New-look Trinity hopes to turn heads
Blazers top Proviso W. 1-0; new coach McClure has big plans
By Mike Garofola
MELROSE PARK -- The first year Kyle McClure took over the then floundering boys program at St. Patrick saw them end with just two victories in 24 matches.
Four short years later in 2017, the Shamrocks bame one of the top Class AA teams in the state and finished fourth with a sparkling 23-6-2 overall record.
Now the Trinity High School program is looking for a makeover, and the Blazers hope the arrival of McClure signals the dawning of a new age of soccer at the River Forest school.
"Playing soccer here at Trinity really means something now," said Natalie Maite, one of the few holdovers from the 2018 squad. The junior scored the game-winner in the Blazers 1-0 victory over Proviso West on Saturday.
That's the plan of the new coach.
"After I was hired, we brought together the parents and players for a meeting," McClure said. "One of the several things mentioned was how things were going to change for this sport at the school.
"I said it was all about how the sport will be looked upon from here on out, and to change the culture from just playing (to) become a first class, well-respected and successful soccer program. I told everyone it will take some time."
Then McClure paused and allowed himself a wry smile.
"But look at this team right now," he said. "We've already matched the win total from my first year at Pat's."
McClure has a few core pieces that he will lean on this spring, and Maite is certainly one of them. His top two players right now are Natalia Guerra and Bridget Whiteside, who have fine-tuned their game at the club level and give the Blazers a terrific one-two punch on both sides of the ball.
"Natalia and Bridget are very good players, each highly competitive, but also all about (team) first," says McClure.
"Each would like to play in more of an attacking role, but right now, as we develop a system, and sort things out, we've asked them to do what's best for the team.
"They both agreed, so right now one play as our center back, the other as our central midfielder. Then they reverse positions at the half."
"I like what's going on in our program right now," said Whiteside, who opened in McClure's first 11 in the middle of the Blazers backline for the first 40 minutes.
"Even though this is my freshman year, I heard the team and program lacked leadership and a cohesive environment. Now we have both, and everyone here really wants to play and learn. So it feels great to be a part of a soccer program like this one."
McClure, and his staff, Esme Torres and Panagiotis (Pan) Zervas, have slowly begun to sort out the Blazers roster in order to build confidence and peace of mind going forward.
Zervas, who was the starting keeper for the 2015 Rolling Meadows regional championship club, is in charge of training the Blazers goalies, and it appears both Cristina Olmos and Jacqueline Ostiguin have bought in to what Zervas is selling.
The two split time between the sticks Saturday at Ralph Serpico Memorial Field in Melrose Park. They showed little hesitation coming off the line to challenge while being quite comfortable when handling the ball with their feet.
Olmos was rarely called to action in the first period, while her counterpart, Proviso West's Janette Martinez, was kept busy thanks in part to the work of Maite, Guerra and Grace McCaughey among others.
The pace and crafty play of Guerra gave the Panthers (0-2-0) plenty of trouble and forced the visitors to defend more than they would have liked.
Martinez, whom Proviso West manager Carlos Martinez says is being recruiting heavily by a handful of area colleges, came off her line with authority to punch a pair of bending corners from Guerra out of the area in the first quarter hour.
Guerra showed how good of a soccer IQ she has when she held off from passing to Maite, who would have been offside, and instead played a wonderful diagonal ball to Isabella Ostiguin, which led to the Blazers third corner of period.
The home side continued to have most of the run of play during the first 20 minutes but had to hold its breath at 23 minutes when the Panthers Isis Bonilla was set free past the Blazers last man.
Olmos never hesitated and charged from her line. With a neat and sharp athletic move, the junior forced Bonilla to skew her shot on frame wide of the post to keep things goal-less at that point.
"Pan is doing a great job with both keepers, so we're fortunate to have two players at that position who are doing well and working hard everyday to improve," said McClure.
Panthers' keeper Martinez could do nothing on the lone goal of this contest after a superb early ball from Jessica Olmos sent Guerra through at the half hour.
The Trinity star easily outraced the Panthers backline to collect the helper and finish with an icy cold strike under the Proviso West keeper.
Guerra could have doubled the advantage just before the break if not for Martinez's late kick save at the near post following a long throw from Daniela Olmos.
"Too bad Natalia hit the post right there at the end. I told the girls at the half, the next goal likely wins the game," said McClure, who would-then watch the Panthers Esmeralda Chavez nearly do so minutes into the second period.
This early attempt provided some much needed energy and urgency for the visitors, who were now playing with a much stronger wind at their back than the Blazers had.
Led by Evelyn Posada, Chavez and Bonilla, the Panthers kept the home side under pressure as it struggled with its defensive organization during the first 20 minutes of the second half.
Jacqueline Ostiguin pulled down a pair of well-aimed corners with some sure-handed work to help restore order along the Blazers back.
Trinity started to see some offense when Whiteside brought down a long throw, then turned and fired the Blazers first attempt on frame in the 59th minute to slow down the Panthers attack.
Minutes later, it appeared Whiteside had beaten Martinez with a magnificent free kick strike until a call from the referee away from the play negated it.
"We're setting up for a 22-24-yard free kick, (Whiteside) hits a great ball, and the referee says we fouled someone way off the ball," said an annoyed McClure.
"Why would we foul at a spot so far off from where Bridget hits the ball, and when all of the girls are focused on the goal and the shot?
"It made no sense, that's for sure."
McClure was booked for his opinion of the play.
This stoppage took the air out of Proviso West's quest to equalize, but inspired the Trinity defense, which would concede just a pair of half-chances on frame before the final buzzer.
Proviso West took some positives from the match.
"We did not play very well in the first half at all, but I thought after the break, we were so much better," said Villanueva, whose club lost its season opener 3-0 to Jones on March 12. "But we've got to create and take more shots and be more aggressive in our overall play.
Trinity has liked what its has seen in the early season.
"I know we have a long way to go, but I really have liked the way our midfield and defense has played in our first three games," said Whiteside.
Her teammate Maite agreed and added: "Our communication has been better with each game, and I think a lot of that is because of the way we're being coached, and the fact that everyone wants to be a part of the program as well."
The Blazers, who will host Parker on Monday (March 18), then Willows on Thursday (March 21), have impressed their new manager.
"Last year we were thumped by Nazareth (8-2), and we lost to them 1-0 in our opener. Then we beat Montini by a score of 4-1 after losing last year to them also," began McClure.
"We all know we're a work in progress, but the attitude around these girls has been terrific.
"What I am really excited about is taking them through this season, then the offseason, which is something that's never been done around here."
McClure plans to take the Blazers to the Burlington, Ia., tournament in the summer, along with his club from St. Patrick. He also plans for the clubs to do some training together.
"(That) and a real summer camp for the girls will help this group do some serious, yet fun-time bonding together.
"Like I said, it's going to take some time. But this is a real good group of young women, so I know things will get better quicker than later."
Starting lineups
Proviso West (4-4-2)
G- Janette Martinez
D- Isis Bonilla
D- Maria Gonzalez
D- Jennifer Salas
D- Litzi Torres
M- Evelyn Posada
M- Keiley Castellanos
M- Janelly Munoz
M- Jessica Gonzalez
F- Esmeralda Chavez
F- Andrea Sotelo
Trinity (3-5-2)
G- Cristina Olmos
D- Nora Clements
D- Bridget Whiteside
D- Daniela Olmos
DM- Christina Martinez
DM- Jessica Olmos
M- Antonella Rivoir
M- Natalia Guerra
M- Josephine Poe
F- Natalie Maite
F- Grace McCaughey
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Natalia Guerra, jr., MF-D, Trinity
Referee: Boris Vukovich
Scoring summary
First half
Trinity: Maite (J. Olmos) 30'
Second half
No scoring
Blazers top Proviso W. 1-0; new coach McClure has big plans
By Mike Garofola
MELROSE PARK -- The first year Kyle McClure took over the then floundering boys program at St. Patrick saw them end with just two victories in 24 matches.
Four short years later in 2017, the Shamrocks bame one of the top Class AA teams in the state and finished fourth with a sparkling 23-6-2 overall record.
Now the Trinity High School program is looking for a makeover, and the Blazers hope the arrival of McClure signals the dawning of a new age of soccer at the River Forest school.
"Playing soccer here at Trinity really means something now," said Natalie Maite, one of the few holdovers from the 2018 squad. The junior scored the game-winner in the Blazers 1-0 victory over Proviso West on Saturday.
That's the plan of the new coach.
"After I was hired, we brought together the parents and players for a meeting," McClure said. "One of the several things mentioned was how things were going to change for this sport at the school.
"I said it was all about how the sport will be looked upon from here on out, and to change the culture from just playing (to) become a first class, well-respected and successful soccer program. I told everyone it will take some time."
Then McClure paused and allowed himself a wry smile.
"But look at this team right now," he said. "We've already matched the win total from my first year at Pat's."
McClure has a few core pieces that he will lean on this spring, and Maite is certainly one of them. His top two players right now are Natalia Guerra and Bridget Whiteside, who have fine-tuned their game at the club level and give the Blazers a terrific one-two punch on both sides of the ball.
"Natalia and Bridget are very good players, each highly competitive, but also all about (team) first," says McClure.
"Each would like to play in more of an attacking role, but right now, as we develop a system, and sort things out, we've asked them to do what's best for the team.
"They both agreed, so right now one play as our center back, the other as our central midfielder. Then they reverse positions at the half."
"I like what's going on in our program right now," said Whiteside, who opened in McClure's first 11 in the middle of the Blazers backline for the first 40 minutes.
"Even though this is my freshman year, I heard the team and program lacked leadership and a cohesive environment. Now we have both, and everyone here really wants to play and learn. So it feels great to be a part of a soccer program like this one."
McClure, and his staff, Esme Torres and Panagiotis (Pan) Zervas, have slowly begun to sort out the Blazers roster in order to build confidence and peace of mind going forward.
Zervas, who was the starting keeper for the 2015 Rolling Meadows regional championship club, is in charge of training the Blazers goalies, and it appears both Cristina Olmos and Jacqueline Ostiguin have bought in to what Zervas is selling.
The two split time between the sticks Saturday at Ralph Serpico Memorial Field in Melrose Park. They showed little hesitation coming off the line to challenge while being quite comfortable when handling the ball with their feet.
Olmos was rarely called to action in the first period, while her counterpart, Proviso West's Janette Martinez, was kept busy thanks in part to the work of Maite, Guerra and Grace McCaughey among others.
The pace and crafty play of Guerra gave the Panthers (0-2-0) plenty of trouble and forced the visitors to defend more than they would have liked.
Martinez, whom Proviso West manager Carlos Martinez says is being recruiting heavily by a handful of area colleges, came off her line with authority to punch a pair of bending corners from Guerra out of the area in the first quarter hour.
Guerra showed how good of a soccer IQ she has when she held off from passing to Maite, who would have been offside, and instead played a wonderful diagonal ball to Isabella Ostiguin, which led to the Blazers third corner of period.
The home side continued to have most of the run of play during the first 20 minutes but had to hold its breath at 23 minutes when the Panthers Isis Bonilla was set free past the Blazers last man.
Olmos never hesitated and charged from her line. With a neat and sharp athletic move, the junior forced Bonilla to skew her shot on frame wide of the post to keep things goal-less at that point.
"Pan is doing a great job with both keepers, so we're fortunate to have two players at that position who are doing well and working hard everyday to improve," said McClure.
Panthers' keeper Martinez could do nothing on the lone goal of this contest after a superb early ball from Jessica Olmos sent Guerra through at the half hour.
The Trinity star easily outraced the Panthers backline to collect the helper and finish with an icy cold strike under the Proviso West keeper.
Guerra could have doubled the advantage just before the break if not for Martinez's late kick save at the near post following a long throw from Daniela Olmos.
"Too bad Natalia hit the post right there at the end. I told the girls at the half, the next goal likely wins the game," said McClure, who would-then watch the Panthers Esmeralda Chavez nearly do so minutes into the second period.
This early attempt provided some much needed energy and urgency for the visitors, who were now playing with a much stronger wind at their back than the Blazers had.
Led by Evelyn Posada, Chavez and Bonilla, the Panthers kept the home side under pressure as it struggled with its defensive organization during the first 20 minutes of the second half.
Jacqueline Ostiguin pulled down a pair of well-aimed corners with some sure-handed work to help restore order along the Blazers back.
Trinity started to see some offense when Whiteside brought down a long throw, then turned and fired the Blazers first attempt on frame in the 59th minute to slow down the Panthers attack.
Minutes later, it appeared Whiteside had beaten Martinez with a magnificent free kick strike until a call from the referee away from the play negated it.
"We're setting up for a 22-24-yard free kick, (Whiteside) hits a great ball, and the referee says we fouled someone way off the ball," said an annoyed McClure.
"Why would we foul at a spot so far off from where Bridget hits the ball, and when all of the girls are focused on the goal and the shot?
"It made no sense, that's for sure."
McClure was booked for his opinion of the play.
This stoppage took the air out of Proviso West's quest to equalize, but inspired the Trinity defense, which would concede just a pair of half-chances on frame before the final buzzer.
Proviso West took some positives from the match.
"We did not play very well in the first half at all, but I thought after the break, we were so much better," said Villanueva, whose club lost its season opener 3-0 to Jones on March 12. "But we've got to create and take more shots and be more aggressive in our overall play.
Trinity has liked what its has seen in the early season.
"I know we have a long way to go, but I really have liked the way our midfield and defense has played in our first three games," said Whiteside.
Her teammate Maite agreed and added: "Our communication has been better with each game, and I think a lot of that is because of the way we're being coached, and the fact that everyone wants to be a part of the program as well."
The Blazers, who will host Parker on Monday (March 18), then Willows on Thursday (March 21), have impressed their new manager.
"Last year we were thumped by Nazareth (8-2), and we lost to them 1-0 in our opener. Then we beat Montini by a score of 4-1 after losing last year to them also," began McClure.
"We all know we're a work in progress, but the attitude around these girls has been terrific.
"What I am really excited about is taking them through this season, then the offseason, which is something that's never been done around here."
McClure plans to take the Blazers to the Burlington, Ia., tournament in the summer, along with his club from St. Patrick. He also plans for the clubs to do some training together.
"(That) and a real summer camp for the girls will help this group do some serious, yet fun-time bonding together.
"Like I said, it's going to take some time. But this is a real good group of young women, so I know things will get better quicker than later."
Starting lineups
Proviso West (4-4-2)
G- Janette Martinez
D- Isis Bonilla
D- Maria Gonzalez
D- Jennifer Salas
D- Litzi Torres
M- Evelyn Posada
M- Keiley Castellanos
M- Janelly Munoz
M- Jessica Gonzalez
F- Esmeralda Chavez
F- Andrea Sotelo
Trinity (3-5-2)
G- Cristina Olmos
D- Nora Clements
D- Bridget Whiteside
D- Daniela Olmos
DM- Christina Martinez
DM- Jessica Olmos
M- Antonella Rivoir
M- Natalia Guerra
M- Josephine Poe
F- Natalie Maite
F- Grace McCaughey
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Natalia Guerra, jr., MF-D, Trinity
Referee: Boris Vukovich
Scoring summary
First half
Trinity: Maite (J. Olmos) 30'
Second half
No scoring