Breakdowns cost fastidious Geneva
Vikings fall 2-1, host DeKalb boosts unbeaten string to 14
By Steve Nemeth
DE KALB --- There were times when Geneva’s passing was so precise, it could have served as a training film.
Much of that was attributable to Jack Belloli.
Goalie Chris Morales made highlight-worthy saves in the first half, and Colin Fromm was like the Energizer Bunny in overdrive.
Unfortunately the visiting Vikings had a couple of breakdowns on defense and like any quality team would, DeKalb capitalized for a come-from-behind 2-1 victory in Thursday’s regular season finale for both squads.
For the host Barbs (15-2-3), the win extended their unbeaten string to 14 games (12-0-2). That’s exactly the type of extra momentum the Northern Illinois Big XII East Division champions wanted to add to home field advantage for the upcoming Class 3A regional.
Despite the scoreboard setback, Geneva (4-10-3) should also carry forward the type of improvement that put them in position to record back-to-back wins. The Vikings completed play in the new DuKane Conference with a 3-2 victory over Glenbard North and owned a 1-0 halftime lead on DeKalb. Those positives can be an added push for Saturday’s Class 3A regional prelim match when the Vikings host Plainfield East at 11 a.m.
“As I told the team in our (post-match) huddle, there are a lot of positives to take away from tonight,” coach Jason Bhatta said. “We worked a lot in practice on quick touches, good spacing, and I’d say this was one of our best efforts in possession.”
While DeKalb had a couple early opportunities become shots that sailed way too high, Geneva cashed in on its first real attack. Stellar passing led to Fromm being taken down inside the box.
Belloli calmly converted the penalty kick for a 1-0 Viking lead just 8:55 into the match. It was the senior’s third goal of the season, but also a chance for some bragging rights. DeKalb goalie Victor Guerrero is a teammate of Belloli's on their Campton United club team.
“He was trying to make fun of me to throw me off, but it didn’t work. We’ve had plenty of practice against each other during club season,” Belloli noted. “Normally I try to read the goalie’s body language, but this time it was more concentration on my part.
“Despite the final score, I’d say this was definitely one of our better matches,” Belloli continued. “We definitely moved the ball with more precision, especially through the midfield.”
Which is why Bhatta concurred with Belloli being named Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match, the second time this season the tri-captain has earned the accolade.
“Jack ran things really well in midfield, and the success we had moving the ball around was directly attributable to his vision and leadership,” Bhatta said. “Chris (Fromm) got us the PK, and it’s another example of why I feel as if I’m always saying he gives us one good shift after another.”
Fromm had two of the three goals in the win over Glenbard North and upped his team-best total to six.
“Not only does he work really hard, he’s developed quite a partnership with Josh (Eiss),” Bhatta said. “They’re both exceptionally quick and are becoming more and more dangerous for us on offense.”
While Geneva wasn’t able to generate quite as many opportunities as DeKalb, the Vikings kept the Barbs off the scoreboard in the first half thanks in large part to Morales.
Shortly after Belloli’s penalty conversion, DeKalb’s Mauro Talamantes drove in hard from the left wing, but Morales made a huge stop. A few minutes later Talamantes had another laser effort, but Morales dove to his right eliciting compliments from Barb assistant coach Phil Rouse.
In the 28th minute Geneva defender Evan Horvath was positioned perfectly to make a save off the line. However the major highlight for the Vikings defensively came with 6:33 left before halftime. Talamantes was once again charging in from the left wing when Morales rushed out to make a body block and then scrambled to his feet in time to make save a follow-up putback try.
“We gave them three or four chances too many, but thankfully Chris kept us in the game, coming up big,” Bhatta said. “Unfortunately in the second half we had two breakdowns. We simply have to help him out more, like not missing a defensive clear six yards out.”
Technically Geneva had the first threat in the second half as Fromm dribbled past a defender but his attempt at getting a ball between the near post and the keeper curved into the side netting at 46:25.
DeKalb pulled even at 56:50 when Talamantes finally found the back of the net from 14 yards off a Tyler Scarbrough assist. Just over five minutes elapsed when the Barbs’ reinvigorated attack produced another goal. Scarbrough earned another assist with a shot that turned into a loose ball near the right post. Isaak Cordova pounced on the opportunity to tuck it in from six yards.
“I’m most pleased with how we didn’t put our heads down after the PK,” DeKalb coach Brent McIntosh said. “I told them at halftime we had to have a postseason mentality to find the equalizer and play like our season depended on. We got a strong goal from Mauro, and the second was what we call having a box appetite.
“That’s when there’s a crowd and a lot of intensity in either box. On defense you have to have the appetite to clear it, on offense that hunger to finish the chance,” McIntosh explained.
In contrast to the one-goal margin, statistically the match was heavily in favor of DeKalb. The Barbs owned a 16-6 advantage for overall attempts and a 10-3 edge for shots on goal, plus a 4-0 tally for corner kicks. DeKalb came in averaging 3.8 goals per match while yielding 0.7.
“Coming off a win and this close loss, I think there are positives for us to use going forward,” Fromm said. “With the exception of a couple mistakes we played a solid game. Bottom line is I hate to lose, so one lesson to take from today is to just keep working hard to get a better outcome. I believe we can do that Saturday.”
Starting lineups
Geneva
GK Chris Morales
D Evan Horvath
D Will Lew
D Stuart Turnbull
D Jack Cannon
M A.J. Marquardt
M Brandt Miller
M Jack Belloli
M Ethan Hipp
F Colin Fromm
F Josh Eiss
DeKalb
GK Victor Guerrero
D T.J. Vilet
D Colby Royer
D Emrys Draper
D Jack Bettner
M Gonzalo Hernandez
M Tyler Scarbrough
M Jesus Becerra
M Julian Garcia
F Mauro Talamantes
F Luis Cabral
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Jack Belloli, Sr. F/M, Geneva
Referees: Trevor Fulk (center), Richard Zawislak, Manny Mbende
Game Summary
DeKalb 2, Geneva 1
Geneva 1 0 --- 1 (4-10-3)
DeKalb 0 2 --- 2 (15-2-3)
Scoring
First half
G – Belloli penalty kick conversion (unassisted), 8:55 gone
Second half
D – Talamantes 14-yard rocket shot (Scarbrough assist), 56:50 gone
D – Cordova six-yard loose ball putback near right post (Scarbrough assist), 61:53 gone
Overall shots
G 3 – 3 --- 6
D 10 – 6 --- 16
Shots on goal
G 2 – 1 --- 3
D 7 – 3 --- 10
Saves (GK)
G (Morales, 80. min, 6; Horvath, 1) 7 – 0 (Miller 1) 1 --- 8
D (Guerrero 80min) 1 – 1 --- 2
Corner kicks
G 0 – 0 --- 0
D 2 – 2 --- 4
Offsides
G 1 – 0 --- 1
D 1 – 1 --- 2
Vikings fall 2-1, host DeKalb boosts unbeaten string to 14
By Steve Nemeth
DE KALB --- There were times when Geneva’s passing was so precise, it could have served as a training film.
Much of that was attributable to Jack Belloli.
Goalie Chris Morales made highlight-worthy saves in the first half, and Colin Fromm was like the Energizer Bunny in overdrive.
Unfortunately the visiting Vikings had a couple of breakdowns on defense and like any quality team would, DeKalb capitalized for a come-from-behind 2-1 victory in Thursday’s regular season finale for both squads.
For the host Barbs (15-2-3), the win extended their unbeaten string to 14 games (12-0-2). That’s exactly the type of extra momentum the Northern Illinois Big XII East Division champions wanted to add to home field advantage for the upcoming Class 3A regional.
Despite the scoreboard setback, Geneva (4-10-3) should also carry forward the type of improvement that put them in position to record back-to-back wins. The Vikings completed play in the new DuKane Conference with a 3-2 victory over Glenbard North and owned a 1-0 halftime lead on DeKalb. Those positives can be an added push for Saturday’s Class 3A regional prelim match when the Vikings host Plainfield East at 11 a.m.
“As I told the team in our (post-match) huddle, there are a lot of positives to take away from tonight,” coach Jason Bhatta said. “We worked a lot in practice on quick touches, good spacing, and I’d say this was one of our best efforts in possession.”
While DeKalb had a couple early opportunities become shots that sailed way too high, Geneva cashed in on its first real attack. Stellar passing led to Fromm being taken down inside the box.
Belloli calmly converted the penalty kick for a 1-0 Viking lead just 8:55 into the match. It was the senior’s third goal of the season, but also a chance for some bragging rights. DeKalb goalie Victor Guerrero is a teammate of Belloli's on their Campton United club team.
“He was trying to make fun of me to throw me off, but it didn’t work. We’ve had plenty of practice against each other during club season,” Belloli noted. “Normally I try to read the goalie’s body language, but this time it was more concentration on my part.
“Despite the final score, I’d say this was definitely one of our better matches,” Belloli continued. “We definitely moved the ball with more precision, especially through the midfield.”
Which is why Bhatta concurred with Belloli being named Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match, the second time this season the tri-captain has earned the accolade.
“Jack ran things really well in midfield, and the success we had moving the ball around was directly attributable to his vision and leadership,” Bhatta said. “Chris (Fromm) got us the PK, and it’s another example of why I feel as if I’m always saying he gives us one good shift after another.”
Fromm had two of the three goals in the win over Glenbard North and upped his team-best total to six.
“Not only does he work really hard, he’s developed quite a partnership with Josh (Eiss),” Bhatta said. “They’re both exceptionally quick and are becoming more and more dangerous for us on offense.”
While Geneva wasn’t able to generate quite as many opportunities as DeKalb, the Vikings kept the Barbs off the scoreboard in the first half thanks in large part to Morales.
Shortly after Belloli’s penalty conversion, DeKalb’s Mauro Talamantes drove in hard from the left wing, but Morales made a huge stop. A few minutes later Talamantes had another laser effort, but Morales dove to his right eliciting compliments from Barb assistant coach Phil Rouse.
In the 28th minute Geneva defender Evan Horvath was positioned perfectly to make a save off the line. However the major highlight for the Vikings defensively came with 6:33 left before halftime. Talamantes was once again charging in from the left wing when Morales rushed out to make a body block and then scrambled to his feet in time to make save a follow-up putback try.
“We gave them three or four chances too many, but thankfully Chris kept us in the game, coming up big,” Bhatta said. “Unfortunately in the second half we had two breakdowns. We simply have to help him out more, like not missing a defensive clear six yards out.”
Technically Geneva had the first threat in the second half as Fromm dribbled past a defender but his attempt at getting a ball between the near post and the keeper curved into the side netting at 46:25.
DeKalb pulled even at 56:50 when Talamantes finally found the back of the net from 14 yards off a Tyler Scarbrough assist. Just over five minutes elapsed when the Barbs’ reinvigorated attack produced another goal. Scarbrough earned another assist with a shot that turned into a loose ball near the right post. Isaak Cordova pounced on the opportunity to tuck it in from six yards.
“I’m most pleased with how we didn’t put our heads down after the PK,” DeKalb coach Brent McIntosh said. “I told them at halftime we had to have a postseason mentality to find the equalizer and play like our season depended on. We got a strong goal from Mauro, and the second was what we call having a box appetite.
“That’s when there’s a crowd and a lot of intensity in either box. On defense you have to have the appetite to clear it, on offense that hunger to finish the chance,” McIntosh explained.
In contrast to the one-goal margin, statistically the match was heavily in favor of DeKalb. The Barbs owned a 16-6 advantage for overall attempts and a 10-3 edge for shots on goal, plus a 4-0 tally for corner kicks. DeKalb came in averaging 3.8 goals per match while yielding 0.7.
“Coming off a win and this close loss, I think there are positives for us to use going forward,” Fromm said. “With the exception of a couple mistakes we played a solid game. Bottom line is I hate to lose, so one lesson to take from today is to just keep working hard to get a better outcome. I believe we can do that Saturday.”
Starting lineups
Geneva
GK Chris Morales
D Evan Horvath
D Will Lew
D Stuart Turnbull
D Jack Cannon
M A.J. Marquardt
M Brandt Miller
M Jack Belloli
M Ethan Hipp
F Colin Fromm
F Josh Eiss
DeKalb
GK Victor Guerrero
D T.J. Vilet
D Colby Royer
D Emrys Draper
D Jack Bettner
M Gonzalo Hernandez
M Tyler Scarbrough
M Jesus Becerra
M Julian Garcia
F Mauro Talamantes
F Luis Cabral
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Jack Belloli, Sr. F/M, Geneva
Referees: Trevor Fulk (center), Richard Zawislak, Manny Mbende
Game Summary
DeKalb 2, Geneva 1
Geneva 1 0 --- 1 (4-10-3)
DeKalb 0 2 --- 2 (15-2-3)
Scoring
First half
G – Belloli penalty kick conversion (unassisted), 8:55 gone
Second half
D – Talamantes 14-yard rocket shot (Scarbrough assist), 56:50 gone
D – Cordova six-yard loose ball putback near right post (Scarbrough assist), 61:53 gone
Overall shots
G 3 – 3 --- 6
D 10 – 6 --- 16
Shots on goal
G 2 – 1 --- 3
D 7 – 3 --- 10
Saves (GK)
G (Morales, 80. min, 6; Horvath, 1) 7 – 0 (Miller 1) 1 --- 8
D (Guerrero 80min) 1 – 1 --- 2
Corner kicks
G 0 – 0 --- 0
D 2 – 2 --- 4
Offsides
G 1 – 0 --- 1
D 1 – 1 --- 2