Solorio falls in 2 OT to Notre Dame (Peoria)
Young Sun Warriors show mettle in 4-2 loss
By Mike Garofola
HOFFMAN ESTATES -- Drama, drama, drama -- that's what the Solorio and Notre Dame (Peoria) Class AA state semifinal had Friday afternoon in a driving rainstorm before a big house at Garver Stadium.
A controversial call, that led to the Irish (22-3-1) drawing level, was followed by a red card given to a Sun Warriors assistant. It was all part of a wild 100-minute contest that the Irish took 4-2 after two extra-time goals. They advance to the final against Glenwood on Saturday.
Solorio (22-3-0) scored the opener, only to concede the next two. Their equalizer in the 60th minute led to two mandatory 10-minute extra sessions. The Sun Warriors had hoped to win a second state title after winning it all in their only previous trip in 2017 for coach Adrian Calleros.
"There were so many calls out there today that we disagreed with. It's the players who should decide the outcome, not the officials," began Calleros, who long after the match was irritated about the day’s events - particularly the goal that helped the Irish take a 2-1 lead.
"This is a sport that sees a lot of contact during the course of a game, and a referee should know the difference when the play gets a little more physical, especially in a game as big as this one today."
Calleros, and his assistant, Cesar Balcarez had a problem with where the referee placed the ball before Dominic Taylor unloaded a wicked free kick. Keeper David Salgado brilliantly saved the try, but it spilled freely on to the foot of an ever-opportunistic Fabi Arellano.
"We took issue with the foul called prior to that goal, and especially to where the referee put the ball down for an indirect kick,” said Calleros. “It was a huge advantage."
Upon further check with veteran officials, the placement of the ball just at the edge of the box was the proper spot.
Balcarez was given a straight red when he entered the playing field to continue his argument. When he did so, he automatically set protocol into play. The ball would re-enter play where Notre Dame keeper Dillon Bare last had control.
"It was a wild scene for a while along the touchline," said Irish manager Mike Bare, who now has a chance to claim his fourth state title and the fifth in program history. “We obviously had nothing to say about the whole thing. (We) might have argued the same as Calleros did, but … with it in our advantage, we just let everything unfold.”
Despite the dreadful conditions and the extra-curricular activities (there were eight yellow cards along with the red card) this contest was a wildly exciting and extremely well-played affair between two different-styled clubs who never let the rain, water on the turf and high winds affect this all-action semifinal.
"This game had everything," said Notre Dame sophomore Kayden Hudson. “(Solorio) was everything we expected. They were so good technically, great on the counter and did so many good things we had to be aware of.”
Hudson shared Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors along with the Sun Warriors star Yamir Gallegos.
"They kind of shocked us by scoring first,” Hudson said. “We had to battle back to get even, then go into overtime. They were a really good team."
"It was so frustrating. We worked so hard to get to the state tournament, (then) to lose it in overtime," said a dejected Gallegos, who was magnificent in the middle of the park for his club as he ran the show with purpose, pace and passion.
"We came here with just four seniors, all of them great leaders and players,” said Calleros. “It was tough to see them go out this way. That's why we were fighting so hard for them and the rest of the team."
The Sun Warriors stunned their opponent on the half hour when Sebastian Gonzalez redirected past keeper Dillon Bare off a corner. The opener inspired a 10-15 span that saw the Chicago Public League champions have most of the play and possession.
"We train for hours on how to defend corners, but we didn't cover the back post as we should have, and they made us pay for it," said the younger Bare.
The last few minutes of the first period produced a frantic scene. Each side had the chance to put one in the back of their opponents net.
Gallegos, Orlando Ojeda and Justino Saucedo were constantly buzzing in and around the area and increased the level of stress on the Irish and their faithful followers on hand. Teddy LaHood squeezed a 30-yard try in between Solorio forays, but went wide. Later, back-to-back, close-range Notre Dame efforts were blocked by Gonzalez and Ojeda.
Ojeda nearly doubled the Sun Warriors advantage four minutes after the intermission when his mid-range blast forced Bare into action.
Dillon Stickelmaier, a key figure in the later stages of the first extra-session, pulled the Irish level when some nifty combination work with teammate Thatcher Hogan. The finish came at the back post
"(That) was big for us to get back even and so quick into the second half," said Hudson.
Stickelmaier's seventh goal of the season provided the Sun Warriors motivation to get back on their collective front foot. They produced a rampant, exhilarating attack at full speed. Several quality opportunities would be presented.
Ojeda had two chances. Christopher Bueno, Gallegos, and Ivan Lopez also had a shot at a score.
After the Irish weathered the Sun Warriors latest offensive storm, they responded with a handful of opportunities, including their best of the half when Hogan had his point-blank effort stopped cold by Salgado in the 54th minute.
Salgado followed up with a heroic late-reaction save on Hudson, who on the turn unloaded from in-close at 59 minutes.
"We started to come alive, then went ahead, only to see them get back even once again," said coach Bare.
After the red card, the Sun Warriors could have put their heads down. Instead they came back roaring with a vengeance. Sixty aftetr falling behind, a remarkable 20-yard free kick from Junior Pineda Alcala curled into the net.
Notre Dame’s Hogan saw his chance to grab a game-winner in the 79th minute stopped by Salgado.
Once in overtime it was all Irish, who created two corners and a deep throw before Hudson steered in his 15-yard attempt at 84 minutes.
"I was just looking for my shot, and it was there to give us the 3-2 lead," offered Hudson, who leads his club with 19 goals on the year. “Thatcher's goal a minute later was big, because it kind of guarded against another comeback from Solorio.”
Hogan doubled the advantage on a terrific helper from Stickelmaier. Fifteen minutes later, the Irish were on their way to the final.
"This loss really hurts," Ojeda said. “The calls, the two goals in overtime and us not finishing our chances made this a really bad day for us.”
"The effort from the boys was fantastic,” began Calleros. “They did everything they could to compete with a team that was big, strong and had a roster filled with juniors and seniors.
"The red card situation is on me, I'll take full responsibility for that situation, but the game itself, the guys played with heart.
"There's been a sense of excellence surrounding this program ever since we won our state title. The (Chicago teachers’) strike year followed by the COVID year really messed up our chances to get back here.
"We scored almost 90 goals this year, many of which came from a very talented backline, who have played great soccer for us all year."
Despite the bitter defeat, Calleros and his staff have plenty of young players to inspire. Potential remains and there might be enough to inspire perhaps another postseason adventure next year.
Starting lineups
Solorio (4-5-1)
G- David Salgado
D- Omar Ocampo
D- Ivan Lopez
D- Sebastian Gonzalez
D- Adrian Munoz
MF- Christopher Bueno
MF- Jose Teudocio Reyes
MF- Yamir Gallegos
MF- Junior Pineda Alcala
MF- Richard Mejia
F- Orlando Ojeda
Notre Dame (Peoria) (4-5-1)
G- Dillon Bare
D- Declan Schuler
D- Thomas Graham
D- Joel McIntyre
D- Nathan Oliver
MF- Joseph Menke
MF- Maximilllian Matarelli
MF- Enrique Zamora
MF- Andrew Bonham
MF- Dominic Taylor
F- Kayden Hudson
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match:
Yamir Gallegos, sr., MF, Solorio;
Kayden Hudson, so., F, Notre Dame (Peoria)
Officials: John Bouc (referee); John Anderson (AR1); Jay Weis (AR2); Seong Ha (4th)
West Suburban Conference
Scoring summary
First half
Solorio: Gonzalez (Gallegos) 29'
Second half
Notre Dame (Peoria): Stickelmaier (Hogan) 44'
Notre Dame (Peoria): Arellano (U/A) 68'
Solorio: Alcala (U/A) 69'
First overtime
Notre Dame (Peoria): Hudson (Matarelli) 84'
Notre Dame (Peoria): Hogan (Stickelmaier) 85’
Second overtime
No scoring
Statistics
Shots on goal
Solorio: 8
Notre Dame (Peoria):18
Shots off
Solorio: 11
Notre Dame (Peoria): 9
Corner kicks
Solorio: 4
Notre Dame (Peoria): 6
Offsides
Solorio: 1
Notre Dame (Peoria): 2
Fouls
Solorio: 14
Notre Dame (Peoria):: 9
Blocks
Solorio: 2
Notre Dame (Peoria): 2
Yellow cards
Solorio: 4
Notre Dame (Peoria): 4
Red cards
Solorio: 1
Notre Dame (Peoria): 0
Young Sun Warriors show mettle in 4-2 loss
By Mike Garofola
HOFFMAN ESTATES -- Drama, drama, drama -- that's what the Solorio and Notre Dame (Peoria) Class AA state semifinal had Friday afternoon in a driving rainstorm before a big house at Garver Stadium.
A controversial call, that led to the Irish (22-3-1) drawing level, was followed by a red card given to a Sun Warriors assistant. It was all part of a wild 100-minute contest that the Irish took 4-2 after two extra-time goals. They advance to the final against Glenwood on Saturday.
Solorio (22-3-0) scored the opener, only to concede the next two. Their equalizer in the 60th minute led to two mandatory 10-minute extra sessions. The Sun Warriors had hoped to win a second state title after winning it all in their only previous trip in 2017 for coach Adrian Calleros.
"There were so many calls out there today that we disagreed with. It's the players who should decide the outcome, not the officials," began Calleros, who long after the match was irritated about the day’s events - particularly the goal that helped the Irish take a 2-1 lead.
"This is a sport that sees a lot of contact during the course of a game, and a referee should know the difference when the play gets a little more physical, especially in a game as big as this one today."
Calleros, and his assistant, Cesar Balcarez had a problem with where the referee placed the ball before Dominic Taylor unloaded a wicked free kick. Keeper David Salgado brilliantly saved the try, but it spilled freely on to the foot of an ever-opportunistic Fabi Arellano.
"We took issue with the foul called prior to that goal, and especially to where the referee put the ball down for an indirect kick,” said Calleros. “It was a huge advantage."
Upon further check with veteran officials, the placement of the ball just at the edge of the box was the proper spot.
Balcarez was given a straight red when he entered the playing field to continue his argument. When he did so, he automatically set protocol into play. The ball would re-enter play where Notre Dame keeper Dillon Bare last had control.
"It was a wild scene for a while along the touchline," said Irish manager Mike Bare, who now has a chance to claim his fourth state title and the fifth in program history. “We obviously had nothing to say about the whole thing. (We) might have argued the same as Calleros did, but … with it in our advantage, we just let everything unfold.”
Despite the dreadful conditions and the extra-curricular activities (there were eight yellow cards along with the red card) this contest was a wildly exciting and extremely well-played affair between two different-styled clubs who never let the rain, water on the turf and high winds affect this all-action semifinal.
"This game had everything," said Notre Dame sophomore Kayden Hudson. “(Solorio) was everything we expected. They were so good technically, great on the counter and did so many good things we had to be aware of.”
Hudson shared Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors along with the Sun Warriors star Yamir Gallegos.
"They kind of shocked us by scoring first,” Hudson said. “We had to battle back to get even, then go into overtime. They were a really good team."
"It was so frustrating. We worked so hard to get to the state tournament, (then) to lose it in overtime," said a dejected Gallegos, who was magnificent in the middle of the park for his club as he ran the show with purpose, pace and passion.
"We came here with just four seniors, all of them great leaders and players,” said Calleros. “It was tough to see them go out this way. That's why we were fighting so hard for them and the rest of the team."
The Sun Warriors stunned their opponent on the half hour when Sebastian Gonzalez redirected past keeper Dillon Bare off a corner. The opener inspired a 10-15 span that saw the Chicago Public League champions have most of the play and possession.
"We train for hours on how to defend corners, but we didn't cover the back post as we should have, and they made us pay for it," said the younger Bare.
The last few minutes of the first period produced a frantic scene. Each side had the chance to put one in the back of their opponents net.
Gallegos, Orlando Ojeda and Justino Saucedo were constantly buzzing in and around the area and increased the level of stress on the Irish and their faithful followers on hand. Teddy LaHood squeezed a 30-yard try in between Solorio forays, but went wide. Later, back-to-back, close-range Notre Dame efforts were blocked by Gonzalez and Ojeda.
Ojeda nearly doubled the Sun Warriors advantage four minutes after the intermission when his mid-range blast forced Bare into action.
Dillon Stickelmaier, a key figure in the later stages of the first extra-session, pulled the Irish level when some nifty combination work with teammate Thatcher Hogan. The finish came at the back post
"(That) was big for us to get back even and so quick into the second half," said Hudson.
Stickelmaier's seventh goal of the season provided the Sun Warriors motivation to get back on their collective front foot. They produced a rampant, exhilarating attack at full speed. Several quality opportunities would be presented.
Ojeda had two chances. Christopher Bueno, Gallegos, and Ivan Lopez also had a shot at a score.
After the Irish weathered the Sun Warriors latest offensive storm, they responded with a handful of opportunities, including their best of the half when Hogan had his point-blank effort stopped cold by Salgado in the 54th minute.
Salgado followed up with a heroic late-reaction save on Hudson, who on the turn unloaded from in-close at 59 minutes.
"We started to come alive, then went ahead, only to see them get back even once again," said coach Bare.
After the red card, the Sun Warriors could have put their heads down. Instead they came back roaring with a vengeance. Sixty aftetr falling behind, a remarkable 20-yard free kick from Junior Pineda Alcala curled into the net.
Notre Dame’s Hogan saw his chance to grab a game-winner in the 79th minute stopped by Salgado.
Once in overtime it was all Irish, who created two corners and a deep throw before Hudson steered in his 15-yard attempt at 84 minutes.
"I was just looking for my shot, and it was there to give us the 3-2 lead," offered Hudson, who leads his club with 19 goals on the year. “Thatcher's goal a minute later was big, because it kind of guarded against another comeback from Solorio.”
Hogan doubled the advantage on a terrific helper from Stickelmaier. Fifteen minutes later, the Irish were on their way to the final.
"This loss really hurts," Ojeda said. “The calls, the two goals in overtime and us not finishing our chances made this a really bad day for us.”
"The effort from the boys was fantastic,” began Calleros. “They did everything they could to compete with a team that was big, strong and had a roster filled with juniors and seniors.
"The red card situation is on me, I'll take full responsibility for that situation, but the game itself, the guys played with heart.
"There's been a sense of excellence surrounding this program ever since we won our state title. The (Chicago teachers’) strike year followed by the COVID year really messed up our chances to get back here.
"We scored almost 90 goals this year, many of which came from a very talented backline, who have played great soccer for us all year."
Despite the bitter defeat, Calleros and his staff have plenty of young players to inspire. Potential remains and there might be enough to inspire perhaps another postseason adventure next year.
Starting lineups
Solorio (4-5-1)
G- David Salgado
D- Omar Ocampo
D- Ivan Lopez
D- Sebastian Gonzalez
D- Adrian Munoz
MF- Christopher Bueno
MF- Jose Teudocio Reyes
MF- Yamir Gallegos
MF- Junior Pineda Alcala
MF- Richard Mejia
F- Orlando Ojeda
Notre Dame (Peoria) (4-5-1)
G- Dillon Bare
D- Declan Schuler
D- Thomas Graham
D- Joel McIntyre
D- Nathan Oliver
MF- Joseph Menke
MF- Maximilllian Matarelli
MF- Enrique Zamora
MF- Andrew Bonham
MF- Dominic Taylor
F- Kayden Hudson
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match:
Yamir Gallegos, sr., MF, Solorio;
Kayden Hudson, so., F, Notre Dame (Peoria)
Officials: John Bouc (referee); John Anderson (AR1); Jay Weis (AR2); Seong Ha (4th)
West Suburban Conference
Scoring summary
First half
Solorio: Gonzalez (Gallegos) 29'
Second half
Notre Dame (Peoria): Stickelmaier (Hogan) 44'
Notre Dame (Peoria): Arellano (U/A) 68'
Solorio: Alcala (U/A) 69'
First overtime
Notre Dame (Peoria): Hudson (Matarelli) 84'
Notre Dame (Peoria): Hogan (Stickelmaier) 85’
Second overtime
No scoring
Statistics
Shots on goal
Solorio: 8
Notre Dame (Peoria):18
Shots off
Solorio: 11
Notre Dame (Peoria): 9
Corner kicks
Solorio: 4
Notre Dame (Peoria): 6
Offsides
Solorio: 1
Notre Dame (Peoria): 2
Fouls
Solorio: 14
Notre Dame (Peoria):: 9
Blocks
Solorio: 2
Notre Dame (Peoria): 2
Yellow cards
Solorio: 4
Notre Dame (Peoria): 4
Red cards
Solorio: 1
Notre Dame (Peoria): 0