Opportunity knocks for Glenbard North,
but Lane answers
Panthers come up empty on 2 PKs and 2-man advantage, fall 1-0
By Curt Herron
CAROL STREAM -- Lane players celebrated their 1-0 season-opening victory over Glenbard North at Weber Field on Monday like it was a postseason clash, and with good reason. Chicago's largest high school, which has a new nickname this year – the Champions, had plenty to be proud of after converting a first half penalty and then hanging on while down two men in the late going of the nonconference match in Carol Stream.
The host Panthers, who will not return for a game on their home turf until September 20 when they host Batavia, gave their fans plenty to cheer about and demonstrated why there's plenty of optimism heading into a campaign where they have 16 returning players and 19 seniors.
However, there was also frustration. The Panthers were unable to capitalize on a one-man advantage for 6 minutes, 45 seconds and a two-man edge for the final 9:21. Adding to the Panthers woes were a pair of penalties in the 67th minute that went unfulfilled.
Playing with a man advantage, Glenbard North received the rarest of opportunities with two penalties within a 17-second span. But Champions goalkeeper Gael Rodriguez deflected an attempt by Mark Szklarczyk, who had been fouled in the box. On the subsequent penalty, Jorge Roman's shot went a bit high.
Lane (1-0-0) took the road win in the 35th minute when Kyle Hollman placed a penalty in the left side just past Panthers goalkeeper Stavros Veremis.
"It was a good advertisement for high school soccer and both teams were invested and wanted to win," Lane coach Andrew Ricks said. "It was one goal, the thinnest margin that you can get. I feel like we had a legitimate PK that was called for us, and we finished it. That was the difference; it very easily could have been a tie.
“This is just one game, but this is the character that any coach wants to see, give it your best. If it doesn't fall your way, fine, but did you do what you could do to manage the situation.
"These games are tight, especially when you have two coaches who are invested in their programs. Spero (Mandakas) is a good coach and a gracious host, and I really appreciate that. I think all of our games that we've played have been by one goal or ties.
“Our character could be criticized for how we got ourselves into that situation, and we didn't manage that situation, as well. We have to learn from it."
Even though they were not able to connect, Glenbard North had plenty of good opportunities throughout the match. Their chemistry was demonstrated by their ability to connect and create good scoring chances, especially during the final half, when they had the better of the play before Lane had several players sent off.
Glenbard North plays its next 11 matches on the road, beginning with four in the 11th-annual Joe Novy Classic at Addison Trail this week and next. After opening DuKane Conference play with matches at Geneva and St. Charles East, the Panthers take part in a BodyArmor bracket and play nonconference matches at Proviso East and Glenbard South. They're hopeful that the long stretch of road and tournament matches has them prepared as they finish the regular season with six of their final nine matches at home.
"Even though it's August 22, it really felt like it was kind of like October," Panthers coach Spero Mandakas said. "I was proud of our energy. We were able to step up to that next level after kind of playing a little sloppy in the first half, and we were really generating some things. But as the saying goes, it's just unfortunate. We get a PK and we didn't make it. They put theirs away, and that's really what it came down to.
"With 16 guys back and 19 seniors, this is a group that from June 1 started putting in work. They were getting together two or three days a week by themselves on top of our summer league and our summer training. We're really coming together as a unit, and it really shows in the connectiveness of the group.
"It really came down to the effectiveness in the final third. We talk about the run of play, and we definitely had the majority of it. When they go two men down, we have to be better and be more effective and take advantage of that and break them down. We did generate a few chances, but we have to have more quality in the final third."
Lane’s Hollman, who was one of the most active players on the field for Lane, earned Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match honor for his performance.
Glenbard North had a couple of chances to tie soon after the goal. Pablo DeLaCruz had a corner kick deflected away, and Colin Hernandez sent a pass inside to Adan Solorio, whose header went just wide.
Glenbard North was back at it in the opening minute of the final half as a deflected Solorio try led to another corner by DeLaCruz, which was also cleared. The Panthers had some more good chances shortly before the midpoint of the second half. Christian Escobedo drove to the net, but a defender altered his shot, which was then corralled by Rodriguez.
After a try by Roman went just wide, Tyler Nack fired in a free kick from the midfield stripe that was pulled in by Lane's goalkeeper.
A few minutes after the Champions answered with a 50-yard free kick from Wilson Smiejek and Diego Maldonado followed with a grounder, both hauled in by Veremis, their fortunes quickly changed. One of their players was ejected from the match with 16:06 to play.
Glenbard North picked up its attack. Escobedo sent in a free kick from about 25 yards that was deflected by a defender shortly before the Panthers seemed to have the game handed to them. The Champions surrendered two penalties 17 seconds apart in the 67th minute. Somehow, they emerged unscathed.
After another Lane player exited with a red card in the 71st minute to put the visitors down two men, Glenbard North kept working. Solorio sent in a liner, and a header went high. Escobedo had a shot deflected by Smiejek that was collected by Rodriguez. In the 77th minute, Solorio provided the host's final threat when he fired a liner that went over the net.
"Hats off to Lane, they were frustrating to play against," said Veremis, who not only performed well in goal but also helped out on the offensive end in the late going. "I know that we have high aspirations this year and have a lot of seniors on the team, and we're a talented squad. There are pieces that we still have to get together, but that's what we have the season for, to prepare. We've been jelling great.
"A lot of them played together outside of school. In the summer, we were having training pretty often, three days a week. We have great chemistry. To match our aspirations, we have to bring the energy that we brought today.
“We have a lot of heart and a lot of fight, sometimes too much. They start butting heads a little. But that's because they love what they're playing for, and they care. We know what's possible but it's up to us to put the pieces together and hopefully make it a successful season."
Early in the match, the Panthers got good chances from Escobedo and Diego Chicas. Lane countered with threatening attempts from Oscar Frampton and Brando Diaz.
In the minutes leading up to the match's lone goal, Glenbard North’s Azael Velazquez had a shot deflected away, and Chicas had a long free kick knocked away by Rodriguez. Lane countered with a close-range touch by Colin DuRoss that was hauled in by Veremis.
Glenbard North returns to action on Thursday when it plays Willowbrook at 6:30 p.m. in the opening round of the Novy Classic at Addison Trail. After playing Proviso West on Saturday, the Panthers meet Sycamore Aug. 30 before a hoped for championship match berth Sept. 3.
Starting lineups
Lane
G: Gael Rodriguez
D: Emiliano Gonzalez
D: Kyle Hollman
D: Wilson Smiejek
D: Ethan Peet
M: Brando Diaz
M: Matthew Mendoza
M: Kamil Pluta
M: Mauro Ruiz
F: Alan Zavala
F: Colin DuRoss
Glenbard North
G: Stavros Veremis
D: Mark Szklarczyk
D: Diego Chicas
D: Michael Bonsi
D: Ayan Sheikh
M: Christian Escobedo
M: Luis Roman
M: Colin Hernandez
F: Rijad Kadiric
F: Jorge Roman
F: Pablo DeLaCruz
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Kyle Hollman, sr., D, Lane
Scoring summary
First half
Lane: Kyle Hollman (PK), 35'
Second half
No scoring
but Lane answers
Panthers come up empty on 2 PKs and 2-man advantage, fall 1-0
By Curt Herron
CAROL STREAM -- Lane players celebrated their 1-0 season-opening victory over Glenbard North at Weber Field on Monday like it was a postseason clash, and with good reason. Chicago's largest high school, which has a new nickname this year – the Champions, had plenty to be proud of after converting a first half penalty and then hanging on while down two men in the late going of the nonconference match in Carol Stream.
The host Panthers, who will not return for a game on their home turf until September 20 when they host Batavia, gave their fans plenty to cheer about and demonstrated why there's plenty of optimism heading into a campaign where they have 16 returning players and 19 seniors.
However, there was also frustration. The Panthers were unable to capitalize on a one-man advantage for 6 minutes, 45 seconds and a two-man edge for the final 9:21. Adding to the Panthers woes were a pair of penalties in the 67th minute that went unfulfilled.
Playing with a man advantage, Glenbard North received the rarest of opportunities with two penalties within a 17-second span. But Champions goalkeeper Gael Rodriguez deflected an attempt by Mark Szklarczyk, who had been fouled in the box. On the subsequent penalty, Jorge Roman's shot went a bit high.
Lane (1-0-0) took the road win in the 35th minute when Kyle Hollman placed a penalty in the left side just past Panthers goalkeeper Stavros Veremis.
"It was a good advertisement for high school soccer and both teams were invested and wanted to win," Lane coach Andrew Ricks said. "It was one goal, the thinnest margin that you can get. I feel like we had a legitimate PK that was called for us, and we finished it. That was the difference; it very easily could have been a tie.
“This is just one game, but this is the character that any coach wants to see, give it your best. If it doesn't fall your way, fine, but did you do what you could do to manage the situation.
"These games are tight, especially when you have two coaches who are invested in their programs. Spero (Mandakas) is a good coach and a gracious host, and I really appreciate that. I think all of our games that we've played have been by one goal or ties.
“Our character could be criticized for how we got ourselves into that situation, and we didn't manage that situation, as well. We have to learn from it."
Even though they were not able to connect, Glenbard North had plenty of good opportunities throughout the match. Their chemistry was demonstrated by their ability to connect and create good scoring chances, especially during the final half, when they had the better of the play before Lane had several players sent off.
Glenbard North plays its next 11 matches on the road, beginning with four in the 11th-annual Joe Novy Classic at Addison Trail this week and next. After opening DuKane Conference play with matches at Geneva and St. Charles East, the Panthers take part in a BodyArmor bracket and play nonconference matches at Proviso East and Glenbard South. They're hopeful that the long stretch of road and tournament matches has them prepared as they finish the regular season with six of their final nine matches at home.
"Even though it's August 22, it really felt like it was kind of like October," Panthers coach Spero Mandakas said. "I was proud of our energy. We were able to step up to that next level after kind of playing a little sloppy in the first half, and we were really generating some things. But as the saying goes, it's just unfortunate. We get a PK and we didn't make it. They put theirs away, and that's really what it came down to.
"With 16 guys back and 19 seniors, this is a group that from June 1 started putting in work. They were getting together two or three days a week by themselves on top of our summer league and our summer training. We're really coming together as a unit, and it really shows in the connectiveness of the group.
"It really came down to the effectiveness in the final third. We talk about the run of play, and we definitely had the majority of it. When they go two men down, we have to be better and be more effective and take advantage of that and break them down. We did generate a few chances, but we have to have more quality in the final third."
Lane’s Hollman, who was one of the most active players on the field for Lane, earned Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match honor for his performance.
Glenbard North had a couple of chances to tie soon after the goal. Pablo DeLaCruz had a corner kick deflected away, and Colin Hernandez sent a pass inside to Adan Solorio, whose header went just wide.
Glenbard North was back at it in the opening minute of the final half as a deflected Solorio try led to another corner by DeLaCruz, which was also cleared. The Panthers had some more good chances shortly before the midpoint of the second half. Christian Escobedo drove to the net, but a defender altered his shot, which was then corralled by Rodriguez.
After a try by Roman went just wide, Tyler Nack fired in a free kick from the midfield stripe that was pulled in by Lane's goalkeeper.
A few minutes after the Champions answered with a 50-yard free kick from Wilson Smiejek and Diego Maldonado followed with a grounder, both hauled in by Veremis, their fortunes quickly changed. One of their players was ejected from the match with 16:06 to play.
Glenbard North picked up its attack. Escobedo sent in a free kick from about 25 yards that was deflected by a defender shortly before the Panthers seemed to have the game handed to them. The Champions surrendered two penalties 17 seconds apart in the 67th minute. Somehow, they emerged unscathed.
After another Lane player exited with a red card in the 71st minute to put the visitors down two men, Glenbard North kept working. Solorio sent in a liner, and a header went high. Escobedo had a shot deflected by Smiejek that was collected by Rodriguez. In the 77th minute, Solorio provided the host's final threat when he fired a liner that went over the net.
"Hats off to Lane, they were frustrating to play against," said Veremis, who not only performed well in goal but also helped out on the offensive end in the late going. "I know that we have high aspirations this year and have a lot of seniors on the team, and we're a talented squad. There are pieces that we still have to get together, but that's what we have the season for, to prepare. We've been jelling great.
"A lot of them played together outside of school. In the summer, we were having training pretty often, three days a week. We have great chemistry. To match our aspirations, we have to bring the energy that we brought today.
“We have a lot of heart and a lot of fight, sometimes too much. They start butting heads a little. But that's because they love what they're playing for, and they care. We know what's possible but it's up to us to put the pieces together and hopefully make it a successful season."
Early in the match, the Panthers got good chances from Escobedo and Diego Chicas. Lane countered with threatening attempts from Oscar Frampton and Brando Diaz.
In the minutes leading up to the match's lone goal, Glenbard North’s Azael Velazquez had a shot deflected away, and Chicas had a long free kick knocked away by Rodriguez. Lane countered with a close-range touch by Colin DuRoss that was hauled in by Veremis.
Glenbard North returns to action on Thursday when it plays Willowbrook at 6:30 p.m. in the opening round of the Novy Classic at Addison Trail. After playing Proviso West on Saturday, the Panthers meet Sycamore Aug. 30 before a hoped for championship match berth Sept. 3.
Starting lineups
Lane
G: Gael Rodriguez
D: Emiliano Gonzalez
D: Kyle Hollman
D: Wilson Smiejek
D: Ethan Peet
M: Brando Diaz
M: Matthew Mendoza
M: Kamil Pluta
M: Mauro Ruiz
F: Alan Zavala
F: Colin DuRoss
Glenbard North
G: Stavros Veremis
D: Mark Szklarczyk
D: Diego Chicas
D: Michael Bonsi
D: Ayan Sheikh
M: Christian Escobedo
M: Luis Roman
M: Colin Hernandez
F: Rijad Kadiric
F: Jorge Roman
F: Pablo DeLaCruz
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Kyle Hollman, sr., D, Lane
Scoring summary
First half
Lane: Kyle Hollman (PK), 35'
Second half
No scoring