St. Ignatius too much for Sycamore
Robertson scores twice, adds assist in 3-1 victory
By Patrick Z. McGavin
SCHAUMBURG — In the bright and dazzling light, Russell Robertson is running unobstructed and easy.
His movements are crisp and fluid, and the game just seems to come to him naturally.
It was not necessarily always that way for the senior forward. In many ways, Robertson constitutes the classic definition of the late bloomer.
He is a slightly weird spot given his background. He is playing varsity for the first time in his final year of high school.
He is making the most of his chance and has become a dynamic scorer and facilitator for St. Ignatius.
“I played on the junior varsity last year, and I know a lot of these guys played sophomore last year,” he said.
Robertson has been a revelation this year as a scorer, creator and shot-distributor.
The Wolfpack were the definition of an open text to start the season with just four returning players. They are now writing a winning story.
Robertson continued his superb play with two goals and an assist in the Wolfpack’s 3-1 quarterfinal victory over Sycamore in the BodyArmor event Saturday morning at Olympic Park.
St. Ignatius (6-1-1) lost its chance for a championship berth when it fell 2-1 to now 15th-ranked Stagg after a goal with :01 left in regulation Sunday.
Lithe and quick, Robertson is a whirling dervish of a player. He plays with flash and great energy.
Sycamore (1-5-1) struggled to contain him in space. Robertson got to the edge, and repeatedly broke the seams of the Spartans’ backline.
He was simply too quick and explosive to slow down.
St. Ignatius showed out in the run of play and also generated tremendous opportunities on set pieces.
Robertson created terrific byplay with elite junior Oscar Quinn Pasin.
The two combined for three goals and two assists in the victory.
“I thought we were really good, especially in that first half,” Robertson said. “I thought we came out of the gate really well.”
The quick, energetic and slashing midfielder Quinn Pasin repeatedly broke down the interior of the Spartans, finding gaps to play the ball out wide. That led to prime opportunities.
He has a brash and electric style and tends to physically dominate the opposition.
That is by choice.
“I always like to take guys on, or cross the ball in and take a shot,” Quinn Pasin said.
“We’re a very direct team, and our coach (Matt Miller) emphasizes that. We look for the forwards, and try to get in behind them. That’s what we did today.”
Quinn Pasin and Robertson collaborated on a beautiful early sequence that gave the Wolfpack a 1-0 advantage.
The strong, angular Quinn Pasin found a seam on the edge and blasted a shot from about 14 yards that deflected.
Robertson was ideally suited for the rebound put-away in the 17th minute.
“Oscar is the chance-creator, and I am the finisher,” Robertson said.
“He does so much work with the ball, and I am very lucky to play with him. I wouldn’t have so many goals if it were not for him.”
Quinn Pasin is the ideal set-up man who allows the quick Robertson to make his runs.
Midfielders Colin Chough and Nick Rezza added dynamics to the attack. They played off their teammates to create a hyper effect.
The Spartans did not know what angle to use to set up their resistance.
Speed is the essential weapon of Robertson and Quinn Pasin. Rezza is a rapidly improving shot-creator of his own accord.
Enzo Santillan is the architect of the back and the team’s corner kick specialist. He also created solid scoring chances.
Robertson didn't take long to return the favor to Quinn Pasin. He slotted a ball in space that the electric midfielder smashed home from about 16 yards for the 2-0 lead in the 24th minute.
“I like to think I have a turn of pace,” Robertson said. “I think I am okay on the ball.
“I really like using my pace to get in behind. When Oscar is making his driving runs, I am just looking at finding the space to finish those chances.”
It was almost too much of a good thing. Sycamore caught the Wolfpack off-guard late in the first half.
Forward Will Donahue pushed the ball up the gut of the defense, and let a shot fly from about 22 yards.
Wolfpack keeper Liam McConnell made a deflection, which flung the ball out wide right.
Sycamore forward Cameron Kruskol was perfectly set up for the rebound ball, a 14-yard blast from the right wing that cut inside the far post.
A game that St. Ignatius dominated was suddenly a single-score affair.
The occurance brought back bad memories.
“We had a similar situation like this against St. Patrick when they scored a late first half goal when we were up 2-0, and we said to ourselves we are not going to let this happen again,” Quinn Pasin said. That game ended in a 3-3 tie Aug. 27.
The young players on the team sometimes require a reality check, according to Robertson.
The Spartans’ goal had that effect.
“We had a good team talk at halftime, and we really got fired up again,” Robertson said.
“I think that let us go on and continue to play hard and press them deep, win the ball high and continue to try and score goals.”
St. Ignatius underscored that sense of urgency and purpose by generating a corner kick in the opening moments of the second half.
McConnell was also superb, stopping solid free kicks by Kruskol in the second half.
Rezza flashed his potential and ability to stretch the field with his own drives and quickness off the ball.
He helped put the game out of reach by playing a ball over the top that caused Robertson and a Spartans’ defender to battle for control.
The ball deflected off the defender and into net in the 54th minute. Robertson was credited as the goal scorer, because he was the nearest offensive player to the ball.
For his outstanding play, Russell Robertson earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor.
“We see this as our chance,” Robertson said. “Some teams are going through rebuilds, with a lot of seniors leaving.
“We see ourselves as a young, up-and-coming team. We think we can go far this year.”
Starting lineups
St. Ignatius
GK: Liam McConnell
D: Enzo Santillan
D: Lucas Hanna
D: Bryce Lynch
D: Leonardo Diaz
MF: Oscar Quinn Pasin
MF: Colin Chough
MF: David Jacobo
MF: Nick Rezza
MF: Roman Marsh
F: Russell Robertson
Sycamore
GK: Kevin Munoz
D: Josh Plagakis
D: Liam Tran
D: Charlie Roots
D: Carter England
MF: Ethan Royer
MF: Carson Matthews
MF: Nick Doering
MF: Jameson Carl
F: Will Donahue
F: Cameron Kruskol
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Russell Robertson, sr., F, St. Ignatius
Scoring summary
First half
St. Ignatius—Russell Robertson (Oscar Quinn Pasin), 17th minute
St. Ignatius—Quinn Pasin (Robertson), 24th minute
Sycamore—Cameron Kruskol (Will Donahue), 34th minute
Second half
St. Ignatius—Robertson (Nick Rezza), 54th minute
Robertson scores twice, adds assist in 3-1 victory
By Patrick Z. McGavin
SCHAUMBURG — In the bright and dazzling light, Russell Robertson is running unobstructed and easy.
His movements are crisp and fluid, and the game just seems to come to him naturally.
It was not necessarily always that way for the senior forward. In many ways, Robertson constitutes the classic definition of the late bloomer.
He is a slightly weird spot given his background. He is playing varsity for the first time in his final year of high school.
He is making the most of his chance and has become a dynamic scorer and facilitator for St. Ignatius.
“I played on the junior varsity last year, and I know a lot of these guys played sophomore last year,” he said.
Robertson has been a revelation this year as a scorer, creator and shot-distributor.
The Wolfpack were the definition of an open text to start the season with just four returning players. They are now writing a winning story.
Robertson continued his superb play with two goals and an assist in the Wolfpack’s 3-1 quarterfinal victory over Sycamore in the BodyArmor event Saturday morning at Olympic Park.
St. Ignatius (6-1-1) lost its chance for a championship berth when it fell 2-1 to now 15th-ranked Stagg after a goal with :01 left in regulation Sunday.
Lithe and quick, Robertson is a whirling dervish of a player. He plays with flash and great energy.
Sycamore (1-5-1) struggled to contain him in space. Robertson got to the edge, and repeatedly broke the seams of the Spartans’ backline.
He was simply too quick and explosive to slow down.
St. Ignatius showed out in the run of play and also generated tremendous opportunities on set pieces.
Robertson created terrific byplay with elite junior Oscar Quinn Pasin.
The two combined for three goals and two assists in the victory.
“I thought we were really good, especially in that first half,” Robertson said. “I thought we came out of the gate really well.”
The quick, energetic and slashing midfielder Quinn Pasin repeatedly broke down the interior of the Spartans, finding gaps to play the ball out wide. That led to prime opportunities.
He has a brash and electric style and tends to physically dominate the opposition.
That is by choice.
“I always like to take guys on, or cross the ball in and take a shot,” Quinn Pasin said.
“We’re a very direct team, and our coach (Matt Miller) emphasizes that. We look for the forwards, and try to get in behind them. That’s what we did today.”
Quinn Pasin and Robertson collaborated on a beautiful early sequence that gave the Wolfpack a 1-0 advantage.
The strong, angular Quinn Pasin found a seam on the edge and blasted a shot from about 14 yards that deflected.
Robertson was ideally suited for the rebound put-away in the 17th minute.
“Oscar is the chance-creator, and I am the finisher,” Robertson said.
“He does so much work with the ball, and I am very lucky to play with him. I wouldn’t have so many goals if it were not for him.”
Quinn Pasin is the ideal set-up man who allows the quick Robertson to make his runs.
Midfielders Colin Chough and Nick Rezza added dynamics to the attack. They played off their teammates to create a hyper effect.
The Spartans did not know what angle to use to set up their resistance.
Speed is the essential weapon of Robertson and Quinn Pasin. Rezza is a rapidly improving shot-creator of his own accord.
Enzo Santillan is the architect of the back and the team’s corner kick specialist. He also created solid scoring chances.
Robertson didn't take long to return the favor to Quinn Pasin. He slotted a ball in space that the electric midfielder smashed home from about 16 yards for the 2-0 lead in the 24th minute.
“I like to think I have a turn of pace,” Robertson said. “I think I am okay on the ball.
“I really like using my pace to get in behind. When Oscar is making his driving runs, I am just looking at finding the space to finish those chances.”
It was almost too much of a good thing. Sycamore caught the Wolfpack off-guard late in the first half.
Forward Will Donahue pushed the ball up the gut of the defense, and let a shot fly from about 22 yards.
Wolfpack keeper Liam McConnell made a deflection, which flung the ball out wide right.
Sycamore forward Cameron Kruskol was perfectly set up for the rebound ball, a 14-yard blast from the right wing that cut inside the far post.
A game that St. Ignatius dominated was suddenly a single-score affair.
The occurance brought back bad memories.
“We had a similar situation like this against St. Patrick when they scored a late first half goal when we were up 2-0, and we said to ourselves we are not going to let this happen again,” Quinn Pasin said. That game ended in a 3-3 tie Aug. 27.
The young players on the team sometimes require a reality check, according to Robertson.
The Spartans’ goal had that effect.
“We had a good team talk at halftime, and we really got fired up again,” Robertson said.
“I think that let us go on and continue to play hard and press them deep, win the ball high and continue to try and score goals.”
St. Ignatius underscored that sense of urgency and purpose by generating a corner kick in the opening moments of the second half.
McConnell was also superb, stopping solid free kicks by Kruskol in the second half.
Rezza flashed his potential and ability to stretch the field with his own drives and quickness off the ball.
He helped put the game out of reach by playing a ball over the top that caused Robertson and a Spartans’ defender to battle for control.
The ball deflected off the defender and into net in the 54th minute. Robertson was credited as the goal scorer, because he was the nearest offensive player to the ball.
For his outstanding play, Russell Robertson earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor.
“We see this as our chance,” Robertson said. “Some teams are going through rebuilds, with a lot of seniors leaving.
“We see ourselves as a young, up-and-coming team. We think we can go far this year.”
Starting lineups
St. Ignatius
GK: Liam McConnell
D: Enzo Santillan
D: Lucas Hanna
D: Bryce Lynch
D: Leonardo Diaz
MF: Oscar Quinn Pasin
MF: Colin Chough
MF: David Jacobo
MF: Nick Rezza
MF: Roman Marsh
F: Russell Robertson
Sycamore
GK: Kevin Munoz
D: Josh Plagakis
D: Liam Tran
D: Charlie Roots
D: Carter England
MF: Ethan Royer
MF: Carson Matthews
MF: Nick Doering
MF: Jameson Carl
F: Will Donahue
F: Cameron Kruskol
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Russell Robertson, sr., F, St. Ignatius
Scoring summary
First half
St. Ignatius—Russell Robertson (Oscar Quinn Pasin), 17th minute
St. Ignatius—Quinn Pasin (Robertson), 24th minute
Sycamore—Cameron Kruskol (Will Donahue), 34th minute
Second half
St. Ignatius—Robertson (Nick Rezza), 54th minute