Marmion learning how to seal the deal
Cadets earn 3 points in 1-0 win over Boylan in Barrington opener
By Mike Garofola
STREAMWOOD -- What a difference a year makes, so says Marmion manager Jimmy Romano and his captains Michael Murray and James Serrano.
Last season at this time, the Cadets were 0-3-0, and headed to a 0-6-1 start in Romano's first year in charge.
Monday's well-deserved 1-0 victory over Boylan in the Cadets opener of the 2018 Barrington Classic not only moved Romano's men to a 2-1-0 overall record, but more importantly, it validates all the hard work put in during the offseason and the commitment to a program that not long ago was considered one of the best Class AA sides around.
"We were so young last year with just four seniors, and I started late with the guys because of when I took over the program," began Romano, who starred at Streamwood, later assisted under Matt Polovin, and will coach against his former manager Tuesday at Millennium Field in the Cadets' second of three pool-play games.
"We have a very good group of young men, who all are willing to do whatever it takes to get better. And that along with having so many players back and more comfortable with our system, and with each other, should make us a more competitive soccer team this time around."
"There obviously was a learning curve for all of us players, and (Romano) said the same for him as well," said Serrano, who earned Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match honors for his outstanding work in the Cadets attack.
"This is a game we would have found a way to lose or draw last season," suggested Romano.
"Having terrific senior leadership like we have with Murray, Serrano and others is a big difference for us thus far. Now we know to manage a game like this and close out an opponent in order to earn a victory."
Hot, humid weather, plus a strong south wind welcomed both clubs at Millennium Field, one of two venues used in pool play during this high-profile, week-long tournament.
Marmion had the good fortune of having the wind at its back in the first half and took full advantage from the opening exchanges of this contest.
Whether it was the long punts from keeper Jason Baker or long balls out of the back by Murray and his mates, the Cadets used the gusty winds to keep Boylan (2-1-1) under pressure and unable to get out of its own end for nearly the entire first period.
"We could use the wind as excuse, but that wouldn't be totally true," said Boylan's long-time manager Chris Mera, who in 2010 guided his lads to their first state title and seventh state trophy in program history.
"(Yes) the wind was a factor, but we didn't do ourselves any favors because we didn't deal well with their high pressure. We struggled to maintain possession, especially in our own end.
"We're young this season. We started three freshmen, and our youth showed at times. That's where we need our veterans to step up and help us when we really need it."
Boylan received a strong effort between the sticks from senior C.J. Couper, who on a handful of occasions helped his mates during their most stressful times.
Couper was fearless coming off his line. His charge stopped Serrano in the sixth minute. He used it successfully again against James Lawinger after Serrano put the sophomore through.
With the Cadets winning a high percentage of tackles, 50-50 and first and second balls, it came as no surprise that a handful of these wins would end with attempts on frame.
Lawinger and Tyler Launch did just that. Jack Kavanaugh, the goal-scoring hero later in the half, slipped behind the Boylan defense with a crafty move to his left -- only to bend his strike around the post as the quarter hour chimed.
The Cadets continued to threaten throughout the first half hour with chances coming from in-close, through the run of play, and when they created a corner or deep throw.
"It was good to see us create opportunities, but when we didn't finish any of them in the first 15-20, you know you might be in trouble later on," offered Romano.
Serrano's work rate up-top and ability to take on the Boylan defense helped open things up for others as time went on.
"As a team, this was our second best effort of the season, just behind our win over Plainfield East," said Serrano.
Boylan slowly got into the game after a pair of Marmion free kick attempts from C.J. Sowers and Serrano were easily saved by Couper.
The offensive resurgence from Boylan was made possible, in part, by Colin Beatty and Javier Millan, who each brought the Cadets aforementioned keeper Baker into action.
The junior stopped a well-aimed attempt from Beatty on the tail-end of a counter, then challenged off his line with confidence to put an end to a potential scoring opportunity when Beatty sent Danny Baker into the box.
Several chances went begging moments after this sequence by the Cadets: the two best came at 33 minutes when a nifty heel pass by Serrano found Drew Koecker, the second came from Sowers who ran onto a wonderful chip over the Boylan defense by Adrian Ruiz.
Both attempts were saved by Couper. But the Boylan keeper could do nothing to stop Marmion from gaining the lead when he was left helpless on the Kavanugh strike at 38 minutes.
That's when Serrano roared up the left side and crossed from the edge of the box. It went through a brilliant dummy from Mason Hartweger and found the foot of Kavanaugh, who's flying strike ripped into the back of the net from close range.
"Giving up that late goal really hurt us a lot," admitted Mera.
Romano challenged his men to turn-up the mental toughness in advance of a second period when it became clear that Boylan would threw everything at the Cadets as it went in search of the equalizer and used the wind as an extra player, or two.
"We knew it would be difficult to possess and hold the ball," Marmion's Murray said. "And we struggled a little bit with that early in the second period, but I thought we really did well in the last 20 minutes defending as a unit, and (they) really didn't get too many quality chances on us."
Romano dropped Serrano a little deeper in the Cadets formation and had his club sit in more after the intermission. Along with some terrific work in the middle of the park by Ruiz and Lawinger, who were relentless ball-winners, plus the work of Murray and Sowers, Marmion frustrated its opponent when they neared the final third.
"Our defensive-midfielders really came through in the second half, and we worked hard as a team to keep Boylan from getting any of quality at Baker," Romano said. "(We) did a lot of the little things that make a difference."
There was one nervous moment for the Cadets faithful. It came in the 66th minute when a well-struck left-footed blast from Beatty went off a defender and looked like it was on its way to become an own goal. But Baker stayed with the attempt and hauled it in.
This was a great way for us to start the tournament echoed both Serrano and Murray.
"This is the type of win and effort for all of us to build on (which) is something we'll look to do tomorrow," Murray said.
"We had six or seven one-goal losses last year. If we split that in half, our record would have looked a lot better than our eventual 5-13-1 finish," began Romano.
"We're looking to turn those types of games in our favor this season, and today was a good way for us to do just that with a good all-around team effort."
Starting lineups
Marmion (4-4-2)
GK- Jason Baker
D- David Lawinger
D- Aidan Reynolds
D- Michael Murray
D- Sebastian Gutierrez
M- Tyler Laurich
M- James Serrano
M- C.J. Sowers
M- Ian Swindle
F- James Lawinger
F- Jack Kavanaugh
Boylan (4-4-2)
GK- C.J. Couper
D- Julian Melecio
D- Sebastian Sepulveda
D- Jack Bonavia
D- George Fey
M- Jeffrey Hernandez
M- Alan Rubio
M- Jaime Alvarez
M- Michael Koutsopanagos
F- Colin Beatty
F- Javier Millan
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: James Serrano, sr., F, Marmion
Officials: Trevor Fulk (referee), Juan Hernandez (assistant), Mark Radley (assistant)
Scoring summary
First half
Marmion: Kavanaugh (Serrano), 38'
Second half
None
Cadets earn 3 points in 1-0 win over Boylan in Barrington opener
By Mike Garofola
STREAMWOOD -- What a difference a year makes, so says Marmion manager Jimmy Romano and his captains Michael Murray and James Serrano.
Last season at this time, the Cadets were 0-3-0, and headed to a 0-6-1 start in Romano's first year in charge.
Monday's well-deserved 1-0 victory over Boylan in the Cadets opener of the 2018 Barrington Classic not only moved Romano's men to a 2-1-0 overall record, but more importantly, it validates all the hard work put in during the offseason and the commitment to a program that not long ago was considered one of the best Class AA sides around.
"We were so young last year with just four seniors, and I started late with the guys because of when I took over the program," began Romano, who starred at Streamwood, later assisted under Matt Polovin, and will coach against his former manager Tuesday at Millennium Field in the Cadets' second of three pool-play games.
"We have a very good group of young men, who all are willing to do whatever it takes to get better. And that along with having so many players back and more comfortable with our system, and with each other, should make us a more competitive soccer team this time around."
"There obviously was a learning curve for all of us players, and (Romano) said the same for him as well," said Serrano, who earned Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match honors for his outstanding work in the Cadets attack.
"This is a game we would have found a way to lose or draw last season," suggested Romano.
"Having terrific senior leadership like we have with Murray, Serrano and others is a big difference for us thus far. Now we know to manage a game like this and close out an opponent in order to earn a victory."
Hot, humid weather, plus a strong south wind welcomed both clubs at Millennium Field, one of two venues used in pool play during this high-profile, week-long tournament.
Marmion had the good fortune of having the wind at its back in the first half and took full advantage from the opening exchanges of this contest.
Whether it was the long punts from keeper Jason Baker or long balls out of the back by Murray and his mates, the Cadets used the gusty winds to keep Boylan (2-1-1) under pressure and unable to get out of its own end for nearly the entire first period.
"We could use the wind as excuse, but that wouldn't be totally true," said Boylan's long-time manager Chris Mera, who in 2010 guided his lads to their first state title and seventh state trophy in program history.
"(Yes) the wind was a factor, but we didn't do ourselves any favors because we didn't deal well with their high pressure. We struggled to maintain possession, especially in our own end.
"We're young this season. We started three freshmen, and our youth showed at times. That's where we need our veterans to step up and help us when we really need it."
Boylan received a strong effort between the sticks from senior C.J. Couper, who on a handful of occasions helped his mates during their most stressful times.
Couper was fearless coming off his line. His charge stopped Serrano in the sixth minute. He used it successfully again against James Lawinger after Serrano put the sophomore through.
With the Cadets winning a high percentage of tackles, 50-50 and first and second balls, it came as no surprise that a handful of these wins would end with attempts on frame.
Lawinger and Tyler Launch did just that. Jack Kavanaugh, the goal-scoring hero later in the half, slipped behind the Boylan defense with a crafty move to his left -- only to bend his strike around the post as the quarter hour chimed.
The Cadets continued to threaten throughout the first half hour with chances coming from in-close, through the run of play, and when they created a corner or deep throw.
"It was good to see us create opportunities, but when we didn't finish any of them in the first 15-20, you know you might be in trouble later on," offered Romano.
Serrano's work rate up-top and ability to take on the Boylan defense helped open things up for others as time went on.
"As a team, this was our second best effort of the season, just behind our win over Plainfield East," said Serrano.
Boylan slowly got into the game after a pair of Marmion free kick attempts from C.J. Sowers and Serrano were easily saved by Couper.
The offensive resurgence from Boylan was made possible, in part, by Colin Beatty and Javier Millan, who each brought the Cadets aforementioned keeper Baker into action.
The junior stopped a well-aimed attempt from Beatty on the tail-end of a counter, then challenged off his line with confidence to put an end to a potential scoring opportunity when Beatty sent Danny Baker into the box.
Several chances went begging moments after this sequence by the Cadets: the two best came at 33 minutes when a nifty heel pass by Serrano found Drew Koecker, the second came from Sowers who ran onto a wonderful chip over the Boylan defense by Adrian Ruiz.
Both attempts were saved by Couper. But the Boylan keeper could do nothing to stop Marmion from gaining the lead when he was left helpless on the Kavanugh strike at 38 minutes.
That's when Serrano roared up the left side and crossed from the edge of the box. It went through a brilliant dummy from Mason Hartweger and found the foot of Kavanaugh, who's flying strike ripped into the back of the net from close range.
"Giving up that late goal really hurt us a lot," admitted Mera.
Romano challenged his men to turn-up the mental toughness in advance of a second period when it became clear that Boylan would threw everything at the Cadets as it went in search of the equalizer and used the wind as an extra player, or two.
"We knew it would be difficult to possess and hold the ball," Marmion's Murray said. "And we struggled a little bit with that early in the second period, but I thought we really did well in the last 20 minutes defending as a unit, and (they) really didn't get too many quality chances on us."
Romano dropped Serrano a little deeper in the Cadets formation and had his club sit in more after the intermission. Along with some terrific work in the middle of the park by Ruiz and Lawinger, who were relentless ball-winners, plus the work of Murray and Sowers, Marmion frustrated its opponent when they neared the final third.
"Our defensive-midfielders really came through in the second half, and we worked hard as a team to keep Boylan from getting any of quality at Baker," Romano said. "(We) did a lot of the little things that make a difference."
There was one nervous moment for the Cadets faithful. It came in the 66th minute when a well-struck left-footed blast from Beatty went off a defender and looked like it was on its way to become an own goal. But Baker stayed with the attempt and hauled it in.
This was a great way for us to start the tournament echoed both Serrano and Murray.
"This is the type of win and effort for all of us to build on (which) is something we'll look to do tomorrow," Murray said.
"We had six or seven one-goal losses last year. If we split that in half, our record would have looked a lot better than our eventual 5-13-1 finish," began Romano.
"We're looking to turn those types of games in our favor this season, and today was a good way for us to do just that with a good all-around team effort."
Starting lineups
Marmion (4-4-2)
GK- Jason Baker
D- David Lawinger
D- Aidan Reynolds
D- Michael Murray
D- Sebastian Gutierrez
M- Tyler Laurich
M- James Serrano
M- C.J. Sowers
M- Ian Swindle
F- James Lawinger
F- Jack Kavanaugh
Boylan (4-4-2)
GK- C.J. Couper
D- Julian Melecio
D- Sebastian Sepulveda
D- Jack Bonavia
D- George Fey
M- Jeffrey Hernandez
M- Alan Rubio
M- Jaime Alvarez
M- Michael Koutsopanagos
F- Colin Beatty
F- Javier Millan
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: James Serrano, sr., F, Marmion
Officials: Trevor Fulk (referee), Juan Hernandez (assistant), Mark Radley (assistant)
Scoring summary
First half
Marmion: Kavanaugh (Serrano), 38'
Second half
None