Fenwick finds 2nd half
footing against Washington
Host Friars rebound from early deficit for 2-1 nonconference win
By Bobby Narang
RIVER FOREST — Fenwick’s Jack Powers felt he couldn't be satisfied with celebrating one of the biggest victories of the young season Tuesday.
Sure, the senior was pleased with his team’s stirring 2-1 comeback over Chicago Public League member Washington. The Friars (3-1-1) badly wanted a victory following a 1-1 tie against Andrew in the Windy City Classic consolation round Aug. 31.
Saddled with an ankle injury suffered in the final preseason practice, Powers sat out the first three games of the season before returning the pitch for limited action against Andrew.
Thus, after his teammates had all finished discussing their victory, Powers said he planned to add a new post-match routine to his schedule: a conditioning workout.
“I was out for those early games, so it’s been difficult,” Powers said. “I lost all my stamina and my touch is pretty shaky. I feel a little better, but I can definitely play better. I have to stay later after practice and get more conditioning.”
Powers helped the Friars turn a possible defeat into victory when he knocked in the winning goal in the 56th minute to cap a stunning second half revival. The midfielder drilled a hard-hit shot from 27 yards inside the near post for the eventual winning goal.
He said the team changed their mental outlook in the second half to overcome a sluggish effort in the opening 40 minutes. His first goal of the season was a memorable one with good timing.
“Our team is really young and small, so at halftime our coaches were emphasizing we need to win 50-50 balls more and be more aggressive,” Powers said. “On that (scoring) play I knew it was slippery, because it just stopped raining. I knew their center back didn’t have the best touch, so I knew it was going to bounce off him and anticipated it. I took the ball in and didn’t want to dribble too much and shot it earlier because it was wet."
Powers admitted he was happy to get in the scoring column to help atone for allowing Washington to get on the board in the first minute.
“We had to work as a team,” he said. “I needed to get a goal, because I gave up the first goal. We were taking it at them, passing better and I was skipping a guy and passed it back to our center back. But I didn’t see their striker, because he was behind the ref.”
Like most matches in Chicagoland on Tuesday, the Washington-Fenwick game was in peril because of an impending storm. But despite a steady stream of rain, the two teams kicked off just 25 minutes later than the originally rescheduled start time.
Forty-eight seconds into the match, Washington senior forward Angel Huerta added to the frustration of the growing home crowd with the shocking opener. The quick-strike goal caught the Friars by surprise, when senior defender Julian Martinez intercepted a pass at midfield and passed the ball to a racing Huerta.
“I read the pass back to their center back and the defender gave a sloppy pass, allowing me to read the ball,” Martinez said. “We were lucky to get an early goal.
“I was thinking this is going to be a (nice win). That’s what I was thinking. We just couldn’t put the ball back in the net again. They made their chances count. We couldn’t.”
Huerta scored his first goal of the season, knocking in the shot from 15 yards off the hands of Fenwick goalie Greg Price.
“When I received the ball, I turned on my defender and just rocketed it in,” Huerta said. “The first half we were dominating, kept getting shots off attacks. They were only attacking off counters. That’s how it went in the second half as well, but we gave them more counters. I think this team has potential, but we have to work hard.”
The Patriots (4-2-0), though, couldn’t build on their early momentum despite numerous shots on goal. The visitors won numerous 50/50 balls and were the aggressor, attacking Price throughout the first half.
The senior tallied two of his six first half saves in a 90-second span late in the half.
Fenwick was happy, in a way, to only trail 1-0 at halftime, especially after lacking energy and rarely attacking the ball for offensive chances according to Fenwick coach Craig Blazer.
“You got to give credit to Washington because they’re a very good team. and we have a lot or respect for them,” he said. “We started off slow, and they were hot. It’s very emotional and took some time for our guys to get back into it.
“I give our guys a lot of credit because they responded. Even in the first half, we defended well and had good goal keeping. We weren’t very good in the attacking half and nothing inside the 18.
“In the second half, we just wanted to be dangerous and get it behind, and we were more opportunistic. It was a good game.”
Price, who finished with nine saves, played stellar in the net. He was active and communicating with his backline, which stopped the Patriots from adding to their early lead.
“Greg is getting better and better,” Blazer said. “He had a big game. We’re starting a lot of young guys, but it’s fun working with these guys. It’s a learning curve, and we’re getting there."
Price said his club rebounded after the break from their sluggish start.
“Obviously, we didn’t start off on the best foot, especially the whole defense, and we knew we had to fix that,” Price said. “We played a great game, then. Our pressing was amazing and were able to funnel the team into positions and guard them correctly. Overall, I think we had an amazing comeback, and the win made it better.
“My defense gave them shots that I could easily save. I think we have a great team and can go far with some young players with a good core of seniors and juniors.
“I started in the spring. Second-year starter, no college yet -- I’m trying.”
With the second half serving as a fresh start, the Friars immediately took advantage by knocking in an equalizer in the opening minutes. Senior Will Jancewicz, a second-year starter, started the rally by connecting on a shot from 12 yards, placing the ball squarely between Washington goalie Andy Martinez’s legs in the 47th minute.
Jancewicz said he’s playing with more confident after starting in the spring season, which was evident on Fenwick’s first goal
“They had the ball, the center back just couldn’t control it,” said Jancewiez. “I was there to press the ball and stole it from him and got a 1-v-1 with the goalie.
“We definitely turned it around at halftime. Everybody was fired up. We came out hot in the second half. That goal really gave us some momentum. This is a great win, the best game we’ve played all year. We have to build off this and look to go further.”
Besides two saves by Price in the 72nd minute, the Patriots were a shell of the team that pushed the pace and played physical in the first half.
Washington coach Alvaro Perez said his team might get a chance for redemption at this weekend’s PepsiCo Showdown -- the two teams are in the same bracket.
The coach pointed out that his team was missing two key defenders — Cesar Martinez and Christian Ramirez — and that took a big toll.
“Once again, this was the mental side that wasn’t there in the second half for us,” Perez said. “They are on the down side right now. We scored right away, but half the boys are thinking of their brothers back home in quarantine, because half of the defensive line wasn’t here.
“This team could easily go for state or city. Winning city is tough, but then you have to be ready right after for state. I think it’s much tougher to win city than a sectional."
Starting lineups
Washington
GK Andy Gutierrez
D Brian Soto
D Leonardo Solis
D Julian Martinez
D Angelo Williams
M Christopher Gomez
M Angel Guzman
M Jose Espinoza
M Joshua Gomez
F Angel Huerta
F Sebastian Ramirez
Fenwick
GK Greg Price
D James Zimmer
D Ian MacKinnon
D Max Ballarin
D Ian Mullarkey
M Luigi Mollo
M Jake Brecknock
M Jack Powers
M Ian Martinello
F Frank Felice
F Ryan Bero
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Greg Price, sr., GK, Fenwick
Scoring summary
First half
Washington — Angel Huerta (Julian Martinez), 1st minute
Second half
Fenwick — Will Jancewicz (unassisted) 47th minute
Fenwick — Jack Powers (unassisted) 56th minute
footing against Washington
Host Friars rebound from early deficit for 2-1 nonconference win
By Bobby Narang
RIVER FOREST — Fenwick’s Jack Powers felt he couldn't be satisfied with celebrating one of the biggest victories of the young season Tuesday.
Sure, the senior was pleased with his team’s stirring 2-1 comeback over Chicago Public League member Washington. The Friars (3-1-1) badly wanted a victory following a 1-1 tie against Andrew in the Windy City Classic consolation round Aug. 31.
Saddled with an ankle injury suffered in the final preseason practice, Powers sat out the first three games of the season before returning the pitch for limited action against Andrew.
Thus, after his teammates had all finished discussing their victory, Powers said he planned to add a new post-match routine to his schedule: a conditioning workout.
“I was out for those early games, so it’s been difficult,” Powers said. “I lost all my stamina and my touch is pretty shaky. I feel a little better, but I can definitely play better. I have to stay later after practice and get more conditioning.”
Powers helped the Friars turn a possible defeat into victory when he knocked in the winning goal in the 56th minute to cap a stunning second half revival. The midfielder drilled a hard-hit shot from 27 yards inside the near post for the eventual winning goal.
He said the team changed their mental outlook in the second half to overcome a sluggish effort in the opening 40 minutes. His first goal of the season was a memorable one with good timing.
“Our team is really young and small, so at halftime our coaches were emphasizing we need to win 50-50 balls more and be more aggressive,” Powers said. “On that (scoring) play I knew it was slippery, because it just stopped raining. I knew their center back didn’t have the best touch, so I knew it was going to bounce off him and anticipated it. I took the ball in and didn’t want to dribble too much and shot it earlier because it was wet."
Powers admitted he was happy to get in the scoring column to help atone for allowing Washington to get on the board in the first minute.
“We had to work as a team,” he said. “I needed to get a goal, because I gave up the first goal. We were taking it at them, passing better and I was skipping a guy and passed it back to our center back. But I didn’t see their striker, because he was behind the ref.”
Like most matches in Chicagoland on Tuesday, the Washington-Fenwick game was in peril because of an impending storm. But despite a steady stream of rain, the two teams kicked off just 25 minutes later than the originally rescheduled start time.
Forty-eight seconds into the match, Washington senior forward Angel Huerta added to the frustration of the growing home crowd with the shocking opener. The quick-strike goal caught the Friars by surprise, when senior defender Julian Martinez intercepted a pass at midfield and passed the ball to a racing Huerta.
“I read the pass back to their center back and the defender gave a sloppy pass, allowing me to read the ball,” Martinez said. “We were lucky to get an early goal.
“I was thinking this is going to be a (nice win). That’s what I was thinking. We just couldn’t put the ball back in the net again. They made their chances count. We couldn’t.”
Huerta scored his first goal of the season, knocking in the shot from 15 yards off the hands of Fenwick goalie Greg Price.
“When I received the ball, I turned on my defender and just rocketed it in,” Huerta said. “The first half we were dominating, kept getting shots off attacks. They were only attacking off counters. That’s how it went in the second half as well, but we gave them more counters. I think this team has potential, but we have to work hard.”
The Patriots (4-2-0), though, couldn’t build on their early momentum despite numerous shots on goal. The visitors won numerous 50/50 balls and were the aggressor, attacking Price throughout the first half.
The senior tallied two of his six first half saves in a 90-second span late in the half.
Fenwick was happy, in a way, to only trail 1-0 at halftime, especially after lacking energy and rarely attacking the ball for offensive chances according to Fenwick coach Craig Blazer.
“You got to give credit to Washington because they’re a very good team. and we have a lot or respect for them,” he said. “We started off slow, and they were hot. It’s very emotional and took some time for our guys to get back into it.
“I give our guys a lot of credit because they responded. Even in the first half, we defended well and had good goal keeping. We weren’t very good in the attacking half and nothing inside the 18.
“In the second half, we just wanted to be dangerous and get it behind, and we were more opportunistic. It was a good game.”
Price, who finished with nine saves, played stellar in the net. He was active and communicating with his backline, which stopped the Patriots from adding to their early lead.
“Greg is getting better and better,” Blazer said. “He had a big game. We’re starting a lot of young guys, but it’s fun working with these guys. It’s a learning curve, and we’re getting there."
Price said his club rebounded after the break from their sluggish start.
“Obviously, we didn’t start off on the best foot, especially the whole defense, and we knew we had to fix that,” Price said. “We played a great game, then. Our pressing was amazing and were able to funnel the team into positions and guard them correctly. Overall, I think we had an amazing comeback, and the win made it better.
“My defense gave them shots that I could easily save. I think we have a great team and can go far with some young players with a good core of seniors and juniors.
“I started in the spring. Second-year starter, no college yet -- I’m trying.”
With the second half serving as a fresh start, the Friars immediately took advantage by knocking in an equalizer in the opening minutes. Senior Will Jancewicz, a second-year starter, started the rally by connecting on a shot from 12 yards, placing the ball squarely between Washington goalie Andy Martinez’s legs in the 47th minute.
Jancewicz said he’s playing with more confident after starting in the spring season, which was evident on Fenwick’s first goal
“They had the ball, the center back just couldn’t control it,” said Jancewiez. “I was there to press the ball and stole it from him and got a 1-v-1 with the goalie.
“We definitely turned it around at halftime. Everybody was fired up. We came out hot in the second half. That goal really gave us some momentum. This is a great win, the best game we’ve played all year. We have to build off this and look to go further.”
Besides two saves by Price in the 72nd minute, the Patriots were a shell of the team that pushed the pace and played physical in the first half.
Washington coach Alvaro Perez said his team might get a chance for redemption at this weekend’s PepsiCo Showdown -- the two teams are in the same bracket.
The coach pointed out that his team was missing two key defenders — Cesar Martinez and Christian Ramirez — and that took a big toll.
“Once again, this was the mental side that wasn’t there in the second half for us,” Perez said. “They are on the down side right now. We scored right away, but half the boys are thinking of their brothers back home in quarantine, because half of the defensive line wasn’t here.
“This team could easily go for state or city. Winning city is tough, but then you have to be ready right after for state. I think it’s much tougher to win city than a sectional."
Starting lineups
Washington
GK Andy Gutierrez
D Brian Soto
D Leonardo Solis
D Julian Martinez
D Angelo Williams
M Christopher Gomez
M Angel Guzman
M Jose Espinoza
M Joshua Gomez
F Angel Huerta
F Sebastian Ramirez
Fenwick
GK Greg Price
D James Zimmer
D Ian MacKinnon
D Max Ballarin
D Ian Mullarkey
M Luigi Mollo
M Jake Brecknock
M Jack Powers
M Ian Martinello
F Frank Felice
F Ryan Bero
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Greg Price, sr., GK, Fenwick
Scoring summary
First half
Washington — Angel Huerta (Julian Martinez), 1st minute
Second half
Fenwick — Will Jancewicz (unassisted) 47th minute
Fenwick — Jack Powers (unassisted) 56th minute