Bad memory drives
Saint Viator past St. Patrick
Shamrocks fall 6-1, big win over Lions in 2019 was not forgotten
By Mike Garofola
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS -- Just two days after turning in a sterling performance against reigning East Suburban Catholic Conference champion and fourth=ranked Benet, St. Patrick did a complete 180-degree turn to suffer its worse loss in four seasons.
Host Saint Viator (4-2-2, 4-2-1) produced a scintillating display on Wednesday afternoon to hammer the out-of-sorts Shamrocks 6-1.
"I think this game exposed our biggest areas of weakness, so it's something we'll have to address when we come back together this summer in preparation of the 2021 fall season," began St. Patrick manager Kyle McClure.
"Today was only the second time we played on grass (the other a 3-1 victory at Marian Central), and both times we turned in our worst performance.
"The plan all along was to get some time on natural grass on Tuesday, but after the great effort the guys gave against Benet, I decided to give them the day off to rest. Obviously, that was an error on my behalf."
The Shamrocks (6-3-0, 5-2-0) had few answers to an inspired Saint Viator club, which was anxious to erase the memory of a 10-1 defeat the last time they played McClure's men, Oct. 9, 2019.
"They flat-out embarrassed us that night," admitted Lions manager Mike Taylor.
"I think the boys who were on that team promised themselves that night (it) would not happen again. From the very start, it was clear they were ready to go and would do whatever they could to get revenge."
"We all know (Taylor) can get pretty fiery, but that's not what we heard leading up this game," said Lions captain Matt Marchiori. "Right before it (he) was firm with his words when we came together. We knew what he meant and what he expected from us.
"I unfortunately was in goal that night when they put so many goals into the net. To come out and play the way we did, after putting so much work in advance of this game, felt great for me, personally, I felt vindicated."
The contest was delayed for one-half hour thanks to the ThorGuard warning that went off just as the Shamrocks bus pulled up the Saint Viator campus, perhaps a harbinger of things to come.
Seven minutes into the game, sophomore Jack Glasstetter fired the home side ahead when he and teammate Connor Giroux combined to split open the Shamrocks.
"I wasn't even on the team when we last played Pat's. I heard from the guys who were what happened that night, so I knew all of us had to come ready to play today," said Glasstetter.
Sebastian Estrada brought some life back into his club with his equalizer two minutes after the opener after fellow captain, Narcizo Ibarra sent a piercing ball out of the back.
Estrada, now with a team-leading 14 goals, brought down the Ibarra serve, split a pair of defenders and then went past Marchiori with a sublime finish.
"After that goal, I felt like we were back in the game, but our play fell off instead," admitted the four-year varsity veteran Estrada. "The next two goals they put in really took a lot out of the team."
Just before Glasstetter put the home side ahead for good, Estrada, Ivan A. Guerrero, Jake Lane and Gael Quinonez fulfilled their collective parts to inspire the Shamrocks attack.
Nicolas Leon delivered a clever little chip over the Lions backline to set up Lane, but Marchiori was quick to challenge to erase a potential goal-scoring chance.
Lane then linked up with Jorge Parra in the 22nd minute in-close, but Parra's effort crashed off the bar.
The visitors continued their pressure on the Lions - Sergio Barron's well=placed crossfield ball to the back post and an open net went untouched.
"Maybe if we finish one or both of those chances (and) things turn around for us. Who knows?" said Estrada.
The Glasstetter-Giroux duo came through once again at 29 minutes, this time against the run of play. Before the Shamrocks knew what hit them, their hosts doubled their advantage five minutes later on a brilliant individual effort by Conrad Glodz.
"I felt kind of like Conrad's goal, which was just a great goal, did them in," said Taylor. "And after that, we dominated the entire second half."
Taylor was likely correct in his assessment of how the second period was played, but the Shamrocks still had a chance to pull a goal or two back before the Lions broke this one open.
Marchiori, who is a fearless shot-blocker for his club, made another great stop in the 54th minute on Lane's point-blank blast, which spilled freely out of the area.
With the Lane attempt providing a glimpse of hope for the visitors, McClure and his staff went to a 3-4-3 formation, but the switch did little to stop the Lions who looked to put a dagger in the hearts of their rivals.
Three goals in the next 12 minutes did just that, highlighted by a double from Jean-Claude Thomas, who came off the bench to make his mark on the day.
"I was proud of the effort and work rate the boys gave today, especially our backline, Jack, Conrad and Connor," began Taylor.
"Although we lost to Benet (3-0) last week, we played them very well with a man down, and we had our chances in that game. (The) team is coming along very nicely right now and playing its best soccer of the season."
St. Patrick was left to assess the damage.
"As one of our two captains, I take a lot of responsibility for our effort out there today," said Estrada, who-one could sense carried the weight of his team on his shoulders afterwards.
"This is a young team, and it will be a very good one next season. But this was a very difficult loss to take."
McClure, although disappointed with the defeat, chose to keep it all in perspective as he looked ahead to the final contest of the season on Monday with Marian, and beyond.
"We are a turf team, no doubt, but playing on grass today is no excuse for our effort. Nor is the fact (that) we're so young with 13 of our 24 players (six of which are starters) all underclassmen," began McClure.
"We were a little banged up, and we were missing a couple of players, again not an excuse. We just didn't come ready for the work rate and physical play Saint Viator had today."
"Mike and I don't always get along, but I have a lot of respect for him because; he's smart, knows the game, and had his team prepared to play the brand of soccer that makes them so successful, particularly on their own field.
"We looked and played tired, and when we missed a couple of good chances, it took the fight right out of us.
"I can promise, however, that come fall, our team will be among the best-conditioned teams around, and that the guys coming back will remember this result and use it to inspire them to work harder than they ever have before in order to compete at a high level each time out."
Starting lineups
St. Patrick (4-3-3)
G: Bryant Alvarez
D- Ivan A. Guerrero
D- Xavi Gamez
D- Narcizo Ibarra
D- Benjamin Elvira
M- Jason Torres
M- Jorge Parra
M- Conor Day
M- Jake Lane
F- Sebastian Estrada
F- Rafael Rios
Saint Viator (4-2-3-1)
G: Matt Marchiori
D- Taylor Petrillo
D- Quinten Parry
D- Riley DiMarco
D- Matt Oleksyk
M- David Lavender
M- Christian Evans
M- Sebastian Horwath
M- Jack Glasstetter
M- Connor Giroux
F- Conrad Glodz
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Jack Glasstetter, so., F-MF, Saint Viator
Referee: Ninos Alexander
Scoring summary
First half
Saint Viator: Glasstetter (Giroux) 7'
St. Patrick: Estrada (Ibarra) 9'
Saint Viator: Glasstetter St. Viator: (Giroux) 29'
Saint Viator: Glodz (Howarth) 34'
Second half
Saint Viator: Oleksak (Howarth) 64'
Saint Viator: Thomas (Glasstetter) 68'
Saint Viator: Thomas (Towsey) 76'
Saint Viator past St. Patrick
Shamrocks fall 6-1, big win over Lions in 2019 was not forgotten
By Mike Garofola
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS -- Just two days after turning in a sterling performance against reigning East Suburban Catholic Conference champion and fourth=ranked Benet, St. Patrick did a complete 180-degree turn to suffer its worse loss in four seasons.
Host Saint Viator (4-2-2, 4-2-1) produced a scintillating display on Wednesday afternoon to hammer the out-of-sorts Shamrocks 6-1.
"I think this game exposed our biggest areas of weakness, so it's something we'll have to address when we come back together this summer in preparation of the 2021 fall season," began St. Patrick manager Kyle McClure.
"Today was only the second time we played on grass (the other a 3-1 victory at Marian Central), and both times we turned in our worst performance.
"The plan all along was to get some time on natural grass on Tuesday, but after the great effort the guys gave against Benet, I decided to give them the day off to rest. Obviously, that was an error on my behalf."
The Shamrocks (6-3-0, 5-2-0) had few answers to an inspired Saint Viator club, which was anxious to erase the memory of a 10-1 defeat the last time they played McClure's men, Oct. 9, 2019.
"They flat-out embarrassed us that night," admitted Lions manager Mike Taylor.
"I think the boys who were on that team promised themselves that night (it) would not happen again. From the very start, it was clear they were ready to go and would do whatever they could to get revenge."
"We all know (Taylor) can get pretty fiery, but that's not what we heard leading up this game," said Lions captain Matt Marchiori. "Right before it (he) was firm with his words when we came together. We knew what he meant and what he expected from us.
"I unfortunately was in goal that night when they put so many goals into the net. To come out and play the way we did, after putting so much work in advance of this game, felt great for me, personally, I felt vindicated."
The contest was delayed for one-half hour thanks to the ThorGuard warning that went off just as the Shamrocks bus pulled up the Saint Viator campus, perhaps a harbinger of things to come.
Seven minutes into the game, sophomore Jack Glasstetter fired the home side ahead when he and teammate Connor Giroux combined to split open the Shamrocks.
"I wasn't even on the team when we last played Pat's. I heard from the guys who were what happened that night, so I knew all of us had to come ready to play today," said Glasstetter.
Sebastian Estrada brought some life back into his club with his equalizer two minutes after the opener after fellow captain, Narcizo Ibarra sent a piercing ball out of the back.
Estrada, now with a team-leading 14 goals, brought down the Ibarra serve, split a pair of defenders and then went past Marchiori with a sublime finish.
"After that goal, I felt like we were back in the game, but our play fell off instead," admitted the four-year varsity veteran Estrada. "The next two goals they put in really took a lot out of the team."
Just before Glasstetter put the home side ahead for good, Estrada, Ivan A. Guerrero, Jake Lane and Gael Quinonez fulfilled their collective parts to inspire the Shamrocks attack.
Nicolas Leon delivered a clever little chip over the Lions backline to set up Lane, but Marchiori was quick to challenge to erase a potential goal-scoring chance.
Lane then linked up with Jorge Parra in the 22nd minute in-close, but Parra's effort crashed off the bar.
The visitors continued their pressure on the Lions - Sergio Barron's well=placed crossfield ball to the back post and an open net went untouched.
"Maybe if we finish one or both of those chances (and) things turn around for us. Who knows?" said Estrada.
The Glasstetter-Giroux duo came through once again at 29 minutes, this time against the run of play. Before the Shamrocks knew what hit them, their hosts doubled their advantage five minutes later on a brilliant individual effort by Conrad Glodz.
"I felt kind of like Conrad's goal, which was just a great goal, did them in," said Taylor. "And after that, we dominated the entire second half."
Taylor was likely correct in his assessment of how the second period was played, but the Shamrocks still had a chance to pull a goal or two back before the Lions broke this one open.
Marchiori, who is a fearless shot-blocker for his club, made another great stop in the 54th minute on Lane's point-blank blast, which spilled freely out of the area.
With the Lane attempt providing a glimpse of hope for the visitors, McClure and his staff went to a 3-4-3 formation, but the switch did little to stop the Lions who looked to put a dagger in the hearts of their rivals.
Three goals in the next 12 minutes did just that, highlighted by a double from Jean-Claude Thomas, who came off the bench to make his mark on the day.
"I was proud of the effort and work rate the boys gave today, especially our backline, Jack, Conrad and Connor," began Taylor.
"Although we lost to Benet (3-0) last week, we played them very well with a man down, and we had our chances in that game. (The) team is coming along very nicely right now and playing its best soccer of the season."
St. Patrick was left to assess the damage.
"As one of our two captains, I take a lot of responsibility for our effort out there today," said Estrada, who-one could sense carried the weight of his team on his shoulders afterwards.
"This is a young team, and it will be a very good one next season. But this was a very difficult loss to take."
McClure, although disappointed with the defeat, chose to keep it all in perspective as he looked ahead to the final contest of the season on Monday with Marian, and beyond.
"We are a turf team, no doubt, but playing on grass today is no excuse for our effort. Nor is the fact (that) we're so young with 13 of our 24 players (six of which are starters) all underclassmen," began McClure.
"We were a little banged up, and we were missing a couple of players, again not an excuse. We just didn't come ready for the work rate and physical play Saint Viator had today."
"Mike and I don't always get along, but I have a lot of respect for him because; he's smart, knows the game, and had his team prepared to play the brand of soccer that makes them so successful, particularly on their own field.
"We looked and played tired, and when we missed a couple of good chances, it took the fight right out of us.
"I can promise, however, that come fall, our team will be among the best-conditioned teams around, and that the guys coming back will remember this result and use it to inspire them to work harder than they ever have before in order to compete at a high level each time out."
Starting lineups
St. Patrick (4-3-3)
G: Bryant Alvarez
D- Ivan A. Guerrero
D- Xavi Gamez
D- Narcizo Ibarra
D- Benjamin Elvira
M- Jason Torres
M- Jorge Parra
M- Conor Day
M- Jake Lane
F- Sebastian Estrada
F- Rafael Rios
Saint Viator (4-2-3-1)
G: Matt Marchiori
D- Taylor Petrillo
D- Quinten Parry
D- Riley DiMarco
D- Matt Oleksyk
M- David Lavender
M- Christian Evans
M- Sebastian Horwath
M- Jack Glasstetter
M- Connor Giroux
F- Conrad Glodz
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Jack Glasstetter, so., F-MF, Saint Viator
Referee: Ninos Alexander
Scoring summary
First half
Saint Viator: Glasstetter (Giroux) 7'
St. Patrick: Estrada (Ibarra) 9'
Saint Viator: Glasstetter St. Viator: (Giroux) 29'
Saint Viator: Glodz (Howarth) 34'
Second half
Saint Viator: Oleksak (Howarth) 64'
Saint Viator: Thomas (Glasstetter) 68'
Saint Viator: Thomas (Towsey) 76'