Marmion finds late groove to top Fenwick
2 penalty kicks swing tide for league-leading Cadets
By Patrick Z. McGavin
RIVER FOREST — Barry O’Neill rarely stays in just one place. His game is fluid and built on creating off the dribble.
“I think I might be a flashy winger,” he said. “I like to make a couple of spin moves, and my coach says I read the game really well.”
Maybe that is because he is not from around these parts. The junior midfielder was born in Ireland and arrived here when he was 10.
“It was a big transition,” he said.
His talent, verve and electric style with the ball are the great equalizers.
Fenwick coach Craig Blazer noticed it right away in the Friars’ game against Marmion. “He’s really good,” Blazer told his players.
“Keep the ball away from no. 7.”
O’Neill changed the calculus of the game with his ability to create pressure and attack off the dribble. It is also tough to deny somebody when they are standing at the penalty line.
O’Neill converted two penalty kicks that propelled the Cadets’ 3-1 comeback victory in Chicago Catholic League Blue Division play Tuesday afternoon.
The Cadets (7-3-2, 3-0-0) scored all three goals in the final 23 minutes, erasing the Friars’ 1-0 advantage off a beautiful set piece goal by defender Will Jancewicz in the 27th minute.
O’Neill converted his penalty kicks in the 57th and 70th minutes.
“I practice taking those shots every day,” he said.
“I always try to go to one side. I know you should be able to play the ball to either side, but I’m always more confident going to my left.”
He caught Fenwick keeper Greg Price leaning on both shots.
O’Neill earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match distinction for his pair of goals.
Marmion midfielder Ricardo Saucedo created the first penalty attempt by driving the ball down the left flank and getting fouled from behind.
Working off a counter, defender Nate Sowers set up the go-ahead score with a deep run down the left sideline that also ended with him colliding with a Fenwick defender that was ruled a foul.
“I don’t get a lot of chances to go forward,” Sowers said. “Whenever we have a chance to counter, I am always looking to get forward. I thought that was a good opportunity.
“I kept going and drew the foul.”
Fenwick (6-3-2, 1-1-0) played admirably in defeat. The Friars created multiple opportunities in the run of play.
Right at the start, forward Ryan Bero played a through ball on the left wing that midfielder Ian MacKinnon blasted off the near post.
A rebound shot by midfielder Lucas Garcia was denied by Marmion keeper Kyle Wydra.
Fenwick entered the game off an emotional and contentious Saturday game with Notre Dame, which is ranked 22nd in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
That game ended in a 2-2 tie, and two Fenwick players, including elite midfielder Jack Powers, were issued red cards and unavailable against the Cadets.
“We scored first, and then they scored twice,” Bero said. “We got two red cards, and then we managed to tie it.
“A few calls didn’t go our way.”
Fenwick took the lead against Marmion after a foul on the right flank. Bero delivered an exquisite service that evaded two Marmion defenders and tracked Janecwicz on his run for the quick-touch first half goal.
“Jancewicz is always going to find the ball,” Bero said. “I saw some space, and I just played it on the ground.”
The level of play was high, and the back-and-forth nature of the game yielded tantalizing chances at both ends. Each side had multiple shots deflect off the bar or post.
Marmion is 6-1-1 in its last eight games with its only blemish a 1-0 loss against no. 4 Naperville North.
“At halftime, our coach told us we were still in the game, even though we were down 1-0,” O’Neill said.
“I felt like we had more possession in the game. We were dangerous. We just had to do the same thing. Once I got that first goal, it just set us up for goals two and three.”
The Cadets start two sophomores and a freshman in the back. The team’s youth gives it a high ceiling; they have exponential room to grow and develop.
Junior forward Harley Karner has emerged as a go-to scorer, and midfielder Giovanni Magana also created some solid chances on goal.
The two fouls called inside the box, ultimately, were judgment calls. Both went against the Friars.
“It was a really good game,” Blazer said. “It’s a credit to Marmion and the Catholic League.
“I think the semantics of the penalty kicks were questionable. I don’t think our keeper had many saves. I think we defended really well. We created some really good opportunities.”
MacKinnon, a lanky and rangy talent who normally plays in the back, shuffled to the middle to account for the absence of the Friars’ normal attacking pieces. He played two left-footed balls off movement from the top of the box that just skidded inches from the far post.
Fenwick also generated three corner kicks in the final 16 minutes. A header smashed off the bar in one sequence.
That is how close the game was.
“We have to score these opportunities,” Blazer said. “I thought we were going to make it 2-2. We had a lot of confidence in our ability. On the day, it didn’t go our way, but it wasn’t from a lack of preparation. The guys played well.
“Marmion’s a good team.”
The Cadets put the game away in the 77th minute off another set piece score. Off a Saucedo corner from the left edge, sophomore defender Mactzil Uriel Lopez delivered a lunging header.
“Until we got the first penalty, we were all kind of nervous,” Uriel Lopez said. “Barry scored, and it settled us down. We knew we had time, and we started up with our movement pushing forward.”
Fenwick had reason for encouragement as well.
The Friars adjusted to the missing starters and played with fire and abandon.
“I thought we stepped up, and I thought we played strong with the players we had,” Bero said. “We were missing Jack Powers. We had a lot of chances we didn’t finish on.
“It was a fun game for sure. It just unfortunately didn’t end up in our favor, which is going to happen sometimes.”
Starting lineups
Marmion
GK: Kyle Wydra
D: Diego Tellez
D: Mactzil Uriel Lopez
D: Nate Sowers
D: Lucas Brummel
MF: Giovanni Magana
MF: Alvaro Alanis
MF: Ricardo Saucedo
MF: Barry O’Neill
F: Harley Karner
F: Sam Seykora
Fenwick
GK: Greg Price
D: James Zimmer
D: Evan Hickman
D: Luigi Mollo
D: Will Jancewicz
MF: Lucas Garcia
MF: Frank Felice
MF: Ian Martinello
MF: Ian MacKinnon
MF: Zach Hernandez
F: Ryan Bero
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Barry O’Neill, jr., MF, Marmion
Scoring summary
First half
Fenwick—Will Jancewicz (Ryan Bero), 27th minute
Second half
Marmion—Barry O’Neill (penalty kick), 57th minute
Marmion—O’Neill (penalty kick), 70th minute
Marmion—Mactzil Uriel Lopez (Harley Karner), 77th min
2 penalty kicks swing tide for league-leading Cadets
By Patrick Z. McGavin
RIVER FOREST — Barry O’Neill rarely stays in just one place. His game is fluid and built on creating off the dribble.
“I think I might be a flashy winger,” he said. “I like to make a couple of spin moves, and my coach says I read the game really well.”
Maybe that is because he is not from around these parts. The junior midfielder was born in Ireland and arrived here when he was 10.
“It was a big transition,” he said.
His talent, verve and electric style with the ball are the great equalizers.
Fenwick coach Craig Blazer noticed it right away in the Friars’ game against Marmion. “He’s really good,” Blazer told his players.
“Keep the ball away from no. 7.”
O’Neill changed the calculus of the game with his ability to create pressure and attack off the dribble. It is also tough to deny somebody when they are standing at the penalty line.
O’Neill converted two penalty kicks that propelled the Cadets’ 3-1 comeback victory in Chicago Catholic League Blue Division play Tuesday afternoon.
The Cadets (7-3-2, 3-0-0) scored all three goals in the final 23 minutes, erasing the Friars’ 1-0 advantage off a beautiful set piece goal by defender Will Jancewicz in the 27th minute.
O’Neill converted his penalty kicks in the 57th and 70th minutes.
“I practice taking those shots every day,” he said.
“I always try to go to one side. I know you should be able to play the ball to either side, but I’m always more confident going to my left.”
He caught Fenwick keeper Greg Price leaning on both shots.
O’Neill earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match distinction for his pair of goals.
Marmion midfielder Ricardo Saucedo created the first penalty attempt by driving the ball down the left flank and getting fouled from behind.
Working off a counter, defender Nate Sowers set up the go-ahead score with a deep run down the left sideline that also ended with him colliding with a Fenwick defender that was ruled a foul.
“I don’t get a lot of chances to go forward,” Sowers said. “Whenever we have a chance to counter, I am always looking to get forward. I thought that was a good opportunity.
“I kept going and drew the foul.”
Fenwick (6-3-2, 1-1-0) played admirably in defeat. The Friars created multiple opportunities in the run of play.
Right at the start, forward Ryan Bero played a through ball on the left wing that midfielder Ian MacKinnon blasted off the near post.
A rebound shot by midfielder Lucas Garcia was denied by Marmion keeper Kyle Wydra.
Fenwick entered the game off an emotional and contentious Saturday game with Notre Dame, which is ranked 22nd in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
That game ended in a 2-2 tie, and two Fenwick players, including elite midfielder Jack Powers, were issued red cards and unavailable against the Cadets.
“We scored first, and then they scored twice,” Bero said. “We got two red cards, and then we managed to tie it.
“A few calls didn’t go our way.”
Fenwick took the lead against Marmion after a foul on the right flank. Bero delivered an exquisite service that evaded two Marmion defenders and tracked Janecwicz on his run for the quick-touch first half goal.
“Jancewicz is always going to find the ball,” Bero said. “I saw some space, and I just played it on the ground.”
The level of play was high, and the back-and-forth nature of the game yielded tantalizing chances at both ends. Each side had multiple shots deflect off the bar or post.
Marmion is 6-1-1 in its last eight games with its only blemish a 1-0 loss against no. 4 Naperville North.
“At halftime, our coach told us we were still in the game, even though we were down 1-0,” O’Neill said.
“I felt like we had more possession in the game. We were dangerous. We just had to do the same thing. Once I got that first goal, it just set us up for goals two and three.”
The Cadets start two sophomores and a freshman in the back. The team’s youth gives it a high ceiling; they have exponential room to grow and develop.
Junior forward Harley Karner has emerged as a go-to scorer, and midfielder Giovanni Magana also created some solid chances on goal.
The two fouls called inside the box, ultimately, were judgment calls. Both went against the Friars.
“It was a really good game,” Blazer said. “It’s a credit to Marmion and the Catholic League.
“I think the semantics of the penalty kicks were questionable. I don’t think our keeper had many saves. I think we defended really well. We created some really good opportunities.”
MacKinnon, a lanky and rangy talent who normally plays in the back, shuffled to the middle to account for the absence of the Friars’ normal attacking pieces. He played two left-footed balls off movement from the top of the box that just skidded inches from the far post.
Fenwick also generated three corner kicks in the final 16 minutes. A header smashed off the bar in one sequence.
That is how close the game was.
“We have to score these opportunities,” Blazer said. “I thought we were going to make it 2-2. We had a lot of confidence in our ability. On the day, it didn’t go our way, but it wasn’t from a lack of preparation. The guys played well.
“Marmion’s a good team.”
The Cadets put the game away in the 77th minute off another set piece score. Off a Saucedo corner from the left edge, sophomore defender Mactzil Uriel Lopez delivered a lunging header.
“Until we got the first penalty, we were all kind of nervous,” Uriel Lopez said. “Barry scored, and it settled us down. We knew we had time, and we started up with our movement pushing forward.”
Fenwick had reason for encouragement as well.
The Friars adjusted to the missing starters and played with fire and abandon.
“I thought we stepped up, and I thought we played strong with the players we had,” Bero said. “We were missing Jack Powers. We had a lot of chances we didn’t finish on.
“It was a fun game for sure. It just unfortunately didn’t end up in our favor, which is going to happen sometimes.”
Starting lineups
Marmion
GK: Kyle Wydra
D: Diego Tellez
D: Mactzil Uriel Lopez
D: Nate Sowers
D: Lucas Brummel
MF: Giovanni Magana
MF: Alvaro Alanis
MF: Ricardo Saucedo
MF: Barry O’Neill
F: Harley Karner
F: Sam Seykora
Fenwick
GK: Greg Price
D: James Zimmer
D: Evan Hickman
D: Luigi Mollo
D: Will Jancewicz
MF: Lucas Garcia
MF: Frank Felice
MF: Ian Martinello
MF: Ian MacKinnon
MF: Zach Hernandez
F: Ryan Bero
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Barry O’Neill, jr., MF, Marmion
Scoring summary
First half
Fenwick—Will Jancewicz (Ryan Bero), 27th minute
Second half
Marmion—Barry O’Neill (penalty kick), 57th minute
Marmion—O’Neill (penalty kick), 70th minute
Marmion—Mactzil Uriel Lopez (Harley Karner), 77th min