Soph's goal saves Plainfield S. vs. North
Sagols’ first varsity goal sparks late 1-0 win
By Dave Owen
PLAINFIELD – The playoffs are still about 10 days away, but Tuesday provided a very interesting preview of things to come for two district rivals.
After repelling a steady stream of second half threats by Plainfield North, host Plainfield South turned a long-distance free kick into unlikely success with just 1:32 left in regulation.
In just his second varsity game, Carlos Sagols’ first varsity goal proved the difference-maker in a 1-0 Southwest Prairie Conference win for the host Cougars (11-6-1, 5-2-0) over the Tigers (4-12-2, 2-5-0).
The two teams meet again Oct. 14 in the regional first round at Plainfield South, with higher stakes than Tuesday at stake.
“We turn around and play them again in the playoffs,” Plainfield North coach Steve Berry said. “We’re not worried about winning or losing a conference game. We have to put it (emphasis) into playoff time.”
Plainfield South coach Bryant Williams had to sweat out Tuesday’s last-minute win, and expects a repeat type of game next week.
“I look for pretty much the same,” said Williams, whose team has won three-straight games with Tuesday’s nail-biter. “Hopefully the wind won’t be as big an issue, but I look for kind of the same match.
“There’s no real secrets between these two teams. We’re close together. The guys know each other, and they know how everybody plays. There’s nothing to hide.
“They’ll maybe have a little bit of motivation for revenge on their side,” Williams added, “so we’re going to have to come out with even more intensity in that Saturday (regional) game.”
Plainfield South certainly finished with intensity Tuesday. Surviving several Tigers threats all afternoon, the Cougars shattered the 0-0 tie off an unlikely scenario -- a 65-yard free kick into the wind by sophomore defender Ryan Kabaker.
“The free kick before, I wasn’t trying to go that far and did. So I knew I could get it into the box again,” Kabaker said. “We had Raymond (Ochoa) and Dominick (Skrip) in there, a lot more bodies crashing, so I just sent it.”
From there, Ochoa and improbable hero Sagols did the rest.
“As soon as Ryan took the free kick I saw a couple ricochets,” said Sagols, whose clutch finish earned him Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors. “Then Raymond got it, and he started dribbling. I thought ‘it’s now or never I guess.’ I got in there and scored just inside 10.
“It feels amazing. It’s great to get it (my first varsity goal) that way.”
Ochoa’s touch pass from just inside the box hit Sagols racing to the net. Sagols’ ensuing low 8-yard shot found the back of the net, and the Cougars had produced a dramatic final twist to snap the deadlock.
“Raymond Ochoa started it,” Williams said. “He went up and won a big ball in the air, got a good bounce and Carlos was able to take advantage of it and put the goal in.”
Sagols’ poise in a game situation was impressive.
“That’s huge for a sophomore to step up like that,” Williams said. “He didn’t get nervous with the ball on his foot. He took his time and slotted that ball perfectly between the keeper’s legs.
“A lot of times you expect the younger guys to get a little nervous and shank a shot or something like that, and he just took his time and put the ball where he wanted it. I give him all the credit in the world for keeping his head and staying cool out there.”
For much of the first 78 minutes of the match, it was the Plainfield South defense that had to be poised under pressure.
Even with the strong wind in its favor in the first half, the Cougars could neither finish nor had a clear majority of chances.
Skrip’s 20-yarder over the net in the 24rd minute represented Plainfield South’s last quality chance of the first half.
“We stayed compressed throughout the whole game,” Tigers senior Oliver Fisher said of his team’s defensive effectiveness, “and we were able to talk to each other and let each other know who’s open and who needs to cover up.”
Meanwhile, Plainfield North defied the wind the rest of the half and into the second half. Ryley Burich’s 15-yard drive was batted down by Cougars goalkeeper Quinton Rose 12:05 before halftime.
Then with 5:20 until the break, Patrick Elster’s nice send from the right side to the left post was lined off the side of the net by Adan Juarez.
The half then ended with good Tigers defense (off a Cougars corner kick, Elster blocked a Skrip shot with 2:05 left) and another North offensive chance (a 30-yard Burich send to the far post, chested just wide by Juarez 1:05 before the half).
“I was a little nervous at the half,” Williams said, “thinking we didn’t get anything with the wind at our backs. So going into the wind I was a little nervous, and honestly thinking that this game was going to go overtime.”
With the wind behind them in the second half, Plainfield North was relentless.
The biggest Tigers chance came with 22:40 left. Dribbling to space up-top, Yousef Ismail nicely sidestepped a defender and lined a 28-yard shot off the crossbar.
“Yousef was good out of the right mid, and Patrick was good out of center mid,” Berry said. “Those two were probably the most impressive guys for us today.”
Freshman Shea Bechtel also created havoc with his speed, especially with 19:10 to go. On a drive up the middle, Bechtel lined a low 22-yard shot that was denied by a nice diving block and cover by Rose at the right post.
“The first half we were kind of unfortunate losing the coin toss,” Rose said. “We wanted to take against the wind the first half, so there was a little more pressure in the second half. But we handled it.
“Compared to previous games we’ve gotten a lot better over the last few games comminicating, organizing, defensing. A lot of times before we’ve had breakdowns where we’re not talking here, so maybe we’re disorganized keeping them onsides, switching guys. Bit we did very well (Tuesday) organizing and communicating, especially with our midfield as well.”
Plainfield North continued to apply heat. After a block by Josue Jimenez briefly denied a threat with 16:30 to go, passes by Bechtel and Elster set up an Ismail 23-yard shot over the net.
After Tigers goalkeeper Cal Cangilla’s save of a low 18-yarder by Tony Cervelli off a nice Skrip feed with 15 minutes left, the Plainfield North offense was back on the march.
Brian Bertoni’s 15-yard initial shot was blocked by Kabaker, with Bertoni sending the rebound over the net with 10:45 left.
Then with 6:45 to go, a great Tigers rush appeared set to pay off. Off a Burich initial pass, Yousef made a great through-pass to Jaurez bursting into the box 1-v.-1. But Rose came out to stop Juarez’s 12-yard shot.
“I feel like we passed the ball around well,” Fisher said of the Tigers’ great offensive effort, “and we were able to get behind them and get some great chances.”
Fisher denied a great Plainfield South chance with 2:15 to go. Off a Max Treptow throw-in from 5 yards out, Skrip won the ball right of the goal and sent a great cross to the crease. But Fisher was able to clear the ball from danger.
But 45 seconds later, an initial foul call and everything that followed went against the Tigers – and produced a memorable finish for the neighbors to the south.
“We played well,” Berry said. “But we were kind of speechless as far as the referee. He gave a phantom foul (on the Kanaker free kick with 1:32 left), but we still have to do a better job of marking. That’s something that’s been our Achilles heel a little bit over the course of the year. But we’ll get it.”
Fisher summed up his view of the Cougars’ goal.
“I think it was just a defensive lapse,” he said. “We have to get the ball and clear it instead of trying to take a touch and pass it back.”
Suddenly down 1-0, Plainfield North made a final furious push. On a Juarez-to-Bertoni attack with 30 seconds left, Sargos chipped the ball away and Kabaker cleared the zone. Then in the final 10 seconds, Juarez’s 15-yard header off a Nathan Green cross was grabbed by Rose.
Back on the Cougars varsity after taking a season off to play club soccer, senior Rose has been a key part of the program’s rise in 2017.
“I really like it (being back this year),” Rose said. “It’s a good experience, we’re doing well, and hopefully we can continue this winning mentality all the way through the playoffs.”
The defensive mentality under duress on Tuesday should serve the Cougars well.
“I was just proud of the way the boys played,” Williams said. “It was really defensively one of our best games. I talked about how we need our guys to kind of come of age and mature defensively, and I think they took that step today.
“Ryan Kabaker did a nice job in the middle back there, Xavier Ordaz, Justin McGuigan, Josue Jimenez -- it’s really hard to single one guy out because I thought all four (defenders) played very well today.”
Center back Kabaker was in the middle of not just the winning goal, but the defensive effort.
“We just communicated, a lot of covering and not getting on each other,” Kabaker said. “And understanding that they (the Tigers) were pressing very hard and very fast, so it was just staying on each others’ backs and pushing us out, and motivating each other so nobody got down.”
Wins like Tuesday should provide motivation for the rest of the season – including the playoff rematch.
“This motivates us a lot,” Kabaker said. “It puts our win streak to three or four. But I know we have two very good teams coming up for our last two regular season games, and then we play them (Plainfield North) again here on the 14th. A win like this really pushes us, especially to meet them again in just under two weeks.”
With three freshmen and two sophomores playing key roles, Plainfield North’s 2017 season has been a learning experience at times.
“We’ve just tried to tell them (the newcomers) ‘Don’t get your head down,’ and just teach them how to play at the high school level,” senior Fisher said. “ And show them that you need to work the whole time.”
And despite some ups and downs, Tuesday’s great effort shows the Tigers are clearly starting to sharpen their claws for a strong finish.
“We just need to stay focused for the whole game, and never let our intensity down,” Fisher said. “If teams score, get it back right away.”
The Tigers’ fierce test Tuesday was no surprise to Williams.
“I told the boys our last three games have been really scrappy games, going back to the overtime game with Joliet Central,” Williams said. “Then we came out today and this game went like I thought it would go – like I said, you can’t just look at the record of Plainfield North. Especially when these two teams play together, you throw the records out.
“I’m really happy with the way the boys are playing. We seem to have things rolling back on the right track. A big game Thursday with Oswego ... they’re undefeated in conference and a very good team. That’s one we’ll have to be ready for. And we’ll be able to sort of measure ourselves -- we’ll definitely see how good we are Thursday.”
Thanks to a varsity newcomer, the Cougars were good when they needed to be on Tuesday.
“It was a very tough game, a very strong opponent,” Sagols said. “My teammates played very well, and I was just glad to help out.”
Starting lineups
Plainfield North
GK Cal Cangilla
D Oliver Fisher
D Brandon Wojtkiewicz
D Alex Ryan
M Lloyd Quezada
M Yousef Ismail
M Jared Osborne
M Shea Bechtel
M Colin Russell
F Brian Bertoni
F Adan Juarez
Plainfield South
GK Quinton Rose
D Xavier Ordaz
D Ryan Kabaker
D Josue Jimenez
D Justin McGuigan
M Christian Gonzalez
M Dominick Skrip
M Vince Nirchi
M Gabe Sandoval
F Ramon Ochoa
F Tony Cervelli
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Carlos Sagols, so. F, Plainfield South
Scoring summary
2nd HALF: Sagols (Ochoa)
Sagols’ first varsity goal sparks late 1-0 win
By Dave Owen
PLAINFIELD – The playoffs are still about 10 days away, but Tuesday provided a very interesting preview of things to come for two district rivals.
After repelling a steady stream of second half threats by Plainfield North, host Plainfield South turned a long-distance free kick into unlikely success with just 1:32 left in regulation.
In just his second varsity game, Carlos Sagols’ first varsity goal proved the difference-maker in a 1-0 Southwest Prairie Conference win for the host Cougars (11-6-1, 5-2-0) over the Tigers (4-12-2, 2-5-0).
The two teams meet again Oct. 14 in the regional first round at Plainfield South, with higher stakes than Tuesday at stake.
“We turn around and play them again in the playoffs,” Plainfield North coach Steve Berry said. “We’re not worried about winning or losing a conference game. We have to put it (emphasis) into playoff time.”
Plainfield South coach Bryant Williams had to sweat out Tuesday’s last-minute win, and expects a repeat type of game next week.
“I look for pretty much the same,” said Williams, whose team has won three-straight games with Tuesday’s nail-biter. “Hopefully the wind won’t be as big an issue, but I look for kind of the same match.
“There’s no real secrets between these two teams. We’re close together. The guys know each other, and they know how everybody plays. There’s nothing to hide.
“They’ll maybe have a little bit of motivation for revenge on their side,” Williams added, “so we’re going to have to come out with even more intensity in that Saturday (regional) game.”
Plainfield South certainly finished with intensity Tuesday. Surviving several Tigers threats all afternoon, the Cougars shattered the 0-0 tie off an unlikely scenario -- a 65-yard free kick into the wind by sophomore defender Ryan Kabaker.
“The free kick before, I wasn’t trying to go that far and did. So I knew I could get it into the box again,” Kabaker said. “We had Raymond (Ochoa) and Dominick (Skrip) in there, a lot more bodies crashing, so I just sent it.”
From there, Ochoa and improbable hero Sagols did the rest.
“As soon as Ryan took the free kick I saw a couple ricochets,” said Sagols, whose clutch finish earned him Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors. “Then Raymond got it, and he started dribbling. I thought ‘it’s now or never I guess.’ I got in there and scored just inside 10.
“It feels amazing. It’s great to get it (my first varsity goal) that way.”
Ochoa’s touch pass from just inside the box hit Sagols racing to the net. Sagols’ ensuing low 8-yard shot found the back of the net, and the Cougars had produced a dramatic final twist to snap the deadlock.
“Raymond Ochoa started it,” Williams said. “He went up and won a big ball in the air, got a good bounce and Carlos was able to take advantage of it and put the goal in.”
Sagols’ poise in a game situation was impressive.
“That’s huge for a sophomore to step up like that,” Williams said. “He didn’t get nervous with the ball on his foot. He took his time and slotted that ball perfectly between the keeper’s legs.
“A lot of times you expect the younger guys to get a little nervous and shank a shot or something like that, and he just took his time and put the ball where he wanted it. I give him all the credit in the world for keeping his head and staying cool out there.”
For much of the first 78 minutes of the match, it was the Plainfield South defense that had to be poised under pressure.
Even with the strong wind in its favor in the first half, the Cougars could neither finish nor had a clear majority of chances.
Skrip’s 20-yarder over the net in the 24rd minute represented Plainfield South’s last quality chance of the first half.
“We stayed compressed throughout the whole game,” Tigers senior Oliver Fisher said of his team’s defensive effectiveness, “and we were able to talk to each other and let each other know who’s open and who needs to cover up.”
Meanwhile, Plainfield North defied the wind the rest of the half and into the second half. Ryley Burich’s 15-yard drive was batted down by Cougars goalkeeper Quinton Rose 12:05 before halftime.
Then with 5:20 until the break, Patrick Elster’s nice send from the right side to the left post was lined off the side of the net by Adan Juarez.
The half then ended with good Tigers defense (off a Cougars corner kick, Elster blocked a Skrip shot with 2:05 left) and another North offensive chance (a 30-yard Burich send to the far post, chested just wide by Juarez 1:05 before the half).
“I was a little nervous at the half,” Williams said, “thinking we didn’t get anything with the wind at our backs. So going into the wind I was a little nervous, and honestly thinking that this game was going to go overtime.”
With the wind behind them in the second half, Plainfield North was relentless.
The biggest Tigers chance came with 22:40 left. Dribbling to space up-top, Yousef Ismail nicely sidestepped a defender and lined a 28-yard shot off the crossbar.
“Yousef was good out of the right mid, and Patrick was good out of center mid,” Berry said. “Those two were probably the most impressive guys for us today.”
Freshman Shea Bechtel also created havoc with his speed, especially with 19:10 to go. On a drive up the middle, Bechtel lined a low 22-yard shot that was denied by a nice diving block and cover by Rose at the right post.
“The first half we were kind of unfortunate losing the coin toss,” Rose said. “We wanted to take against the wind the first half, so there was a little more pressure in the second half. But we handled it.
“Compared to previous games we’ve gotten a lot better over the last few games comminicating, organizing, defensing. A lot of times before we’ve had breakdowns where we’re not talking here, so maybe we’re disorganized keeping them onsides, switching guys. Bit we did very well (Tuesday) organizing and communicating, especially with our midfield as well.”
Plainfield North continued to apply heat. After a block by Josue Jimenez briefly denied a threat with 16:30 to go, passes by Bechtel and Elster set up an Ismail 23-yard shot over the net.
After Tigers goalkeeper Cal Cangilla’s save of a low 18-yarder by Tony Cervelli off a nice Skrip feed with 15 minutes left, the Plainfield North offense was back on the march.
Brian Bertoni’s 15-yard initial shot was blocked by Kabaker, with Bertoni sending the rebound over the net with 10:45 left.
Then with 6:45 to go, a great Tigers rush appeared set to pay off. Off a Burich initial pass, Yousef made a great through-pass to Jaurez bursting into the box 1-v.-1. But Rose came out to stop Juarez’s 12-yard shot.
“I feel like we passed the ball around well,” Fisher said of the Tigers’ great offensive effort, “and we were able to get behind them and get some great chances.”
Fisher denied a great Plainfield South chance with 2:15 to go. Off a Max Treptow throw-in from 5 yards out, Skrip won the ball right of the goal and sent a great cross to the crease. But Fisher was able to clear the ball from danger.
But 45 seconds later, an initial foul call and everything that followed went against the Tigers – and produced a memorable finish for the neighbors to the south.
“We played well,” Berry said. “But we were kind of speechless as far as the referee. He gave a phantom foul (on the Kanaker free kick with 1:32 left), but we still have to do a better job of marking. That’s something that’s been our Achilles heel a little bit over the course of the year. But we’ll get it.”
Fisher summed up his view of the Cougars’ goal.
“I think it was just a defensive lapse,” he said. “We have to get the ball and clear it instead of trying to take a touch and pass it back.”
Suddenly down 1-0, Plainfield North made a final furious push. On a Juarez-to-Bertoni attack with 30 seconds left, Sargos chipped the ball away and Kabaker cleared the zone. Then in the final 10 seconds, Juarez’s 15-yard header off a Nathan Green cross was grabbed by Rose.
Back on the Cougars varsity after taking a season off to play club soccer, senior Rose has been a key part of the program’s rise in 2017.
“I really like it (being back this year),” Rose said. “It’s a good experience, we’re doing well, and hopefully we can continue this winning mentality all the way through the playoffs.”
The defensive mentality under duress on Tuesday should serve the Cougars well.
“I was just proud of the way the boys played,” Williams said. “It was really defensively one of our best games. I talked about how we need our guys to kind of come of age and mature defensively, and I think they took that step today.
“Ryan Kabaker did a nice job in the middle back there, Xavier Ordaz, Justin McGuigan, Josue Jimenez -- it’s really hard to single one guy out because I thought all four (defenders) played very well today.”
Center back Kabaker was in the middle of not just the winning goal, but the defensive effort.
“We just communicated, a lot of covering and not getting on each other,” Kabaker said. “And understanding that they (the Tigers) were pressing very hard and very fast, so it was just staying on each others’ backs and pushing us out, and motivating each other so nobody got down.”
Wins like Tuesday should provide motivation for the rest of the season – including the playoff rematch.
“This motivates us a lot,” Kabaker said. “It puts our win streak to three or four. But I know we have two very good teams coming up for our last two regular season games, and then we play them (Plainfield North) again here on the 14th. A win like this really pushes us, especially to meet them again in just under two weeks.”
With three freshmen and two sophomores playing key roles, Plainfield North’s 2017 season has been a learning experience at times.
“We’ve just tried to tell them (the newcomers) ‘Don’t get your head down,’ and just teach them how to play at the high school level,” senior Fisher said. “ And show them that you need to work the whole time.”
And despite some ups and downs, Tuesday’s great effort shows the Tigers are clearly starting to sharpen their claws for a strong finish.
“We just need to stay focused for the whole game, and never let our intensity down,” Fisher said. “If teams score, get it back right away.”
The Tigers’ fierce test Tuesday was no surprise to Williams.
“I told the boys our last three games have been really scrappy games, going back to the overtime game with Joliet Central,” Williams said. “Then we came out today and this game went like I thought it would go – like I said, you can’t just look at the record of Plainfield North. Especially when these two teams play together, you throw the records out.
“I’m really happy with the way the boys are playing. We seem to have things rolling back on the right track. A big game Thursday with Oswego ... they’re undefeated in conference and a very good team. That’s one we’ll have to be ready for. And we’ll be able to sort of measure ourselves -- we’ll definitely see how good we are Thursday.”
Thanks to a varsity newcomer, the Cougars were good when they needed to be on Tuesday.
“It was a very tough game, a very strong opponent,” Sagols said. “My teammates played very well, and I was just glad to help out.”
Starting lineups
Plainfield North
GK Cal Cangilla
D Oliver Fisher
D Brandon Wojtkiewicz
D Alex Ryan
M Lloyd Quezada
M Yousef Ismail
M Jared Osborne
M Shea Bechtel
M Colin Russell
F Brian Bertoni
F Adan Juarez
Plainfield South
GK Quinton Rose
D Xavier Ordaz
D Ryan Kabaker
D Josue Jimenez
D Justin McGuigan
M Christian Gonzalez
M Dominick Skrip
M Vince Nirchi
M Gabe Sandoval
F Ramon Ochoa
F Tony Cervelli
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Carlos Sagols, so. F, Plainfield South
Scoring summary
2nd HALF: Sagols (Ochoa)