NSCD maintains league lead
with win over Northridge
Raiders squeak out 1-0 decision on Roverts-Jones 2nd half goal
By Michael Wojtychiw
WINNETKA -- When North Shore Country Day and Northridge get together on the pitch, it's bound to be a good match.
On Sept. 14, the Raiders pulled out a 3-2 win in double overtime. Just eight days later, North Shore Country Day (9-1-1, 5-0-1 Independent School League) knew that if they wanted to stay atop the league standings it needed to sweep the season series.
The game may not have been as high scoring or as long as the previous matchup, but the result was the same -- a North Shore Country Day win. The Raiders took the home match 1-0 at the Skokie Playfields.
"Today, we really felt more comfortable with the ball at our feet," Northridge manager Alvaro Vargas said. "They beat us 1-0 with one mistake of communication, but aside from that I thought we played a great game.
"We made them uncomfortable on their home field. We did a good job of controlling the second half, making them be on their toes. And the difference was just that one mistake."
North Shore Country Day keeper Nick Potter pointed out some differences in the wins.
"I think their field played a big role last time," he said. "They've got a smaller pitch, and their throw-ins are really dangerous. We had some communication errors there, but it was a great team win.
"We scratch and claw to get a win and that shows our mentality and how we go into each game. We're grinders, will put our best foot forward and challenge anyone."
The Raiders were able to put pressure on Northridge keeper Owen Mongoven in the first half and forced the senior to make four saves in the match's first 40 minutes.
But unfortunately for the home team, they weren't able to use the stiff wind to their advantage. Mongoven kept the Raiders off the board and the scoreboard blank at intermission.
"Honestly, I wasn't really happy with how we played today," North Shore's Mason Roberts-Jones said. "Especially in the first half, we could have improved on some things. We were missing some guys, but we can't use that as an excuse."
The halftime break led to some changes for North Shore Country Day, including its formation.
Manager Kyle Jones hoped that the switch would allow the Raiders some more chances to put the ball into the back of the net.
"We switched Mason up-top because I knew he could time his runs and go in with the chance to finish," Jones said. "The weather played into it too, because they'd have the wind, so we decided to make it more solid in the back. We've played the system before. Sometimes when you make adjustments they work, and today they did."
"We really battled, Northridge is always a tough opponent," Potter said. "They always make you work. I thought we were comfortable with the ball but really picked it up in the second half.
"In the first half, we were caught offside a bunch, playing too many touches on the ball, playing too direct. We switched to a 4-2-3-1 to give us a little more cover in the middle of the defensive half in the second half. We combined well and were able to play out of the back superbly."
After a couple quick chances didn't come through, North Shore Country Day finally capitalized in the 47th minute when Roberts-Jones finished a Danny Becker pass for the game's only goal.
"Danny played a really nice ball to me," he said. "Once I got close, I was just able to slide it in there."
While Northridge didn’t finish any of its opportunities, the Knights created some good chances in the second half that led to two corners and forced Potter to make four saves.
That's been one thing that's been plaguing Northridge this season. They've been held to one goal during their four-game losing streak.
"Guys just need to step up and take shots," Vargas said. "We've been focusing on that in practice. It's still a work in progress. I think once the guys get some confidence, they'll be taking more shots.
“They have the capacity to score, but now they just need to come out and show it with confidence. I think is the biggest thing they're missing."
The wear and tear of the season may have been a bit of an issue for the visitors as well. They played five games since last Friday, including two in a tournament Saturday.
While their manager doesn't want to say that's been a cause, he realizes that it's something they need to work through. Luckily for them, they get a break. The Knights next game is until Sept. 29, against IC Catholic.
"In preseason we focus a lot on preparing for weeks like this where it's a rough schedule," the Northridge manager said. "We know that a lot of schools will be facing similar schedules, but we encourage them to rest up when they go home. It's a bit tough, but we're used to it by now."
One aspect of North Shore Country Day’s program that's always been stout has been the play of its defense and goalkeeper.
This season, the team has given up a total of six goals and has four shutouts this month, three against conference opponents. Potter knows that if his team is to keep winning, the defense will have to maintain its toughness.
"Having these guys in front of me makes my job super, super easy," Potter said. "They're all great with their feet, communicate with each other and know the game, it's amazing. It's definitely a weight off my shoulders.
"I think we have the best backline in our conference, and it's shown because we haven't conceded a lot of goals."
Northridge hopes to make some noise in the state playoffs despite carrying three sophomores and four freshmen on the roster.
"We've just got to communicate on the field, especially amongst the forwards," Vargas said. "They need to play off each other and use the talent they have to their advantage because. I think right now … they just haven't been able to demonstrate it."
The last time the IHSA had a boys soccer state playoff, North Shore Country Day made school history, winning its first sectional and supersectional titles en route to a fourth place finish.
This team has a different look than the 2019 squad, but the program has similar goals.
"We just want to see consistency," Jones said. "At this stage, we just have to be consistent in performances. We've got to be bringing it every game.
"We've got a tough stretch of nonconference and league games and as we head to the playoffs. We want consistent performances and guys competing, getting guys healthy so we can be the strongest we can be."
Starting lineups
Northridge Prep
GK: Owen Mongoven
D: Owen Coleman
D: Isaiah Fletcher
D: Linus Coleman
MF: Joseph Mullen
MF: Jack Brown
MF: Joseph Paschall
F: Benjamin Hanretty
F: Thomas Smith
F: Franco Chapello
F: Jacob Platt
North Shore Country Day
GK: Nick Potter
D: Jackson Berner
D: Finn Doornweerd
D: Buckley Oslerich
D: Tae Won Lillig
D: Eric Johnson
MF: Benji Leonetti
MF: Mason Roberts-Jones
MF: Teddy Gallun
MF: Leif Steele
F: Danny Becker
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Mason Roberts-Jones, sr., MF, North Shore Country Day
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
North Shore Country Day: Mason Roberts-Jones (Danny Becker), 47th minute
with win over Northridge
Raiders squeak out 1-0 decision on Roverts-Jones 2nd half goal
By Michael Wojtychiw
WINNETKA -- When North Shore Country Day and Northridge get together on the pitch, it's bound to be a good match.
On Sept. 14, the Raiders pulled out a 3-2 win in double overtime. Just eight days later, North Shore Country Day (9-1-1, 5-0-1 Independent School League) knew that if they wanted to stay atop the league standings it needed to sweep the season series.
The game may not have been as high scoring or as long as the previous matchup, but the result was the same -- a North Shore Country Day win. The Raiders took the home match 1-0 at the Skokie Playfields.
"Today, we really felt more comfortable with the ball at our feet," Northridge manager Alvaro Vargas said. "They beat us 1-0 with one mistake of communication, but aside from that I thought we played a great game.
"We made them uncomfortable on their home field. We did a good job of controlling the second half, making them be on their toes. And the difference was just that one mistake."
North Shore Country Day keeper Nick Potter pointed out some differences in the wins.
"I think their field played a big role last time," he said. "They've got a smaller pitch, and their throw-ins are really dangerous. We had some communication errors there, but it was a great team win.
"We scratch and claw to get a win and that shows our mentality and how we go into each game. We're grinders, will put our best foot forward and challenge anyone."
The Raiders were able to put pressure on Northridge keeper Owen Mongoven in the first half and forced the senior to make four saves in the match's first 40 minutes.
But unfortunately for the home team, they weren't able to use the stiff wind to their advantage. Mongoven kept the Raiders off the board and the scoreboard blank at intermission.
"Honestly, I wasn't really happy with how we played today," North Shore's Mason Roberts-Jones said. "Especially in the first half, we could have improved on some things. We were missing some guys, but we can't use that as an excuse."
The halftime break led to some changes for North Shore Country Day, including its formation.
Manager Kyle Jones hoped that the switch would allow the Raiders some more chances to put the ball into the back of the net.
"We switched Mason up-top because I knew he could time his runs and go in with the chance to finish," Jones said. "The weather played into it too, because they'd have the wind, so we decided to make it more solid in the back. We've played the system before. Sometimes when you make adjustments they work, and today they did."
"We really battled, Northridge is always a tough opponent," Potter said. "They always make you work. I thought we were comfortable with the ball but really picked it up in the second half.
"In the first half, we were caught offside a bunch, playing too many touches on the ball, playing too direct. We switched to a 4-2-3-1 to give us a little more cover in the middle of the defensive half in the second half. We combined well and were able to play out of the back superbly."
After a couple quick chances didn't come through, North Shore Country Day finally capitalized in the 47th minute when Roberts-Jones finished a Danny Becker pass for the game's only goal.
"Danny played a really nice ball to me," he said. "Once I got close, I was just able to slide it in there."
While Northridge didn’t finish any of its opportunities, the Knights created some good chances in the second half that led to two corners and forced Potter to make four saves.
That's been one thing that's been plaguing Northridge this season. They've been held to one goal during their four-game losing streak.
"Guys just need to step up and take shots," Vargas said. "We've been focusing on that in practice. It's still a work in progress. I think once the guys get some confidence, they'll be taking more shots.
“They have the capacity to score, but now they just need to come out and show it with confidence. I think is the biggest thing they're missing."
The wear and tear of the season may have been a bit of an issue for the visitors as well. They played five games since last Friday, including two in a tournament Saturday.
While their manager doesn't want to say that's been a cause, he realizes that it's something they need to work through. Luckily for them, they get a break. The Knights next game is until Sept. 29, against IC Catholic.
"In preseason we focus a lot on preparing for weeks like this where it's a rough schedule," the Northridge manager said. "We know that a lot of schools will be facing similar schedules, but we encourage them to rest up when they go home. It's a bit tough, but we're used to it by now."
One aspect of North Shore Country Day’s program that's always been stout has been the play of its defense and goalkeeper.
This season, the team has given up a total of six goals and has four shutouts this month, three against conference opponents. Potter knows that if his team is to keep winning, the defense will have to maintain its toughness.
"Having these guys in front of me makes my job super, super easy," Potter said. "They're all great with their feet, communicate with each other and know the game, it's amazing. It's definitely a weight off my shoulders.
"I think we have the best backline in our conference, and it's shown because we haven't conceded a lot of goals."
Northridge hopes to make some noise in the state playoffs despite carrying three sophomores and four freshmen on the roster.
"We've just got to communicate on the field, especially amongst the forwards," Vargas said. "They need to play off each other and use the talent they have to their advantage because. I think right now … they just haven't been able to demonstrate it."
The last time the IHSA had a boys soccer state playoff, North Shore Country Day made school history, winning its first sectional and supersectional titles en route to a fourth place finish.
This team has a different look than the 2019 squad, but the program has similar goals.
"We just want to see consistency," Jones said. "At this stage, we just have to be consistent in performances. We've got to be bringing it every game.
"We've got a tough stretch of nonconference and league games and as we head to the playoffs. We want consistent performances and guys competing, getting guys healthy so we can be the strongest we can be."
Starting lineups
Northridge Prep
GK: Owen Mongoven
D: Owen Coleman
D: Isaiah Fletcher
D: Linus Coleman
MF: Joseph Mullen
MF: Jack Brown
MF: Joseph Paschall
F: Benjamin Hanretty
F: Thomas Smith
F: Franco Chapello
F: Jacob Platt
North Shore Country Day
GK: Nick Potter
D: Jackson Berner
D: Finn Doornweerd
D: Buckley Oslerich
D: Tae Won Lillig
D: Eric Johnson
MF: Benji Leonetti
MF: Mason Roberts-Jones
MF: Teddy Gallun
MF: Leif Steele
F: Danny Becker
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Mason Roberts-Jones, sr., MF, North Shore Country Day
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
North Shore Country Day: Mason Roberts-Jones (Danny Becker), 47th minute