Riverside-Brookfield falls short
against Plainfield South
Two 2nd half penalty kicks the difference in 3-1 loss
By Patrick Z. McGavin
BURBANK — Max Swicionis worked the center of the field, bodies crashing against him, and he stood above the fray.
His style has long been defined by a quiet intensity and concision in movements and actions.
“I like to be a presence out there,” the Riverside-Brookfield midfielder said.
“I like to go out there and make a hard tackle. When I have the ball, I like to control the game. I like to switch the ball around, and play simple.”
His goal in the first half breathed life into a Bulldogs team in search of its first positive result.
In a binary world where results matter, and wins and losses rarely have larger context. Riverside-Brookfield is looking to find its groove.
“Despite the results, this team has grown,” coach Ivek Halic said. “I see a lot of positives out there. We are missing some key players right now.
“As we move on throughout the season, I continue to see us growing.”
Riverside-Brookfield competes and play hard. Halic gives his approval.
Now the Bulldogs just need to find the right outcome.
The Bulldogs (0-3-0) fell 3-1 to Plainfield South in the consolation pool Saturday at the Windy City Ram Classic.
Midfielder David Sanchez converted penalty kicks in the 48th and 64th minute for the victory for the Cougars (1-2-0).
Riverside-Brookfield (0-3-0) waged a serious campaign to the end. Swicionis nearly converteda header off a corner in the 70th and final minute allowed by the tournament rules.
His team never gave up.
“We have a lot of young sophomores who we are weaving into the starting lineup,” Swicionis said. “They don’t have a lot of experience.”
As a junior and second-year starter, he is tasked with multiple roles on and off the field.
“As one of the older guys, I have to be a leader out there and just help them through it.
“We work hard as a team. We just need to get the communication down and work better.”
Plainfield South has a physical and skilled attacking piece at the top of its formation in forward Benisio Gamino.
Riverside-Brookfield could not slow down his physical and punishing style.
He scored the opening goal in the seventh minute.
Both of the penalty kicks in the second half originated from him being tackled from behind as he made a foray inside the box.
For his outstanding play, Gamino earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor.
“I think we need to be more aggressive, communicate more, and defend as a team,” Swicionis said.
Coaching is crucial. Sometimes the most impactful actions occur among players.
“After these three losses, our coaches definitely use that we need to be more focused and pay attention to the game,” junior defender Massimo Franceschina said.
Lanky at 6-foot-3, he utilizes his size to cut down angles and take away channels from the opposition.
“I like to be more of a technical player,” he said. “There are times when I need to be more aggressive.
“I need to be back there, and be a leader. Some of the guys on the team don’t like to talk, and I know I have to be a leader, so they know their positions.”
The Bulldogs were missing four rotation players Saturday. Halic is juggling lineups and trying to optimize the best units.
“Right now we are kind of inconsistent,” the coach said. “You see us working the ball at times, and other times we are collapsing.
“It’s a process, and I think all aspects of the game have the potential of being worked on.”
Riverside-Brookfield showed a desire to improve, and a willingness to make the necessary changes and adjustments on the move and become less predictable and harder to contain.
Swicionis illustrated the point with his goal from the top of the box off a beautiful lead ball by sophomore Diego Viallegas.
“We switched formation to a 4-4-2 and played a great combination with some of our midfielders,” Swicionis said. “We got into their box, took a shot and played it back to me.
“They were out of position, and I just one-timed it for an easy goal.”
Integrating young and largely inexperienced players to the size, speed and variety of varsity play is easier said than done.
The room for growth is clear.
Swicionis also had some sharp moments with midfielder Brandon Elizondo and forward Hunter Ferguson.
At their best, the Bulldogs pushed the ball wide and got different players into the flow.
At other times, the play was too choppy and incoherent, and the attack was forestalled.
“I like to own the midfield,” Swicionis said. “I like to go into tackles hard, and win head balls.
“Now I have to be more of a leader, pick my head up and try to play big.”
Winning is an attitude, a state of mind. It involves learning how to impose your will on the opposition.
Swicionis said that is the team’s great drawback and what needs to be fixed in order for the team to move forward and get more optimistic actions on the field.
Losing is cruel but also more illuminating. It displays weaknesses, vulnerabilities and ultimately a path to success.
“We need to improve our hustle,” Swicionis said. “We have some younger guys, sophomores who made varsity, and they have a little bit of an ego, and they became complacent.
“We need to get rid of this complacency.”
Starting lineups
Riverside-Brookfield
GK: Aidan Hernandez
D: Liam Hickey
D: Sam Royer
D: Massimo Franceschina
D: Noah Berndt
MF: Liam Kaiser
MF: David Carrillo
MF: Max Swicionis
MF: Diego Villegas
F: Brandon Elizondo
F: Hunter Ferguson
Plainfield South
GK: Leonidas Gamino
D: Justin Iturralde
D: Rene Saldivar
D: Amir Saba
D: Dylan Harkness
MF: Arturo Roldan
MF: David Sanchez
MF: Mofeed Altorkmani
MF: Connor Pabon
F: Benisio Gamino
F: Abe Mensah
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Benisio Gamino, sr., F, Plainfield South
Scoring summary
First half
Plainfield South—Benisio Gamino (Arturo Roldan), 7th minute
Riverside-Brookfield—Max Swicionis (Diego Villegas), 18th minute
Second half
Plainfield South—David Sanchez (penalty kick), 48th minute
Plainfield South—Sanchez (penalty kick), 64th minute
against Plainfield South
Two 2nd half penalty kicks the difference in 3-1 loss
By Patrick Z. McGavin
BURBANK — Max Swicionis worked the center of the field, bodies crashing against him, and he stood above the fray.
His style has long been defined by a quiet intensity and concision in movements and actions.
“I like to be a presence out there,” the Riverside-Brookfield midfielder said.
“I like to go out there and make a hard tackle. When I have the ball, I like to control the game. I like to switch the ball around, and play simple.”
His goal in the first half breathed life into a Bulldogs team in search of its first positive result.
In a binary world where results matter, and wins and losses rarely have larger context. Riverside-Brookfield is looking to find its groove.
“Despite the results, this team has grown,” coach Ivek Halic said. “I see a lot of positives out there. We are missing some key players right now.
“As we move on throughout the season, I continue to see us growing.”
Riverside-Brookfield competes and play hard. Halic gives his approval.
Now the Bulldogs just need to find the right outcome.
The Bulldogs (0-3-0) fell 3-1 to Plainfield South in the consolation pool Saturday at the Windy City Ram Classic.
Midfielder David Sanchez converted penalty kicks in the 48th and 64th minute for the victory for the Cougars (1-2-0).
Riverside-Brookfield (0-3-0) waged a serious campaign to the end. Swicionis nearly converteda header off a corner in the 70th and final minute allowed by the tournament rules.
His team never gave up.
“We have a lot of young sophomores who we are weaving into the starting lineup,” Swicionis said. “They don’t have a lot of experience.”
As a junior and second-year starter, he is tasked with multiple roles on and off the field.
“As one of the older guys, I have to be a leader out there and just help them through it.
“We work hard as a team. We just need to get the communication down and work better.”
Plainfield South has a physical and skilled attacking piece at the top of its formation in forward Benisio Gamino.
Riverside-Brookfield could not slow down his physical and punishing style.
He scored the opening goal in the seventh minute.
Both of the penalty kicks in the second half originated from him being tackled from behind as he made a foray inside the box.
For his outstanding play, Gamino earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor.
“I think we need to be more aggressive, communicate more, and defend as a team,” Swicionis said.
Coaching is crucial. Sometimes the most impactful actions occur among players.
“After these three losses, our coaches definitely use that we need to be more focused and pay attention to the game,” junior defender Massimo Franceschina said.
Lanky at 6-foot-3, he utilizes his size to cut down angles and take away channels from the opposition.
“I like to be more of a technical player,” he said. “There are times when I need to be more aggressive.
“I need to be back there, and be a leader. Some of the guys on the team don’t like to talk, and I know I have to be a leader, so they know their positions.”
The Bulldogs were missing four rotation players Saturday. Halic is juggling lineups and trying to optimize the best units.
“Right now we are kind of inconsistent,” the coach said. “You see us working the ball at times, and other times we are collapsing.
“It’s a process, and I think all aspects of the game have the potential of being worked on.”
Riverside-Brookfield showed a desire to improve, and a willingness to make the necessary changes and adjustments on the move and become less predictable and harder to contain.
Swicionis illustrated the point with his goal from the top of the box off a beautiful lead ball by sophomore Diego Viallegas.
“We switched formation to a 4-4-2 and played a great combination with some of our midfielders,” Swicionis said. “We got into their box, took a shot and played it back to me.
“They were out of position, and I just one-timed it for an easy goal.”
Integrating young and largely inexperienced players to the size, speed and variety of varsity play is easier said than done.
The room for growth is clear.
Swicionis also had some sharp moments with midfielder Brandon Elizondo and forward Hunter Ferguson.
At their best, the Bulldogs pushed the ball wide and got different players into the flow.
At other times, the play was too choppy and incoherent, and the attack was forestalled.
“I like to own the midfield,” Swicionis said. “I like to go into tackles hard, and win head balls.
“Now I have to be more of a leader, pick my head up and try to play big.”
Winning is an attitude, a state of mind. It involves learning how to impose your will on the opposition.
Swicionis said that is the team’s great drawback and what needs to be fixed in order for the team to move forward and get more optimistic actions on the field.
Losing is cruel but also more illuminating. It displays weaknesses, vulnerabilities and ultimately a path to success.
“We need to improve our hustle,” Swicionis said. “We have some younger guys, sophomores who made varsity, and they have a little bit of an ego, and they became complacent.
“We need to get rid of this complacency.”
Starting lineups
Riverside-Brookfield
GK: Aidan Hernandez
D: Liam Hickey
D: Sam Royer
D: Massimo Franceschina
D: Noah Berndt
MF: Liam Kaiser
MF: David Carrillo
MF: Max Swicionis
MF: Diego Villegas
F: Brandon Elizondo
F: Hunter Ferguson
Plainfield South
GK: Leonidas Gamino
D: Justin Iturralde
D: Rene Saldivar
D: Amir Saba
D: Dylan Harkness
MF: Arturo Roldan
MF: David Sanchez
MF: Mofeed Altorkmani
MF: Connor Pabon
F: Benisio Gamino
F: Abe Mensah
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Benisio Gamino, sr., F, Plainfield South
Scoring summary
First half
Plainfield South—Benisio Gamino (Arturo Roldan), 7th minute
Riverside-Brookfield—Max Swicionis (Diego Villegas), 18th minute
Second half
Plainfield South—David Sanchez (penalty kick), 48th minute
Plainfield South—Sanchez (penalty kick), 64th minute