Bujak/Wilcox combo put Hersey past GBS
Juniors pace 3-0 win; Huskies take 2-straight over Top 25 teams
By Patrick Z. McGavin
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS -- Soccer is both a state of being and a state of mind.
With just two seniors on its roster, Hersey is learning on the go about the concepts and ideas being introduced by coach Michael Rusniak.
“I think all of the boys have bought into the fact that we really want to succeed and accomplish our goals,” Rusniak said. “It’s important for everybody to be invested in their roles. Some kids have been asked to come off the bench and add some energy and edge, and they have really lived up to that.
“The buy-in has been phenomenal. When you step on the field, you basically leave it all out there. You should ask to come out only because you worked tremendously hard. A big thing we live by is never take any plays off.
“Don’t save yourself.”
Glenbrook South coach Reggie Lara also has his ideas to live by, a guiding set of patterns that influences action and performance.
“We usually approach every game with three keys,” Lara said. “One is an intangible goal, one is an attacking mindset goal, and one is a defensive goal. I thought today’s game was a perfect example of attacking wise and defending I thought we did really well.
“The game just kind of showed how sometimes if we are not willing to stick to the intangible keys to the game, then sometimes the result doesn't go our way.”
Coaches create a culture. The players embody those ideas.
Hersey continued its torrid recent stretch as forward Patryk Bujak and midfielder Ronan Wilcox had a goal and assist apiece in Hersey's 3-0 victory over the 14th-ranked Titans on Saturday morning.
Hersey (6-2-1) won for the fifth time in its last six games. On the heels of their 2-0 victory at no. 17 Barrington on Thursday, the Huskies strung together another deeply impressive performance.
The template was the same, early offense that dictated the shape and movement of the game.
Weather also impacted the beginning with early rain and gusting winds. Glenbrook South was also coming off a very impressive week with a 1-1 draw against no. 7 New Trier and a 3-2 win over Maine South, a top honorable mention program.
Glenbrook South scored in the second minute against New Trier on Tuesday. The Titans generated some strongly early play, manifested in an early corner attempt.
Bujak, a quick and explosive talent at the top of the Huskies’ formation, kicked the game into another gear in the eighth minute.
He drove hard down the left flank and outmaneuvered a Titans’ defender to a ball as he unleashed a rocket that forced Glenbrook South keeper Aris Edlund to make a great stop.
Bujak was just getting warmed up.
Working beautifully with Wilcox, another junior, Bujak controlled a rebound just outside the six and blasted home a rocket ball for the 1-0 Hersey lead in the ninth minute.
Bujak effectively maintained the script from the Barrington game, an early goal that established the rhythm and shape the Huskies could dictate in long form.
For his accomplishments, Patryk Bujak earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match distinction.
Early leads often translate to a multitude of possibilities.
“I think that my early goal had a positive influence,” Bujak said. “It really got us pumped up, and we were striving for more and more goals.
“We knew we were facing a tough opponent. So getting a couple early goals can really shape and influence how the other team responds and the results following our goals.”
Glenbrook South (6-2-3) did not wilt. The Titans again showed why they are a strong program by piecing together passes and plotting a brand of high pressure that certainly showed promise.
What they lacked was luck. Forward Danny Sergiev hit the post twice. Midfielder Julian Isaar had a terrific header off a service that just pushed wide.
“I thought Hersey had more physicality and intensity at the start of the game,” Lara said. “They were more focused on the game and ready, and I thought our guys came out a little more sluggish.
“We were connecting passes and getting into the attacking third, but we were not able to convert any of those dangerous opportunities into well-placed shots on goal.”
Lanky and rangy, Hersey keeper Reece Delahanty registered six saves in posting the shutout. His length proved fortuitous on a number of examples when the game still hung in the balance.
Fortune favors the bold, and what Rusniak has looked to institute is a point of view, a perspective, that colors every avenue of the game.
“We learned the hard way you can’t sit back and wait for a game to come to you,” Rusniak said. “You have to be able to be aggressive and play how we are used to playing or how we want to play.
“Being able to come out against a lot of strong teams like Barrington and Glenbrook South really help with confidence and overall momentum.”
The Bujak and Wilcox connection turned the game decisively in the closing seconds of the first half. Hersey beautifully seized the late vulnerability of a team retreating.
To the astonishment of Lara, Wilcox took on virtually his entire backline and caught a through-ball from Bujak that he smashed in with just two seconds to play in the first half.
“I think of myself as a team player,” Wilcox said. “I am always looking to be there for my teammates when they need me. I beat a few players and then played Patryk down the line and made a run through the middle.”
Bujak said the two just have an intuitive awareness of the other’s presence on the field.
“I have a great connection with Ronan Wilcox,” Bujak said. “I know how he plays and what ball he is looking to play me through.
Lara was impressed.
“It’s not as if I didn’t have guys getting back on defense,” Lara said. “Their no. 10 [Wilcox] was really a workhorse. It was him versus four defenders and my goalkeeper, the ball bouncing in the middle of the six, and we just could not clear it.
“I thought we didn’t make too many defensive mistakes. We have to tip our hat to Hersey in that they had a few chances, and they made the most of those opportunities.”
The parts all merged beautifully together for the Huskies.
“It boosted our morale, and it gave us the confidence we could close out the game and get an important win,” Wilcox said.
Wilcox helped punctuate the strong performance at the start of the second half, playing a ball that midfielder Eric Worwa finished in the 43rd minute.
Lara sought to put the game in context. It was not a bleak picture.
“At the end of the game, I was not happy with the performance, but I am happy that this happened,” he said. “I didn’t want my boys to become too overly confident.
“I wanted them to realize there are still some things to work on, and I hope it is going to be a good motivation to work hard the next couple of practices and come out focused on the games.”
Hersey made a statement and now looks to take the next step in its own journey.
“They have risen to the challenge,” Rusniak said. “They are out to prove a lot. They hear about the other schools and the success that they have, and they are hungry.
“They are out to make a name for themselves, which is pretty neat.”
Starting lineups
Glenbrook South
GK: Aris Edlund
D: Ryan Batka
D: Michael Zenzola
D: David Sohn
MF: Jose Santos-DeSoto
MF: Arturo Moyo
MF: Tangis Purevrentsen
MF: Blake Shechtman
MF: Sam Rogers
F: Danny Sergiev
F: Justin Leszynski
Hersey
GK: Reece Delahanty
D: Tommy Steger
D: Ilich Quijije
D: Cade Milligan
D: Blake Johnson
MF: Eric Worwa
MF: Oscar Garcia Bello
MF: Simon Hemenway
MF: Ronan Wilcox
MF: Sam Schuffler
F: Patryk Bujak
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Patryk Bujak, jr., F, Hersey
Scoring summary
First half
Hersey—Patryk Bujak (unassisted), ninth minute
Hersey—Ronan Wilcox (Bujak), 40th minute
Second half
Hersey—Eric Worwa (Wilcox), 43rd minute
Juniors pace 3-0 win; Huskies take 2-straight over Top 25 teams
By Patrick Z. McGavin
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS -- Soccer is both a state of being and a state of mind.
With just two seniors on its roster, Hersey is learning on the go about the concepts and ideas being introduced by coach Michael Rusniak.
“I think all of the boys have bought into the fact that we really want to succeed and accomplish our goals,” Rusniak said. “It’s important for everybody to be invested in their roles. Some kids have been asked to come off the bench and add some energy and edge, and they have really lived up to that.
“The buy-in has been phenomenal. When you step on the field, you basically leave it all out there. You should ask to come out only because you worked tremendously hard. A big thing we live by is never take any plays off.
“Don’t save yourself.”
Glenbrook South coach Reggie Lara also has his ideas to live by, a guiding set of patterns that influences action and performance.
“We usually approach every game with three keys,” Lara said. “One is an intangible goal, one is an attacking mindset goal, and one is a defensive goal. I thought today’s game was a perfect example of attacking wise and defending I thought we did really well.
“The game just kind of showed how sometimes if we are not willing to stick to the intangible keys to the game, then sometimes the result doesn't go our way.”
Coaches create a culture. The players embody those ideas.
Hersey continued its torrid recent stretch as forward Patryk Bujak and midfielder Ronan Wilcox had a goal and assist apiece in Hersey's 3-0 victory over the 14th-ranked Titans on Saturday morning.
Hersey (6-2-1) won for the fifth time in its last six games. On the heels of their 2-0 victory at no. 17 Barrington on Thursday, the Huskies strung together another deeply impressive performance.
The template was the same, early offense that dictated the shape and movement of the game.
Weather also impacted the beginning with early rain and gusting winds. Glenbrook South was also coming off a very impressive week with a 1-1 draw against no. 7 New Trier and a 3-2 win over Maine South, a top honorable mention program.
Glenbrook South scored in the second minute against New Trier on Tuesday. The Titans generated some strongly early play, manifested in an early corner attempt.
Bujak, a quick and explosive talent at the top of the Huskies’ formation, kicked the game into another gear in the eighth minute.
He drove hard down the left flank and outmaneuvered a Titans’ defender to a ball as he unleashed a rocket that forced Glenbrook South keeper Aris Edlund to make a great stop.
Bujak was just getting warmed up.
Working beautifully with Wilcox, another junior, Bujak controlled a rebound just outside the six and blasted home a rocket ball for the 1-0 Hersey lead in the ninth minute.
Bujak effectively maintained the script from the Barrington game, an early goal that established the rhythm and shape the Huskies could dictate in long form.
For his accomplishments, Patryk Bujak earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match distinction.
Early leads often translate to a multitude of possibilities.
“I think that my early goal had a positive influence,” Bujak said. “It really got us pumped up, and we were striving for more and more goals.
“We knew we were facing a tough opponent. So getting a couple early goals can really shape and influence how the other team responds and the results following our goals.”
Glenbrook South (6-2-3) did not wilt. The Titans again showed why they are a strong program by piecing together passes and plotting a brand of high pressure that certainly showed promise.
What they lacked was luck. Forward Danny Sergiev hit the post twice. Midfielder Julian Isaar had a terrific header off a service that just pushed wide.
“I thought Hersey had more physicality and intensity at the start of the game,” Lara said. “They were more focused on the game and ready, and I thought our guys came out a little more sluggish.
“We were connecting passes and getting into the attacking third, but we were not able to convert any of those dangerous opportunities into well-placed shots on goal.”
Lanky and rangy, Hersey keeper Reece Delahanty registered six saves in posting the shutout. His length proved fortuitous on a number of examples when the game still hung in the balance.
Fortune favors the bold, and what Rusniak has looked to institute is a point of view, a perspective, that colors every avenue of the game.
“We learned the hard way you can’t sit back and wait for a game to come to you,” Rusniak said. “You have to be able to be aggressive and play how we are used to playing or how we want to play.
“Being able to come out against a lot of strong teams like Barrington and Glenbrook South really help with confidence and overall momentum.”
The Bujak and Wilcox connection turned the game decisively in the closing seconds of the first half. Hersey beautifully seized the late vulnerability of a team retreating.
To the astonishment of Lara, Wilcox took on virtually his entire backline and caught a through-ball from Bujak that he smashed in with just two seconds to play in the first half.
“I think of myself as a team player,” Wilcox said. “I am always looking to be there for my teammates when they need me. I beat a few players and then played Patryk down the line and made a run through the middle.”
Bujak said the two just have an intuitive awareness of the other’s presence on the field.
“I have a great connection with Ronan Wilcox,” Bujak said. “I know how he plays and what ball he is looking to play me through.
Lara was impressed.
“It’s not as if I didn’t have guys getting back on defense,” Lara said. “Their no. 10 [Wilcox] was really a workhorse. It was him versus four defenders and my goalkeeper, the ball bouncing in the middle of the six, and we just could not clear it.
“I thought we didn’t make too many defensive mistakes. We have to tip our hat to Hersey in that they had a few chances, and they made the most of those opportunities.”
The parts all merged beautifully together for the Huskies.
“It boosted our morale, and it gave us the confidence we could close out the game and get an important win,” Wilcox said.
Wilcox helped punctuate the strong performance at the start of the second half, playing a ball that midfielder Eric Worwa finished in the 43rd minute.
Lara sought to put the game in context. It was not a bleak picture.
“At the end of the game, I was not happy with the performance, but I am happy that this happened,” he said. “I didn’t want my boys to become too overly confident.
“I wanted them to realize there are still some things to work on, and I hope it is going to be a good motivation to work hard the next couple of practices and come out focused on the games.”
Hersey made a statement and now looks to take the next step in its own journey.
“They have risen to the challenge,” Rusniak said. “They are out to prove a lot. They hear about the other schools and the success that they have, and they are hungry.
“They are out to make a name for themselves, which is pretty neat.”
Starting lineups
Glenbrook South
GK: Aris Edlund
D: Ryan Batka
D: Michael Zenzola
D: David Sohn
MF: Jose Santos-DeSoto
MF: Arturo Moyo
MF: Tangis Purevrentsen
MF: Blake Shechtman
MF: Sam Rogers
F: Danny Sergiev
F: Justin Leszynski
Hersey
GK: Reece Delahanty
D: Tommy Steger
D: Ilich Quijije
D: Cade Milligan
D: Blake Johnson
MF: Eric Worwa
MF: Oscar Garcia Bello
MF: Simon Hemenway
MF: Ronan Wilcox
MF: Sam Schuffler
F: Patryk Bujak
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Patryk Bujak, jr., F, Hersey
Scoring summary
First half
Hersey—Patryk Bujak (unassisted), ninth minute
Hersey—Ronan Wilcox (Bujak), 40th minute
Second half
Hersey—Eric Worwa (Wilcox), 43rd minute