Rico helps Reavis even-up Eisenhower
Senior F collects brace to earn draw in teams' conference opener
By Dave Owen
BURBANK – The fast-start part of the game, and Jose Rico’s two impressive finishes were major positives for Reavis in its 2-2 tie with Eisenhower on Monday.
Though the early burst was perhaps a bit of a surprise, as the Rams (2-2-1, 0-0-1 in the South Suburban Conference Red Division) hadn’t played a game since Aug. 31 and couldn’t have been blamed for being a little rusty.
Instead, Juan Cedillo’s 25-yard free kick off the crossbar just 58 seconds into the match signaled a sizzling beginning for Reavis. Rico capped the stretch in the 14th minute with a goal that sparked the Rams to a 1-0 halftime lead.
“We played much better in the first half, and that’s pretty much how we’ve been every game,” Rams coach Mark Gniadek said. “We start off strong. If we can keep them out of our net the first 10 minutes of the game we get a little momentum.”
However Eisenhower switched that advantage around with two goals in a six-minute span early in the second half to go up 2-1. But another Rico race in on goal and putaway with 23:53 left earned Reavis the tie.
“I thought we were good early on (despite the layoff),” Reavis defender Alex Froylan said, “but in the second half we kind of went down. I think that little break not playing for a week may have made us lose it, but we’ll get back into it.”
Gniadek had his opinions on what prompted the early second half dip in play.
“There’s a difference between being in shape and in soccer game-shape,” he said. “I just think they forget how much of a grind it is, and I think we got a little flat in the second half.
“You could see it in not winning 50-50s and not running through the ball, and Eisenhower did a good job of exploiting that. They have talented kids.”
But having also not played a game since late August, Eisenhower (0-1-2, 0-0-1) would be on its heels often in the early going.
After Cedillo’s crossbar shot, Marek Judka (30-yarder just over the net in the 3rd minute) and Cedillo again (a header just wide off a Rico cross in the 5th minute) would follow in a flurry of early Reavis chances.
Then eight minutes in, Rico tipped a Rams send to the box past charging Eisenhower goalkeeper Alex Martinez – only to have a Cardinals defender clear the ball from the crease near the goal line.
“It was very hard, mentally and physically (coming back for matches),” Eisenhower junior Julian Rojas said. “It definitely took us a while.”
Said Martinez: “We had a shaky start, mostly with the formation. We weren’t really used to it.
“But later on we got used to it,” Martinez added, “and in the second half we really got into the rhythm of the game. It’s just about shaking it off and playing on.”
After Martinez’s low save of a Rico shot in the 13th minute, the next Reavis threat would pay off.
A Judka pass sprung Rico on a burst up the middle, and he lined a low shot home for a 1-0 Reavis lead.
“In the first half I thought Juan (Cedillo) did a great job in the middle. He won every single 50-50 ball,” Gniadek said. “And obviously Jose starting to finish is really nice to see.
“There’s been a couple games where he hit a post or crossbar. It’s good to see those go in the back of the net.
“And our goalie (Kamil Staszel) played well. He had quite a few saves today.”
Staszel’s first big save came in the 15th minute, as he made a diving grab near the left post on Sebastian Frausto’s 12-yard shot.
Reavis defender Patrick Mrowca made a nice play on a Cardinals long send into the box in the 24th minute – Mrowca headed the 50-50 ball away from a racing Eisenhower player’s reach, with Diego Porras then clearing the defensive zone.
Froylan followed with a pair of nice defensive plays. In the 27th minute, he nicely stepped in to steal the dribble of a Cardinals attacker 22 yards out. Then two minutes later, Froylan made another steal just outside the box on a Gael Arriaga rush.
“I just try to maintain defensively and pass the ball around,” Froylan said, “and not get scared when they score on us. You try to stay relaxed.
“The last couple games we weren’t doing that well clearing the ball (from near or in the box), but I felt we improved this game.”
Staszel kept the score 1-0 entering halftime with nice saves in the 26th minute (a diving stop on an Arriaga shot) and the 36th minute (grabbing Jaime Flores’ 10-yard header redirect off a free kick), then closed the half in style with a diving short-hop snag at the left post of a Rojas 20-yard drive.
Reavis’ Diego Rodriguez also had a nice win and clear of a cross into the box in th 31st minute, and Yair Cahue and Carlos Guzman’s defense in the box helped Staszel cover up a threat near the crease in the 33rd minute.
Guzman’s presence may have been the day’s best story of all.
“Carlos Guzman has torn two ACLs and is just getting back now,” Gniadek said. “He’s been our center back and was up on varsity as a sophomore, then it’s been knee (injury) after knee (injury).
“He’s just getting back into shape, and when he’s back there it looks pretty organized. It’s nice to see him back there. This might have been his first minutes in a game (this year). He’s a little out of shape, but once he gets back healthy our defense shores up a little bit.”
After Rico’s goal, Kevin Ibarra corner kick sends ignited two Reavis scoring bids.
Martinez made a high catch at the near post of an Ibarra corner kick send in the 30th minute. Then 6:40 before halftime, Martinez’s leaping punch away denied a strong Ibarra back post send of a corner – followed by a Rodriguez 20-yard long rebound shot just over the net.
After a Judka low one-hop shot on goal off a Daniel Rosado throw-in with 33:40 left in the second half, Eisenhower’s offense would break through.
Pouncing on the rebound of a 25-yard shot off the crossbar, Cardinals junior Jesus Verduzco would drove home abn 8-yard shot into the net to tie the game 1-1.
Then with 26 minutes left, a Flores free kick send from the left sideline created more Cardinals mayhem.
Staszel made the initial save on a header try off the set piece. But Brandon Gallegos’ rebound header went under the crossbar to put Eisenhower up 2-1.
“Our goal scorers were subs, Jesus and Brandon,” Cardinals coach Iran Rodriguez said. “They came in and gave us a quality 15-20 minutes.
“They capitalized; we took the lead. But unfortunately a bad mistake in the middle of the field, and they (Reavis) came down and capitalized.”
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match Rico turned any open-field chance into gold on Monday.
And with 23:53 to play, Cedillo’s nice send from the midfield sprung Rico in on goal up the left side.
Rico’s low 15-yard rocket nestled inside the right post, and Reavis was back even at 2-2.
“Juan made the pass, and I just made a hard run,” Rico said of his third goal of 2019.
The putaway was a huge lift, after the Rams had quickly seen a 1-0 lead become a deficit.
“We got into it in the first half and were doing really good,” Rico said. “It was the second half – that threw us off a little bit.
“It’s just attitude to be honest,” Rico added. “I think we’re a good team and that we can go really far this season. But when our attitudes get in front of us our emotions take over, and we go down a little bit.
“It’s just about making hard runs, passing the ball and working together as a team.”
Rico matched his offensive prowess with sportsmanship with 19 minutes left, helping an Eisenhower player to his feet after a foul.
Then with 17:50 to go, Reavis turned a nice counterattack into a near lead.
Froylan’s interception of a short restart on a 40-yard Eisenhower corner kick began a counter for him and Rodriguez.
Froylan’s end line cross from the left reached Porras at the back post, but a Cardinals defender blocked the shot near the crease.
Then with 4:40 left, Martinez came up big to deny another Reavis rush.
Rico’s pass set up a Rodriguez 18-yarder, but Martinez made a great diving catch towards the right post.
“It’s obvious who are the good forwards and even midfielders, how they move and find the spaces,” Martinez said. “You have to keep an eye on them – and that’s when you also try to communicate with your defense.”
The Rams tested that defense again the final two minutes. Rico’s initial shot was blocked by Erik Vargas, and Porras sent an 18-yard rebound try wide.
Two more chances would follow. On Rico’s right side rush with 1:25 left, he angled a shot just wide left to narrowly miss a dramatic hat-trick.
Then with 25 seconds left, Cahue’s block created a Rico counterattack that ended with Vargas’ clear of the box.
While tie games are seldom cause for celebration, both sides took positives from the draw.
“It’s a process,” Rodriguez said. “We’re getting there. Our keeper had a great game. He made some quality saves.”
Said Eisenhower’s Rojas: “Last year we started off pretty slow in the season. This year we’re accomplishing better things at the moment.”
For Reavis, its strong start to the match turned into a battle to earn a tie.
“We had opportunities,” Gniadek said. “We hit a crossbar, their goalie made a great save in the second half. We have to find a way to bounce back. That’s been the hardest thing, bouncing back when things don’t go our way.”
But in that vein, Reavis’ response to the 2-1 deficit Monday was a very good sign.
“I feel we have great potential,” Rico said. “I’m playing with really good players like Marek up-top. Our midfield’s really good with Juan in the middle, and our defense is good at clearing the ball now.
“It’s just about keeping our attitude and emotions on hold, relaxing and playing the game that we all love.”
After the hard fought tie, Reavis faces another big conference test Thursday at Lemont.
“The conference is tough,” Gniadek said. “It’s a grind whoever you’re playing. It’s my favorite part of the year after the (Windy City Classic) tournament is done and you have some good rivalries built (in conference play).”
The Rams are confident that bigger success awaits.
“I just want to keep getting better and try to win conference,” Froylan said. “That’s my main goal. And we can get there by practicing hard and playing hard.”
Starting lineups
Eisenhower
GK: Alex Martinez
D: Raul Granados
D:Immanuel Mercado
D: Erik Vargas
D: Carlos Villanueva
M: Julian Rojas
M: Frank Antonio
M: Alan Arriaga
M: Gael Arriaga
M: Joshua Solis
F: Sebastian Frausto
Reavis
GK: Kamil Staszel
D: Patrick Mrowca
D: Alex Froylan
D: Daniel Rosado
D: Julian Ochoa
M: Kevin Ibarra
M: Yair Cahue
M: Diego Porras
M: Juan Cedillo
F: Jose Rico
F: Marek Judka
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Jose Rico, sr. F, Reavis
Scoring summary
First half
Reavis- Jose Rico (Marek Judka), 14th min
Second half
Eisenhower- Jesus Verduzco (rebound), 48th min
Eisenhower- Brandon Gallegos, 54th min
Reavis- Rico (Juan Cedillo), 57th min
Senior F collects brace to earn draw in teams' conference opener
By Dave Owen
BURBANK – The fast-start part of the game, and Jose Rico’s two impressive finishes were major positives for Reavis in its 2-2 tie with Eisenhower on Monday.
Though the early burst was perhaps a bit of a surprise, as the Rams (2-2-1, 0-0-1 in the South Suburban Conference Red Division) hadn’t played a game since Aug. 31 and couldn’t have been blamed for being a little rusty.
Instead, Juan Cedillo’s 25-yard free kick off the crossbar just 58 seconds into the match signaled a sizzling beginning for Reavis. Rico capped the stretch in the 14th minute with a goal that sparked the Rams to a 1-0 halftime lead.
“We played much better in the first half, and that’s pretty much how we’ve been every game,” Rams coach Mark Gniadek said. “We start off strong. If we can keep them out of our net the first 10 minutes of the game we get a little momentum.”
However Eisenhower switched that advantage around with two goals in a six-minute span early in the second half to go up 2-1. But another Rico race in on goal and putaway with 23:53 left earned Reavis the tie.
“I thought we were good early on (despite the layoff),” Reavis defender Alex Froylan said, “but in the second half we kind of went down. I think that little break not playing for a week may have made us lose it, but we’ll get back into it.”
Gniadek had his opinions on what prompted the early second half dip in play.
“There’s a difference between being in shape and in soccer game-shape,” he said. “I just think they forget how much of a grind it is, and I think we got a little flat in the second half.
“You could see it in not winning 50-50s and not running through the ball, and Eisenhower did a good job of exploiting that. They have talented kids.”
But having also not played a game since late August, Eisenhower (0-1-2, 0-0-1) would be on its heels often in the early going.
After Cedillo’s crossbar shot, Marek Judka (30-yarder just over the net in the 3rd minute) and Cedillo again (a header just wide off a Rico cross in the 5th minute) would follow in a flurry of early Reavis chances.
Then eight minutes in, Rico tipped a Rams send to the box past charging Eisenhower goalkeeper Alex Martinez – only to have a Cardinals defender clear the ball from the crease near the goal line.
“It was very hard, mentally and physically (coming back for matches),” Eisenhower junior Julian Rojas said. “It definitely took us a while.”
Said Martinez: “We had a shaky start, mostly with the formation. We weren’t really used to it.
“But later on we got used to it,” Martinez added, “and in the second half we really got into the rhythm of the game. It’s just about shaking it off and playing on.”
After Martinez’s low save of a Rico shot in the 13th minute, the next Reavis threat would pay off.
A Judka pass sprung Rico on a burst up the middle, and he lined a low shot home for a 1-0 Reavis lead.
“In the first half I thought Juan (Cedillo) did a great job in the middle. He won every single 50-50 ball,” Gniadek said. “And obviously Jose starting to finish is really nice to see.
“There’s been a couple games where he hit a post or crossbar. It’s good to see those go in the back of the net.
“And our goalie (Kamil Staszel) played well. He had quite a few saves today.”
Staszel’s first big save came in the 15th minute, as he made a diving grab near the left post on Sebastian Frausto’s 12-yard shot.
Reavis defender Patrick Mrowca made a nice play on a Cardinals long send into the box in the 24th minute – Mrowca headed the 50-50 ball away from a racing Eisenhower player’s reach, with Diego Porras then clearing the defensive zone.
Froylan followed with a pair of nice defensive plays. In the 27th minute, he nicely stepped in to steal the dribble of a Cardinals attacker 22 yards out. Then two minutes later, Froylan made another steal just outside the box on a Gael Arriaga rush.
“I just try to maintain defensively and pass the ball around,” Froylan said, “and not get scared when they score on us. You try to stay relaxed.
“The last couple games we weren’t doing that well clearing the ball (from near or in the box), but I felt we improved this game.”
Staszel kept the score 1-0 entering halftime with nice saves in the 26th minute (a diving stop on an Arriaga shot) and the 36th minute (grabbing Jaime Flores’ 10-yard header redirect off a free kick), then closed the half in style with a diving short-hop snag at the left post of a Rojas 20-yard drive.
Reavis’ Diego Rodriguez also had a nice win and clear of a cross into the box in th 31st minute, and Yair Cahue and Carlos Guzman’s defense in the box helped Staszel cover up a threat near the crease in the 33rd minute.
Guzman’s presence may have been the day’s best story of all.
“Carlos Guzman has torn two ACLs and is just getting back now,” Gniadek said. “He’s been our center back and was up on varsity as a sophomore, then it’s been knee (injury) after knee (injury).
“He’s just getting back into shape, and when he’s back there it looks pretty organized. It’s nice to see him back there. This might have been his first minutes in a game (this year). He’s a little out of shape, but once he gets back healthy our defense shores up a little bit.”
After Rico’s goal, Kevin Ibarra corner kick sends ignited two Reavis scoring bids.
Martinez made a high catch at the near post of an Ibarra corner kick send in the 30th minute. Then 6:40 before halftime, Martinez’s leaping punch away denied a strong Ibarra back post send of a corner – followed by a Rodriguez 20-yard long rebound shot just over the net.
After a Judka low one-hop shot on goal off a Daniel Rosado throw-in with 33:40 left in the second half, Eisenhower’s offense would break through.
Pouncing on the rebound of a 25-yard shot off the crossbar, Cardinals junior Jesus Verduzco would drove home abn 8-yard shot into the net to tie the game 1-1.
Then with 26 minutes left, a Flores free kick send from the left sideline created more Cardinals mayhem.
Staszel made the initial save on a header try off the set piece. But Brandon Gallegos’ rebound header went under the crossbar to put Eisenhower up 2-1.
“Our goal scorers were subs, Jesus and Brandon,” Cardinals coach Iran Rodriguez said. “They came in and gave us a quality 15-20 minutes.
“They capitalized; we took the lead. But unfortunately a bad mistake in the middle of the field, and they (Reavis) came down and capitalized.”
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match Rico turned any open-field chance into gold on Monday.
And with 23:53 to play, Cedillo’s nice send from the midfield sprung Rico in on goal up the left side.
Rico’s low 15-yard rocket nestled inside the right post, and Reavis was back even at 2-2.
“Juan made the pass, and I just made a hard run,” Rico said of his third goal of 2019.
The putaway was a huge lift, after the Rams had quickly seen a 1-0 lead become a deficit.
“We got into it in the first half and were doing really good,” Rico said. “It was the second half – that threw us off a little bit.
“It’s just attitude to be honest,” Rico added. “I think we’re a good team and that we can go really far this season. But when our attitudes get in front of us our emotions take over, and we go down a little bit.
“It’s just about making hard runs, passing the ball and working together as a team.”
Rico matched his offensive prowess with sportsmanship with 19 minutes left, helping an Eisenhower player to his feet after a foul.
Then with 17:50 to go, Reavis turned a nice counterattack into a near lead.
Froylan’s interception of a short restart on a 40-yard Eisenhower corner kick began a counter for him and Rodriguez.
Froylan’s end line cross from the left reached Porras at the back post, but a Cardinals defender blocked the shot near the crease.
Then with 4:40 left, Martinez came up big to deny another Reavis rush.
Rico’s pass set up a Rodriguez 18-yarder, but Martinez made a great diving catch towards the right post.
“It’s obvious who are the good forwards and even midfielders, how they move and find the spaces,” Martinez said. “You have to keep an eye on them – and that’s when you also try to communicate with your defense.”
The Rams tested that defense again the final two minutes. Rico’s initial shot was blocked by Erik Vargas, and Porras sent an 18-yard rebound try wide.
Two more chances would follow. On Rico’s right side rush with 1:25 left, he angled a shot just wide left to narrowly miss a dramatic hat-trick.
Then with 25 seconds left, Cahue’s block created a Rico counterattack that ended with Vargas’ clear of the box.
While tie games are seldom cause for celebration, both sides took positives from the draw.
“It’s a process,” Rodriguez said. “We’re getting there. Our keeper had a great game. He made some quality saves.”
Said Eisenhower’s Rojas: “Last year we started off pretty slow in the season. This year we’re accomplishing better things at the moment.”
For Reavis, its strong start to the match turned into a battle to earn a tie.
“We had opportunities,” Gniadek said. “We hit a crossbar, their goalie made a great save in the second half. We have to find a way to bounce back. That’s been the hardest thing, bouncing back when things don’t go our way.”
But in that vein, Reavis’ response to the 2-1 deficit Monday was a very good sign.
“I feel we have great potential,” Rico said. “I’m playing with really good players like Marek up-top. Our midfield’s really good with Juan in the middle, and our defense is good at clearing the ball now.
“It’s just about keeping our attitude and emotions on hold, relaxing and playing the game that we all love.”
After the hard fought tie, Reavis faces another big conference test Thursday at Lemont.
“The conference is tough,” Gniadek said. “It’s a grind whoever you’re playing. It’s my favorite part of the year after the (Windy City Classic) tournament is done and you have some good rivalries built (in conference play).”
The Rams are confident that bigger success awaits.
“I just want to keep getting better and try to win conference,” Froylan said. “That’s my main goal. And we can get there by practicing hard and playing hard.”
Starting lineups
Eisenhower
GK: Alex Martinez
D: Raul Granados
D:Immanuel Mercado
D: Erik Vargas
D: Carlos Villanueva
M: Julian Rojas
M: Frank Antonio
M: Alan Arriaga
M: Gael Arriaga
M: Joshua Solis
F: Sebastian Frausto
Reavis
GK: Kamil Staszel
D: Patrick Mrowca
D: Alex Froylan
D: Daniel Rosado
D: Julian Ochoa
M: Kevin Ibarra
M: Yair Cahue
M: Diego Porras
M: Juan Cedillo
F: Jose Rico
F: Marek Judka
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Jose Rico, sr. F, Reavis
Scoring summary
First half
Reavis- Jose Rico (Marek Judka), 14th min
Second half
Eisenhower- Jesus Verduzco (rebound), 48th min
Eisenhower- Brandon Gallegos, 54th min
Reavis- Rico (Juan Cedillo), 57th min