Taft muddies it way to league win
Host Eagles post 2-0 home victory for 1st Premier North points
By Mike Garofola
CHICAGO -- One year after claiming a Chicago Public League First Division crown, Taft manager Jeff Lucco and his staff have been figuring on how to replace 13 players and rebuild the entire Eagles backline, which lost all four starters of a sturdy unit which recorded six clean-sheets and conceded just nine goals in seven 2017 league contests.
It hasn't been easy.
Lucco's young side entered Wednesday's game with Lincoln Park with a less than sparkling 1-5-0 overall record after watching 19 go into the back of their net.
Besides trying to turn things around, Lucco also had to keep his fingers crossed that Mother Nature would not wash away an opportunity to build some momentum going forward.
The Eagles (2-5-0, 1-1-0) overcame two heavy rain storms, sloppy field conditions, and most of all the visiting Lions from Lincoln Park to end a five-game losing streak with a well-deserved 2-0 Chicago Public League Premier Division North victory at its home park on the Northwest Side.
"Boy, did we need this one," said a relieved Lucco.
His players Michael Ruiz and Christopher Reynoso, each heroes on both sides of the ball, agreed with their coach. The pair shared Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors.
"It's all about playing together and with confidence (which) is something we did today -- to really give all of us a real boost," said Ruiz.
"Our mindset coming into today was that this was our game to win, and we weren't going to let the field conditions or weather stop us at all," added Reynoso, who struck the eventual game-winner two minutes into the second period.
"Today was the first start of the year for Michael, who despite being a first-year varsity player is one of our toughest players, both in the tackle, and in the way he defends and communicates along the back," said Lucco of his senior. "He really stood out for us all afternoon."
Lucco continued his praise when the conversation turned towards Reynoso.
"(He) was a starter on our JV team last year, but he's come in as a sophomore and shown to be a dependable player already for us up-top," he said. "(He's) one, in time, we hope will become a big-time scorer for us."
Lucco suggested in the lead-up to this 4:30 contest that his home park would not be able to sustain more rain prior to the opening whistle. But when a steady rain greeted both sides when play began, it was clear the long, overgrown grass acted more as a sponge, which allowed some semblance of soccer.
"The conditions were terrible, but we tried to play soccer," Ruiz said. "It just came down to who wanted it more, and I really think it was us."
Both Jakub Lapinski and Byron Abayay tested Lincoln Park goalkeeper Daniel Fine with low, dipping strikes in the early minutes. The hope was the wet turf might cause the Lions keeper to struggle in his attempt to save.
The senior did not, but his mates did not fare as well with an Eagles attack that used these two early chances to provide inspiration.
Abaya, Lapinski, and Motea Nassar worked some magic to free Brendon Tovar to carry to the endline, and if not a strong tackle and clearing effort by the Lions defense, Tovar's serve might have been collected by one of his teammates in-close.
The home side kept their guests under pressure with Lapinski striking wide. The next trip into the Lions area proved more dangerous, while giving the umbrella-encumbered Eagles faithful something to cheer about
After a ball was played from the left side to the back post, a sensational bicycle flick by Jonathan Salgado gave Tovar a chance from eight yards, but Fine saved with style.
Lucco used a bevy of players in the match. When Benjamin Granados was brought on, the senior nearly made his imprint on the game.
Granados broke free into the area and past Fine, but an ever-alert Aidan McDermott came to the rescue with retrieving mission that parried the attempt out of the area to save a sure goal.
Whilte the visitors were unable to hold onto the ball long enough to get themselves involved in the game, the home side continued to keep the offensive pressure on high.
"Take nothing away from Taft, but I really did not feel as if we put in a great effort out there," began Lions manager Geoffrey Ruttenberg.
"We lacked discipline and stayed away from our tactical approach. We were sloppy and had trouble stringing consecutive passess together."
Taft did not suffer from a similar problem.
Despite the ankle high grass, and slippery spots on the Eagles home park, Lucco's men still found a way to get the ball to Salgado on the outside, as well as Kaiden Brinson, Tovar and others, albeit not with much flair or fashion in these less than ideal conditions.
Ruiz provided a wonderful ball over the top to Brinson, who shed a pair of defenders before firing his attempt over the bar at 23 minutes.
Lincoln Park (2-6-0, 0-2-0) tried the same approach -- playing direct with MacFarlane connecting with Justin Davreux. He appeared to have a step on the defense until Sergio Diaz and Ruiz squeezed the Lions front-runner to end the scoring threat.
While Ruttenberg lamented on the play of his lads on this day, the Lions were still able to stay in the game. That came in large part, thanks to the work rate of their two big men who patrolled the center of the park: Nico MacFarlane and Andi Kallaba.
The two Lincoln Park captains were strong in the tackle, played rugged soccer on both sides of the ball and did their best to give their mates a sense of urgency all throughout the afternoon.
"To me, both of them are all-state players," said Ruttenberg.
"They lead by example as our captains and are dominate forces in the middle of the field."
If not for a fearless challenge off his line by Eagles keeper Pablo Rueda, MacFarlane would have a clear road in just before the intermission.
Just after the break, Rueda came to the rescue again to punch away a well-aimed, long-range free kick from McDermott to keep things goal less.
However, the home side finally earned its breakthrough when Reynoso somehow was able to finish past Fine despite having a Lions defender draped all over him.
"(Motea) gave me a great ball, and I didn't let the keeper or defender bother me when I got into the box," said a humble Reynoso, who made his effort sound much easier than it looked.
"It was a big goal at a moment when we needed something like that to pick us up and get us going," Lucco said.
Lincoln Park pushed forward for the equalizer. But moments before another bout of heavy rain came through the park, Rueda was at it again. He went full extension while on the wet ground to turn away Brandon Banchs attempt.
With their confidence brewing, then building, the Lions began to build their effort into the home side's end.
Taft's Salgado intercepted trouble initiated by MacFarlane and Compreverde at 53 minutes, before a nicely played free kick serve from McDermott found MacFarlane at the back post to force a Rueda save.
Taft would respond well to its latest challenge and found an insurance goal. It came from Nassar, whose looping 40-yard free kick eluded the Lincoln Park keeper.
Both sides created a handful of chances after the Nassar goal at 59 minutes, most of the half-chance variety, except for another attempt from Banchs, which he was allowed to tee-up before having his left-footed strike block on the way in by Jose Aguilera.
Tovar went close, as did Nassar in the closing minutes, before the league fixture came to an end.
"This was certainly a winnable game, but as I said, our effort and discipline were not at the level they need to be, which is something we've struggled with all year," said Ruttenberg.
"We've been wasting the talent we have this season. And until we turn that around, the results will continue to be the same."
Lucco, on the other hand, was feeling much better.
"It wasn't always pretty because of the weather and our field, but you still saw us do some very good things in our attack.
"I am very anxious to see us play on a bigger field, and one that has turf this Saturday at Prospect.
"I feel we have the players who will be able to use their speed and quickness, plus technical skill on the turf. So it should be a good test for us when we go out there."
Starting lineups
Lincoln Park (4-3-3)
GK- Daniel Fine
D- Jakub Korybski
D- Eduardo Garcia
D- Aidan McDermott
D- Eddie Sitar
M- Joshwa Perez
M- Andi Kallaba
M- Stalin Compreverde
F- Justin Davreux
F- Nico MacFarlane
F- Brandon Banchs
Taft (4-5-1)
GK- Pablo Rueda
D- Byron Abayay
D- Sergio Diaz
D- Michael Ruiz
D- Dominik Cieply
M- Jonathan Salgado
M- Amer Al Jundi
M- Christopher Reynoso
M- Jakub Lapinski
M- Brandon Tovar
F- Benjamin Granados
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match: Michael Ruiz, sr., D, Taft
Christopher Reynoso, so. F, Taft
Officials: Zdzislaw Kujawa, Andrzej Sawicki
Scoring summary
First half
None
Second half
Taft: Reynoso (Nasser). 42'
Taft: Nassar (FK), 59'
Host Eagles post 2-0 home victory for 1st Premier North points
By Mike Garofola
CHICAGO -- One year after claiming a Chicago Public League First Division crown, Taft manager Jeff Lucco and his staff have been figuring on how to replace 13 players and rebuild the entire Eagles backline, which lost all four starters of a sturdy unit which recorded six clean-sheets and conceded just nine goals in seven 2017 league contests.
It hasn't been easy.
Lucco's young side entered Wednesday's game with Lincoln Park with a less than sparkling 1-5-0 overall record after watching 19 go into the back of their net.
Besides trying to turn things around, Lucco also had to keep his fingers crossed that Mother Nature would not wash away an opportunity to build some momentum going forward.
The Eagles (2-5-0, 1-1-0) overcame two heavy rain storms, sloppy field conditions, and most of all the visiting Lions from Lincoln Park to end a five-game losing streak with a well-deserved 2-0 Chicago Public League Premier Division North victory at its home park on the Northwest Side.
"Boy, did we need this one," said a relieved Lucco.
His players Michael Ruiz and Christopher Reynoso, each heroes on both sides of the ball, agreed with their coach. The pair shared Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors.
"It's all about playing together and with confidence (which) is something we did today -- to really give all of us a real boost," said Ruiz.
"Our mindset coming into today was that this was our game to win, and we weren't going to let the field conditions or weather stop us at all," added Reynoso, who struck the eventual game-winner two minutes into the second period.
"Today was the first start of the year for Michael, who despite being a first-year varsity player is one of our toughest players, both in the tackle, and in the way he defends and communicates along the back," said Lucco of his senior. "He really stood out for us all afternoon."
Lucco continued his praise when the conversation turned towards Reynoso.
"(He) was a starter on our JV team last year, but he's come in as a sophomore and shown to be a dependable player already for us up-top," he said. "(He's) one, in time, we hope will become a big-time scorer for us."
Lucco suggested in the lead-up to this 4:30 contest that his home park would not be able to sustain more rain prior to the opening whistle. But when a steady rain greeted both sides when play began, it was clear the long, overgrown grass acted more as a sponge, which allowed some semblance of soccer.
"The conditions were terrible, but we tried to play soccer," Ruiz said. "It just came down to who wanted it more, and I really think it was us."
Both Jakub Lapinski and Byron Abayay tested Lincoln Park goalkeeper Daniel Fine with low, dipping strikes in the early minutes. The hope was the wet turf might cause the Lions keeper to struggle in his attempt to save.
The senior did not, but his mates did not fare as well with an Eagles attack that used these two early chances to provide inspiration.
Abaya, Lapinski, and Motea Nassar worked some magic to free Brendon Tovar to carry to the endline, and if not a strong tackle and clearing effort by the Lions defense, Tovar's serve might have been collected by one of his teammates in-close.
The home side kept their guests under pressure with Lapinski striking wide. The next trip into the Lions area proved more dangerous, while giving the umbrella-encumbered Eagles faithful something to cheer about
After a ball was played from the left side to the back post, a sensational bicycle flick by Jonathan Salgado gave Tovar a chance from eight yards, but Fine saved with style.
Lucco used a bevy of players in the match. When Benjamin Granados was brought on, the senior nearly made his imprint on the game.
Granados broke free into the area and past Fine, but an ever-alert Aidan McDermott came to the rescue with retrieving mission that parried the attempt out of the area to save a sure goal.
Whilte the visitors were unable to hold onto the ball long enough to get themselves involved in the game, the home side continued to keep the offensive pressure on high.
"Take nothing away from Taft, but I really did not feel as if we put in a great effort out there," began Lions manager Geoffrey Ruttenberg.
"We lacked discipline and stayed away from our tactical approach. We were sloppy and had trouble stringing consecutive passess together."
Taft did not suffer from a similar problem.
Despite the ankle high grass, and slippery spots on the Eagles home park, Lucco's men still found a way to get the ball to Salgado on the outside, as well as Kaiden Brinson, Tovar and others, albeit not with much flair or fashion in these less than ideal conditions.
Ruiz provided a wonderful ball over the top to Brinson, who shed a pair of defenders before firing his attempt over the bar at 23 minutes.
Lincoln Park (2-6-0, 0-2-0) tried the same approach -- playing direct with MacFarlane connecting with Justin Davreux. He appeared to have a step on the defense until Sergio Diaz and Ruiz squeezed the Lions front-runner to end the scoring threat.
While Ruttenberg lamented on the play of his lads on this day, the Lions were still able to stay in the game. That came in large part, thanks to the work rate of their two big men who patrolled the center of the park: Nico MacFarlane and Andi Kallaba.
The two Lincoln Park captains were strong in the tackle, played rugged soccer on both sides of the ball and did their best to give their mates a sense of urgency all throughout the afternoon.
"To me, both of them are all-state players," said Ruttenberg.
"They lead by example as our captains and are dominate forces in the middle of the field."
If not for a fearless challenge off his line by Eagles keeper Pablo Rueda, MacFarlane would have a clear road in just before the intermission.
Just after the break, Rueda came to the rescue again to punch away a well-aimed, long-range free kick from McDermott to keep things goal less.
However, the home side finally earned its breakthrough when Reynoso somehow was able to finish past Fine despite having a Lions defender draped all over him.
"(Motea) gave me a great ball, and I didn't let the keeper or defender bother me when I got into the box," said a humble Reynoso, who made his effort sound much easier than it looked.
"It was a big goal at a moment when we needed something like that to pick us up and get us going," Lucco said.
Lincoln Park pushed forward for the equalizer. But moments before another bout of heavy rain came through the park, Rueda was at it again. He went full extension while on the wet ground to turn away Brandon Banchs attempt.
With their confidence brewing, then building, the Lions began to build their effort into the home side's end.
Taft's Salgado intercepted trouble initiated by MacFarlane and Compreverde at 53 minutes, before a nicely played free kick serve from McDermott found MacFarlane at the back post to force a Rueda save.
Taft would respond well to its latest challenge and found an insurance goal. It came from Nassar, whose looping 40-yard free kick eluded the Lincoln Park keeper.
Both sides created a handful of chances after the Nassar goal at 59 minutes, most of the half-chance variety, except for another attempt from Banchs, which he was allowed to tee-up before having his left-footed strike block on the way in by Jose Aguilera.
Tovar went close, as did Nassar in the closing minutes, before the league fixture came to an end.
"This was certainly a winnable game, but as I said, our effort and discipline were not at the level they need to be, which is something we've struggled with all year," said Ruttenberg.
"We've been wasting the talent we have this season. And until we turn that around, the results will continue to be the same."
Lucco, on the other hand, was feeling much better.
"It wasn't always pretty because of the weather and our field, but you still saw us do some very good things in our attack.
"I am very anxious to see us play on a bigger field, and one that has turf this Saturday at Prospect.
"I feel we have the players who will be able to use their speed and quickness, plus technical skill on the turf. So it should be a good test for us when we go out there."
Starting lineups
Lincoln Park (4-3-3)
GK- Daniel Fine
D- Jakub Korybski
D- Eduardo Garcia
D- Aidan McDermott
D- Eddie Sitar
M- Joshwa Perez
M- Andi Kallaba
M- Stalin Compreverde
F- Justin Davreux
F- Nico MacFarlane
F- Brandon Banchs
Taft (4-5-1)
GK- Pablo Rueda
D- Byron Abayay
D- Sergio Diaz
D- Michael Ruiz
D- Dominik Cieply
M- Jonathan Salgado
M- Amer Al Jundi
M- Christopher Reynoso
M- Jakub Lapinski
M- Brandon Tovar
F- Benjamin Granados
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match: Michael Ruiz, sr., D, Taft
Christopher Reynoso, so. F, Taft
Officials: Zdzislaw Kujawa, Andrzej Sawicki
Scoring summary
First half
None
Second half
Taft: Reynoso (Nasser). 42'
Taft: Nassar (FK), 59'