Weather hot, Leyden hotter in 7-1 win
High-powered attack dooms visiting Plainfield East
By Mike Garofola
NORTHLAKE -- Host Leyden delivered a blistering first half attack, scoring three goals in a six-minute span. and added a fourth just before the break to defeat visiting Plainfield East on Monday.
The Eagles (10-1-1) led 3-0 on goals from Daniel Kulawiak, Eduardo Hernandez and Francisco Toral just 20 minutes into this nonconference home contest. An answer from the Bengals fine forward Cesar Montes reduced his team's deficit in the 33rd minute.
Leyden was pleased with its start.
"When we play like we did in that first 20 minutes, and for most of the first half, I know we are quite capable of putting together a long run in the state playoffs," said Kulawiak, whom Leyden manager Mark Valintis says is the glue that holds the backline together.
"Daniel is so calm and composed back there, which helps settle our backline, and allows them to play the same way he does when things can get a little difficult," Valintis said.
The Eagles, who have been a notoriously slow-starting club according to both Kulawiak and Hernandez, fought their way through a less than sparkling opening 10 minutes before the goal explosion. The potential for another two or three evaporated when the Eagles failed to solve Plainfield East's offsides trap.
A nicely played early ball from Andy Moreno nearly put Hernandez in on Bengals keeper Anthony Moreno, and if not for the retreating Freddy Giron, the Eagles leading scorer would have had Moreno all to himself.
This early endeavor forward from the Eagles was responded to by the visitors when Montes fired his free kick into a Leyden wall from 22 yards, plus a strong run up the right side from Abel Godinez, whose attempt would end up in the gloves of David Duwal, Leyden's junior keeper.
"We've started slow in just about every game that we've played. Our focus isn't what it needs to be," began Hernandez.
"But once either we score, or our opponent does, it seems like it's what we need to wake-up and play. And after that, we're usually in great shape for the rest of the game."
Hernandez placed a wonderful crossfield ball to the back post where Kulawiak thumped his header past Moreno to give the Eagles the lead in the 15th minute.
One minute later, it was Hernandez' turn to add to the score line when the talented forward saw an opening about to appear with Marcelo Garcia on the ball. When he peeled off his run away from the Bengals defense, he easily collected a ball from his teammate before steering in his 11th goal of the season.
Garcia, who could have easily taken on Moreno and his defense, was unselfish and drew all the attention his way before giving Hernandez the helper.
"Eduardo is the guy our team looks to in our attack and also feeds off of. His ability to stay even keeled is the reason for his success," said Valintis.
With Hernandez, Marco Villalobos, Matt Makowiec and Oscar Cifuentes now up and running in the express lane, the Leyden attack was rampant. It put the Bengals (3-10-0) under pressure with its pace, energy and quick play. That led to the Eagles third goal on this hot and humid afternoon.
The goal came against the run of play. Makowiec played across to an unmarked Francisco Topal who easily went past a helpless Moreno, whose only hope was that his opponent would miss the target altogether.
Makowiec didn't, of course, and Leyden led 3-0 in the 21st minute.
The hosts survived a nervous few minutes following the Makowiec strike. But keeper Duwal stepped forward with confidence to save a wicked attempt from Godinez. A brilliant stop of a PK by Montes followed to keep the Eagles lead safe for a short while longer.
Duwal's hopes of a fifth clean-sheet of the season were dashed when Montes, at the tail-end of a trick-filled run, unloaded a short-range left-footer to pull the visitors within two goals seven minutes from the break.
the goal provided an in-game bright spot in the homecoming of Plainfield East coach Cosimo Patano. The former Leyden star, a four-year all-conference player, scored 21 goals in his senior season to earn IHSSCA all-state honors. Patano went on to play at Western Illinois.
"We have a good team, and one that plays hard and with a lot of energy," began Patano. "But the last thing you want to do is to be chasing three goals against a very-talented and well-coached team like Leyden.
"We have a PK blocked, then come back and put one in the net. But when we conceded that fourth one right before the half, our fate was just about sealed.
"I can't tell you how excited I was to be coming back here as a coach, after having spent four amazing years playing for Leyden," coninued Patano, who is in his fourth season in charge at Plainfield East.
"Mark (Valintis) walked me through the building beforehand, and it brought back a lot of memories for me. And I'll never forget my time here playing soccer -- how much fun it was to being a part of this program and to play with my older brother Frank for two years as well."
Both Patano brothers are on the Wall of Fame at Leyden. Frank stands ninth overall in the IHSA history books with 124 goals in his career.
"When I first got here, Frank grabbed me a Leyden shirt with the number 18 on it (the day Patano was born), and he would wear no. 9. It was a great time back then."
His counterpart enjoyed the visit as well.
"Having Cos back here brings a lot of history to our program front and center," said Valintis.
"He was a 2007 grad who was a great, great player, and so was his brother. And for my guys, to see a former Leyden player come back to become a coach of a high school program is a good way for them recognize a former Leyden player who has made good later on in his life."
Plainfield East had a chance to cut into the deficit before the horn, but Patano was left shaking his head when Carlos Garcia's unstoppable one-time missile nearly pulled the back post out of the ground before landing over the endline just seconds before intemrission.
Valintis brought many of his reserves on after his club built its three-goal advantage, and later for the final 20-plus minutes when it became 6-1.
"The real strength of this team this year is our depth, so to get everyone into this game and give them real minutes is a bonus for us," Valintis said.
Cifuentes made it 5-1 four minutes into the second period when he touched past and around a charging Moreno. Makowiec added another after some crafty work by Hernandez split open the Bengals in the 56h minute.
Dawid Nozka ended the scoring when he finished a ball which conveniently spilled to the senior. He did not fail to take advantage of his scoring opportunity nine minutes from time.
"The big thing about this team is it's always fighting, regardless of the situation. (Our) game with St. Charles North is a perfect example, because we were down 2-1 with like 40 seconds to go and we scored," said Hernandez, who earned Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors for his play.
Hernandez and Kulawiak both agreed there's plenty of quailty soccer left for them and their mates, but it's still one game at a time as they build towards a highly anticipated showdown with state power Morton next week.
"None of us who were on this team last year were happy with our 1-0 loss to Morton, so we're all looking forward to the chance to avenge that night," said Hernandez.
Starting lineups
Plainfield East (4-3-3 starting formation)
GK- Anthony Moreno
D- Nathaniel Medina
D- Freddy Giron
D- Zach Stutler
D- Francisco Maldonado
M- Griffin Mitchell
M- Mateusz Sak
M- Colin Nicoski
F- Abel Godinez
F- Cesar Montes
F- Oscar Cruz
Leyden (4-4-2)
GK- David Duwal
D- Dennis Arreaza
D- Daniel Kulawiak
D- Abel Estrada
D- Diego Peralta
M- Oscar Cifuentes
M- Andy Moreno
M- Marco Villalobos
M- Marcelo Garcia
F- Eduardo Hernandez
F- Francisco Toral
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Eduardo Hernandez, sr., F, Leyden
Officials: Artur Ciszewski (center); Michael Montani; Michal Wieleba
Scoring summary
Leyden
Kulawiak (Hernandez) 15', Hernandez (M. Garcia) 16', Toral (Makowiec) 21', C. Garcia (Patino) 40', Cifuentes (Toral) 44', Makowiec (Hernandez) 56', Nozka (U/A) 71'
Plainfield East
Montes (U/A) 33'
High-powered attack dooms visiting Plainfield East
By Mike Garofola
NORTHLAKE -- Host Leyden delivered a blistering first half attack, scoring three goals in a six-minute span. and added a fourth just before the break to defeat visiting Plainfield East on Monday.
The Eagles (10-1-1) led 3-0 on goals from Daniel Kulawiak, Eduardo Hernandez and Francisco Toral just 20 minutes into this nonconference home contest. An answer from the Bengals fine forward Cesar Montes reduced his team's deficit in the 33rd minute.
Leyden was pleased with its start.
"When we play like we did in that first 20 minutes, and for most of the first half, I know we are quite capable of putting together a long run in the state playoffs," said Kulawiak, whom Leyden manager Mark Valintis says is the glue that holds the backline together.
"Daniel is so calm and composed back there, which helps settle our backline, and allows them to play the same way he does when things can get a little difficult," Valintis said.
The Eagles, who have been a notoriously slow-starting club according to both Kulawiak and Hernandez, fought their way through a less than sparkling opening 10 minutes before the goal explosion. The potential for another two or three evaporated when the Eagles failed to solve Plainfield East's offsides trap.
A nicely played early ball from Andy Moreno nearly put Hernandez in on Bengals keeper Anthony Moreno, and if not for the retreating Freddy Giron, the Eagles leading scorer would have had Moreno all to himself.
This early endeavor forward from the Eagles was responded to by the visitors when Montes fired his free kick into a Leyden wall from 22 yards, plus a strong run up the right side from Abel Godinez, whose attempt would end up in the gloves of David Duwal, Leyden's junior keeper.
"We've started slow in just about every game that we've played. Our focus isn't what it needs to be," began Hernandez.
"But once either we score, or our opponent does, it seems like it's what we need to wake-up and play. And after that, we're usually in great shape for the rest of the game."
Hernandez placed a wonderful crossfield ball to the back post where Kulawiak thumped his header past Moreno to give the Eagles the lead in the 15th minute.
One minute later, it was Hernandez' turn to add to the score line when the talented forward saw an opening about to appear with Marcelo Garcia on the ball. When he peeled off his run away from the Bengals defense, he easily collected a ball from his teammate before steering in his 11th goal of the season.
Garcia, who could have easily taken on Moreno and his defense, was unselfish and drew all the attention his way before giving Hernandez the helper.
"Eduardo is the guy our team looks to in our attack and also feeds off of. His ability to stay even keeled is the reason for his success," said Valintis.
With Hernandez, Marco Villalobos, Matt Makowiec and Oscar Cifuentes now up and running in the express lane, the Leyden attack was rampant. It put the Bengals (3-10-0) under pressure with its pace, energy and quick play. That led to the Eagles third goal on this hot and humid afternoon.
The goal came against the run of play. Makowiec played across to an unmarked Francisco Topal who easily went past a helpless Moreno, whose only hope was that his opponent would miss the target altogether.
Makowiec didn't, of course, and Leyden led 3-0 in the 21st minute.
The hosts survived a nervous few minutes following the Makowiec strike. But keeper Duwal stepped forward with confidence to save a wicked attempt from Godinez. A brilliant stop of a PK by Montes followed to keep the Eagles lead safe for a short while longer.
Duwal's hopes of a fifth clean-sheet of the season were dashed when Montes, at the tail-end of a trick-filled run, unloaded a short-range left-footer to pull the visitors within two goals seven minutes from the break.
the goal provided an in-game bright spot in the homecoming of Plainfield East coach Cosimo Patano. The former Leyden star, a four-year all-conference player, scored 21 goals in his senior season to earn IHSSCA all-state honors. Patano went on to play at Western Illinois.
"We have a good team, and one that plays hard and with a lot of energy," began Patano. "But the last thing you want to do is to be chasing three goals against a very-talented and well-coached team like Leyden.
"We have a PK blocked, then come back and put one in the net. But when we conceded that fourth one right before the half, our fate was just about sealed.
"I can't tell you how excited I was to be coming back here as a coach, after having spent four amazing years playing for Leyden," coninued Patano, who is in his fourth season in charge at Plainfield East.
"Mark (Valintis) walked me through the building beforehand, and it brought back a lot of memories for me. And I'll never forget my time here playing soccer -- how much fun it was to being a part of this program and to play with my older brother Frank for two years as well."
Both Patano brothers are on the Wall of Fame at Leyden. Frank stands ninth overall in the IHSA history books with 124 goals in his career.
"When I first got here, Frank grabbed me a Leyden shirt with the number 18 on it (the day Patano was born), and he would wear no. 9. It was a great time back then."
His counterpart enjoyed the visit as well.
"Having Cos back here brings a lot of history to our program front and center," said Valintis.
"He was a 2007 grad who was a great, great player, and so was his brother. And for my guys, to see a former Leyden player come back to become a coach of a high school program is a good way for them recognize a former Leyden player who has made good later on in his life."
Plainfield East had a chance to cut into the deficit before the horn, but Patano was left shaking his head when Carlos Garcia's unstoppable one-time missile nearly pulled the back post out of the ground before landing over the endline just seconds before intemrission.
Valintis brought many of his reserves on after his club built its three-goal advantage, and later for the final 20-plus minutes when it became 6-1.
"The real strength of this team this year is our depth, so to get everyone into this game and give them real minutes is a bonus for us," Valintis said.
Cifuentes made it 5-1 four minutes into the second period when he touched past and around a charging Moreno. Makowiec added another after some crafty work by Hernandez split open the Bengals in the 56h minute.
Dawid Nozka ended the scoring when he finished a ball which conveniently spilled to the senior. He did not fail to take advantage of his scoring opportunity nine minutes from time.
"The big thing about this team is it's always fighting, regardless of the situation. (Our) game with St. Charles North is a perfect example, because we were down 2-1 with like 40 seconds to go and we scored," said Hernandez, who earned Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors for his play.
Hernandez and Kulawiak both agreed there's plenty of quailty soccer left for them and their mates, but it's still one game at a time as they build towards a highly anticipated showdown with state power Morton next week.
"None of us who were on this team last year were happy with our 1-0 loss to Morton, so we're all looking forward to the chance to avenge that night," said Hernandez.
Starting lineups
Plainfield East (4-3-3 starting formation)
GK- Anthony Moreno
D- Nathaniel Medina
D- Freddy Giron
D- Zach Stutler
D- Francisco Maldonado
M- Griffin Mitchell
M- Mateusz Sak
M- Colin Nicoski
F- Abel Godinez
F- Cesar Montes
F- Oscar Cruz
Leyden (4-4-2)
GK- David Duwal
D- Dennis Arreaza
D- Daniel Kulawiak
D- Abel Estrada
D- Diego Peralta
M- Oscar Cifuentes
M- Andy Moreno
M- Marco Villalobos
M- Marcelo Garcia
F- Eduardo Hernandez
F- Francisco Toral
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Eduardo Hernandez, sr., F, Leyden
Officials: Artur Ciszewski (center); Michael Montani; Michal Wieleba
Scoring summary
Leyden
Kulawiak (Hernandez) 15', Hernandez (M. Garcia) 16', Toral (Makowiec) 21', C. Garcia (Patino) 40', Cifuentes (Toral) 44', Makowiec (Hernandez) 56', Nozka (U/A) 71'
Plainfield East
Montes (U/A) 33'