Prospect finds just enough
offense to get past Glenbard West
Owen Walsh goal gives Knights 2nd win of tournament
By Michael Wojtychiw
GLENVIEW -- Like many teams early in the season, both Prospect and Glenbard West are looking for players to step up and put the ball into the back of the net. Each team had one game in the Jim Wolter/Titan Invitational where it exploded for four or more goals, but in the other four games, the two combined to score a single goal.
When the teams met in the fifth place game Saturday morning, they continued their search for consistency and someone to take the scoring lead. The Knights (3-2-0) got a candidate when forward Owen Walsh put in a ball with about 15 minutes remaining to seal take a 1-0 win in the fifth place game.
"Shutting out a team like Glenbard West shows that we were able to keep our defense organized and tight, which is what we were struggling with in the early games," Prospect manager Michael Andrews said. "In the early games of the tournament, we were struggling with marking, giving guys too much space and kind of losing our overall shape.
"We worked hard to remedy that and made certain personnel changes, and the guys really stepped it up today."
Glenbard West also used the game to jigger its lineup to find a spark.
"Today, we were trying a different formation, putting different guys in different positions, because we were struggling putting the ball in the net," Glenbard West manager Phil Wicyk said. "With today, what we did do positively was we played more simple with one-two touch.
"Play the way you're facing and build up through the middle. I think we played a lot better in the midfield, had the better possession, but that doesn't always translate to a win.
"We need to have a goal-scorer. I told them we need someone to put the ball in the net. I've got forwards, but I don't have a goal-scorer. We have to figure it out quick."
Even though the Knights walked away with the victory, it was Glenbard West that put a lot of pressure on the Prospect goal in the first half, earning two early corners and forcing senior keeper Alejandro Rider-Leiner to make two early saves.
"We really just need to click more, click together and be on the same page," Glenbard West senior defender Ryan Weil said. "It comes down to execution. We had more chances than them. It's early in the season, we need to learn how to click and just finish.
"Some of us have played together, but there are a lot of new faces. We'll build the chemistry together throughout the season, learn about each other and about each other's skillset."
After that early sequence, Prospect calmed down and let the game come to it, getting deeper into the Glenbard West side of the field, moving closer and closer to goal.
It wasn't until about halfway through the second half until the Knights got some really good pressure on the Glenbard West. A save on a Shea Morris shot was soon followed up by Walsh's goal in the 55th minute.
Walsh's fourth goal of the year produced the Knights' second-consecutive victory.
"The second half, we really went out to play and were possessing a lot better," he said. "We were finally able to connect a lot of passes and play one into the box, and it was a great finish.
"In the first half, it was more difficult to make long runs because their center backs were playing pretty deep. In the second half we started taking shots outside of the box, where they weren't stepping to us. That created a lot of opportunities for us and helped make the second half play better."
Prospect keeper Rider-Leiner's work held his team even until the offense found its footing.
"In the first half, Glenbard West had a lot of opportunities, and our goalkeeper really kept us in the game, making some huge saves," the Knights' manager said. "In the second half, we maintained defensive organization, and that allowed us to create attacking possibilities and eventually got one in.
"If we can re-create that going forward, we'll be in good shape the rest of the season."
Wicyk is in his first year as Glenbard West's coach and knows that even though his squad has many returnees from last year's squad, the trick is to get them to play together well with only a handful of starters back.
"They're still learning to play together," he said. "It's a different style of play from last year's coaching staff. The good news is that this is why you have preseason games and tournaments and then you start conference.
"You get to iron out and work out all these problems, and hopefully you're a well-oiled machine going into conference."
Keeping an eye on his players' well-being is also a key to success.
"It's a lot of wear and tear on their bodies," Wicyk said. "It's player management and keeping the mindset and positivity high, so that your body doesn't take you down with the aches and pains."
With pretty much the entire nonconference season behind them, Walsh and Prospect are looking forward to the conference season and what they can do this fall in the Mid-Suburban League. With three conference foes in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, conference play won't be easy to navigate.
"We came into this tournament with no expectations, we just wanted to get ready for the regular season," Walsh said. "We really came on strong at the end and figured out our lineups and chemistry together. I'm really looking forward to the conference.
"Our goal is to win conference. I think we have more work to do, but this is a good start to our season, and I'm really looking forward to it."
Starting lineups
Prospect
GK: Alejandro Rider-Leiner
D: Sam Heintz
D: Nicholas Casaletto
D: Ari Kemperas
D: David Marshall
MF: Shea Morris
MF: Luis De Santiago
F: Massimo Mho
F: Ryan Novak
F: Owen Walsh
F: Marcin Jacek
Glenbard West
GK: Jack Harrod
D: Ryan Weil
D: Tyler Faris
D: Tanner DuVair
D: Lukas Breunig
MF: Jack Kissane
MF: Eduardo Vargas
F: Scott Vainikos
F: Nik Jurgovan
F: Trevor DuVair
F: Liam VanDyke
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Owen Walsh, senior, forward, Prospect
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Prospect - Owen Walsh (Shea Morris), 55th minute
offense to get past Glenbard West
Owen Walsh goal gives Knights 2nd win of tournament
By Michael Wojtychiw
GLENVIEW -- Like many teams early in the season, both Prospect and Glenbard West are looking for players to step up and put the ball into the back of the net. Each team had one game in the Jim Wolter/Titan Invitational where it exploded for four or more goals, but in the other four games, the two combined to score a single goal.
When the teams met in the fifth place game Saturday morning, they continued their search for consistency and someone to take the scoring lead. The Knights (3-2-0) got a candidate when forward Owen Walsh put in a ball with about 15 minutes remaining to seal take a 1-0 win in the fifth place game.
"Shutting out a team like Glenbard West shows that we were able to keep our defense organized and tight, which is what we were struggling with in the early games," Prospect manager Michael Andrews said. "In the early games of the tournament, we were struggling with marking, giving guys too much space and kind of losing our overall shape.
"We worked hard to remedy that and made certain personnel changes, and the guys really stepped it up today."
Glenbard West also used the game to jigger its lineup to find a spark.
"Today, we were trying a different formation, putting different guys in different positions, because we were struggling putting the ball in the net," Glenbard West manager Phil Wicyk said. "With today, what we did do positively was we played more simple with one-two touch.
"Play the way you're facing and build up through the middle. I think we played a lot better in the midfield, had the better possession, but that doesn't always translate to a win.
"We need to have a goal-scorer. I told them we need someone to put the ball in the net. I've got forwards, but I don't have a goal-scorer. We have to figure it out quick."
Even though the Knights walked away with the victory, it was Glenbard West that put a lot of pressure on the Prospect goal in the first half, earning two early corners and forcing senior keeper Alejandro Rider-Leiner to make two early saves.
"We really just need to click more, click together and be on the same page," Glenbard West senior defender Ryan Weil said. "It comes down to execution. We had more chances than them. It's early in the season, we need to learn how to click and just finish.
"Some of us have played together, but there are a lot of new faces. We'll build the chemistry together throughout the season, learn about each other and about each other's skillset."
After that early sequence, Prospect calmed down and let the game come to it, getting deeper into the Glenbard West side of the field, moving closer and closer to goal.
It wasn't until about halfway through the second half until the Knights got some really good pressure on the Glenbard West. A save on a Shea Morris shot was soon followed up by Walsh's goal in the 55th minute.
Walsh's fourth goal of the year produced the Knights' second-consecutive victory.
"The second half, we really went out to play and were possessing a lot better," he said. "We were finally able to connect a lot of passes and play one into the box, and it was a great finish.
"In the first half, it was more difficult to make long runs because their center backs were playing pretty deep. In the second half we started taking shots outside of the box, where they weren't stepping to us. That created a lot of opportunities for us and helped make the second half play better."
Prospect keeper Rider-Leiner's work held his team even until the offense found its footing.
"In the first half, Glenbard West had a lot of opportunities, and our goalkeeper really kept us in the game, making some huge saves," the Knights' manager said. "In the second half, we maintained defensive organization, and that allowed us to create attacking possibilities and eventually got one in.
"If we can re-create that going forward, we'll be in good shape the rest of the season."
Wicyk is in his first year as Glenbard West's coach and knows that even though his squad has many returnees from last year's squad, the trick is to get them to play together well with only a handful of starters back.
"They're still learning to play together," he said. "It's a different style of play from last year's coaching staff. The good news is that this is why you have preseason games and tournaments and then you start conference.
"You get to iron out and work out all these problems, and hopefully you're a well-oiled machine going into conference."
Keeping an eye on his players' well-being is also a key to success.
"It's a lot of wear and tear on their bodies," Wicyk said. "It's player management and keeping the mindset and positivity high, so that your body doesn't take you down with the aches and pains."
With pretty much the entire nonconference season behind them, Walsh and Prospect are looking forward to the conference season and what they can do this fall in the Mid-Suburban League. With three conference foes in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, conference play won't be easy to navigate.
"We came into this tournament with no expectations, we just wanted to get ready for the regular season," Walsh said. "We really came on strong at the end and figured out our lineups and chemistry together. I'm really looking forward to the conference.
"Our goal is to win conference. I think we have more work to do, but this is a good start to our season, and I'm really looking forward to it."
Starting lineups
Prospect
GK: Alejandro Rider-Leiner
D: Sam Heintz
D: Nicholas Casaletto
D: Ari Kemperas
D: David Marshall
MF: Shea Morris
MF: Luis De Santiago
F: Massimo Mho
F: Ryan Novak
F: Owen Walsh
F: Marcin Jacek
Glenbard West
GK: Jack Harrod
D: Ryan Weil
D: Tyler Faris
D: Tanner DuVair
D: Lukas Breunig
MF: Jack Kissane
MF: Eduardo Vargas
F: Scott Vainikos
F: Nik Jurgovan
F: Trevor DuVair
F: Liam VanDyke
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Owen Walsh, senior, forward, Prospect
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Prospect - Owen Walsh (Shea Morris), 55th minute