Taft’s championship quest falls
just short against Solorio
Sun Warriors' late goal leads to penalty shootout, title
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO — Of the 25 players Taft’s roster, Matthew Gruszka faced the greatest uncertainty about his role in the most important game of his life.
Still physically recovering from a broken leg he suffered against Rauner on August 22, he had overlapping roles and identities.
He was both the great unknown and X-factor.
“He’s a vocal leader, and he organizes the team,” Taft coach Jeff Lucco said.
As a center back in the Eagles’ system, he is the defensive fulcrum who also initiates the attack.
His importance proved symbolic and tactical.
“It was a lot to take in,” he said. “I came in tonight not thinking I’d play a lot, but maybe the last 15 to 20 minutes.
“I came in and gave it everything.”
Gruszka appeared to be the hero as his 13th-minute goal put the Eagles on the verge of their first city soccer championship.
The Eagles’ quest was interrupted and ultimately denied after Solorio forward Orlando Ojeda forced extra time with a 74th-minute goal.
Then Ojeda’s high left-corner placement secured the Sun Warriors’ 5-3 shootout victory in the championship game of the Chicago Public League Tournament on Fritz Pollard Field at Lane Stadium on Wednesday night.
The title result was the sixth-straight win for Solorio (16-3-0), which is ranked sixth in the Chicagoland Soccer Class AA Super 7 poll.
The red-hot Ojeda scored four goals Tuesday night in the 5-0 semifinal victory over North Grand.
“He’s a senior, and he understands his next loss is his last,” Solorio coach Adrian Calleros said.
“The talent has always been there. It’s just getting the drive and the heart.”
His header from 14 yards six minutes from time altered the game.
“This whole year we have been a second half team,” Ojeda said. “I decided to show up for these last couple of games.
“This is my last season, and I just played with my heart out there.”
Junior Angel Garcia, the reserve keeper, was the Sun Warriors’ other crucial piece during the penalty shootout.
His block of the Eagles’ fourth shot swung the tide.
Taft (14-4-4), ranked 20th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, saw its 10-game unbeaten streak come to a heartbreaking finish.
“It’s terrible that we had to go out like that, but I’m really proud of the team,” forward Gabriel Vidaurre said. “We came this far, and we beat four quality sides just to get here.
“We really played hard tonight. It was unfortunate that it went into overtime after we led almost the whole game. We were a little fatigued.”
Taft played back-to-back double-overtime thrillers. The Eagles’ Jakub Kieras scored the golden goal in the dramatic 3-2 semifinal home victory over Lane on Tuesday night.
“I think that semifinal game really helped us, and it brought … confidence going into tonight’s game,” Gruszka said.
The game was also marked by the loss Gruszka, who was forced out early in the second half by a leg injury.
He worked energetically on the sideline to loosen up and return. It proved to no avail, and the Eagles struggled to fill the void.
“That really hurt us, and I think you could see we were a little chaotic after that,” Lucco said.
“Solorio definitely came out and pressured us more in the second half. I felt like we got away from what we were doing really well in the first half.”
Taft keeper Sebastian Rodriguez excelled, preserving the Eagles’ lead with some exceptional and alert actions.
He posted six saves.
Taft held a clear advantage through the first half.
The reappearance of Gruszka in the starting lineup allowed Jakub Kieras to push up to the middle of the attack. His two goals were the difference against Lane.
With forwards Vidaurre and Bart Wojda working hard up-top, the Eagles dictated tempo and held the majority of possession.
The middle attack of Kieras, Xavi Gamez and Matej Sokola pushed the Sun Warriors on their heels.
In the 13th minute, Gruszka and defender Max Denkovych crashed the box off a corner kick by Sergio Suarez.
Gruszka used just enough English off the header to direct the ball into the goal for the 1-0 Taft lead.
Riding the high of the early goal, the Eagles maintained the attack. A bang-bang sequence underscored their superior play and how close they came to extending the lead.
“I thought we played really well in the first half,” Lucco said.
“We were unlucky not to get a second goal in that half. Not even sure what happened there, and how it didn’t go in, but the ball got deflected off the crossbar.”
That near-miss was just part of an electric night that was captured by WCIU television, which provided a live broadcast. Close to 1,000 people jammed in the stands.
Taft qualified for its first city championship game since the legendary 2016 bout with Lane. The Eagles suffered the wrong side of déjà vu -- a heartbreaking finish that also ended with Taft on the wrong side of a penalty shootout final.
“The last time we were here, I remembered the same thing,” Lucco said.
The coach hoped his team would learn to remember the championship game fondly after the sting of the loss has diminished.
“These guys got to play in an environment they might never play in again. I hope they recognize that.”
Taft has performed beyond expectations in three significant tournaments: the Barrington Classic to start the year, a BodyArmor bracket and now the city tournament.
“Honestly, I think the turning point was when we lost to Boylan at Barrington,” Lucco said.
“We were just 3-2-0 at the time, but we felt we were better than Barrington and Boylan, and those are two really good teams. The kids’ belief just shot up, and they started saying, ‘Wait a minute. We might be pretty good.’”
Near the end of regulation, just following the Solorio goal, Denkovych nearly put away a deflection from Sun Warriors keeper David Salgado.
The Taft defender was a split second away from getting a touch in front of the open goal.
The Eagles host Mundelein on Saturday as a final tune-up before they start the Class 3A state tournament next week.
“We just have to pick ourselves back up,” Vidaurre said. “This happens to the best of teams.”
That process is more emotional than physical.
“The best part about the city tournament is that you get to play again if you lose,” Lucco said.
“The worst part is if you lose, I feel like a lot of kids think, ‘That’s it.’ Yes, we lost tonight, but there are bigger (team) goals.”
The ending of the game was cruel for Taft, but g
etting to this point meant something special and profound.
“Unfortunately with everything that happened, it didn’t go our way,” Gruszka said.
“I also think everything will go better from here. We are going to work to improve.”
Starting lineups
Taft
GK: Sebastian Rodriguez
D: Adrian Grden
D: Victor Lewicki
D: Max Denkovych
D: Matthew Gruszka
MF: Jakub Kieras
MF: Xavi Gomez
MF: Matej Sokola
MF: Sergio Suarez
F: Gabriel Vidaurre
F: Bart Wojda
Solorio
GK: David Salgado
D: Adrian Munoz
D: Sebastian Gonzalez
D: Ivan Lopez
D: Omar Ocampo
MF: Ricardo Mejia
MF: Justino Salgado
MF: Junior Pineda
MF: Christopher Bueno
F: Yamir Gallegos
F: Orlando Ojeda
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match:
Orlando Ojeda, sr., F, Solorio
Scoring summary
First half
Taft: Matthew Gruszka (Sergio Suarez), 13’
Second half
Solorio: Orlando Ojeda (Santiago Leyva), 74’
First overtime
No scoring
Second overtime
No scoring
Shootout
Solorio
Ivan Lopez (good), Adrian Munoz (good), Yamir Gallegos (good), Christopher Bueno (good), Orlando Ojeda (good)
Taft
Matej Sokola (good), Hansel Calix (good), Gabriel Vidaurre (good), Jakub Kieras (saved).
just short against Solorio
Sun Warriors' late goal leads to penalty shootout, title
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO — Of the 25 players Taft’s roster, Matthew Gruszka faced the greatest uncertainty about his role in the most important game of his life.
Still physically recovering from a broken leg he suffered against Rauner on August 22, he had overlapping roles and identities.
He was both the great unknown and X-factor.
“He’s a vocal leader, and he organizes the team,” Taft coach Jeff Lucco said.
As a center back in the Eagles’ system, he is the defensive fulcrum who also initiates the attack.
His importance proved symbolic and tactical.
“It was a lot to take in,” he said. “I came in tonight not thinking I’d play a lot, but maybe the last 15 to 20 minutes.
“I came in and gave it everything.”
Gruszka appeared to be the hero as his 13th-minute goal put the Eagles on the verge of their first city soccer championship.
The Eagles’ quest was interrupted and ultimately denied after Solorio forward Orlando Ojeda forced extra time with a 74th-minute goal.
Then Ojeda’s high left-corner placement secured the Sun Warriors’ 5-3 shootout victory in the championship game of the Chicago Public League Tournament on Fritz Pollard Field at Lane Stadium on Wednesday night.
The title result was the sixth-straight win for Solorio (16-3-0), which is ranked sixth in the Chicagoland Soccer Class AA Super 7 poll.
The red-hot Ojeda scored four goals Tuesday night in the 5-0 semifinal victory over North Grand.
“He’s a senior, and he understands his next loss is his last,” Solorio coach Adrian Calleros said.
“The talent has always been there. It’s just getting the drive and the heart.”
His header from 14 yards six minutes from time altered the game.
“This whole year we have been a second half team,” Ojeda said. “I decided to show up for these last couple of games.
“This is my last season, and I just played with my heart out there.”
Junior Angel Garcia, the reserve keeper, was the Sun Warriors’ other crucial piece during the penalty shootout.
His block of the Eagles’ fourth shot swung the tide.
Taft (14-4-4), ranked 20th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, saw its 10-game unbeaten streak come to a heartbreaking finish.
“It’s terrible that we had to go out like that, but I’m really proud of the team,” forward Gabriel Vidaurre said. “We came this far, and we beat four quality sides just to get here.
“We really played hard tonight. It was unfortunate that it went into overtime after we led almost the whole game. We were a little fatigued.”
Taft played back-to-back double-overtime thrillers. The Eagles’ Jakub Kieras scored the golden goal in the dramatic 3-2 semifinal home victory over Lane on Tuesday night.
“I think that semifinal game really helped us, and it brought … confidence going into tonight’s game,” Gruszka said.
The game was also marked by the loss Gruszka, who was forced out early in the second half by a leg injury.
He worked energetically on the sideline to loosen up and return. It proved to no avail, and the Eagles struggled to fill the void.
“That really hurt us, and I think you could see we were a little chaotic after that,” Lucco said.
“Solorio definitely came out and pressured us more in the second half. I felt like we got away from what we were doing really well in the first half.”
Taft keeper Sebastian Rodriguez excelled, preserving the Eagles’ lead with some exceptional and alert actions.
He posted six saves.
Taft held a clear advantage through the first half.
The reappearance of Gruszka in the starting lineup allowed Jakub Kieras to push up to the middle of the attack. His two goals were the difference against Lane.
With forwards Vidaurre and Bart Wojda working hard up-top, the Eagles dictated tempo and held the majority of possession.
The middle attack of Kieras, Xavi Gamez and Matej Sokola pushed the Sun Warriors on their heels.
In the 13th minute, Gruszka and defender Max Denkovych crashed the box off a corner kick by Sergio Suarez.
Gruszka used just enough English off the header to direct the ball into the goal for the 1-0 Taft lead.
Riding the high of the early goal, the Eagles maintained the attack. A bang-bang sequence underscored their superior play and how close they came to extending the lead.
“I thought we played really well in the first half,” Lucco said.
“We were unlucky not to get a second goal in that half. Not even sure what happened there, and how it didn’t go in, but the ball got deflected off the crossbar.”
That near-miss was just part of an electric night that was captured by WCIU television, which provided a live broadcast. Close to 1,000 people jammed in the stands.
Taft qualified for its first city championship game since the legendary 2016 bout with Lane. The Eagles suffered the wrong side of déjà vu -- a heartbreaking finish that also ended with Taft on the wrong side of a penalty shootout final.
“The last time we were here, I remembered the same thing,” Lucco said.
The coach hoped his team would learn to remember the championship game fondly after the sting of the loss has diminished.
“These guys got to play in an environment they might never play in again. I hope they recognize that.”
Taft has performed beyond expectations in three significant tournaments: the Barrington Classic to start the year, a BodyArmor bracket and now the city tournament.
“Honestly, I think the turning point was when we lost to Boylan at Barrington,” Lucco said.
“We were just 3-2-0 at the time, but we felt we were better than Barrington and Boylan, and those are two really good teams. The kids’ belief just shot up, and they started saying, ‘Wait a minute. We might be pretty good.’”
Near the end of regulation, just following the Solorio goal, Denkovych nearly put away a deflection from Sun Warriors keeper David Salgado.
The Taft defender was a split second away from getting a touch in front of the open goal.
The Eagles host Mundelein on Saturday as a final tune-up before they start the Class 3A state tournament next week.
“We just have to pick ourselves back up,” Vidaurre said. “This happens to the best of teams.”
That process is more emotional than physical.
“The best part about the city tournament is that you get to play again if you lose,” Lucco said.
“The worst part is if you lose, I feel like a lot of kids think, ‘That’s it.’ Yes, we lost tonight, but there are bigger (team) goals.”
The ending of the game was cruel for Taft, but g
etting to this point meant something special and profound.
“Unfortunately with everything that happened, it didn’t go our way,” Gruszka said.
“I also think everything will go better from here. We are going to work to improve.”
Starting lineups
Taft
GK: Sebastian Rodriguez
D: Adrian Grden
D: Victor Lewicki
D: Max Denkovych
D: Matthew Gruszka
MF: Jakub Kieras
MF: Xavi Gomez
MF: Matej Sokola
MF: Sergio Suarez
F: Gabriel Vidaurre
F: Bart Wojda
Solorio
GK: David Salgado
D: Adrian Munoz
D: Sebastian Gonzalez
D: Ivan Lopez
D: Omar Ocampo
MF: Ricardo Mejia
MF: Justino Salgado
MF: Junior Pineda
MF: Christopher Bueno
F: Yamir Gallegos
F: Orlando Ojeda
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match:
Orlando Ojeda, sr., F, Solorio
Scoring summary
First half
Taft: Matthew Gruszka (Sergio Suarez), 13’
Second half
Solorio: Orlando Ojeda (Santiago Leyva), 74’
First overtime
No scoring
Second overtime
No scoring
Shootout
Solorio
Ivan Lopez (good), Adrian Munoz (good), Yamir Gallegos (good), Christopher Bueno (good), Orlando Ojeda (good)
Taft
Matej Sokola (good), Hansel Calix (good), Gabriel Vidaurre (good), Jakub Kieras (saved).