St. Patrick surges into sectionals
6-goal explosion gives St. Patrick regional crown, momentum
By Mike Garofola
ELMWOOD PARK -- St. Patrick and its talented youth group led by Joshua Torres and Jonathan Rodriguez had too much firepower for Payton in a 6-1 victory at the Class AA Elmwood Park regional final.
The Friday night triumph sends the Shamrocks (20-4-2) to a meeting with Northside (15-0-1) at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Fenton Sectional semifinals.
The victory added to an already historic season. It was the 11th game of the season in which the Shamrocks have scored five or more goals and added to a program best win total of 20.
In addition, during postseason voting the East Suburban Catholic Conference awarded six Shamrocks all-conference status led by co-ESCC Player of the Year Chris Modrzejewski. His brother Sebastian, as well as Christopher Troyke, Luis Saucedo, Jonathan Rodriguez and freshman Joshua Torres filled out the group.
Anything less than a victory would have been stunning news for top-seeded St. Patrick, but the no. 8-seeded Grizzlies (8-10-4) were easily one of the hardest working clubs in this regional. However their offense could not match the spark of the Shamrocks. That was compounded because Payton's talented keeper Taofeeq Rasaki was away on a college visit.
That meant freshman Isaiah Cole was inserted into manager Paul Escobar's first 11.
"They have several very talented and technical players on their team that we had to try to keep under control. And, of course, the plan was to try and play with the same energy and intensity we've displayed all season long, but it's not an easy task," said Escobar.
The Shamrocks may have looked like the easy choice to advance on paper prior in this contest. But Kyle McClure's men continued what has become an alarming trend when they came out of the blocks slow, then conceded the first and only Payton goal of the evening to Julian DaSilva in the eighth minute.
"It has become our M.O. this season, and it's a trend that we just cannot seem to get a handle on," began McClure.
"Believe me, we've talked about it a hundred times. (Maybe) it's our youth ... but it still remains a concern as continue to move on through the playoffs."
The aforementioned Rodriguez, clearly one of the top outside backs in the area this fall, thinks he may know the reason for his team's slow starts.
"I don't know for sure why we do, but I think a lot of it comes down to the way we prepare before our game, and the way we eat.
"I think a lot of us are eating fast food at McDonald's or somewhere like that for dinner. It's a bad habit. And with our bodies full of junk food, it doesn't help prepare us for our games.
"Good nutrition is important, and when you see us come out so flat, it might be because of our eating habits. We can't continue doing that, because it will catch up to us when we play better teams."
The sophomore, who missed three games prior to this regional final while going through concussion protocol after being injured during St. Patrick's 3-1 victory Oct. 9 at Riverside-Brookfield. He struck the eventual game-winner in spectacular fashion after his teammate, Torres equalized.
"We're way too lazy at the start of a lot of our games, and like this game, we struggle with pressure, which was something (Payton) did really well," said Torres.
The story of the freshman phenom is an interesting one. He was scheduled to play for the Chicago Fire Juniors City Pre-Academy team but was given permission to play for his high school club during his rookie season at St. Patrick.
"Academy soccer really wants their kids to be with them full-time, because it offers many good things for them," says McClure. "But when they gave Joshua permission to come play with us, obviously we were excited to have him with us. I think he's glad to be here as well."
The MLS club owns and operates the club Torres is a part of in addition to a couple of others. The club Torres plays for is unique -- it was formed to reach the soccer hotbed in Chicago's city limits.
"(They) identify these kids in and around the city, and bring them in to train and play games with others in their age group. If memory serves me, they also offer scholarships to help families subsidize costs to travel and play," added McClure.
The impact of the technically gifted Torres shows up on the score line quite often. His double against Payton along with an assist gave him eight goals and an astounding 21 helpers. He leads the team in assists, and ranks third in goals behind Chris Modrzejewski (33 goals) and sophomore Luis Saucedo, who has 21 goals and 7 assists.
"It was important for us to get back that goal we gave up as quickly as we could, and when they shot was there for me I just took it," said Torres on his goal in the 10th minute that was assisted by Chris Modrzejewski but was inspired by sophomore Angel Moreno-Lopez moments after McClure brought him on.
Torres was named Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match for his work in the win.
"That's the thing about this team," began McClure. "We can go 14-15 deep, and never lose a thing with the guys we go to.
"Everyone can, and has started at one time or another, and I really see that as our biggest strength."
The Grizzlies, led by its monster central midfielder Tomer Tur-Kaspa and his teammates in the middle of the park Matt Jackson and DaSilva, tried with all their might to keep their club in this one. But when St. Patrick's Rodriguez stepped up to hit a 35-yard left-footed missile in the 22nd minute, it all but dashed the hopes of an upset.
"The ball just fell to my foot. (I) looked up, then back down and then hit a one-timer," said Rodriguez, who oversimplified his brilliant finish which was YouTube worthy.
It nearly became 3-1 minutes later when Ricardo Hernandez appeared to score before it was discovered the ball went found an illegal side entrance into the net.
However, Hernandez, one of just four seniors on the roster, didn't miss when his next opportunity came in the 38th minute following a Chris Modrzejewski corner.
When a short clearing attempt by the Grizzlies spilled freely to Modrzejewski, the senior sent the ball quickly towards the head of Moreno-Lopez, whose shot grazed the woodwork.
The still live ball, moving around as if it were in a pinball machine inside the box, was collected by Torres, who linked up with Hernandez. On the turn, his attempt went just inside the post.
The Shamrocks wasted no time after the intermission, threatening early and often on their way to dominating the first 10 minutes. They bagged three second half goals to insure the victory.
Chris Modrzejewski made it look easy when his sublime touch on his freekick found its way in. That was followed by an equally impressive finish by Torres who used a lovely cross from Rodriguez and a superb dummy from Modrzewjewski to give him time to tee up his close-range strike.
Saucedo put the finishing touches on the score line after a Herbert Carrera helper.
"You saw a little bit of the old Chris Modrzejewski with that goal of his. He's only about 75 percent right now (after an illness)," said McClure of his scoring star, who recently was named to the Illinois coaches all-state team.
"He didn't play early in that tournament at Glenbrook South because he was sick, and you saw how it hurt us in that 5-3 loss. So with a couple of days off, he can get himself ready for a big week ahead.
"It's was tough for Payton today to have their fantastic keeper gone, and I felt bad for their young back-up. He did a good job, but ...we had some great looks on frame."
With no. 2-seed Fenton sent out of its sectional in PKs by no. 10 Lake View on Friday, the sectional takes on a different look for McClure and his lads. It will still require caution in the eyes of the Shamrocks boss.
"Fenton was a very good team, but we still have defending Class AA champion Latin (no. 3-seed) still in it, as well as our opponent on Tuesday, Northside, which comes in undefeated," said McClure, who was named ESCC Coach of the Year by his peers after St. Patrick's third place finish.
"We are capable of playing really good soccer on both sides of the ball, but on Tuesday, we cannot afford to come out flat.
"I believe the guys know this, ... and we'll be okay."
Starting lineups
Payton (4-4-2 opening formation)
GK- Isaiah Cole
D- Max Wilke
D- David Seward
D- Evan Gerstein
D- Ethan Shifrin
M- Hunter Buss
M- Tomer Tur-Kaspa
M- Manny Rosekranz
M- Matt Jackson
F- Jaret Reyes
F- Mack Hildebrand
St. Patrick (4-4-2)
GK: Christopher Troyke
D- Jonathan Rodriguez
D- Juan Leon
D- Sebastian Modrzejewski
D- Finn Elsmo
M- Adam Prztula
M- Joshua Torres
M- Angel Adame
M- Herbert Carrera
F- Luis Saucedo
F- Chris Modrzejewski
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Joshua Torres, fr., MF, St. Patrick
Referee: John Washko
Scoring summary
First half
SP: Torres (Moreno-Lopez)10'
SP: Rodriguez (U/A) 22'
SP: Hernandez (Torres) 38'
Second half
SP: C. Modrzejewski (FK) 53'
SP: Torres (C. Modrzejewsk, Rodriguez) 55'
SP: Saucedo (Carrera) 67'
6-goal explosion gives St. Patrick regional crown, momentum
By Mike Garofola
ELMWOOD PARK -- St. Patrick and its talented youth group led by Joshua Torres and Jonathan Rodriguez had too much firepower for Payton in a 6-1 victory at the Class AA Elmwood Park regional final.
The Friday night triumph sends the Shamrocks (20-4-2) to a meeting with Northside (15-0-1) at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Fenton Sectional semifinals.
The victory added to an already historic season. It was the 11th game of the season in which the Shamrocks have scored five or more goals and added to a program best win total of 20.
In addition, during postseason voting the East Suburban Catholic Conference awarded six Shamrocks all-conference status led by co-ESCC Player of the Year Chris Modrzejewski. His brother Sebastian, as well as Christopher Troyke, Luis Saucedo, Jonathan Rodriguez and freshman Joshua Torres filled out the group.
Anything less than a victory would have been stunning news for top-seeded St. Patrick, but the no. 8-seeded Grizzlies (8-10-4) were easily one of the hardest working clubs in this regional. However their offense could not match the spark of the Shamrocks. That was compounded because Payton's talented keeper Taofeeq Rasaki was away on a college visit.
That meant freshman Isaiah Cole was inserted into manager Paul Escobar's first 11.
"They have several very talented and technical players on their team that we had to try to keep under control. And, of course, the plan was to try and play with the same energy and intensity we've displayed all season long, but it's not an easy task," said Escobar.
The Shamrocks may have looked like the easy choice to advance on paper prior in this contest. But Kyle McClure's men continued what has become an alarming trend when they came out of the blocks slow, then conceded the first and only Payton goal of the evening to Julian DaSilva in the eighth minute.
"It has become our M.O. this season, and it's a trend that we just cannot seem to get a handle on," began McClure.
"Believe me, we've talked about it a hundred times. (Maybe) it's our youth ... but it still remains a concern as continue to move on through the playoffs."
The aforementioned Rodriguez, clearly one of the top outside backs in the area this fall, thinks he may know the reason for his team's slow starts.
"I don't know for sure why we do, but I think a lot of it comes down to the way we prepare before our game, and the way we eat.
"I think a lot of us are eating fast food at McDonald's or somewhere like that for dinner. It's a bad habit. And with our bodies full of junk food, it doesn't help prepare us for our games.
"Good nutrition is important, and when you see us come out so flat, it might be because of our eating habits. We can't continue doing that, because it will catch up to us when we play better teams."
The sophomore, who missed three games prior to this regional final while going through concussion protocol after being injured during St. Patrick's 3-1 victory Oct. 9 at Riverside-Brookfield. He struck the eventual game-winner in spectacular fashion after his teammate, Torres equalized.
"We're way too lazy at the start of a lot of our games, and like this game, we struggle with pressure, which was something (Payton) did really well," said Torres.
The story of the freshman phenom is an interesting one. He was scheduled to play for the Chicago Fire Juniors City Pre-Academy team but was given permission to play for his high school club during his rookie season at St. Patrick.
"Academy soccer really wants their kids to be with them full-time, because it offers many good things for them," says McClure. "But when they gave Joshua permission to come play with us, obviously we were excited to have him with us. I think he's glad to be here as well."
The MLS club owns and operates the club Torres is a part of in addition to a couple of others. The club Torres plays for is unique -- it was formed to reach the soccer hotbed in Chicago's city limits.
"(They) identify these kids in and around the city, and bring them in to train and play games with others in their age group. If memory serves me, they also offer scholarships to help families subsidize costs to travel and play," added McClure.
The impact of the technically gifted Torres shows up on the score line quite often. His double against Payton along with an assist gave him eight goals and an astounding 21 helpers. He leads the team in assists, and ranks third in goals behind Chris Modrzejewski (33 goals) and sophomore Luis Saucedo, who has 21 goals and 7 assists.
"It was important for us to get back that goal we gave up as quickly as we could, and when they shot was there for me I just took it," said Torres on his goal in the 10th minute that was assisted by Chris Modrzejewski but was inspired by sophomore Angel Moreno-Lopez moments after McClure brought him on.
Torres was named Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match for his work in the win.
"That's the thing about this team," began McClure. "We can go 14-15 deep, and never lose a thing with the guys we go to.
"Everyone can, and has started at one time or another, and I really see that as our biggest strength."
The Grizzlies, led by its monster central midfielder Tomer Tur-Kaspa and his teammates in the middle of the park Matt Jackson and DaSilva, tried with all their might to keep their club in this one. But when St. Patrick's Rodriguez stepped up to hit a 35-yard left-footed missile in the 22nd minute, it all but dashed the hopes of an upset.
"The ball just fell to my foot. (I) looked up, then back down and then hit a one-timer," said Rodriguez, who oversimplified his brilliant finish which was YouTube worthy.
It nearly became 3-1 minutes later when Ricardo Hernandez appeared to score before it was discovered the ball went found an illegal side entrance into the net.
However, Hernandez, one of just four seniors on the roster, didn't miss when his next opportunity came in the 38th minute following a Chris Modrzejewski corner.
When a short clearing attempt by the Grizzlies spilled freely to Modrzejewski, the senior sent the ball quickly towards the head of Moreno-Lopez, whose shot grazed the woodwork.
The still live ball, moving around as if it were in a pinball machine inside the box, was collected by Torres, who linked up with Hernandez. On the turn, his attempt went just inside the post.
The Shamrocks wasted no time after the intermission, threatening early and often on their way to dominating the first 10 minutes. They bagged three second half goals to insure the victory.
Chris Modrzejewski made it look easy when his sublime touch on his freekick found its way in. That was followed by an equally impressive finish by Torres who used a lovely cross from Rodriguez and a superb dummy from Modrzewjewski to give him time to tee up his close-range strike.
Saucedo put the finishing touches on the score line after a Herbert Carrera helper.
"You saw a little bit of the old Chris Modrzejewski with that goal of his. He's only about 75 percent right now (after an illness)," said McClure of his scoring star, who recently was named to the Illinois coaches all-state team.
"He didn't play early in that tournament at Glenbrook South because he was sick, and you saw how it hurt us in that 5-3 loss. So with a couple of days off, he can get himself ready for a big week ahead.
"It's was tough for Payton today to have their fantastic keeper gone, and I felt bad for their young back-up. He did a good job, but ...we had some great looks on frame."
With no. 2-seed Fenton sent out of its sectional in PKs by no. 10 Lake View on Friday, the sectional takes on a different look for McClure and his lads. It will still require caution in the eyes of the Shamrocks boss.
"Fenton was a very good team, but we still have defending Class AA champion Latin (no. 3-seed) still in it, as well as our opponent on Tuesday, Northside, which comes in undefeated," said McClure, who was named ESCC Coach of the Year by his peers after St. Patrick's third place finish.
"We are capable of playing really good soccer on both sides of the ball, but on Tuesday, we cannot afford to come out flat.
"I believe the guys know this, ... and we'll be okay."
Starting lineups
Payton (4-4-2 opening formation)
GK- Isaiah Cole
D- Max Wilke
D- David Seward
D- Evan Gerstein
D- Ethan Shifrin
M- Hunter Buss
M- Tomer Tur-Kaspa
M- Manny Rosekranz
M- Matt Jackson
F- Jaret Reyes
F- Mack Hildebrand
St. Patrick (4-4-2)
GK: Christopher Troyke
D- Jonathan Rodriguez
D- Juan Leon
D- Sebastian Modrzejewski
D- Finn Elsmo
M- Adam Prztula
M- Joshua Torres
M- Angel Adame
M- Herbert Carrera
F- Luis Saucedo
F- Chris Modrzejewski
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Joshua Torres, fr., MF, St. Patrick
Referee: John Washko
Scoring summary
First half
SP: Torres (Moreno-Lopez)10'
SP: Rodriguez (U/A) 22'
SP: Hernandez (Torres) 38'
Second half
SP: C. Modrzejewski (FK) 53'
SP: Torres (C. Modrzejewsk, Rodriguez) 55'
SP: Saucedo (Carrera) 67'