King for the day. Defender leads
SCE past Metea Valley for title
Senior records brace in 3-0 win, Saints deny Mustangs repeat try
By Jared Birchfield
ST. CHARLES – Sparked by Connor King’s two goals, St. Charles East downed Metea Valley 3-0 to capture the St. Charles Invitational title at St. Charles North on Saturday. With the win, the Saints prevented the Mustangs from repeating as tournament champions.
The top award will stay at home for the first time.
“This is the first time a St. Charles school won the tournament. We had an off year with COVID last year. Before that it was Metea and then Elgin,” said Fighting Saints coach Vince DiNuzzo. “It’s nice to win, but it’s also nice to be playing well.”
With the win St. Charles East, ranked second in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, improved its record to 6-0-0.
King wasted little time putting his team in front, finding the back of the net at the 35:34 mark of the first half on a strike from just outside the left corner of the goal area.
“We've been struggling a bit to score a goal right off the bat,” King said. “So, when I saw my chance I took it and slotted it into the net.”
The senior added an insurance score two minutes into the second half.
“We executed this play where Josh Ruiz checks the ball in and whips it back post, and I was just there to finish it off. That's my role. I'm one of the tallest on the team, and I'm not scared to get in and put my team on the line to score a goal,” said the 6-foot 2 King.
King would have a hat-trick if his goal with 8:13 in the first half was not waived off due to an offsides call. For his offensive output, King was named Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match.
What made the goals even more impressive is the King patrols the Saints’ backline.
“It was more of what they were giving us,” explained DiNuzzo. “They were allowing the outside backs like Connor King and Phil (Anton) and Elia (Desario) to get wide. They have that space, so the attack really didn't go through the forwards. That's one thing we've been working on. Connor, Phil and Elia getting high up in the field and supporting the attack, which they did a good job of today.”
Sebastian Carranza scored his ninth goal of the season for the Saints’ final tally with 4:55 left to play.
DiNuzzo felt the early strike was a mixed blessing.
“I think the goal did more damage than good,” he said. “There was more complacency after we scored the goal which we talked about at halftime.
“We lost the desire and just felt very flat. I think the first 10 minutes of the second half we had a little bit more energy. But we need to continue to work on pressing forward to close that gap and not allow a chance for teams to get back into the game -- score more goals and increase the lead when we had the opportunity to do so and have that desire.”
The match was made more challenging for Metea Valley (3-1-0) after Oscar Mejia, the Mustang’s regular goalkeeper, was injured before the game. Instead, backup keeper Ravi Shah started between the pipes.
“Our sophomore keeper had to step up and played out of his mind today,” said Msutangs coach Josh Robinson.
Shah gave himself a mixed review.
“It was my first game playing the whole time. I made a couple of dumb mistakes like coming out of the goal or staying back in the goal. Simple stuff like that,” the sophomore said. “I didn't think I executed my decisions poorly. I just made the wrong decisions from the start.”
DiNuzzo attributed his team’s midfield play, especially junior Jack Harrington, with shutting down the Metea Valley offense.
“Jack played really deep in front of their number 23 (Colin Bastianoni) who I think is a very good player,” he said. “He didn't allow that kid a lot of touches and a lot of the space, so I think that contributed to them not developing many attacks.
“He does so much, and it doesn't show up on the stat line: the number of attacks he disrupts; his tackling: his presence and his leadership,” the East coach continued. “They didn't have a lot of good scoring chances, and that's due to him.”
DiNuzzo also praised his defense and keeper Tyler Benhart.
“Our backline did well, and our goalkeeper had presence,” he said.” It was a lot better from them. Metea didn’t have a good scoring chance the entire match.”
The coach would like to see more production from his offense.
“I think we left some goals out there today. It's going to happen,” DiNuzzo said. “With the way we played we've created enough to win the game. We took what they gave us, and I think we did enough.”
Metea Valley saluted the victors.
“Execution was the key to the match today,” Robinson said. “St. Charles East is an amazing team. They are in mid-season form already. They knocked the ball around really well and possessed.
“We defended well. We gave up that early goal, but we stayed in the game. Acouple of set pieces later in the game put us under. We had a couple of opportunities where we were unlucky.”
The Mustangs best opportunity to score came in the 54th minute. Deep in the Saints’ territory, Adrian Gonzalez passed the ball to Bastianoni, who returned it to Gonzalez. The junior, took a shot from in front of the net that was stopped by Benhart.
Robinson did not think the Saints’ early lead demoralized his team.
“We've given up early goals all year long, and we've had to deal with it and overcome it,” he said. “The first half was exactly what we thought it would be, and the second half to some extent was exactly what we thought it would be.
“We just couldn't get the one goal that we were hoping for.
“The boys worked hard today. They make my job easier right now, because I don't have to coach work ethic or intensity. We can focus on tactical decisions.
“We dealt with tons of adversity and a lot of coachable moments. We're defending well, organized well and working well. We just needed some opportunities to finish and more dynamic movement and we're good to go.”
DiNuzzo thinks the three-year old St. Charles Invitational is off to a great start.
“I love this tournament. I love the coaches that participate and the teams we get to play against. It’s good competition, good camaraderie,” he said. “And it's good to play schools from different conferences.”
Shah thinks Metea Valley’s play the last week bodes well for the season.
“I think the tournament overall was a success. We didn't get the last game that we wanted to, but I think we could later in this season,” the sophomore keeper said. “I'm excited for this season. I think it's going to be great.”
King had the same prediction for the Saints.
“The team is playing really well right now. We're off to a hot start,” said King “We're a good team with the potential for a lot of scoring.”
Starting lineups
St. Charles East
GK: Tyler Benhart
D: Philip Anton
D: Connor King
D: Aaron Frost
D: Jake Walker
M: Luca Avendano
M: Mason Blenner
M: Joshua Ruiz
M: Jack Harrington
F: Sebastian Carranza
F: William Orloff
Metea Valley
GK: Ravi Shah
D: Aiden Pufundt
D: Julian Ordaz
D: Tyler Grosskopf
D: Luka Strepacki
M: Bartosz Chmielewski
M: Daniel Wilkinson
M: Riley McCann
M: Alex Palacios
F: Ethan Danehl
F: Colin Bastianoni
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Connor King, sr., D, St. Charles East
Scoring summary
First half
King (Ruiz), 5th minute
Second half
King (Ruiz) 42nd minute
Carranza (Cerda), 75th minute
SCE past Metea Valley for title
Senior records brace in 3-0 win, Saints deny Mustangs repeat try
By Jared Birchfield
ST. CHARLES – Sparked by Connor King’s two goals, St. Charles East downed Metea Valley 3-0 to capture the St. Charles Invitational title at St. Charles North on Saturday. With the win, the Saints prevented the Mustangs from repeating as tournament champions.
The top award will stay at home for the first time.
“This is the first time a St. Charles school won the tournament. We had an off year with COVID last year. Before that it was Metea and then Elgin,” said Fighting Saints coach Vince DiNuzzo. “It’s nice to win, but it’s also nice to be playing well.”
With the win St. Charles East, ranked second in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, improved its record to 6-0-0.
King wasted little time putting his team in front, finding the back of the net at the 35:34 mark of the first half on a strike from just outside the left corner of the goal area.
“We've been struggling a bit to score a goal right off the bat,” King said. “So, when I saw my chance I took it and slotted it into the net.”
The senior added an insurance score two minutes into the second half.
“We executed this play where Josh Ruiz checks the ball in and whips it back post, and I was just there to finish it off. That's my role. I'm one of the tallest on the team, and I'm not scared to get in and put my team on the line to score a goal,” said the 6-foot 2 King.
King would have a hat-trick if his goal with 8:13 in the first half was not waived off due to an offsides call. For his offensive output, King was named Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match.
What made the goals even more impressive is the King patrols the Saints’ backline.
“It was more of what they were giving us,” explained DiNuzzo. “They were allowing the outside backs like Connor King and Phil (Anton) and Elia (Desario) to get wide. They have that space, so the attack really didn't go through the forwards. That's one thing we've been working on. Connor, Phil and Elia getting high up in the field and supporting the attack, which they did a good job of today.”
Sebastian Carranza scored his ninth goal of the season for the Saints’ final tally with 4:55 left to play.
DiNuzzo felt the early strike was a mixed blessing.
“I think the goal did more damage than good,” he said. “There was more complacency after we scored the goal which we talked about at halftime.
“We lost the desire and just felt very flat. I think the first 10 minutes of the second half we had a little bit more energy. But we need to continue to work on pressing forward to close that gap and not allow a chance for teams to get back into the game -- score more goals and increase the lead when we had the opportunity to do so and have that desire.”
The match was made more challenging for Metea Valley (3-1-0) after Oscar Mejia, the Mustang’s regular goalkeeper, was injured before the game. Instead, backup keeper Ravi Shah started between the pipes.
“Our sophomore keeper had to step up and played out of his mind today,” said Msutangs coach Josh Robinson.
Shah gave himself a mixed review.
“It was my first game playing the whole time. I made a couple of dumb mistakes like coming out of the goal or staying back in the goal. Simple stuff like that,” the sophomore said. “I didn't think I executed my decisions poorly. I just made the wrong decisions from the start.”
DiNuzzo attributed his team’s midfield play, especially junior Jack Harrington, with shutting down the Metea Valley offense.
“Jack played really deep in front of their number 23 (Colin Bastianoni) who I think is a very good player,” he said. “He didn't allow that kid a lot of touches and a lot of the space, so I think that contributed to them not developing many attacks.
“He does so much, and it doesn't show up on the stat line: the number of attacks he disrupts; his tackling: his presence and his leadership,” the East coach continued. “They didn't have a lot of good scoring chances, and that's due to him.”
DiNuzzo also praised his defense and keeper Tyler Benhart.
“Our backline did well, and our goalkeeper had presence,” he said.” It was a lot better from them. Metea didn’t have a good scoring chance the entire match.”
The coach would like to see more production from his offense.
“I think we left some goals out there today. It's going to happen,” DiNuzzo said. “With the way we played we've created enough to win the game. We took what they gave us, and I think we did enough.”
Metea Valley saluted the victors.
“Execution was the key to the match today,” Robinson said. “St. Charles East is an amazing team. They are in mid-season form already. They knocked the ball around really well and possessed.
“We defended well. We gave up that early goal, but we stayed in the game. Acouple of set pieces later in the game put us under. We had a couple of opportunities where we were unlucky.”
The Mustangs best opportunity to score came in the 54th minute. Deep in the Saints’ territory, Adrian Gonzalez passed the ball to Bastianoni, who returned it to Gonzalez. The junior, took a shot from in front of the net that was stopped by Benhart.
Robinson did not think the Saints’ early lead demoralized his team.
“We've given up early goals all year long, and we've had to deal with it and overcome it,” he said. “The first half was exactly what we thought it would be, and the second half to some extent was exactly what we thought it would be.
“We just couldn't get the one goal that we were hoping for.
“The boys worked hard today. They make my job easier right now, because I don't have to coach work ethic or intensity. We can focus on tactical decisions.
“We dealt with tons of adversity and a lot of coachable moments. We're defending well, organized well and working well. We just needed some opportunities to finish and more dynamic movement and we're good to go.”
DiNuzzo thinks the three-year old St. Charles Invitational is off to a great start.
“I love this tournament. I love the coaches that participate and the teams we get to play against. It’s good competition, good camaraderie,” he said. “And it's good to play schools from different conferences.”
Shah thinks Metea Valley’s play the last week bodes well for the season.
“I think the tournament overall was a success. We didn't get the last game that we wanted to, but I think we could later in this season,” the sophomore keeper said. “I'm excited for this season. I think it's going to be great.”
King had the same prediction for the Saints.
“The team is playing really well right now. We're off to a hot start,” said King “We're a good team with the potential for a lot of scoring.”
Starting lineups
St. Charles East
GK: Tyler Benhart
D: Philip Anton
D: Connor King
D: Aaron Frost
D: Jake Walker
M: Luca Avendano
M: Mason Blenner
M: Joshua Ruiz
M: Jack Harrington
F: Sebastian Carranza
F: William Orloff
Metea Valley
GK: Ravi Shah
D: Aiden Pufundt
D: Julian Ordaz
D: Tyler Grosskopf
D: Luka Strepacki
M: Bartosz Chmielewski
M: Daniel Wilkinson
M: Riley McCann
M: Alex Palacios
F: Ethan Danehl
F: Colin Bastianoni
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Connor King, sr., D, St. Charles East
Scoring summary
First half
King (Ruiz), 5th minute
Second half
King (Ruiz) 42nd minute
Carranza (Cerda), 75th minute