New Trier ousted vs. Stevenson in OT
Gopalam free kick finds net in 93rd minute for 1-0 win
By Mike Garofola
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS -- Reaching the Hersey Supersectional showpiece at Roland Goins Stadium required New Trier and Stevenson to display heart, dedication, grit, bravery, the ability to develop a few new faces and finding a bit of futbol good luck along the way.
On an energy-sapping night that stretched into overtime, Stevenson took a late lead just seven minutes from penalty kicks then held on for dear life to advance into the final weekend of the season with a 1-0 victory over the Trevians.
The win came after a wonder goal of sorts in the 93rd minute off the right foot of Rohan Gopalam. After the game the Patriots senior, like so many others, had no idea how his effort got past the goal line.
"All I wanted to do was to put the ball in a good spot, have one of the fellas flick it on," said Gopalam. “I never thought it would end up in the back of the net.”
"It's never easy going out this far into the postseason. This one tonight was a tough one for all of us," said disappointed New Trier manager Matt Ravenscraft, who with a win would have sent his program to the finals for the first time since 2009, when All-American Ben Beaver led the Trevians to a third place finish.
"It's been a long time since a New Trier team had made it to state. We felt we had a great chance to end (that) streak," said Trevians senior Evan Kanellos, who wears the captain's armband proudly along with teammates Matthew Perchik and Colin Gottshall. “Unfortunately, we didn't get the result we wanted to tonight."
Kanellos (13 goals, 12 assists) played forward, attacking mid, winger and the six with superb elegance, purpose and passion for Ravenscraft this season.
"Evan was one of the most versatile players I've had the privilege to coach,” said Ravenscraft. “We were at our best when he played (deep). He was always willing to do whatever it took to help the team."
The Trevians manager said after a cagey start to this affair on this gorgeous first day of November, things turned quickly in favor of Stevenson (21-0-3). The Patriots played equally through their midfielders, who in turn connected with Nazar Mormul and Daniel Sokolvsky up-top.
"We came out in the same 3-5-2 in order to mirror the same formation of New Trier, using plenty of film to teach the boys the tendencies of Matt's team, and to try to win our 1-v-1s when presented in order to be more dangerous in isolation," said Patriots manager PepeJon Chavez.
New Trier did its homework too.
"In our preparation for this game, we saw (from scout film) that Stevenson was tactically flexible,” said Ravenscraft. “They play several different formations during the course of the game, so we were prepared for a 4-3-3, 4-4-2 (diamond midfield) or the 3-5-2 that they came out in.
"We were able to identify the 3-5-2 in the early stages. The boys reacted well and executed the game plan we put forth."
While Stevenson leaned on its midfielders and forwards, the Trevians were at their best with Kanellos running the show. Aryan Krishna had good success in 1-v-1 situations that he created with his high work-rate alongside Perchik. The pair formed a terrific partnership up-top.
"Matthew (10 goals) was one of the most exciting players I've ever coached,” said Ravenscraft. “He struggled with illness and injury in the first half of the season but modeled to his teammates how to stay locked in and work through adversity in a positive way.
"Once he was healthy, he was absolutely massive for us down the stretch. His brace against Niles North in our sectional semifinal was one of his best-ever performances for us."
Outside back and junior Liam Myers was active with or without the ball. He took many of the Trevians deep throws and saw his first of the night flicked on frame and saved by Aidan Morris in the 12th minute to begin a magnificent night of work from the Patriots keeper, who shared the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor with Kanellos.
"Aidan was easily the Man of the Match for us," said Chavez. “In our film sessions we knew he could own his six in the air. New Trier was so good in box of their opposition, we needed Aidan to come through for us.”
"Our backline played very well together as a unit tonight, but Aidan took full control in and around his box," said the Patriots all-state center back Steven Nyc, whose recovery pace, air and ground superiority, composure and deft touch sets him apart from so many others. “He saved us several times and was such a key figure in this win.”
"Their keeper was very good for them tonight,” said Ravenscraft. “He brought down so many balls in a crowd, made some big saves and was solid in every aspect of his game."
Morris' counterpart, New Trier sophomore Thomas Terry, received some help from his teammates, who blocked consecutive efforts from in-close by Filip Janda in the 22nd minute.
Moments later, a sharp tackle from Nyc stopped a lovely bit of combination play from Krishna and Perchik.
The exchanges inspired more urgency from both sides.
Perchik ran onto a early ball out of the back and was treated to a rough ride in the box from Stevenson junior Alex Huelsman. Referee Hanah Shehaiber, who was solid all night, would not let the calls for a PK from the Trevians faithful interfere with her correct ruling of no foul in the 33rd minute.
Moments later, Morris went high into the air to punch with authority a 40-yard free kick from Myers, and then held on tight to a well hit 16-yard effort off the left foot of Eli Drake.
A handful of deep throws and free kicks were entered into the scorebooks during a busy last five minutes of the first period, though none were dangerous or of quality.
"It was an interesting first half of soccer,” said Ravenscraft. “Each team had its 10-15 minutes of having a lot of the play. There were ebbs and flows, which you would expect from two evenly matched teams playing out there."
"We were a little slow coming out tonight," offered Gottshall, whom Ravenscraft called the leader of a defense that conceded just 16 goals in 25 games while claiming 12 clean-sheets between Terry and junior Shafer Brahm. “It was two teams playing basically the same style, and they were a little better than we were early on. As the half went on, we got back into the game, and it really was the type of game that saw both teams share the play.”
"Colin is incredibly strong in the air, and rarely lost a duel," said Ravenscraft.
"He is so comfortable with the ball on his foot, and he consistently helped us break the first line of the defense of the opposition on the dribble or finding the correct midfield teammate in space.
"He helped our new defenders and new keeper settle into their roles and made our defense better with his leadership.”
The early second half play was tepid from both sides. It sprung to life with a pair of free kicks from the Trevians and another fine save from Morris on a curling effort from Kanellos. That was followed by an enterprising run into the box by Karsten Segall that again left fans arguing for a PK.
With the Trevians confidence now building, Kanellos forced Morris into action in the air on a catch and hold on his 57th-minute attempt. Then teammate Theo Franzen unleashed a wicked blast with the outside of his foot just over the bar after a lovely build-up.
It seemed like Morris’ gloves were dipped in Super Glue. The Stevenson keeper showed an amazing ability to hold on to balls sent into his box from all angles. He had plenty of company in the box but never wavered from the task at hand.
"Aidan has been our last line of defense during the playoffs,” said Chavez. “Together with Steven and his teammates along the back, they have been outstanding."
As the contest wore on, it was clear that both sides were set on keeping the ball out of their net. Though the play tilted the field both ways, neither side could pry open the other in the final third.
The one constant that remained from the opening whistle was the press-and-possess mentality exhibited from both sides -- the ability to provide pressure with diligence, win the ball back immediately after losing it and initiating a new attack.
The beauty and joy of this particular game was in its fluidity. Both sides put forth positional play, defensive rotations and the approach to press the other, which created tight spaces at times.
"We had to be very sharp in our play on both sides of the ball,” said Ravenscraft. “We were, for most of the night, but again that's what you expect in a game like this, with two great teams playing.”
"We used an inside-out attack to … split their two and seven, especially on our left side,” said Chavez. “It worked pretty well for us, especially late in the second half and in overtime."
Both clubs could have claimed the prize in regulation. New Trier came close when Franzen was given space and time to tee-up a 22-yard smash toward an open back post, but his 77th-minute attempt went just wide.
Bryant Rouse had an opportunity for Stevenson. That chance, when he was left alone from 12 yards, saw Terry save the low drive.
Both teams hunted for the game-winner in overtime.
Stevenson’s Alex Xie went wide from 22 yards in the 85th minute. A quick restart from New Trier’s Kevin Farina ended with a Segall half-chance saved by Morris.
Something seemed different during the sequence when the free kick of Gopalam entered the box and seemingly went untouched though a sea of white and green shirts before ending up in the back of the Trevians net.
"It was like time stood still until I saw the ball in the net, and they announced my name as the goal-scorer," said Gopalam of his seventh and most important goal of his prep career.
New Trier tried to equalize and served one ball after another into the Patriots box, but all were defended smartly. When the final whistle brought this memorable supersectional to an end, Trevians players dropped to the turf, while Stevenson raced to face their adoring fans in advance of lifting the supersectional trophy.
New Trier finished the season with a record of 18-2-5.
"Nobody feels really great right now," said Kanellos, who will play next fall at the University of Chicago. “We had a fantastic season. In a couple of days, all of us will realize what we accomplished together. It was a great year, and run.”
“We fought hard all night long,” said Gottshall. “In the end, it was just one of those things that happen in soccer.”
"Both teams were high-level sides,” said Ravenscraft. "Our backline was a big question mark at the start of the season. We returned quite a few attacking players, but just Gottshall remained as a defender from our 2021 first eleven."
“Kevin Farina and Liam Myers stepped up massively. Those three, along our rotation of wing-backs: Aidan Nicholson, Wyatt McAlexander and Segall, were the heart of what became a very good defense."
"Thomas grew by leaps and bounds as our keeper. Despite the heartbreak of this tremendous season coming to an end, we'll welcome back a terrific core beginning with Farina, Myers, Terry, our junior keeper Shafter Brahm, and Ollie Fernandez who gave us plenty of minutes as a junior at center back, and wing.
"For me, I cannot be more proud of this group of great young men.
“Credit Stevenson, and best of luck to them this weekend. "
Starting lineups
Stevenson (3-5-2)
G- Aidan Morris
D- Burak Gulsen
D- Steven Nyc
D- Alex Huelsman
MF- Grayson Lueck
MF- Bhargav Devahaktuni
MF- Alex Xie
MF- Bryant Rouse
MF- Rohan Gopalam
F- Nazar Mormul
F- Daniel Sokolvsky
New Trier (4-4-2)
G- Thomas Terry
D- Karsten Segall
D- Kevin Farina
D- Colin Gottshall
D- Liam Myers
MF- Aidan Nicholson
MF- Theo Franzen
MF- Evan Kanellos
MF- Eli Drake
F- Aryan Krishna
F- Matthew Perchik
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match:
Rohan Gopalam, sr., MF, Stevenson;
Evan Kanellos, sr., MF, New Trier
Referee: Hanah Shehaiber
Scoring summary
First half
No goals
Second Half
No goals
First overtime
No goals
Second overtime
Stevenson: Gopalam (U/A), 93'
Statistics
Shots on goal
Stevenson: 4
New Trier: 5
Shots off
Stevenson: 7
New Trier: 10
Corner kicks
Stevenson: 2
New Trier: 6
Offsides
Stevenson: 0
New Trier: 0
Fouls
Stevenson: 14
New Trier: 12
Blocked shots
Stevenson: 4
New Trier: 2
Yellow cards
Stevenson: 0
New Trier: 2
Gopalam free kick finds net in 93rd minute for 1-0 win
By Mike Garofola
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS -- Reaching the Hersey Supersectional showpiece at Roland Goins Stadium required New Trier and Stevenson to display heart, dedication, grit, bravery, the ability to develop a few new faces and finding a bit of futbol good luck along the way.
On an energy-sapping night that stretched into overtime, Stevenson took a late lead just seven minutes from penalty kicks then held on for dear life to advance into the final weekend of the season with a 1-0 victory over the Trevians.
The win came after a wonder goal of sorts in the 93rd minute off the right foot of Rohan Gopalam. After the game the Patriots senior, like so many others, had no idea how his effort got past the goal line.
"All I wanted to do was to put the ball in a good spot, have one of the fellas flick it on," said Gopalam. “I never thought it would end up in the back of the net.”
"It's never easy going out this far into the postseason. This one tonight was a tough one for all of us," said disappointed New Trier manager Matt Ravenscraft, who with a win would have sent his program to the finals for the first time since 2009, when All-American Ben Beaver led the Trevians to a third place finish.
"It's been a long time since a New Trier team had made it to state. We felt we had a great chance to end (that) streak," said Trevians senior Evan Kanellos, who wears the captain's armband proudly along with teammates Matthew Perchik and Colin Gottshall. “Unfortunately, we didn't get the result we wanted to tonight."
Kanellos (13 goals, 12 assists) played forward, attacking mid, winger and the six with superb elegance, purpose and passion for Ravenscraft this season.
"Evan was one of the most versatile players I've had the privilege to coach,” said Ravenscraft. “We were at our best when he played (deep). He was always willing to do whatever it took to help the team."
The Trevians manager said after a cagey start to this affair on this gorgeous first day of November, things turned quickly in favor of Stevenson (21-0-3). The Patriots played equally through their midfielders, who in turn connected with Nazar Mormul and Daniel Sokolvsky up-top.
"We came out in the same 3-5-2 in order to mirror the same formation of New Trier, using plenty of film to teach the boys the tendencies of Matt's team, and to try to win our 1-v-1s when presented in order to be more dangerous in isolation," said Patriots manager PepeJon Chavez.
New Trier did its homework too.
"In our preparation for this game, we saw (from scout film) that Stevenson was tactically flexible,” said Ravenscraft. “They play several different formations during the course of the game, so we were prepared for a 4-3-3, 4-4-2 (diamond midfield) or the 3-5-2 that they came out in.
"We were able to identify the 3-5-2 in the early stages. The boys reacted well and executed the game plan we put forth."
While Stevenson leaned on its midfielders and forwards, the Trevians were at their best with Kanellos running the show. Aryan Krishna had good success in 1-v-1 situations that he created with his high work-rate alongside Perchik. The pair formed a terrific partnership up-top.
"Matthew (10 goals) was one of the most exciting players I've ever coached,” said Ravenscraft. “He struggled with illness and injury in the first half of the season but modeled to his teammates how to stay locked in and work through adversity in a positive way.
"Once he was healthy, he was absolutely massive for us down the stretch. His brace against Niles North in our sectional semifinal was one of his best-ever performances for us."
Outside back and junior Liam Myers was active with or without the ball. He took many of the Trevians deep throws and saw his first of the night flicked on frame and saved by Aidan Morris in the 12th minute to begin a magnificent night of work from the Patriots keeper, who shared the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor with Kanellos.
"Aidan was easily the Man of the Match for us," said Chavez. “In our film sessions we knew he could own his six in the air. New Trier was so good in box of their opposition, we needed Aidan to come through for us.”
"Our backline played very well together as a unit tonight, but Aidan took full control in and around his box," said the Patriots all-state center back Steven Nyc, whose recovery pace, air and ground superiority, composure and deft touch sets him apart from so many others. “He saved us several times and was such a key figure in this win.”
"Their keeper was very good for them tonight,” said Ravenscraft. “He brought down so many balls in a crowd, made some big saves and was solid in every aspect of his game."
Morris' counterpart, New Trier sophomore Thomas Terry, received some help from his teammates, who blocked consecutive efforts from in-close by Filip Janda in the 22nd minute.
Moments later, a sharp tackle from Nyc stopped a lovely bit of combination play from Krishna and Perchik.
The exchanges inspired more urgency from both sides.
Perchik ran onto a early ball out of the back and was treated to a rough ride in the box from Stevenson junior Alex Huelsman. Referee Hanah Shehaiber, who was solid all night, would not let the calls for a PK from the Trevians faithful interfere with her correct ruling of no foul in the 33rd minute.
Moments later, Morris went high into the air to punch with authority a 40-yard free kick from Myers, and then held on tight to a well hit 16-yard effort off the left foot of Eli Drake.
A handful of deep throws and free kicks were entered into the scorebooks during a busy last five minutes of the first period, though none were dangerous or of quality.
"It was an interesting first half of soccer,” said Ravenscraft. “Each team had its 10-15 minutes of having a lot of the play. There were ebbs and flows, which you would expect from two evenly matched teams playing out there."
"We were a little slow coming out tonight," offered Gottshall, whom Ravenscraft called the leader of a defense that conceded just 16 goals in 25 games while claiming 12 clean-sheets between Terry and junior Shafer Brahm. “It was two teams playing basically the same style, and they were a little better than we were early on. As the half went on, we got back into the game, and it really was the type of game that saw both teams share the play.”
"Colin is incredibly strong in the air, and rarely lost a duel," said Ravenscraft.
"He is so comfortable with the ball on his foot, and he consistently helped us break the first line of the defense of the opposition on the dribble or finding the correct midfield teammate in space.
"He helped our new defenders and new keeper settle into their roles and made our defense better with his leadership.”
The early second half play was tepid from both sides. It sprung to life with a pair of free kicks from the Trevians and another fine save from Morris on a curling effort from Kanellos. That was followed by an enterprising run into the box by Karsten Segall that again left fans arguing for a PK.
With the Trevians confidence now building, Kanellos forced Morris into action in the air on a catch and hold on his 57th-minute attempt. Then teammate Theo Franzen unleashed a wicked blast with the outside of his foot just over the bar after a lovely build-up.
It seemed like Morris’ gloves were dipped in Super Glue. The Stevenson keeper showed an amazing ability to hold on to balls sent into his box from all angles. He had plenty of company in the box but never wavered from the task at hand.
"Aidan has been our last line of defense during the playoffs,” said Chavez. “Together with Steven and his teammates along the back, they have been outstanding."
As the contest wore on, it was clear that both sides were set on keeping the ball out of their net. Though the play tilted the field both ways, neither side could pry open the other in the final third.
The one constant that remained from the opening whistle was the press-and-possess mentality exhibited from both sides -- the ability to provide pressure with diligence, win the ball back immediately after losing it and initiating a new attack.
The beauty and joy of this particular game was in its fluidity. Both sides put forth positional play, defensive rotations and the approach to press the other, which created tight spaces at times.
"We had to be very sharp in our play on both sides of the ball,” said Ravenscraft. “We were, for most of the night, but again that's what you expect in a game like this, with two great teams playing.”
"We used an inside-out attack to … split their two and seven, especially on our left side,” said Chavez. “It worked pretty well for us, especially late in the second half and in overtime."
Both clubs could have claimed the prize in regulation. New Trier came close when Franzen was given space and time to tee-up a 22-yard smash toward an open back post, but his 77th-minute attempt went just wide.
Bryant Rouse had an opportunity for Stevenson. That chance, when he was left alone from 12 yards, saw Terry save the low drive.
Both teams hunted for the game-winner in overtime.
Stevenson’s Alex Xie went wide from 22 yards in the 85th minute. A quick restart from New Trier’s Kevin Farina ended with a Segall half-chance saved by Morris.
Something seemed different during the sequence when the free kick of Gopalam entered the box and seemingly went untouched though a sea of white and green shirts before ending up in the back of the Trevians net.
"It was like time stood still until I saw the ball in the net, and they announced my name as the goal-scorer," said Gopalam of his seventh and most important goal of his prep career.
New Trier tried to equalize and served one ball after another into the Patriots box, but all were defended smartly. When the final whistle brought this memorable supersectional to an end, Trevians players dropped to the turf, while Stevenson raced to face their adoring fans in advance of lifting the supersectional trophy.
New Trier finished the season with a record of 18-2-5.
"Nobody feels really great right now," said Kanellos, who will play next fall at the University of Chicago. “We had a fantastic season. In a couple of days, all of us will realize what we accomplished together. It was a great year, and run.”
“We fought hard all night long,” said Gottshall. “In the end, it was just one of those things that happen in soccer.”
"Both teams were high-level sides,” said Ravenscraft. "Our backline was a big question mark at the start of the season. We returned quite a few attacking players, but just Gottshall remained as a defender from our 2021 first eleven."
“Kevin Farina and Liam Myers stepped up massively. Those three, along our rotation of wing-backs: Aidan Nicholson, Wyatt McAlexander and Segall, were the heart of what became a very good defense."
"Thomas grew by leaps and bounds as our keeper. Despite the heartbreak of this tremendous season coming to an end, we'll welcome back a terrific core beginning with Farina, Myers, Terry, our junior keeper Shafter Brahm, and Ollie Fernandez who gave us plenty of minutes as a junior at center back, and wing.
"For me, I cannot be more proud of this group of great young men.
“Credit Stevenson, and best of luck to them this weekend. "
Starting lineups
Stevenson (3-5-2)
G- Aidan Morris
D- Burak Gulsen
D- Steven Nyc
D- Alex Huelsman
MF- Grayson Lueck
MF- Bhargav Devahaktuni
MF- Alex Xie
MF- Bryant Rouse
MF- Rohan Gopalam
F- Nazar Mormul
F- Daniel Sokolvsky
New Trier (4-4-2)
G- Thomas Terry
D- Karsten Segall
D- Kevin Farina
D- Colin Gottshall
D- Liam Myers
MF- Aidan Nicholson
MF- Theo Franzen
MF- Evan Kanellos
MF- Eli Drake
F- Aryan Krishna
F- Matthew Perchik
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match:
Rohan Gopalam, sr., MF, Stevenson;
Evan Kanellos, sr., MF, New Trier
Referee: Hanah Shehaiber
Scoring summary
First half
No goals
Second Half
No goals
First overtime
No goals
Second overtime
Stevenson: Gopalam (U/A), 93'
Statistics
Shots on goal
Stevenson: 4
New Trier: 5
Shots off
Stevenson: 7
New Trier: 10
Corner kicks
Stevenson: 2
New Trier: 6
Offsides
Stevenson: 0
New Trier: 0
Fouls
Stevenson: 14
New Trier: 12
Blocked shots
Stevenson: 4
New Trier: 2
Yellow cards
Stevenson: 0
New Trier: 2