Maturing Glenbard N. tops Willowbrook
Panthers start slow, but find their groove in 2-0 win over Warriors
By Gary Larsen
ADDISON — In the 58th minute of a scoreless tie, Glenbard North senior Best Emena found himself with a ball at his feet, 20 yards out from net on the right side, with Willowbrook keeper Mario Giase charging at him.
The diminutive and skilled Emena plays quick, thinks fast -- he made his decision in a heartbeat.
“I saw him off his line,” Emena said, “so I thought I’d better take it.”
Emena’s perfectly placed chip flew high before bouncing once and nestling casually into the back netting, giving the Panthers the only goal they’d need in an eventual 2-0 win in the final game of pool play in Addison Trail’s Joe Novy Invitational.
Teammate Abood Nasr sent the ball ahead to Emena, whose versatility has been invaluable to North coach Gregg Koeller.
Emena is a player, plain and simple.
“Today he was at center mid, I'll play him at striker — depending on the situation, I can put him just about anywhere,” Koeller said. “Last year he was a center back.
“And his work rate is always one of the best on the field, so he shows our young players what it takes to compete at the varsity level.”
Glenbard North (2-1-0) got another goal in the 70th minute when Fabrizio Guajardo pounced on an Erik Lopez corner kick sent to the far post and buried it.
Willowbrook (2-2-0) was left thinking of what might have been after dominating the first 20 minutes but coming away empty-handed.
“We had some great shots on goal but we just couldn’t put the ball in the net today,” Warriors coach Eddie DeLaCruz said.
Willowbrook lost both of its projected starting forwards to injury, increasing attacking responsibilities on players like seniors Miguel Correa and Efren Gomez. With the Warriors pressing hard into the Panthers’ defensive third to start the game, both players had quality scoring chances that flew just wide of net.
Scoring chances can dry up quickly in soccer and center mid Correa wished his side would have taken a few more chances during the opening 20 minutes.
Just prior to Emena’s goal, Willowbrook created a fine scoring chance when Correa sent a diagonal ball towards the left corner, where midfielder David Rizzo ran onto it and crossed it across the 18. Midfielder Izzy Roman blasted a good chance just wide of the far post.
“We were communicating good today. We just needed more shots on goal,” Correa said. “Our forwards are missing so we need to find ways to score. Today, especially, we all needed to put more shots on goal when we had those chances.”
Chances were more difficult to find for the Warriors once Glenbard North got off its heels and began finding ways to get into their attack, but the scoreless tie held to halftime.
The Panthers found feet well after halftime in applying pressure, but it wasn’t until Emena’s chip near the 60-minute mark that the Panthers found a goal.
Afterwards, Koeller was asked what he thought of his side’s play in the win.
“Not much the first 20 minutes, but I really like the last 60,” he said. “That gave us a glimpse of what we could be.
“Had (Willowbrook) scored in that first 20 minutes, it might have been a completely different game. But we hung in, made a couple substitutions and adjustments, and I really liked the last 60 minutes. I thought we played well. I thought some of the young guys really grew up a little bit tonight.”
North graduated 16 seniors from last year’s team and returned only three players that saw consistent varsity action last year.
Emena sees potential in a young team that might simply need time to gel.
“Our team lacks chemistry, and our new players are trying to adapt to our style,” Emena said.
“Our midfield got stronger today, and we started to execute. Our outside mids know what to do, it’s just that their process is a little slower. But everyone is willing to work hard. Even players who might not be as skilled are working hard.”
The Panthers beat Curie 2-1 and lost 2-1 to Fenton prior to playing in another close game Thursday, all of which Koeller believes will help his boys in the long run.
“It’s important because managing close games on either side of the scoreboard for young players is really important, too,” he said.
“If was a good team shoutout. We didn’t ask our keepers to stand on their heads very much, and it started up-top. Our strikers started putting pressure on their backs, and the back four has been very solid for us. That’s been a strength of ours in our first couple games.”
The Panthers’ backline of Evan Scott, Ode Emena, Danny Le, and Ben Solano helped first half keeper Sam Pauling and second half keeper Martin Argirov earn a half-shutout apiece.
It was the Panthers’ first shutout of the season.
“Danny Le did a great job today,” Koeller said. “Best played very well and so did Eric Lopez. Our two central mids (Lopez and Emena) worked real hard, and they’re teaching the guys around them the system that we’re playing. Chemistry is coming.”
Le was named Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match for his work on the outside in Thursday’s win.
Glenbard North finished second in its pool behind Fenton; the Panthers will face tourney host Addison Trail for third place at 10 a.m. Saturday in the stadium.
For Willowbrook, the promise ahead hinges on some key players returning from injury. Giase is a solid, rangy, athletic keeper who had to exit with a hip flexor injury suffered late in Thursday’s game.
Senior forward Nico Hernandez was lost for the season to a leg injury, and senior forward and co-captain Patrick Florey will be out for two more weeks due to mono.
“All my studs have been going down to injury,” DeLaCruz said. “But (co-captain Correa) is a three-year varsity player and he has the ‘C’ on his arm for a reason. And Efren Gomez is another nice player who transferred over from Addison Trail, and he’s still sort of learning how to mesh with the other guys on the team.”
DeLaCruz remains optimistic and despite the loss, he left Addison pleased with the bright spots he saw from his side.
“The one thing we worked on all week were the overlap runs from our fullbacks and out of our four games, that was probably the best support we’ve shown,” he said.
“When your forwards are out you have to find other ways to push up, and I thought our right fullback, Aaron Guallpa, was probably my player of the game today.
“I also thought Tomas Hernandez, one of my central defenders, Efren Gomez, and Miguel Correa all played well.”
Willowbrook meets West Chicago in the fifth place game at noon at the east turf field.
Starting lineups
Glenbard North
GK Sam Pauling
D Ode Emena
D Evan Scott
D Danny Le
D Ben Solano
M Best Emena
M Erik Lopez
M Abood Nasr
M Jesse Aragon
F Brian Dasso
F Josh Lopez
Willowbrook
GK Mario Giase
D Tomas Hernandez
D Joey Gillono
D Aaron Guallpa
D Steven Cerda
M Thomas Waldorf
M Miguel Correa
M Eric Hoda
M David Rizzo
M Izzy Roman
F Efren Gomez
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Danny Le, sr. D, Glenbard North
Scoring summary
Second half
Glenbard North — B. Emena (Nasr); Guajardo (E. Lopez)
Panthers start slow, but find their groove in 2-0 win over Warriors
By Gary Larsen
ADDISON — In the 58th minute of a scoreless tie, Glenbard North senior Best Emena found himself with a ball at his feet, 20 yards out from net on the right side, with Willowbrook keeper Mario Giase charging at him.
The diminutive and skilled Emena plays quick, thinks fast -- he made his decision in a heartbeat.
“I saw him off his line,” Emena said, “so I thought I’d better take it.”
Emena’s perfectly placed chip flew high before bouncing once and nestling casually into the back netting, giving the Panthers the only goal they’d need in an eventual 2-0 win in the final game of pool play in Addison Trail’s Joe Novy Invitational.
Teammate Abood Nasr sent the ball ahead to Emena, whose versatility has been invaluable to North coach Gregg Koeller.
Emena is a player, plain and simple.
“Today he was at center mid, I'll play him at striker — depending on the situation, I can put him just about anywhere,” Koeller said. “Last year he was a center back.
“And his work rate is always one of the best on the field, so he shows our young players what it takes to compete at the varsity level.”
Glenbard North (2-1-0) got another goal in the 70th minute when Fabrizio Guajardo pounced on an Erik Lopez corner kick sent to the far post and buried it.
Willowbrook (2-2-0) was left thinking of what might have been after dominating the first 20 minutes but coming away empty-handed.
“We had some great shots on goal but we just couldn’t put the ball in the net today,” Warriors coach Eddie DeLaCruz said.
Willowbrook lost both of its projected starting forwards to injury, increasing attacking responsibilities on players like seniors Miguel Correa and Efren Gomez. With the Warriors pressing hard into the Panthers’ defensive third to start the game, both players had quality scoring chances that flew just wide of net.
Scoring chances can dry up quickly in soccer and center mid Correa wished his side would have taken a few more chances during the opening 20 minutes.
Just prior to Emena’s goal, Willowbrook created a fine scoring chance when Correa sent a diagonal ball towards the left corner, where midfielder David Rizzo ran onto it and crossed it across the 18. Midfielder Izzy Roman blasted a good chance just wide of the far post.
“We were communicating good today. We just needed more shots on goal,” Correa said. “Our forwards are missing so we need to find ways to score. Today, especially, we all needed to put more shots on goal when we had those chances.”
Chances were more difficult to find for the Warriors once Glenbard North got off its heels and began finding ways to get into their attack, but the scoreless tie held to halftime.
The Panthers found feet well after halftime in applying pressure, but it wasn’t until Emena’s chip near the 60-minute mark that the Panthers found a goal.
Afterwards, Koeller was asked what he thought of his side’s play in the win.
“Not much the first 20 minutes, but I really like the last 60,” he said. “That gave us a glimpse of what we could be.
“Had (Willowbrook) scored in that first 20 minutes, it might have been a completely different game. But we hung in, made a couple substitutions and adjustments, and I really liked the last 60 minutes. I thought we played well. I thought some of the young guys really grew up a little bit tonight.”
North graduated 16 seniors from last year’s team and returned only three players that saw consistent varsity action last year.
Emena sees potential in a young team that might simply need time to gel.
“Our team lacks chemistry, and our new players are trying to adapt to our style,” Emena said.
“Our midfield got stronger today, and we started to execute. Our outside mids know what to do, it’s just that their process is a little slower. But everyone is willing to work hard. Even players who might not be as skilled are working hard.”
The Panthers beat Curie 2-1 and lost 2-1 to Fenton prior to playing in another close game Thursday, all of which Koeller believes will help his boys in the long run.
“It’s important because managing close games on either side of the scoreboard for young players is really important, too,” he said.
“If was a good team shoutout. We didn’t ask our keepers to stand on their heads very much, and it started up-top. Our strikers started putting pressure on their backs, and the back four has been very solid for us. That’s been a strength of ours in our first couple games.”
The Panthers’ backline of Evan Scott, Ode Emena, Danny Le, and Ben Solano helped first half keeper Sam Pauling and second half keeper Martin Argirov earn a half-shutout apiece.
It was the Panthers’ first shutout of the season.
“Danny Le did a great job today,” Koeller said. “Best played very well and so did Eric Lopez. Our two central mids (Lopez and Emena) worked real hard, and they’re teaching the guys around them the system that we’re playing. Chemistry is coming.”
Le was named Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match for his work on the outside in Thursday’s win.
Glenbard North finished second in its pool behind Fenton; the Panthers will face tourney host Addison Trail for third place at 10 a.m. Saturday in the stadium.
For Willowbrook, the promise ahead hinges on some key players returning from injury. Giase is a solid, rangy, athletic keeper who had to exit with a hip flexor injury suffered late in Thursday’s game.
Senior forward Nico Hernandez was lost for the season to a leg injury, and senior forward and co-captain Patrick Florey will be out for two more weeks due to mono.
“All my studs have been going down to injury,” DeLaCruz said. “But (co-captain Correa) is a three-year varsity player and he has the ‘C’ on his arm for a reason. And Efren Gomez is another nice player who transferred over from Addison Trail, and he’s still sort of learning how to mesh with the other guys on the team.”
DeLaCruz remains optimistic and despite the loss, he left Addison pleased with the bright spots he saw from his side.
“The one thing we worked on all week were the overlap runs from our fullbacks and out of our four games, that was probably the best support we’ve shown,” he said.
“When your forwards are out you have to find other ways to push up, and I thought our right fullback, Aaron Guallpa, was probably my player of the game today.
“I also thought Tomas Hernandez, one of my central defenders, Efren Gomez, and Miguel Correa all played well.”
Willowbrook meets West Chicago in the fifth place game at noon at the east turf field.
Starting lineups
Glenbard North
GK Sam Pauling
D Ode Emena
D Evan Scott
D Danny Le
D Ben Solano
M Best Emena
M Erik Lopez
M Abood Nasr
M Jesse Aragon
F Brian Dasso
F Josh Lopez
Willowbrook
GK Mario Giase
D Tomas Hernandez
D Joey Gillono
D Aaron Guallpa
D Steven Cerda
M Thomas Waldorf
M Miguel Correa
M Eric Hoda
M David Rizzo
M Izzy Roman
F Efren Gomez
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Danny Le, sr. D, Glenbard North
Scoring summary
Second half
Glenbard North — B. Emena (Nasr); Guajardo (E. Lopez)