Villagomez shoots, saves Barrington
to win over Rolling Meadows
GK does it all: posts shutout, scores PK, stops 2 shootout tries
By Bill McLean
BARRINGTON — During the break between the second scoreless overtime and the start of the penalty kick session at Tuesday night’s Class 3A Barrington Regional semifinal between the host school and Rolling Meadows, the Billy Joel song “Pressure” blared from the PA system.
As if the young lads needed a reminder of what they’d soon feel under the bright lights and cold temps at Barrington Community Stadium.
But Barrington senior goalkeeper Iker Villagomez didn’t crack — as a keeper or as a shooter. After a scoreless 100 minutes, the Bronco took the session’s first PK and converted it before stopping Rolling Meadows’ first and fifth attempts to extend Barrington’s season via a 4-3 shootout.
Barrington (11-7-4), seeded 11th in the Class 3A Buffalo Grove Sectional, will face 14th-seeded Waukegan for a regional championship Saturday at 4 p.m. Waukegan edged third-seeded Hersey (4-3 in PKs) after a 1-1 deadlock in Tuesday night’s first semifinal.
Villagomez wears jersey no. 0.
That also happens to be the number of times he’d booted a PK attempt in his varsity career before Tuesday.
Assistant coach Joe Zimka chose Barrington’s order for the PK session.
“I was surprised he wanted me to go first,” Villagomez admitted, adding he’d missed a PK in Monday’s practice.
Villagomez returned to his comfy spot — in goal — and promptly denied Rolling Meadows’ first try with a dive to his right. But a referee ruled the keeper had come off the goal line, giving Mustangs senior forward Paco Ramirez a re-kick. Ramirez struck his second PK to the same spot.
Villagomez was there, again, executing what appeared to be an identical dive-save.
“We’ve talked all season about the importance of being ‘in the moment,’“ said Barrington coach Scott Steib, whose club will shoot for the program’s 15th regional title and fifth in seven years atop the home pitch Saturday. “I don’t think anyone on our team has been as attentive and successful in big moments as often as Iker has.
“The progress he’s made in two years … phenomenal,” he added.
Steib then looked right at Villagomez, standing nearby during the post-match interviews, and said, “I am so proud of you.”
A handful of players from both sides were in serious contention for Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match recognition throughout the 100 minutes of high-level action.
Barrington senior back Mathew Klujian lofted majestic set piece after majestic set piece and personified intelligent soccer at a ridiculous rate; if tireless Broncos senior forward Jack Peterson ever gives less than 100 percent in a match, they’d have to stop the clock to mark the first-ever occasion; and sophomore back Nico Hausser reaches another tier of excellence each game.
“Nico,” Steib said, “was wide-eyed throughout the first half of the season. Lately, though, he’s been in a zone. I couldn’t be happier about the things he does for us out there.”
Sixth-seeded Rolling Meadows (10-8-2), meanwhile, received herculean efforts on defense from sophomore Kalvin Lagunas and senior Mathew Winkelman, particularly in the second half when Barrington dictated matters with a possession percentage of 80 (at least).
Lagunas made the save of the night by a non-goalie, standing just inside the goal line to clear a shot in the 58th minute. He used his left foot to preserve the 0-0 tie.
“He’s right-footed,” Mustangs senior forward and co-captain Joe Salemi noted. “Big play by him.”
Winkelman’s speed and anticipatory skills either doused a slew of Barrington chances or caused turnovers.
And Villagomez’s counterpart, sophomore Marceli Okonski (eight saves), stood tall and stayed alert as Barrington peppered 24 shots to Rolling Meadows’s eight.
But Villagomez (five saves) deserved Man of the Match honors for being cool when the heat of the playoff game approached a furnace-on-high degree.
“Their keeper got the best of us, and not just in PKs,” said Mustangs coach Brett Olson, whose crew had two first half
goals nullified because of offside calls. “There’s a reason he made all-sectional.
“Barrington,” he added, “took it to us in the second half. But I liked how we responded in the two overtimes. Tough … this was tough.”
Klujian dubbed the game “nerve-wracking.”
“That second half,” the smooth left-footer continued, “we had chances, so many chances. I looked up at the scoreboard and saw that we were out-shooting them 18-3.”
Steib’s message to his PK takers after the second OT was a simple one.
“Believe in yourself!” he exhorted more than a few times as Joel’s discomfiting tune continued to roar.
Klujian, Peterson and sophomore midfielder Patrick Tabb
made Barrington’s other PKs.
“I’m not used to shooting pens,” said Klujian, who looked like he’d been shooting PKs since his sandbox days.
Salemi, senior midfielder Oscar Chlopek and junior midfielder Brian Diaz converted PKs for Rolling Meadows.
“This is not my most talented team, but it would be hard for me to pick a team that worked harder than this one,” Steib said.
“You want to know something else? Great kids; they’re all great kids.”
Footnotes
The first corner-kick in Tuesday’s Rolling Meadows-Barrington playoff didn’t occur until the 43rd minute. Barrington led Rolling Meadows 7-0 in corners through 80 minutes. Rolling Meadows took its first corner six
minutes after the start of the first 10-minute OT period. … Barrington’s Klujian is leaning toward committing to Otterbein University, a Division III school in Westerville, Ohio. “I told Mathew after the game, ‘I love watching you play soccer,’” Steib said. “Some of his free kicks tonight, they were perfect. You know they’re perfect when they tempt the goalkeeper.” … Rolling Meadows’s Salemi is thinking of playing club soccer in college. … Barrington defeated host Rolling Meadows 3-2 in overtime (golden goal) on Oct. 4; the programs tied 0-0 at Barrington last fall. … Barrington senior midfielder Max Miller returned to action Tuesday after missing two weeks because of a head injury. … A broken nose sidelined Broncos junior forward Philip Jackowski on Tuesday. … Rolling Meadows’ Salemi, to a stranger three times his age
moments before Tuesday night’s kickoff: “Keeping warm?” The engaging Mustang smiled and then went to work. … Steib, save grounds personnel, was the last to exit the Barrington Community Stadium Tuesday night. At the entrance gate, he turned around to look — no, he marveled at the pristine facility bathed in the stadium lights. It resembles a college venue. “Just look at this place,” the coach said to a scribbler. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
Starting lineups
Rolling Meadows
GK Marceli Okonski
D Mathew Winkelman
D Kalvin Lagunas
D Alex Berg
D Alex Chlopek
MF Brian Diaz
MF Matt Schuhmacher
MF Eltayeb Mahmoud
MF Oscar Chlopek
F Joe Salemi
F Paco Ramirez
Barrington
GK Iker Villagomez
D Mathew Klujian
D Logan Cidulka
D Adam Walocha
D Nico Hausser
MF Ali Saber
MF Alexis Salazar
MF Mattie Vitale
MF Max Miller
F Jack Peterson
F Kian Cullen
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match:
Iker Villagomez, sr., GK, Barrington
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
No scoring
First overtime
No scoring
Second overtime
No scoring
Shootout
Rolling Meadows: Ramirez (save), O. Chlopek (goal), Salemi (goal), Diaz (goal), A. Chlopek (save)
Barrington: Villagomez (goal), Klujian (goal), Patrick Tabb
(goal), Salazar (save), Peterson (goal)
to win over Rolling Meadows
GK does it all: posts shutout, scores PK, stops 2 shootout tries
By Bill McLean
BARRINGTON — During the break between the second scoreless overtime and the start of the penalty kick session at Tuesday night’s Class 3A Barrington Regional semifinal between the host school and Rolling Meadows, the Billy Joel song “Pressure” blared from the PA system.
As if the young lads needed a reminder of what they’d soon feel under the bright lights and cold temps at Barrington Community Stadium.
But Barrington senior goalkeeper Iker Villagomez didn’t crack — as a keeper or as a shooter. After a scoreless 100 minutes, the Bronco took the session’s first PK and converted it before stopping Rolling Meadows’ first and fifth attempts to extend Barrington’s season via a 4-3 shootout.
Barrington (11-7-4), seeded 11th in the Class 3A Buffalo Grove Sectional, will face 14th-seeded Waukegan for a regional championship Saturday at 4 p.m. Waukegan edged third-seeded Hersey (4-3 in PKs) after a 1-1 deadlock in Tuesday night’s first semifinal.
Villagomez wears jersey no. 0.
That also happens to be the number of times he’d booted a PK attempt in his varsity career before Tuesday.
Assistant coach Joe Zimka chose Barrington’s order for the PK session.
“I was surprised he wanted me to go first,” Villagomez admitted, adding he’d missed a PK in Monday’s practice.
Villagomez returned to his comfy spot — in goal — and promptly denied Rolling Meadows’ first try with a dive to his right. But a referee ruled the keeper had come off the goal line, giving Mustangs senior forward Paco Ramirez a re-kick. Ramirez struck his second PK to the same spot.
Villagomez was there, again, executing what appeared to be an identical dive-save.
“We’ve talked all season about the importance of being ‘in the moment,’“ said Barrington coach Scott Steib, whose club will shoot for the program’s 15th regional title and fifth in seven years atop the home pitch Saturday. “I don’t think anyone on our team has been as attentive and successful in big moments as often as Iker has.
“The progress he’s made in two years … phenomenal,” he added.
Steib then looked right at Villagomez, standing nearby during the post-match interviews, and said, “I am so proud of you.”
A handful of players from both sides were in serious contention for Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match recognition throughout the 100 minutes of high-level action.
Barrington senior back Mathew Klujian lofted majestic set piece after majestic set piece and personified intelligent soccer at a ridiculous rate; if tireless Broncos senior forward Jack Peterson ever gives less than 100 percent in a match, they’d have to stop the clock to mark the first-ever occasion; and sophomore back Nico Hausser reaches another tier of excellence each game.
“Nico,” Steib said, “was wide-eyed throughout the first half of the season. Lately, though, he’s been in a zone. I couldn’t be happier about the things he does for us out there.”
Sixth-seeded Rolling Meadows (10-8-2), meanwhile, received herculean efforts on defense from sophomore Kalvin Lagunas and senior Mathew Winkelman, particularly in the second half when Barrington dictated matters with a possession percentage of 80 (at least).
Lagunas made the save of the night by a non-goalie, standing just inside the goal line to clear a shot in the 58th minute. He used his left foot to preserve the 0-0 tie.
“He’s right-footed,” Mustangs senior forward and co-captain Joe Salemi noted. “Big play by him.”
Winkelman’s speed and anticipatory skills either doused a slew of Barrington chances or caused turnovers.
And Villagomez’s counterpart, sophomore Marceli Okonski (eight saves), stood tall and stayed alert as Barrington peppered 24 shots to Rolling Meadows’s eight.
But Villagomez (five saves) deserved Man of the Match honors for being cool when the heat of the playoff game approached a furnace-on-high degree.
“Their keeper got the best of us, and not just in PKs,” said Mustangs coach Brett Olson, whose crew had two first half
goals nullified because of offside calls. “There’s a reason he made all-sectional.
“Barrington,” he added, “took it to us in the second half. But I liked how we responded in the two overtimes. Tough … this was tough.”
Klujian dubbed the game “nerve-wracking.”
“That second half,” the smooth left-footer continued, “we had chances, so many chances. I looked up at the scoreboard and saw that we were out-shooting them 18-3.”
Steib’s message to his PK takers after the second OT was a simple one.
“Believe in yourself!” he exhorted more than a few times as Joel’s discomfiting tune continued to roar.
Klujian, Peterson and sophomore midfielder Patrick Tabb
made Barrington’s other PKs.
“I’m not used to shooting pens,” said Klujian, who looked like he’d been shooting PKs since his sandbox days.
Salemi, senior midfielder Oscar Chlopek and junior midfielder Brian Diaz converted PKs for Rolling Meadows.
“This is not my most talented team, but it would be hard for me to pick a team that worked harder than this one,” Steib said.
“You want to know something else? Great kids; they’re all great kids.”
Footnotes
The first corner-kick in Tuesday’s Rolling Meadows-Barrington playoff didn’t occur until the 43rd minute. Barrington led Rolling Meadows 7-0 in corners through 80 minutes. Rolling Meadows took its first corner six
minutes after the start of the first 10-minute OT period. … Barrington’s Klujian is leaning toward committing to Otterbein University, a Division III school in Westerville, Ohio. “I told Mathew after the game, ‘I love watching you play soccer,’” Steib said. “Some of his free kicks tonight, they were perfect. You know they’re perfect when they tempt the goalkeeper.” … Rolling Meadows’s Salemi is thinking of playing club soccer in college. … Barrington defeated host Rolling Meadows 3-2 in overtime (golden goal) on Oct. 4; the programs tied 0-0 at Barrington last fall. … Barrington senior midfielder Max Miller returned to action Tuesday after missing two weeks because of a head injury. … A broken nose sidelined Broncos junior forward Philip Jackowski on Tuesday. … Rolling Meadows’ Salemi, to a stranger three times his age
moments before Tuesday night’s kickoff: “Keeping warm?” The engaging Mustang smiled and then went to work. … Steib, save grounds personnel, was the last to exit the Barrington Community Stadium Tuesday night. At the entrance gate, he turned around to look — no, he marveled at the pristine facility bathed in the stadium lights. It resembles a college venue. “Just look at this place,” the coach said to a scribbler. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
Starting lineups
Rolling Meadows
GK Marceli Okonski
D Mathew Winkelman
D Kalvin Lagunas
D Alex Berg
D Alex Chlopek
MF Brian Diaz
MF Matt Schuhmacher
MF Eltayeb Mahmoud
MF Oscar Chlopek
F Joe Salemi
F Paco Ramirez
Barrington
GK Iker Villagomez
D Mathew Klujian
D Logan Cidulka
D Adam Walocha
D Nico Hausser
MF Ali Saber
MF Alexis Salazar
MF Mattie Vitale
MF Max Miller
F Jack Peterson
F Kian Cullen
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match:
Iker Villagomez, sr., GK, Barrington
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
No scoring
First overtime
No scoring
Second overtime
No scoring
Shootout
Rolling Meadows: Ramirez (save), O. Chlopek (goal), Salemi (goal), Diaz (goal), A. Chlopek (save)
Barrington: Villagomez (goal), Klujian (goal), Patrick Tabb
(goal), Salazar (save), Peterson (goal)