St. Patrick impresses at Prospect
Shamrocks sharp in 5-0 nonconference victory
By Mike Garofola
MT. PROSPECT -- Angel Adame, Aaron Moreno-Lopez, Sebastian Modrzejewski, Jonathan Rodriguez and LuisAngel Saucedo, five young men who were in Kyle McClure's first 11 from day one as freshmen, and have stayed there for the next three seasons.
It's a rarity in the world of high school soccer, and one that the Shamrocks manager realizes he'll likely never see again.
Wednesday evening the quintet illustrated their value to a program which has been playing at another level during the past two season as St. Patrick, ranked sixth in Chicagoland Soccer's preseason First 50 state-wide poll, posted an impressive 5-0 victory over host Prospect (1-1-0) at George Gattas Memorial Stadium.
"You cannot believe how fortunate I've been to come into this program six years ago, then two years later have a fantastic group of guys like those to help build what we have right now here at St. Pat's," begins McClure.
"They have been the players who were the foundation, the ones we've built around. And with the great additions of others, we've enjoyed two years of memorable soccer. Now we believe we have what it takes to make 2019 our best ever."
McClure and Rodriguez say St. Patrick's focus on chasing records after its first state trophy in 2017 and a near second trip to state a year ago, are within reach as long as the club guards against one or two key items.
"We have to stay healthy; and we cannot get too full of ourselves when we're going good and winning games," says Rodriguez, a truly gifted outside back, who was also named to the Chicagoland Soccer All-State team last season.
Rodriguez, who was the MVP at a summer camp he attended at Indiana University during the summer, added the effort has to be there each time his mates are training and on match day, and that one victory doesn't insure another if the focus isn't where it should be.
Teammate Adam Przytula, the Shamrocks senior center back who leads the club in scoring in the early season with three goals and two helpers, is a believer in what Rodriguez says.
"There's so much talent on this team, but we have to play for each other, and not ourselves," he said. "And to be honest, we can be a little too cocky and complacent, and that's the type of thing we cannot afford to be if we want to get back to state."
McClure credits Prospect manager Mike Andrews for making the call to invite his club to play his lads early on.
"There are some teams that don't want to play us because of our record of late, but Mike was great," said McClure. "And we're happy to come here to play a team, who I feel, has a ton of talent and will beat a lot of good teams because of the way they play."
The Prospect coach was grateful for the experience.
"We want to play the best in order to be at our best when it really counts," Andrews said. "And honestly I felt, after a slow start, we played some terrific soccer afterward and showed we can go with a team like Pat's."
The Shamrocks (3-0-0) were full of fluid movement from the opening whistle, displaying their wide-open, technically charged attack that is centered around another Chicagoland Soccer All-Stater, Joshua Torres, and mates Saucedo, Moreno-Lopez, Modrzejewsi and Rodriguez, who from his spot along the back on the right, gets forward to join the attack like few can.
"They're (Pat's) are so skilled and quick on the ball,," said Andrews. "We had trouble with no. 11 (Rodriguez) and his runs out of the back early, so we were forced to make a few adjustments which is something we need to learn anyway
The Knights stood by and watched Przytula run freely into the box to meet a well-placed corner from Rodriguez to open the scoring in the 11th minute.
The home side continued to defend more than it would have liked. The Knights soaked up the pressure by dropping more numbers back and counting on its terrific keeper, Szymon Mocarski, to come to the rescue when called upon.
"Szymon was Szymon in our opener with Deerfield," said Andrews of his senior keeper who more than did his part in the 4-2 win. "Today he made a couple of great saves as well. But I'm sure, even though it's not true, he takes full responsibility for all of the goals Pat's scored."
McClure liked what he saw in the Prospect goal.
"(Their) keeper is big, strong, and really mobile and quick for his size," he said. "He'll keep (them) in every game."
Mocarski was impressive when Torres and Jaden Buelvas countered at 22 minutes. He turned away the junior Buelvas to keep Prospect's disadvantage to one goal.
It was clear the visitors were the better side during the exchanges of the first 20-25 minutes or so and could have been up 2-0 then if not for the Mocarski save.
When Prospect's Aedon Wesselink, Bryan Morrison, Declan Flanagan and Jonny Keane got more touches, the Knights began to pull back some of the game from the Shamrocks.
"You know (really) apart from that first 20 minutes, I thought we played with them pretty well, so we never felt out of the game," said Morrison, who wears the captains' armband along with Mocarski and Keane. "It's just that we were unable to get anything of quality at their keeper even though we possessed and moved the ball around."
The Shamrocks were given a PK at 36 minutes after Torres tricked his way into the box and was hauled down.
Przytula stepped up and calmly converted his spot-kick effort.
"It's all about the pens," smiled the senior on his second PK goal of the season.
"Those (PKs) can become very important later on when the results really count, so I'll want to continue to put in my chances when I get them."
Unfortunately for Prospect, the Shamrocks third goal came within moments of the halftime whistle. After four teammates had a touch, Sebastian Estrada played to an open Moreno-Lopez on the left side for the score.
"It always hurts to concede late goals, but even though we were chasing three goals at the break, nobody was hanging their heads. We showed a lot of life after that for sure," said Morrison.
Indeed they did.
It looked as though the Knights were to pull one back just after the break when Wesselink came flying in alone on a 1-v.-1 only to have his attempt veer wide.
Andrews introduced Eryk Limanowska and Alejandro Martinez into his second half lineup, and each made an impression in the Knights attack from the get-go.
Wesselink went endline and if not for a strong tackle by Collin Krueger, the junior might have challenged Pat's keeper Jorge Cebrero.
However, it was Torres, in a moment of deceptive brilliance, who made it 4-0 in the 52nd minute.
That's when the junior (without) the ball, moved as if a ghost through the Knights defense and freed himself up to collect a combo ball from Rodriguez and Modrzejewski.
Once with the ball, the junior carried to his right to draw Mocarski out to challenge then fired his angled shot the other way.
"What a talent no. 21 (Torres) is," proclaimed Andrews.
After Estrada added the Shamrocks fifth goal to their scoreline in the 59th minute, McClure began to bring most of his first 11 off, while Andrews installed Dan Cullen between the sticks for the rest of the way.
"This was a good win on several levels," began McClure.
"It's obvious that Prospect is a very good team, so beating a team who more than likely will be in our sectional should help us get closer to the no. 1 seed later on.
"Last year we got the no. 4 seed when we thought we deserved the no. 2, so a win over a team from the MSL is very good for us.
"Again, I appreciate Mike (Andrews) and his team wanting to play us. (We) hope to continue to do so, and we'll take this win (knowing) there's still a lot of work to do, and plenty of games ahead of us, beginning next week."
Keane, alongside Morrison afterwards, thought he team grew from the competition.
"There were so many positive things to take from this game," the senior said. "(We're) not going to focus on the loss, instead on what we did well against a good team, and just work harder to get better.
"We all know a 50-60 minute effort isn't enough, so we'll work to play our best for 80 minutes, then see what happens.
Andrews likes what he's hearing from his two captains and is in agreement with them as well.
"When you play a highly skilled team like St. Patrick, they're going to expose your weaknesses, but that's okay, because we can correct that. This is a team that wants to get better, and knows what it takes in order to do so.
"We'll sort some things out in training, and get ready for the next week."
St. Patrick looks ahead to avenge its second place finish a year ago at the Titan Invite this coming week at tourney host Glenbrook South. Pool play begins on Tuesday against Rolling Meadows, with Glenbard West then Stevenson to follow.
Prospect tied Glenbrook South 1-1 at home Saturday. The new week will find them traveling to neighborhood rival and their coach's alma mater Saint Viator on Tuesday. Afterward, the Knights open their Mid-Suburban League season with a key East Division matchup at home against Hersey on Thursday.
Starting lineups
St. Patrick (4-3-3)
G- Jorge Cebrero
D- Ivan A. Guerrero
D- Adam Przytula
D- Collin Krueger
D- Jonathan Rodriguez
M- Angel Adame
M- Joshua Torres
M- Aaron Moreno-Lopez
F- Jaden Buelvas
F- Sebastian Modrzejewski
F- Luis Salcedo
Prospect
(4-3-2-1)
G- Szymon Mocarski
D- Rick Lytle
D- Gavin Kafkakis
D- Colin Sand
D- Ari Kemperas
M- Jonny Keane
M- Krystian Potapa
M- Aedon Wesselink
F- Bryan Morrison
F- Alejandro Martinez
F- Declan Flanagan
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Joshua Torres, jr., MF/F, St. Patrick
Scoring summary
First half
St. Patrick: Przytula (Rodriguez) 11'
St. Patrick: Przytula (PK) 36'
St. Patrick: Moreno-Lopez (Estrada) 40'
Second half
St. Patrick: Torres (Modrzejewski) 52'
St. Patrick: Estrada (Modrzejewski) 59'
Shamrocks sharp in 5-0 nonconference victory
By Mike Garofola
MT. PROSPECT -- Angel Adame, Aaron Moreno-Lopez, Sebastian Modrzejewski, Jonathan Rodriguez and LuisAngel Saucedo, five young men who were in Kyle McClure's first 11 from day one as freshmen, and have stayed there for the next three seasons.
It's a rarity in the world of high school soccer, and one that the Shamrocks manager realizes he'll likely never see again.
Wednesday evening the quintet illustrated their value to a program which has been playing at another level during the past two season as St. Patrick, ranked sixth in Chicagoland Soccer's preseason First 50 state-wide poll, posted an impressive 5-0 victory over host Prospect (1-1-0) at George Gattas Memorial Stadium.
"You cannot believe how fortunate I've been to come into this program six years ago, then two years later have a fantastic group of guys like those to help build what we have right now here at St. Pat's," begins McClure.
"They have been the players who were the foundation, the ones we've built around. And with the great additions of others, we've enjoyed two years of memorable soccer. Now we believe we have what it takes to make 2019 our best ever."
McClure and Rodriguez say St. Patrick's focus on chasing records after its first state trophy in 2017 and a near second trip to state a year ago, are within reach as long as the club guards against one or two key items.
"We have to stay healthy; and we cannot get too full of ourselves when we're going good and winning games," says Rodriguez, a truly gifted outside back, who was also named to the Chicagoland Soccer All-State team last season.
Rodriguez, who was the MVP at a summer camp he attended at Indiana University during the summer, added the effort has to be there each time his mates are training and on match day, and that one victory doesn't insure another if the focus isn't where it should be.
Teammate Adam Przytula, the Shamrocks senior center back who leads the club in scoring in the early season with three goals and two helpers, is a believer in what Rodriguez says.
"There's so much talent on this team, but we have to play for each other, and not ourselves," he said. "And to be honest, we can be a little too cocky and complacent, and that's the type of thing we cannot afford to be if we want to get back to state."
McClure credits Prospect manager Mike Andrews for making the call to invite his club to play his lads early on.
"There are some teams that don't want to play us because of our record of late, but Mike was great," said McClure. "And we're happy to come here to play a team, who I feel, has a ton of talent and will beat a lot of good teams because of the way they play."
The Prospect coach was grateful for the experience.
"We want to play the best in order to be at our best when it really counts," Andrews said. "And honestly I felt, after a slow start, we played some terrific soccer afterward and showed we can go with a team like Pat's."
The Shamrocks (3-0-0) were full of fluid movement from the opening whistle, displaying their wide-open, technically charged attack that is centered around another Chicagoland Soccer All-Stater, Joshua Torres, and mates Saucedo, Moreno-Lopez, Modrzejewsi and Rodriguez, who from his spot along the back on the right, gets forward to join the attack like few can.
"They're (Pat's) are so skilled and quick on the ball,," said Andrews. "We had trouble with no. 11 (Rodriguez) and his runs out of the back early, so we were forced to make a few adjustments which is something we need to learn anyway
The Knights stood by and watched Przytula run freely into the box to meet a well-placed corner from Rodriguez to open the scoring in the 11th minute.
The home side continued to defend more than it would have liked. The Knights soaked up the pressure by dropping more numbers back and counting on its terrific keeper, Szymon Mocarski, to come to the rescue when called upon.
"Szymon was Szymon in our opener with Deerfield," said Andrews of his senior keeper who more than did his part in the 4-2 win. "Today he made a couple of great saves as well. But I'm sure, even though it's not true, he takes full responsibility for all of the goals Pat's scored."
McClure liked what he saw in the Prospect goal.
"(Their) keeper is big, strong, and really mobile and quick for his size," he said. "He'll keep (them) in every game."
Mocarski was impressive when Torres and Jaden Buelvas countered at 22 minutes. He turned away the junior Buelvas to keep Prospect's disadvantage to one goal.
It was clear the visitors were the better side during the exchanges of the first 20-25 minutes or so and could have been up 2-0 then if not for the Mocarski save.
When Prospect's Aedon Wesselink, Bryan Morrison, Declan Flanagan and Jonny Keane got more touches, the Knights began to pull back some of the game from the Shamrocks.
"You know (really) apart from that first 20 minutes, I thought we played with them pretty well, so we never felt out of the game," said Morrison, who wears the captains' armband along with Mocarski and Keane. "It's just that we were unable to get anything of quality at their keeper even though we possessed and moved the ball around."
The Shamrocks were given a PK at 36 minutes after Torres tricked his way into the box and was hauled down.
Przytula stepped up and calmly converted his spot-kick effort.
"It's all about the pens," smiled the senior on his second PK goal of the season.
"Those (PKs) can become very important later on when the results really count, so I'll want to continue to put in my chances when I get them."
Unfortunately for Prospect, the Shamrocks third goal came within moments of the halftime whistle. After four teammates had a touch, Sebastian Estrada played to an open Moreno-Lopez on the left side for the score.
"It always hurts to concede late goals, but even though we were chasing three goals at the break, nobody was hanging their heads. We showed a lot of life after that for sure," said Morrison.
Indeed they did.
It looked as though the Knights were to pull one back just after the break when Wesselink came flying in alone on a 1-v.-1 only to have his attempt veer wide.
Andrews introduced Eryk Limanowska and Alejandro Martinez into his second half lineup, and each made an impression in the Knights attack from the get-go.
Wesselink went endline and if not for a strong tackle by Collin Krueger, the junior might have challenged Pat's keeper Jorge Cebrero.
However, it was Torres, in a moment of deceptive brilliance, who made it 4-0 in the 52nd minute.
That's when the junior (without) the ball, moved as if a ghost through the Knights defense and freed himself up to collect a combo ball from Rodriguez and Modrzejewski.
Once with the ball, the junior carried to his right to draw Mocarski out to challenge then fired his angled shot the other way.
"What a talent no. 21 (Torres) is," proclaimed Andrews.
After Estrada added the Shamrocks fifth goal to their scoreline in the 59th minute, McClure began to bring most of his first 11 off, while Andrews installed Dan Cullen between the sticks for the rest of the way.
"This was a good win on several levels," began McClure.
"It's obvious that Prospect is a very good team, so beating a team who more than likely will be in our sectional should help us get closer to the no. 1 seed later on.
"Last year we got the no. 4 seed when we thought we deserved the no. 2, so a win over a team from the MSL is very good for us.
"Again, I appreciate Mike (Andrews) and his team wanting to play us. (We) hope to continue to do so, and we'll take this win (knowing) there's still a lot of work to do, and plenty of games ahead of us, beginning next week."
Keane, alongside Morrison afterwards, thought he team grew from the competition.
"There were so many positive things to take from this game," the senior said. "(We're) not going to focus on the loss, instead on what we did well against a good team, and just work harder to get better.
"We all know a 50-60 minute effort isn't enough, so we'll work to play our best for 80 minutes, then see what happens.
Andrews likes what he's hearing from his two captains and is in agreement with them as well.
"When you play a highly skilled team like St. Patrick, they're going to expose your weaknesses, but that's okay, because we can correct that. This is a team that wants to get better, and knows what it takes in order to do so.
"We'll sort some things out in training, and get ready for the next week."
St. Patrick looks ahead to avenge its second place finish a year ago at the Titan Invite this coming week at tourney host Glenbrook South. Pool play begins on Tuesday against Rolling Meadows, with Glenbard West then Stevenson to follow.
Prospect tied Glenbrook South 1-1 at home Saturday. The new week will find them traveling to neighborhood rival and their coach's alma mater Saint Viator on Tuesday. Afterward, the Knights open their Mid-Suburban League season with a key East Division matchup at home against Hersey on Thursday.
Starting lineups
St. Patrick (4-3-3)
G- Jorge Cebrero
D- Ivan A. Guerrero
D- Adam Przytula
D- Collin Krueger
D- Jonathan Rodriguez
M- Angel Adame
M- Joshua Torres
M- Aaron Moreno-Lopez
F- Jaden Buelvas
F- Sebastian Modrzejewski
F- Luis Salcedo
Prospect
(4-3-2-1)
G- Szymon Mocarski
D- Rick Lytle
D- Gavin Kafkakis
D- Colin Sand
D- Ari Kemperas
M- Jonny Keane
M- Krystian Potapa
M- Aedon Wesselink
F- Bryan Morrison
F- Alejandro Martinez
F- Declan Flanagan
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Joshua Torres, jr., MF/F, St. Patrick
Scoring summary
First half
St. Patrick: Przytula (Rodriguez) 11'
St. Patrick: Przytula (PK) 36'
St. Patrick: Moreno-Lopez (Estrada) 40'
Second half
St. Patrick: Torres (Modrzejewski) 52'
St. Patrick: Estrada (Modrzejewski) 59'