Deerfield takes it to the Bankevich in win
Junior's hat-trick leads hosts to 4-2 victory in conference opener
By Dan Shalin
DEERFIELD -- Junior center forward Nikita Bankevich is known as much for his hold-up play as his scoring prowess for Deerfield. But there is something about seeing the blue and black jerseys of rival Highland Park – or neon green as was the case Tuesday night – that turns Bankevich into a goal predator.
Bankevich netted his first career hat-trick in the Warriors’ 4-2 triumph over the Giants on Tuesday at Adams Field. Bankevich, who now has 4 goals on the season, also scored Deerfield’s lone goal when the teams tied 1-1 at Wolters Field in 2016. It was one of five goals Bankevich scored as a sophomore on varsity last fall.
“Nikita is an incredibly talented forward. He has a wicked shot and great touch,” Deerfield head coach Elliott Hurtig said. “I think he needs the HP game to get his game going in terms of scoring goals, for some reason. He always scores big goals against Highland Park.”
The Warriors have done okay against the Giants as well. They also beat them 2-0 in the season-opening North Shore Shootout at Lake Forest.
Bankevich’s goal with 9:26 remaining in the second half, after he was put through by senior forward Cory Johnson (goal, 2 assists), gave the Warriors a 3-2 lead and came after Highland Park scored against the run of play to tie the game with 26 minutes remaining.
Less than 2 minutes after his second goal, Bankevich killed off the game with his third, scoring on a breakaway after collecting a pass from junior midfielder Jacob Braunstein. Highland Park claimed offside -- and not for the first time on the evening -- but the goal stood. A replay on an iPad belonging to the Deerfield coaching staff appeared to confirm that Bankevich was in fact onside, having started his run on the defensive side of the halfway line.
“We have video, and it was not offside. I guess I’ll go by that,” Bankevich said. “Even if it was offside, I’ll take it.”
The Warriors (3-6-0, 1-0-0) are hoping the victory, coming against their biggest rival and in their CSL North opener, will be a turning point in their season.
“Our record is not the best, but I think this kickstarted our season for the better, for the future,” Bankevich said. “I hope this performance will carry us on to the next game (vs. Maine East on Thursday in Deerfield).”
Hurtig said he has talked about the Warriors showing resilience. Deerfield did just that after going behind in the first half and then again after surrendering the second half equalizer, which occurred just when it appeared Deerfield had gained control of the game.
Highland Park (2-8-0, 1-1-0) opened the scoring 16 minutes into the game when junior Joey Schwartz, who was a bright spot in the midfield all evening, found the back of the net after running onto a through-ball from senior midfielder Sam Kalter. It was Schwartz’s second goal of the season.
Deerfield quickly raised its game, with Johnson, on the left side of the three-man forward line, and senior central midfielder Louis Solovy, both working tirelessly.
But Highland Park junior goalkeeper Roi Lavi stopped Bankevich on a breakaway. Later, Bankevich got free, but hit the outside of the net on a shot he probably should have put on target.
It appeared the Giants would get to the break with an advantage.
Then, the game’s first controversy: in the final minute of the first half, a pass from the back sprung Johnson free down the left wing. He crossed to Bankevich, who slid and connected with the ball, putting it past Lavi to tie the score 1-1 and send Highland Park players and coaches into a rage.
Some Giants likely felt Johnson had mistimed his initial run, while others may have felt Bankevich had been offside before the finish. Many on the Highland Park side, no doubt, felt either player could have been flagged.
“I feel like we were playing against two teams today, against Deerfield and a team in yellow (the officials),” said Highland Park head coach Blake Novotny, who said he was proud of the way his team fought.
Almost immediately after the break, Deerfield took its first lead on a highlight-reel strike from Johnson. A flip-throw from Solovy was headed on by senior midfielder Ryan David. The ball fell to Johnson, who hit a one-time screamer from the corner of the box that flew in at the far post.
“It was nice. I hit it cleanly after getting a good flick from Ryan David, and got it in the back of the net,” said Johnson about his 3rd goal of the season.
At that point, it seemed only a matter of time before Deerfield struck again, as Johnson nearly scored a second goal minutes later and Solovy’s 45-yard free kick was tipped over the bar by Lavi with 28 minutes remaining.
Then, 2 minutes later, Highland Park found an equalizer. Senior defender Justin Illes found himself free on goal. Deerfield junior goalkeeper Ryan Grady made the initial save, but only into the path of Giants senior forward Jeyson Vasquez, who put home his sixth of the campaign.
“I’m proud of the team,” Highland Park’s Schwartz said. “Even though we gave it up at the end, I thought we showed great character to come back and make it 2-2. There are some positives. I thought we played some really good soccer, and the team showed effort and played together.”
But the night ultimately belonged to Bankevich, who said scoring a hat-trick in front of a lively crowd made it an evening he will long remember – even though the professional-soccer tradition of awarding the game ball to the scorer of three goals has not trickled down to the high school ranks.
“It was a good feeling having a hat-trick today. It was good to have a crowd, we usually don’t, but it was good to see,” Bankevich said. “I didn’t get the game ball, but maybe if I pay 20 bucks, I can take it.”
Starting lineups
Highland Park
GK- Roi Lavi
D- Luke Illes
D- Mason Kimarovsky
D- Justin Illes
D- Chris Mateos
M- Ronin Moore
M- Joey Schwartz
M– Sam Kalter
M- Alejandro Cruz
M- Alexis Perez
F- Jason Vasquez
Deerfield
GK- Ryan Grady
D- Eric Kenney
D- Jack Hammontree
D- Dylan Capp
D- Jeff Lehrman
M- Ryan David
M- Jacob Braunstein
M- Louis Solovy
F- Cory Johnson
F- Nikita Bankevich
F- Noah Braunstein
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Nikita Bankevich, jr. F, Deerfield
Scoring summary
Highland Park: Schwartz (Kalter) 17’
Deerfield: Bankevich Johnson) 40’
Deerfield: Johnson (David) 44’
Highland Park: Vasquez (J. Illes) 55’
Deerfield: Bankevich (Johnson) 71’
Deerfield: Bankevich (J. Braunstein) 73’
Junior's hat-trick leads hosts to 4-2 victory in conference opener
By Dan Shalin
DEERFIELD -- Junior center forward Nikita Bankevich is known as much for his hold-up play as his scoring prowess for Deerfield. But there is something about seeing the blue and black jerseys of rival Highland Park – or neon green as was the case Tuesday night – that turns Bankevich into a goal predator.
Bankevich netted his first career hat-trick in the Warriors’ 4-2 triumph over the Giants on Tuesday at Adams Field. Bankevich, who now has 4 goals on the season, also scored Deerfield’s lone goal when the teams tied 1-1 at Wolters Field in 2016. It was one of five goals Bankevich scored as a sophomore on varsity last fall.
“Nikita is an incredibly talented forward. He has a wicked shot and great touch,” Deerfield head coach Elliott Hurtig said. “I think he needs the HP game to get his game going in terms of scoring goals, for some reason. He always scores big goals against Highland Park.”
The Warriors have done okay against the Giants as well. They also beat them 2-0 in the season-opening North Shore Shootout at Lake Forest.
Bankevich’s goal with 9:26 remaining in the second half, after he was put through by senior forward Cory Johnson (goal, 2 assists), gave the Warriors a 3-2 lead and came after Highland Park scored against the run of play to tie the game with 26 minutes remaining.
Less than 2 minutes after his second goal, Bankevich killed off the game with his third, scoring on a breakaway after collecting a pass from junior midfielder Jacob Braunstein. Highland Park claimed offside -- and not for the first time on the evening -- but the goal stood. A replay on an iPad belonging to the Deerfield coaching staff appeared to confirm that Bankevich was in fact onside, having started his run on the defensive side of the halfway line.
“We have video, and it was not offside. I guess I’ll go by that,” Bankevich said. “Even if it was offside, I’ll take it.”
The Warriors (3-6-0, 1-0-0) are hoping the victory, coming against their biggest rival and in their CSL North opener, will be a turning point in their season.
“Our record is not the best, but I think this kickstarted our season for the better, for the future,” Bankevich said. “I hope this performance will carry us on to the next game (vs. Maine East on Thursday in Deerfield).”
Hurtig said he has talked about the Warriors showing resilience. Deerfield did just that after going behind in the first half and then again after surrendering the second half equalizer, which occurred just when it appeared Deerfield had gained control of the game.
Highland Park (2-8-0, 1-1-0) opened the scoring 16 minutes into the game when junior Joey Schwartz, who was a bright spot in the midfield all evening, found the back of the net after running onto a through-ball from senior midfielder Sam Kalter. It was Schwartz’s second goal of the season.
Deerfield quickly raised its game, with Johnson, on the left side of the three-man forward line, and senior central midfielder Louis Solovy, both working tirelessly.
But Highland Park junior goalkeeper Roi Lavi stopped Bankevich on a breakaway. Later, Bankevich got free, but hit the outside of the net on a shot he probably should have put on target.
It appeared the Giants would get to the break with an advantage.
Then, the game’s first controversy: in the final minute of the first half, a pass from the back sprung Johnson free down the left wing. He crossed to Bankevich, who slid and connected with the ball, putting it past Lavi to tie the score 1-1 and send Highland Park players and coaches into a rage.
Some Giants likely felt Johnson had mistimed his initial run, while others may have felt Bankevich had been offside before the finish. Many on the Highland Park side, no doubt, felt either player could have been flagged.
“I feel like we were playing against two teams today, against Deerfield and a team in yellow (the officials),” said Highland Park head coach Blake Novotny, who said he was proud of the way his team fought.
Almost immediately after the break, Deerfield took its first lead on a highlight-reel strike from Johnson. A flip-throw from Solovy was headed on by senior midfielder Ryan David. The ball fell to Johnson, who hit a one-time screamer from the corner of the box that flew in at the far post.
“It was nice. I hit it cleanly after getting a good flick from Ryan David, and got it in the back of the net,” said Johnson about his 3rd goal of the season.
At that point, it seemed only a matter of time before Deerfield struck again, as Johnson nearly scored a second goal minutes later and Solovy’s 45-yard free kick was tipped over the bar by Lavi with 28 minutes remaining.
Then, 2 minutes later, Highland Park found an equalizer. Senior defender Justin Illes found himself free on goal. Deerfield junior goalkeeper Ryan Grady made the initial save, but only into the path of Giants senior forward Jeyson Vasquez, who put home his sixth of the campaign.
“I’m proud of the team,” Highland Park’s Schwartz said. “Even though we gave it up at the end, I thought we showed great character to come back and make it 2-2. There are some positives. I thought we played some really good soccer, and the team showed effort and played together.”
But the night ultimately belonged to Bankevich, who said scoring a hat-trick in front of a lively crowd made it an evening he will long remember – even though the professional-soccer tradition of awarding the game ball to the scorer of three goals has not trickled down to the high school ranks.
“It was a good feeling having a hat-trick today. It was good to have a crowd, we usually don’t, but it was good to see,” Bankevich said. “I didn’t get the game ball, but maybe if I pay 20 bucks, I can take it.”
Starting lineups
Highland Park
GK- Roi Lavi
D- Luke Illes
D- Mason Kimarovsky
D- Justin Illes
D- Chris Mateos
M- Ronin Moore
M- Joey Schwartz
M– Sam Kalter
M- Alejandro Cruz
M- Alexis Perez
F- Jason Vasquez
Deerfield
GK- Ryan Grady
D- Eric Kenney
D- Jack Hammontree
D- Dylan Capp
D- Jeff Lehrman
M- Ryan David
M- Jacob Braunstein
M- Louis Solovy
F- Cory Johnson
F- Nikita Bankevich
F- Noah Braunstein
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Nikita Bankevich, jr. F, Deerfield
Scoring summary
Highland Park: Schwartz (Kalter) 17’
Deerfield: Bankevich Johnson) 40’
Deerfield: Johnson (David) 44’
Highland Park: Vasquez (J. Illes) 55’
Deerfield: Bankevich (Johnson) 71’
Deerfield: Bankevich (J. Braunstein) 73’