Fast start propels New Trier
past Glenbrook North
Perchik scores game-winner for the Trevians
By Patrick Z. McGavin
NORTHFIELD — Evan Kanellos has a clear rapport with his teammate Matthew Perchik – the familiarity of playing styles, the awareness of where each other likes to play the ball and make their runs.
Everything just flows between the two.
“I’ve been teammates with Matthew since the fourth grade, going back to the Wilmette Wings,” Kanellos said.
“We have always been on the same club team, and we have developed really good chemistry.”
The two New Trier bookends have become essential pieces in the attack. Kanellos has become a master of unsung his body, footwork and control.
In his first year on the varsity, Perchik has blossomed as a change of pace player whose shotmaking has proven especially impressive.
Kanellos and Perchik pushed New Trier out to a fantastic start with two early goals that held up for the 2-1 victory over Glenbrook North in Central Suburban League South Division play Thursday night.
Kanellos scored in the sixth minute, and Perchik scored what turned out to be the game-winner in the 13th minute.
In an electric game that featured plenty of quality play, all the scoring played out in the first 22 minutes.
Despite the slow start, the Spartans rallied behind the sharp play of midfielder Wes Fagin and forward Miles Wolder.
Glenbrook North (6-4-3, 1-1-1) regrouped after the opening Trevians’ onslaught to parlay some very impressive play of its own.
“We settled down,” Glenbrook North coach Paul Vignocchi said. “I think sometimes our players look at New Trier, they know these kids; they know … all of that stuff.
“Once we settled down and played the game the way we are capable of, I think the game also settled down. It has taken us some time, and unfortunately we gave up two goals.”
New Trier displayed remarkable energy and urgency at the start. Kanellos created a shot in the first two minutes from the right wing that created a corner kick.
In the sixth minute, the Trevians delivered on the early pressure and creative play. Off a corner, midfielder Eli Drake smashed the ball off the crossbar.
The rebound came to Kanellos in perfect position four yards outside the goal mouth. He blasted in the rebound.
New Trier (9-1-1, 3-1-0) learned its lesson after suffering its first defeat against rival Evanston on Sept. 18. The Trevians knocked off Glenbrook South 1-0 on Tuesday.
“This week we have been talking about rebounding from the Evanston game,” Kanellos said.
“Against Glenbrook South, I thought we came out firing and there was a lot of buzz, communication and talk. We came out tonight strong, fast, communicating and playing with energy.”
Perchik played on the sophomore team during the spring season, and showed the varsity staff what he was capable of doing.
With a stacked and deep middle attack, Perchik had little chance of playing. Instead he got the valuable time of developing his game.
In the 13th minute, he broke down the left edge and caught a pass in movement from defender Ely Wilson.
He eluded a Spartans defender and blasted home the left-footed shot from about 18 yards for the stunning 2-0 New Trier lead.
“I think it just goes back to the Evanston game and the loss we had,” Perchik said. “We don’t want that to define our season.
“We are trying to come out with as much energy in every game.”
New Trier established early dominance through its deft passing and ability to dictate tempo and pace.
“In a lot of the games this year, we have made it a habit to score goals early,” Perchik said.
“I think it’s the best way to put a team away, getting out on them early.”
Perchik earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match distinction for his excellent play.
Glenbrook North struggled to contain the speed and creativity of the Trevians’ early push.
“They just played the ball around us really well,” Glenbrook North midfielder Wes Fagin said.
“They are really good at creating space, and they keep wide and have the field all open towards the goal.”
The Spartans dug in and started to alter the movements, slowly and surely gaining confidence in their ability to slow the Trevians down and build their attack.
At the midway point of the half, Fagin broke free down the left flank and ripped a low-level howitzer from about 19 yards that Trevians’ star keeper Aidan Crawford made a fantastic save on.
The Spartans seemed energized by the spark and sustained the pressure.
Moments later, Fagin worked a nearly identical spot and got free in space off a beautiful pass from Griffin Yoss.
His shot from the left wing from 19 yards caught the inside of the far post for the Spartans’ goal.
“That goal I scored did give us a little bit of motivation and a little extra energy to really fight,” Fagin said.
“It’s just unfortunate we got down 2-0 in the first half.”
Vignocchi calls Fagin a special talent. He helped change the contours of the game, and pushed it toward a more equal and open game rather than the one-sided affair it started out as.
“He comes to play,” Vignocchi said. “He’s a good athlete, he’s competitive.
“New Trier does a great job of possessing the ball. We panicked in certain situations, which I think we need to correct a little more.”
Fagin’s creativity and runs helped open the game of rangy and lithe forward Miles Wolder.
At nearly 6-foot-3, he is a massive target, and his size and physical presence created some striking moments for the Spartans.
“I think we just got into the game a little more,” Wolder said. “We shifted to two holding midfielders instead of one, and we covered up more space for their attacking players.”
The New Trier back bent a couple of times. Crawford, a two-time all-state keeper, stepped up with four saves.
If there was a downside to the Trevians’ performance, the inability to build off the fabulous start felt a bit jarring.
“We were just talking about that,” Kanellos said. “When we are up 2-0, that third goal really kills off the game.
“We kind of let off the gas. They also had an amazing goal, which got them back into it. If we get that third goal, it’s a different game.”
As the season moves toward a critical juncture, two talented teams had much to get jacked up about.
New Trier found another example of their versatility and emerging weapons.
Glenbrook North found another gear it was capable of reaching.
“We are getting better every time,” Vignocchi said.
“I know we are disappointed we didn’t get a win or tie, but the way we rebounded after giving up two quick goals was a positive we take away from this game.”
Starting lineups
Glenbrook North
GK: Max Bachenheimer
D: Alex Link
D: Dylan Mankoff
D: Tal Yedlin
D: Jack Redland
MF: Devin Spiggos
MF: Sam Lappin
MF: Ian Lee
MF: Wes Fagin
F: Miles Wolder
F: Michael Abrams
New Trier
GK: Aidan Crawford
D: Colin Gottshall
D: Ely Wilson
D: James Paden
D: T.J. Carmody
MF: Aidan Nicholson
MF: Eli Drake
MF: Evan Kanellos
F: Peter Kanellos
F: Matthew Perchik
F: Ronan O’Neill
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Matthew Perchik, jr., F, New Trier
Scoring summary
First half
New Trier—Evan Kanellos (Eli Drake), 6th minute
New Trier—Matthew Perchik (Ely Wilson), 13th minute
Glenbrook North—Wes Fagin (Griffin Yoss), 22nd minute
Second half
No scoring
past Glenbrook North
Perchik scores game-winner for the Trevians
By Patrick Z. McGavin
NORTHFIELD — Evan Kanellos has a clear rapport with his teammate Matthew Perchik – the familiarity of playing styles, the awareness of where each other likes to play the ball and make their runs.
Everything just flows between the two.
“I’ve been teammates with Matthew since the fourth grade, going back to the Wilmette Wings,” Kanellos said.
“We have always been on the same club team, and we have developed really good chemistry.”
The two New Trier bookends have become essential pieces in the attack. Kanellos has become a master of unsung his body, footwork and control.
In his first year on the varsity, Perchik has blossomed as a change of pace player whose shotmaking has proven especially impressive.
Kanellos and Perchik pushed New Trier out to a fantastic start with two early goals that held up for the 2-1 victory over Glenbrook North in Central Suburban League South Division play Thursday night.
Kanellos scored in the sixth minute, and Perchik scored what turned out to be the game-winner in the 13th minute.
In an electric game that featured plenty of quality play, all the scoring played out in the first 22 minutes.
Despite the slow start, the Spartans rallied behind the sharp play of midfielder Wes Fagin and forward Miles Wolder.
Glenbrook North (6-4-3, 1-1-1) regrouped after the opening Trevians’ onslaught to parlay some very impressive play of its own.
“We settled down,” Glenbrook North coach Paul Vignocchi said. “I think sometimes our players look at New Trier, they know these kids; they know … all of that stuff.
“Once we settled down and played the game the way we are capable of, I think the game also settled down. It has taken us some time, and unfortunately we gave up two goals.”
New Trier displayed remarkable energy and urgency at the start. Kanellos created a shot in the first two minutes from the right wing that created a corner kick.
In the sixth minute, the Trevians delivered on the early pressure and creative play. Off a corner, midfielder Eli Drake smashed the ball off the crossbar.
The rebound came to Kanellos in perfect position four yards outside the goal mouth. He blasted in the rebound.
New Trier (9-1-1, 3-1-0) learned its lesson after suffering its first defeat against rival Evanston on Sept. 18. The Trevians knocked off Glenbrook South 1-0 on Tuesday.
“This week we have been talking about rebounding from the Evanston game,” Kanellos said.
“Against Glenbrook South, I thought we came out firing and there was a lot of buzz, communication and talk. We came out tonight strong, fast, communicating and playing with energy.”
Perchik played on the sophomore team during the spring season, and showed the varsity staff what he was capable of doing.
With a stacked and deep middle attack, Perchik had little chance of playing. Instead he got the valuable time of developing his game.
In the 13th minute, he broke down the left edge and caught a pass in movement from defender Ely Wilson.
He eluded a Spartans defender and blasted home the left-footed shot from about 18 yards for the stunning 2-0 New Trier lead.
“I think it just goes back to the Evanston game and the loss we had,” Perchik said. “We don’t want that to define our season.
“We are trying to come out with as much energy in every game.”
New Trier established early dominance through its deft passing and ability to dictate tempo and pace.
“In a lot of the games this year, we have made it a habit to score goals early,” Perchik said.
“I think it’s the best way to put a team away, getting out on them early.”
Perchik earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match distinction for his excellent play.
Glenbrook North struggled to contain the speed and creativity of the Trevians’ early push.
“They just played the ball around us really well,” Glenbrook North midfielder Wes Fagin said.
“They are really good at creating space, and they keep wide and have the field all open towards the goal.”
The Spartans dug in and started to alter the movements, slowly and surely gaining confidence in their ability to slow the Trevians down and build their attack.
At the midway point of the half, Fagin broke free down the left flank and ripped a low-level howitzer from about 19 yards that Trevians’ star keeper Aidan Crawford made a fantastic save on.
The Spartans seemed energized by the spark and sustained the pressure.
Moments later, Fagin worked a nearly identical spot and got free in space off a beautiful pass from Griffin Yoss.
His shot from the left wing from 19 yards caught the inside of the far post for the Spartans’ goal.
“That goal I scored did give us a little bit of motivation and a little extra energy to really fight,” Fagin said.
“It’s just unfortunate we got down 2-0 in the first half.”
Vignocchi calls Fagin a special talent. He helped change the contours of the game, and pushed it toward a more equal and open game rather than the one-sided affair it started out as.
“He comes to play,” Vignocchi said. “He’s a good athlete, he’s competitive.
“New Trier does a great job of possessing the ball. We panicked in certain situations, which I think we need to correct a little more.”
Fagin’s creativity and runs helped open the game of rangy and lithe forward Miles Wolder.
At nearly 6-foot-3, he is a massive target, and his size and physical presence created some striking moments for the Spartans.
“I think we just got into the game a little more,” Wolder said. “We shifted to two holding midfielders instead of one, and we covered up more space for their attacking players.”
The New Trier back bent a couple of times. Crawford, a two-time all-state keeper, stepped up with four saves.
If there was a downside to the Trevians’ performance, the inability to build off the fabulous start felt a bit jarring.
“We were just talking about that,” Kanellos said. “When we are up 2-0, that third goal really kills off the game.
“We kind of let off the gas. They also had an amazing goal, which got them back into it. If we get that third goal, it’s a different game.”
As the season moves toward a critical juncture, two talented teams had much to get jacked up about.
New Trier found another example of their versatility and emerging weapons.
Glenbrook North found another gear it was capable of reaching.
“We are getting better every time,” Vignocchi said.
“I know we are disappointed we didn’t get a win or tie, but the way we rebounded after giving up two quick goals was a positive we take away from this game.”
Starting lineups
Glenbrook North
GK: Max Bachenheimer
D: Alex Link
D: Dylan Mankoff
D: Tal Yedlin
D: Jack Redland
MF: Devin Spiggos
MF: Sam Lappin
MF: Ian Lee
MF: Wes Fagin
F: Miles Wolder
F: Michael Abrams
New Trier
GK: Aidan Crawford
D: Colin Gottshall
D: Ely Wilson
D: James Paden
D: T.J. Carmody
MF: Aidan Nicholson
MF: Eli Drake
MF: Evan Kanellos
F: Peter Kanellos
F: Matthew Perchik
F: Ronan O’Neill
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Matthew Perchik, jr., F, New Trier
Scoring summary
First half
New Trier—Evan Kanellos (Eli Drake), 6th minute
New Trier—Matthew Perchik (Ely Wilson), 13th minute
Glenbrook North—Wes Fagin (Griffin Yoss), 22nd minute
Second half
No scoring