St. Charles East blanks Batavia
No. 17 Fighting Saints remain undefeated in DuKane with 5-0 win
By Steve Nemeth
BATAVIA --- St. Charles East had enough weapons, talent, speed, and depth to overcome the absence of standout Sebastian Carranza.
Batavia put up yet another gallant effort as the Bulldogs continue to play with heavy hearts following the tragic Sept. 13 death of teammate Kyle Nicely.
Against that backdrop, the visiting Fighting Saints, who are ranked 17th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, posted a 5-0 shutout victory.
While previous displays of comraderie and sportsmanship shown by Geneva and Wheaton Warrenville South in observing pre-game moments of silence were appreciated, this was Batavia’s first home match and that tribute magnified the junior forward's absence.
As much as wins, losses and ties must still be recorded, the outcome for the host Bulldogs remains secondary to the solace of teammates and attempting to put one’s best efforts into a game that may have lost some of its thrill.
St. Charles East extended its current unbeaten streak to 10 straight (8-0-2) in the process of improving to 11-1-2 on the season. Boosting its DuKane Conference record to 3-0-0 allowed the Saints to stay in the title hunt behind current league leader Geneva. The Vikings moved to 4-0-0 with a 3-2 road victory Tuesday over defending co-champion Wheaton North.
Batavia now stands 1-10-0 overall and 0-4-0 in DKC play.
The initial threat of the evening went to East as Sam Wade attempted to angle in a chip shot from off to the side of the right post. Batavia tried answering with a breakaway, however, Mark Lillig’s touch was a little too strong and enabled Saints goalie Jack Settle to rush out for a defensive clear.
East claimed the lead at 8:35 when Alex Mancera’s 35-yard cross led to Tyler Filbert’s nine-yard header. It was the senior’s second goal this season.
“We practice set pieces regularly so that things can become second nature,” Filbert explained. “On that specific set piece I was left unmarked, and I only had to worry about solid contact. Obviously scoring make me feel good, but more importantly it boosts the team’s energy.”
Two minutes later, Batavia’s Isaac Hager served a corner kick into a pack in front of the East net, but that ball was headed over instead of becoming an equalizer.
There was 14:38 elapsed when Renato Avendano used an assist from younger brother Luca to knock home an 18-yarder from the left inside the far right post.
The second half was a mere 49 seconds gone when the brothers produced an encore for a 3-0 lead.
“That third goal was the killer coming 40-plus seconds after halftime,” Batavia coach Mark Gianfrancesco acknowledged.
It certainly erased that soccer theory of 2-0 being the most dangerous lead, and it was reason enough to award the elder Avendano with Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match accolade.
“No matter how often you find the net in practice, you don’t get the amazing feeling that comes with scoring in a game,” Avendano said. “Having both assists come from my younger brother does make it a little more special.”
Although he referred to it “being a brotherhood thing,” the junior didn’t elaborate on whether he’d necessarily share the honor with his sophomore sibling. The two tallies brought Renato’s goal total to nine, just behind Carranza. Luca raised his assists to five for the year.
In keeping with Batavia’s season-long practice of alternating keepers, sophomore Brody Seitzinger started the match and junior Logan Saenz took over for the second half. Due in part to a variety of bumps and bruises, the Bulldogs’ roster was limited to start with, and East’s constant pressure began to take a toll over the final 40 minutes.
The Saints began amassing shots, many sailing high or wide, while Saenz also did his best with several highlight-reel worthy saves, including a tip save with 17:52 remaining.
There was 11:39 left when Mancera successfully blasted a 22-yard direct kick over a Batavia defensive wall but inside the left post to make it 4-0. That was Mancera’s first goal for the season to go along with seven assists.
East capped the scoring with 7:39 still to play when Wade converted a penalty kick for his fifth goal.
“I think a definite bright spot was bringing Renato in from the wing to make up for playing without Sebastian, and he played so well with his back to the goal,” East coach Vince DiNuzzo said. “I liked the way we moved off the ball and the energy we played with, it was much better than (at) Wheaton Academy.”
DiNuzzo referenced the Saints’ previous match, a 1-1 road draw.
East continues a string of eight-straight away games when they spend the weekend in Burlington, Iowa, for the Go 4 The Goal Fall Classic. The opposition includes Bradley-Bourbonnais, Quincy, and a squad from Neenah, Wis.
Batavia is back in action on its home turf Thursday with another DKC match against a Glenbard North crew that is unbeaten in its last two DuKane efforts. The Panthers (1-2-1 overall in league matches) edged defending co-champion Lake Park 2-1 and battled St. Charles North to a 2-2 deadlock Tuesday night.
“We put together some nice sequences by moving the ball from side-to-side to make a few threats,” Gianfrancesco said. “Unfortunately our Achilles’ heel has been set pieces. We need to be much quicker and do better. This is the fourth match we’ve given an opponent a PK.
“Despite the final score, I’d say there were some little things that can be cleaned up, and if we do that, we stand a better chance at a positive outcome. Tonight we have to give East credit for finishing its chances.”
In addition to the pre-game warm-up T-shirts that feature the letters K-Y-L-E across the top of a Bulldog footprint with the number 3 in the pad, Batavia players sport commemorative black arm bands with Nicely’s jersey number 3.
The upcoming annual Tri-City Night matches on October 10, scheduled this year at Geneva’s Burgess Field, will include fundraising efforts to support the Nicely family.
Starting lineups
St. Charles East
GK Jack Settle
D Geoff Unterberg
D Brandon Adams
D Zach Gamster
D Ryan Champine
M Jacob Maslowski
M Alex Mancera
M Tyler Filbert
M Luca Avendano
F Renato Avendano
F Sam Wade
Batavia
GK Brody Seitzinger
D Rodrigo Maldonado
D Austin Saenz
D Quinn Carlson
D Will Bardol
DM Ethan Wright
DM Conor Kelly
OM Dylan Knapp
OM Isaac Hager
OM Will Chandler
F Mark Lillig
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Renato Avendano, sr. D, St. Charles East
Referees: Tomas Zajaczkowski (center), Russ Hunt, Alin Popescu
Game summary
St. Charles East 5, Batavia 0
SCE 2 3 --- 5 (11-1-2 / DKC 4-0-0)
Batavia 0 0 --- 0 (1-10-0 / DKC 0-4-0)
Scoring
First half
SCE --- Filbert nine-yard header off cross (Mancera assist) 8:35 gone
SCE --- R. Avendano 18-yarder from left inside far right post (L. Avendano assist), 14:38 gone
Second half
SCE --- R. Avendano 16-yarder tucked past keeper (L. Avendano assist), 40:49 gone
SCE --- Mancera 22-yard direct kick over defensive wall and inside left post (unassisted, 68:21 gone
SCE --- Wade penalty kick conversion (unassisted), 69:09 gone
Shots
SCE 8 – 15 --- 23
B 3 – 5 --- 8
Shots on goal
SCE 5 – 9 --- 14
B 2 – 3 --- 5
Saves (goalie)
SCE (Settle) 2 – 3 --- 5
B (Seitzinger 3) 3 – (L. Saenz 6) 6 --- 9
Corner kicks
SCE 3 – 4 --- 7
B 1 – 0 --- 1
Offsides
SCE 2 – 2 --- 4
B 0 – 0 --- 0
No. 17 Fighting Saints remain undefeated in DuKane with 5-0 win
By Steve Nemeth
BATAVIA --- St. Charles East had enough weapons, talent, speed, and depth to overcome the absence of standout Sebastian Carranza.
Batavia put up yet another gallant effort as the Bulldogs continue to play with heavy hearts following the tragic Sept. 13 death of teammate Kyle Nicely.
Against that backdrop, the visiting Fighting Saints, who are ranked 17th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, posted a 5-0 shutout victory.
While previous displays of comraderie and sportsmanship shown by Geneva and Wheaton Warrenville South in observing pre-game moments of silence were appreciated, this was Batavia’s first home match and that tribute magnified the junior forward's absence.
As much as wins, losses and ties must still be recorded, the outcome for the host Bulldogs remains secondary to the solace of teammates and attempting to put one’s best efforts into a game that may have lost some of its thrill.
St. Charles East extended its current unbeaten streak to 10 straight (8-0-2) in the process of improving to 11-1-2 on the season. Boosting its DuKane Conference record to 3-0-0 allowed the Saints to stay in the title hunt behind current league leader Geneva. The Vikings moved to 4-0-0 with a 3-2 road victory Tuesday over defending co-champion Wheaton North.
Batavia now stands 1-10-0 overall and 0-4-0 in DKC play.
The initial threat of the evening went to East as Sam Wade attempted to angle in a chip shot from off to the side of the right post. Batavia tried answering with a breakaway, however, Mark Lillig’s touch was a little too strong and enabled Saints goalie Jack Settle to rush out for a defensive clear.
East claimed the lead at 8:35 when Alex Mancera’s 35-yard cross led to Tyler Filbert’s nine-yard header. It was the senior’s second goal this season.
“We practice set pieces regularly so that things can become second nature,” Filbert explained. “On that specific set piece I was left unmarked, and I only had to worry about solid contact. Obviously scoring make me feel good, but more importantly it boosts the team’s energy.”
Two minutes later, Batavia’s Isaac Hager served a corner kick into a pack in front of the East net, but that ball was headed over instead of becoming an equalizer.
There was 14:38 elapsed when Renato Avendano used an assist from younger brother Luca to knock home an 18-yarder from the left inside the far right post.
The second half was a mere 49 seconds gone when the brothers produced an encore for a 3-0 lead.
“That third goal was the killer coming 40-plus seconds after halftime,” Batavia coach Mark Gianfrancesco acknowledged.
It certainly erased that soccer theory of 2-0 being the most dangerous lead, and it was reason enough to award the elder Avendano with Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match accolade.
“No matter how often you find the net in practice, you don’t get the amazing feeling that comes with scoring in a game,” Avendano said. “Having both assists come from my younger brother does make it a little more special.”
Although he referred to it “being a brotherhood thing,” the junior didn’t elaborate on whether he’d necessarily share the honor with his sophomore sibling. The two tallies brought Renato’s goal total to nine, just behind Carranza. Luca raised his assists to five for the year.
In keeping with Batavia’s season-long practice of alternating keepers, sophomore Brody Seitzinger started the match and junior Logan Saenz took over for the second half. Due in part to a variety of bumps and bruises, the Bulldogs’ roster was limited to start with, and East’s constant pressure began to take a toll over the final 40 minutes.
The Saints began amassing shots, many sailing high or wide, while Saenz also did his best with several highlight-reel worthy saves, including a tip save with 17:52 remaining.
There was 11:39 left when Mancera successfully blasted a 22-yard direct kick over a Batavia defensive wall but inside the left post to make it 4-0. That was Mancera’s first goal for the season to go along with seven assists.
East capped the scoring with 7:39 still to play when Wade converted a penalty kick for his fifth goal.
“I think a definite bright spot was bringing Renato in from the wing to make up for playing without Sebastian, and he played so well with his back to the goal,” East coach Vince DiNuzzo said. “I liked the way we moved off the ball and the energy we played with, it was much better than (at) Wheaton Academy.”
DiNuzzo referenced the Saints’ previous match, a 1-1 road draw.
East continues a string of eight-straight away games when they spend the weekend in Burlington, Iowa, for the Go 4 The Goal Fall Classic. The opposition includes Bradley-Bourbonnais, Quincy, and a squad from Neenah, Wis.
Batavia is back in action on its home turf Thursday with another DKC match against a Glenbard North crew that is unbeaten in its last two DuKane efforts. The Panthers (1-2-1 overall in league matches) edged defending co-champion Lake Park 2-1 and battled St. Charles North to a 2-2 deadlock Tuesday night.
“We put together some nice sequences by moving the ball from side-to-side to make a few threats,” Gianfrancesco said. “Unfortunately our Achilles’ heel has been set pieces. We need to be much quicker and do better. This is the fourth match we’ve given an opponent a PK.
“Despite the final score, I’d say there were some little things that can be cleaned up, and if we do that, we stand a better chance at a positive outcome. Tonight we have to give East credit for finishing its chances.”
In addition to the pre-game warm-up T-shirts that feature the letters K-Y-L-E across the top of a Bulldog footprint with the number 3 in the pad, Batavia players sport commemorative black arm bands with Nicely’s jersey number 3.
The upcoming annual Tri-City Night matches on October 10, scheduled this year at Geneva’s Burgess Field, will include fundraising efforts to support the Nicely family.
Starting lineups
St. Charles East
GK Jack Settle
D Geoff Unterberg
D Brandon Adams
D Zach Gamster
D Ryan Champine
M Jacob Maslowski
M Alex Mancera
M Tyler Filbert
M Luca Avendano
F Renato Avendano
F Sam Wade
Batavia
GK Brody Seitzinger
D Rodrigo Maldonado
D Austin Saenz
D Quinn Carlson
D Will Bardol
DM Ethan Wright
DM Conor Kelly
OM Dylan Knapp
OM Isaac Hager
OM Will Chandler
F Mark Lillig
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Renato Avendano, sr. D, St. Charles East
Referees: Tomas Zajaczkowski (center), Russ Hunt, Alin Popescu
Game summary
St. Charles East 5, Batavia 0
SCE 2 3 --- 5 (11-1-2 / DKC 4-0-0)
Batavia 0 0 --- 0 (1-10-0 / DKC 0-4-0)
Scoring
First half
SCE --- Filbert nine-yard header off cross (Mancera assist) 8:35 gone
SCE --- R. Avendano 18-yarder from left inside far right post (L. Avendano assist), 14:38 gone
Second half
SCE --- R. Avendano 16-yarder tucked past keeper (L. Avendano assist), 40:49 gone
SCE --- Mancera 22-yard direct kick over defensive wall and inside left post (unassisted, 68:21 gone
SCE --- Wade penalty kick conversion (unassisted), 69:09 gone
Shots
SCE 8 – 15 --- 23
B 3 – 5 --- 8
Shots on goal
SCE 5 – 9 --- 14
B 2 – 3 --- 5
Saves (goalie)
SCE (Settle) 2 – 3 --- 5
B (Seitzinger 3) 3 – (L. Saenz 6) 6 --- 9
Corner kicks
SCE 3 – 4 --- 7
B 1 – 0 --- 1
Offsides
SCE 2 – 2 --- 4
B 0 – 0 --- 0