Loyola, St. Ignatius meet in big CCL match
By Mike Garofola
Both Loyola and St. Ignatius still dream of lifting the silverware in the Chicago Catholic League Blue Division despite recent losses in league play that have them chasing undefeated Mt. Carmel.
Tonight at 6 p.m. at St. Ignatius, one of these two clubs may see its chances dashed should they suffer a defeat, so there's no denying that each side will look to come out on its front foot in search of a victory.
The time to shine is now.
Loyola has been a successful work in progress this campaign.
"The team has continued to get better and better throughout the season, and as (you) saw against Taft early on (in a 2-0 defeat Aug. 29), we're an incredibly young team, and one, which in that game, learned some valuable lessons," began Loyola manager Baer Fisher.
"What they learned perhaps the most from that poor showing was to take the bull by the horns. And now we don't focus on the eventual outcome but instead the process of becoming better each day."
This formula appears to have been working for the Ramblers who enter tonight at 9-4-0 after starting the season with a 7-1-0 record. They stand at 3-2-0 in Blue Division.
"Yes, Taft was a bit of a hiccup for us. We were all over the place in that game, our communication wasn't where in needed to be. But since then, we've moved in the direction of a team, both on and off the field," says Jonas Madison, the Ramblers senior backline star, who believes the better brand of soccer he and his mates have produced has had a lot to do what's been done off the field.
"The team building outside of practices, from team events, to team dinners, have really helped the chemistry form along our backline, as well as our midfielders. Communication is so much better (now) and the flow of the game is more organic as a result."
The Ramblers 4-4-2 formation looks to be here to stay for Fisher and his staff.
"We've moved a few players around, but we haven't made any huge changes at the same time," says Fisher.
"Nick Lew has been giving us more pop up-top, while freshmen Oscar Blazer has been deputized as a left back for us while Luke Phillips was nursing an injury."
"Almost everyone has played in each game since the Taft game, so the turnaround has been truly a team effort."
The Ramblers outscored their opponents 19-2 during a five-game win streak that followed the Taft loss. The confidence remains despite losses to fifth-ranked New Trier and a damagine conference defeat to St. Laurence.
"The St. Laurence 1-0 loss in overtime was our best overall performance of the season thus far," said Madison, who is deployed alongside teammate Daniel Montaguila as the Ramblers center-back duo.
"They were a very good team, but we rose to the level of play needed to compete for 80 minutes, and then some. We were unlucky with our finishing, but it wasn't for a lack of effort or opportunities."
Madison, who hopes to make the Washington, DC, area his new address next fall to study international policy or economics at Georgetown of George Washington University, said his mates fought hard for every 50-50 ball, while having control of play for long stretches against St. Laurence.
He added that junior Collin Lieder has been dynamic for the Ramblers.
"Collin has fantastic on and off the ball; his distribution has also been terrific, he can rip shots. And the fact that he has so many of our goals this year has really set him apart.
"Collin is a real threat for us, as is Andrew Hoepner, who has become a powerhouse in the middle because of his distribution and stingy defensive play, that has given every opponent a hard time."
Leider currently leads the club with five goals and seven assists, while Ford Peterson has pitched in with a team-high six goals, plus one helper.
Over at defending league champion St. Ignatius, it's been another impressive season thus far for manager Ryan Kearns' men who enter this contest 8-2-1 in their last 11 games.
"Our 2-1 loss to (then fourth-ranked) Morton in our PepsiCo Showdown opener two days after we drew with Young (1-1) has been our most complete effort of the year when you consider our effort, intensity, composure and style of play were all first rate," said Kearns.
"I was very pleased with the team following that game, and our 1-0 win over Lane in game no. 3 of the Pepsi was terrific, as well as our next game of the tournament when we came back to beat Plainfield North 5-3 in kicks (after a 1-1 tie).
"That particular game was a wonderful example of grit and a refusal to lose."
The Wolves (10-3-2, 2-1-0) also lost a heartbreaker to St. Laurence (2-1 Sept. 21), before bouncing back to defeat host Fenwick 1-0 Tuesday night in Blue Division play.
Junior Kevin Bevans is the top goal scorer on the club with seven followed by sophomore Daniel Fernandez with five.
"Daniel has stepped up to be the centerpiece in the middle of the park, but he's also shown he can play the 6, 8 or 10, and he has been playing significant minutes since week no. 3 of the season," Kearns said.
The coach was quick to add the name of Misha Simon to his success stories list -- the senior has become the focal point of success for the Wolves backline unit.
"Misha is both a defensive and offensive-minded back and has become a very dangerous player in our attack," says Kearns.
The Wolves will complete their week this Saturday when it welcomes Oak Park and River Forest at noon. Tuesday St. Ignatius hosts Mt. Carmel in a crucial leage contest. Loyola will take the weekend off before taking on league rival Fenwick next Tuesday.
By Mike Garofola
Both Loyola and St. Ignatius still dream of lifting the silverware in the Chicago Catholic League Blue Division despite recent losses in league play that have them chasing undefeated Mt. Carmel.
Tonight at 6 p.m. at St. Ignatius, one of these two clubs may see its chances dashed should they suffer a defeat, so there's no denying that each side will look to come out on its front foot in search of a victory.
The time to shine is now.
Loyola has been a successful work in progress this campaign.
"The team has continued to get better and better throughout the season, and as (you) saw against Taft early on (in a 2-0 defeat Aug. 29), we're an incredibly young team, and one, which in that game, learned some valuable lessons," began Loyola manager Baer Fisher.
"What they learned perhaps the most from that poor showing was to take the bull by the horns. And now we don't focus on the eventual outcome but instead the process of becoming better each day."
This formula appears to have been working for the Ramblers who enter tonight at 9-4-0 after starting the season with a 7-1-0 record. They stand at 3-2-0 in Blue Division.
"Yes, Taft was a bit of a hiccup for us. We were all over the place in that game, our communication wasn't where in needed to be. But since then, we've moved in the direction of a team, both on and off the field," says Jonas Madison, the Ramblers senior backline star, who believes the better brand of soccer he and his mates have produced has had a lot to do what's been done off the field.
"The team building outside of practices, from team events, to team dinners, have really helped the chemistry form along our backline, as well as our midfielders. Communication is so much better (now) and the flow of the game is more organic as a result."
The Ramblers 4-4-2 formation looks to be here to stay for Fisher and his staff.
"We've moved a few players around, but we haven't made any huge changes at the same time," says Fisher.
"Nick Lew has been giving us more pop up-top, while freshmen Oscar Blazer has been deputized as a left back for us while Luke Phillips was nursing an injury."
"Almost everyone has played in each game since the Taft game, so the turnaround has been truly a team effort."
The Ramblers outscored their opponents 19-2 during a five-game win streak that followed the Taft loss. The confidence remains despite losses to fifth-ranked New Trier and a damagine conference defeat to St. Laurence.
"The St. Laurence 1-0 loss in overtime was our best overall performance of the season thus far," said Madison, who is deployed alongside teammate Daniel Montaguila as the Ramblers center-back duo.
"They were a very good team, but we rose to the level of play needed to compete for 80 minutes, and then some. We were unlucky with our finishing, but it wasn't for a lack of effort or opportunities."
Madison, who hopes to make the Washington, DC, area his new address next fall to study international policy or economics at Georgetown of George Washington University, said his mates fought hard for every 50-50 ball, while having control of play for long stretches against St. Laurence.
He added that junior Collin Lieder has been dynamic for the Ramblers.
"Collin has fantastic on and off the ball; his distribution has also been terrific, he can rip shots. And the fact that he has so many of our goals this year has really set him apart.
"Collin is a real threat for us, as is Andrew Hoepner, who has become a powerhouse in the middle because of his distribution and stingy defensive play, that has given every opponent a hard time."
Leider currently leads the club with five goals and seven assists, while Ford Peterson has pitched in with a team-high six goals, plus one helper.
Over at defending league champion St. Ignatius, it's been another impressive season thus far for manager Ryan Kearns' men who enter this contest 8-2-1 in their last 11 games.
"Our 2-1 loss to (then fourth-ranked) Morton in our PepsiCo Showdown opener two days after we drew with Young (1-1) has been our most complete effort of the year when you consider our effort, intensity, composure and style of play were all first rate," said Kearns.
"I was very pleased with the team following that game, and our 1-0 win over Lane in game no. 3 of the Pepsi was terrific, as well as our next game of the tournament when we came back to beat Plainfield North 5-3 in kicks (after a 1-1 tie).
"That particular game was a wonderful example of grit and a refusal to lose."
The Wolves (10-3-2, 2-1-0) also lost a heartbreaker to St. Laurence (2-1 Sept. 21), before bouncing back to defeat host Fenwick 1-0 Tuesday night in Blue Division play.
Junior Kevin Bevans is the top goal scorer on the club with seven followed by sophomore Daniel Fernandez with five.
"Daniel has stepped up to be the centerpiece in the middle of the park, but he's also shown he can play the 6, 8 or 10, and he has been playing significant minutes since week no. 3 of the season," Kearns said.
The coach was quick to add the name of Misha Simon to his success stories list -- the senior has become the focal point of success for the Wolves backline unit.
"Misha is both a defensive and offensive-minded back and has become a very dangerous player in our attack," says Kearns.
The Wolves will complete their week this Saturday when it welcomes Oak Park and River Forest at noon. Tuesday St. Ignatius hosts Mt. Carmel in a crucial leage contest. Loyola will take the weekend off before taking on league rival Fenwick next Tuesday.