Wheaton Academy skyrockets
to Homecoming win vs. Riverside-Brookfield
Warriors take 4-0 win in battle between league unbeatens
By Dave Owen
WEST CHICAGO -- Homecoming is extra special - and very different - at Wheaton Academy.
While most schools play their football games on Friday night, that time slot has been reserved for the Warriors’ soccer team. And with a long, postgame fireworks show to cap off the evening, it’s a unique event.
“Wheaton Academy has had soccer homecoming since 1989,” Warriors coach Cody Snouffer said. “It (the Friday night game of Homecoming) has been ours, and we haven't let go of it. There’re fireworks, a cool experience. So, you have to enjoy it and embrace it.”
The Warriors (6-2-3, 4-0-x in the Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division) certainly enjoyed Friday’s showdown for the league lead vs. Riverside-Brookfield.
Grabbing the lead 12 minutes in, Wheaton Academy went on to a 4-0 win and gave the visiting Bulldogs their first league loss. The victory ran the defending Class A state champions’ current unbeaten streak to seven games (6-0-1 in that span).
“They're an amazing team, with an amazing coach,” Riverside-Brookfield senior goalkeeper and co-captain Aidan Hernandez said. “They clearly knew what we were going to do straight off the bat. They read it and did exactly what they wanted to do. That's a state championship team, and a state contender.”
The Bulldogs (6-7-0, 4-1-x) won the teams’ 2021 meeting 3-2, and there’s no shortage of mutual respect between the two league rivals,
“They're a really good team,” Snouffer said of the Bulldogs. We've been excited to play this match since last year when it was a 3-2, really feisty affair at their place.
“I love the way they play, and the way they possess. R-B has three of the best center midfielders in the conference and a really good striker and goalkeeper. So, it was really fun to kind of go toe to toe.”
The Homecoming weekend fun began at Wheaton Academy on Thursday, when the football team continued its unbeaten season with a 47-0 win over Ridgewood.
With soccer in the spotlight Friday, the Warriors’ futbol squad delivered their own offensive show.
After two early Riverside-Brookfield threats were denied (a Declan Finnegan save on a Manny Tovar shot three minutes in, then a 38-yard free kick headed away by Asher Barton in the sixthth minute), the Wheaton Academy offense began to assert itself.
A Lucas Landstrom free kick in the 10th minute was headed just wide right by Josiah Pitts.
Then 28:14 before halftime, a familiar combination put the Warriors ahead for good.
Brothers Joshua and Caleb Mariotti each netted a goal in the Warriors’ 2-1 win in the 2021 state title game, and had a similar plan to ignite things on Homecoming.
Friday, Joshua raced in on left wing and sent a cross to Caleb in front. His shot found the upper left corner of the net, and the Warriors led 1-0.
“I got the ball, and I knew he (Caleb) was over there making the run,” Joshua Mariotti said. “I played it in, and I knew he'd get there. And he finished.”
Riverside-Brookfield responded well to the 1-0 deficit, producing the next three good chances.
In the 14th minute, Hunter Ferguson drew a foul left of the box to set up a Tovar 8-yard free kick. It eventually produced a Barton blocked shot, then a Massimo Franceschina rebound shot saved by Finnegan (who had five saves on the night).
Ferguson’s first of many dangerous throw-ins in the 21st minute came from 10 yards, and ended with a Tovar header wide.
“He (Ferguson) is a handful,” Snouffer said. “He's a big boy, strong, and somehow he can flick it and get it on the other side (back post). He's a really great player.”
A Bulldogs corner kick in the 28th minute was also defended well by the Warriors. Then Wheaton Academy reseized the offensive thanks to a super sub.
Will Clegg first had a pass that sprung an end line attack by Troy Erickson that was denied 32 minutes in.
Then 7:13 before halftime, a Caleb Mariotti cross from the left side found Clegg in front for a header put-away and a 2-0 Wheaton Academy lead.
Clegg would later add an assist in the second half, providing a Homecoming story worthy of Disney.
“What a game by Clegg,” Finnegan said. “That dude is a tank. That header was awesome, and I think that was his first varsity goal.”
Clegg also had a top spot on Snouffer’s list of Friday standouts.
“I have to point out Will Clegg,” he said. “Will comes off the bench and gets a goal and an assist. He hasn't had a lot of minutes this season, but he's effective with the minutes he gets.
“Will’s usually a back, and I don't like making a lot of subs in the backline. He's strong and quick in short bursts.
“And then obviously our three in the midfield were great,” Snouffer added. “Josiah (Pitts), Josh (Mariotti) and Lucas (Landstrom) all played great.
“And I really want to highlight Logan (Bates) and Asher (Barton) our center backs. We knew Riverside-Brookfield would give them a good test. For our backline to get a shutout ... it takes everybody. They got exposed a few times, and they handled it and recovered. They were gritty. I was really pleased with Logan and Asher.”
Barton was in the right spot again in the 38th minute, heading another Ferguson throw-in from inside the 10 away from the crease for Caleb Mariotti to clear upfield.
As if a 2-0 lead and a huge Homecoming crowd weren’t enough to fire up the Warriors, halftime began with the team still on the field for the unveiling of a 2021 state championship banner on the wall below the stadium’s west stands.
“It was awesome to get recognized (with the banner),” Finnegan said. “It was cool that they did that. And I hope we can do it again.”
While the Warriors would eventually add to their lead and post a shutout, the clean-sheet didn’t come easily.
The Bulldogs came out of the break on the offensive, including a Xavier Salamanca corner kick with 33 minutes left that Finnegan went high to grab at the near post over Riverside-Brookfield’s David Carrillo.
“Give them (Wheaton Academy) credit,” Riverside-Brookfield coach Ivek Halic said. “They finished their chances, and we just fell short with ours. I felt like it was a good battle in the middle of the field. Our midfield and theirs went at it, kind of even there.
“I'm pleased with the way we played. It's just in the final third, capitalizing on opportunities changes the whole complexion of the game.”
And with 30:05 to play, Wheaton Academy again capitalized to make it a 3-0 game.
This time it was Josh Mariotti on the finish. Off a Sam Brown corner kick, Mariotti’s header near post was saved by Hernandez, but the rebound sprung loose and Mariotti powered a six-yard second try inside the left post.
“They were simply the hungrier team,” Hernandez said. “We came out, had our chances and didn't do it. That (third) goal, save and two of them are there (for the loose ball).
“Hunger. That's what we need, more hungriness and communication. But that starts with me though, and the rest of the captains.”
Hernandez wasn’t as eager to embrace another factor in the result: the 32-mile distance between schools that couldn’t have been easy on visiting teams last year or Friday.
“I don't know honestly (the trip effect),” he said. “Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. But we can't change it. You learn from this. That's all you can do. And they (the Warriors) are a great team.”
The Bulldogs are also very good, and didn’t go home quietly.
With 28:50 left, a Salamanca free kick from 30 yards found Tovar for a header that hit the left post. What looked like a sure goal was denied by a combination of Finnegan’s leaping save attempt and bad luck, summing up the night for the visitors.
“Manny hit the post with a header, and (later) Xavier hit the post,” Halic said. “Obviously (Wheaton Academy had) good possession, good passing and good spacing. I felt like they beat us to 50-50s. They were a little bit quicker getting to those.
“But I felt like we hung with them. We just couldn't capitalize on our opportunities.”
The Warriors closed the scoring with 24:29 left, when Clegg’s send from midfield found forward Jacob Karlson sprinting up right wing.
Karlson nicely tipped the ball to his left to avoid a charging Hernandez and deposited the shot into an open net to make the score 4-0.
“I think we're going to get a lot of confidence out of this offensively,” Finnegan said, “because that was a really strong team, and we put four past them. I'm getting more confident in our ability to finish, and you need that.”
Although with the way Finnegan and the backline withstood major challenges Friday, the defensive side of the equation is in good hands.
“They (Riverside-Brookfield) are a strong team,” Finnegan said, “but our defense again just kept solid and did what they did. It's a lot of cushion. I feel a lot more confident in my backline now.
“It was a little tough in the beginning, because we lost basically our entire backline of seniors (from 2021), so it was rough transitioning. But we've found our rhythm and kept going with it.”
The defense stayed strong and focused with the lead 4-0.
Finnegan made the save on a Tomas Kunickas 15-yard liner with 24 minutes left. Then on a corner kick by Riverside-Brookfield’s Diego Villegas with 17:30 left Tengisbolor Shinetulga’s header clear limited the chance to a long shot on goal by Max Swicionis.
The last big Bulldog threat came with 14:25 to go, when a Swicionis initial pass ended with a Ferguson header to Salamanca, whose shot caromed off the left post.
It was simply Wheaton Academy’s night, as talent combined with Homecoming magic.
“I think today we played really well as a team,” Josh Mariotti said. “We attacked well and collectively defended well, and did everything together. And our crowd helped a lot.
“Our midfield played well, and our defense locked down. Our keeper Declan had some great saves, and our strikers played really well.”
Riverside-Brookfield’s Hernandez kept the Warriors from adding to their lead with late acrobatics.
He first made a nice save on Karlson’s eight-yard shot off an Erickson cross with 8:45 to go. An extended sequence with 3:05 left began with his diving save on a Pitts shot, and continued when he made an all-out leap to deflect away Cuyler Finnegan’s cross back towards an open Pitts.
Hernandez’s catch of the ensuing corner kick and a Finnegan save on a contested header by Ferguson with 1:15 left marked the final shots of the game.
The Bulldogs have more challenges looming, with a nonconference game Monday vs. strong twice top-ranked Lyons (where Swicionis’ cousins Ben and Will play) and a big conference game left Oct. 5 vs. Timothy.
“We’re looking at the next game already,” Hernandez said. “Learn, forget and move on to Lyons.”
Said Halic: “The main takeaway from today is composure in the final third.”
As the post-game fireworks show loomed Friday, the Warriors celebrated the potentially explosive impact of the win on the conference title race.
“Last year we didn't even win conference,” Joshua Mariotti said, “so I think this is a good sign for us.
“I'm really glad we won this game. This is a big win for us. I hope we keep going for the next two (vs. St. Francis and Ridgewood).”
Friday’s win also continued an uptrend in the past month for the Warriors. Last year’s state title set up new challenges that played out in a 1-2-0 early season record.
“In some ways guys feel like they're chasing the ghost a little bit, of how we were playing at the end of last season,” Snouffer said. “They expect to start there again in August, and you don't.
“The other thing was that while we returned a lot of starters, we're starting brand new players. Last year’s rotation guys are now starters, and last year’s JV guys are now rotation guys. There is a lot to catch up on.”
The catching up is happening – the Warriors have outscored their last four foes 18-1, with wins over fellow 2021 state semifinalist Timothy and talented Riverside-Brookfield among the victories.
“Hats off to our seniors,” Snouffer said. “It's hard to be a senior in a fall sport. In spring sports you have all year to establish leadership. Fall, it's ready, set, go. You have to lead well and stay calm, and we schedule really big early. They've come through that really well.
“We lost to a good St. Charles North team, and a heartbreaker to Maine South where they got a penalty kick with two minutes to go.”
And as the quest for a state repeat approaches, the focus is on the road ahead.
“We still have a tough St. Francis and tough Ridgewood (to face),” Snouffer said, “and a tournament in Iowa. So we’ll see some really good competition.”
Starting lineups
Riverside-Brookfield
GK: Aidan Hernandez
D: Omar Vidales
D: Sam Royer
D: Mak Scheuermann
D: Massimo Franceschina
M: Max Swicionis
M: Diego Villegas
M: David Carrillo
M: Noah Berndt
M: Manny Tovar
F: Hunter Ferguson
Wheaton Academy
GK: Declan Finnegan
D: Troy Erickson
D: Asher Barton
D: Scotty Murray
D: Logan Bates
M: Caleb Mariotti
M: Lucas Landstrom
M: Josiah Pitts
M: Josh Mariotti
F: Sam Brown
F: Jacob Karlson
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match:
Josh Mariotti, sr., MF, Wheaton Academy
Scoring summary
First half
WA - Caleb Mariotti (Josh Mariotti), 12’
WA- Will Clegg (Caleb Mariotti), 33’
Second half
WA - Josh Mariotti (Sam Brown), 50’
WA- Jacob Karlson (Clegg), 56’
to Homecoming win vs. Riverside-Brookfield
Warriors take 4-0 win in battle between league unbeatens
By Dave Owen
WEST CHICAGO -- Homecoming is extra special - and very different - at Wheaton Academy.
While most schools play their football games on Friday night, that time slot has been reserved for the Warriors’ soccer team. And with a long, postgame fireworks show to cap off the evening, it’s a unique event.
“Wheaton Academy has had soccer homecoming since 1989,” Warriors coach Cody Snouffer said. “It (the Friday night game of Homecoming) has been ours, and we haven't let go of it. There’re fireworks, a cool experience. So, you have to enjoy it and embrace it.”
The Warriors (6-2-3, 4-0-x in the Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division) certainly enjoyed Friday’s showdown for the league lead vs. Riverside-Brookfield.
Grabbing the lead 12 minutes in, Wheaton Academy went on to a 4-0 win and gave the visiting Bulldogs their first league loss. The victory ran the defending Class A state champions’ current unbeaten streak to seven games (6-0-1 in that span).
“They're an amazing team, with an amazing coach,” Riverside-Brookfield senior goalkeeper and co-captain Aidan Hernandez said. “They clearly knew what we were going to do straight off the bat. They read it and did exactly what they wanted to do. That's a state championship team, and a state contender.”
The Bulldogs (6-7-0, 4-1-x) won the teams’ 2021 meeting 3-2, and there’s no shortage of mutual respect between the two league rivals,
“They're a really good team,” Snouffer said of the Bulldogs. We've been excited to play this match since last year when it was a 3-2, really feisty affair at their place.
“I love the way they play, and the way they possess. R-B has three of the best center midfielders in the conference and a really good striker and goalkeeper. So, it was really fun to kind of go toe to toe.”
The Homecoming weekend fun began at Wheaton Academy on Thursday, when the football team continued its unbeaten season with a 47-0 win over Ridgewood.
With soccer in the spotlight Friday, the Warriors’ futbol squad delivered their own offensive show.
After two early Riverside-Brookfield threats were denied (a Declan Finnegan save on a Manny Tovar shot three minutes in, then a 38-yard free kick headed away by Asher Barton in the sixthth minute), the Wheaton Academy offense began to assert itself.
A Lucas Landstrom free kick in the 10th minute was headed just wide right by Josiah Pitts.
Then 28:14 before halftime, a familiar combination put the Warriors ahead for good.
Brothers Joshua and Caleb Mariotti each netted a goal in the Warriors’ 2-1 win in the 2021 state title game, and had a similar plan to ignite things on Homecoming.
Friday, Joshua raced in on left wing and sent a cross to Caleb in front. His shot found the upper left corner of the net, and the Warriors led 1-0.
“I got the ball, and I knew he (Caleb) was over there making the run,” Joshua Mariotti said. “I played it in, and I knew he'd get there. And he finished.”
Riverside-Brookfield responded well to the 1-0 deficit, producing the next three good chances.
In the 14th minute, Hunter Ferguson drew a foul left of the box to set up a Tovar 8-yard free kick. It eventually produced a Barton blocked shot, then a Massimo Franceschina rebound shot saved by Finnegan (who had five saves on the night).
Ferguson’s first of many dangerous throw-ins in the 21st minute came from 10 yards, and ended with a Tovar header wide.
“He (Ferguson) is a handful,” Snouffer said. “He's a big boy, strong, and somehow he can flick it and get it on the other side (back post). He's a really great player.”
A Bulldogs corner kick in the 28th minute was also defended well by the Warriors. Then Wheaton Academy reseized the offensive thanks to a super sub.
Will Clegg first had a pass that sprung an end line attack by Troy Erickson that was denied 32 minutes in.
Then 7:13 before halftime, a Caleb Mariotti cross from the left side found Clegg in front for a header put-away and a 2-0 Wheaton Academy lead.
Clegg would later add an assist in the second half, providing a Homecoming story worthy of Disney.
“What a game by Clegg,” Finnegan said. “That dude is a tank. That header was awesome, and I think that was his first varsity goal.”
Clegg also had a top spot on Snouffer’s list of Friday standouts.
“I have to point out Will Clegg,” he said. “Will comes off the bench and gets a goal and an assist. He hasn't had a lot of minutes this season, but he's effective with the minutes he gets.
“Will’s usually a back, and I don't like making a lot of subs in the backline. He's strong and quick in short bursts.
“And then obviously our three in the midfield were great,” Snouffer added. “Josiah (Pitts), Josh (Mariotti) and Lucas (Landstrom) all played great.
“And I really want to highlight Logan (Bates) and Asher (Barton) our center backs. We knew Riverside-Brookfield would give them a good test. For our backline to get a shutout ... it takes everybody. They got exposed a few times, and they handled it and recovered. They were gritty. I was really pleased with Logan and Asher.”
Barton was in the right spot again in the 38th minute, heading another Ferguson throw-in from inside the 10 away from the crease for Caleb Mariotti to clear upfield.
As if a 2-0 lead and a huge Homecoming crowd weren’t enough to fire up the Warriors, halftime began with the team still on the field for the unveiling of a 2021 state championship banner on the wall below the stadium’s west stands.
“It was awesome to get recognized (with the banner),” Finnegan said. “It was cool that they did that. And I hope we can do it again.”
While the Warriors would eventually add to their lead and post a shutout, the clean-sheet didn’t come easily.
The Bulldogs came out of the break on the offensive, including a Xavier Salamanca corner kick with 33 minutes left that Finnegan went high to grab at the near post over Riverside-Brookfield’s David Carrillo.
“Give them (Wheaton Academy) credit,” Riverside-Brookfield coach Ivek Halic said. “They finished their chances, and we just fell short with ours. I felt like it was a good battle in the middle of the field. Our midfield and theirs went at it, kind of even there.
“I'm pleased with the way we played. It's just in the final third, capitalizing on opportunities changes the whole complexion of the game.”
And with 30:05 to play, Wheaton Academy again capitalized to make it a 3-0 game.
This time it was Josh Mariotti on the finish. Off a Sam Brown corner kick, Mariotti’s header near post was saved by Hernandez, but the rebound sprung loose and Mariotti powered a six-yard second try inside the left post.
“They were simply the hungrier team,” Hernandez said. “We came out, had our chances and didn't do it. That (third) goal, save and two of them are there (for the loose ball).
“Hunger. That's what we need, more hungriness and communication. But that starts with me though, and the rest of the captains.”
Hernandez wasn’t as eager to embrace another factor in the result: the 32-mile distance between schools that couldn’t have been easy on visiting teams last year or Friday.
“I don't know honestly (the trip effect),” he said. “Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. But we can't change it. You learn from this. That's all you can do. And they (the Warriors) are a great team.”
The Bulldogs are also very good, and didn’t go home quietly.
With 28:50 left, a Salamanca free kick from 30 yards found Tovar for a header that hit the left post. What looked like a sure goal was denied by a combination of Finnegan’s leaping save attempt and bad luck, summing up the night for the visitors.
“Manny hit the post with a header, and (later) Xavier hit the post,” Halic said. “Obviously (Wheaton Academy had) good possession, good passing and good spacing. I felt like they beat us to 50-50s. They were a little bit quicker getting to those.
“But I felt like we hung with them. We just couldn't capitalize on our opportunities.”
The Warriors closed the scoring with 24:29 left, when Clegg’s send from midfield found forward Jacob Karlson sprinting up right wing.
Karlson nicely tipped the ball to his left to avoid a charging Hernandez and deposited the shot into an open net to make the score 4-0.
“I think we're going to get a lot of confidence out of this offensively,” Finnegan said, “because that was a really strong team, and we put four past them. I'm getting more confident in our ability to finish, and you need that.”
Although with the way Finnegan and the backline withstood major challenges Friday, the defensive side of the equation is in good hands.
“They (Riverside-Brookfield) are a strong team,” Finnegan said, “but our defense again just kept solid and did what they did. It's a lot of cushion. I feel a lot more confident in my backline now.
“It was a little tough in the beginning, because we lost basically our entire backline of seniors (from 2021), so it was rough transitioning. But we've found our rhythm and kept going with it.”
The defense stayed strong and focused with the lead 4-0.
Finnegan made the save on a Tomas Kunickas 15-yard liner with 24 minutes left. Then on a corner kick by Riverside-Brookfield’s Diego Villegas with 17:30 left Tengisbolor Shinetulga’s header clear limited the chance to a long shot on goal by Max Swicionis.
The last big Bulldog threat came with 14:25 to go, when a Swicionis initial pass ended with a Ferguson header to Salamanca, whose shot caromed off the left post.
It was simply Wheaton Academy’s night, as talent combined with Homecoming magic.
“I think today we played really well as a team,” Josh Mariotti said. “We attacked well and collectively defended well, and did everything together. And our crowd helped a lot.
“Our midfield played well, and our defense locked down. Our keeper Declan had some great saves, and our strikers played really well.”
Riverside-Brookfield’s Hernandez kept the Warriors from adding to their lead with late acrobatics.
He first made a nice save on Karlson’s eight-yard shot off an Erickson cross with 8:45 to go. An extended sequence with 3:05 left began with his diving save on a Pitts shot, and continued when he made an all-out leap to deflect away Cuyler Finnegan’s cross back towards an open Pitts.
Hernandez’s catch of the ensuing corner kick and a Finnegan save on a contested header by Ferguson with 1:15 left marked the final shots of the game.
The Bulldogs have more challenges looming, with a nonconference game Monday vs. strong twice top-ranked Lyons (where Swicionis’ cousins Ben and Will play) and a big conference game left Oct. 5 vs. Timothy.
“We’re looking at the next game already,” Hernandez said. “Learn, forget and move on to Lyons.”
Said Halic: “The main takeaway from today is composure in the final third.”
As the post-game fireworks show loomed Friday, the Warriors celebrated the potentially explosive impact of the win on the conference title race.
“Last year we didn't even win conference,” Joshua Mariotti said, “so I think this is a good sign for us.
“I'm really glad we won this game. This is a big win for us. I hope we keep going for the next two (vs. St. Francis and Ridgewood).”
Friday’s win also continued an uptrend in the past month for the Warriors. Last year’s state title set up new challenges that played out in a 1-2-0 early season record.
“In some ways guys feel like they're chasing the ghost a little bit, of how we were playing at the end of last season,” Snouffer said. “They expect to start there again in August, and you don't.
“The other thing was that while we returned a lot of starters, we're starting brand new players. Last year’s rotation guys are now starters, and last year’s JV guys are now rotation guys. There is a lot to catch up on.”
The catching up is happening – the Warriors have outscored their last four foes 18-1, with wins over fellow 2021 state semifinalist Timothy and talented Riverside-Brookfield among the victories.
“Hats off to our seniors,” Snouffer said. “It's hard to be a senior in a fall sport. In spring sports you have all year to establish leadership. Fall, it's ready, set, go. You have to lead well and stay calm, and we schedule really big early. They've come through that really well.
“We lost to a good St. Charles North team, and a heartbreaker to Maine South where they got a penalty kick with two minutes to go.”
And as the quest for a state repeat approaches, the focus is on the road ahead.
“We still have a tough St. Francis and tough Ridgewood (to face),” Snouffer said, “and a tournament in Iowa. So we’ll see some really good competition.”
Starting lineups
Riverside-Brookfield
GK: Aidan Hernandez
D: Omar Vidales
D: Sam Royer
D: Mak Scheuermann
D: Massimo Franceschina
M: Max Swicionis
M: Diego Villegas
M: David Carrillo
M: Noah Berndt
M: Manny Tovar
F: Hunter Ferguson
Wheaton Academy
GK: Declan Finnegan
D: Troy Erickson
D: Asher Barton
D: Scotty Murray
D: Logan Bates
M: Caleb Mariotti
M: Lucas Landstrom
M: Josiah Pitts
M: Josh Mariotti
F: Sam Brown
F: Jacob Karlson
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match:
Josh Mariotti, sr., MF, Wheaton Academy
Scoring summary
First half
WA - Caleb Mariotti (Josh Mariotti), 12’
WA- Will Clegg (Caleb Mariotti), 33’
Second half
WA - Josh Mariotti (Sam Brown), 50’
WA- Jacob Karlson (Clegg), 56’