Defenses dig in, Lake Park,
West Chicago play to scoreless draw
Coaches praise their back thirds in nonconference match
By Jared Birchfield
ROSELLE– With both teams looking for their second win of the season, Lake Park and West Chicago took breaks from conference play Monday night to square off against each other at Lake Park’s West Campus.
Neither squad was able to increase the win column number as the defensive battle ended in scoreless tie. But both coaches took the glass half-full view and were pleased with blanking the opposition.
Clean play and only one corner kick limited both teams in set play opportunities, and both backlines were effective in shutting down attacks.
“We're pretty good on the back. This is our first shutout of the year,” West Chicago coach J. Cesar Gomez said. “Our goalie (Ariana Hernandez) did not touch the ball in the second half. I think those are the kind of things you have to celebrate.”
An improved technique by the West Chicago back four was a major factor.
“Something we've been working on a lot is recovering and covering. I think we did that really well today,” said senior defender Luciana Balzer. “Knowing when to step and when to cover. “
Lake Park coach Sean Crosby also lauded his defensive side.
“Defensively our center backs, our goalkeeper and our outside backs have been in a lot of games, the strength of our team. So for them to get a shutout and post a zero is huge,” Crosby said. “We're happy with the shutout. There's not much more you can do as a defensive team than keep a zero for the game.”
It was the second clean-sheet of the season for the Lancers.
Lake Park (1-7-2) also challenged in the midfield.
“They are a good team. They were good passing the ball side to side. They were physical in trying to get the ball,” said Wildcat sophomore midfield Daisy Garcia.
West Chicago (1-2-3) kept a close eye on Lancer midfielder, AnnMarie Ahrens.
“Number 11 (Ahrens) was the one who was getting through and getting around us, so she was someone we were looking out for,” Balzer said.
One of the best scoring opportunities Lake Park had was Ahrens’ corner kick early in the match. Her boot was headed away from the goal by West Chicago’s defense.
Teammate Nola White also threatened to break through with 5:40 left in the first half. The junior dribblef up the far sideline and into the penalty box. But the Wildcats’ defense stepped up and prevented a shot.
Crosby is a fan of his defensive lot.
“Our four defenders, Peyton (Sarubbi), Gianna (Kubica), Fran (Cali) and Lauren (Malone) and our goalkeeper Emma (Thorne) deserve a lot of credit for not only this game but for lot of games that we've played in,” he said. “They were under a lot of pressure and have to organize things defensively, keep their shape, clear out anything that’s dangerous and cover each other. I think they did that really well.”
Gomez felt his team’s eagerness to score led to ill-timed shots on goal.
“We possessed the ball well,” he said. “I always emphasize being on the attack and being effective. We weren't effective on the goal today. We created some opportunities. We hit the cross bar a couple of times trying to score.
“We're a little impatient. We come into the third part of it and instead of keeping the ball, right away, we just got to give it away.
“We were breaking down somewhere in the middle. We were too excited to go up and we didn’t stay disciplined,” continued Gomez. “We played against a team that was very disciplined. They move every way very well together, and we couldn't break through in the last third.”
If Crosby found a genie in a bottle, he knows what his first ask would be.
“I wish we gave ourselves a few more dangerous chances,” said the Lake Park coach. “I think our patience was a blessing and a curse, because we were patient with the ball at the foot and almost sometimes taking too much time.”
“If we are patient moving the ball, and we're passing and passing and passing and patient on getting it forward that's a good thing,” he continued. “But, when we are patient in decision-making, we are either holding on too long or just being OK possessing and not trying to go forward which led us to passive play.”
Two West Chicago players left Lake Park’s stadium with an addition to their uniforms. Garcia and defender Joana Velazquez boarded the bus with cat-woman capes draped over their shoulders. The superhero garb is presented to the most outstanding Wildcats players after each game.
It is a tradition Gomez started when he coached at Wheaton College and decided to continue it at West Chicago, the Wildcats coach said.
“I put it on the people who I think are best ones who bring the team together,” he explained.
Velazquez, who was sidelined earlier with an injury, earned the honor for her defensive play.
“She was concussed and couldn't play,” said Gomez. “Now, she's finally been able to compete, and she played exactly the way we thought she would.”
The West Chicago coach honored Garcia, for her play and development as a leader on the pitch.
“She's the one who created a lot of stuff today,” said Gomez. “She’s also doing what we tell her. She's very vocal on the field now. She was not vocal before, so she's learning.
“She attacked a lot of people today on the defensive side and soon other teams are going to know her number and more people will be in her vicinity.”.
Garcia took several shots on goal that either went wide or were stopped by Thorne.
The sophomore’s defensive and offensive play also earned her a share of the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor. Lake Park’s portion of the award is split between Lake Park’s Kubica and Malone.
“They’ve been standout players for us and very much the strength of our team,” Crosby said. “They deserve a lot of credit not just for today, but also for a lot of recent matches in holding down the back and playing really simple passing as defenders and moving the ball. It has been tremendous for us.”
Lake Park returns to DuKane Conference play tonight (Tuesday) when it hosts Batavia.
West Chicago travels to Bartlett on Wednesday for an Upstate Eight match with the Hawks.
Starting lineups
West Chicago
GK: Arian Hernandez
D: Luciana Balzer
D: Jenny Espinal
D: Joana Velazquez
D: Irene Dino
M: Emily Ayala
M: Isabella Lopez
M: Daisy Garcia
M: Ruby Lebo
F: Jenna Zeitoun
F: Heidi Pereckas
Lake Park
GK: Emma Thorne
D: Peyton Sarubbi
D: Gianna Kubica
D: Fran Cali
D: Lauren Malone
M: Cecilia Defino
M: AnnMarie Ahrens
M: Anna Odisho
F: Janice Hernandez-Bustos
F: Alexis Morgan
F: Patty Lachowiez
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match: Daisy Garcia, so., MF, West Chicago;
Gianna Kubica, so., D, Lake Park; Lauren Malone, so., D, Lake Park
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
No scoring
West Chicago play to scoreless draw
Coaches praise their back thirds in nonconference match
By Jared Birchfield
ROSELLE– With both teams looking for their second win of the season, Lake Park and West Chicago took breaks from conference play Monday night to square off against each other at Lake Park’s West Campus.
Neither squad was able to increase the win column number as the defensive battle ended in scoreless tie. But both coaches took the glass half-full view and were pleased with blanking the opposition.
Clean play and only one corner kick limited both teams in set play opportunities, and both backlines were effective in shutting down attacks.
“We're pretty good on the back. This is our first shutout of the year,” West Chicago coach J. Cesar Gomez said. “Our goalie (Ariana Hernandez) did not touch the ball in the second half. I think those are the kind of things you have to celebrate.”
An improved technique by the West Chicago back four was a major factor.
“Something we've been working on a lot is recovering and covering. I think we did that really well today,” said senior defender Luciana Balzer. “Knowing when to step and when to cover. “
Lake Park coach Sean Crosby also lauded his defensive side.
“Defensively our center backs, our goalkeeper and our outside backs have been in a lot of games, the strength of our team. So for them to get a shutout and post a zero is huge,” Crosby said. “We're happy with the shutout. There's not much more you can do as a defensive team than keep a zero for the game.”
It was the second clean-sheet of the season for the Lancers.
Lake Park (1-7-2) also challenged in the midfield.
“They are a good team. They were good passing the ball side to side. They were physical in trying to get the ball,” said Wildcat sophomore midfield Daisy Garcia.
West Chicago (1-2-3) kept a close eye on Lancer midfielder, AnnMarie Ahrens.
“Number 11 (Ahrens) was the one who was getting through and getting around us, so she was someone we were looking out for,” Balzer said.
One of the best scoring opportunities Lake Park had was Ahrens’ corner kick early in the match. Her boot was headed away from the goal by West Chicago’s defense.
Teammate Nola White also threatened to break through with 5:40 left in the first half. The junior dribblef up the far sideline and into the penalty box. But the Wildcats’ defense stepped up and prevented a shot.
Crosby is a fan of his defensive lot.
“Our four defenders, Peyton (Sarubbi), Gianna (Kubica), Fran (Cali) and Lauren (Malone) and our goalkeeper Emma (Thorne) deserve a lot of credit for not only this game but for lot of games that we've played in,” he said. “They were under a lot of pressure and have to organize things defensively, keep their shape, clear out anything that’s dangerous and cover each other. I think they did that really well.”
Gomez felt his team’s eagerness to score led to ill-timed shots on goal.
“We possessed the ball well,” he said. “I always emphasize being on the attack and being effective. We weren't effective on the goal today. We created some opportunities. We hit the cross bar a couple of times trying to score.
“We're a little impatient. We come into the third part of it and instead of keeping the ball, right away, we just got to give it away.
“We were breaking down somewhere in the middle. We were too excited to go up and we didn’t stay disciplined,” continued Gomez. “We played against a team that was very disciplined. They move every way very well together, and we couldn't break through in the last third.”
If Crosby found a genie in a bottle, he knows what his first ask would be.
“I wish we gave ourselves a few more dangerous chances,” said the Lake Park coach. “I think our patience was a blessing and a curse, because we were patient with the ball at the foot and almost sometimes taking too much time.”
“If we are patient moving the ball, and we're passing and passing and passing and patient on getting it forward that's a good thing,” he continued. “But, when we are patient in decision-making, we are either holding on too long or just being OK possessing and not trying to go forward which led us to passive play.”
Two West Chicago players left Lake Park’s stadium with an addition to their uniforms. Garcia and defender Joana Velazquez boarded the bus with cat-woman capes draped over their shoulders. The superhero garb is presented to the most outstanding Wildcats players after each game.
It is a tradition Gomez started when he coached at Wheaton College and decided to continue it at West Chicago, the Wildcats coach said.
“I put it on the people who I think are best ones who bring the team together,” he explained.
Velazquez, who was sidelined earlier with an injury, earned the honor for her defensive play.
“She was concussed and couldn't play,” said Gomez. “Now, she's finally been able to compete, and she played exactly the way we thought she would.”
The West Chicago coach honored Garcia, for her play and development as a leader on the pitch.
“She's the one who created a lot of stuff today,” said Gomez. “She’s also doing what we tell her. She's very vocal on the field now. She was not vocal before, so she's learning.
“She attacked a lot of people today on the defensive side and soon other teams are going to know her number and more people will be in her vicinity.”.
Garcia took several shots on goal that either went wide or were stopped by Thorne.
The sophomore’s defensive and offensive play also earned her a share of the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor. Lake Park’s portion of the award is split between Lake Park’s Kubica and Malone.
“They’ve been standout players for us and very much the strength of our team,” Crosby said. “They deserve a lot of credit not just for today, but also for a lot of recent matches in holding down the back and playing really simple passing as defenders and moving the ball. It has been tremendous for us.”
Lake Park returns to DuKane Conference play tonight (Tuesday) when it hosts Batavia.
West Chicago travels to Bartlett on Wednesday for an Upstate Eight match with the Hawks.
Starting lineups
West Chicago
GK: Arian Hernandez
D: Luciana Balzer
D: Jenny Espinal
D: Joana Velazquez
D: Irene Dino
M: Emily Ayala
M: Isabella Lopez
M: Daisy Garcia
M: Ruby Lebo
F: Jenna Zeitoun
F: Heidi Pereckas
Lake Park
GK: Emma Thorne
D: Peyton Sarubbi
D: Gianna Kubica
D: Fran Cali
D: Lauren Malone
M: Cecilia Defino
M: AnnMarie Ahrens
M: Anna Odisho
F: Janice Hernandez-Bustos
F: Alexis Morgan
F: Patty Lachowiez
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match: Daisy Garcia, so., MF, West Chicago;
Gianna Kubica, so., D, Lake Park; Lauren Malone, so., D, Lake Park
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
No scoring