Early focus leadsTimothy past St. Francis
Trojans score early, record 1st shutout of season in league win
By Curt Herron
WHEATON -- Cam Baker was hopeful that Timothy would get off to a good start when it played at St. Francis on Thursday in a key Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division showdown at Kuhn Memorial Stadium.
And thanks to big contributions from the junior midfielder during the early going, that's just what happened. Baker set up his team's first goal in the sixth minute with a corner kick, added their second goal on a long attempt in the 10th minute and later had a hand in their final goal to cap a 3-0 victory over the host Spartans.
Beside scoring his team's first goal, senior captain Ethan Lemkuil joined classmate Jake Alex, junior Ethan Munk and sophomore Caleb Hoekstra in providing a solid defensive line throughout the entire match. Freshman goalkeeper Peter Buikema halted everything that came his way to post the Trojans' first shutout of the season.
"With us scoring in the first few minutes, it really set the tone for us for this game," said Baker, who earned Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors for his play. "They beat us with the PKs (on April 13), which pushed us harder. And Ethan Lemkuil, Jake Alex, Ethan Munk and Caleb Hoekstra are reliable and help us a lot in the back by bailing us out.
"We've been grinding together to become a brotherhood. We're working together every day as hard as we can in order to make each other better. We have to possess in the middle, keep swinging the ball around in the back and as coach says to us all of the time, to just keep our composure and stay calm to play our game."
After seeing his squad improve to 5-2-1 overall and 2-0-0 in league action, Trojans coach Joel Zielke was obviously very pleased by their play and is excited about their prospects for the rest of the season, which features matches next week against division foes St. Edward and Wheaton Academy, and nonconference visitor Latin.
"It was really a dream start," Zielke said. "We've started several games really slow this year and haven't played first halves well, so that's something that we've really focused in on. We got a goal off of a corner and then Cam just hit an absolute banger.
"I would say that this has been our most complete 80 that we've played this season. What we've been focusing on is consistency. We have spurts of good minutes then have a lack in judgement and all of sudden we give up an easy goal. We won a lot of balls in the air and were able to possess and build through the middle.
"Conference is something that we really want. Last year we were in it until the last weekend and then lost in a PK shootout to R-B and then at home on Senior Night on a PK shootout to St. Francis.
“We knew that we really needed to be focused and to push hard. We have a really good team spirit, not only the 11 that are playing but our guys who are supporting us on the bench. We have 24, and they all contribute."
Even though Timothy got off to a fast start, the Spartans (2-4-1, 1-1-0) actually had two good chances early when Luc Swiatek found Guy DeFeo, but he sent his try just wide. Then Brendan Yarusso’s short attempt was denied by Buikema.
Not long after, St. Francis keeper Simon Hartle thwarted Chris Cruz on his first of many dangerous attempts. Timothy moved in front for good when Baker sent a corner into the box, and Lemkuil was there to connect for the score. Then a few minutes later, Baker fired in a liner from about 35 yards that sailed over the keeper to make it 2-0.
It created a hole St. Francis couldn’t climb out of.
"We were in early, and we didn't take advantage of it, and then they scored on a header unmarked," Spartans coach Jim Winslow said. "And then we let them free in the midfield, and that's probably on me, and then there was an own goal at the end. We can't shoot ourselves in the foot, so to speak. But credit to them, they played well and did a nice job."
During the remainder of the opening half, Cruz had three more attempts turned away while Baker sent in another threatening corner kick. Meanwhile, the Trojans' defense was working hard to stymie St. Francis, which had a few good chances before the break -- Mason Karch had a shot stopped; and Matthew Marsico sent one just wide of the net.
Timothy’s defensive chatter led to inspired play.
"A big thing for us was communication in the back," Lemkuil said. "I thought that we really stepped up our communication from the past few games. That really helped us to form a backline that they couldn't fit through balls through as easily and just took away some dangerous opportunities for them.
“And it's great to see Peter in goal and playing so well for us. It looks good for our program with three more years of him after this, and that's exciting.
"It definitely took some pressure off, but we weren't satisfied with the two goals. We've come back from 2-0 this season to tie Nazareth, so we know how dangerous the score is.
“Our back four was really solid and all of us played the full 80. I really like the energy that our bench brought today. Being on the road, they brought some energy that we otherwise definitely would have been lacking. And our subs were fresh and played well when they got the chance."
The hosts had the first good threat of the final half with DeFeo being stopped on a liner. Then the Trojans responded with a header from Jake Firnsin and two more attempts from Cruz that were turned away before Baker set up the final score in the 58th minute. His corner kick deflected off of a Spartans player for an own goal.
"We just really like to possess," Cruz said. "There's one ball. We're the ones who will keep it; we'll score eventually. It helps that we didn't let up, and we're starting to not let up goals. If we can keep doing that and keep the ball, we're going to be successful. They had a good goalie, and I couldn't finish today.
"We've been trying to come out earlier since we feel like we've been a comeback team all year. We only have been playing our first halves like half way, so we want to come out from the start and dominate. Everyone wants to win. Everyone's going hard in practice."
St. Francis, which will play four times in the Plainfield North Classic and also have two division matches from now through next Saturday, kept threatening as time wound down. Marsico was stopped twice and Tommy Goetzke and DeFeo were also denied by the freshman keeper.
Starting lineups
Timothy Christian
G Peter Buikema
D Ethan Munk
D Jake Alex
D Ethan Lemkuil
D Caleb Hoekstra
M Jake Firnsin
M Eddie Favela
M Cam Baker
M Cooper Rainone
F Carter Day
F Chris Cruz
St. Francis
G Simon Hartle
D Nick Madden
D Sam Wessel
D Justin Klein
D Cam Crawford
M Anthony Matz
M Brendan Yarusso
M Cooper Winslow
M Matthew Marsico
F Guy DeFeo
F Luc Swiatek
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match:
Cam Baker, jr. MF, Timothy
Scoring summary
First half
T: Lemkuil (Baker CK), 6th minute
T: Baker (unassisted), 10th minute
Second half
T: Own goal (Baker CK), 58th minute
Trojans score early, record 1st shutout of season in league win
By Curt Herron
WHEATON -- Cam Baker was hopeful that Timothy would get off to a good start when it played at St. Francis on Thursday in a key Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division showdown at Kuhn Memorial Stadium.
And thanks to big contributions from the junior midfielder during the early going, that's just what happened. Baker set up his team's first goal in the sixth minute with a corner kick, added their second goal on a long attempt in the 10th minute and later had a hand in their final goal to cap a 3-0 victory over the host Spartans.
Beside scoring his team's first goal, senior captain Ethan Lemkuil joined classmate Jake Alex, junior Ethan Munk and sophomore Caleb Hoekstra in providing a solid defensive line throughout the entire match. Freshman goalkeeper Peter Buikema halted everything that came his way to post the Trojans' first shutout of the season.
"With us scoring in the first few minutes, it really set the tone for us for this game," said Baker, who earned Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors for his play. "They beat us with the PKs (on April 13), which pushed us harder. And Ethan Lemkuil, Jake Alex, Ethan Munk and Caleb Hoekstra are reliable and help us a lot in the back by bailing us out.
"We've been grinding together to become a brotherhood. We're working together every day as hard as we can in order to make each other better. We have to possess in the middle, keep swinging the ball around in the back and as coach says to us all of the time, to just keep our composure and stay calm to play our game."
After seeing his squad improve to 5-2-1 overall and 2-0-0 in league action, Trojans coach Joel Zielke was obviously very pleased by their play and is excited about their prospects for the rest of the season, which features matches next week against division foes St. Edward and Wheaton Academy, and nonconference visitor Latin.
"It was really a dream start," Zielke said. "We've started several games really slow this year and haven't played first halves well, so that's something that we've really focused in on. We got a goal off of a corner and then Cam just hit an absolute banger.
"I would say that this has been our most complete 80 that we've played this season. What we've been focusing on is consistency. We have spurts of good minutes then have a lack in judgement and all of sudden we give up an easy goal. We won a lot of balls in the air and were able to possess and build through the middle.
"Conference is something that we really want. Last year we were in it until the last weekend and then lost in a PK shootout to R-B and then at home on Senior Night on a PK shootout to St. Francis.
“We knew that we really needed to be focused and to push hard. We have a really good team spirit, not only the 11 that are playing but our guys who are supporting us on the bench. We have 24, and they all contribute."
Even though Timothy got off to a fast start, the Spartans (2-4-1, 1-1-0) actually had two good chances early when Luc Swiatek found Guy DeFeo, but he sent his try just wide. Then Brendan Yarusso’s short attempt was denied by Buikema.
Not long after, St. Francis keeper Simon Hartle thwarted Chris Cruz on his first of many dangerous attempts. Timothy moved in front for good when Baker sent a corner into the box, and Lemkuil was there to connect for the score. Then a few minutes later, Baker fired in a liner from about 35 yards that sailed over the keeper to make it 2-0.
It created a hole St. Francis couldn’t climb out of.
"We were in early, and we didn't take advantage of it, and then they scored on a header unmarked," Spartans coach Jim Winslow said. "And then we let them free in the midfield, and that's probably on me, and then there was an own goal at the end. We can't shoot ourselves in the foot, so to speak. But credit to them, they played well and did a nice job."
During the remainder of the opening half, Cruz had three more attempts turned away while Baker sent in another threatening corner kick. Meanwhile, the Trojans' defense was working hard to stymie St. Francis, which had a few good chances before the break -- Mason Karch had a shot stopped; and Matthew Marsico sent one just wide of the net.
Timothy’s defensive chatter led to inspired play.
"A big thing for us was communication in the back," Lemkuil said. "I thought that we really stepped up our communication from the past few games. That really helped us to form a backline that they couldn't fit through balls through as easily and just took away some dangerous opportunities for them.
“And it's great to see Peter in goal and playing so well for us. It looks good for our program with three more years of him after this, and that's exciting.
"It definitely took some pressure off, but we weren't satisfied with the two goals. We've come back from 2-0 this season to tie Nazareth, so we know how dangerous the score is.
“Our back four was really solid and all of us played the full 80. I really like the energy that our bench brought today. Being on the road, they brought some energy that we otherwise definitely would have been lacking. And our subs were fresh and played well when they got the chance."
The hosts had the first good threat of the final half with DeFeo being stopped on a liner. Then the Trojans responded with a header from Jake Firnsin and two more attempts from Cruz that were turned away before Baker set up the final score in the 58th minute. His corner kick deflected off of a Spartans player for an own goal.
"We just really like to possess," Cruz said. "There's one ball. We're the ones who will keep it; we'll score eventually. It helps that we didn't let up, and we're starting to not let up goals. If we can keep doing that and keep the ball, we're going to be successful. They had a good goalie, and I couldn't finish today.
"We've been trying to come out earlier since we feel like we've been a comeback team all year. We only have been playing our first halves like half way, so we want to come out from the start and dominate. Everyone wants to win. Everyone's going hard in practice."
St. Francis, which will play four times in the Plainfield North Classic and also have two division matches from now through next Saturday, kept threatening as time wound down. Marsico was stopped twice and Tommy Goetzke and DeFeo were also denied by the freshman keeper.
Starting lineups
Timothy Christian
G Peter Buikema
D Ethan Munk
D Jake Alex
D Ethan Lemkuil
D Caleb Hoekstra
M Jake Firnsin
M Eddie Favela
M Cam Baker
M Cooper Rainone
F Carter Day
F Chris Cruz
St. Francis
G Simon Hartle
D Nick Madden
D Sam Wessel
D Justin Klein
D Cam Crawford
M Anthony Matz
M Brendan Yarusso
M Cooper Winslow
M Matthew Marsico
F Guy DeFeo
F Luc Swiatek
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match:
Cam Baker, jr. MF, Timothy
Scoring summary
First half
T: Lemkuil (Baker CK), 6th minute
T: Baker (unassisted), 10th minute
Second half
T: Own goal (Baker CK), 58th minute