Naperville North locks down SCN
Koenig, Barry 1st half strikes, 'D', earn Huskies repeat title shot
By Mike Garofola
HOFFMAN ESTATES -- You would be hard-pressed to find a more dominate defense than the one that Naperville North puts on the field each match day.
The reigning Class 3A champs were a sturdy bunch all throughout the 2016 postseason en route to the second state crown in program history, but during their 2017 title repeat run, tHey have been as stingy a bunch as one can be along the back.
The excellence has helped to give Jim Konrads' men the big-game edge needed in order to succeed at this time of the year
Friday in the Huskies semifinal contest against St. Charles North, it was more of the same from Naperville North (26-1-1), which staked istself to an early two-goal advantage that made their back four all the more difficult to contend with.
Patrick Koenig's superb free kick finish at 14 minutes, followed up by a Jack Barry goal two minutes later was all the Huskies needed in order to book their spot in the final against North Suburban Conference power Libertyville on Saturday night at Garber Stadium on the Hoffman Estates High School campus.
"With a lot of us being here last year, it helped prepare us really well for the stretch run to get ourselves back into the Final Four. There's no doubt the experience many of us have had really helped us," offered Barry, whose cool 16th-minute finish and high work rate and pace, especially in the first half, earned him the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor.
"I think part of the experienced roster we have prepared us for this semifinal, and it also helped us come out strong, get those two early goals, then let our backline (and goalkeeper Tommy) Welch kind of take things over for us."
His coach agreed.
"Yes, you cannot overstate how important it is to score the first, then a second right afterward," added Jim Konrad. "It put us into the type of situation where we can manage the game and just defend, (which) the guys have done a great job of playing all season long."
The Huskies manager was extremely proud to announce that the club's 20th clean-sheet of the campaign also set a program best in that statistical category.
"The commitment in that area of our play has been outstanding, and the entire team has had a hand in achieving that record while continuing on a proud tradition that we have enjoyed at Naperville North," said Konrad.
This semifinal sparked into life when Koenig unloaded his unstoppable upper 90 free kick, that bent over the North Stars wall from the edge, to open things up in spectacular fashion.
"Just a brilliant effort from Patrick," beamed Konrad of the professional goal from the sophomore.
"Ethan (Harvey and I) were both over the ball talking about whether or not I should take a quick shot, but the referee got in the way. But when he moved, I just hit the ball into the back of the net," said a humble Koenig, who made his attempt sound as if it were nothing more than a 10-yard shot into an open net.
Barry stuck a dagger into the hearts of the North Stars (16-3-4) chances when he steered in his close-range attempt through a crowd during a scrum inside the box following a Huskies free kick.
"Two early goals conceded against maybe the best defense in the state is not the way to start the first state game since 2006," said North Stars manager, Eric Willson, who brought his club here in 2006 in the third year of his career.
"All throughout the first half, we won just a few, if any second-ball opportunities, and both of their goals came from first-ball disasters on our part. They really made us pay for those mistakes, and continued to do so nearly scoring a third also."
The North Stars allowed a long throw from Barry to flash through their box allowing the Huskies to put it into the back of the net, and if not for a raised flag from the assistant referee, it would have been a three-goal advantage at the break.
There could have been more before the 36th-minute disallowed goal, as Willson's men continued to foul in dangerous spots in the final third. That forced keeper Piercarlo Ricossa to send a Harvey free kick over the bar, before watching teammate Matt Beaulieu take one off the line to prevent the Huskies from adding to the scoreline.
"We just could not get out of our own end in that first half, especially in the first half hour or so," began Willson.
"North has perfected its style so well. They can dump the ball into Koenig and Ty Konrad up-top, who with their speed can break you down, then their midfield just doesn't let you possess or connect. And if your lucky to get deep into their end, their backline won't allow quality at Tommy (Welch) in goal.
"But we didn't go away in the second half, and our start was so much better after the break. I was real proud of the effort the guys put forth."
Willson's club was the better team in the opening 8-10 minutes of the second period, thanks in part to a concerted effort to play through the middle of the park and Jameson D'Amico and Josh Amaro, then up-top to its leading scorer, Jake Persenico, who had no luck with the Huskies backline during the first 40 minutes.
Pressure from Beaulieu on the outside ended with Kyle Kolodziej sending a neatly played looping ball into the box which required Welch to save with ease at 48 minutes.
The North Stars enjoyed a strong streak in which they created three corners that were brought about by the industry from Peter Willis, Bernard Elegbede, Persenico and Beaulieu. But each time, the Huskies defended smartly, either with sharp-clearing efforts or with forceful work in the air.
"We thought all along if we could somehow pull one back, we maybe make them a little unsettled long enough to put another one in. (But) Jim's team is so organized and strong, especially along the back, which makes it so difficult to score," said Willson.
While the Huskies quartet of Colin Iverson, Mitch Konrad, Cesar Recendez and Matt Bilardello eventually helped their mates earn the record-setting shutout with their airtight play in the final quarter hour, Barry, Koenig and Ian Guppy kept their opponents wary of their quick-strike abilities at the same time.
Nice combination work saw Barry rattle the post after receiving a ball from Koenig four minutes from time, and it was this last challenge that officially closed out the hopes of the North Stars for good.
"Naperville was the better team, and they deserved their result," said a gracious Willson.
"For us, we are one of two teams (Bradley-Bourbonnais the other) who feel bad for ourselves after our semifinal losses, but for each of us, Saturday is a new day, and one in which we can end with a win."
One more win would end Naperville North's season at the zenith of all others in Class 3A and produce back-to-back state titles. That would make the Huskies the first big-school program to repeat since Sandburg in 2001 and 2002 and one of only eight schools to win a championship in successive seasons (Benet, Collinsville, Gibault, Granite City, Granite City South, St. Charles and Sandburg).
"The boys have been great this year, and have handled the pressure of being state champs better than I could have every imagined," said Konrad.
Starting lineups
St. Charles North (4-4-2 starting formation)
GK- Piercarlo Ricossa
D- Connor Bettini
D- Peter Willis
D- Kyle Kolodziej
D- Alex Somera
M- Matt Beaulieu
M- Jameson D'Amico
M- Josh Amaro
M- Parker Kolb
F- Jake Persenico
F- Bernard Elegbede
Naperville North
GK- Tommy Welch
D- Matt Bilardello
D- Mitch Konrad
D- Colin Iverson
D- Cesar Recendez
M- Ethan Harvey
M- Ian Guppy
M- Will Ritzman
M- Jack Barry
F- Patrick Koenig
F- Ty Konrad
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Jack Barry, sr., MF, Naperville North
Officials: M-John Martelin, AR1-Rafal Zielinski, AR2 Chris Rudolph, 4th-Mike Umano
Scoring summary
First half
Naperville North: Koenig (FK) 14'
Naperville North: Barry (U/A) 16'
Koenig, Barry 1st half strikes, 'D', earn Huskies repeat title shot
By Mike Garofola
HOFFMAN ESTATES -- You would be hard-pressed to find a more dominate defense than the one that Naperville North puts on the field each match day.
The reigning Class 3A champs were a sturdy bunch all throughout the 2016 postseason en route to the second state crown in program history, but during their 2017 title repeat run, tHey have been as stingy a bunch as one can be along the back.
The excellence has helped to give Jim Konrads' men the big-game edge needed in order to succeed at this time of the year
Friday in the Huskies semifinal contest against St. Charles North, it was more of the same from Naperville North (26-1-1), which staked istself to an early two-goal advantage that made their back four all the more difficult to contend with.
Patrick Koenig's superb free kick finish at 14 minutes, followed up by a Jack Barry goal two minutes later was all the Huskies needed in order to book their spot in the final against North Suburban Conference power Libertyville on Saturday night at Garber Stadium on the Hoffman Estates High School campus.
"With a lot of us being here last year, it helped prepare us really well for the stretch run to get ourselves back into the Final Four. There's no doubt the experience many of us have had really helped us," offered Barry, whose cool 16th-minute finish and high work rate and pace, especially in the first half, earned him the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor.
"I think part of the experienced roster we have prepared us for this semifinal, and it also helped us come out strong, get those two early goals, then let our backline (and goalkeeper Tommy) Welch kind of take things over for us."
His coach agreed.
"Yes, you cannot overstate how important it is to score the first, then a second right afterward," added Jim Konrad. "It put us into the type of situation where we can manage the game and just defend, (which) the guys have done a great job of playing all season long."
The Huskies manager was extremely proud to announce that the club's 20th clean-sheet of the campaign also set a program best in that statistical category.
"The commitment in that area of our play has been outstanding, and the entire team has had a hand in achieving that record while continuing on a proud tradition that we have enjoyed at Naperville North," said Konrad.
This semifinal sparked into life when Koenig unloaded his unstoppable upper 90 free kick, that bent over the North Stars wall from the edge, to open things up in spectacular fashion.
"Just a brilliant effort from Patrick," beamed Konrad of the professional goal from the sophomore.
"Ethan (Harvey and I) were both over the ball talking about whether or not I should take a quick shot, but the referee got in the way. But when he moved, I just hit the ball into the back of the net," said a humble Koenig, who made his attempt sound as if it were nothing more than a 10-yard shot into an open net.
Barry stuck a dagger into the hearts of the North Stars (16-3-4) chances when he steered in his close-range attempt through a crowd during a scrum inside the box following a Huskies free kick.
"Two early goals conceded against maybe the best defense in the state is not the way to start the first state game since 2006," said North Stars manager, Eric Willson, who brought his club here in 2006 in the third year of his career.
"All throughout the first half, we won just a few, if any second-ball opportunities, and both of their goals came from first-ball disasters on our part. They really made us pay for those mistakes, and continued to do so nearly scoring a third also."
The North Stars allowed a long throw from Barry to flash through their box allowing the Huskies to put it into the back of the net, and if not for a raised flag from the assistant referee, it would have been a three-goal advantage at the break.
There could have been more before the 36th-minute disallowed goal, as Willson's men continued to foul in dangerous spots in the final third. That forced keeper Piercarlo Ricossa to send a Harvey free kick over the bar, before watching teammate Matt Beaulieu take one off the line to prevent the Huskies from adding to the scoreline.
"We just could not get out of our own end in that first half, especially in the first half hour or so," began Willson.
"North has perfected its style so well. They can dump the ball into Koenig and Ty Konrad up-top, who with their speed can break you down, then their midfield just doesn't let you possess or connect. And if your lucky to get deep into their end, their backline won't allow quality at Tommy (Welch) in goal.
"But we didn't go away in the second half, and our start was so much better after the break. I was real proud of the effort the guys put forth."
Willson's club was the better team in the opening 8-10 minutes of the second period, thanks in part to a concerted effort to play through the middle of the park and Jameson D'Amico and Josh Amaro, then up-top to its leading scorer, Jake Persenico, who had no luck with the Huskies backline during the first 40 minutes.
Pressure from Beaulieu on the outside ended with Kyle Kolodziej sending a neatly played looping ball into the box which required Welch to save with ease at 48 minutes.
The North Stars enjoyed a strong streak in which they created three corners that were brought about by the industry from Peter Willis, Bernard Elegbede, Persenico and Beaulieu. But each time, the Huskies defended smartly, either with sharp-clearing efforts or with forceful work in the air.
"We thought all along if we could somehow pull one back, we maybe make them a little unsettled long enough to put another one in. (But) Jim's team is so organized and strong, especially along the back, which makes it so difficult to score," said Willson.
While the Huskies quartet of Colin Iverson, Mitch Konrad, Cesar Recendez and Matt Bilardello eventually helped their mates earn the record-setting shutout with their airtight play in the final quarter hour, Barry, Koenig and Ian Guppy kept their opponents wary of their quick-strike abilities at the same time.
Nice combination work saw Barry rattle the post after receiving a ball from Koenig four minutes from time, and it was this last challenge that officially closed out the hopes of the North Stars for good.
"Naperville was the better team, and they deserved their result," said a gracious Willson.
"For us, we are one of two teams (Bradley-Bourbonnais the other) who feel bad for ourselves after our semifinal losses, but for each of us, Saturday is a new day, and one in which we can end with a win."
One more win would end Naperville North's season at the zenith of all others in Class 3A and produce back-to-back state titles. That would make the Huskies the first big-school program to repeat since Sandburg in 2001 and 2002 and one of only eight schools to win a championship in successive seasons (Benet, Collinsville, Gibault, Granite City, Granite City South, St. Charles and Sandburg).
"The boys have been great this year, and have handled the pressure of being state champs better than I could have every imagined," said Konrad.
Starting lineups
St. Charles North (4-4-2 starting formation)
GK- Piercarlo Ricossa
D- Connor Bettini
D- Peter Willis
D- Kyle Kolodziej
D- Alex Somera
M- Matt Beaulieu
M- Jameson D'Amico
M- Josh Amaro
M- Parker Kolb
F- Jake Persenico
F- Bernard Elegbede
Naperville North
GK- Tommy Welch
D- Matt Bilardello
D- Mitch Konrad
D- Colin Iverson
D- Cesar Recendez
M- Ethan Harvey
M- Ian Guppy
M- Will Ritzman
M- Jack Barry
F- Patrick Koenig
F- Ty Konrad
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Jack Barry, sr., MF, Naperville North
Officials: M-John Martelin, AR1-Rafal Zielinski, AR2 Chris Rudolph, 4th-Mike Umano
Scoring summary
First half
Naperville North: Koenig (FK) 14'
Naperville North: Barry (U/A) 16'