St. Patrick gains Wolter/Titan Inv. final
Shamrocks avenge 2017 loss, top Wheeling 3-2
By Rusty Silber
GLENVIEW -- There's no doubt St. Patrick has a much improved soccer program. The Shamrocks punctuated their upward mobility with a Class AA fourth place trophy last season. And the arrow continues to point up this season.
In the 33rd annual Jim Wolter Titan Invitational, the Shamrocks made it three-straight pool-play victories with a 3-2 triumph over Wheeling on Thursday afternoon.
St. Patrick has now started out 2018 with five-straight victories and will match up with host Glenbrook South (3-0-1) in the final at 11 a.m.
The Shamrocks entered the match needing a win or draw to advance.
Aaron Moreno-Lopez scored the game winning goal for the Shamrocks; Luis Saucedo and Jonathan Rodriguez contributed the other goals.
"We grinded it out, and we could've played better then we did," said St. Patrick coach Kyle McClure of the match, which was played on grass. "(Wheeling) was a tough team that plays hard. We had to match their intensity. I think if we were playing on a big turf field, I think we would've opened up more. played our style and scored a few more goals.
"I was pleased with our team defense. We haven't played a team that strong offensively as they were. They had a lot of opportunities in the box. We did a nice job in the air defending. This is a game that we can build off of, and we'll be playing Glenbrook South back on the turf, which is good for us."
St. Patrick nearly reached the final last year but was stopped by Wheeling 5-3. This time they turned the tables.
Coach McClure in his fifth year coaching in the program has seen improvement each year including a school record 23-6-2 mark last season. Can the Shamrocks top that?
"The kids were saying I'm not sure we can do much better then that," McClure said. "I think we're playing better. We only have two senior starters. When you consider that, we have a lot of guys starting on varsity for a few years. So they are playing like seniors. But we still have a lot of upside.
"Little discouraged because we're bumped up to Class 3A this year and next year. Our guys just took that as a challenge that we have to get better and beat teams like Mundelein and Wheeling, if we want a chance to win a regional or a sectional in 3A. I think we responded well to the challenge."
On Thursday, the match was tied 2-2 in the late stages. The Shamrocks were given a free kick from about 40 yards. Moreno-Lopez struck the ball with a bit of a tail wind, it found its way under the crossbar for the game-winning goal in the 68th minute.
"I was trying to put the ball into the box, so one of my teammates could run onto the ball," said Moreno-Lopez, who scored his fourth goal this season and was named the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match. "I was just trying to get it as far as I could and hopefully we could get a redirect. This was really big and sends us into the final in the tournament."
Wheeling (3-2-0) got on the board first in the 15th minute, when Jared Urueta scored from up-top after taking a Luis Aviles cross for the 1-0 lead.
"Our effort, we never give up," said Urueta, sho scored his seventh goal in five games. "We still played if things didn't go our way. We do our best and never give up. I'm proud of my team. Whoever supports me in the back, and they try to support me in the front. They try to find me, and that's a good part of the team."
St. Patrick tied the match in the 28th minute. The goal came on a long service from Joshua Torres to Rodriguez, who controlled the ball briefly, chipped it by a defender and then put it past Wheeling keeper Elio Santana.
The Shamrocks took the lead 2-1 in the second half in the 45th minute after a Wildcats' foul in the penalty area. Saucedo stepped up and converted a penalty kick for his eighth goal this season.
"I just think we have perfect chemistry," Saucedo said. "We're all on the same page. We know what runs to make and not to make. We just know each other well. I think everything is just starting, and it;s the beginning of the season.
"This offense has a lot of goals to score and a lot of big games to play. What separates us from other high schools in the area, is how quickly we move the ball around and how we connect as a whole team. We play as a team; we attack as a team; and we defend as a team."
Wheeling was resilient and found a way to even the game at the hour mark. Jesus Avila scored on a penalty kick after a foul was called in the box after a corner kick.
The Wildcats felt they moved forward as a team in the match.
"We can take some positives out of this," Wheeling coach Kevin Lemon said. "(St. Patrick) was a skilled discipline team. I think they will be one of the top teams around. We were right there with them. I know we're disappointed right now, but I think there's some positives to take out of it. Compared to our game Tuesday, we've gotten better.
"I think the guys were resilient, even though we got down. That's a team that can score in bunches. Yet, we were able to weather the storm, and we were dangerous on some of our deadballs. We still have to work on connecting and putting passes together on the attack. We'll just keep growing from here."
Wheeling will play for third place against Stevenson at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Starting lineups
St. Patrick
GK-Jorge Cabrero
D-Adam Przytula
D-Jonathan Rodriguez
D-Diego Rivera
D-Juan Leon
MF-Aaron Moreno-Lopez
MF-Angel Adame
MF-Sebastian Modrzejewski
F-Luis Saucedo
F-Hubert Carrera
F-Joshua Torres
Wheeling
GK-Elio Santana
D-Alex Ibarra
D-Jesus Avia
D-Jesus Flores
MF-Gabriel Schiavoni
MF-Jason Rivas
MF-Jared Urueta
MF-Miguel Rodriguez
F-Luis Aviles
F-Joshua Torres
F-Dominik Brzostowski
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Aaron Moreno-Lopez, jr., MF, St. Patrick
Referees: Jay Weiss (center), James Lipton, Mohamed Abbelrahim
Scoring summary
First half
W: Urueta (Aviles), 15
SP: Rodriguez (Torres), 28
Second half
SP: Saucedo (PK), 45
W: Avila (PK), 60
SP: Moreno-Lopez (unassisted), 68
Shamrocks avenge 2017 loss, top Wheeling 3-2
By Rusty Silber
GLENVIEW -- There's no doubt St. Patrick has a much improved soccer program. The Shamrocks punctuated their upward mobility with a Class AA fourth place trophy last season. And the arrow continues to point up this season.
In the 33rd annual Jim Wolter Titan Invitational, the Shamrocks made it three-straight pool-play victories with a 3-2 triumph over Wheeling on Thursday afternoon.
St. Patrick has now started out 2018 with five-straight victories and will match up with host Glenbrook South (3-0-1) in the final at 11 a.m.
The Shamrocks entered the match needing a win or draw to advance.
Aaron Moreno-Lopez scored the game winning goal for the Shamrocks; Luis Saucedo and Jonathan Rodriguez contributed the other goals.
"We grinded it out, and we could've played better then we did," said St. Patrick coach Kyle McClure of the match, which was played on grass. "(Wheeling) was a tough team that plays hard. We had to match their intensity. I think if we were playing on a big turf field, I think we would've opened up more. played our style and scored a few more goals.
"I was pleased with our team defense. We haven't played a team that strong offensively as they were. They had a lot of opportunities in the box. We did a nice job in the air defending. This is a game that we can build off of, and we'll be playing Glenbrook South back on the turf, which is good for us."
St. Patrick nearly reached the final last year but was stopped by Wheeling 5-3. This time they turned the tables.
Coach McClure in his fifth year coaching in the program has seen improvement each year including a school record 23-6-2 mark last season. Can the Shamrocks top that?
"The kids were saying I'm not sure we can do much better then that," McClure said. "I think we're playing better. We only have two senior starters. When you consider that, we have a lot of guys starting on varsity for a few years. So they are playing like seniors. But we still have a lot of upside.
"Little discouraged because we're bumped up to Class 3A this year and next year. Our guys just took that as a challenge that we have to get better and beat teams like Mundelein and Wheeling, if we want a chance to win a regional or a sectional in 3A. I think we responded well to the challenge."
On Thursday, the match was tied 2-2 in the late stages. The Shamrocks were given a free kick from about 40 yards. Moreno-Lopez struck the ball with a bit of a tail wind, it found its way under the crossbar for the game-winning goal in the 68th minute.
"I was trying to put the ball into the box, so one of my teammates could run onto the ball," said Moreno-Lopez, who scored his fourth goal this season and was named the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match. "I was just trying to get it as far as I could and hopefully we could get a redirect. This was really big and sends us into the final in the tournament."
Wheeling (3-2-0) got on the board first in the 15th minute, when Jared Urueta scored from up-top after taking a Luis Aviles cross for the 1-0 lead.
"Our effort, we never give up," said Urueta, sho scored his seventh goal in five games. "We still played if things didn't go our way. We do our best and never give up. I'm proud of my team. Whoever supports me in the back, and they try to support me in the front. They try to find me, and that's a good part of the team."
St. Patrick tied the match in the 28th minute. The goal came on a long service from Joshua Torres to Rodriguez, who controlled the ball briefly, chipped it by a defender and then put it past Wheeling keeper Elio Santana.
The Shamrocks took the lead 2-1 in the second half in the 45th minute after a Wildcats' foul in the penalty area. Saucedo stepped up and converted a penalty kick for his eighth goal this season.
"I just think we have perfect chemistry," Saucedo said. "We're all on the same page. We know what runs to make and not to make. We just know each other well. I think everything is just starting, and it;s the beginning of the season.
"This offense has a lot of goals to score and a lot of big games to play. What separates us from other high schools in the area, is how quickly we move the ball around and how we connect as a whole team. We play as a team; we attack as a team; and we defend as a team."
Wheeling was resilient and found a way to even the game at the hour mark. Jesus Avila scored on a penalty kick after a foul was called in the box after a corner kick.
The Wildcats felt they moved forward as a team in the match.
"We can take some positives out of this," Wheeling coach Kevin Lemon said. "(St. Patrick) was a skilled discipline team. I think they will be one of the top teams around. We were right there with them. I know we're disappointed right now, but I think there's some positives to take out of it. Compared to our game Tuesday, we've gotten better.
"I think the guys were resilient, even though we got down. That's a team that can score in bunches. Yet, we were able to weather the storm, and we were dangerous on some of our deadballs. We still have to work on connecting and putting passes together on the attack. We'll just keep growing from here."
Wheeling will play for third place against Stevenson at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Starting lineups
St. Patrick
GK-Jorge Cabrero
D-Adam Przytula
D-Jonathan Rodriguez
D-Diego Rivera
D-Juan Leon
MF-Aaron Moreno-Lopez
MF-Angel Adame
MF-Sebastian Modrzejewski
F-Luis Saucedo
F-Hubert Carrera
F-Joshua Torres
Wheeling
GK-Elio Santana
D-Alex Ibarra
D-Jesus Avia
D-Jesus Flores
MF-Gabriel Schiavoni
MF-Jason Rivas
MF-Jared Urueta
MF-Miguel Rodriguez
F-Luis Aviles
F-Joshua Torres
F-Dominik Brzostowski
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Aaron Moreno-Lopez, jr., MF, St. Patrick
Referees: Jay Weiss (center), James Lipton, Mohamed Abbelrahim
Scoring summary
First half
W: Urueta (Aviles), 15
SP: Rodriguez (Torres), 28
Second half
SP: Saucedo (PK), 45
W: Avila (PK), 60
SP: Moreno-Lopez (unassisted), 68