Oak Park and River Forest beats Evanston for 7th-straight victory
Huskies defeat potential playoff foe 3-1
By Curt Herron
OAK PARK -- Even though the IHSA postseason for Class 3A teams doesn't officially get underway until Friday, when five regional quarterfinals matches will take place, there was definitely a playoff-like atmosphere on Monday night when Oak Park and River Forest hosted Evanston for its next-to-last contest of the regular-season.
Although regional semifinals won’t start until Oct. 18, this potential preview of a Class 3A Glenbrook South Sectional match between the second-seeded Wildkits and third-seeded Huskies figured to be a strategic clash between two sides that realized all too well that you need to take care of business in the regional in order to reach the sectional. Still they were very anxious to learn more about one another.
While the Huskies led 3-0 heading into the 75th minute before Evanston scored at historic Oak Park Stadium, the final tally was a bit misleading. The visitors had the better of the play in the opening half and were frequently threatening to even things until the hosts scored twice within a span of 37 seconds as the game wore down to finally end the drama.
Junior Easton Bogard, a Chicagoland Soccer all-stater and one of just three sophomores who received Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association all-state recognition a year ago, scored the first and third goals for the Huskies (13-3-0), who captured their seventh-straight victory. They are ranked 10th in the final Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 Poll.
Senior Colin Hayes connected for the middle goal following an assist from sophomore Bryce Richards. Senior Jadyn Hsieh-Bailey assisted on the match's opener.
Previously ranked Evanston (12-4-2), had numerous good scoring opportunities all night, but Huskies junior goalkeeper Christian Dussias was able to frustrate them by coming up with several big stops. The host's backline, which featured seniors Tukura Hess and Ezra Plotkin and juniors Isaac Felder and Charlie Maguire at the outset, did its worked hard to keep the Wildkits off the scoreboard. Junior Diego Velazquez busted the shutout with a penalty kick in the 75th minite.
"It was a good experience," said Dussias, who earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor for his play. "We could meet them again, but even if we don't, there was the atmosphere, a close game and a lot of hard work tonight.
“They (his defense) have been working hard all season. And we've all been playing really well recently and have been getting better in every game.
"Our team has been playing really well in every aspect of the field. Even though there's been a lot of injuries in the midfield, other players have been stepping up and playing really good. I like how we just all play together. We like to build out of the back and when we build out of the back, we always get chances. Everything starts from the back with us."
Following a scoreless opening half, both sides had good chances shortly after the break. Evanston junior goalkeeper Cade Likhite came out of the net to stop Bogard as he was made a run toward the net, and Velazquez was denied by Dussias on an attempt from the side.
Oak Park and River Forest took the lead in the 50th minute when Hsieh-Bailey sent a cross into the box, and Bogard headed the ball in from close range to make it 1-0.
A 3-1 win over a Wildkits team that had only lost one other time by more than one goal looks impressive. But Oak Park and River Forest coach Jason Fried isn't making too much out of it; he realizes that the two may meet again with much more at stake.
The Huskies open state tournament play in the Leyden Regional against Lincoln Park; the hosts and Maine South meet in the other semifinal
Evanston meets Maine West in the opener of its own regional; Lane and Loyola play in the other match.
Those regional champions advance to the 7 p.m. sectional semifinal on Oct. 25 in Glenview.
"The match was a great prep for the playoffs against a really strong Evanston team," Fried said. "Evanston came out really strong and did a good job of possessing the ball, but I felt like our team adjusted as the game went on.
“Our players did a good job of taking information provided to them and using that to create some high-scoring chances as the game developed, and keep the ball.
"We had a few injuries prior to the game and lost a player during the game, so I also was happy to see guys step it up in different positions. It shows us that they have really been focused during training and are not just focused in understanding their roles but the roles of each position. If we can keep progressing as we have, we are setting ourselves up to make a good run in the playoffs."
Evanston continued to apply pressure during the next stretch with senior Sam Darer and junior Bryan Maldonado joining Velazquez with some of the best efforts, but the Huskies defense and Dussias held firm.
Oak Park and River Forest converted on a pair of restarts within a span of just 37 seconds to finally take control of the match. The first one came in the 69th minute when Plotkin began a corner kick with a short pass to Richards. He briefly drove toward the net before sending the ball in front where Hayes placed a shot just inside the post.
"It was definitely a playoff-like atmosphere," Plotkin said. "It was good practice for sure for the playoffs, but we're taking it one match at a time. … We may meet them again, but a lot of things have to happen for that to go down.
"We're starting to get healthy again and this is now seven wins in a row. I think we're getting hot at the right time. I like that we play for each other. We're learning and getting better at playing for each other, and I think that's a quality that you need to go deep in state."
After assisting on his team's second goal, Richards also helped to set up their final score. As he drove to the net, Likhite came out to try to deter him and drew a yellow card as a result. That set up a free kick from just beyond the side of the box. Bogard took the try and lined in a shot for his second goal of the evening.
"We really emphasize possession, but once we get in the final third, we try to be as creative as possible to create chances," Richards said. "And then with the set pieces, we have our plays. Like on the corner, I saw that there was only one guy there, so I was able to take him on.
"That was a top team in the state so this was a good experience for the playoffs. I definitely like the way that we build and then we're able to ... find our winger or striker to start creating in the final third. That's what allows us to score so many goals."
Though down by three goals, Evanston continued to battle and their efforts finally paid off in the 75th minute when the Huskies were called for a foul in the box. Velazquez capped a busy day of applying plenty of pressure on the Huskies' keeper when he converted the penalty.
Evanston won the Central Suburban League South Division title and took the league championship match over Vernon Hills. The Wildkits other defeats came against Glenbrook South Sectional top seed and seventh-ranked New Trier in league play, no. 3 Naperville Central on PKs and upset-minded Young.
"It's tough finding another team that tries to play soccer for 80 minutes in high school, so that was good to see," Wildkits coach Franz Calixte said. "I told them before the game that we want to win every time we step on the field, but today was more about learning and seeing what we need to do to prepare if we see them in a couple of weeks.
"We're almost healthy, and we're waiting for one of our leading scorers, Johnny Hunwick, to come back. He got hurt about three weeks ago and at the time was our leading scorer. So, it will be nice if we can have someone else that can score."
The Wildkits had most of the best scoring chances during the opening half, with seniors Jack Kaplan and Darer and juniors Benji Kozuira and Velazquez being the main threats to Dussias. Richards, Maguire and Bogard had some of the most dangerous attempts for the Huskies.
Oak Park and River Forest concluded its regular-season Tuesday night with Senior Night. Varsity players Henry Albrecht, Isaac Cummings, Nasir Cruz, Emmett Kindler, Hodari Motley, Aubrey Silvetti-Schmitt, Hayes, Hess, Hsieh-Bailey and Plotkin were recognized.
The Huskies also hosted a fundraiser in partnership with the Highland Park Community Foundation and Score For a Cause. Monies collected at the stadium and online will be donated to the July 4th Recovery Fund. Proceeds will help meet the continuing needs of the victims of the Highland Park July 4th tragedy.
To donate go to https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/3dueoFfqX0rywJ7naOVprQ. Please mention Score for a Cause or OPRF Soccer under the "Additional Instructions" area.
Starting lineups
Evanston
GK: Cade Likhite
D: Chris Alexander
D: Armando Gomez
D: Benji Kozuira
D: Patrick Osilaja
MF: Nathan Melnikov
MF: Sam Darer
MF: Hugo Blackwell
MF: Diego Velazquez
F: Bryan Maldonado
F: Jack Kaplan
Oak Park and River Forest
GK: Christian Dussias
D: Tukura Hess
D: Isaac Felder
D: Charlie Maguire
D: Ezra Plotkin
MF: Bryce Richards
MF: Isaac Cummings
MF: Jadyn Hsieh-Bailey
MF: Nazir Cruz
F: Colin Hayes
F: Easton Bogard
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match:
Christian Dussias, jr., GK, Oak Park and River Forest
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
OPRF: Easton Bogard (Jadyn Hsieh-Bailey), 50'
OPRF: Colin Hayes (Bryce Richards), 69'
OPRF: Bogard [FK], 70'
Evanston: Diego Velazquez [PK], 75'
Huskies defeat potential playoff foe 3-1
By Curt Herron
OAK PARK -- Even though the IHSA postseason for Class 3A teams doesn't officially get underway until Friday, when five regional quarterfinals matches will take place, there was definitely a playoff-like atmosphere on Monday night when Oak Park and River Forest hosted Evanston for its next-to-last contest of the regular-season.
Although regional semifinals won’t start until Oct. 18, this potential preview of a Class 3A Glenbrook South Sectional match between the second-seeded Wildkits and third-seeded Huskies figured to be a strategic clash between two sides that realized all too well that you need to take care of business in the regional in order to reach the sectional. Still they were very anxious to learn more about one another.
While the Huskies led 3-0 heading into the 75th minute before Evanston scored at historic Oak Park Stadium, the final tally was a bit misleading. The visitors had the better of the play in the opening half and were frequently threatening to even things until the hosts scored twice within a span of 37 seconds as the game wore down to finally end the drama.
Junior Easton Bogard, a Chicagoland Soccer all-stater and one of just three sophomores who received Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association all-state recognition a year ago, scored the first and third goals for the Huskies (13-3-0), who captured their seventh-straight victory. They are ranked 10th in the final Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 Poll.
Senior Colin Hayes connected for the middle goal following an assist from sophomore Bryce Richards. Senior Jadyn Hsieh-Bailey assisted on the match's opener.
Previously ranked Evanston (12-4-2), had numerous good scoring opportunities all night, but Huskies junior goalkeeper Christian Dussias was able to frustrate them by coming up with several big stops. The host's backline, which featured seniors Tukura Hess and Ezra Plotkin and juniors Isaac Felder and Charlie Maguire at the outset, did its worked hard to keep the Wildkits off the scoreboard. Junior Diego Velazquez busted the shutout with a penalty kick in the 75th minite.
"It was a good experience," said Dussias, who earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor for his play. "We could meet them again, but even if we don't, there was the atmosphere, a close game and a lot of hard work tonight.
“They (his defense) have been working hard all season. And we've all been playing really well recently and have been getting better in every game.
"Our team has been playing really well in every aspect of the field. Even though there's been a lot of injuries in the midfield, other players have been stepping up and playing really good. I like how we just all play together. We like to build out of the back and when we build out of the back, we always get chances. Everything starts from the back with us."
Following a scoreless opening half, both sides had good chances shortly after the break. Evanston junior goalkeeper Cade Likhite came out of the net to stop Bogard as he was made a run toward the net, and Velazquez was denied by Dussias on an attempt from the side.
Oak Park and River Forest took the lead in the 50th minute when Hsieh-Bailey sent a cross into the box, and Bogard headed the ball in from close range to make it 1-0.
A 3-1 win over a Wildkits team that had only lost one other time by more than one goal looks impressive. But Oak Park and River Forest coach Jason Fried isn't making too much out of it; he realizes that the two may meet again with much more at stake.
The Huskies open state tournament play in the Leyden Regional against Lincoln Park; the hosts and Maine South meet in the other semifinal
Evanston meets Maine West in the opener of its own regional; Lane and Loyola play in the other match.
Those regional champions advance to the 7 p.m. sectional semifinal on Oct. 25 in Glenview.
"The match was a great prep for the playoffs against a really strong Evanston team," Fried said. "Evanston came out really strong and did a good job of possessing the ball, but I felt like our team adjusted as the game went on.
“Our players did a good job of taking information provided to them and using that to create some high-scoring chances as the game developed, and keep the ball.
"We had a few injuries prior to the game and lost a player during the game, so I also was happy to see guys step it up in different positions. It shows us that they have really been focused during training and are not just focused in understanding their roles but the roles of each position. If we can keep progressing as we have, we are setting ourselves up to make a good run in the playoffs."
Evanston continued to apply pressure during the next stretch with senior Sam Darer and junior Bryan Maldonado joining Velazquez with some of the best efforts, but the Huskies defense and Dussias held firm.
Oak Park and River Forest converted on a pair of restarts within a span of just 37 seconds to finally take control of the match. The first one came in the 69th minute when Plotkin began a corner kick with a short pass to Richards. He briefly drove toward the net before sending the ball in front where Hayes placed a shot just inside the post.
"It was definitely a playoff-like atmosphere," Plotkin said. "It was good practice for sure for the playoffs, but we're taking it one match at a time. … We may meet them again, but a lot of things have to happen for that to go down.
"We're starting to get healthy again and this is now seven wins in a row. I think we're getting hot at the right time. I like that we play for each other. We're learning and getting better at playing for each other, and I think that's a quality that you need to go deep in state."
After assisting on his team's second goal, Richards also helped to set up their final score. As he drove to the net, Likhite came out to try to deter him and drew a yellow card as a result. That set up a free kick from just beyond the side of the box. Bogard took the try and lined in a shot for his second goal of the evening.
"We really emphasize possession, but once we get in the final third, we try to be as creative as possible to create chances," Richards said. "And then with the set pieces, we have our plays. Like on the corner, I saw that there was only one guy there, so I was able to take him on.
"That was a top team in the state so this was a good experience for the playoffs. I definitely like the way that we build and then we're able to ... find our winger or striker to start creating in the final third. That's what allows us to score so many goals."
Though down by three goals, Evanston continued to battle and their efforts finally paid off in the 75th minute when the Huskies were called for a foul in the box. Velazquez capped a busy day of applying plenty of pressure on the Huskies' keeper when he converted the penalty.
Evanston won the Central Suburban League South Division title and took the league championship match over Vernon Hills. The Wildkits other defeats came against Glenbrook South Sectional top seed and seventh-ranked New Trier in league play, no. 3 Naperville Central on PKs and upset-minded Young.
"It's tough finding another team that tries to play soccer for 80 minutes in high school, so that was good to see," Wildkits coach Franz Calixte said. "I told them before the game that we want to win every time we step on the field, but today was more about learning and seeing what we need to do to prepare if we see them in a couple of weeks.
"We're almost healthy, and we're waiting for one of our leading scorers, Johnny Hunwick, to come back. He got hurt about three weeks ago and at the time was our leading scorer. So, it will be nice if we can have someone else that can score."
The Wildkits had most of the best scoring chances during the opening half, with seniors Jack Kaplan and Darer and juniors Benji Kozuira and Velazquez being the main threats to Dussias. Richards, Maguire and Bogard had some of the most dangerous attempts for the Huskies.
Oak Park and River Forest concluded its regular-season Tuesday night with Senior Night. Varsity players Henry Albrecht, Isaac Cummings, Nasir Cruz, Emmett Kindler, Hodari Motley, Aubrey Silvetti-Schmitt, Hayes, Hess, Hsieh-Bailey and Plotkin were recognized.
The Huskies also hosted a fundraiser in partnership with the Highland Park Community Foundation and Score For a Cause. Monies collected at the stadium and online will be donated to the July 4th Recovery Fund. Proceeds will help meet the continuing needs of the victims of the Highland Park July 4th tragedy.
To donate go to https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/3dueoFfqX0rywJ7naOVprQ. Please mention Score for a Cause or OPRF Soccer under the "Additional Instructions" area.
Starting lineups
Evanston
GK: Cade Likhite
D: Chris Alexander
D: Armando Gomez
D: Benji Kozuira
D: Patrick Osilaja
MF: Nathan Melnikov
MF: Sam Darer
MF: Hugo Blackwell
MF: Diego Velazquez
F: Bryan Maldonado
F: Jack Kaplan
Oak Park and River Forest
GK: Christian Dussias
D: Tukura Hess
D: Isaac Felder
D: Charlie Maguire
D: Ezra Plotkin
MF: Bryce Richards
MF: Isaac Cummings
MF: Jadyn Hsieh-Bailey
MF: Nazir Cruz
F: Colin Hayes
F: Easton Bogard
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match:
Christian Dussias, jr., GK, Oak Park and River Forest
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
OPRF: Easton Bogard (Jadyn Hsieh-Bailey), 50'
OPRF: Colin Hayes (Bryce Richards), 69'
OPRF: Bogard [FK], 70'
Evanston: Diego Velazquez [PK], 75'