Upstart Glenbard N. upsets Lane in opener
Enriquez makes winning high school debut for Panthers in 2-1 win
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO -- Starts are inevitably shaped by a great unknown. Throw in the natural uncertainty and trying to get a bead on the truth is like a conjuring trick.
Fortunately for Glenbard North, the magical figure of Nathaniel Enriquez materialized for them.
A standout player with the nationally-prominent Eclipse Select club team, Enriquez made a spectacular high school debut.
A junior forward with an electric glide and natural playmaking abilities, Enriquez earned club All-American honors. He was also part of a club program that won a national championship in July in suburban Denver.
“The main reason I decided to play high school, my other team, Eclipse Select, most of the kids there are seniors, so they wanted to play high school this year,” Enriquez said.
“So I figured I might as well try it out.”
Enriquez created constant and repeated pressure and delivered the game-winner by converting a penalty kick in the 49th minute in the Panthers’ 2-1 comeback win over highly-regarded Lane in the season-opener for both teams Monday night at Lane Stadium on the North Side.
He buried the penalty kick inside the near post.
“I have one little trick, and that is not really looking at the keeper,” Enriquez said. “I know a lot of people who look at the keeper try to intimidate them, but I usually make my own world. I try to focus on the ball and run up kind of slow so I can try to fake out the keeper.”
He earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match distinction for his outstanding play.
In the second year of coach Spero Mandakas' reign, Glenbard North is looking to make waves. The team won five games last year but showed promise and excitement by the second half.
With nine returning starters and the infusion of talent represented by Enriquez and two other Eclipse players, junior forward Raul Pasillas and junior defender Ricardo Patino—Mandakas, Mandakas sees a team poised to make a significant leap.
Lane, ranked 33rd in Chicagoland Soccer's state-wide preseason poll, rates with defending city champion Solorio, Young and Taft as the city programs to watch. The Indians have athleticism and speed up-top, and a stellar defense.
David Arroyo is a game-changing talent. A lightning quick and smooth forward, he has an explosive burst. He is lanky but exceptionally fluid.
In the 10th minute, he flashed his athleticism by seizing on a momentary lapse by the Panthers’ backline and deftly inserted himself between a defender and keeper Martin Argirov on their attempted pass back that ended with the Indians’ first goal of the year.
“I noticed the miscommunication,” Arroyo said. “The keeper was doing it, and the defender was not sure what to do, to either cover it or pass it back, and I knew what to do.
“I had a chance, and I just decided to shoot it.”
Last season was the first year for two Premier divisions. Lane went undefeated in winning the Premier North. Seniors Michael Junay and Grant Nagle fortify the middle with excellent size and speed.
“It was a bad way to lose, but everybody had a good game,” Arroyo said. “We have a team bond. We are really strong as a team. Everybody is friends. We understand each other. We have had great morning practices throughout the summer. We had great communication.
“We had great plays, but we didn’t finish the game.”
Lane coach Andrew Ricks saw glimpses. Like any coach, he also saw lapses and breakdowns.
“Credit Glenbard North,” Ricks said. “They played a much nicer brand of soccer. We did not put the ball on frame. We let too many balls bounce. We do have central players who are injured, and could not sort out in the midfield who to mark. Our communication from our defense to our midfield was not there either.”
Glenbard North rebounded from the early mistake and began to assert itself offensively late in the first half. Enriquez created pressure. Four-year varsity player Ode Emena, a gifted midfielder, also excelled at finding the seams.
Lane keeper Jacob Bozek made two saves.
The visitors' pressure paid off in the 32nd minute. Off a corner from the left edge, midfielder Erik Hernandez executed a sharp service that lanky defender Alberto Solorio hammered home with a header.
“We had a lot of good build-up just before the goal,” Solorio said. “Our midfield was doing a great job winning the 50/50 balls, and that led up to the corner. I saw the ball coming in, and my first thought was just to head it in.”
Solorio's entrance following the Lane goal helped settle the backline after the early nervousness.
“In the first 20 minutes we were a little shaky in the back, but we made a few adjustments,” Mandakas said. “That was good to see [Solorio] off the bench. Martin was a little bit more demanding off his line, and his communication was a little better.”
Argirov is a three-year starter who posted seven shutouts last year. He is quick and anticipates well. He made a nice stop of a ball by Arroyo in the 61st minute.
He made the defensive play of the game by lunging to his left and denying a rocket ball in the 78th minute.
One game hardly makes a season. As a program trying to find itself, Glenbard North made a compelling opening statement.
“We are all seniors, and we all have one goal and that is to win conference and every game we play in,” Solorio said.
Mandakas came to Carol Stream after directing the highly successful Young girls’ team. His battles with the Indians’ girls program are legendary.
Of late, the five-time defending city champions girls at Lane rule the rivalry.
“It was good (tonight), since the last few times I was coming off this field I was probably walking away a little bit more disappointed,” Mandakas said.
“It was good to see the guests have a win. Andrew’s a great guy. We know they are a good program; they are very well coached. They play good soccer. It’s a good test for us to open the season.”
Lane showed signs. Ricks hopes the best is yet to come.
“They probably deserved it,” Ricks said. “I felt they were more polished. It’s early in the season, and we have stuff to work on.”
Starting lineups
Glenbard North
GK: Martin Argirov
D: Ramon Acosta
D: Ricardo Patino
D: Ren Santillan
D: Ethan Van Poucke
M: Emmanuel Castanon
M: Ode Emena
M: Erik Hernandez
F: Gabe Jurado
F: Nestor Dominguez
F: Nathaniel Enriquez
Lane
GK: Jacob Bozek
D: Matt Bozek
D: Max Dopp
D: Max Maronde
D: Connor Schubert
MF: Jose Mendiola
MF: Michael Junay
MF: Dean Muench
MF: Grant Nagle
F: David Arroyo
F: Miles Gansho
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Nathan Enriquez, jr., F, Glenbard North
Scoring summary
First half
Lane—David Arroyo (unassisted), 10th minute
Glenbard North—Alberto Solorio (Erik Hernandez), 32nd minute
Second half
Glenbard North—Nathan Enriquez (penalty kick), 49th minute
Enriquez makes winning high school debut for Panthers in 2-1 win
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO -- Starts are inevitably shaped by a great unknown. Throw in the natural uncertainty and trying to get a bead on the truth is like a conjuring trick.
Fortunately for Glenbard North, the magical figure of Nathaniel Enriquez materialized for them.
A standout player with the nationally-prominent Eclipse Select club team, Enriquez made a spectacular high school debut.
A junior forward with an electric glide and natural playmaking abilities, Enriquez earned club All-American honors. He was also part of a club program that won a national championship in July in suburban Denver.
“The main reason I decided to play high school, my other team, Eclipse Select, most of the kids there are seniors, so they wanted to play high school this year,” Enriquez said.
“So I figured I might as well try it out.”
Enriquez created constant and repeated pressure and delivered the game-winner by converting a penalty kick in the 49th minute in the Panthers’ 2-1 comeback win over highly-regarded Lane in the season-opener for both teams Monday night at Lane Stadium on the North Side.
He buried the penalty kick inside the near post.
“I have one little trick, and that is not really looking at the keeper,” Enriquez said. “I know a lot of people who look at the keeper try to intimidate them, but I usually make my own world. I try to focus on the ball and run up kind of slow so I can try to fake out the keeper.”
He earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match distinction for his outstanding play.
In the second year of coach Spero Mandakas' reign, Glenbard North is looking to make waves. The team won five games last year but showed promise and excitement by the second half.
With nine returning starters and the infusion of talent represented by Enriquez and two other Eclipse players, junior forward Raul Pasillas and junior defender Ricardo Patino—Mandakas, Mandakas sees a team poised to make a significant leap.
Lane, ranked 33rd in Chicagoland Soccer's state-wide preseason poll, rates with defending city champion Solorio, Young and Taft as the city programs to watch. The Indians have athleticism and speed up-top, and a stellar defense.
David Arroyo is a game-changing talent. A lightning quick and smooth forward, he has an explosive burst. He is lanky but exceptionally fluid.
In the 10th minute, he flashed his athleticism by seizing on a momentary lapse by the Panthers’ backline and deftly inserted himself between a defender and keeper Martin Argirov on their attempted pass back that ended with the Indians’ first goal of the year.
“I noticed the miscommunication,” Arroyo said. “The keeper was doing it, and the defender was not sure what to do, to either cover it or pass it back, and I knew what to do.
“I had a chance, and I just decided to shoot it.”
Last season was the first year for two Premier divisions. Lane went undefeated in winning the Premier North. Seniors Michael Junay and Grant Nagle fortify the middle with excellent size and speed.
“It was a bad way to lose, but everybody had a good game,” Arroyo said. “We have a team bond. We are really strong as a team. Everybody is friends. We understand each other. We have had great morning practices throughout the summer. We had great communication.
“We had great plays, but we didn’t finish the game.”
Lane coach Andrew Ricks saw glimpses. Like any coach, he also saw lapses and breakdowns.
“Credit Glenbard North,” Ricks said. “They played a much nicer brand of soccer. We did not put the ball on frame. We let too many balls bounce. We do have central players who are injured, and could not sort out in the midfield who to mark. Our communication from our defense to our midfield was not there either.”
Glenbard North rebounded from the early mistake and began to assert itself offensively late in the first half. Enriquez created pressure. Four-year varsity player Ode Emena, a gifted midfielder, also excelled at finding the seams.
Lane keeper Jacob Bozek made two saves.
The visitors' pressure paid off in the 32nd minute. Off a corner from the left edge, midfielder Erik Hernandez executed a sharp service that lanky defender Alberto Solorio hammered home with a header.
“We had a lot of good build-up just before the goal,” Solorio said. “Our midfield was doing a great job winning the 50/50 balls, and that led up to the corner. I saw the ball coming in, and my first thought was just to head it in.”
Solorio's entrance following the Lane goal helped settle the backline after the early nervousness.
“In the first 20 minutes we were a little shaky in the back, but we made a few adjustments,” Mandakas said. “That was good to see [Solorio] off the bench. Martin was a little bit more demanding off his line, and his communication was a little better.”
Argirov is a three-year starter who posted seven shutouts last year. He is quick and anticipates well. He made a nice stop of a ball by Arroyo in the 61st minute.
He made the defensive play of the game by lunging to his left and denying a rocket ball in the 78th minute.
One game hardly makes a season. As a program trying to find itself, Glenbard North made a compelling opening statement.
“We are all seniors, and we all have one goal and that is to win conference and every game we play in,” Solorio said.
Mandakas came to Carol Stream after directing the highly successful Young girls’ team. His battles with the Indians’ girls program are legendary.
Of late, the five-time defending city champions girls at Lane rule the rivalry.
“It was good (tonight), since the last few times I was coming off this field I was probably walking away a little bit more disappointed,” Mandakas said.
“It was good to see the guests have a win. Andrew’s a great guy. We know they are a good program; they are very well coached. They play good soccer. It’s a good test for us to open the season.”
Lane showed signs. Ricks hopes the best is yet to come.
“They probably deserved it,” Ricks said. “I felt they were more polished. It’s early in the season, and we have stuff to work on.”
Starting lineups
Glenbard North
GK: Martin Argirov
D: Ramon Acosta
D: Ricardo Patino
D: Ren Santillan
D: Ethan Van Poucke
M: Emmanuel Castanon
M: Ode Emena
M: Erik Hernandez
F: Gabe Jurado
F: Nestor Dominguez
F: Nathaniel Enriquez
Lane
GK: Jacob Bozek
D: Matt Bozek
D: Max Dopp
D: Max Maronde
D: Connor Schubert
MF: Jose Mendiola
MF: Michael Junay
MF: Dean Muench
MF: Grant Nagle
F: David Arroyo
F: Miles Gansho
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Nathan Enriquez, jr., F, Glenbard North
Scoring summary
First half
Lane—David Arroyo (unassisted), 10th minute
Glenbard North—Alberto Solorio (Erik Hernandez), 32nd minute
Second half
Glenbard North—Nathan Enriquez (penalty kick), 49th minute