Grayslake Central, Alonso goal of Final 4 return continues against Wauconda
Rams senior midfielder strikes late for 1-0 victory
By Bill McLean
GRAYSLAKE — Much has been made of Grayslake Central losing senior forward Danik Marynevych and senior back Jose Chavez to season-ending injuries in a 4-1 loss at Round Lake last month.
And duly so, whenever it's reported. Both, after all, had played vital roles in the Rams’ 9-0-1 start, and the dynamic Marynevych earned Chicagoland Soccer all-state status last fall.
But it’s time to accentuate Grayslake Central’s season-extending penchant.
Coach Keith Andersson’s club won its third postseason match Wednesday night, edging Wauconda 1-0 in a Class AA Grayslake Central Sectional semifinal at William C. Eiserman Stadium.
“Our depth continues to come through for us,” said Andersson, whose 2021 edition finished fourth at the Class AA state tournament after capturing the program’s first supersectional and sectional titles. “Football teams sometimes lose starting quarterbacks; backups come in and capitalize on their opportunities. That’s what we’re seeing from our players since Danik and Jose went down.
“We showed pure grit tonight. Nice win.”
Top-seeded Grayslake Central (16-1-3) — ranked no. 13 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 poll — will face second-seeded Vernon Hills (13-7-2) in the sectional final at 3 p.m. Saturday after stretching its unbeaten streak to nine games since the setback to the Panthers on Sept. 22.
Vernon Hills, an honorable mention team in the Chicagoland Soccer poll, defeated third-seeded Crystal Lake South 2-1 in the second semifinal Wednesday night.
Grayslake Central and fourth-seeded Wauconda battled to a 0-0 Northern Lake County Conference draw in their regular-season meeting at Wauconda on Oct. 6. Central connected on a whopping 222 passes in 80 minutes, Andersson recalled before the kickoff Wednesday.
Wednesday night, neither club found the back of the net through the first 66 minutes in the sectional semifinal in pleasant, brisk conditions.
Grayslake Central senior midfielder and co-captain Alan Alonso then drew a foul just outside the top of the Bulldogs’ box. Junior mate Nick Molochnikov’s ensuing free kick deflected off the frame of Wauconda senior goalkeeper Christian Melchor.
The ever-alert Alonso pounced on the opportunity, beating Melchor (six saves) via a seven-yard rebound shot in the 67th minute. It was his 18th goal of the season, to go with 20-plus assists.
“He’s been lights-out for us,” Andersson said.
A couple of times, during the first half, a slew of standing Grayslake Central student fans in the bleachers barked “Uh-oh” when the ball was at Alonso’s feet during a rush.
For his dangerous talent and top-notch play, Alonso shared the Chicagoland Man of the Match honor with Wauconda junior center back Karsten Ternes, a 6-foot-4 force who boomed free kicks to kingdom come and used his head 314 times (ok, that’s a slight exaggeration) to either clear promising crosses or to win — by country miles — 50/50 balls.
“Karsten,” Wauconda fifth-year head coach Tim Miller said, “was the backbone of our team. He’s an all-stater in my mind, and he showed that tonight with how he played.”
The son of former Lake Zurich boys and girls soccer coach and Australian rules football player Pete Ternes, Karsten stopped at midfield during the postgame handshakes for a 1-v-1 conversation with Andersson.
Andersson embraced the Bulldog afterward.
“Such a super-classy kid,” Andersson said. “Such a strong player. He probably should wear a foam helmet, given the number of times he uses his head in matches.
“If he had to,” the coach continued, “Karsten could probably dribble with his head.”
The Wauconda (12-4-3) game plan Wednesday night mirrored the one Miller schemed in that regular-season stalemate: allow Grayslake Central to enjoy a massive possession advantage and seek to succeed off counterattacks.
“We frustrated them (in October) and continued to do that for most of tonight’s game,” said Miller, whose squad captured the program’s first regional championship in 20 years when it eliminated Saint Viator 1-0 Oct. 21 at Lake Forest on a first half goal by sophomore midfielder Freddy Barnshaw.
“Two teams, very familiar with each other, playing hard,” he added.
Winning keeper Uriel Garcia Perez didn't have much to say about his night. The junior needed only one save for the clean-sheet. Instead he talked about Alson, one of the team's four co-captains.
“He’s hardworking,” Perez began. “Never stops. Never takes a break.”
Footnotes
Alonso and teammates Mitchell Fein and Raymond Sereno combined for the night’s prettiest sequence on offense in the 55th minute. It didn’t result in a goal, but it certainly backed up the claim that soccer is the beautiful game. ... Grayslake Central defeated Wauconda 3-1 in the teams’ lone meeting last fall. … Vernon Hills coach Mike McCaulou, after his second-seeded Cougars downed Crystal Lake South’s third-seeded Gators in the second AA Grayslake Central Sectional semifinal Wednesday night: “Should be a great final (Saturday afternoon), the one seed versus the second seed.” … Rams keeper Perez, on the mates in front of him Wednesday night: “They kept attacking, with creativity, against a Wauconda team that liked to keep 10 behind the ball.” … Grayslake Central and Wauconda played scoreless soccer in their first 147 minutes on the same pitch this fall. … Wauconda coach Miller, on keeper Melchor. “He made a great save tonight; he did that all year for us. He’ll be missed.” … Wauconda played without starting junior midfielders Keegan Murphy and Francisco Cabral vs. Grayslake Central because of injury or illness, Miller said. … Perez, looking ahead to Saturday’s sectional final: “We want to defend our home turf as much as possible.”
Starting lineups
Wauconda
GK Christian Melchor
D Juan Duron
D Eddie Gonzalez
D Karsten Ternes
D Mario Torres
MF Eddie Cirillo
MF Freddy Barnshaw
MF Julian Salas
F Luka Gmitrovic
F Jacob Kotapka
F Jacob Hernandez
Grayslake Central
GK Uriel Garcia-Perez
D Anderson Chevier
D Eric Garcia-Perez
D Lucas Veenstra
D Damian Sereno
MF Ivan Sereno
MF Alan Alonso
MF Mitchell Fein
MF Nick Molochnikov
F Raymond Sereno
F Brendan Kirkner
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match:
Alan Alonso, sr., MF, Grayslake Central;
Karsten Ternes, jr., D, Wauconda
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Grayslake Central — Alonso (Molochnikov), 67’
Rams senior midfielder strikes late for 1-0 victory
By Bill McLean
GRAYSLAKE — Much has been made of Grayslake Central losing senior forward Danik Marynevych and senior back Jose Chavez to season-ending injuries in a 4-1 loss at Round Lake last month.
And duly so, whenever it's reported. Both, after all, had played vital roles in the Rams’ 9-0-1 start, and the dynamic Marynevych earned Chicagoland Soccer all-state status last fall.
But it’s time to accentuate Grayslake Central’s season-extending penchant.
Coach Keith Andersson’s club won its third postseason match Wednesday night, edging Wauconda 1-0 in a Class AA Grayslake Central Sectional semifinal at William C. Eiserman Stadium.
“Our depth continues to come through for us,” said Andersson, whose 2021 edition finished fourth at the Class AA state tournament after capturing the program’s first supersectional and sectional titles. “Football teams sometimes lose starting quarterbacks; backups come in and capitalize on their opportunities. That’s what we’re seeing from our players since Danik and Jose went down.
“We showed pure grit tonight. Nice win.”
Top-seeded Grayslake Central (16-1-3) — ranked no. 13 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 poll — will face second-seeded Vernon Hills (13-7-2) in the sectional final at 3 p.m. Saturday after stretching its unbeaten streak to nine games since the setback to the Panthers on Sept. 22.
Vernon Hills, an honorable mention team in the Chicagoland Soccer poll, defeated third-seeded Crystal Lake South 2-1 in the second semifinal Wednesday night.
Grayslake Central and fourth-seeded Wauconda battled to a 0-0 Northern Lake County Conference draw in their regular-season meeting at Wauconda on Oct. 6. Central connected on a whopping 222 passes in 80 minutes, Andersson recalled before the kickoff Wednesday.
Wednesday night, neither club found the back of the net through the first 66 minutes in the sectional semifinal in pleasant, brisk conditions.
Grayslake Central senior midfielder and co-captain Alan Alonso then drew a foul just outside the top of the Bulldogs’ box. Junior mate Nick Molochnikov’s ensuing free kick deflected off the frame of Wauconda senior goalkeeper Christian Melchor.
The ever-alert Alonso pounced on the opportunity, beating Melchor (six saves) via a seven-yard rebound shot in the 67th minute. It was his 18th goal of the season, to go with 20-plus assists.
“He’s been lights-out for us,” Andersson said.
A couple of times, during the first half, a slew of standing Grayslake Central student fans in the bleachers barked “Uh-oh” when the ball was at Alonso’s feet during a rush.
For his dangerous talent and top-notch play, Alonso shared the Chicagoland Man of the Match honor with Wauconda junior center back Karsten Ternes, a 6-foot-4 force who boomed free kicks to kingdom come and used his head 314 times (ok, that’s a slight exaggeration) to either clear promising crosses or to win — by country miles — 50/50 balls.
“Karsten,” Wauconda fifth-year head coach Tim Miller said, “was the backbone of our team. He’s an all-stater in my mind, and he showed that tonight with how he played.”
The son of former Lake Zurich boys and girls soccer coach and Australian rules football player Pete Ternes, Karsten stopped at midfield during the postgame handshakes for a 1-v-1 conversation with Andersson.
Andersson embraced the Bulldog afterward.
“Such a super-classy kid,” Andersson said. “Such a strong player. He probably should wear a foam helmet, given the number of times he uses his head in matches.
“If he had to,” the coach continued, “Karsten could probably dribble with his head.”
The Wauconda (12-4-3) game plan Wednesday night mirrored the one Miller schemed in that regular-season stalemate: allow Grayslake Central to enjoy a massive possession advantage and seek to succeed off counterattacks.
“We frustrated them (in October) and continued to do that for most of tonight’s game,” said Miller, whose squad captured the program’s first regional championship in 20 years when it eliminated Saint Viator 1-0 Oct. 21 at Lake Forest on a first half goal by sophomore midfielder Freddy Barnshaw.
“Two teams, very familiar with each other, playing hard,” he added.
Winning keeper Uriel Garcia Perez didn't have much to say about his night. The junior needed only one save for the clean-sheet. Instead he talked about Alson, one of the team's four co-captains.
“He’s hardworking,” Perez began. “Never stops. Never takes a break.”
Footnotes
Alonso and teammates Mitchell Fein and Raymond Sereno combined for the night’s prettiest sequence on offense in the 55th minute. It didn’t result in a goal, but it certainly backed up the claim that soccer is the beautiful game. ... Grayslake Central defeated Wauconda 3-1 in the teams’ lone meeting last fall. … Vernon Hills coach Mike McCaulou, after his second-seeded Cougars downed Crystal Lake South’s third-seeded Gators in the second AA Grayslake Central Sectional semifinal Wednesday night: “Should be a great final (Saturday afternoon), the one seed versus the second seed.” … Rams keeper Perez, on the mates in front of him Wednesday night: “They kept attacking, with creativity, against a Wauconda team that liked to keep 10 behind the ball.” … Grayslake Central and Wauconda played scoreless soccer in their first 147 minutes on the same pitch this fall. … Wauconda coach Miller, on keeper Melchor. “He made a great save tonight; he did that all year for us. He’ll be missed.” … Wauconda played without starting junior midfielders Keegan Murphy and Francisco Cabral vs. Grayslake Central because of injury or illness, Miller said. … Perez, looking ahead to Saturday’s sectional final: “We want to defend our home turf as much as possible.”
Starting lineups
Wauconda
GK Christian Melchor
D Juan Duron
D Eddie Gonzalez
D Karsten Ternes
D Mario Torres
MF Eddie Cirillo
MF Freddy Barnshaw
MF Julian Salas
F Luka Gmitrovic
F Jacob Kotapka
F Jacob Hernandez
Grayslake Central
GK Uriel Garcia-Perez
D Anderson Chevier
D Eric Garcia-Perez
D Lucas Veenstra
D Damian Sereno
MF Ivan Sereno
MF Alan Alonso
MF Mitchell Fein
MF Nick Molochnikov
F Raymond Sereno
F Brendan Kirkner
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match:
Alan Alonso, sr., MF, Grayslake Central;
Karsten Ternes, jr., D, Wauconda
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Grayslake Central — Alonso (Molochnikov), 67’