St. Patrick shows moxy against Wheeling
Shamrocks prove they can compete with big schools in 5-3 loss
By Mike Garofola
GLENVIEW -- Even in defeat, St. Patrick has shown it can play soccer with the big boys.
Monday evening in their first contest of pool play at the 32nd annual Jim Wolter Titan Invitational at Glenbrook South, the Class AA Shamrocks lost 2-1 to mega-school Stevenson, hitting the post in the final moments to fall just short of a tie.
Wednesday the Shamrocks pushed reigning Mid-Suburban League champion Wheeling to its limit before succombing to three second half goals in a 5-3 loss.
"Hey, you always want to win when you go out there, but even if we didn't, I have to feel the boys know they can play with 3A schools. I sure feel that way about this team," said proud manager Kyle McClure.
"We nearly pulled one out yesterday against Stevenson. Today, we were without one of our top players and scorers Christopher Modrzejewski (5 goals last week), but we played really well against a talented, strong and physical team, and that's really what it is all about right now."
There were just six minutes gone on the clock when Joshua Torres gave the Shamrocks (3-2-0) a dream start. He collected the ball some 25 yards out on the left side and tricked his way past the last man before chipping the keeper with an expert touch to find the back of the net.
The Shamrocks nearly made it a two-goal advantage moments later when a wonderfully guided crossfield ball from Aaron Moreno-Lopez found Torres, who forced Wheeling keeper Jonathan Ayala to stop a big chance.
"St. Patrick played hard, and their guys up-top, no. 21 (Torres) and no. 30 (Luis Saucedo) were a handful, but so was their center midfielder no. 23 (Moreno-Lopez). All were crafty, great on the ball, and really, really quick," said Wheeling manager Kevin Lennon after the match.
Wheeling's Jared Urueta equalized at nine minutes when he stunned the Shamrocks in their own end by running onto a superb cross from Phil Bucko to put a one-timer past a helpless Christopher Troyke, who was St. Patrick's first half keeper.
Wheeling had its troubles coping with the speed and general craftiness of the likes of: Herbert Carrera, Adam Przytula, Moreno-Lopez, Torres and Saucedo, so it was no surprise this group of players kept the pressure on leading up to St. Patrick's second goal of the day.
That's when Carrera went high into the air to steer in his header off a corner from Moreno-Lopez. The opportunity came after Angel Adame and Saucedo helped create the set piece at the quarter hour.
"We might have been missing a key piece in our attack with Christopher out sick, but we have a lot of depth. So we don't let one player missing effect us, because we use that depth to adapt to any changes that come our way," said Saucedo.
The Shamrocks forward was one of five sophomores in the first 11 for St. Patrick. Torres was the lone freshman.
"We're young, but we don't play like we are thanks to a bunch of our guys back from a year ago when we had so many freshmen on our roster, in addition to having a great bunch of guys who are all working hard together," said McClure.
Wheeling (3-1-0) began to get back in the game, and with just under 15 minutes before the intermission, they were on their front foot to seize control of this first half.
The Wildcats created consecutive free kicks, while generating a handful of chances with some dynamic attacking football. Most of it ran through its talented senior in the middle, Vicente Castro, and his running mate Urueta. Each targeted with success both Bucko and Jose Mariscal, who bagged 15 goals a year ago.
"They were big and strong, and they at times, broke us down along the back defensively. So we'll have to work to clean things up when we get back to train next week," said McClure.
It became even in the 17th minute of this 70-minute tournament match courtesy of Jason Rivas after Robert Cruz split open the Shamrocks defense.
With the intermission looming, Wheeling went close on three separate occasions. St. Patrick answered with its first real opportunity since the Herrera goal.
An early ball from Saucedo gave Torres time and space before his back-post surprise snap-shot nearly found its target.
Moments before, the aforementioned Troyke took a sure goal out of the net when he went in full extension to his left to turn away Urueta's attempt.
"We played really well as a team in that first half, but started slow after the half, and never really got back to playing like we did in the entire second half," offered Moreno-Lopez, who afterwards was named Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match for his all-around effort with and without the ball.
Disaster struck for the Shamrocks one minute into the second period with Mariscal got onto the scoresheet. Bucko doubled the advantage 11 minutes later with a wonderful left-footed finish.
A spectacular long-range strike from Sebastian Modrzejewski brought the Shamrocks closer with 22 minutes remaining, but the Wildcats may have been thrown a lifeline when the referee sent Castro to the spot after he ruled the Wildcats midfielder was taken down just inside the box.
"I really don't think it would have made a difference in the result, but that was just an awful call at an important time, and I really don't believe that call should have had much merit," said McClure.
Castro converted easily to increase the advantage to 5-3 six minutes from time.
The Shamrocks sought a response and came close. Moreno-Lopez sent his wide free kick on goal and forced Ayala to punch the attempt out of the area in the closing moments.
"This team can attack and score goals, and once we get a few other things figured out, we'll be right there in the (East Suburban Catholic) conference race at the end," stated Saucedo.
McClure, who will watch his club finish pool play on Thursday against Parker, whom they defeated last week 2-1, likes what he's hearing from both Saucedo and Moreno-Lopez, and couldn't agree more with his guys.
"I really like what I've been seeing with this team," he said.
"We're progressing, gotten better each time out. Even with these two losses, the guys aren't hanging their heads, and are remaining real positive, while keeping their heads up at the same time."
"We'll look to finish this tournament strong with Parker, then whomever we play on Saturday to finish up here."
Starting lineups
St. Patrick
GK- Christopher Troyke
D- Finnr Elsmo
D- Nathan Anderson
D- Sebastian Modrzejewski
D- Jonathan Rodriguez
M- Adam Przytula
M- Aaron Moreno-Lopez
M- Angel Adame
M- Herbert Carrera
F- Luis Saucedo
F- Joshua Torres
Wheeling
GK- Jonathan Ayala
D- Jesus Avila
D- Randy Piotrowski
D- Alex Ibarra
M- Miguel Rodriguez
DM- David Soto
M- Vincente Castro
M- Robert Cruz
M- Jared Urueta
F- Phil Bucko
F- Jose Mariscal
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Aaron Moreno-Lopez. so., MF, St. Patrick
Scoring Summary
Wheeling
Urueta (Bucko) 9', Rivas (Cruz) 17', Mariscal (Bucko) 36', Bucko (Urueta, Cruz) 47', Castro (PK) 64'.
St. Patrick
Torres (U/A) 6', Carrera (Moreno-Perez) 15', S. Modrzejewski (U/A) 53'.
Referr: Tom Severin
Shamrocks prove they can compete with big schools in 5-3 loss
By Mike Garofola
GLENVIEW -- Even in defeat, St. Patrick has shown it can play soccer with the big boys.
Monday evening in their first contest of pool play at the 32nd annual Jim Wolter Titan Invitational at Glenbrook South, the Class AA Shamrocks lost 2-1 to mega-school Stevenson, hitting the post in the final moments to fall just short of a tie.
Wednesday the Shamrocks pushed reigning Mid-Suburban League champion Wheeling to its limit before succombing to three second half goals in a 5-3 loss.
"Hey, you always want to win when you go out there, but even if we didn't, I have to feel the boys know they can play with 3A schools. I sure feel that way about this team," said proud manager Kyle McClure.
"We nearly pulled one out yesterday against Stevenson. Today, we were without one of our top players and scorers Christopher Modrzejewski (5 goals last week), but we played really well against a talented, strong and physical team, and that's really what it is all about right now."
There were just six minutes gone on the clock when Joshua Torres gave the Shamrocks (3-2-0) a dream start. He collected the ball some 25 yards out on the left side and tricked his way past the last man before chipping the keeper with an expert touch to find the back of the net.
The Shamrocks nearly made it a two-goal advantage moments later when a wonderfully guided crossfield ball from Aaron Moreno-Lopez found Torres, who forced Wheeling keeper Jonathan Ayala to stop a big chance.
"St. Patrick played hard, and their guys up-top, no. 21 (Torres) and no. 30 (Luis Saucedo) were a handful, but so was their center midfielder no. 23 (Moreno-Lopez). All were crafty, great on the ball, and really, really quick," said Wheeling manager Kevin Lennon after the match.
Wheeling's Jared Urueta equalized at nine minutes when he stunned the Shamrocks in their own end by running onto a superb cross from Phil Bucko to put a one-timer past a helpless Christopher Troyke, who was St. Patrick's first half keeper.
Wheeling had its troubles coping with the speed and general craftiness of the likes of: Herbert Carrera, Adam Przytula, Moreno-Lopez, Torres and Saucedo, so it was no surprise this group of players kept the pressure on leading up to St. Patrick's second goal of the day.
That's when Carrera went high into the air to steer in his header off a corner from Moreno-Lopez. The opportunity came after Angel Adame and Saucedo helped create the set piece at the quarter hour.
"We might have been missing a key piece in our attack with Christopher out sick, but we have a lot of depth. So we don't let one player missing effect us, because we use that depth to adapt to any changes that come our way," said Saucedo.
The Shamrocks forward was one of five sophomores in the first 11 for St. Patrick. Torres was the lone freshman.
"We're young, but we don't play like we are thanks to a bunch of our guys back from a year ago when we had so many freshmen on our roster, in addition to having a great bunch of guys who are all working hard together," said McClure.
Wheeling (3-1-0) began to get back in the game, and with just under 15 minutes before the intermission, they were on their front foot to seize control of this first half.
The Wildcats created consecutive free kicks, while generating a handful of chances with some dynamic attacking football. Most of it ran through its talented senior in the middle, Vicente Castro, and his running mate Urueta. Each targeted with success both Bucko and Jose Mariscal, who bagged 15 goals a year ago.
"They were big and strong, and they at times, broke us down along the back defensively. So we'll have to work to clean things up when we get back to train next week," said McClure.
It became even in the 17th minute of this 70-minute tournament match courtesy of Jason Rivas after Robert Cruz split open the Shamrocks defense.
With the intermission looming, Wheeling went close on three separate occasions. St. Patrick answered with its first real opportunity since the Herrera goal.
An early ball from Saucedo gave Torres time and space before his back-post surprise snap-shot nearly found its target.
Moments before, the aforementioned Troyke took a sure goal out of the net when he went in full extension to his left to turn away Urueta's attempt.
"We played really well as a team in that first half, but started slow after the half, and never really got back to playing like we did in the entire second half," offered Moreno-Lopez, who afterwards was named Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match for his all-around effort with and without the ball.
Disaster struck for the Shamrocks one minute into the second period with Mariscal got onto the scoresheet. Bucko doubled the advantage 11 minutes later with a wonderful left-footed finish.
A spectacular long-range strike from Sebastian Modrzejewski brought the Shamrocks closer with 22 minutes remaining, but the Wildcats may have been thrown a lifeline when the referee sent Castro to the spot after he ruled the Wildcats midfielder was taken down just inside the box.
"I really don't think it would have made a difference in the result, but that was just an awful call at an important time, and I really don't believe that call should have had much merit," said McClure.
Castro converted easily to increase the advantage to 5-3 six minutes from time.
The Shamrocks sought a response and came close. Moreno-Lopez sent his wide free kick on goal and forced Ayala to punch the attempt out of the area in the closing moments.
"This team can attack and score goals, and once we get a few other things figured out, we'll be right there in the (East Suburban Catholic) conference race at the end," stated Saucedo.
McClure, who will watch his club finish pool play on Thursday against Parker, whom they defeated last week 2-1, likes what he's hearing from both Saucedo and Moreno-Lopez, and couldn't agree more with his guys.
"I really like what I've been seeing with this team," he said.
"We're progressing, gotten better each time out. Even with these two losses, the guys aren't hanging their heads, and are remaining real positive, while keeping their heads up at the same time."
"We'll look to finish this tournament strong with Parker, then whomever we play on Saturday to finish up here."
Starting lineups
St. Patrick
GK- Christopher Troyke
D- Finnr Elsmo
D- Nathan Anderson
D- Sebastian Modrzejewski
D- Jonathan Rodriguez
M- Adam Przytula
M- Aaron Moreno-Lopez
M- Angel Adame
M- Herbert Carrera
F- Luis Saucedo
F- Joshua Torres
Wheeling
GK- Jonathan Ayala
D- Jesus Avila
D- Randy Piotrowski
D- Alex Ibarra
M- Miguel Rodriguez
DM- David Soto
M- Vincente Castro
M- Robert Cruz
M- Jared Urueta
F- Phil Bucko
F- Jose Mariscal
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Aaron Moreno-Lopez. so., MF, St. Patrick
Scoring Summary
Wheeling
Urueta (Bucko) 9', Rivas (Cruz) 17', Mariscal (Bucko) 36', Bucko (Urueta, Cruz) 47', Castro (PK) 64'.
St. Patrick
Torres (U/A) 6', Carrera (Moreno-Perez) 15', S. Modrzejewski (U/A) 53'.
Referr: Tom Severin