North blanks WWS to keep Wheaton Cup
Min makes 6 saves to spark 2-0 DuKane road win
By Matt Le Cren
WHEATON – When Wheaton North midfielder Garrett Robinson ripped a 25-yard shot on the run past diving Wheaton Warrenville South goalkeeper Ramsey Khayal and inside the left post, he immediately started yelling and jumping up and down.
But he wasn’t nearly as boisterous as one of his teammates.
“I just went crazy,” Wheaton North goalkeeper Ray Min said. “I started screaming.
“I just looked at the crowd and started to hype them up. I lost my voice doing, but it was all worth it.”
Robinson’s goal broke a scoreless tie in the 42nd minute. Gyan Patel added an insurance goal in the 71st minute and that was what the visiting Falcons needed to knock off the Tigers 2-0 Thursday night at Red Grange Field.
The victory allowed Wheaton North to retain the Wheaton Cup and remain near the top of the table in the DuKane Conference. The Falcons (9-4-1, 2-0-1) are one of three remaining unbeaten teams in league play. Geneva and St. Charles East are the others.
Robinson’s strike, which came with 38:02 left in the second half, was a thing of beauty. So, too, was Patel’s finish off a cross from Ethan Martinez with 9:10 to go.
“Gorgeous plays,” Wheaton North coach Rob Stassen said. “Any goal counts, but when you make it look pretty, that’s why they call it 'The Beautiful Game.'
“Because when they go in, people go nuts. That’s what all of this is about, those smiles.”
There were plenty of smiles in the stadium, both before the game, when both teams posed for a group picture, and afterward, when the Falcons held the Cup aloft.
Robinson and Min had perhaps the biggest smiles of all, especially after the former’s goal, which was his third of the season and second game-winner.
“That was huge for me,” Robinson said. “I saw that I had the time and space to keep taking it forward, and their defenders didn’t step up to me.
“I was like, ‘Fine, I’m within shooting range, I’m just going to hit and see what happens.’ I took a shot, and it went in and that gave us the momentum to keep pushing through the rest of the game.”
In the early going, though, it was the Tigers (5-4-1, 1-2-0) who did much of the pushing. They outshot the Falcons 8-3 in the first half and the barrage began in the opening minute, when senior Nick McGrath fired a heavy shot from the middle of the box.
Min made a reflex save to knock the ball around the right post. It was the first of six saves for Min, who was outstanding in all phases of the game in recording his eighth shutout of the season.
That came as no surprise to McGrath, who was denied again midway through the period on a 25-yard rocket. Min dove to his right to stop that shot, and the Tigers’ Gabe Waszak put the rebound over the crossbar.
“Like always,” McGrath said. “I play with him in club. He’s a beast.”
Now imagine if Min was 100 percent healthy.
“I had a fever over the weekend,” Min said. “It went away, but I still have this cold.
“I just wanted to come all out. I didn’t want my sickness to be an excuse.
“We’ve been hyping this game up for weeks now, and it finally came, so I just had to do what I had to do.”
Stassen has seen Min play well before but never as inspired as he was against his crosstown rivals.
“This was special for him,” Stassen said. “He was getting beaten, he was getting hit.
“Supposedly goalkeepers are protected in this game, but not tonight. He was not the Tom Brady of football, unfortunately.”
Min got the worst end of several collisions in the first half, but it didn’t seem to bother him.
“He was just outstanding,” Stassen said. “Close-quarter saves, long-distance saves. He was tough when he got out of his goal.
“For him, this is the best (game) he’s ever had. So I think he’s got to be sick a little more often.”
Min would prefer to be healthy but he gives his teammates confidence no matter what his condition.
“No matter what happens to Ray, he’s always putting his heart and soul into the team,” Robinson said. “Ray makes crazy saves every single game, whether he’s hurt, whether he’s sick, and the effort he gives I love so much.
“He keeps us in the game, and that gives us energy to keep pushing through no matter what. Even if we’re getting battered by the other team.”
Min, who emigrated from Thailand 11 years ago, is in his second year as a starter. He’s one of only three senior starters on a team that has a short bench, so he’s vital to the team’s success.
The 5-foot-11 Min is several inches shorter than most high school goalies, but he doesn’t let that stop him.
“I’ve thought about that,” Min said. “It’s been in my mind.
“I just kept working hard, and I can’t let that effect my game.”
Poor vision affected Min last season but he still performed well even though things were blurry due to nearsightedness. Stassen finally found out about it this summer and got him contacts.
“He is an exceptional goalkeeper,” Stassen said. “He didn’t realize he couldn’t see properly, so we got some contacts for him.
“He played his entire first year, and he couldn’t see properly, so he couldn’t see the balls coming for him, but he’s just an exceptional worker.
“The way he can track the ball, the athleticism in goal for a little guy, he’s a ton of fun to watch play. He’s got a smile that lights up a room.”
Min is smiling frequently these days, and not just because the Falcons are winning.
“It feels really good,” Min said of the team’s good start. “I love the sport, I love all these guys.
“These guys are why I’m here.”
There were smiles among the Tigers, too, despite the outcome. Wheaton Warrenville South has already equaled its 2018 win total.
“I’m just proud of every single one on our team,” McGrath said. “Everybody held their heads up the whole game. I have so much respect for them.
“It’s just incredible to see everyone working together. It’s basically all the players we played with freshman year, and it’s nice to see how well everybody developed by senior year and playing together is just amazing.”
McGrath attributes the improvement to offseason dedication.
“We worked every day in the offseason, at least a lot of kids did, and just work every day and have fun with it,” McGrath said. “Having fun with it I feel like is all you can do at this point in your high school career.”
The Tigers need a more consistent attack. They have been shutout in all four of their losses and came up empty against the Falcons despite launching 14 shots.
“One of our issues all year is just that finishing touch, that final pass in the final third when space and time are a little bit tighter,” Wheaton Warrenville South coach Guy Callipari said. “But it was worthy of a Cup game.
“That’s what you expect. It’s never mattered in my 29 years what rosters look like. There’s always going to be a one- or two-goal affair either way, and that’s what we found today.
“So kudos to them. They were deserving. They played a good game.”
But so did the Tigers, who may not have peaked.
“I think we still have a lot in the tank,” Callipari said. “(The Tigers) are very passionate about the game, and they want to be successful.
“This is just the learning curve. We feel good about our effort.”
Callipari also feels good about the camaraderie between the two teams and how the players and fans have embraced the tradition of the Wheaton Cup, which has been around since 2003.
“I’m glad everybody has bought into the Wheaton Cup, from the press to the (school) administration,” Callipari said. “It’s great for the community.
“You can tell how much this means to the players, and the fact that the community can embrace the opportunity is great.”
Starting lineups
Wheaton North
GK Ray Min
D Kyle Schauer
D Crystian Powell
D Tyler Larson
D Tristan Mackay
M Graham Stephenson
M Garrett Robinson
M Erik Rozanski
F Ethan Martinez
F Max Riccelli
F Jarrett Baumgartner
Wheaton Warrenville South
GK Ramsey Khayal
D Jackson Moran
D Rolin Thang
D Jack Cooper
D Sam Schlegel
M Kevin Stumbris
M Ryan Dufty
M Paul Thalmann
M Christian Munoz
F Nick McGrath
F Niklas Pedersen
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Ray Min, sr., GK, Wheaton North
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Wheaton North – Garrett Robinson 38:02
Wheaton North – Gyan Patel (Ethan Martinez) 9:10
Min makes 6 saves to spark 2-0 DuKane road win
By Matt Le Cren
WHEATON – When Wheaton North midfielder Garrett Robinson ripped a 25-yard shot on the run past diving Wheaton Warrenville South goalkeeper Ramsey Khayal and inside the left post, he immediately started yelling and jumping up and down.
But he wasn’t nearly as boisterous as one of his teammates.
“I just went crazy,” Wheaton North goalkeeper Ray Min said. “I started screaming.
“I just looked at the crowd and started to hype them up. I lost my voice doing, but it was all worth it.”
Robinson’s goal broke a scoreless tie in the 42nd minute. Gyan Patel added an insurance goal in the 71st minute and that was what the visiting Falcons needed to knock off the Tigers 2-0 Thursday night at Red Grange Field.
The victory allowed Wheaton North to retain the Wheaton Cup and remain near the top of the table in the DuKane Conference. The Falcons (9-4-1, 2-0-1) are one of three remaining unbeaten teams in league play. Geneva and St. Charles East are the others.
Robinson’s strike, which came with 38:02 left in the second half, was a thing of beauty. So, too, was Patel’s finish off a cross from Ethan Martinez with 9:10 to go.
“Gorgeous plays,” Wheaton North coach Rob Stassen said. “Any goal counts, but when you make it look pretty, that’s why they call it 'The Beautiful Game.'
“Because when they go in, people go nuts. That’s what all of this is about, those smiles.”
There were plenty of smiles in the stadium, both before the game, when both teams posed for a group picture, and afterward, when the Falcons held the Cup aloft.
Robinson and Min had perhaps the biggest smiles of all, especially after the former’s goal, which was his third of the season and second game-winner.
“That was huge for me,” Robinson said. “I saw that I had the time and space to keep taking it forward, and their defenders didn’t step up to me.
“I was like, ‘Fine, I’m within shooting range, I’m just going to hit and see what happens.’ I took a shot, and it went in and that gave us the momentum to keep pushing through the rest of the game.”
In the early going, though, it was the Tigers (5-4-1, 1-2-0) who did much of the pushing. They outshot the Falcons 8-3 in the first half and the barrage began in the opening minute, when senior Nick McGrath fired a heavy shot from the middle of the box.
Min made a reflex save to knock the ball around the right post. It was the first of six saves for Min, who was outstanding in all phases of the game in recording his eighth shutout of the season.
That came as no surprise to McGrath, who was denied again midway through the period on a 25-yard rocket. Min dove to his right to stop that shot, and the Tigers’ Gabe Waszak put the rebound over the crossbar.
“Like always,” McGrath said. “I play with him in club. He’s a beast.”
Now imagine if Min was 100 percent healthy.
“I had a fever over the weekend,” Min said. “It went away, but I still have this cold.
“I just wanted to come all out. I didn’t want my sickness to be an excuse.
“We’ve been hyping this game up for weeks now, and it finally came, so I just had to do what I had to do.”
Stassen has seen Min play well before but never as inspired as he was against his crosstown rivals.
“This was special for him,” Stassen said. “He was getting beaten, he was getting hit.
“Supposedly goalkeepers are protected in this game, but not tonight. He was not the Tom Brady of football, unfortunately.”
Min got the worst end of several collisions in the first half, but it didn’t seem to bother him.
“He was just outstanding,” Stassen said. “Close-quarter saves, long-distance saves. He was tough when he got out of his goal.
“For him, this is the best (game) he’s ever had. So I think he’s got to be sick a little more often.”
Min would prefer to be healthy but he gives his teammates confidence no matter what his condition.
“No matter what happens to Ray, he’s always putting his heart and soul into the team,” Robinson said. “Ray makes crazy saves every single game, whether he’s hurt, whether he’s sick, and the effort he gives I love so much.
“He keeps us in the game, and that gives us energy to keep pushing through no matter what. Even if we’re getting battered by the other team.”
Min, who emigrated from Thailand 11 years ago, is in his second year as a starter. He’s one of only three senior starters on a team that has a short bench, so he’s vital to the team’s success.
The 5-foot-11 Min is several inches shorter than most high school goalies, but he doesn’t let that stop him.
“I’ve thought about that,” Min said. “It’s been in my mind.
“I just kept working hard, and I can’t let that effect my game.”
Poor vision affected Min last season but he still performed well even though things were blurry due to nearsightedness. Stassen finally found out about it this summer and got him contacts.
“He is an exceptional goalkeeper,” Stassen said. “He didn’t realize he couldn’t see properly, so we got some contacts for him.
“He played his entire first year, and he couldn’t see properly, so he couldn’t see the balls coming for him, but he’s just an exceptional worker.
“The way he can track the ball, the athleticism in goal for a little guy, he’s a ton of fun to watch play. He’s got a smile that lights up a room.”
Min is smiling frequently these days, and not just because the Falcons are winning.
“It feels really good,” Min said of the team’s good start. “I love the sport, I love all these guys.
“These guys are why I’m here.”
There were smiles among the Tigers, too, despite the outcome. Wheaton Warrenville South has already equaled its 2018 win total.
“I’m just proud of every single one on our team,” McGrath said. “Everybody held their heads up the whole game. I have so much respect for them.
“It’s just incredible to see everyone working together. It’s basically all the players we played with freshman year, and it’s nice to see how well everybody developed by senior year and playing together is just amazing.”
McGrath attributes the improvement to offseason dedication.
“We worked every day in the offseason, at least a lot of kids did, and just work every day and have fun with it,” McGrath said. “Having fun with it I feel like is all you can do at this point in your high school career.”
The Tigers need a more consistent attack. They have been shutout in all four of their losses and came up empty against the Falcons despite launching 14 shots.
“One of our issues all year is just that finishing touch, that final pass in the final third when space and time are a little bit tighter,” Wheaton Warrenville South coach Guy Callipari said. “But it was worthy of a Cup game.
“That’s what you expect. It’s never mattered in my 29 years what rosters look like. There’s always going to be a one- or two-goal affair either way, and that’s what we found today.
“So kudos to them. They were deserving. They played a good game.”
But so did the Tigers, who may not have peaked.
“I think we still have a lot in the tank,” Callipari said. “(The Tigers) are very passionate about the game, and they want to be successful.
“This is just the learning curve. We feel good about our effort.”
Callipari also feels good about the camaraderie between the two teams and how the players and fans have embraced the tradition of the Wheaton Cup, which has been around since 2003.
“I’m glad everybody has bought into the Wheaton Cup, from the press to the (school) administration,” Callipari said. “It’s great for the community.
“You can tell how much this means to the players, and the fact that the community can embrace the opportunity is great.”
Starting lineups
Wheaton North
GK Ray Min
D Kyle Schauer
D Crystian Powell
D Tyler Larson
D Tristan Mackay
M Graham Stephenson
M Garrett Robinson
M Erik Rozanski
F Ethan Martinez
F Max Riccelli
F Jarrett Baumgartner
Wheaton Warrenville South
GK Ramsey Khayal
D Jackson Moran
D Rolin Thang
D Jack Cooper
D Sam Schlegel
M Kevin Stumbris
M Ryan Dufty
M Paul Thalmann
M Christian Munoz
F Nick McGrath
F Niklas Pedersen
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Ray Min, sr., GK, Wheaton North
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Wheaton North – Garrett Robinson 38:02
Wheaton North – Gyan Patel (Ethan Martinez) 9:10