Leyden continues to find scoring
touch in win over Maine West
Eagles post 4-1 home win behind play of Mancha
By Mike Garofola
NORTHLAKE -- Scoring just 10 goals in its first 10 games, it was clear Leyden needed to find a way to unlock its opponent’s net.
This week, it appears the Eagles found the key to goal-scoring success. A nine-goal explosion led to its first winning streak following its 4-1 nonconference win over Maine West on Saturday morning.
Leyden stormed out to a 3-0 first half advantage led by a pair of spot-kick conversions from Pablo Mancha and cruised to victory its undermanned foe at its West Campus soccer field.
"I feel like things are finally coming together for us," offered Mancha, who bagged his first double of this week during the Eagles 5-1 win over Proviso West on Thursday.
"There's really just me, Chris (Hernandez) and (Kai) Kopera back from last spring’s team. We have so many freshmen and sophomores on our roster. It's taken lot of time for us to get into the flow of things learning how to play at the varsity level."
Mancha received praise after the game from his coach Mark Valintis.
"Pablo was surrounded by some great players last year -- players who could attack and really get after the other team," began Valintis.
"He has terrific talent as well. The one thing we've been encouraging to be better at is his leadership skills. He's really stepped up to provide what a young team like this needs on and off the field."
It was clear from the opening whistle the visiting Warriors (3-7-2) were in for a long day on this cool but sunny day. It wasn’t because of a lack of talent but more the lack of healthy bodies manager Alan Matan’s bench.
The classy Warriors mentor has yet to hear the same first 11 announced, and Saturday morning was no different. He arrived with just 13 dressed, including junior defender Peter Ryt, who worked between the sticks for his injured teammate and regular goalkeeper Omar Rodea Espinosa.
"We've been shorthanded all year long. I came in for Omar when he was injured in our last game," said Ryt, who is normally stationed alongside Kacper Woroszylo as the Warriors central defending duo. “Like all of us, we just do the best we can wherever coach needs us and just see what happens.”
The Warriors’ pseudo-keeper and Mancha were the clear choices to be named Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match.
Ryt turned in a wonderful 80 minutes, highlighted by his second half double-save that would have impressed top-flight keepers.
"Peter is one of those young men that just goes out and does his job, and is always willing to do what's needed and best for the team. (He's) a great guy to have," said Matan.
The Warriors leader and his staff knew the club might be in for a long day when the Warriors were exposed on a counter initiated quickly after Leyden (4-8-0) keeper Kai Kopera saved a Marcial Mendez effort.
Mancha latched onto a ball from Ulices Leyva and his presence in the box caused the Warriors defense to bring him down.
The four-year veteran promptly steered in his spot kick away from Ryt, who went full extension in his quest to stop the opener.
Three minutes later, Mancha beat a pair of challengers on the left side before laying off a sweet ball to Chris Hernandez, who went wide with his attempt to double the Eagles advantage.
Maine West’s Benji Cerda tested Kopera with a free kick. Then Mancha attempted to chip Ryt, who was far off his line, but was stopped at point-blank range. That ended the first quarter hour, and Leyden dominated it.
"(It) finally feels like we're a family, both on the field and away from the game." Said Hernandez, who with Kopera have toiled for three years on the varsity.
"We lost the majority of our team from last spring. The new guys have needed a lot of time to get used to the speed of the game at this level. The last 3-4 games we have shown that we're playing together like a team."
Hernandez, who hopes to play at the collegiate level next fall, has firm plans to enter a welding trade school.
"My dad is a welder, and it's a great job that he has, so I want to follow in his footsteps," said Hernandez proudly.
On this day, Leyden’s trio of sophomores Ariel Diaz and Olvier Salgado, and junior Alvin Santos provided the type of play in the middle of the park that helped run the Eagles attack.
Quick, energic, and effective with a wide range of passing skills, they each helped the home side keep Maine West in its own end far more than they would have liked. They also provided passes to spring Hernandez, Leyva and Mancha.
A terrific individual effort on behalf of Salgado sent Mancha to the spot once again at 21 minutes. The junior was hauled down on the tail end of his run into the box.
Once again Mancha, with a slight hesitation in his approach to the ball, drove in the Eagles second goal of the game.
"No. 19 (Mancha) was impressive," offered Matan. “He was a load up-top today and very dangerous whenever he had the ball.”
Another splendid save by Ryt denied Mancha his third of the game, this time with a late leap off the ground. He used his long reach to turn Mancha's close-range effort up and over the woodwork in the 27th minute.
Santos was not to be denied in the 32nd minute. He was given far too much time and space when he teed up his 22-yard blast to add yet another goal into the scorebook.
"We're finally trusting one another out there," began Valintis. “Much like our game the other day with Proviso West, we came out fast and strong.
"Lately I've seen a marked difference in the way the overall attitude of the guys. Laughing and loose at training, and we're seeing it carry over into our games.
"It's great to see the players smiling and enjoying being around each other after two weeks of Murphy's Law kind of taking over.
"In my opinion, we played well enough to win our games against York, Addison Trail, then Prospect, but our inability to score. Mistakes were our undoing, but we're seeing the beginning of things turning around, and hopefully we'll continue doing so this week."
Leyden travels to Plainfield East on Monday, then hosts division rival Hinsdale South on Tuesday. The Eagles meet Glenbrook South two days later in a nonconference contest.
Ryt was absolutely brilliant in the 47th minute turning away another Mancha point blank effort and seconds later stopping Santos to record his breathtaking double-save.
Ryt was at again six minutes later, turning away this same Eagles duo from in-close. Then he saw teammate Nicholas Chavez go just over the bar.
Despite chasing three first half goals and playing with just two extra players, the work rate and energy exhibited by the Warriors in the second half was far better.
"The guys just did not come out and play like they could have, but I am very happy with their effort after the break,” Matan said. “ (They) created chances, defended much better as a team and played like this game meant something."
Mancha and Hernandez were the facilitators of the Eagles fourth and final goal of the day. It came off the magic shooting boot of Diaz, whose deadly finish came with precision from the right side and ended in the far inside netting.
That strike signaled the mass exodus of Valintis' first 11, who he replaced with 11 sets of fresh legs. They enjoyed the experience of playing the final 20 minutes of regulation.
Kopera made a quality save on a Kevin Abad 30-yard free kick in the 67th minute. The senior could do nothing when Abad pulled one back for the visitors to end the shutout bid in the 69th minute.
"We obviously need to get healthy,” offered Matan. “But even with so many players out, we've done well to keep ourselves in the race for the division in the CSL North.
"We beat Vernon Hills, who has eight wins, and we were up on Highland Park, before giving up a late goal to finish with a 2-2 result.
“The guys are playing well in the games that are most important to us right now. If we continue to do so, we can take hold of the division."
The Warriors sit at 2-1-1 in the Central Suburban League North Division and face rival Maine East on Tuesday. They’ll need a win, and Niles North and Vernon Hills to tie to share the league title. They get a nonconference against Proviso East on Thursday.
Valintis was happy with the performance of his lads, in particular Mancha, who played the no. 9 to perfection. Others who caught the coach’s eye were Santos, Diaz and his two freshman defenders Fabian Rodriguez and Yadier DeLaCruz.
"Ariel showed us a lot last spring, then again in summer league, so we were hoping it would continue when this season began, and it has,” Valintis said. “Ariel, all 95 pounds of him, is tough and just bounces back (up) when he's knocked down or off the ball. It was great to see him rewarded for his hard work by scoring our fourth goal.
“Fabian (center back) and Yadi (outside back) are really coming into their spots.
"It's tough being so young and playing such important positions on the varsity level, but they're doing the right things and getting better each time out."
Starting lineups
Maine West (4-4-2)
G: Peter Ryt
D: Andy Gaitan
D: Damian Jablonski
D: Giovanni Mendez
D: Jonathan Raya
M: Benji Cerda
M: Nicholas Chavez
M: Lizandro Cazares
M: Marcial Mendez
F: Mo Belhmiyda
F: Aaron Mendoza
Leyden (4-3-3)
G: Kai Kopera
D: Yadier DeLaCruz
D: Fabian Rodriguez
D: Avi Flores
D: Javier Alvarez
M: Oliver Salgado
M: Ariel Diaz
M: Alvin Santos
F: Ulices Leyva
F: Pablo Mancha
F: Chris Hernandez
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match: Pablo Mancha, sr., F, Leyden; Peter Ryt, jr., GK, Maine West
Referee: Chris Lauer
Scoring summary
First half
Leyden: Mancha (PK) 5'
Leyden: Mancha (PK) 21'
Leyden: Santos (Mancha) 32'
Second half
Leyden: Diaz (Hernandez, Mancha) 58'
MW: Abad (unassisted) 69'
touch in win over Maine West
Eagles post 4-1 home win behind play of Mancha
By Mike Garofola
NORTHLAKE -- Scoring just 10 goals in its first 10 games, it was clear Leyden needed to find a way to unlock its opponent’s net.
This week, it appears the Eagles found the key to goal-scoring success. A nine-goal explosion led to its first winning streak following its 4-1 nonconference win over Maine West on Saturday morning.
Leyden stormed out to a 3-0 first half advantage led by a pair of spot-kick conversions from Pablo Mancha and cruised to victory its undermanned foe at its West Campus soccer field.
"I feel like things are finally coming together for us," offered Mancha, who bagged his first double of this week during the Eagles 5-1 win over Proviso West on Thursday.
"There's really just me, Chris (Hernandez) and (Kai) Kopera back from last spring’s team. We have so many freshmen and sophomores on our roster. It's taken lot of time for us to get into the flow of things learning how to play at the varsity level."
Mancha received praise after the game from his coach Mark Valintis.
"Pablo was surrounded by some great players last year -- players who could attack and really get after the other team," began Valintis.
"He has terrific talent as well. The one thing we've been encouraging to be better at is his leadership skills. He's really stepped up to provide what a young team like this needs on and off the field."
It was clear from the opening whistle the visiting Warriors (3-7-2) were in for a long day on this cool but sunny day. It wasn’t because of a lack of talent but more the lack of healthy bodies manager Alan Matan’s bench.
The classy Warriors mentor has yet to hear the same first 11 announced, and Saturday morning was no different. He arrived with just 13 dressed, including junior defender Peter Ryt, who worked between the sticks for his injured teammate and regular goalkeeper Omar Rodea Espinosa.
"We've been shorthanded all year long. I came in for Omar when he was injured in our last game," said Ryt, who is normally stationed alongside Kacper Woroszylo as the Warriors central defending duo. “Like all of us, we just do the best we can wherever coach needs us and just see what happens.”
The Warriors’ pseudo-keeper and Mancha were the clear choices to be named Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match.
Ryt turned in a wonderful 80 minutes, highlighted by his second half double-save that would have impressed top-flight keepers.
"Peter is one of those young men that just goes out and does his job, and is always willing to do what's needed and best for the team. (He's) a great guy to have," said Matan.
The Warriors leader and his staff knew the club might be in for a long day when the Warriors were exposed on a counter initiated quickly after Leyden (4-8-0) keeper Kai Kopera saved a Marcial Mendez effort.
Mancha latched onto a ball from Ulices Leyva and his presence in the box caused the Warriors defense to bring him down.
The four-year veteran promptly steered in his spot kick away from Ryt, who went full extension in his quest to stop the opener.
Three minutes later, Mancha beat a pair of challengers on the left side before laying off a sweet ball to Chris Hernandez, who went wide with his attempt to double the Eagles advantage.
Maine West’s Benji Cerda tested Kopera with a free kick. Then Mancha attempted to chip Ryt, who was far off his line, but was stopped at point-blank range. That ended the first quarter hour, and Leyden dominated it.
"(It) finally feels like we're a family, both on the field and away from the game." Said Hernandez, who with Kopera have toiled for three years on the varsity.
"We lost the majority of our team from last spring. The new guys have needed a lot of time to get used to the speed of the game at this level. The last 3-4 games we have shown that we're playing together like a team."
Hernandez, who hopes to play at the collegiate level next fall, has firm plans to enter a welding trade school.
"My dad is a welder, and it's a great job that he has, so I want to follow in his footsteps," said Hernandez proudly.
On this day, Leyden’s trio of sophomores Ariel Diaz and Olvier Salgado, and junior Alvin Santos provided the type of play in the middle of the park that helped run the Eagles attack.
Quick, energic, and effective with a wide range of passing skills, they each helped the home side keep Maine West in its own end far more than they would have liked. They also provided passes to spring Hernandez, Leyva and Mancha.
A terrific individual effort on behalf of Salgado sent Mancha to the spot once again at 21 minutes. The junior was hauled down on the tail end of his run into the box.
Once again Mancha, with a slight hesitation in his approach to the ball, drove in the Eagles second goal of the game.
"No. 19 (Mancha) was impressive," offered Matan. “He was a load up-top today and very dangerous whenever he had the ball.”
Another splendid save by Ryt denied Mancha his third of the game, this time with a late leap off the ground. He used his long reach to turn Mancha's close-range effort up and over the woodwork in the 27th minute.
Santos was not to be denied in the 32nd minute. He was given far too much time and space when he teed up his 22-yard blast to add yet another goal into the scorebook.
"We're finally trusting one another out there," began Valintis. “Much like our game the other day with Proviso West, we came out fast and strong.
"Lately I've seen a marked difference in the way the overall attitude of the guys. Laughing and loose at training, and we're seeing it carry over into our games.
"It's great to see the players smiling and enjoying being around each other after two weeks of Murphy's Law kind of taking over.
"In my opinion, we played well enough to win our games against York, Addison Trail, then Prospect, but our inability to score. Mistakes were our undoing, but we're seeing the beginning of things turning around, and hopefully we'll continue doing so this week."
Leyden travels to Plainfield East on Monday, then hosts division rival Hinsdale South on Tuesday. The Eagles meet Glenbrook South two days later in a nonconference contest.
Ryt was absolutely brilliant in the 47th minute turning away another Mancha point blank effort and seconds later stopping Santos to record his breathtaking double-save.
Ryt was at again six minutes later, turning away this same Eagles duo from in-close. Then he saw teammate Nicholas Chavez go just over the bar.
Despite chasing three first half goals and playing with just two extra players, the work rate and energy exhibited by the Warriors in the second half was far better.
"The guys just did not come out and play like they could have, but I am very happy with their effort after the break,” Matan said. “ (They) created chances, defended much better as a team and played like this game meant something."
Mancha and Hernandez were the facilitators of the Eagles fourth and final goal of the day. It came off the magic shooting boot of Diaz, whose deadly finish came with precision from the right side and ended in the far inside netting.
That strike signaled the mass exodus of Valintis' first 11, who he replaced with 11 sets of fresh legs. They enjoyed the experience of playing the final 20 minutes of regulation.
Kopera made a quality save on a Kevin Abad 30-yard free kick in the 67th minute. The senior could do nothing when Abad pulled one back for the visitors to end the shutout bid in the 69th minute.
"We obviously need to get healthy,” offered Matan. “But even with so many players out, we've done well to keep ourselves in the race for the division in the CSL North.
"We beat Vernon Hills, who has eight wins, and we were up on Highland Park, before giving up a late goal to finish with a 2-2 result.
“The guys are playing well in the games that are most important to us right now. If we continue to do so, we can take hold of the division."
The Warriors sit at 2-1-1 in the Central Suburban League North Division and face rival Maine East on Tuesday. They’ll need a win, and Niles North and Vernon Hills to tie to share the league title. They get a nonconference against Proviso East on Thursday.
Valintis was happy with the performance of his lads, in particular Mancha, who played the no. 9 to perfection. Others who caught the coach’s eye were Santos, Diaz and his two freshman defenders Fabian Rodriguez and Yadier DeLaCruz.
"Ariel showed us a lot last spring, then again in summer league, so we were hoping it would continue when this season began, and it has,” Valintis said. “Ariel, all 95 pounds of him, is tough and just bounces back (up) when he's knocked down or off the ball. It was great to see him rewarded for his hard work by scoring our fourth goal.
“Fabian (center back) and Yadi (outside back) are really coming into their spots.
"It's tough being so young and playing such important positions on the varsity level, but they're doing the right things and getting better each time out."
Starting lineups
Maine West (4-4-2)
G: Peter Ryt
D: Andy Gaitan
D: Damian Jablonski
D: Giovanni Mendez
D: Jonathan Raya
M: Benji Cerda
M: Nicholas Chavez
M: Lizandro Cazares
M: Marcial Mendez
F: Mo Belhmiyda
F: Aaron Mendoza
Leyden (4-3-3)
G: Kai Kopera
D: Yadier DeLaCruz
D: Fabian Rodriguez
D: Avi Flores
D: Javier Alvarez
M: Oliver Salgado
M: Ariel Diaz
M: Alvin Santos
F: Ulices Leyva
F: Pablo Mancha
F: Chris Hernandez
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match: Pablo Mancha, sr., F, Leyden; Peter Ryt, jr., GK, Maine West
Referee: Chris Lauer
Scoring summary
First half
Leyden: Mancha (PK) 5'
Leyden: Mancha (PK) 21'
Leyden: Santos (Mancha) 32'
Second half
Leyden: Diaz (Hernandez, Mancha) 58'
MW: Abad (unassisted) 69'