ibarra, 65'
East Aurora: Jay Umana, 80'
Shootout
East Aurora: Javier Aguirre (made); Erick Magallon (made); Sammy Camacho (made); Jose Sosa (saved)
Plainfield North: Justin Williams (made); Cooper Allen (missed); Brady Harwood (saved); Timi Usikalu (saved)
shocks Plainfield North
Tomcats rally from 4-1 deficit to win Plainfield Classic title
By Curt Herron
PLAINFIELD -- Things were looking great for host Plainfield North on Saturday as it approached the one-hour mark of the title match of its own Plainfield Classic against East Aurora.
The Tigers, ranked fourth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, took a 4-1 lead after converting on a penalty in the 44th minute and held their decisive advantage as play entered the 56th minute.
But that's when things began to unravel for the hosts and their hope of capturing top honors in their 14-team competition. Plainfield North had outscored its previous four opponents by a 21-4 margin in pool play and the Saturday semifinal.
East Aurora converted a penalty in the 56th minute and began an impressive rally. The Tomcats scored three goals in the final 24:56 to force a 4-4 deadlock at the end of regulation. They completed the stunning comeback by winning the subsequent shootout by a 3-1 margin in four rounds of kicks to take the championship.
The Tomcats (7-2-2), who took second in last year's Classic after falling to Oswego in the title match, started their second half rally on a penalty kick from junior Martin Gaytan. A rebound goal from junior Cristian Ibarra followed in the 65th minute before a last-minute score from sophomore Jay Umana, following a deflected shot, created the need for the tiebreaker.
To make the comeback even more impressive, East Aurora's third and fourth goals came while it was a man down.
In the penalty session, the visitors' senior captains Javier Aguirre and Erick Magallon gave their squad a 2-1 edge, and senior Sammy Camacho made it 3-1. Meanwhile sophomore goalkeeper Efrain Rosales came up big by making saves on the Tigers' final two penalty tries. Plainfield North senior captain Justin Williams converted on the first and the second effort went over.
Plainfield North (11-2-0), advanced to the finals with a 2-1 victory over Oswego East earlier Saturday afternoon. The Tigers, Chicagoland Soccer’s preseason no. 1 team, outscored its opponents by a 51-15 margin heading into the match. Prior to the semifinal, all of its victories had been by two goals or more.
Senior captain Cooper Allen scored the Tigers' first goal in the 21st minute and Williams sent in a free kick in the 27th minute to make it 2-0.
After Gaytan converted the second of three Tomcats penalties, this one in the 31st minute, Plainfield North answered with an impressive score from Williams in the 32nd minute.
The Tigers only previous defeat this season was a 3-2 setback to Naperville North on September 3 in the Best of the West championship. They had a five-match win streak heading into that game and saw a six-game skein end Saturday.
The four goals allowed in this match were the most Plainfield North conceded in a game this season. The Tigers also surrendered a trio in a three-goal win over Minooka on September 6 in their first Southwest Prairie Conference match.
"Absolutely, give those guys credit," Tigers coach Lukasz Majewski said of East Aurora. "They left everything on the field. They took every second that was given to them, and they made the most of the opportunity. So, credit is due, and I like the way those guys play.
"I talked to the boys about it. It's unfortunate, but we're coming back on Monday and doing another training session, and we'll be back at it on Tuesday (hosting Oswego).
“I don't think that we were not in control of the game. I kind of think that we did what we wanted to do. But when you get three PKs called against you, then you know that it's not your day."
Based on how things had unfolded thus far, scoring four goals in a match should have been sufficient for Plainfield North to prevail. But not capitalizing on some earlier opportunities may have bolstered their foes and led to the electrifying comeback.
"Twenty-five minutes to go and we're up 4-1, and we usually try to coast in those situations and know how to finish off a game. Today was just not one of those days," Majewski said. "I can't necessarily agree with the penalty call here (the final one), but sometimes when you give a team a lifeline, they take it.
"We had plenty of opportunities to put the game away early in the first half and maybe on a different day, those go in. Even though today wasn't that day, we still put a good number up there, but it wasn't enough.
“We have a very veteran group and most of the guys have been together for a while, and some of them are four-year varsity starters. We'll learn from it and will rebound from it. Maybe we'll come in a little more focused than we have been the last couple of days. Hopefully that's the case for us."
Allen collected his second goal of the match after he was fouled in the box in the 44th minute for a 4-1 edge. The Tigers tried to increase their lead, but Tomcats defenders cleared shot attempts.
In the 56th minute, Gaytan was fouled in the box and put in the subsequent penalty to pull his team to within 4-2.
In the 65th minute, East Aurora threatened again as Gaytan had a shot deflected by Tigers senior goalie Peyton Meyers, but the ball went to Ibarra, who put in a short rebound to pull his team to within a goal.
During the final 10 minutes of regulation, Plainfield North delivered a header from senior Paul McCormick and a liner from junior Owen MacPhail, but both were hauled in by Rosales.
The Tigers’ Meyers stopped a long liner from junior David Martinez.
Then in the 80th minute, Gaytan sent in a free kick that got loose in the box. Umana put in a short shot with 38 seconds left to even things.
That set the stage for the penalties, where the Tomcats connected on their first three efforts. Plainfield North was only successful on the initial try of its four kicks.
Down three, East Aurora kept its resolve.
"We were down 3-1 at half and then we made a mistake in the back and they got a PK and scored, so the chances looked even worse than it was in the first half," Aguirre said. "I told my team that we still had plenty of time left and even though they were a good team, I still believed in my boys.
"The feeling of winning this game is incredible. As a senior, you don't want to forget these types of moments with your friends. We were one of the underdogs in this whole tournament, and we were going against Plainfield North, which is one of the top teams in the state.
"So a lot of people looked down on us, but we just gave it our all and every second counted. Then the PKs came, and we finished it on PKs."
Previously, East Aurora hadn't given up more than two goals in any of its matches. Its sophomore goalie wanted to finish the match on a high note. He came up big by stopping the Tigers' final two penalty attempts.
"It was 4-1, and we wanted it more than ever. So we didn't stop; we just kept going," Rosales said. "During the game, I wasn't proud of my performance. But I knew that PKs was my time to show, so I gave it all that I've got."
East Aurora (7-2-2) has won five matches in a row. The Tomcats, whose only losses this season are to Bolingbrook and Elgin, won 5-2 over Lincoln-Way East in their semifinal earlier Saturday. In that match, senior Oziel Gallegos scored twice. Aguirre, Camacho and Gaytan also added goals.
"I like our perseverance," Tomcats coach Nathan Parry said. "A mantra that I have all the time is 'Full 80,' just real short and simple. We've been really inconsistent at the beginning of the season. We'd have a good first half in one game and second half in the next one.
"We definitely managed our semifinal. Once we got a comfortable lead, I was able to rest some of the key starters.
“Our goalie was upset because I sat him in the second half. His calmness out on the field does not make him look like a sophomore. I think he thrives under pressure, and he wants to be the guy.
"It was great to beat one of the best teams in the state. Plainfield North is going to be reckoned with for the rest of the season, and hopefully we don't get them in the first couple rounds of the playoffs.
“Hopefully this will catapult us, and we have the heart for our conference schedule coming up. We did lose a game in conference to a quality Elgin team (2-0 on Sept. 7). I hope that we can carry this forward. We have a quick turnaround with a game on Monday at Metea Valley."
Plainfield North had plenty of great chances in the early going but didn't connect until the 21st minute. The Tomcats didn't threaten much early, but did get the chance to convert on a penalty in the eighth minute. However, Meyers made a diving stop to halt a shot by Aguirre.
Some of the best early chances for the Tigers came from senior captain Brady Harwood, senior Timi Usikalu, McCormick and Allen, before Allen got past defenders and drove to net before scoring from about 10 yards in the 21st minute for the match's initial goal.
Plainfield North was back at it in the 27th minute when Allen was fouled and Williams took the free kick from 30 yards. He scored on the play to give his team a 2-0 lead.
Shortly after Gaytan sent a short attempt to Meyers, he was fouled in the box and converted the subsequent penalty to pull the Tomcats to within a goal in the 31st minute.
Plainfield North responded almost immediately. when Williams scored on another bomb on a liner toward the opposite side of the net from 30 yards.
Plainfield North has a busy week in Southwest Prairie Conference matches coming up. The Tigers host Oswego on Tuesday and then play at Oswego East on Thursday and travel to West Aurora on Saturday.
Starting lineups
East Aurora
GK: Efrain Rosales
D; J.P. Carranza
D: Jose Garcia
D: Isaac Escobar
D: Jose Sosa
MF: Sammy Camacho
MF: Javier Aguirre
MF: David Martinez
MF: Erick Magallon
F: Oziel Gallegos
F; Jay Umana
Plainfield North
GK: Peyton Meyers
D: Ryan Bechtel
D: Brady Harwood
D: Ryan Mauder
D: Mathew Hipolito
MF: Sean Elster
MF: Justin Williams
MF: Paul McCormick
F: Timi Usikalu
F: Cooper Allen
F: Emmanuel Saldivar
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match:
Justin Williams, sr., MF, Plainfield North
Scoring summary
First half
Plainfield North: Cooper Allen, 21'
Plainfield North: Justin Williams (FK), 27'
East Aurora: Martin Gaytan (PK), 31'
Plainfield North: Justin Williams, 32'
Second half
Plainfield North: Cooper Allen (PK), 44'
East Aurora: Martin Gaytan (PK), 56'
East Aurora: Cristian Ibarra, 65'
East Aurora: Jay Umana, 80'
Shootout
East Aurora: Javier Aguirre (made); Erick Magallon (made); Sammy Camacho (made); Jose Sosa (saved)
Plainfield North: Justin Williams (made); Cooper Allen (missed); Brady Harwood (saved); Timi Usikalu (saved)