Sullivan places Loyola above Marmion
Junior MF's serve leads Ramblers to 1-0 CCL Blue win
By Patrick Z. McGavin
GLENVIEW — Rare is the game where each team comes away satisfied by their play.
Often the game is more stark and unequivocal, of success or disappointment, with little margin in between.
Other times the long view comes into play.
“I thought we played fantastic,” Marmion coach Jimmy Romano said. “I told the guys I thought this was the best we played all season possession-wise, moving the ball around, connecting passes and fewer turnovers.”
He was the losing coach.
In a sharply played Chicago Catholic League Blue Division game, midfielder Nick Roscoe smashed home a header in the 38th minute that held up in the no. 15 Ramblers’ 1-0 victory at Munz Campus on Thursday.
The architect of the game-winner was midfielder Michael Sullivan. He is fast and adept with the ball and blessed with excellent vision and a feel for the game. His creativity and ability to serve the ball proved invaluable throughout the match.
He delivered a brilliant serve on the deep left flank just inside the box. Mario Jrvojevic also played a crucial role. His drive down the edge yielded the foul that set up the service.
“Mario did a really great job of winning a foul in a crucial area,” Sullivan said. “Once we took advantage of the set piece, we decided to whip it in. Nick Roscoe is known for his aerial abilities.”
Sullivan said the two did not make eye contact. He just had a sense that was the optimal play given the situation.
“It was a more a scenario I know he likes to hang in there,” Sullivan said. “I know he likes to get in there, and sure enough he did.”
For his accomplishments, Michael Sullivan earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor.
The start of conference play was deeply meaningful. The Catholic Blue has emerged as a top-notch soccer league, its depth and quality at the top is especially impressive.
Last year St. Ignatius finished third in Class AA. Marmion reached a Class AA supersectional. Mount Carmel advanced to a Class 3A supersectional.
Placing three teams in the Sweet 16 in Class AA and Class 3A is a serious accomplishment. Loyola beat all three of those programs last year to capture the conference title.
“We are still finding our identity and coming together as a group,” Loyola coach Baer Fisher said. “Any time you get a win against a strong Catholic League opponent, we will take it. We are happy with the result.
“We still have a ways to go to keep getting better and get to where we want to get, but this was a good start to the CCL schedule.”
Loyola (7-2-1, 1-0-0) has lost only narrow one-goal games against no. 2 Libertyville and no. 8 New Trier at the Northshore College Showcase.
Last weekend, the Ramblers traveled to the East Coast to play against quality academy programs in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Loyola defeated Deerfield Academy (Mass.) and Suffield Academy (Conn.) by identical 2-0 margins.
The trip proved a wonderful example of self-discovery.
“We have been playing lots of very challenging teams and schools that have been known to be up in the top 10,” Sullivan said.
“We had to dig out a lot of results. We really focused on grinding out all of these games, trying to get results and also preparing us for the main part of the season, the Catholic League Blue.”
Marmion (5-4-2, 0-2-0) is also a team of quality pieces figuring out the the most fluent assembly. Defense has been the anchor.
Keeper Jason Baker has been exceptional. He did not permit a goal in registering three saves as the Cadets went 3-0 last week. He posted shutouts in seven of the first nine games.
“He is unbelievable,” Romano said. “He keeps us in the game, and he makes unbelievable saves.”
Baker had eight saves, including a spectacular diving stop of a free kick by Hrvojevic that preceded the Roscoe goal. His quickness and anticipation skills around the goal are superb.
He allowed Marmion to stay within the one-goal differential with a remarkable series of blocks and deflections on point-blank volleys by the Ramblers in the 64th minute.
The Cadets are still finding themselves offensively, an inevitable consequence following the graduation of Chicagoland Soccer All-Stater James Serrano, who had 32 goals last year.
“It’s just getting these guys on the same page,” Romano said. “We are still finding our rhythm, trying to replace some guys who graduated, figuring out which system works best for us and [deciding] the guys who are working here best and how we are going to jell the best.
“”Getting that cohesiveness among the guys and trying to get them to play one style, which always takes about halfway through the season to finally figures things out.”
Senior midfielder C.J. Sowers created some exceptionally dangerous opportunities off his long and deep free kicks. Twice, he played balls from the midfield into the box that forced the Ramblers to scramble.
Tyler Laurich, a senior midfielder and heady veteran, has also been coping with an illness that has sapped his strength and caused him to miss a series of games. Laurich showed admirable toughness and dexterity.
His athletic move to get to a ball in the 77th minute resulted in a chance that just skimmed over the top of the bar.
“We definitely had some guys who have stepped up,” Sowers said. “I thought this was a good game for us. We played well. There was good soccer. Obviously we’d like to come out with a result.
“You win some, you lose some.”
The nature of the game is one of constant change, even with programs like Marmion that return a solid group of players. Conforming the game to expectations is never easy.
“It’s been a weird adjustment, to be honest,” Sowers said. “Obviously we all really liked the seniors last year, and it was hard to move on without them. We are really coming together as a team. You can tell the guys are bonding a lot better than we did at the start of the season.
I really feel like this stretch of games we have upcoming is just how we want to be playing. I am pretty excited.
“I think the goals are going to start coming. The floodgates are going to pour in. We have scored a decent amount of goals, not as many as we like. I definitely feel like the soccer is getting there, and so too will the goals.”
Marmion has reasons to be excited. The team is getting healthy. The mix of established players like Sowers and Laurich and emerging talents like Joseph Lagman and sophomore midfielder Adrian Ruiz suggests a potent combination.
Marmion just lacks the necessary timing.
“The important thing is we are playing well,” Romano said. “The important thing is that we had a lot of strong parts from the game. Sometimes you win, and you don’t play that well. Sometimes you play well and you lose.
“There are a lot of positives we can take from this.”
Chemistry is the most valuable commodity. Sullivan sees a team, especially the gifted junior class marked by Oscar Blazer, Tommy Zipprich and Hrvojevic, bursting with talent and possibilities.
“Our scoring has gone to several kids on the team,” Sullivan said. “I feel like we have been playing more as a team. We have lots of very gifted, talented players who could change the game at any moment.”
Starting lineups
Marmion
GK: Jason Baker
D: Joseph Lagman
D: Drew Noecker
D: Danny Brummel
D: Cristian Cardenas
MF: Tyler Laurich
MF: Nathan Sowers
MF: C.J. Sowers
MF: Adrian Ruiz
F: James Lawinger
F: Ian Swindle
Loyola
GK: Alex Ainsworth
D: Mario Hrvojevic
D: Niko Douvalakis
D: John Wilson
D: Ryan Leider
MF: Oscar Blazer
MF: Michael Sullivan
MF: Nick Roscoe
MF: Jack Latterman
MF: Andrew Hoepfner
F: Tommy Zipprich
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Michael Sullivan, jr., MF, Loyola
Scoring summary
First half
Loyola—Nick Roscoe (Michael Sullivan), 38th minute
Second half
No scoring
Junior MF's serve leads Ramblers to 1-0 CCL Blue win
By Patrick Z. McGavin
GLENVIEW — Rare is the game where each team comes away satisfied by their play.
Often the game is more stark and unequivocal, of success or disappointment, with little margin in between.
Other times the long view comes into play.
“I thought we played fantastic,” Marmion coach Jimmy Romano said. “I told the guys I thought this was the best we played all season possession-wise, moving the ball around, connecting passes and fewer turnovers.”
He was the losing coach.
In a sharply played Chicago Catholic League Blue Division game, midfielder Nick Roscoe smashed home a header in the 38th minute that held up in the no. 15 Ramblers’ 1-0 victory at Munz Campus on Thursday.
The architect of the game-winner was midfielder Michael Sullivan. He is fast and adept with the ball and blessed with excellent vision and a feel for the game. His creativity and ability to serve the ball proved invaluable throughout the match.
He delivered a brilliant serve on the deep left flank just inside the box. Mario Jrvojevic also played a crucial role. His drive down the edge yielded the foul that set up the service.
“Mario did a really great job of winning a foul in a crucial area,” Sullivan said. “Once we took advantage of the set piece, we decided to whip it in. Nick Roscoe is known for his aerial abilities.”
Sullivan said the two did not make eye contact. He just had a sense that was the optimal play given the situation.
“It was a more a scenario I know he likes to hang in there,” Sullivan said. “I know he likes to get in there, and sure enough he did.”
For his accomplishments, Michael Sullivan earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor.
The start of conference play was deeply meaningful. The Catholic Blue has emerged as a top-notch soccer league, its depth and quality at the top is especially impressive.
Last year St. Ignatius finished third in Class AA. Marmion reached a Class AA supersectional. Mount Carmel advanced to a Class 3A supersectional.
Placing three teams in the Sweet 16 in Class AA and Class 3A is a serious accomplishment. Loyola beat all three of those programs last year to capture the conference title.
“We are still finding our identity and coming together as a group,” Loyola coach Baer Fisher said. “Any time you get a win against a strong Catholic League opponent, we will take it. We are happy with the result.
“We still have a ways to go to keep getting better and get to where we want to get, but this was a good start to the CCL schedule.”
Loyola (7-2-1, 1-0-0) has lost only narrow one-goal games against no. 2 Libertyville and no. 8 New Trier at the Northshore College Showcase.
Last weekend, the Ramblers traveled to the East Coast to play against quality academy programs in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Loyola defeated Deerfield Academy (Mass.) and Suffield Academy (Conn.) by identical 2-0 margins.
The trip proved a wonderful example of self-discovery.
“We have been playing lots of very challenging teams and schools that have been known to be up in the top 10,” Sullivan said.
“We had to dig out a lot of results. We really focused on grinding out all of these games, trying to get results and also preparing us for the main part of the season, the Catholic League Blue.”
Marmion (5-4-2, 0-2-0) is also a team of quality pieces figuring out the the most fluent assembly. Defense has been the anchor.
Keeper Jason Baker has been exceptional. He did not permit a goal in registering three saves as the Cadets went 3-0 last week. He posted shutouts in seven of the first nine games.
“He is unbelievable,” Romano said. “He keeps us in the game, and he makes unbelievable saves.”
Baker had eight saves, including a spectacular diving stop of a free kick by Hrvojevic that preceded the Roscoe goal. His quickness and anticipation skills around the goal are superb.
He allowed Marmion to stay within the one-goal differential with a remarkable series of blocks and deflections on point-blank volleys by the Ramblers in the 64th minute.
The Cadets are still finding themselves offensively, an inevitable consequence following the graduation of Chicagoland Soccer All-Stater James Serrano, who had 32 goals last year.
“It’s just getting these guys on the same page,” Romano said. “We are still finding our rhythm, trying to replace some guys who graduated, figuring out which system works best for us and [deciding] the guys who are working here best and how we are going to jell the best.
“”Getting that cohesiveness among the guys and trying to get them to play one style, which always takes about halfway through the season to finally figures things out.”
Senior midfielder C.J. Sowers created some exceptionally dangerous opportunities off his long and deep free kicks. Twice, he played balls from the midfield into the box that forced the Ramblers to scramble.
Tyler Laurich, a senior midfielder and heady veteran, has also been coping with an illness that has sapped his strength and caused him to miss a series of games. Laurich showed admirable toughness and dexterity.
His athletic move to get to a ball in the 77th minute resulted in a chance that just skimmed over the top of the bar.
“We definitely had some guys who have stepped up,” Sowers said. “I thought this was a good game for us. We played well. There was good soccer. Obviously we’d like to come out with a result.
“You win some, you lose some.”
The nature of the game is one of constant change, even with programs like Marmion that return a solid group of players. Conforming the game to expectations is never easy.
“It’s been a weird adjustment, to be honest,” Sowers said. “Obviously we all really liked the seniors last year, and it was hard to move on without them. We are really coming together as a team. You can tell the guys are bonding a lot better than we did at the start of the season.
I really feel like this stretch of games we have upcoming is just how we want to be playing. I am pretty excited.
“I think the goals are going to start coming. The floodgates are going to pour in. We have scored a decent amount of goals, not as many as we like. I definitely feel like the soccer is getting there, and so too will the goals.”
Marmion has reasons to be excited. The team is getting healthy. The mix of established players like Sowers and Laurich and emerging talents like Joseph Lagman and sophomore midfielder Adrian Ruiz suggests a potent combination.
Marmion just lacks the necessary timing.
“The important thing is we are playing well,” Romano said. “The important thing is that we had a lot of strong parts from the game. Sometimes you win, and you don’t play that well. Sometimes you play well and you lose.
“There are a lot of positives we can take from this.”
Chemistry is the most valuable commodity. Sullivan sees a team, especially the gifted junior class marked by Oscar Blazer, Tommy Zipprich and Hrvojevic, bursting with talent and possibilities.
“Our scoring has gone to several kids on the team,” Sullivan said. “I feel like we have been playing more as a team. We have lots of very gifted, talented players who could change the game at any moment.”
Starting lineups
Marmion
GK: Jason Baker
D: Joseph Lagman
D: Drew Noecker
D: Danny Brummel
D: Cristian Cardenas
MF: Tyler Laurich
MF: Nathan Sowers
MF: C.J. Sowers
MF: Adrian Ruiz
F: James Lawinger
F: Ian Swindle
Loyola
GK: Alex Ainsworth
D: Mario Hrvojevic
D: Niko Douvalakis
D: John Wilson
D: Ryan Leider
MF: Oscar Blazer
MF: Michael Sullivan
MF: Nick Roscoe
MF: Jack Latterman
MF: Andrew Hoepfner
F: Tommy Zipprich
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Michael Sullivan, jr., MF, Loyola
Scoring summary
First half
Loyola—Nick Roscoe (Michael Sullivan), 38th minute
Second half
No scoring