Weaver makes the right move for NT
Goal leads no. 10 Trevians past Niles North 1-0
By Patrick Z. McGavin
SKOKIE -- Matt Ravenscraft thought the game played closer to the back-and-forth rhythm of tennis. He preferred chess, tactical and having the ability and foresight to play the long-game and think moves ahead.
The New Trier coach has the all-purpose weapon, the Swiss Army Knife-star senior midfielder Logan Weaver. How Ravenscraft moves him around, deciding ways to spring him, is the key in opening up and weaponizing the Trevians’ attack.
Playing against a red-hot Niles North team, New Trier sought out every imaginable advantage.
“We liked the matchup of pushing Logan wide [left], because it isolated him and put him in space,” Ravenscraft said. “Sure enough he made the key moment that defines the game.”
With each game, the Northwestern recruit is separating himself from the pack, making his bid as the state’s top individual talent.
In a physical and intensely played game, Weaver again rose to the occasion.
In the 57th minute, Weaver chased down a ball for a spectacular turnover he quickly converted into an offensive movement. He bore down and made a quick juke move to unleash a hurricane shot from 24 yards inside the far post for the mo. 10 Trevians’ 1-0 victory on the opening night of Central Suburban League South Division play Tuesday night.
Weaver earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match distinction for his exhilarating play.
“It obviously comes from the confidence that the team puts in me,” Weaver said. “It’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work of those guys trusting me to take guys on. I just tried to do my best there and work for the team, and fortunately I found the back of the net.”
New Trier (4-1-2, 1-0-0) dominated for long stretches only to be thwarted in the final third. Weaver and 6-foot=5 defender Andrew Kuhn nearly collaborated on a beautiful corner set piece in the first half. Kuhn’s initial header hit off the crossbar. His follow up shot was denied by Vikings’ standout keeper Sami Abdul.
“Our first half was not definitely where we wanted to be,” Weaver said. “We know we could play much better than that. That was the talk at halftime. We needed to be a little bit more tougher and bring a little bit more intensity and trust each other a little bit more.
“At the start of the second half, I know I felt it. And I think the other guys felt it as well, where we just started coming together and working towards the goal, and it was less individual play and more team oriented. It ended up in a goal for us, and we did a great job of managing the game from there.”
The Trevians’ victory snapped the school-record, nine-game winning streak of the surging Vikings (10-1-1, 0-1-0). Niles North is an ascendant program. In their second game of the year, junior defender Rogello Urquiza scored on a 65-yard free kick in the 80th minute for a 2-2 draw with Prospect.
That augured the promise to come. Niles North’s 11-game unbeaten streak entering the New Trier game marked a new dynamic for the program.
“This is our best start in school history,” coach Filip Cejovic said. “Last year we went 11-7-7, so we won 10 regular-season games for the first time in school history. We are extremely proud to have started to become a relative soccer destination on the North Shore.
“I think the game today obviously showed that we are close.”
A serious and intense man, Cejovic has transformed the culture. The players have bought in.
“More kids are starting to play year round,” he said. “I also think that we have focused on the details and the approach of the game to respect each teammate, respect the game and respect what we are trying to do.
“What that means is playing our best and raise the standard to what we are trying to accomplish.”
Niles North has some intriguing offensive talent Cejovic has beautifully integrated into the attack. The Vikings feature a powerful forward combination of lanky Jesse Anamoo and small and quick Jalen Success.
Midfielders Zain Jamal and Elliot Allahverdy also created some compelling soccer moments of their own.
“I thought it was a very good game,” Cejovic said. “I thought it was an entertaining, very hard-fought match. Obviously New Trier is a well-coached machine with players who are capable of being flexible, being aggressive and putting teams under pressure.
“I was really proud of my kids keeping their cool, keeping their heads, managing to possess the ball and playing some soccer.”
Niles North achieved its objective of matching the intensity and work rate of the Trevians.
“I think coming into the game we were pretty confident with our record,” Jamal said. “We know that year in and year out that New Trier is a powerhouse. Throughout the game there were momentum swings, and I am proud of our team that we stuck with them for the most part. It was just really one play that decided the match for the most part.
“Our defense throughout the season has been very solid. We’ve only had six goals (against) in 12 games.”
Niles North has begun to make the next step.
“I think kids are taking it more seriously,” Allahverdy said. “Every time we have morning practices, everybody is up early and and getting the work in. We have a different mindset. Everybody really wants it this year. I am really proud of everybody. The underclassmen understand if you don’t want it, then you are not going to be on the team.
“They have shown they want to be here.”
With each game New Trier has exhibited great strides. The backline has coalesced behind Kuhn and Daniel Gunther.
“We have worked very hard in getting organized in the back, especially Andy Kuhn and I,” Gunther said. “We saw that no. 9 (Anamoo) was fast and very dangerous, and we had to make sure someone was on. We also had a trailer underneath so that if he got away from one defender someone else was there to pick him up.”
The subtle improvement has infused the team with greater confidence and authority.
“Our mentality is we are not where we want to be yet, but we are coming together,” Gunther said. “I am happy with where we are. First conference game is when the season really starts, and we are just looking to put everything together.”
Offensively junior forward Alex Powell showed tremendous explosiveness in space. David Kugler returned after missing games from complications of a concussion. He brings savvy and technical skill
“I thought for the most part we stayed engaged,” Ravenscraft said. “Niles North is a very tough place to come and get a win. Filip has done a great job. They have some very good players. We tried to play our style of soccer. There were moments when we got dragged.
“This is only going to make us stronger.”
Starting lineups
New Trier
GK: James McGranahan
D: Daniel Gunther
D: Andrew Kuhn
D: Charles Hoholik
D: Jeffrey Urban
MF: Dominic de Boer
MF: Logan Weaver
MF: Benjamin Streett
MF: Sean Gooze
F: Jake Krueger
F: Alex Powell
Niles North
GK: Sami Abdul
D: Jensen Blum
D: Eden Allahverdy
D: Rogello Urquiza
MF: Zain Jamal
MF: Liam Perreault
MF: Jimmy Boudakh
MF: Elliot Allahverdy
F: Philip Krause
F: Jesse Anamoo
F: Jalen Success
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Logan Weaver, sr., MF, New Trier,
Scoring summary
First half
None
Second half
New Trier—Logan Weaver (unassisted), 57th minute
Goal leads no. 10 Trevians past Niles North 1-0
By Patrick Z. McGavin
SKOKIE -- Matt Ravenscraft thought the game played closer to the back-and-forth rhythm of tennis. He preferred chess, tactical and having the ability and foresight to play the long-game and think moves ahead.
The New Trier coach has the all-purpose weapon, the Swiss Army Knife-star senior midfielder Logan Weaver. How Ravenscraft moves him around, deciding ways to spring him, is the key in opening up and weaponizing the Trevians’ attack.
Playing against a red-hot Niles North team, New Trier sought out every imaginable advantage.
“We liked the matchup of pushing Logan wide [left], because it isolated him and put him in space,” Ravenscraft said. “Sure enough he made the key moment that defines the game.”
With each game, the Northwestern recruit is separating himself from the pack, making his bid as the state’s top individual talent.
In a physical and intensely played game, Weaver again rose to the occasion.
In the 57th minute, Weaver chased down a ball for a spectacular turnover he quickly converted into an offensive movement. He bore down and made a quick juke move to unleash a hurricane shot from 24 yards inside the far post for the mo. 10 Trevians’ 1-0 victory on the opening night of Central Suburban League South Division play Tuesday night.
Weaver earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match distinction for his exhilarating play.
“It obviously comes from the confidence that the team puts in me,” Weaver said. “It’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work of those guys trusting me to take guys on. I just tried to do my best there and work for the team, and fortunately I found the back of the net.”
New Trier (4-1-2, 1-0-0) dominated for long stretches only to be thwarted in the final third. Weaver and 6-foot=5 defender Andrew Kuhn nearly collaborated on a beautiful corner set piece in the first half. Kuhn’s initial header hit off the crossbar. His follow up shot was denied by Vikings’ standout keeper Sami Abdul.
“Our first half was not definitely where we wanted to be,” Weaver said. “We know we could play much better than that. That was the talk at halftime. We needed to be a little bit more tougher and bring a little bit more intensity and trust each other a little bit more.
“At the start of the second half, I know I felt it. And I think the other guys felt it as well, where we just started coming together and working towards the goal, and it was less individual play and more team oriented. It ended up in a goal for us, and we did a great job of managing the game from there.”
The Trevians’ victory snapped the school-record, nine-game winning streak of the surging Vikings (10-1-1, 0-1-0). Niles North is an ascendant program. In their second game of the year, junior defender Rogello Urquiza scored on a 65-yard free kick in the 80th minute for a 2-2 draw with Prospect.
That augured the promise to come. Niles North’s 11-game unbeaten streak entering the New Trier game marked a new dynamic for the program.
“This is our best start in school history,” coach Filip Cejovic said. “Last year we went 11-7-7, so we won 10 regular-season games for the first time in school history. We are extremely proud to have started to become a relative soccer destination on the North Shore.
“I think the game today obviously showed that we are close.”
A serious and intense man, Cejovic has transformed the culture. The players have bought in.
“More kids are starting to play year round,” he said. “I also think that we have focused on the details and the approach of the game to respect each teammate, respect the game and respect what we are trying to do.
“What that means is playing our best and raise the standard to what we are trying to accomplish.”
Niles North has some intriguing offensive talent Cejovic has beautifully integrated into the attack. The Vikings feature a powerful forward combination of lanky Jesse Anamoo and small and quick Jalen Success.
Midfielders Zain Jamal and Elliot Allahverdy also created some compelling soccer moments of their own.
“I thought it was a very good game,” Cejovic said. “I thought it was an entertaining, very hard-fought match. Obviously New Trier is a well-coached machine with players who are capable of being flexible, being aggressive and putting teams under pressure.
“I was really proud of my kids keeping their cool, keeping their heads, managing to possess the ball and playing some soccer.”
Niles North achieved its objective of matching the intensity and work rate of the Trevians.
“I think coming into the game we were pretty confident with our record,” Jamal said. “We know that year in and year out that New Trier is a powerhouse. Throughout the game there were momentum swings, and I am proud of our team that we stuck with them for the most part. It was just really one play that decided the match for the most part.
“Our defense throughout the season has been very solid. We’ve only had six goals (against) in 12 games.”
Niles North has begun to make the next step.
“I think kids are taking it more seriously,” Allahverdy said. “Every time we have morning practices, everybody is up early and and getting the work in. We have a different mindset. Everybody really wants it this year. I am really proud of everybody. The underclassmen understand if you don’t want it, then you are not going to be on the team.
“They have shown they want to be here.”
With each game New Trier has exhibited great strides. The backline has coalesced behind Kuhn and Daniel Gunther.
“We have worked very hard in getting organized in the back, especially Andy Kuhn and I,” Gunther said. “We saw that no. 9 (Anamoo) was fast and very dangerous, and we had to make sure someone was on. We also had a trailer underneath so that if he got away from one defender someone else was there to pick him up.”
The subtle improvement has infused the team with greater confidence and authority.
“Our mentality is we are not where we want to be yet, but we are coming together,” Gunther said. “I am happy with where we are. First conference game is when the season really starts, and we are just looking to put everything together.”
Offensively junior forward Alex Powell showed tremendous explosiveness in space. David Kugler returned after missing games from complications of a concussion. He brings savvy and technical skill
“I thought for the most part we stayed engaged,” Ravenscraft said. “Niles North is a very tough place to come and get a win. Filip has done a great job. They have some very good players. We tried to play our style of soccer. There were moments when we got dragged.
“This is only going to make us stronger.”
Starting lineups
New Trier
GK: James McGranahan
D: Daniel Gunther
D: Andrew Kuhn
D: Charles Hoholik
D: Jeffrey Urban
MF: Dominic de Boer
MF: Logan Weaver
MF: Benjamin Streett
MF: Sean Gooze
F: Jake Krueger
F: Alex Powell
Niles North
GK: Sami Abdul
D: Jensen Blum
D: Eden Allahverdy
D: Rogello Urquiza
MF: Zain Jamal
MF: Liam Perreault
MF: Jimmy Boudakh
MF: Elliot Allahverdy
F: Philip Krause
F: Jesse Anamoo
F: Jalen Success
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Logan Weaver, sr., MF, New Trier,
Scoring summary
First half
None
Second half
New Trier—Logan Weaver (unassisted), 57th minute