Oak Forest posts
complete effort against Richards
Plancarte scores twice to help Bengals beat Bulldogs
By Curt Herron
OAK FOREST - One of the best ways to slow down a team that's had a lot of success scoring goals is to rely on a pair of veteran captains on defense to set the tone by controlling possession in the back and limiting good scoring chances.
Another is to have someone in the net who can not only come up with big stops but also help keep things organized while displaying a lot of toughness in his position, even if he's one of the youngest players on the field.
That's what Oak Forest had going for it on Tuesday when it began its biggest stretch of matches of the season, competition against fellow South Suburban Conference squads.
The Bengals put the clamps on a Richards squad that had scored 15 goals in its last three matches as senior defenders and captains Kyle Baker and Gavin Collery helped lead the way in front of a gutsy performance from freshman keeper Adam Jedrzejczyk.
With sophomore Alexis Hernandez scoring the match's initial goal late in the first half and junior Ian Plancarte connecting early in the second half and then right after the Bulldogs scored their only goal, Oak Forest claimed a 3-1 victory to improve to 4-1-1 after winning for the fourth time in its last five matches.
Issa Deifallah and Cody Evans were the other two seniors who coach Kieran Byrne slotted for the starting 11, which also featured juniors Diego Damian, Marcos Sandoval Lucas and Michael Speaker as well as sophomores Mohammad Deifallah, Ian Evans and Alex Stacy.
Oak Forest had nearly all of the limited number of good chances in the opening half and continued that dominance into the start of the final half before the Bulldogs (2-2-1) began to threaten after they faced a two-goal deficit.
Just as the Bengals were flying high with a 2-0 advantage, disaster nearly struck as Collery and Jedrzejczyk both fell to the turf after colliding in front of the net. But the pair eventually helped each other off of the field and were back in the fray only a few minutes later.
"Compared to the first game to now, this is a different team," said Collery of the contrast to the Bengals' season-opener on their field, a 1-0 loss to Hubbard. "In our first game, we tried a different play style and were trying to get used to it, but today we played amazing and played our game. They're a very physical and fast team, and we just passed around and tired them out very fast.
"And we scored at the best times, right before the end of the first half, right when the second half started and right after they scored, it was perfect, we couldn't have placed goals better in the game. This just showed how much we want to be on this team, want to play on this field and to win this game. We came into this game and were like, 'We're not losing this game.' We played very well in our last game at Herscher and just brought that momentum into this game.
"I like our composure, willingness to learn and how we listen to our coaches. No one on this team has an ego, which is amazing."
Oak Forest, which plays at Oak Lawn on Thursday and begins play in the PepsiCo Showdown on Saturday, had the first good chance when Issa Deifallah sent in a long free kick that was halted by keeper Michael Stasik.
Then in the 34th minute, Hernandez lined one over the keeper from about 20 yards to put the hosts up for good. And as the half wound down, Mohammad Deifallah drove toward the net before being thwarted by the Bulldogs keeper.
"We came in knowing that this team was fast, collective and really liked to pass the ball," Baker said. "So, we calmed down our positioning and decided to pass more, because in previous games our main problem that we had to work on was staying calm with the ball and passing it. I definitely felt like we hit a milestone in our ability to pass more.
"As soon as you score a goal, you have to stay in the same mindset that it's always 0-0 and keep that mentality and focus because the more you overthink, the more you'll make a sloppy pass, and that's something we don't want to do. I like our diversity. There's a lot of teams that like to run and not pass, and vice versa. I think our team has a good combination of everything and that's really good."
Oak Forest opened the second half in good fashion as Plancarte got to a loose ball in front of the net and connected in the 41st minute to give his team a 2-0 advantage. He sent in a free kick a bit later and shortly after that, Jedrzejczyk and Collery briefly sent each other to the sidelines.
While the freshman keeper prepared to return, substitute Ryan Przybylski stepped in and punched away a free kick that Musa Mohammad sent his way from a spot near the sideline.
Jedrzejczyk return to the net was brief. He collided with the Bulldogs Wiktor Kuzmiuk, who was driving toward the goal in search of his team's first score. After another brief break, the keeper was back on the field when the Bulldogs finally connected in the 66th minute when Mohammad got free in front and delivered from close range.
"This is a very tough group, and for me to be a freshman on varsity, I have to play tough," Jedrzejczyk said. "If I'm not going to play tough and leave my heart in the game, then I'm not going to start, so I have to leave everything in the game.
"All of the practice that we do and the combination plays that we make helps, because it tired the two strikers on the other team, and they couldn't do anything in the second half. My favorite thing about this group is that everybody treats each other equally and everybody is like family here."
After closing to within a goal, Richards looked to get the equalizer but the hosts responded in quick fashion. Sophomore Ian Evans sent a pass to Plancarte, who put in a short attempt to give his team a two-goal advantage for the second time in the match.
Not long after that, Brandan Stacy looked like he might have scored on a corner kick to give Oak Forest a fourth goal but the referee saw otherwise. Nolan Price tried to add a late score but his long attempt was halted.
Oak Forest’s coach is pleased with much of what he's seen from his squad. One of the keys for the team has been the addition of Frankie Cabrera as his assistant coach.
"We're working really hard at having them play well together and getting that cohesive unit," Byrne said. "Our seniors are kind of leading the way and showing them that this is the way that we want to play. We're implementing a style that we're working really hard on, and it's great to see it pay off on the pitch.
“Their communication is better, and the control and tempo is better, as well. They love playing to feet and love possessing the ball, and it looks great. We're using the whole space, and it's proper soccer.
"Although our captains are at the back, we have leaders in every line going through. It shows that moving forward, if these guys can keep it going, hopefully we'll be successful.
“They're so competitive with each other and so happy to play together. There's a great camaraderie among the group and a lot of team spirit, which is wonderful.
“It was a huge coup for us to get Frankie. He's seen the way that we wanted to play and has come over this year to really help implement how we're playing that style of soccer, and it's working really well together. And it gives me somebody who's on the pitch, who's just as much in command as I am, and the kids have really responded to a fresh voice.
"I like their coachability. This is the first group that I've had in the 10 years that I've been here where they want to learn more and are not afraid to be criticized, and they want to grow and to learn.
“They keep asking what they need to do better, and they want to contribute. Our players have responded really well when they see that if they work hard that coach will give them a shot. We're very conscious of making sure to reward their effort for what they do and not their talent."
Footnote
The Oak Forest soccer team will host "Fight Against Childhood Cancer Night" at its home game against Evergreen Park on Sept. 22. The benefit will support the work of Chicago Fire Buddies, a fireman's group that supports children with serious illinesses. Activities will include a mascot race, raffle, bake sale, basket auctions and more. The gates open for the fundraiser at 4 p.m. The jv game starts a half hour later with the varsity game slotted to start at 6 p.m. More information can be found here.
Starting lineups
Richards
G - Michael Stasik
D - Andrew Rangel
D - Andres Maxinez
D - Anthony Caschetta
D - Diego Abarca
M - Zahid Sanchez
M - Wiktor Kuzmiuk
M - Musa Mohammad
M - Jordy Garcia
F - Ahmed Dhalai
F - Mo Saleh
Oak Forest
G - Adam Jedrzejczyk
D - Michael Speaker
D - Cody Evans
D - Kyle Baker
D - Gavin Collery
M - Diego Damian
M - Issa Deifallah
M - Marcos Sandoval Lucas
M - Alex Stacy
F - Mohammad Deifallah
F - Ian Evans
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Ian Plancarte, jr., F, Oak Forest
Scoring summary
First half
O - Alexis Hernandez, 34
Second half
O - Ian Plancarte, 41
R - Musa Mohammad, 66
O - Ian Plancarte (Ian Evans), 67
complete effort against Richards
Plancarte scores twice to help Bengals beat Bulldogs
By Curt Herron
OAK FOREST - One of the best ways to slow down a team that's had a lot of success scoring goals is to rely on a pair of veteran captains on defense to set the tone by controlling possession in the back and limiting good scoring chances.
Another is to have someone in the net who can not only come up with big stops but also help keep things organized while displaying a lot of toughness in his position, even if he's one of the youngest players on the field.
That's what Oak Forest had going for it on Tuesday when it began its biggest stretch of matches of the season, competition against fellow South Suburban Conference squads.
The Bengals put the clamps on a Richards squad that had scored 15 goals in its last three matches as senior defenders and captains Kyle Baker and Gavin Collery helped lead the way in front of a gutsy performance from freshman keeper Adam Jedrzejczyk.
With sophomore Alexis Hernandez scoring the match's initial goal late in the first half and junior Ian Plancarte connecting early in the second half and then right after the Bulldogs scored their only goal, Oak Forest claimed a 3-1 victory to improve to 4-1-1 after winning for the fourth time in its last five matches.
Issa Deifallah and Cody Evans were the other two seniors who coach Kieran Byrne slotted for the starting 11, which also featured juniors Diego Damian, Marcos Sandoval Lucas and Michael Speaker as well as sophomores Mohammad Deifallah, Ian Evans and Alex Stacy.
Oak Forest had nearly all of the limited number of good chances in the opening half and continued that dominance into the start of the final half before the Bulldogs (2-2-1) began to threaten after they faced a two-goal deficit.
Just as the Bengals were flying high with a 2-0 advantage, disaster nearly struck as Collery and Jedrzejczyk both fell to the turf after colliding in front of the net. But the pair eventually helped each other off of the field and were back in the fray only a few minutes later.
"Compared to the first game to now, this is a different team," said Collery of the contrast to the Bengals' season-opener on their field, a 1-0 loss to Hubbard. "In our first game, we tried a different play style and were trying to get used to it, but today we played amazing and played our game. They're a very physical and fast team, and we just passed around and tired them out very fast.
"And we scored at the best times, right before the end of the first half, right when the second half started and right after they scored, it was perfect, we couldn't have placed goals better in the game. This just showed how much we want to be on this team, want to play on this field and to win this game. We came into this game and were like, 'We're not losing this game.' We played very well in our last game at Herscher and just brought that momentum into this game.
"I like our composure, willingness to learn and how we listen to our coaches. No one on this team has an ego, which is amazing."
Oak Forest, which plays at Oak Lawn on Thursday and begins play in the PepsiCo Showdown on Saturday, had the first good chance when Issa Deifallah sent in a long free kick that was halted by keeper Michael Stasik.
Then in the 34th minute, Hernandez lined one over the keeper from about 20 yards to put the hosts up for good. And as the half wound down, Mohammad Deifallah drove toward the net before being thwarted by the Bulldogs keeper.
"We came in knowing that this team was fast, collective and really liked to pass the ball," Baker said. "So, we calmed down our positioning and decided to pass more, because in previous games our main problem that we had to work on was staying calm with the ball and passing it. I definitely felt like we hit a milestone in our ability to pass more.
"As soon as you score a goal, you have to stay in the same mindset that it's always 0-0 and keep that mentality and focus because the more you overthink, the more you'll make a sloppy pass, and that's something we don't want to do. I like our diversity. There's a lot of teams that like to run and not pass, and vice versa. I think our team has a good combination of everything and that's really good."
Oak Forest opened the second half in good fashion as Plancarte got to a loose ball in front of the net and connected in the 41st minute to give his team a 2-0 advantage. He sent in a free kick a bit later and shortly after that, Jedrzejczyk and Collery briefly sent each other to the sidelines.
While the freshman keeper prepared to return, substitute Ryan Przybylski stepped in and punched away a free kick that Musa Mohammad sent his way from a spot near the sideline.
Jedrzejczyk return to the net was brief. He collided with the Bulldogs Wiktor Kuzmiuk, who was driving toward the goal in search of his team's first score. After another brief break, the keeper was back on the field when the Bulldogs finally connected in the 66th minute when Mohammad got free in front and delivered from close range.
"This is a very tough group, and for me to be a freshman on varsity, I have to play tough," Jedrzejczyk said. "If I'm not going to play tough and leave my heart in the game, then I'm not going to start, so I have to leave everything in the game.
"All of the practice that we do and the combination plays that we make helps, because it tired the two strikers on the other team, and they couldn't do anything in the second half. My favorite thing about this group is that everybody treats each other equally and everybody is like family here."
After closing to within a goal, Richards looked to get the equalizer but the hosts responded in quick fashion. Sophomore Ian Evans sent a pass to Plancarte, who put in a short attempt to give his team a two-goal advantage for the second time in the match.
Not long after that, Brandan Stacy looked like he might have scored on a corner kick to give Oak Forest a fourth goal but the referee saw otherwise. Nolan Price tried to add a late score but his long attempt was halted.
Oak Forest’s coach is pleased with much of what he's seen from his squad. One of the keys for the team has been the addition of Frankie Cabrera as his assistant coach.
"We're working really hard at having them play well together and getting that cohesive unit," Byrne said. "Our seniors are kind of leading the way and showing them that this is the way that we want to play. We're implementing a style that we're working really hard on, and it's great to see it pay off on the pitch.
“Their communication is better, and the control and tempo is better, as well. They love playing to feet and love possessing the ball, and it looks great. We're using the whole space, and it's proper soccer.
"Although our captains are at the back, we have leaders in every line going through. It shows that moving forward, if these guys can keep it going, hopefully we'll be successful.
“They're so competitive with each other and so happy to play together. There's a great camaraderie among the group and a lot of team spirit, which is wonderful.
“It was a huge coup for us to get Frankie. He's seen the way that we wanted to play and has come over this year to really help implement how we're playing that style of soccer, and it's working really well together. And it gives me somebody who's on the pitch, who's just as much in command as I am, and the kids have really responded to a fresh voice.
"I like their coachability. This is the first group that I've had in the 10 years that I've been here where they want to learn more and are not afraid to be criticized, and they want to grow and to learn.
“They keep asking what they need to do better, and they want to contribute. Our players have responded really well when they see that if they work hard that coach will give them a shot. We're very conscious of making sure to reward their effort for what they do and not their talent."
Footnote
The Oak Forest soccer team will host "Fight Against Childhood Cancer Night" at its home game against Evergreen Park on Sept. 22. The benefit will support the work of Chicago Fire Buddies, a fireman's group that supports children with serious illinesses. Activities will include a mascot race, raffle, bake sale, basket auctions and more. The gates open for the fundraiser at 4 p.m. The jv game starts a half hour later with the varsity game slotted to start at 6 p.m. More information can be found here.
Starting lineups
Richards
G - Michael Stasik
D - Andrew Rangel
D - Andres Maxinez
D - Anthony Caschetta
D - Diego Abarca
M - Zahid Sanchez
M - Wiktor Kuzmiuk
M - Musa Mohammad
M - Jordy Garcia
F - Ahmed Dhalai
F - Mo Saleh
Oak Forest
G - Adam Jedrzejczyk
D - Michael Speaker
D - Cody Evans
D - Kyle Baker
D - Gavin Collery
M - Diego Damian
M - Issa Deifallah
M - Marcos Sandoval Lucas
M - Alex Stacy
F - Mohammad Deifallah
F - Ian Evans
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Ian Plancarte, jr., F, Oak Forest
Scoring summary
First half
O - Alexis Hernandez, 34
Second half
O - Ian Plancarte, 41
R - Musa Mohammad, 66
O - Ian Plancarte (Ian Evans), 67