Geneva pulls away late vs. South Elgin
Vikings post 5-0 win; Storm fall to 3rd-straight ranked opponent
By Steve Nemeth
GENEVA -- South Elgin’s Thursday visit to Geneva was fittingly an Upstate Eight Conference cross-over meeting because it was like two ships passing in the night.
The host Vikings, cresting at no. 24 in this week’s Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, continued riding a wave of confidence and upped their win and shutout streaks to three with a 5-0 win.
By contrast it was South Elgin’s third-consecutive loss, all within a seven-day span. The Storm faced rough going with home losses to no. 10 Streamwood (2-0) and no. 17 West Aurora (3-2). The games appeared to leave the Storm (4-5-1) without the legs (sea or otherwise) needed to make a mark.
“There really weren’t any positives for us today,” South Elgin skipper Simon Brinklow admitted. “They were clearly the better team in this match.”
In stark contrast, Geneva (6-1-1) came in ready to roll.
“Being our first game in a week, we had a couple days rest plus two hard training days, all of which made us feel like we were in full stride,” explained senior Eric Anderson, who scored just 2:57 into the match and again in the second half.
“Not only is it a good win in terms of building a win streak, but winning 5-0, 2-0 and 5-0 shows the boys are really getting in form,” Geneva coach Jason Bhatta said. “I think they’ve really bought into the possession game we want. I’m so proud of their progress and am looking forward to their keeping it up in the second half of the season.”
The opening goal was the result of a stellar set-up by Nick Dispensa, the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honoree.
“He just did all the little things that allow a team to succeed, plus he had a goal and an assist, along with lending a hand to the defense,” Bhatta noted.
Dispensa’s cross found Anderson in position for an eight-yard strike from left of center that was parked into the right half of the net.
“Seeing Nick hustling for a cross, his touch basically just fell into place for me,” Anderson said. “I saw the keeper still moving so I went bottom right.”
Six minutes later, Geneva goalie Jeff Bode had to rush out to beat South Elgin’s Jack McCall racing toward a loose ball. The Storm appeared to regroup, and there was a stretch of back-and-forth play.
Storm goalie Fernando Rivera misplayed a bounce giving the Vikings a golden opportunity midway through the half, but the shot sailed wide right. In the 32nd minute, Nicholas Flores found McCall in position for an 11-yard attempt, but the Vikings' Bode made the save.
At the opposite end, with 5:02 left before halftime, Jack Cottrell’s heel flick led to a tap-in goal by Jack Belloli.
Cottrell earned IHSSCA All-Sectional last year based on his playmaking in the middle. Third-year varsity starter views assists and goals as equally desirable.
“All that matters is that you contribute to scoring,” Cottrell said. “I don’t mind racking up assists over goals if it means helping us win. Today’s victory was important because I believe a successful run in the middle of season can help define a successful year.”
Reversing momentum is why many believe a 2-0 margin is the most dangerous lead.
“Being down two goals at the half, we talked about the need to get a goal and to continually press the attack,” Brinklow said. “Unfortunately it didn’t happen and as the half went on, they continued to dominate by maintaining possession.”
The Vikings blasted 18-of-25 overall attempts in the second half compared to South Elgin’s total of seven for the match. The shots on goal tally was 11-3 in favor of Geneva as was a 5-4 corner kick advantage; the Vikings had two offsides calls compared to one for South Elgin.
“We didn’t find a rhythm to play like we’re capable,” South Elgin’s Kevin Guerrero said. “They played well. So today was a case of the other team being good, and we weren’t.”
South Elgin's Rivera made a huge save at 55:44 on an Ivan Vilchis cannon shot from the right wing. A minute-plus elapsed when the Storm had a potential fastbreak chance, but Myles Birkhead sprinted back to cut off McCall getting a necessary final touch.
With 11:21 remaining in regulation, a scramble in front of the South Elgin goal led to an unassisted goal by Dispensa, his fourth of the season. That deficit essentially sucked the wind out of the Storm.
Vilchis earned his fourth assist for the year with 2:42 to go when he found Anderson in the clear to boot a 25-yard laser from the right wing, boosting his goal total to 10.
“It feels great to nail that kind of shot often in practice because it means you’re getting good at it, but when you pull it off in a game, it means that much more because it goes on the scoreboard and you hear the fans,” Anderson said. “We have a great group of guys overall, plus I’ve pretty much played my whole life with the other seniors.”
A whopping 16 of 20 on the roster are seniors, a sum likely the state leader for veterans inherited by a first-year coach.
“We believe in what coach (Bhatta) wants us doing on offense and defense,” Cottrell said. “It certainly helps that we have such a strong brotherhood. We’re good friends outside of soccer, and our success is showing that we’re a force to be reckoned with.”
The scoring was capped off with 46 seconds remaining when Sean Geismann was in the right place for a one-touch volley from 16 yards following a ricochet.
“We had a lot of folks with goals and assists, but regardless of statistics, a lot of the offense starts with Cottrell’s composure and vision,” Bhatta noted. “He does a lot of dirty work that sets up our offense.
“At the opposite end, Bode may not have been tested as often, but he was there when called upon. Sometimes in a game like this, it’s hard for the keeper and defense to keep their focus.”
The keeper and his defense recorded their fourth shutout for the season.
Geneva is off for the Homecoming weekend, but visits Oswego on Monday before hoping to add to a 1-0-0 UEC River Division mark when Streamwood visits on Sept. 21.
South Elgin aims to improve a 1-1-0 Valley Division ledger during a trip to Glenbard East on Tuesday.
Starting lineups
South Elgin
GK Fernando Rivera
D Elijah Patrick
D Royce Robinson
D Alex Kirby
D Kevin Guerrero
M Anthony Sisler
M Matthew McKee
M Liam Swangren
M Luca Reutimann
F Jack McCall
F Nicholas Flores
Geneva
GK Jeff Bode
D Myles Birkhead
D Jason Belloli
D Ryleigh Strubler
D Josh Hartsock
M Ethan Norman
M Jack Cottrell
M Sean Geismann
F Eric Anderson
F Ivan Vilchis
F Nick Dispensa
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Nick Dispensa, sr. MF, Geneva
Officials: Alex Alvarado (center), Tom Allegretti, Vinh Trinh
Game summary
Geneva 5, South Elgin 0
South Elgin 0 0 -- 0 4-5-1
Geneva 2 3 -- 5 6-1-1
Scoring
G – Anderson eight-yarder from left of center into right half (Dispensa assist), 2:57 gone
G – Jack Belloli four-yard tap-in near right post (Cottrell heel flick assist), 34:48 gone
G – Dispensa six-yarder off scramble in front (unassisted), 68:39 gone
G – Anderson 25-yard rocket from right wing (Vilchis assist), 77:18 gone
G – Geismann one-touch volley from 16 yards right of center (unassisted), 79:14 gone
Shots
SE 5 – 2 -- 7
G 7 – 18 -- 25
Shots on goal
SE 2 – 1 -- 3
G 4 – 7 -- 11
Saves (goalie)
SE 6 (Rivera, 2/4)
G 3 (Bode, 2/1)
Corner kicks
SE 1 – 3 -- 4
G 3 – 2 -- 5
Offsides
SE 1 – 0 -- 1
G 1 – 1 -- 2
Vikings post 5-0 win; Storm fall to 3rd-straight ranked opponent
By Steve Nemeth
GENEVA -- South Elgin’s Thursday visit to Geneva was fittingly an Upstate Eight Conference cross-over meeting because it was like two ships passing in the night.
The host Vikings, cresting at no. 24 in this week’s Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, continued riding a wave of confidence and upped their win and shutout streaks to three with a 5-0 win.
By contrast it was South Elgin’s third-consecutive loss, all within a seven-day span. The Storm faced rough going with home losses to no. 10 Streamwood (2-0) and no. 17 West Aurora (3-2). The games appeared to leave the Storm (4-5-1) without the legs (sea or otherwise) needed to make a mark.
“There really weren’t any positives for us today,” South Elgin skipper Simon Brinklow admitted. “They were clearly the better team in this match.”
In stark contrast, Geneva (6-1-1) came in ready to roll.
“Being our first game in a week, we had a couple days rest plus two hard training days, all of which made us feel like we were in full stride,” explained senior Eric Anderson, who scored just 2:57 into the match and again in the second half.
“Not only is it a good win in terms of building a win streak, but winning 5-0, 2-0 and 5-0 shows the boys are really getting in form,” Geneva coach Jason Bhatta said. “I think they’ve really bought into the possession game we want. I’m so proud of their progress and am looking forward to their keeping it up in the second half of the season.”
The opening goal was the result of a stellar set-up by Nick Dispensa, the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honoree.
“He just did all the little things that allow a team to succeed, plus he had a goal and an assist, along with lending a hand to the defense,” Bhatta noted.
Dispensa’s cross found Anderson in position for an eight-yard strike from left of center that was parked into the right half of the net.
“Seeing Nick hustling for a cross, his touch basically just fell into place for me,” Anderson said. “I saw the keeper still moving so I went bottom right.”
Six minutes later, Geneva goalie Jeff Bode had to rush out to beat South Elgin’s Jack McCall racing toward a loose ball. The Storm appeared to regroup, and there was a stretch of back-and-forth play.
Storm goalie Fernando Rivera misplayed a bounce giving the Vikings a golden opportunity midway through the half, but the shot sailed wide right. In the 32nd minute, Nicholas Flores found McCall in position for an 11-yard attempt, but the Vikings' Bode made the save.
At the opposite end, with 5:02 left before halftime, Jack Cottrell’s heel flick led to a tap-in goal by Jack Belloli.
Cottrell earned IHSSCA All-Sectional last year based on his playmaking in the middle. Third-year varsity starter views assists and goals as equally desirable.
“All that matters is that you contribute to scoring,” Cottrell said. “I don’t mind racking up assists over goals if it means helping us win. Today’s victory was important because I believe a successful run in the middle of season can help define a successful year.”
Reversing momentum is why many believe a 2-0 margin is the most dangerous lead.
“Being down two goals at the half, we talked about the need to get a goal and to continually press the attack,” Brinklow said. “Unfortunately it didn’t happen and as the half went on, they continued to dominate by maintaining possession.”
The Vikings blasted 18-of-25 overall attempts in the second half compared to South Elgin’s total of seven for the match. The shots on goal tally was 11-3 in favor of Geneva as was a 5-4 corner kick advantage; the Vikings had two offsides calls compared to one for South Elgin.
“We didn’t find a rhythm to play like we’re capable,” South Elgin’s Kevin Guerrero said. “They played well. So today was a case of the other team being good, and we weren’t.”
South Elgin's Rivera made a huge save at 55:44 on an Ivan Vilchis cannon shot from the right wing. A minute-plus elapsed when the Storm had a potential fastbreak chance, but Myles Birkhead sprinted back to cut off McCall getting a necessary final touch.
With 11:21 remaining in regulation, a scramble in front of the South Elgin goal led to an unassisted goal by Dispensa, his fourth of the season. That deficit essentially sucked the wind out of the Storm.
Vilchis earned his fourth assist for the year with 2:42 to go when he found Anderson in the clear to boot a 25-yard laser from the right wing, boosting his goal total to 10.
“It feels great to nail that kind of shot often in practice because it means you’re getting good at it, but when you pull it off in a game, it means that much more because it goes on the scoreboard and you hear the fans,” Anderson said. “We have a great group of guys overall, plus I’ve pretty much played my whole life with the other seniors.”
A whopping 16 of 20 on the roster are seniors, a sum likely the state leader for veterans inherited by a first-year coach.
“We believe in what coach (Bhatta) wants us doing on offense and defense,” Cottrell said. “It certainly helps that we have such a strong brotherhood. We’re good friends outside of soccer, and our success is showing that we’re a force to be reckoned with.”
The scoring was capped off with 46 seconds remaining when Sean Geismann was in the right place for a one-touch volley from 16 yards following a ricochet.
“We had a lot of folks with goals and assists, but regardless of statistics, a lot of the offense starts with Cottrell’s composure and vision,” Bhatta noted. “He does a lot of dirty work that sets up our offense.
“At the opposite end, Bode may not have been tested as often, but he was there when called upon. Sometimes in a game like this, it’s hard for the keeper and defense to keep their focus.”
The keeper and his defense recorded their fourth shutout for the season.
Geneva is off for the Homecoming weekend, but visits Oswego on Monday before hoping to add to a 1-0-0 UEC River Division mark when Streamwood visits on Sept. 21.
South Elgin aims to improve a 1-1-0 Valley Division ledger during a trip to Glenbard East on Tuesday.
Starting lineups
South Elgin
GK Fernando Rivera
D Elijah Patrick
D Royce Robinson
D Alex Kirby
D Kevin Guerrero
M Anthony Sisler
M Matthew McKee
M Liam Swangren
M Luca Reutimann
F Jack McCall
F Nicholas Flores
Geneva
GK Jeff Bode
D Myles Birkhead
D Jason Belloli
D Ryleigh Strubler
D Josh Hartsock
M Ethan Norman
M Jack Cottrell
M Sean Geismann
F Eric Anderson
F Ivan Vilchis
F Nick Dispensa
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Nick Dispensa, sr. MF, Geneva
Officials: Alex Alvarado (center), Tom Allegretti, Vinh Trinh
Game summary
Geneva 5, South Elgin 0
South Elgin 0 0 -- 0 4-5-1
Geneva 2 3 -- 5 6-1-1
Scoring
G – Anderson eight-yarder from left of center into right half (Dispensa assist), 2:57 gone
G – Jack Belloli four-yard tap-in near right post (Cottrell heel flick assist), 34:48 gone
G – Dispensa six-yarder off scramble in front (unassisted), 68:39 gone
G – Anderson 25-yard rocket from right wing (Vilchis assist), 77:18 gone
G – Geismann one-touch volley from 16 yards right of center (unassisted), 79:14 gone
Shots
SE 5 – 2 -- 7
G 7 – 18 -- 25
Shots on goal
SE 2 – 1 -- 3
G 4 – 7 -- 11
Saves (goalie)
SE 6 (Rivera, 2/4)
G 3 (Bode, 2/1)
Corner kicks
SE 1 – 3 -- 4
G 3 – 2 -- 5
Offsides
SE 1 – 0 -- 1
G 1 – 1 -- 2