Solorio's early work bests Von Steuben
Sanchez and Solis combine on both goals in 2-1 Sun Warriors win
By Mike Garofola
CHICAGO -- Solorio's dreams of a top-four finish Chicago Public League Premier Division finish came true Wednesday afternoon with a 2-1 victory over Von Steuben on the Northwest Side of the city at Northeastern Illinois University.
After a recent stretch in which the Sun Warriors fell out of contention for the top spot after consecutive losses to Young and Kelly, Adrian Calleros' men responded with three-straight wins.
"We've been playing well of late, and today's win gets us past Von Steuben, which is a very good team, and one that we respect very much," said the Sun Warriors manager, who now must wait to learn his pool-play foes in the first round of the Chicago Public League Tournament.
"The guys came out really well today, put a couple in fairly early and played a strong first half of soccer.
"The only thing that stinks about today is we gave up a cheap late PK, which I didn't feel was warranted. But that entire second half was far too physical."
Von Steuben manager Vedad Sarancic could have predicted the eventual outcome after watching his club go through a rather lackluster warm-up and equally less than sparkling opening 20 minutes in which the Sun Warriors (9-5-3, 3-2-2) struck twice, and could have easily added another one or two to their score line.
"We were still hanging our heads from our 2-1 loss at Washington on Monday, so we weren't prepared to play against a quality opponent, and it showed in our execution, energy and desire until late in the game when we finally had some life in our game," said Sarancic.
"It's a shame we played this way, because we have some very talented guys on this team that can do some terrific things. But we we're so predictable in our attack, and were, at times, looking for the referee to bail us out. And that's how you end of up losing a game that you really need to win."
The Panthers (7-3-6) finished league play at 2-2-3.
There wasn't a hint during the early exchanges that Von Steuben would be in for a long afternoon after a quiet opening 10 minutes came and went. That changed when Solorio's Jonathan Vasquez, David Diaz and Jose Solis combined magnificently to begin what would end with Alex Sanchez's score in the 12th minute.
Solis, who was extremely active up-top all afternoon with his pacey runs, clever distribution and unselfish play. He used a crafty little touch to put his teammate Sanchez in on Von Steuben keeper Carlos Martinez, who could do nothing when Sanchez touched up and over the Panthers keeper before putting an exclamation point on his effort by going into the back of the net.
"Solis was so solid today. He had a hand in both goals, scoring that second one, and just giving us so much up-top all day long," said Calleros.
"Alex made a great run and finish on that first goal, and he really set me up well when I scored," said a humble Solis.
Diaz put Solis through, and if not for a desperate late save from Martinez, the Sun Warriors would have doubled their advantage just two minutes after Sanchez struck.
A highlight reel move so near perfect on a technical scale by Sanchez allowed the sophomore to run onto a ball over the top and in full gallop touch past Martinez to pull him far off his line.
Sanchez stayed in control of the ball before calmly playing the ball across to Solis who scored from close range.
The 18th minute goal sent Von Steuben reeling, and soon thereafter Solorio tried to find a way to add to its lead.
Ricardo Silva-Torres set up Sanchez, who on the turn fired on frame at Martinez, and just minutes before the break, Sanchez once again had a chance, as did Diaz, who went wide with his attempt.
For his efforts, Sanchez earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor.
"Our first half of soccer was a very good one. We attacked really well, and were strong defensively as well," began Diaz, who wore the captain's armband for Calleros.
"This is the way we want to be playing at this time of the year, but we also all know there's work still to be done if we want to go far in the city and state playoffs."
Diaz was recently recognized in a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation video, which featured Solorio as part of the foundation's "Celebrating Student-Ready Schools" program.
Diaz was in the opening scene that saw the senior midfielder during a soccer training session, at the dinner table with his family and in the classroom. He contributed voice-over work to the project.
"It was a lot of fun, and a great opportunity for me to show what Solorio Academy has provided for myself, and others who attend our school," said Diaz, who lists the University of Michigan and University of Pennsylvania as potential landing spots next fall. He hopes to pursue a degree in economics or finance.
"The feature on Solorio was all about how to succeed in life through higher education, and how being involved and working hard can and will open doors to your future."
The Sun Warriors captain and his mates would be greeted by far too many whistles and stoppages after the intermission, which led to plenty of chippy play, zero flow, and a far less interesting second half of soccer.
Seven yellow card bookings took center stage as the officials attempted to regain control of the game, but when some actual soccer was on display, there was something to write about.
Off the opening second half whistle, Von Steuben nearly pulled one back off a corner after Ricardo Luna went close on his attempt. Then Solorio fell just short after a lung-bursting 50-yard run and carry by Eduardo Franco. Afterward Von Steuben's Rambert Ramos and Martin Hernandez would test the waters for the home side.
The Sun Warriors staff showed its disdain when Hernandez was sent to the spot in the 75th minute, but despite the goal backline stars Omar Salgado, David Gamez, Jonathan Vasquez and Franco tightened things up to help insure the victory.
"Those guys in the back have been very good of late, and it all begins with Salgado, who was a starter as a freshman two years ago when we got to the supersectionals, and since then, he has grown into the role of our leader of the defense," said Calleros.
Starting lineups
Solorio
GK- Brian Rangel
D- Jonathan Vasquez
D- David Gamez
D- Omar Salgado
D- Eduardo Franco
M- David Diaz
M- Julian Arroyo
M- Luis Batalla
M- Ricardo Silva-Torres
F- Jose Solis
F- Alex Sanchez
Von Steuben
GK- Carlos Martinez
D- Cesar Mejia
D- Sebastian Tovar
D- Jonathan Holcomb
D- Jose Piox
M- Dane Hoare
M- Gabriel Edstrom
M- Juan Valencia
M- James Malutan
F- Sammy Bouchama
F- Alvin Allo
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Alex Sanchez, so., F, Solorio
Officials: Julian Perez, Manny Valencia
Scoring summary
Solorio
Sanchez (Solis) 12', Solis (Sanchez) 18'
Sanchez and Solis combine on both goals in 2-1 Sun Warriors win
By Mike Garofola
CHICAGO -- Solorio's dreams of a top-four finish Chicago Public League Premier Division finish came true Wednesday afternoon with a 2-1 victory over Von Steuben on the Northwest Side of the city at Northeastern Illinois University.
After a recent stretch in which the Sun Warriors fell out of contention for the top spot after consecutive losses to Young and Kelly, Adrian Calleros' men responded with three-straight wins.
"We've been playing well of late, and today's win gets us past Von Steuben, which is a very good team, and one that we respect very much," said the Sun Warriors manager, who now must wait to learn his pool-play foes in the first round of the Chicago Public League Tournament.
"The guys came out really well today, put a couple in fairly early and played a strong first half of soccer.
"The only thing that stinks about today is we gave up a cheap late PK, which I didn't feel was warranted. But that entire second half was far too physical."
Von Steuben manager Vedad Sarancic could have predicted the eventual outcome after watching his club go through a rather lackluster warm-up and equally less than sparkling opening 20 minutes in which the Sun Warriors (9-5-3, 3-2-2) struck twice, and could have easily added another one or two to their score line.
"We were still hanging our heads from our 2-1 loss at Washington on Monday, so we weren't prepared to play against a quality opponent, and it showed in our execution, energy and desire until late in the game when we finally had some life in our game," said Sarancic.
"It's a shame we played this way, because we have some very talented guys on this team that can do some terrific things. But we we're so predictable in our attack, and were, at times, looking for the referee to bail us out. And that's how you end of up losing a game that you really need to win."
The Panthers (7-3-6) finished league play at 2-2-3.
There wasn't a hint during the early exchanges that Von Steuben would be in for a long afternoon after a quiet opening 10 minutes came and went. That changed when Solorio's Jonathan Vasquez, David Diaz and Jose Solis combined magnificently to begin what would end with Alex Sanchez's score in the 12th minute.
Solis, who was extremely active up-top all afternoon with his pacey runs, clever distribution and unselfish play. He used a crafty little touch to put his teammate Sanchez in on Von Steuben keeper Carlos Martinez, who could do nothing when Sanchez touched up and over the Panthers keeper before putting an exclamation point on his effort by going into the back of the net.
"Solis was so solid today. He had a hand in both goals, scoring that second one, and just giving us so much up-top all day long," said Calleros.
"Alex made a great run and finish on that first goal, and he really set me up well when I scored," said a humble Solis.
Diaz put Solis through, and if not for a desperate late save from Martinez, the Sun Warriors would have doubled their advantage just two minutes after Sanchez struck.
A highlight reel move so near perfect on a technical scale by Sanchez allowed the sophomore to run onto a ball over the top and in full gallop touch past Martinez to pull him far off his line.
Sanchez stayed in control of the ball before calmly playing the ball across to Solis who scored from close range.
The 18th minute goal sent Von Steuben reeling, and soon thereafter Solorio tried to find a way to add to its lead.
Ricardo Silva-Torres set up Sanchez, who on the turn fired on frame at Martinez, and just minutes before the break, Sanchez once again had a chance, as did Diaz, who went wide with his attempt.
For his efforts, Sanchez earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor.
"Our first half of soccer was a very good one. We attacked really well, and were strong defensively as well," began Diaz, who wore the captain's armband for Calleros.
"This is the way we want to be playing at this time of the year, but we also all know there's work still to be done if we want to go far in the city and state playoffs."
Diaz was recently recognized in a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation video, which featured Solorio as part of the foundation's "Celebrating Student-Ready Schools" program.
Diaz was in the opening scene that saw the senior midfielder during a soccer training session, at the dinner table with his family and in the classroom. He contributed voice-over work to the project.
"It was a lot of fun, and a great opportunity for me to show what Solorio Academy has provided for myself, and others who attend our school," said Diaz, who lists the University of Michigan and University of Pennsylvania as potential landing spots next fall. He hopes to pursue a degree in economics or finance.
"The feature on Solorio was all about how to succeed in life through higher education, and how being involved and working hard can and will open doors to your future."
The Sun Warriors captain and his mates would be greeted by far too many whistles and stoppages after the intermission, which led to plenty of chippy play, zero flow, and a far less interesting second half of soccer.
Seven yellow card bookings took center stage as the officials attempted to regain control of the game, but when some actual soccer was on display, there was something to write about.
Off the opening second half whistle, Von Steuben nearly pulled one back off a corner after Ricardo Luna went close on his attempt. Then Solorio fell just short after a lung-bursting 50-yard run and carry by Eduardo Franco. Afterward Von Steuben's Rambert Ramos and Martin Hernandez would test the waters for the home side.
The Sun Warriors staff showed its disdain when Hernandez was sent to the spot in the 75th minute, but despite the goal backline stars Omar Salgado, David Gamez, Jonathan Vasquez and Franco tightened things up to help insure the victory.
"Those guys in the back have been very good of late, and it all begins with Salgado, who was a starter as a freshman two years ago when we got to the supersectionals, and since then, he has grown into the role of our leader of the defense," said Calleros.
Starting lineups
Solorio
GK- Brian Rangel
D- Jonathan Vasquez
D- David Gamez
D- Omar Salgado
D- Eduardo Franco
M- David Diaz
M- Julian Arroyo
M- Luis Batalla
M- Ricardo Silva-Torres
F- Jose Solis
F- Alex Sanchez
Von Steuben
GK- Carlos Martinez
D- Cesar Mejia
D- Sebastian Tovar
D- Jonathan Holcomb
D- Jose Piox
M- Dane Hoare
M- Gabriel Edstrom
M- Juan Valencia
M- James Malutan
F- Sammy Bouchama
F- Alvin Allo
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Alex Sanchez, so., F, Solorio
Officials: Julian Perez, Manny Valencia
Scoring summary
Solorio
Sanchez (Solis) 12', Solis (Sanchez) 18'