Grayslake Central comes up
empty against Glenwood
Rams miss chance at AA state title shot after 1-0 defeat
HOFFMAN ESTATES -- It's the side of soccer that causes endless hours of agony and anguish -- dominate your opponent yet in the end fail to get the result.
Grayslake Central (18-2-3) enjoyed most of the play Friday afternoon in its Class AA state semifinal contest with Glenwood, but when the clock at Garver Stadium run out, so too did the team’s championship dreams.
The beginning of the end of the Rams pursuit for a first state title came when Glenwood’s Miles Calderon steered in the match's only goal in the 55th minute.
The result sent manager Keith Andersson’s young men into the third place game against Chicago Public League power Solorio Glenwood (22-4-0), which earlier lost in a thrilling double overtime affair against Notre Dame (Peoria).
"We did everything out there today," said a dejected Andersson.
"We dominated possession, likely had the ball 80-85 percent of the time, limited their chances, and generally outplayed a very good opponent. In the end, you have to put the ball into the back of the net. And when we made one mistake, they made us pay for it."
"This hurts way more than last year when we came here for the first-time ever and went home with our first state trophy knowing many of us would have the chance to come back as seniors to make a real strong run at a state title," said the Rams classy captain Lucas Veenstra.
"I was disappointed last year after we got this far, but like Lucas, I knew we would find a way to get back again," began Alan Alonso, who shared the captain’s armband with his teammate, and in his second to last prep game shined throughout to share the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor with Titans keeper Josh Jones, who turned in a magnificent effort.
Grayslake Central worked its way to soccer’s last weekend with a superb postseason run. The Rams outscored five opponents 11-0, including another masterful performance last Tuesday in its 3-0 home supersectional triumph over Notre Dame.
Statistics can be a barometer of success. The Rams put 10 of 20 shots on target. Add in four corner kicks and that’s usually a formula for victory. But it wasn’t enough against Glenwood.
"It wasn't the best we played this season,” said Titans manager Kyle Franke. “Some of that was due to the way Grayslake Central played. They possess the ball really well, are athletic, quick, and have a number of dangerous players, especially no. 7 (Alonso), who was just amazing out there today.
"But we did well to stay in the game -- find a way to score first, and then rely on our defending and Josh (Jones) who was amazing for us, just as he's been all season long."
Jones, who stands 6-foot-6 and whom Franke joked has a wing span that reaches from stick-to-stick, appeared at times to come close with the way he swatted balls out of his area. He also used his length to pull down dangerous sends on a regular basis.
"We've really come to depend on him back there," said senior Carter Downen, whose pace, and work-rate up-top kept the Grayslake Central backline on alert throughout the game. “He's so athletic, strong, willing to challenge in the air or in 1-v-1 chances for our opponents.”
Grayslake Central’s Alonso had a unrequited chance in the fifth minute after Nick Molochnikov set him up. The senior had another go a few minutes later that ended up on the roof of the net.
The Rams continued to flood forward, creating one chance after another. They called Jones into action for saves on Anderson Chevrier and Alonso once again as the quarter hour came, and went.
"Our attack wasn't what it has been," said Franke. “We defended so well today out of necessity, especially when they had the wind. But after Miles' opener, we dropped numbers, stayed compact and organized in order to manage our lead.”
Franke moved Calderon, who he had deployed along the back of late, forward. He made the right choice in moving the speedy, crafty sophomore up-top, alongside teammates Eben Reed, and Downen
"I just play wherever coach wants and needs me to be," said the soft-spoken Calderon.
"Miles played great. He's a very good player, who can really play just about anywhere for us,” said Downen. “Today he gave us the big goal we needed to advance."
As the percentage rate of possession time and passes completed continued to rise for the Rams, so did their time in Glenwood’s half as the first half progressed.
Jones ventured far off his line to collect a ball off the foot of Ivan Sereno after Mitchell Fein, and Alonso sent him through on in the 27th minute. That was followed by the best attempt on frame thus far – Alonso’s 30-yard cracker that forced Jones to make a save in the 31st minute.
Grayslake Central missed on a couple of golden chances to go into the break with the advantage. But Jones was there to turn away Prince Trawick, Raymond Sereno and Veenstra in succession.
The Glenwood keeper went up and over his own teammates to fiercely punch away a well-aimed Veenstra serve to the spot 60 seconds from the intermission.
"We needed to be better and cleaner in the final third for sure," said Andersson. “Their keeper made some terrific saves. He was a tough guy to get anything past.”
Downen, who saw his chance on frame stopped cold by Rams keeper Uriel Garcia-Perez late in the first period, was at the heart of the Calderon goal. He and Brandon Paul helped spring their teammate free up the right side.
With speed and an eye on the goal, Calderon's clinical finish past the onrushing Garcia-Perez sent the Titans faithful into orbit and stunned the Rams.
"If you've played enough soccer, you’re going to be involved with games like this where you dominate, cannot finish, then give one up,” said Alonso. “We didn't panic, but they made it very difficult for us to get anything in-close, because they dropped numbers on us."
"We're usually in a 4-3-3, but we went to a 4-4-2 after Miles scored,” said Franke. “We put as many players behind the ball as we could in order to keep their chances to a minimum."
Grayslake Central packaged several well-organized opportunities through counters and the run of play in the final 20 minutes. The Rams always appeared on the cusp of getting back level.
Jones went high the air to pull down a near inch-perfect serve to the spot from Ivan Sereno in the 57th minute, then beat Alonso to a deep throw from Veenstra that his Titans mates allowed to fall into the box.
Alonso said he needed to stay over the ball when he ran onto a lovely pass from Fein through Chevrier at the near post. His point-blank effort went just over after it appeared the senior had beaten Jones to his left.
"It all happened so fast," said Alonso. “If I was better technically on that shot, maybe the ball goes into the back of the net.”
There was a delay after Prince Trawick was blindsided in a collision with a Titans player. After a lengthy time on the turf, the sophomore gingerly left the pitch.
When play resumed, the Rams had nine minutes to find a goal against a sea of red shirts. But all Grayslake Central could muster was an early ball from Fein and his free kick smash into a tightly packed Titans wall from 22 yards.
"We went to a 3-4-3 after we conceded their goal,” Anderson said. “We won so many 50/50, first and second balls, but we unable to put one into the back of their net.”
"It's disappointing to lose a game like this, but we have one more tomorrow, and we'll come out ready to play for third place," said Veenstra.
This will be the first time Glenwood will play for a state title since coach Jay Lipe’s club won it all in 2005 with a 2-1 victory over Boylan.
"We've gone on a nice late-season run, thanks in part to a great group of (13) seniors who have led the way with their leadership and hard work," began Franke.
"To be able to advance against a team that is so good took a lot of great effort for 80 minutes from the guys -- again, thanks to our terrific defending as a team and the work from Josh Jones."
Starting lineups
Glenwood (4-3-3)
G- Josh Jones
D- Miles Calderon
D- Landon Marconi
D- Brandon Mendoza
D- Jake Hamilton
MF- Brayden Paul
MF- Christian Ray
MF- Maddox Gerger
F- Carter Downen
F- Ben Wilcoxen
F- Eben Reed
Grayslake Central (3-4-3)
G- Uriel Garcia-Perez
D- Anderson Chevrier
D- Eric Garcia-Perez
D- Damian Sereno
MF- Lucas Veenstra
MF- Alan Alonso
MF- Mitchell Fein
MF- Nick Molochnikov
F- Ivan Sereno
F- Raymond Sereno
F- Prince Trawick
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match:
Josh Jones, sr., GK, Glenwood;
Alan Alonso, sr., MF, Grayslake Central
Oficials
Boris Vukovich (referee); Tom Franken (AR1); Dylan Kramer (AR2);
Tim Ahrens (fourth)
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Glenwood: Calderon (Paul, Downen), 55'
Statistics
Shots on goal
Glenwood: 3
Grayslake Central: 10
Shots off
Glenwood: 2
Grayslake Central: 10
Corner kicks:
Glenwood: 2
Grayslake Central: 4
Offsides
Glenwood: 2
Grayslake Central: 0
Fouls
Glenwood: 11
Grayslake Central: 4
Blocks
Glenwood: 1
Grayslake Central: 0
Yellow cards
Glenwood: 2
Grayslake Central: 0
empty against Glenwood
Rams miss chance at AA state title shot after 1-0 defeat
HOFFMAN ESTATES -- It's the side of soccer that causes endless hours of agony and anguish -- dominate your opponent yet in the end fail to get the result.
Grayslake Central (18-2-3) enjoyed most of the play Friday afternoon in its Class AA state semifinal contest with Glenwood, but when the clock at Garver Stadium run out, so too did the team’s championship dreams.
The beginning of the end of the Rams pursuit for a first state title came when Glenwood’s Miles Calderon steered in the match's only goal in the 55th minute.
The result sent manager Keith Andersson’s young men into the third place game against Chicago Public League power Solorio Glenwood (22-4-0), which earlier lost in a thrilling double overtime affair against Notre Dame (Peoria).
"We did everything out there today," said a dejected Andersson.
"We dominated possession, likely had the ball 80-85 percent of the time, limited their chances, and generally outplayed a very good opponent. In the end, you have to put the ball into the back of the net. And when we made one mistake, they made us pay for it."
"This hurts way more than last year when we came here for the first-time ever and went home with our first state trophy knowing many of us would have the chance to come back as seniors to make a real strong run at a state title," said the Rams classy captain Lucas Veenstra.
"I was disappointed last year after we got this far, but like Lucas, I knew we would find a way to get back again," began Alan Alonso, who shared the captain’s armband with his teammate, and in his second to last prep game shined throughout to share the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor with Titans keeper Josh Jones, who turned in a magnificent effort.
Grayslake Central worked its way to soccer’s last weekend with a superb postseason run. The Rams outscored five opponents 11-0, including another masterful performance last Tuesday in its 3-0 home supersectional triumph over Notre Dame.
Statistics can be a barometer of success. The Rams put 10 of 20 shots on target. Add in four corner kicks and that’s usually a formula for victory. But it wasn’t enough against Glenwood.
"It wasn't the best we played this season,” said Titans manager Kyle Franke. “Some of that was due to the way Grayslake Central played. They possess the ball really well, are athletic, quick, and have a number of dangerous players, especially no. 7 (Alonso), who was just amazing out there today.
"But we did well to stay in the game -- find a way to score first, and then rely on our defending and Josh (Jones) who was amazing for us, just as he's been all season long."
Jones, who stands 6-foot-6 and whom Franke joked has a wing span that reaches from stick-to-stick, appeared at times to come close with the way he swatted balls out of his area. He also used his length to pull down dangerous sends on a regular basis.
"We've really come to depend on him back there," said senior Carter Downen, whose pace, and work-rate up-top kept the Grayslake Central backline on alert throughout the game. “He's so athletic, strong, willing to challenge in the air or in 1-v-1 chances for our opponents.”
Grayslake Central’s Alonso had a unrequited chance in the fifth minute after Nick Molochnikov set him up. The senior had another go a few minutes later that ended up on the roof of the net.
The Rams continued to flood forward, creating one chance after another. They called Jones into action for saves on Anderson Chevrier and Alonso once again as the quarter hour came, and went.
"Our attack wasn't what it has been," said Franke. “We defended so well today out of necessity, especially when they had the wind. But after Miles' opener, we dropped numbers, stayed compact and organized in order to manage our lead.”
Franke moved Calderon, who he had deployed along the back of late, forward. He made the right choice in moving the speedy, crafty sophomore up-top, alongside teammates Eben Reed, and Downen
"I just play wherever coach wants and needs me to be," said the soft-spoken Calderon.
"Miles played great. He's a very good player, who can really play just about anywhere for us,” said Downen. “Today he gave us the big goal we needed to advance."
As the percentage rate of possession time and passes completed continued to rise for the Rams, so did their time in Glenwood’s half as the first half progressed.
Jones ventured far off his line to collect a ball off the foot of Ivan Sereno after Mitchell Fein, and Alonso sent him through on in the 27th minute. That was followed by the best attempt on frame thus far – Alonso’s 30-yard cracker that forced Jones to make a save in the 31st minute.
Grayslake Central missed on a couple of golden chances to go into the break with the advantage. But Jones was there to turn away Prince Trawick, Raymond Sereno and Veenstra in succession.
The Glenwood keeper went up and over his own teammates to fiercely punch away a well-aimed Veenstra serve to the spot 60 seconds from the intermission.
"We needed to be better and cleaner in the final third for sure," said Andersson. “Their keeper made some terrific saves. He was a tough guy to get anything past.”
Downen, who saw his chance on frame stopped cold by Rams keeper Uriel Garcia-Perez late in the first period, was at the heart of the Calderon goal. He and Brandon Paul helped spring their teammate free up the right side.
With speed and an eye on the goal, Calderon's clinical finish past the onrushing Garcia-Perez sent the Titans faithful into orbit and stunned the Rams.
"If you've played enough soccer, you’re going to be involved with games like this where you dominate, cannot finish, then give one up,” said Alonso. “We didn't panic, but they made it very difficult for us to get anything in-close, because they dropped numbers on us."
"We're usually in a 4-3-3, but we went to a 4-4-2 after Miles scored,” said Franke. “We put as many players behind the ball as we could in order to keep their chances to a minimum."
Grayslake Central packaged several well-organized opportunities through counters and the run of play in the final 20 minutes. The Rams always appeared on the cusp of getting back level.
Jones went high the air to pull down a near inch-perfect serve to the spot from Ivan Sereno in the 57th minute, then beat Alonso to a deep throw from Veenstra that his Titans mates allowed to fall into the box.
Alonso said he needed to stay over the ball when he ran onto a lovely pass from Fein through Chevrier at the near post. His point-blank effort went just over after it appeared the senior had beaten Jones to his left.
"It all happened so fast," said Alonso. “If I was better technically on that shot, maybe the ball goes into the back of the net.”
There was a delay after Prince Trawick was blindsided in a collision with a Titans player. After a lengthy time on the turf, the sophomore gingerly left the pitch.
When play resumed, the Rams had nine minutes to find a goal against a sea of red shirts. But all Grayslake Central could muster was an early ball from Fein and his free kick smash into a tightly packed Titans wall from 22 yards.
"We went to a 3-4-3 after we conceded their goal,” Anderson said. “We won so many 50/50, first and second balls, but we unable to put one into the back of their net.”
"It's disappointing to lose a game like this, but we have one more tomorrow, and we'll come out ready to play for third place," said Veenstra.
This will be the first time Glenwood will play for a state title since coach Jay Lipe’s club won it all in 2005 with a 2-1 victory over Boylan.
"We've gone on a nice late-season run, thanks in part to a great group of (13) seniors who have led the way with their leadership and hard work," began Franke.
"To be able to advance against a team that is so good took a lot of great effort for 80 minutes from the guys -- again, thanks to our terrific defending as a team and the work from Josh Jones."
Starting lineups
Glenwood (4-3-3)
G- Josh Jones
D- Miles Calderon
D- Landon Marconi
D- Brandon Mendoza
D- Jake Hamilton
MF- Brayden Paul
MF- Christian Ray
MF- Maddox Gerger
F- Carter Downen
F- Ben Wilcoxen
F- Eben Reed
Grayslake Central (3-4-3)
G- Uriel Garcia-Perez
D- Anderson Chevrier
D- Eric Garcia-Perez
D- Damian Sereno
MF- Lucas Veenstra
MF- Alan Alonso
MF- Mitchell Fein
MF- Nick Molochnikov
F- Ivan Sereno
F- Raymond Sereno
F- Prince Trawick
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match:
Josh Jones, sr., GK, Glenwood;
Alan Alonso, sr., MF, Grayslake Central
Oficials
Boris Vukovich (referee); Tom Franken (AR1); Dylan Kramer (AR2);
Tim Ahrens (fourth)
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Glenwood: Calderon (Paul, Downen), 55'
Statistics
Shots on goal
Glenwood: 3
Grayslake Central: 10
Shots off
Glenwood: 2
Grayslake Central: 10
Corner kicks:
Glenwood: 2
Grayslake Central: 4
Offsides
Glenwood: 2
Grayslake Central: 0
Fouls
Glenwood: 11
Grayslake Central: 4
Blocks
Glenwood: 1
Grayslake Central: 0
Yellow cards
Glenwood: 2
Grayslake Central: 0