Kilgallon family sparks Wheaton A. win
Warriors remain unblemished after 2-0 victory over Timothy
By Dave Owen
WEST CHICAGO -- Oh brother, is Wheaton Academy on a roll.
The Warriors (7-0-0) continued their season of defensive mastery Thursday, producing their sixth shutout in a row with a 2-0 win over visiting Class A power Timothy (5-2-1) in the two teams’ Metro Suburban Conference opener.
And at the offensive end, it was the efforts of siblings Jack and Seamus Kilgallon that stole the show.
Seamus’ breakaway goal off a give-and-go with Jack in the 10th minute of play put Wheaton Academy up 1-0. Then after enduring a sustained threat to tie by Timothy in a tense second half, Jack Killgallon’s goal off an incredible individual effort with 3:56 left (dribbling through and around three defenders and driving home a 15-yard shot) sealed the Warriors’ latest victory.
“My coach (Jeff Brooke) did a tactical change moving me out to right wing,” Jack said. “I just saw space in the middle, hesitated a little bit, saw the goal and put it in the corner. I was a little frustrated with my finishing today, but I was glad I could put that one away for our team.”
The Kilgallon brothers’ combined effort on the early goal was equally impressive. A Seamus pass to Jack on a two-man rush, then a nice touch pass to Seamus between defenders for an 8-yard breakaway finish for his seventh goal of 2018.
“The first goal was the kind of stuff we pulled out from the backyard,” Seamus joked. “Me and him have some good chem. I like to look for his feet when I get the ball, because he knows when to turn and play me for runs. And honestly I connect with him better than anyone else on the pitch.
“Having a striker like my brother is great – winning balls out of the air, plays to feet, and is always active. The kid never switches off. I feel our key to success is him. He has 11 or 12 assists, something crazy (to go with four goals). Almost every goal we have is something he created.”
Brothers think and play alike.
“Me and Seamus have a lot of chem on the field,” Jack said, “and ever since I’ve moved up to striker we’ve liked to play that give-and-go. People like to watch the ball -- we’ve noticed that. We can move off the ball. Seamus makes amazing runs, and I try to get him the ball where it counts.”
While the brother act has led the Warriors, it hasn’t been a two-man show either offensively or overall.
“I feel a lot of good team chemistry this year,” Seamus said. “And Owen Setran has been a big part. They (our forwards) know how to work and put the ball in the net, and put it in dangerous areas. They don’t like to lolly gag in the final third. We miss a few, but we’re not going to dilly-dally around.”
The Warriors’ coach didn’t dilly-dally either when asked about the Kilgallons.
“Seamus and Jack -- it’s like they’re sharing the same brain,” Brooke said. “They do an awesome job in terms of team chemistry, working off each other with a lot of one-and-two-touch combination play. It’s just fun to coach guys like that. They’ve been awesome culture builders in our program.
“I thought Seamus created a lot tonight. That gave us good chances. We were really knocking on the door.”
But after the give-and-go goal put Wheaton Academy up 1-0, finishes proved elusive for the next 66 minutes.
The next big Warriors chance came in the 21st minute. Setran nicely won a loose ball just outside the top of the box, and lined a quick 23-yard liner that was denied on a high catch by Timothy goalkeeper Kyle Teune.
Then in the 25th minute, Seamus’ nice pass over the defense hit Allen Rodriguez, whose cross to Jack resulted in a tough angle 6-yard shot right of the net over frame.
A punt by goalkeeper R.J. Simmons in the 38th minute was the last salvo of the half by the explosive Warriors offense. His long boot reached Logan Finnegan, and a subsequent Soren Winquist-Bailey pass to Nikko Camiola set up a 22-yard shot saved by Teune.
While the Wheaton Academy offense ruled the first half, the Warriors’ excellent defense would play a big role after the break.
In a rematch of last year’s Class AA sectional finals (a 3-0 Warriors win), Timothy followed a bend-but-seldom break first half with an offensive resurgence in the final 40 minutes.
“We were definitely prepared,” Timothy coach Joel Zielke said. “We knew we could play with this group.
“Two things we really focused on tonight were confidence and composure. I think we were rattled a little bit in the first 10 to 12 minutes, but once they scored I thought we settled down into our game a little bit. We started to possess the ball and do things we do well as a group after that.”
“They (the Warriors) are a good side. I’m really proud of our guys that we fought hard tonight.”
The two quality sides have mutual respect.
“It was 3-0 (at sectionals last year), but they fought just as hard,” Warriors senior defender Eli Lebo said. “They fight hard, and no matter the score it’s always a tough game. We always know they’re coming out for us. In our conference there’s a couple big teams, and Timothy is one. It’s always a battle between us.”
The battle quickly intensified in the second half Thursday, starting with two good defensive plays in quick succession by Timothy’s Andrew Petrulakis to deny chances for Jack Kilgallon and Daniel Rychenkov at the top of the box 45 seconds into the half.
But after a near-miss by the Warriors with 33:20 to go off a well-executed free kick (a Finnegan 50-yard send headed just wide by Jack Kilgallon), Timothy upped its offensive attacks.
A Brian Henry clear of the crease on a Timothy throw-in with 32:10 left began a 10-minute stretch of back-and-forth scoring bids.
With 29:15 left, Setran’s 1-v.-1 rush ended with a Teune low save. Four minutes later, a Timothy corner kick was denied by a Henry blocked shot in-front and a Seamus Kilgallon clear of the loose ball. Then with 22:15 to play, a nice passing combination by three Warriors (Seamus Kilgallon, Chris Eklund and Rodriguez) set up a Jack Kilgallon 10-yard liner just wide of the right post.
Tested often by the Warriors’ offense, Timothy continued to limit the damage.
“I thought Isaiah Whitaker played well for us at central midfielder,” Zielke said. “Mike Vogt at right back does a nice job, and our two center backs Andrew Vogt and Matt Van Zeelt really shined for us. We defended well. We were under pressure a lot, and we responded.”
The Trojans offense would next respond.
With 17:10 to play, Whitaker nearly created a tying goal out of nowhere. Lining a 35-yard one-timer from the right sideline, Whitaker’s well-struck liner rattled off the crossbar before going over the net.
More pressure came with 12 minutes left. Off a Timothy throw-in from five yards, a Lebo header out of danger and a Finnegan shot block were part of the Warriors’ defensive stand. Then 30 seconds later, Lebo blocked a Jonathan Stremler shot to help repel a two-man Trojans rush.
“I think Eli Lebo in the back is doing a really good job,” Brooke said. “He’s keeping us under control, he’s possessing the ball out of the back and tackling well. And Seamus in the middle is always a dangerous threat for us. Those two guys jump right off the page for me.”
One number jumps out about the Warriors defense -- one goal allowed. It came on a penalty kick in a 3-1 season-opening win over Batavia.
“I think it’s just been really good communication,” Lebo said of the defensive secret to success. “I know me and the center back (Henry) always have each others’ back.
“Then that communication with the six right in front of us, and we have it rotating throughout the game. But we always know we’re communicating with them. And especially in the midfield when we have two on the strong side, we need that balance from a third midfielder. That helps us switch and slow down the play. I think that really helps us shut down their game.”
The Wheaton Academy offense would soon clinch Thursday’s game, but not before a wild near miss and more Timothy pressure.
The near miss came with 10:35 to play.
Timothy goalkeeper Teune came off his line to try to clear a send towards the box, but his clear try was blocked by Wheaton Academy’s Nick Camiola back towards the open net. But prolonging the 1-0 drama, the bouncing ball veered inches wide of the left post.
Wheaton Academy’s defense had to endure one more test – with 8:10 left, a Timothy corner kick ended with a Seamus Kilgallon header for a partial clear, then a Petrulakis 35-yard rebound try caught on one hop by Simmons.
The night then ended as it began with the Kilgallon Show.
After Seamus was denied by a Teune block save at the post on a 10-yard shot with 5:20 left, Jack was not to be denied with 3:56 to play.
Dribbling across the field from right to left and leaving defenders in his wake, Jack capped a great run by a 15-yard drive into the net for the elusive capper to the 2-0 win.
“They (Timothy) came out ready to play, but we closed the door on them,” Seamus said. “In the middle (of the game) there it felt like maybe (they could tie it), but that last goal by Jack was big.
“Playing good matches is always a good test, to see where you’re at and what you need to work on. Timothy has a good side this year, and my buddy Isaiah Whitaker -- I like playing against him.”
But despite the Trojans’ increased second half pressure, it was another strong night for the Warrior defense.
“I didn’t think they’d score on us,” Seamus said. “Most of their chances were volleys outside the 18. They didn’t work us much inside the box. But they played a good game.”
Jack Kilgallon’s highlight film rush and finish bookended a Warriors night that featured a great start, an ensuing tight battle, and a dramatic clincher.
“I thought we had a lot of the ball – the guys did a nice job with possession,” Brooke said. “I thought we were calm, and I thought Timothy did a great job of being organized, with high energy and looking to come out with a road win.
“I was proud of the guys for weathering that and keeping the game in our style, and finding the goal in the first half. And Jack’s goal in the second half. I felt really good about (the match).”
While the result was good, Jack Kilgallon saw some room for improvement.
“We’re undefeated which is good, but there’s always room to grow,” he said. “And especially in a game like this, we have to make sure we have composure in the first half, and we can’t have strings of time with lower energy. We need to stay in constant energy the entire game.”
Looking forward from Thursday’s match, Brooke has high hopes for both sides.
“I thought Timothy did a nice job tonight,” he said. “I applaud them. I think they’ll have a great season and make a run at the A state title.
“Now we’ll run into the Pepsi (Showdown tournament starting Saturday) and hopefully show up.
“I feel really good,” Brooke added. “We’re at 7-0-0, and we’ve only given up one goal. That shows a level of toughness, structure and organization. And I think we’ve had some good goalkeeping.”
The Warriors are thirsty for even bigger victories.
“Our next big step is the Pepsi, and that’s some really big schools,” Lebo said. “It’s going to be a fun challenge to go into that and play with some of the top-tier schools. That’ll be cool.”
Starting lineups
Timothy
GK Kyle Teune
D Michael Vogt
D Matt Van Zeelt
D Andrew Petrulakis
D Andrew Vogt
M Zach Orange
M Jonathan Stremler
M Isaiah Whitaker
M Connor Teune
M Ben Rowell
F Josh Wise
Wheaton Academy
GK R.J. Simmons
D Jon Austriaco
D Eli Lebo
D Brian Henry
D John Liechty
M Seamus Kilgallon
M Chris Eklund
M Logan Finnegan
M Daniel Rychenkov
F Owen Setran
F Jack Kilgallon
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Jack Kilgallon, sr. F, Wheaton Academy
Scoring summary
First half
WA – Seamus Kilgallon (Jack Kilgallon assist), 10th minute
Second half
WA – Jack Kilgallon (unassisted), 77th minute
Warriors remain unblemished after 2-0 victory over Timothy
By Dave Owen
WEST CHICAGO -- Oh brother, is Wheaton Academy on a roll.
The Warriors (7-0-0) continued their season of defensive mastery Thursday, producing their sixth shutout in a row with a 2-0 win over visiting Class A power Timothy (5-2-1) in the two teams’ Metro Suburban Conference opener.
And at the offensive end, it was the efforts of siblings Jack and Seamus Kilgallon that stole the show.
Seamus’ breakaway goal off a give-and-go with Jack in the 10th minute of play put Wheaton Academy up 1-0. Then after enduring a sustained threat to tie by Timothy in a tense second half, Jack Killgallon’s goal off an incredible individual effort with 3:56 left (dribbling through and around three defenders and driving home a 15-yard shot) sealed the Warriors’ latest victory.
“My coach (Jeff Brooke) did a tactical change moving me out to right wing,” Jack said. “I just saw space in the middle, hesitated a little bit, saw the goal and put it in the corner. I was a little frustrated with my finishing today, but I was glad I could put that one away for our team.”
The Kilgallon brothers’ combined effort on the early goal was equally impressive. A Seamus pass to Jack on a two-man rush, then a nice touch pass to Seamus between defenders for an 8-yard breakaway finish for his seventh goal of 2018.
“The first goal was the kind of stuff we pulled out from the backyard,” Seamus joked. “Me and him have some good chem. I like to look for his feet when I get the ball, because he knows when to turn and play me for runs. And honestly I connect with him better than anyone else on the pitch.
“Having a striker like my brother is great – winning balls out of the air, plays to feet, and is always active. The kid never switches off. I feel our key to success is him. He has 11 or 12 assists, something crazy (to go with four goals). Almost every goal we have is something he created.”
Brothers think and play alike.
“Me and Seamus have a lot of chem on the field,” Jack said, “and ever since I’ve moved up to striker we’ve liked to play that give-and-go. People like to watch the ball -- we’ve noticed that. We can move off the ball. Seamus makes amazing runs, and I try to get him the ball where it counts.”
While the brother act has led the Warriors, it hasn’t been a two-man show either offensively or overall.
“I feel a lot of good team chemistry this year,” Seamus said. “And Owen Setran has been a big part. They (our forwards) know how to work and put the ball in the net, and put it in dangerous areas. They don’t like to lolly gag in the final third. We miss a few, but we’re not going to dilly-dally around.”
The Warriors’ coach didn’t dilly-dally either when asked about the Kilgallons.
“Seamus and Jack -- it’s like they’re sharing the same brain,” Brooke said. “They do an awesome job in terms of team chemistry, working off each other with a lot of one-and-two-touch combination play. It’s just fun to coach guys like that. They’ve been awesome culture builders in our program.
“I thought Seamus created a lot tonight. That gave us good chances. We were really knocking on the door.”
But after the give-and-go goal put Wheaton Academy up 1-0, finishes proved elusive for the next 66 minutes.
The next big Warriors chance came in the 21st minute. Setran nicely won a loose ball just outside the top of the box, and lined a quick 23-yard liner that was denied on a high catch by Timothy goalkeeper Kyle Teune.
Then in the 25th minute, Seamus’ nice pass over the defense hit Allen Rodriguez, whose cross to Jack resulted in a tough angle 6-yard shot right of the net over frame.
A punt by goalkeeper R.J. Simmons in the 38th minute was the last salvo of the half by the explosive Warriors offense. His long boot reached Logan Finnegan, and a subsequent Soren Winquist-Bailey pass to Nikko Camiola set up a 22-yard shot saved by Teune.
While the Wheaton Academy offense ruled the first half, the Warriors’ excellent defense would play a big role after the break.
In a rematch of last year’s Class AA sectional finals (a 3-0 Warriors win), Timothy followed a bend-but-seldom break first half with an offensive resurgence in the final 40 minutes.
“We were definitely prepared,” Timothy coach Joel Zielke said. “We knew we could play with this group.
“Two things we really focused on tonight were confidence and composure. I think we were rattled a little bit in the first 10 to 12 minutes, but once they scored I thought we settled down into our game a little bit. We started to possess the ball and do things we do well as a group after that.”
“They (the Warriors) are a good side. I’m really proud of our guys that we fought hard tonight.”
The two quality sides have mutual respect.
“It was 3-0 (at sectionals last year), but they fought just as hard,” Warriors senior defender Eli Lebo said. “They fight hard, and no matter the score it’s always a tough game. We always know they’re coming out for us. In our conference there’s a couple big teams, and Timothy is one. It’s always a battle between us.”
The battle quickly intensified in the second half Thursday, starting with two good defensive plays in quick succession by Timothy’s Andrew Petrulakis to deny chances for Jack Kilgallon and Daniel Rychenkov at the top of the box 45 seconds into the half.
But after a near-miss by the Warriors with 33:20 to go off a well-executed free kick (a Finnegan 50-yard send headed just wide by Jack Kilgallon), Timothy upped its offensive attacks.
A Brian Henry clear of the crease on a Timothy throw-in with 32:10 left began a 10-minute stretch of back-and-forth scoring bids.
With 29:15 left, Setran’s 1-v.-1 rush ended with a Teune low save. Four minutes later, a Timothy corner kick was denied by a Henry blocked shot in-front and a Seamus Kilgallon clear of the loose ball. Then with 22:15 to play, a nice passing combination by three Warriors (Seamus Kilgallon, Chris Eklund and Rodriguez) set up a Jack Kilgallon 10-yard liner just wide of the right post.
Tested often by the Warriors’ offense, Timothy continued to limit the damage.
“I thought Isaiah Whitaker played well for us at central midfielder,” Zielke said. “Mike Vogt at right back does a nice job, and our two center backs Andrew Vogt and Matt Van Zeelt really shined for us. We defended well. We were under pressure a lot, and we responded.”
The Trojans offense would next respond.
With 17:10 to play, Whitaker nearly created a tying goal out of nowhere. Lining a 35-yard one-timer from the right sideline, Whitaker’s well-struck liner rattled off the crossbar before going over the net.
More pressure came with 12 minutes left. Off a Timothy throw-in from five yards, a Lebo header out of danger and a Finnegan shot block were part of the Warriors’ defensive stand. Then 30 seconds later, Lebo blocked a Jonathan Stremler shot to help repel a two-man Trojans rush.
“I think Eli Lebo in the back is doing a really good job,” Brooke said. “He’s keeping us under control, he’s possessing the ball out of the back and tackling well. And Seamus in the middle is always a dangerous threat for us. Those two guys jump right off the page for me.”
One number jumps out about the Warriors defense -- one goal allowed. It came on a penalty kick in a 3-1 season-opening win over Batavia.
“I think it’s just been really good communication,” Lebo said of the defensive secret to success. “I know me and the center back (Henry) always have each others’ back.
“Then that communication with the six right in front of us, and we have it rotating throughout the game. But we always know we’re communicating with them. And especially in the midfield when we have two on the strong side, we need that balance from a third midfielder. That helps us switch and slow down the play. I think that really helps us shut down their game.”
The Wheaton Academy offense would soon clinch Thursday’s game, but not before a wild near miss and more Timothy pressure.
The near miss came with 10:35 to play.
Timothy goalkeeper Teune came off his line to try to clear a send towards the box, but his clear try was blocked by Wheaton Academy’s Nick Camiola back towards the open net. But prolonging the 1-0 drama, the bouncing ball veered inches wide of the left post.
Wheaton Academy’s defense had to endure one more test – with 8:10 left, a Timothy corner kick ended with a Seamus Kilgallon header for a partial clear, then a Petrulakis 35-yard rebound try caught on one hop by Simmons.
The night then ended as it began with the Kilgallon Show.
After Seamus was denied by a Teune block save at the post on a 10-yard shot with 5:20 left, Jack was not to be denied with 3:56 to play.
Dribbling across the field from right to left and leaving defenders in his wake, Jack capped a great run by a 15-yard drive into the net for the elusive capper to the 2-0 win.
“They (Timothy) came out ready to play, but we closed the door on them,” Seamus said. “In the middle (of the game) there it felt like maybe (they could tie it), but that last goal by Jack was big.
“Playing good matches is always a good test, to see where you’re at and what you need to work on. Timothy has a good side this year, and my buddy Isaiah Whitaker -- I like playing against him.”
But despite the Trojans’ increased second half pressure, it was another strong night for the Warrior defense.
“I didn’t think they’d score on us,” Seamus said. “Most of their chances were volleys outside the 18. They didn’t work us much inside the box. But they played a good game.”
Jack Kilgallon’s highlight film rush and finish bookended a Warriors night that featured a great start, an ensuing tight battle, and a dramatic clincher.
“I thought we had a lot of the ball – the guys did a nice job with possession,” Brooke said. “I thought we were calm, and I thought Timothy did a great job of being organized, with high energy and looking to come out with a road win.
“I was proud of the guys for weathering that and keeping the game in our style, and finding the goal in the first half. And Jack’s goal in the second half. I felt really good about (the match).”
While the result was good, Jack Kilgallon saw some room for improvement.
“We’re undefeated which is good, but there’s always room to grow,” he said. “And especially in a game like this, we have to make sure we have composure in the first half, and we can’t have strings of time with lower energy. We need to stay in constant energy the entire game.”
Looking forward from Thursday’s match, Brooke has high hopes for both sides.
“I thought Timothy did a nice job tonight,” he said. “I applaud them. I think they’ll have a great season and make a run at the A state title.
“Now we’ll run into the Pepsi (Showdown tournament starting Saturday) and hopefully show up.
“I feel really good,” Brooke added. “We’re at 7-0-0, and we’ve only given up one goal. That shows a level of toughness, structure and organization. And I think we’ve had some good goalkeeping.”
The Warriors are thirsty for even bigger victories.
“Our next big step is the Pepsi, and that’s some really big schools,” Lebo said. “It’s going to be a fun challenge to go into that and play with some of the top-tier schools. That’ll be cool.”
Starting lineups
Timothy
GK Kyle Teune
D Michael Vogt
D Matt Van Zeelt
D Andrew Petrulakis
D Andrew Vogt
M Zach Orange
M Jonathan Stremler
M Isaiah Whitaker
M Connor Teune
M Ben Rowell
F Josh Wise
Wheaton Academy
GK R.J. Simmons
D Jon Austriaco
D Eli Lebo
D Brian Henry
D John Liechty
M Seamus Kilgallon
M Chris Eklund
M Logan Finnegan
M Daniel Rychenkov
F Owen Setran
F Jack Kilgallon
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Jack Kilgallon, sr. F, Wheaton Academy
Scoring summary
First half
WA – Seamus Kilgallon (Jack Kilgallon assist), 10th minute
Second half
WA – Jack Kilgallon (unassisted), 77th minute