Rochelle Zell continues
march to CPC crown
Goal of undefeated title within grasp;
Brody's 3-goal, 3-assist games leads Tigers past Holy Trinity
By Rusty Silber
Spring soccer seems to agree with Rochelle Zell.
The fact that it’s colder at the start has certainly added to the strange situations of this substitute season, but none of that matters to a hot team like the Tigers, who started out strong and keep getting better.
Rochelle Zell has been scoring goals freely in its quest to claim an undefeated Chicago Prep Conference title.
Midfielder forward Noah Brady led the way Tuesday with his second hat-trick of the season and three assists as Rochelle Zell raced past Holy Trinity 9-2 at Heritage Park in Wheeling.
"This one was very huge for us," Rochelle Zell coach David Martinez said. "We did beat them earlier this year (3-1). This one was so big since we changed formations from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3. We also scored after going down early with two quick goals."
As for the Chicago Prep Conference race, Rochelle Zell improved to 5-0-0 (8-1-0 overall) and has a stanglehold on the top spot. But they want more for their legacy.
"We're one game closer to clinching the conference," Martinez said. "Our only time that we won the conference was two years ago, and we would like to go unbeaten."
Rochelle Zell can achieve its goal if it beats Cristo Rey on Wednesday.
Brody (13 goals, 17 assists) has had an outstanding season. He has not only provided leadership by example but made his teammates better through his play. He earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor for exemplary performance against Holy Trinity.
The senior combines skill and a high work rate that has given Rochelle Zell's opponents fits.
"It's my pace and speed with my experience," said Brody, who's has started all four years for the 170-student school. "I've been playing soccer for a long time and have played a bunch of different positions. I believe my speed makes me a good soccer player."
Besides the obvious benefit of his scoring touch, Brody brings a great understanding of the game and serves as a coach on the field. Those attributes are difference-makers.
"Previous years, I always thought the goal was good to get," Brody said. "This year, I get more joy with the assist. Every good goal needs a great assist. It's like serving a perfect cross then making a perfect shot."
To say Martinez has enjoyed his star’s time on team is an understatement.
"He's coachable and always makes his teammates better," the coach said. "He works with energy in every minute in every game. He expects the same thing from his teammates. Our offense runs through him. He normally plays the striker position, but we can move him back to the center back spot. His soccer IQ is phenomenal!"
Holy Trinity took the lead in the first minute on a goal from Haziel Sanchez, who finished with a brace.
Brody tied the game 30 seconds later and assisted on Zach Rosen’s goal that gave the Tigers the lead for good in the second minute.
The Tigers led 5-2 at the half.
In the 14th minute Brody assisted Jesse Shapira, who also tallied a hat-trick in the win.
Holy Trinity got its final goal 30th minute from Sanchez to make the score 3-2, but after that it was all Rochelle Zell.
The other Rochelle Zell goal scorers were Shomri Mlotek and Oren Nochimowski. Defender Daniel Taitz contributed the only other Rochelle Zell helper. Five Tigers goals were unassisted.
Holy Trinity fell to 0-5-0, 0-4-0 with the loss.
"We were outplayed pretty much in every aspect of the game," coach Larry Martin said, "Our goalie was playing in just his third game, because our regular goalie has been out, but that wouldn't make a difference. Our guy Ivan Solis made a lot of tough saves."
Starting lineups
Holy Trinity
GK-Ivan Solis
D-Alexandre Martinez
D-Eilias Lopez
D-Edwin De La Cruz
D-Daniel Gallegos
MF-Ruben Minoz
MF-Walter Adu
MF- Sebastian Martinez
MF-Fernando Guido
F-Joshua Boahene
F-Haziel Sanchez
Rochelle Zell
GK-Micah Stern
D-Shomri Mlotek
D-Daniel Taitz
D-Jeremy Budin
D-Gabe Gruenberg
MF-Ben Rosenfeld
MF-Matan Lieberman
MF-Jesse Levitas
F-Noah Brody
F-Jesse Shapira
F-Zach Rosen
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Noah Brody, sr., F, Rochelle Zell
Scoring summary
First half
HT - Sanchez 1'
RZ - Brody (unassisted) 1'
RZ - Rosen (Brody) 2'
RZ - Shapira (Brody) 14'
HT - Sanchez 30'
RZ - Shapira (Brody) 34'
RZ - Brody (Taitz) 40'
Second half
RZ - Mlotek (unassisted) 45'
RZ - Brody (unassisted) 47'
RZ - Shapira (unassisted) 48'
RZ - Nochimowski (unassisted) 55'
march to CPC crown
Goal of undefeated title within grasp;
Brody's 3-goal, 3-assist games leads Tigers past Holy Trinity
By Rusty Silber
Spring soccer seems to agree with Rochelle Zell.
The fact that it’s colder at the start has certainly added to the strange situations of this substitute season, but none of that matters to a hot team like the Tigers, who started out strong and keep getting better.
Rochelle Zell has been scoring goals freely in its quest to claim an undefeated Chicago Prep Conference title.
Midfielder forward Noah Brady led the way Tuesday with his second hat-trick of the season and three assists as Rochelle Zell raced past Holy Trinity 9-2 at Heritage Park in Wheeling.
"This one was very huge for us," Rochelle Zell coach David Martinez said. "We did beat them earlier this year (3-1). This one was so big since we changed formations from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3. We also scored after going down early with two quick goals."
As for the Chicago Prep Conference race, Rochelle Zell improved to 5-0-0 (8-1-0 overall) and has a stanglehold on the top spot. But they want more for their legacy.
"We're one game closer to clinching the conference," Martinez said. "Our only time that we won the conference was two years ago, and we would like to go unbeaten."
Rochelle Zell can achieve its goal if it beats Cristo Rey on Wednesday.
Brody (13 goals, 17 assists) has had an outstanding season. He has not only provided leadership by example but made his teammates better through his play. He earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor for exemplary performance against Holy Trinity.
The senior combines skill and a high work rate that has given Rochelle Zell's opponents fits.
"It's my pace and speed with my experience," said Brody, who's has started all four years for the 170-student school. "I've been playing soccer for a long time and have played a bunch of different positions. I believe my speed makes me a good soccer player."
Besides the obvious benefit of his scoring touch, Brody brings a great understanding of the game and serves as a coach on the field. Those attributes are difference-makers.
"Previous years, I always thought the goal was good to get," Brody said. "This year, I get more joy with the assist. Every good goal needs a great assist. It's like serving a perfect cross then making a perfect shot."
To say Martinez has enjoyed his star’s time on team is an understatement.
"He's coachable and always makes his teammates better," the coach said. "He works with energy in every minute in every game. He expects the same thing from his teammates. Our offense runs through him. He normally plays the striker position, but we can move him back to the center back spot. His soccer IQ is phenomenal!"
Holy Trinity took the lead in the first minute on a goal from Haziel Sanchez, who finished with a brace.
Brody tied the game 30 seconds later and assisted on Zach Rosen’s goal that gave the Tigers the lead for good in the second minute.
The Tigers led 5-2 at the half.
In the 14th minute Brody assisted Jesse Shapira, who also tallied a hat-trick in the win.
Holy Trinity got its final goal 30th minute from Sanchez to make the score 3-2, but after that it was all Rochelle Zell.
The other Rochelle Zell goal scorers were Shomri Mlotek and Oren Nochimowski. Defender Daniel Taitz contributed the only other Rochelle Zell helper. Five Tigers goals were unassisted.
Holy Trinity fell to 0-5-0, 0-4-0 with the loss.
"We were outplayed pretty much in every aspect of the game," coach Larry Martin said, "Our goalie was playing in just his third game, because our regular goalie has been out, but that wouldn't make a difference. Our guy Ivan Solis made a lot of tough saves."
Starting lineups
Holy Trinity
GK-Ivan Solis
D-Alexandre Martinez
D-Eilias Lopez
D-Edwin De La Cruz
D-Daniel Gallegos
MF-Ruben Minoz
MF-Walter Adu
MF- Sebastian Martinez
MF-Fernando Guido
F-Joshua Boahene
F-Haziel Sanchez
Rochelle Zell
GK-Micah Stern
D-Shomri Mlotek
D-Daniel Taitz
D-Jeremy Budin
D-Gabe Gruenberg
MF-Ben Rosenfeld
MF-Matan Lieberman
MF-Jesse Levitas
F-Noah Brody
F-Jesse Shapira
F-Zach Rosen
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Noah Brody, sr., F, Rochelle Zell
Scoring summary
First half
HT - Sanchez 1'
RZ - Brody (unassisted) 1'
RZ - Rosen (Brody) 2'
RZ - Shapira (Brody) 14'
HT - Sanchez 30'
RZ - Shapira (Brody) 34'
RZ - Brody (Taitz) 40'
Second half
RZ - Mlotek (unassisted) 45'
RZ - Brody (unassisted) 47'
RZ - Shapira (unassisted) 48'
RZ - Nochimowski (unassisted) 55'