Schaumburg Christian ruins
North Shore Counry Day's Senior Day plans
Raiders' win streak ends at seven with 1-0 loss
By Ken Keenan
WINNETKA -- North Shore Country Day had big plans for its regular season finale at home Thursday, but Schaumburg Christian had other ideas and emerged with a well-earned, 1-0 decision in the nonconference tilt.
The Raiders entered the match with the intent to honor upperclassmen Adam Terhaerdt, Alex Winslow, Riley Jones and Tyler Doornweerd on Senior Day by posting an all-time school-record 14th victory while extending the team's winning streak to eight.
Meanwhile, the Conquerors were looking to end their regular-season slate on the plus-side after dropping four-straight matches. Schaumburg Christian also sought its first win over NSCD in recent memory, and played with a sense of purpose to secure it.
"It's always super-competitive with North Shore: close losses and ties," said Schaumburg Christian assistant coach Kyle McVey, subbing on Thursday for head coach Tim White. "But for us, on a losing streak, we just needed a win going into the playoffs. The guys were excited coming in, and it all came together."
McVey continued: "We looked like we wanted it. We put it together for 80 minutes, and it paid off."
Shifty Conquerors senior midfielder Ben Lee, who scored the game's lone goal in the 15th minute and was named Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match, said, "We haven't beaten North Shore in a while. We just had four losses in a row, too. Today, our last (regular-season) game ... a great win for us to get ready for the playoffs."
Roadrunner-like Schaumburg Christian forward Jordan Epps, who assisted on Lee's tally, added: "We were in a drought ... lost our focus a bit. This game, we needed a win to get our spirits back up. And this definitely boosted our spirits."
Though understandably in a less-spirited mood considering the result, Raiders coach Kyle Jones offered no excuses. In fact, the NSCD skipper said he congratulated the Conquerors (13-6-1 overall) after the game for a job well done.
"They were the better team," said Jones, whose squad fell to 13-5-1 with the loss. "I thought they wanted it more, and you have to want it more than the other team. I'm very disappointed. It's a kick in the backside."
Jones continued: "On paper, we should have won. But games are not played on paper. They're played on the pitch. It was a great performance by Schaumburg Christian -- and a good eye-opener for us."
The visitors had the game's first opportunity in the 3rd minute. After tracking a free kick by lanky senior midfielder Chris Townsel, Epps charged ahead on the left side before uncorking a left-footed strike from a wide-angle that sailed over the crossbar.
Two minutes later, the Raiders had a chance on a head attempt by midfielder Terhaerdt, who popped the ball just over the bar after finding a cross sent by sophomore mid Mason Roberts-Jones. In the 6th minute, NSCD freshman forward Cole Sabia was stopped on a re-direct try in-close by Conquerors sophomore goalkeeper Aaron Onesimus; Sabia also missed high on a 20-yard rifle in the 7th minute.
Not long after Epps burst through on a semi-breakaway -- ending with a low strike that missed wide-left -- the speedy Conquerors forward sent a ball to Lee. Firing from in front, Lee's shot hit the left post and ricocheted off the right post before bouncing into the back of the net.
"I ran to the corner and then I found (Lee)," Epps said. "It was a good shot by Ben, and a good goal. For the rest of the game, we played well. It was definitely a good team effort ... good chemistry today."
Lee's goal was the first allowed by the Raiders since a 4-1 win over Parker in Independent School League action on Oct. 1. Otherwise, opponents scored zilch during the seven-game win streak.
"It was Senior Day, and we wanted to play well," said NSCD senior defender Winslow. "But after the goal, we put our heads down instead of fighting and playing our game."
The Raiders had a couple of good looks before halftime. But Sabia's quick, hard strike in the 30th minute was stopped by Conquerors keeper Onesimus, and Sabia missed wide-right from 25 yards six minutes later.
During the break, North Shore coach Jones said he calmly reminded his troops to pick up the pace in the final 40 minutes.
"I told 'em, 'I'm not gonna yell and scream. You know it's not good enough right now,' " Jones said. "The second half was better. But the result just wasn't there today."
Sabia said the Raiders took their skipper's halftime message to heart, and it showed as NSCD picked up the pace the rest of the way.
"Coach (Jones) told us to calm down and work as a team," Sabia said. "He said to play together with movement off the ball ... connect on passes instead of forcing things."
Looking for the equalizer, Sabia fired wide-right from 25 yards in the 47th minute, and Onesimus had the answer for a wide-angle try from the right side by Roberts-Jones in the 66th minute.
The two teams traded chances in the 68th minute. First, Epps stole a ball and unleashed a long drive that was stopped by NSCD sophomore keeper. During the Raiders' counterattack, junior defender John Sprenger crossed a ball to Sabia for a one-timer that skipped wide-right.
North Shore Country Day had one last crack in the 78th minute, but Sprenger's soft header on a deep Raiders' throw-in was nabbed by Onesimus.
Soon after, the match was over, and the Conquerors erupted in unison before gathering at midfield to celebrate the victory.
"We didn't mess around in the second half," McVey said. "We took some time off the clock, but we didn't just sit back defensively."
Summarizing the Raiders' second half comeback effort, Sabia said. "We had a couple good chances, but it didn't go our way. Our movement off the ball was not as good as it should be. This loss, it's a shock to our system."
Added Winslow: "Maybe we needed a wake-up call to put us in the right mindset for the playoffs."
North Shore Country Day will open postseason play in its own IHSA Class A regional (at the Skokie Playfields) against the winner of Cruz and Chicago Math and Science at 4 p.m. Oct. 15. The title match begins at 4 p.m. Oct.18.
The Conquerors are set to face either Mooseheart or Aurora Central in the semifinals of the Class A Hinckley-Big Rock Regional at 5 p.m. the same day.
Starting lineups
Schaumburg Christian
G: Aaron Onesimus
D: Juan Monroy
D: Chris Bedford
D: Caleb Taylor
D: Brad Peterson
M: Joshua Mayer
M: Timothy Mayer
M: Nathaniel Bedford
M: Chris Townsel
M: Ben Lee
F: Jordan Epps
North Shore Country Day
G: Nick Potter
D: Alex Winslow
D: Finn Doornweerd
D: Riley Jones
D: Tae Won Lillig
D: Tyler Doornweerd
M: Adam Terhaerdt
M: Axel Garcia
M: Mason Roberts-Jones
M: Vincent Luglio
F: Cole Sabia
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Ben Lee, sr., M, Schaumburg Christian
Officials: Jerry Aulisio, Ali Khiavi, Jay Weis
Scoring summary
First half
Schaumburg Christian: Ben Lee (assisted by Jordan Epps) in 15th minute
Second half
No scoring
North Shore Counry Day's Senior Day plans
Raiders' win streak ends at seven with 1-0 loss
By Ken Keenan
WINNETKA -- North Shore Country Day had big plans for its regular season finale at home Thursday, but Schaumburg Christian had other ideas and emerged with a well-earned, 1-0 decision in the nonconference tilt.
The Raiders entered the match with the intent to honor upperclassmen Adam Terhaerdt, Alex Winslow, Riley Jones and Tyler Doornweerd on Senior Day by posting an all-time school-record 14th victory while extending the team's winning streak to eight.
Meanwhile, the Conquerors were looking to end their regular-season slate on the plus-side after dropping four-straight matches. Schaumburg Christian also sought its first win over NSCD in recent memory, and played with a sense of purpose to secure it.
"It's always super-competitive with North Shore: close losses and ties," said Schaumburg Christian assistant coach Kyle McVey, subbing on Thursday for head coach Tim White. "But for us, on a losing streak, we just needed a win going into the playoffs. The guys were excited coming in, and it all came together."
McVey continued: "We looked like we wanted it. We put it together for 80 minutes, and it paid off."
Shifty Conquerors senior midfielder Ben Lee, who scored the game's lone goal in the 15th minute and was named Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match, said, "We haven't beaten North Shore in a while. We just had four losses in a row, too. Today, our last (regular-season) game ... a great win for us to get ready for the playoffs."
Roadrunner-like Schaumburg Christian forward Jordan Epps, who assisted on Lee's tally, added: "We were in a drought ... lost our focus a bit. This game, we needed a win to get our spirits back up. And this definitely boosted our spirits."
Though understandably in a less-spirited mood considering the result, Raiders coach Kyle Jones offered no excuses. In fact, the NSCD skipper said he congratulated the Conquerors (13-6-1 overall) after the game for a job well done.
"They were the better team," said Jones, whose squad fell to 13-5-1 with the loss. "I thought they wanted it more, and you have to want it more than the other team. I'm very disappointed. It's a kick in the backside."
Jones continued: "On paper, we should have won. But games are not played on paper. They're played on the pitch. It was a great performance by Schaumburg Christian -- and a good eye-opener for us."
The visitors had the game's first opportunity in the 3rd minute. After tracking a free kick by lanky senior midfielder Chris Townsel, Epps charged ahead on the left side before uncorking a left-footed strike from a wide-angle that sailed over the crossbar.
Two minutes later, the Raiders had a chance on a head attempt by midfielder Terhaerdt, who popped the ball just over the bar after finding a cross sent by sophomore mid Mason Roberts-Jones. In the 6th minute, NSCD freshman forward Cole Sabia was stopped on a re-direct try in-close by Conquerors sophomore goalkeeper Aaron Onesimus; Sabia also missed high on a 20-yard rifle in the 7th minute.
Not long after Epps burst through on a semi-breakaway -- ending with a low strike that missed wide-left -- the speedy Conquerors forward sent a ball to Lee. Firing from in front, Lee's shot hit the left post and ricocheted off the right post before bouncing into the back of the net.
"I ran to the corner and then I found (Lee)," Epps said. "It was a good shot by Ben, and a good goal. For the rest of the game, we played well. It was definitely a good team effort ... good chemistry today."
Lee's goal was the first allowed by the Raiders since a 4-1 win over Parker in Independent School League action on Oct. 1. Otherwise, opponents scored zilch during the seven-game win streak.
"It was Senior Day, and we wanted to play well," said NSCD senior defender Winslow. "But after the goal, we put our heads down instead of fighting and playing our game."
The Raiders had a couple of good looks before halftime. But Sabia's quick, hard strike in the 30th minute was stopped by Conquerors keeper Onesimus, and Sabia missed wide-right from 25 yards six minutes later.
During the break, North Shore coach Jones said he calmly reminded his troops to pick up the pace in the final 40 minutes.
"I told 'em, 'I'm not gonna yell and scream. You know it's not good enough right now,' " Jones said. "The second half was better. But the result just wasn't there today."
Sabia said the Raiders took their skipper's halftime message to heart, and it showed as NSCD picked up the pace the rest of the way.
"Coach (Jones) told us to calm down and work as a team," Sabia said. "He said to play together with movement off the ball ... connect on passes instead of forcing things."
Looking for the equalizer, Sabia fired wide-right from 25 yards in the 47th minute, and Onesimus had the answer for a wide-angle try from the right side by Roberts-Jones in the 66th minute.
The two teams traded chances in the 68th minute. First, Epps stole a ball and unleashed a long drive that was stopped by NSCD sophomore keeper. During the Raiders' counterattack, junior defender John Sprenger crossed a ball to Sabia for a one-timer that skipped wide-right.
North Shore Country Day had one last crack in the 78th minute, but Sprenger's soft header on a deep Raiders' throw-in was nabbed by Onesimus.
Soon after, the match was over, and the Conquerors erupted in unison before gathering at midfield to celebrate the victory.
"We didn't mess around in the second half," McVey said. "We took some time off the clock, but we didn't just sit back defensively."
Summarizing the Raiders' second half comeback effort, Sabia said. "We had a couple good chances, but it didn't go our way. Our movement off the ball was not as good as it should be. This loss, it's a shock to our system."
Added Winslow: "Maybe we needed a wake-up call to put us in the right mindset for the playoffs."
North Shore Country Day will open postseason play in its own IHSA Class A regional (at the Skokie Playfields) against the winner of Cruz and Chicago Math and Science at 4 p.m. Oct. 15. The title match begins at 4 p.m. Oct.18.
The Conquerors are set to face either Mooseheart or Aurora Central in the semifinals of the Class A Hinckley-Big Rock Regional at 5 p.m. the same day.
Starting lineups
Schaumburg Christian
G: Aaron Onesimus
D: Juan Monroy
D: Chris Bedford
D: Caleb Taylor
D: Brad Peterson
M: Joshua Mayer
M: Timothy Mayer
M: Nathaniel Bedford
M: Chris Townsel
M: Ben Lee
F: Jordan Epps
North Shore Country Day
G: Nick Potter
D: Alex Winslow
D: Finn Doornweerd
D: Riley Jones
D: Tae Won Lillig
D: Tyler Doornweerd
M: Adam Terhaerdt
M: Axel Garcia
M: Mason Roberts-Jones
M: Vincent Luglio
F: Cole Sabia
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Ben Lee, sr., M, Schaumburg Christian
Officials: Jerry Aulisio, Ali Khiavi, Jay Weis
Scoring summary
First half
Schaumburg Christian: Ben Lee (assisted by Jordan Epps) in 15th minute
Second half
No scoring