Torres gets Messi, leads St. Patrick win
Hat-trick propels St. Patrick over Marist 5-3 in end-to-end battle
By Patrick Z. McGavin
RIVER GROVE -- If imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery, Joshua Torres learned to appropriate his signature move from the master.
The slashing and whip-quick St. Patrick forward excels at driving the ball hard to his right side and then at the opportune moment switching his hips lightning fast and hammering a ball from his left.
It is an incredibly effective and hard to stop move.
“I learned from the best,” Torres said. “I watch a lot of Lionel Messi games and YouTube videos. I admire him, and that is where I learned the move. Sometimes it goes good, and sometimes it goes bad.
“Mostly all the time it goes well.”
Marist keeper John Kennedy made a spectacular diving stop the first time Torres trotted out the move. With the game in the balance, Torres took his game to another level.
Torres posted his fifth hat-trick of the year and scored the game-winner in the 72nd minute off a beautiful set piece as the Shamrocks, ranked 17th in the Chciagoland Soccer Top 25, edged Marist 5-3 in a terrific East Suburban Catholic Conference on Monday night at Triton College.
Torres scored twice in the second half to help turn the tide for the Shamrocks (16-3-0, 5-0-0). The win sets up a conference clash of unbeaten programs when St. Patrick visits Saint Viator on Wednesday.
Torres’s 53rd-minute goal, his second of the game, played off his elegant Messi-influenced move. He pushed deep into the Redhawks’ interior from his right side that set up a counter, left-footed blast from about 12 yards.
His game-winner, was inspired, flamboyant and efficient at the same time and also broke a 3-3 deadlock.
Originating off a throw-in from the right flank, Jonathan Rodriguez served a long throw toward the box that midfielder Sebastian Modrzejewski controlled on the inside edge. He slotted a cross that Torres, with his back to the goal, performed a charismatic back tap in the 72nd minute.
Joshua Torres earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match prize for his superb play.
Reserve midfielder Malcolm McGee scored in the 77th minute for the final margin.
The match's furious play and wild back-and-forth action felt more akin to a basketball game. The riveting compeition featured three ties and two lead changes. The teams combined for four goals during one dramatic eight-minute stretch in the first half.
The most remarkable aspect was the high-level energy and play given both St. Patrick and Marist played ast weekend at the River Region Rumble in Paducah, Ky.and performed Monday after one-day of travel and rest.
St. Patrick defeated St. Louis-power Westminster Christian, 6-5 on penalty kicks, to capture the tournament championship.
Marist finished third.
“They hit some great shots, and so did we,” Marist coach Sean Maxwell said. “There were some mistakes on defense. With that said, the energy was up after the Kentucky trip just because it was such a great experience for both of us.
“I was not surprised with the high level of energy and strong play. It’s a first chance for us to go out of state, so we appreciated the opportunity. The host school was great and we got to know some of these [St. Patrick] kids. We stayed in the same hotel. So it makes this game a little bit more fun since we were able to build the camaraderie down there.”
St. Patrick's Rodriguez showed again why he is one of the most versatile juniors in the state. He scored the first goal by hammering a ball from the left edge from 28 yards in the 13th minute. His collaboration with Modrzejewski and Torres proved to be the game-changer.
He also dropped back and made a goal-saving clearance when he knocked away a shot by Marist forward Jimmy Valek in the 70th minute.
“We had a great opportunity up-top to get the lead that might have changed the game,” Maxwell said. “We did wear down in the last 10 minutes, but I felt we were in it up until that last goal. We have to finish our chances and limit our mistakes.
“We had a couple of letdowns in the first half. You have to give them credit. You can say you made a mistake, but a team like this forces you into making mistakes, and they punish you.”
In the early going Angel Adame the pushed ball wide to Rodriguez. That created enough open space for him to unleash his howitzer shot from the deep edge that originated the scoring burst.
“Our coach tells us all of us to shoot from far range, and that is exactly what I did,” Rodriguez said. “We were all struggling at first. I think it was because we all went to Kentucky and played three really hard games.
“The Kentucky trip was very competitive, and it prepared us for Marist. We kept motivating each other to keep going. Both sides did very well. I just think in the second half we did a little better.”
Marist (10-5-1, 4-2-1) answered the initial Shamrocks’ play with some precise and effective pressure of its own. Standout forwards Patrick Clancy and Valek scored two minutes apart for the Redhawks’ brief 2-1 edge.
“I have a lot of respect for Sean [Maxwell],” St. Patrick coach Kyle McClure said. “He’s a great coach. I knew he’d have his guys ready. We both knew we were in the same situation. We both played three games over the weekend. I think mentally we made some mistakes we don’t usually make, maybe because we were a little fatigued.
“When we get tired we make more mental mistakes than physical errors.”
The Marist lead proved temporary. Just moments later, forward Herbert Carrera, who finished with two assists, played a ball over the top. Torres duped his defender by sliding past him and got just enough of his foot on the ball to direct it inside the near post for the 2-2 halftime score.
As well as the Shamrocks played, Marist was their equal for the entirety of the match. No lead was ever safe or secure. Marist midfielder Aidan Gleeson scored off a terrific free kick from Brian Garza in the 60th minute for the game’s final tie at 3-apiece.
“I was pleased with our ball movement and some of our counter attacks,” Maxwell said. “I was pleased with our work in the midfield. I’d say 80 percent of the game we were actually staying with those runners. They run at you, but I felt nearly the entire game we kept getting back.”
St. Patrick made a couple more plays in the end.
“[Rodriguez] has a great arm, and he is always a threat to get the ball into the box,” Modrzejewski said of the game-winning sequence. “I had the ball, and my last thought was we had to put this is the net.”
Torres did the rest.
“I knew we were tied and we had to win this game, and I just needed to put all of my effort and score,” Torres said.
Starting lineups
Marist
GK: John Kennedy
D: Quinn Kennedy
D: Vince Messineo
D: Jacob Robinson
MF: Alexis Arreola
MF: Liam Bennett
MF: Brian Garza
MF: Brendan Raftery
MF: Joey Shannon
F: Patrick Clancy
F: Jimmy Valek
St. Patrick
GK: Jorge Cebrero
D: Adam Pryztula
D: Juan Leon
D: Collin Kroeger
D: Angel Adame
M: Jonathan Rodriguez
M: Sebastian Modrzejewski
M: Aaron Moreno-Lopez
M: Ivan Guerrero
F: Joshua Torres
F: Herbert Carrera
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Joshua Torres, soph., F, St. Patrick
Scoring summary
First half
St. Patrick—Jonathan Rodriguez (Angel Adame), 13th minute
Marist—Patrick Clancy (Jimmy Valek), 18th minute
Marist—Valek (unassisted), 20th minute
St. Patrick—Joshua Torres (Herbert Carrera), 21st minute
Second half
St. Patrick—Torres (Aaron Moreno-Lopez), 53rd minute
Marist—Aidan Gleeson (Brian Garza), 60th minute
St. Patrick—Torres (Rodriguez and Sebastian Modrzejewski), 72nd minute
St. Patrick—Malcolm McGee (Carrera), 77th minute
Hat-trick propels St. Patrick over Marist 5-3 in end-to-end battle
By Patrick Z. McGavin
RIVER GROVE -- If imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery, Joshua Torres learned to appropriate his signature move from the master.
The slashing and whip-quick St. Patrick forward excels at driving the ball hard to his right side and then at the opportune moment switching his hips lightning fast and hammering a ball from his left.
It is an incredibly effective and hard to stop move.
“I learned from the best,” Torres said. “I watch a lot of Lionel Messi games and YouTube videos. I admire him, and that is where I learned the move. Sometimes it goes good, and sometimes it goes bad.
“Mostly all the time it goes well.”
Marist keeper John Kennedy made a spectacular diving stop the first time Torres trotted out the move. With the game in the balance, Torres took his game to another level.
Torres posted his fifth hat-trick of the year and scored the game-winner in the 72nd minute off a beautiful set piece as the Shamrocks, ranked 17th in the Chciagoland Soccer Top 25, edged Marist 5-3 in a terrific East Suburban Catholic Conference on Monday night at Triton College.
Torres scored twice in the second half to help turn the tide for the Shamrocks (16-3-0, 5-0-0). The win sets up a conference clash of unbeaten programs when St. Patrick visits Saint Viator on Wednesday.
Torres’s 53rd-minute goal, his second of the game, played off his elegant Messi-influenced move. He pushed deep into the Redhawks’ interior from his right side that set up a counter, left-footed blast from about 12 yards.
His game-winner, was inspired, flamboyant and efficient at the same time and also broke a 3-3 deadlock.
Originating off a throw-in from the right flank, Jonathan Rodriguez served a long throw toward the box that midfielder Sebastian Modrzejewski controlled on the inside edge. He slotted a cross that Torres, with his back to the goal, performed a charismatic back tap in the 72nd minute.
Joshua Torres earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match prize for his superb play.
Reserve midfielder Malcolm McGee scored in the 77th minute for the final margin.
The match's furious play and wild back-and-forth action felt more akin to a basketball game. The riveting compeition featured three ties and two lead changes. The teams combined for four goals during one dramatic eight-minute stretch in the first half.
The most remarkable aspect was the high-level energy and play given both St. Patrick and Marist played ast weekend at the River Region Rumble in Paducah, Ky.and performed Monday after one-day of travel and rest.
St. Patrick defeated St. Louis-power Westminster Christian, 6-5 on penalty kicks, to capture the tournament championship.
Marist finished third.
“They hit some great shots, and so did we,” Marist coach Sean Maxwell said. “There were some mistakes on defense. With that said, the energy was up after the Kentucky trip just because it was such a great experience for both of us.
“I was not surprised with the high level of energy and strong play. It’s a first chance for us to go out of state, so we appreciated the opportunity. The host school was great and we got to know some of these [St. Patrick] kids. We stayed in the same hotel. So it makes this game a little bit more fun since we were able to build the camaraderie down there.”
St. Patrick's Rodriguez showed again why he is one of the most versatile juniors in the state. He scored the first goal by hammering a ball from the left edge from 28 yards in the 13th minute. His collaboration with Modrzejewski and Torres proved to be the game-changer.
He also dropped back and made a goal-saving clearance when he knocked away a shot by Marist forward Jimmy Valek in the 70th minute.
“We had a great opportunity up-top to get the lead that might have changed the game,” Maxwell said. “We did wear down in the last 10 minutes, but I felt we were in it up until that last goal. We have to finish our chances and limit our mistakes.
“We had a couple of letdowns in the first half. You have to give them credit. You can say you made a mistake, but a team like this forces you into making mistakes, and they punish you.”
In the early going Angel Adame the pushed ball wide to Rodriguez. That created enough open space for him to unleash his howitzer shot from the deep edge that originated the scoring burst.
“Our coach tells us all of us to shoot from far range, and that is exactly what I did,” Rodriguez said. “We were all struggling at first. I think it was because we all went to Kentucky and played three really hard games.
“The Kentucky trip was very competitive, and it prepared us for Marist. We kept motivating each other to keep going. Both sides did very well. I just think in the second half we did a little better.”
Marist (10-5-1, 4-2-1) answered the initial Shamrocks’ play with some precise and effective pressure of its own. Standout forwards Patrick Clancy and Valek scored two minutes apart for the Redhawks’ brief 2-1 edge.
“I have a lot of respect for Sean [Maxwell],” St. Patrick coach Kyle McClure said. “He’s a great coach. I knew he’d have his guys ready. We both knew we were in the same situation. We both played three games over the weekend. I think mentally we made some mistakes we don’t usually make, maybe because we were a little fatigued.
“When we get tired we make more mental mistakes than physical errors.”
The Marist lead proved temporary. Just moments later, forward Herbert Carrera, who finished with two assists, played a ball over the top. Torres duped his defender by sliding past him and got just enough of his foot on the ball to direct it inside the near post for the 2-2 halftime score.
As well as the Shamrocks played, Marist was their equal for the entirety of the match. No lead was ever safe or secure. Marist midfielder Aidan Gleeson scored off a terrific free kick from Brian Garza in the 60th minute for the game’s final tie at 3-apiece.
“I was pleased with our ball movement and some of our counter attacks,” Maxwell said. “I was pleased with our work in the midfield. I’d say 80 percent of the game we were actually staying with those runners. They run at you, but I felt nearly the entire game we kept getting back.”
St. Patrick made a couple more plays in the end.
“[Rodriguez] has a great arm, and he is always a threat to get the ball into the box,” Modrzejewski said of the game-winning sequence. “I had the ball, and my last thought was we had to put this is the net.”
Torres did the rest.
“I knew we were tied and we had to win this game, and I just needed to put all of my effort and score,” Torres said.
Starting lineups
Marist
GK: John Kennedy
D: Quinn Kennedy
D: Vince Messineo
D: Jacob Robinson
MF: Alexis Arreola
MF: Liam Bennett
MF: Brian Garza
MF: Brendan Raftery
MF: Joey Shannon
F: Patrick Clancy
F: Jimmy Valek
St. Patrick
GK: Jorge Cebrero
D: Adam Pryztula
D: Juan Leon
D: Collin Kroeger
D: Angel Adame
M: Jonathan Rodriguez
M: Sebastian Modrzejewski
M: Aaron Moreno-Lopez
M: Ivan Guerrero
F: Joshua Torres
F: Herbert Carrera
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Joshua Torres, soph., F, St. Patrick
Scoring summary
First half
St. Patrick—Jonathan Rodriguez (Angel Adame), 13th minute
Marist—Patrick Clancy (Jimmy Valek), 18th minute
Marist—Valek (unassisted), 20th minute
St. Patrick—Joshua Torres (Herbert Carrera), 21st minute
Second half
St. Patrick—Torres (Aaron Moreno-Lopez), 53rd minute
Marist—Aidan Gleeson (Brian Garza), 60th minute
St. Patrick—Torres (Rodriguez and Sebastian Modrzejewski), 72nd minute
St. Patrick—Malcolm McGee (Carrera), 77th minute