Top-ranked Plainfield N. blanks Neuqua V.
Cooper Allen takes care of goal production in 2-0 victory
By Chris R. Walker
NAPERVILLE -- Being successful brings pressure.
Less than 24 hours after being recognized as the top team in Chicagoland Soccer’s annual First 50 state-wide, preseason/early-season poll, Plainfield North traveled to Neuqua Valley on Monday to open its 2022 campaign on the Wildcats’ natural surface just five miles away from home.
Senior forward Cooper Allen (Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List) scored twice in the first half and the Tigers made it hold up for a 2-0 nonconference victory.
“No offense, but Chicagoland (Soccer) didn’t do us any favors by putting that big old bullseye on our back,” Tigers coach Lukasz Majewski said. “So, our message was to be confident, but don’t be cocky. You still have to show up and play the game. Just because you get off the bus doesn’t mean other teams are just going to lay down for you. In fact, they are going to want it that much more, because you’re the target and everyone is chasing you.”
With 10 starters returning, the Tigers anticipate being chased throughout the fall and hope it can take them all the way to Hoffman Estates. They’re extremely talented, and they share a wealth of playing experience and maturity. The starting lineup Monday consisted of seniors along with junior defender Justin Williams.
“We’ve got to work through some kinks, but the talent is there,” Majewski said. “I think that’s pretty obvious. It’s early in the year, and I think playing on a little slower field made it difficult to try to move the ball a little quicker. So, we didn’t necessarily show the talent that we have all the way across the field.”
Like many teams, the Tigers play their home games in their football stadium on an artificial surface.
“I can’t complain about this field, it’s gorgeous and so well kept,” Majewski said. “But when you train on turf and when you play most of your games on turf, the kids get used to that too, so it’s a transition. But, no excuses. I think we played well enough to win.
“I would’ve liked to have seen a lot more goals on the board, and I think we had those chances and didn’t capitalize on them. It’s only game one. We’ve got to clean up a little bit in the front and a little bit in the back, but it’s really just the first time we really had a chance to go against a different team.”
Speaking of different, Allen is seemingly in his own league on the pitch. After the Tigers missed out on a few early chances, he gave his team all the scoring they needed after sending in a shot from the top of the right side of the box with 24:44 left in the first half after classmate Paul McCormick, a transfer from Naperville North, threaded a pass his way. Allen was named the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match for his performance.
“I just sent a through-ball across and just kind of played it to Cooper’s far foot so he could receive it with the player on his back,” McCormick said. “He turned and went on the goal.”
Similar connection could become a recurring theme this year as the season progresses and a coolness in the air becomes the norm in October.
“Our forwards and our midfield are very strong,” Allen said. “We love making the runs behind the midfield, and it worked out for us. We could’ve put more in, which we almost did. I almost had the hat-trick at the end, but it’s so nice to have the win, 2-0.”
The early chances that Plainfield North wasn’t able to bury didn’t seem to frustrate them.
“Being the first game, the first 10 minutes we just had to get a feel for everybody,” Allen said. “It was the first time with the squad, and we were just trying to feel what everyone has to offer for the table. Once we figured out everybody, and we got that ball rolling, it just started to happen, which was nice.”
Senior forward Emmanuel Saldivar narrowly missed making it 2-0 later in the half, but Neuqua Valley junior goalkeeper Nick Varrone was able to deny him, something he did on several occasions throughout the 80 minutes to keep the game within the Wildcats reach.
“Their keeper made three or four outstanding saves, and on some it was like ‘How did that even happen?’” Majewski said. “We got that one kind of early, but then I think we could’ve have probably two or three there in the first five (minutes), and then it’s a different game.”
While Varrone was able to defend Saldivar’s shot, the ball leaked to Allen, and while it wasn’t neatly gift wrapped, it got to him so quickly that within a split second it was in the back of the net with 16:53 left before halftime.
“That happened so fast for me,” Allen said. “We took him down the line and got a cross in. The goalie had a nice save. It bounced right to me, and I headed it in.”
Neuqua Valley was able to possess at times and create some threatening moments, but sustaining those moments during the run of the play proved difficult. Seniors Garrett Lee and Tadiwa Nyamunduru and juniors Parker Kurtenbach and Andrew Tedrow were able to create chances and send them toward Plainfield North goalkeeper Peyton Meyers.
“I was pleasantly surprised,” Wildcats coach Arnoldo Gonzalez said. “Forget about the score. I think in the first half we created more opportunities than we did in the second half, but in the second half I think we had more of the ball. My God, to see these guys really fight, especially with all the injuries we had, it was really good to see. And we have some freshmen and sophomores.”
Like any high school coach that’s been around for a while, Gonzalez recognizes the enthusiasm for a season-opener as well as the challenges it presents for a program like Neuqua Valley’s, which faces stiff competition regularly. Such an effort from his team, which had only half the starting seniors of Plainfield North’s 10 and included freshman defender Wesley Karubas, left him pretty excited to get to work with his talented group.
“I’ve got a freshman in the back. Who would want that pressure?” Gonzalez asked. “I told these guys that we don’t have freshmen; we don’t have sophomores; we don’t have juniors and seniors. We have soccer players. It’s either we continue to work hard and learn what we need to do at our positions or it’s going to be a long season. I was pleasantly surprised to see these guys really busting. It was a great match. They were aggressive and didn’t back down.”
On the flip side, Plainfield North can’t rest on its laurels. The Tigers need to try to get better every day.
“I was really pleased with our ball movement and our passing, and also the fact that we were playing some different positions that we don’t normally play. So, it worked out, and we had some chances,” McCormick said. “I usually play left wing, but today I was playing striker a little bit in the second half. We may not have scored, but we got some good chances.”
After playing for the Huskies, McCormick seems to have found a style more suited for his strengths in Plainfield. Plus, a lot of his teammates are also kids he competed with on his club team.
“Naperville North is a little bit more straight-ahead soccer. For this team we kind of move the ball around a little bit more,” he said. “I kind of like this more, to open up play and move the ball quick with two or three touches.”
Projected success brings pressure, and the Tigers handled it well in their opener.
“It feels so good to be back in high school,” Allen said. “I can’t wait to see where it takes us. We have so many returning players, which is nice, and we also have a couple new kids stepping up to the plate, which is nice. And it feels good to be ranked no. 1 too.”
Starting lineups
Plainfield North
GK: Peyton Meyers
D: Ryan Bechtel
D: Matthew Hipolito
D: Ryan Mauder
D: Aidan Smith
MF: Sean Elster
MF: Brady Harwood
MF: Paul McCormick
MF: Justin Williams
F: Cooper Allen
F: Timi Usikalu
Neuqua Valley
GK: Nick Varrone
D: Wesley Karubas
D: Ayel Kikama
D: Thomas Melvin
D: Justin Senese
D: Ege Tunar
MF: Tadiwa Nyamunduru
MF: Derek Sisbarro
F: Sattam Alharbi
F: Parker Kurtenbach
F: Garrett Lee
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Cooper Allen, sr., F, Plainfield North
Scoring summary
First half
PN: Cooper Allen (Paul McCormick), 15’
PN: Allen (unassisted), 23’
Second half
No scoring
Cooper Allen takes care of goal production in 2-0 victory
By Chris R. Walker
NAPERVILLE -- Being successful brings pressure.
Less than 24 hours after being recognized as the top team in Chicagoland Soccer’s annual First 50 state-wide, preseason/early-season poll, Plainfield North traveled to Neuqua Valley on Monday to open its 2022 campaign on the Wildcats’ natural surface just five miles away from home.
Senior forward Cooper Allen (Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List) scored twice in the first half and the Tigers made it hold up for a 2-0 nonconference victory.
“No offense, but Chicagoland (Soccer) didn’t do us any favors by putting that big old bullseye on our back,” Tigers coach Lukasz Majewski said. “So, our message was to be confident, but don’t be cocky. You still have to show up and play the game. Just because you get off the bus doesn’t mean other teams are just going to lay down for you. In fact, they are going to want it that much more, because you’re the target and everyone is chasing you.”
With 10 starters returning, the Tigers anticipate being chased throughout the fall and hope it can take them all the way to Hoffman Estates. They’re extremely talented, and they share a wealth of playing experience and maturity. The starting lineup Monday consisted of seniors along with junior defender Justin Williams.
“We’ve got to work through some kinks, but the talent is there,” Majewski said. “I think that’s pretty obvious. It’s early in the year, and I think playing on a little slower field made it difficult to try to move the ball a little quicker. So, we didn’t necessarily show the talent that we have all the way across the field.”
Like many teams, the Tigers play their home games in their football stadium on an artificial surface.
“I can’t complain about this field, it’s gorgeous and so well kept,” Majewski said. “But when you train on turf and when you play most of your games on turf, the kids get used to that too, so it’s a transition. But, no excuses. I think we played well enough to win.
“I would’ve liked to have seen a lot more goals on the board, and I think we had those chances and didn’t capitalize on them. It’s only game one. We’ve got to clean up a little bit in the front and a little bit in the back, but it’s really just the first time we really had a chance to go against a different team.”
Speaking of different, Allen is seemingly in his own league on the pitch. After the Tigers missed out on a few early chances, he gave his team all the scoring they needed after sending in a shot from the top of the right side of the box with 24:44 left in the first half after classmate Paul McCormick, a transfer from Naperville North, threaded a pass his way. Allen was named the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match for his performance.
“I just sent a through-ball across and just kind of played it to Cooper’s far foot so he could receive it with the player on his back,” McCormick said. “He turned and went on the goal.”
Similar connection could become a recurring theme this year as the season progresses and a coolness in the air becomes the norm in October.
“Our forwards and our midfield are very strong,” Allen said. “We love making the runs behind the midfield, and it worked out for us. We could’ve put more in, which we almost did. I almost had the hat-trick at the end, but it’s so nice to have the win, 2-0.”
The early chances that Plainfield North wasn’t able to bury didn’t seem to frustrate them.
“Being the first game, the first 10 minutes we just had to get a feel for everybody,” Allen said. “It was the first time with the squad, and we were just trying to feel what everyone has to offer for the table. Once we figured out everybody, and we got that ball rolling, it just started to happen, which was nice.”
Senior forward Emmanuel Saldivar narrowly missed making it 2-0 later in the half, but Neuqua Valley junior goalkeeper Nick Varrone was able to deny him, something he did on several occasions throughout the 80 minutes to keep the game within the Wildcats reach.
“Their keeper made three or four outstanding saves, and on some it was like ‘How did that even happen?’” Majewski said. “We got that one kind of early, but then I think we could’ve have probably two or three there in the first five (minutes), and then it’s a different game.”
While Varrone was able to defend Saldivar’s shot, the ball leaked to Allen, and while it wasn’t neatly gift wrapped, it got to him so quickly that within a split second it was in the back of the net with 16:53 left before halftime.
“That happened so fast for me,” Allen said. “We took him down the line and got a cross in. The goalie had a nice save. It bounced right to me, and I headed it in.”
Neuqua Valley was able to possess at times and create some threatening moments, but sustaining those moments during the run of the play proved difficult. Seniors Garrett Lee and Tadiwa Nyamunduru and juniors Parker Kurtenbach and Andrew Tedrow were able to create chances and send them toward Plainfield North goalkeeper Peyton Meyers.
“I was pleasantly surprised,” Wildcats coach Arnoldo Gonzalez said. “Forget about the score. I think in the first half we created more opportunities than we did in the second half, but in the second half I think we had more of the ball. My God, to see these guys really fight, especially with all the injuries we had, it was really good to see. And we have some freshmen and sophomores.”
Like any high school coach that’s been around for a while, Gonzalez recognizes the enthusiasm for a season-opener as well as the challenges it presents for a program like Neuqua Valley’s, which faces stiff competition regularly. Such an effort from his team, which had only half the starting seniors of Plainfield North’s 10 and included freshman defender Wesley Karubas, left him pretty excited to get to work with his talented group.
“I’ve got a freshman in the back. Who would want that pressure?” Gonzalez asked. “I told these guys that we don’t have freshmen; we don’t have sophomores; we don’t have juniors and seniors. We have soccer players. It’s either we continue to work hard and learn what we need to do at our positions or it’s going to be a long season. I was pleasantly surprised to see these guys really busting. It was a great match. They were aggressive and didn’t back down.”
On the flip side, Plainfield North can’t rest on its laurels. The Tigers need to try to get better every day.
“I was really pleased with our ball movement and our passing, and also the fact that we were playing some different positions that we don’t normally play. So, it worked out, and we had some chances,” McCormick said. “I usually play left wing, but today I was playing striker a little bit in the second half. We may not have scored, but we got some good chances.”
After playing for the Huskies, McCormick seems to have found a style more suited for his strengths in Plainfield. Plus, a lot of his teammates are also kids he competed with on his club team.
“Naperville North is a little bit more straight-ahead soccer. For this team we kind of move the ball around a little bit more,” he said. “I kind of like this more, to open up play and move the ball quick with two or three touches.”
Projected success brings pressure, and the Tigers handled it well in their opener.
“It feels so good to be back in high school,” Allen said. “I can’t wait to see where it takes us. We have so many returning players, which is nice, and we also have a couple new kids stepping up to the plate, which is nice. And it feels good to be ranked no. 1 too.”
Starting lineups
Plainfield North
GK: Peyton Meyers
D: Ryan Bechtel
D: Matthew Hipolito
D: Ryan Mauder
D: Aidan Smith
MF: Sean Elster
MF: Brady Harwood
MF: Paul McCormick
MF: Justin Williams
F: Cooper Allen
F: Timi Usikalu
Neuqua Valley
GK: Nick Varrone
D: Wesley Karubas
D: Ayel Kikama
D: Thomas Melvin
D: Justin Senese
D: Ege Tunar
MF: Tadiwa Nyamunduru
MF: Derek Sisbarro
F: Sattam Alharbi
F: Parker Kurtenbach
F: Garrett Lee
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Cooper Allen, sr., F, Plainfield North
Scoring summary
First half
PN: Cooper Allen (Paul McCormick), 15’
PN: Allen (unassisted), 23’
Second half
No scoring