Cronnolly, Corazzina rally
Maine South past Deerfield
2nd half goals 5 minutes apart earn 2-1 road cross-over win
By Patrick Z. McGavin
DEERFIELD — Observation is a fantastic skill to possess. Some are born with the ability, others learn it. The best find their own purpose. It becomes second-nature.
Giuliano Corazzina is blessed with his own internal projection system.
In a sense, he has a natural affinity for reading and analyzing the next logical step.
A senior forward at Maine South, Corazzina makes his remarkable skill easy to watch.
He saw a ball in the air and immediately began to analyze the tracking points, the position of the ball, and most important in relation to the other field players orbiting around, the action.
“There were two defenders on my back, and I knew they would both go for it since they were not talking to each other at all,” he said.
“I heard [teammate John] Cronnolly calling for the ball. But I looked back over my shoulder and I saw where the ball was and realized he was not going to be able to get it.
“I went up in the air, took a touch, and it turns out they collided.”
In the 65th minute Corazzina blasted home the game-winner from 19 yards and completed Maine South’s 2-1 comeback victory over Deerfield in a Central Suburban League cross-over game Tuesday night.
The final piece of the action was the response of Warriors’ keeper Josh Bergman.
“The goalie came out a little much,” Corazzina said.
Cronnolly, a junior forward, was the other player of the moment for the Hawks (4-2-1).
His heady and sharp play in collaboration with Corazzina proved the difference Maine South needed to dig deep to hold off a hungry and avid young Deerfield team.
“To their credit they were scrappy,” Maine South coach Dan States said. “They were all over the place defensively. They made it very difficult on us. We were also not as effective around the frame as we need to be.”
The loss was particularly hard to endure for the Warriors (1-5-1).
Deerfield led for 35 minutes of action. The team played composed and tough. Midfielders Logan Wallis and Nicholas Prus showed exceptional ability in open space. Wallis was active and seemingly always near the ball.
Prus showed off rocket power, blasting a free kick from 45 yards that required Hawks’ keeper Luke Lorenz to make a strong stop.
“I thought in the first half we played with some good energy in the midfield,” Deerfield coach Elliott Hurtig said. “I thought Prus and Logan were really working hard. Our defensive effort was great.
“I thought we were shutting down their midfield for the most part. About the only thing that was dangerous is that I thought we were giving up too many dead-ball plays, the corner kicks and fouls.
“I was really pleased with the half.”
Deerfield struck in the 25th minute. Senior forward Nicolas Compisi, a standout the entire night, was a whirl of activity for the Warriors. He moved forcefully at the top of the attack.
Like Corazzina, he demonstrated remarkable acuity in taking advantage of a mistake. Lorenz was trying to clear the ball out of the back.
Compisi had other ideas.
“Honestly, I knew he was left-footed because he was only hitting with his left foot,” he said. “I thought he was going to clear it out left and just hit it out of bounds. For some reason, he took another touch and I thought, ‘It’s done.’
“It was an easy poke.”
Compisi seized the moment for the necessary touch and put the ball away for the 1-0 Warriors’ lead.
“We had Compisi going in and creating the turnover,” Hurtig said. “We have been talking about that throughout the year of pressuring the goalie. He did that, and we got the goal.”
Deerfield stayed sharp, fast and fluid. Off a corner, Prus and midfielder David Jotkus nearly connected on another goal, only for the ball to veer off frame.
“We came out pretty strong and dominated the first half, and we had a lot of chances,” Compisi said. “Once the half ended our work-rate really fell off.
“Our focus as well.”
The Warriors have a capable backline anchored by Jack Hammontree.
“In the second half we ran out of steam,” Hurtig said. “We had two major defensive breakdowns. Unfortunately that has been plaguing us this season, not making great choices defensively.
“We have conference, and that’s when it gets really important. We are a better team than we are playing right now. We just have to get into a rhythm. We can start to build on some wins and get some confidence.”
Maine South did what the best teams always manage. They regrouped and recognized where their effort and execution lagged.
“At halftime we had a talk because at our previous practice we were just working on pressure and pressure,” Corazzina said. “That is what eventually going to win us the play. We were staying positive in the second half, learning from our mistakes in the first half.
“One thing we were lacking in the first half was pressure, and we put it out on the field in the second half.
“We stayed the same, just different mindset.”
States said one distinctive and impressive part about this year’s group is their ability to assimilate his second half tactical changes and adjustments.
Cronnolly had four corner kicks in the first half, putting the Warriors on their heels. The Hawks put together the necessary finish.
In the 60th minute, midfielder Sam McGinnis raced toward the left end line and lofted a terrific cross that Cronnolly perfectly timed and smashed home with a header for the equalizer.
“We knew it would come,” Cronnolly said. “We had so many opportunities that one had to go in eventually. We kept pressing and pressing. That’s what we work on in practice is getting to the line and everybody crashing the box.”
For his goal and excellent abilities on free kicks, John Cronnolly earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor.
His goal also energized the Hawks’ attack.
“It showed us the light at the end of the tunnel, and we realize we could come back,” Corazzina said.
“We have done that in this season.”
Deerfield refused to yield and created some fairly dynamic chances late. The best happened in the 80th minute after forward Ryan Gomez pushed the ball to the right edge and was fouled.
On the subsequent cross his well-served ball was cleared on a header by the Hawks’ lanky Matt Skorupa. That signified the Warriors’ best late scoring threat.
“We know we are a good team. We know that things aren’t working out right now,” Compisi said.
“We know if we keep practicing and focus and work hard, I am sure things are going to come together.”
Starting lineups
Maine South
GK: Luke Lorenz
D: Milosz Dykiel
D: Charlie Ryan
D: Matt Skorupa
D: Konrad Kurtzuba
MF: Sam McGinnis
MF: Peter Bahu
MF: Dennis Kobuzi
F: Luciano Cale
F: John Cronnolly
F: Giuliano Corazzina
Deerfield
GK: Josh Bergman
D: Jack Hammontree
D: Ben Seed
D: Peter Straus
D: David Jotkus
MF: Logan Wallis
MF: Nicholas Prus
MF: Nicolas Compisi
MF: Ari Wainer
F: Ryan Gomez
F: Adam Shore
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: John Cronnolly, jr., F, Maine South
Scoring summary
First half
Deerfield—Nicolas Compisi (unassisted), 25th minute
Second half
Maine South—John Cronnolly (Sam McGinnis), 60th minute
Maine South—Giuliano Corazzina (Luciano Cale), 65th minute
Maine South past Deerfield
2nd half goals 5 minutes apart earn 2-1 road cross-over win
By Patrick Z. McGavin
DEERFIELD — Observation is a fantastic skill to possess. Some are born with the ability, others learn it. The best find their own purpose. It becomes second-nature.
Giuliano Corazzina is blessed with his own internal projection system.
In a sense, he has a natural affinity for reading and analyzing the next logical step.
A senior forward at Maine South, Corazzina makes his remarkable skill easy to watch.
He saw a ball in the air and immediately began to analyze the tracking points, the position of the ball, and most important in relation to the other field players orbiting around, the action.
“There were two defenders on my back, and I knew they would both go for it since they were not talking to each other at all,” he said.
“I heard [teammate John] Cronnolly calling for the ball. But I looked back over my shoulder and I saw where the ball was and realized he was not going to be able to get it.
“I went up in the air, took a touch, and it turns out they collided.”
In the 65th minute Corazzina blasted home the game-winner from 19 yards and completed Maine South’s 2-1 comeback victory over Deerfield in a Central Suburban League cross-over game Tuesday night.
The final piece of the action was the response of Warriors’ keeper Josh Bergman.
“The goalie came out a little much,” Corazzina said.
Cronnolly, a junior forward, was the other player of the moment for the Hawks (4-2-1).
His heady and sharp play in collaboration with Corazzina proved the difference Maine South needed to dig deep to hold off a hungry and avid young Deerfield team.
“To their credit they were scrappy,” Maine South coach Dan States said. “They were all over the place defensively. They made it very difficult on us. We were also not as effective around the frame as we need to be.”
The loss was particularly hard to endure for the Warriors (1-5-1).
Deerfield led for 35 minutes of action. The team played composed and tough. Midfielders Logan Wallis and Nicholas Prus showed exceptional ability in open space. Wallis was active and seemingly always near the ball.
Prus showed off rocket power, blasting a free kick from 45 yards that required Hawks’ keeper Luke Lorenz to make a strong stop.
“I thought in the first half we played with some good energy in the midfield,” Deerfield coach Elliott Hurtig said. “I thought Prus and Logan were really working hard. Our defensive effort was great.
“I thought we were shutting down their midfield for the most part. About the only thing that was dangerous is that I thought we were giving up too many dead-ball plays, the corner kicks and fouls.
“I was really pleased with the half.”
Deerfield struck in the 25th minute. Senior forward Nicolas Compisi, a standout the entire night, was a whirl of activity for the Warriors. He moved forcefully at the top of the attack.
Like Corazzina, he demonstrated remarkable acuity in taking advantage of a mistake. Lorenz was trying to clear the ball out of the back.
Compisi had other ideas.
“Honestly, I knew he was left-footed because he was only hitting with his left foot,” he said. “I thought he was going to clear it out left and just hit it out of bounds. For some reason, he took another touch and I thought, ‘It’s done.’
“It was an easy poke.”
Compisi seized the moment for the necessary touch and put the ball away for the 1-0 Warriors’ lead.
“We had Compisi going in and creating the turnover,” Hurtig said. “We have been talking about that throughout the year of pressuring the goalie. He did that, and we got the goal.”
Deerfield stayed sharp, fast and fluid. Off a corner, Prus and midfielder David Jotkus nearly connected on another goal, only for the ball to veer off frame.
“We came out pretty strong and dominated the first half, and we had a lot of chances,” Compisi said. “Once the half ended our work-rate really fell off.
“Our focus as well.”
The Warriors have a capable backline anchored by Jack Hammontree.
“In the second half we ran out of steam,” Hurtig said. “We had two major defensive breakdowns. Unfortunately that has been plaguing us this season, not making great choices defensively.
“We have conference, and that’s when it gets really important. We are a better team than we are playing right now. We just have to get into a rhythm. We can start to build on some wins and get some confidence.”
Maine South did what the best teams always manage. They regrouped and recognized where their effort and execution lagged.
“At halftime we had a talk because at our previous practice we were just working on pressure and pressure,” Corazzina said. “That is what eventually going to win us the play. We were staying positive in the second half, learning from our mistakes in the first half.
“One thing we were lacking in the first half was pressure, and we put it out on the field in the second half.
“We stayed the same, just different mindset.”
States said one distinctive and impressive part about this year’s group is their ability to assimilate his second half tactical changes and adjustments.
Cronnolly had four corner kicks in the first half, putting the Warriors on their heels. The Hawks put together the necessary finish.
In the 60th minute, midfielder Sam McGinnis raced toward the left end line and lofted a terrific cross that Cronnolly perfectly timed and smashed home with a header for the equalizer.
“We knew it would come,” Cronnolly said. “We had so many opportunities that one had to go in eventually. We kept pressing and pressing. That’s what we work on in practice is getting to the line and everybody crashing the box.”
For his goal and excellent abilities on free kicks, John Cronnolly earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor.
His goal also energized the Hawks’ attack.
“It showed us the light at the end of the tunnel, and we realize we could come back,” Corazzina said.
“We have done that in this season.”
Deerfield refused to yield and created some fairly dynamic chances late. The best happened in the 80th minute after forward Ryan Gomez pushed the ball to the right edge and was fouled.
On the subsequent cross his well-served ball was cleared on a header by the Hawks’ lanky Matt Skorupa. That signified the Warriors’ best late scoring threat.
“We know we are a good team. We know that things aren’t working out right now,” Compisi said.
“We know if we keep practicing and focus and work hard, I am sure things are going to come together.”
Starting lineups
Maine South
GK: Luke Lorenz
D: Milosz Dykiel
D: Charlie Ryan
D: Matt Skorupa
D: Konrad Kurtzuba
MF: Sam McGinnis
MF: Peter Bahu
MF: Dennis Kobuzi
F: Luciano Cale
F: John Cronnolly
F: Giuliano Corazzina
Deerfield
GK: Josh Bergman
D: Jack Hammontree
D: Ben Seed
D: Peter Straus
D: David Jotkus
MF: Logan Wallis
MF: Nicholas Prus
MF: Nicolas Compisi
MF: Ari Wainer
F: Ryan Gomez
F: Adam Shore
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: John Cronnolly, jr., F, Maine South
Scoring summary
First half
Deerfield—Nicolas Compisi (unassisted), 25th minute
Second half
Maine South—John Cronnolly (Sam McGinnis), 60th minute
Maine South—Giuliano Corazzina (Luciano Cale), 65th minute