WWS battles, but can't stop Elk Grove
Tigers fall 1-0 in playoffs, believe seeds planted for future success
By Mike Garofola
ELK GROVE VILLAGE-- Wheaton-Warrenville South said farewell to its 2018 soccer season following a hard-fought 1-0 loss Saturday night to Elk Grove at Robert Haskell Stadium.
While the defeat ended the career of seniors such as Declin Ermer and Jordi Morales, this classy duo instead chose to speak to the great times being part of Guy Callipari's program, as well as terrific future each can vision for their younger mates who will wear the Tigers badge next fall.
"I think Jordi and I, plus the other seniors have been very fortunate during our time on the varsity and with our coaching staff," said Ermer, who was stationed in the center of the Tigers backline, then later moved up-top when the club tried to equalize late. "The relationships we've developed while here have been very important, and something you'll always have.
"I've just loved playing here at South," echoed Morales, who was active all night long on the defensive end and was dangerous with his service from out of the back and when he joined the attack on the outside.
"This loss is tough, but there's so many positive things to take from tonight and our season. The young guys we've got coming back have come a long way since the start and will be ready to play at a higher level next season."
The words from two of his seniors brought a smile to the face of coach Guy Callipari, who concluded his 28th year in charge.
"I'm not surprised at what both Jordi and Declin had to say. Each is a classy kid. Both have worn the Tigers badge with pride and have conducted themselves in a positive way. Even in defeat tonight, they remained that way during their interview."
For all the seasons Callipari has been on the touchline, the contest with Elk Grove (7-10-0) was the first that one of his clubs was involved in a play-in game to stay alive in the state series.
"There's always a first time for everything," began Callipari.
"The effort has always been there this year with this team. W've had some ups and downs, which is to be expected when underclassmen are playing with the varsity for the first time.
"The progress has been slow, but there's been plenty. We've seen this team improve in so many ways. But tonight, to be honest, Elk Grove was the better team, and they deserve to move on.
"(Elk Grove) is very technical. They have 4-5 guys who can really play. When they attack it was with speed and numbers, and they defended when they had to in order to keep us away from their keeper."
Those words were music to the ears of Elk Grove second-year manager Alex Stavropoulos, who has taken his program out of the dark and back into the light. The Grenadiers' arrow is pointing up.
"Hearing those things from a coach like Guy means a lot to me and further validates what we've tried to do from day one when I arrived," said Stavropoulos, who was an assistant in the program before taking over in the fall of 2017.
"During my time as an assistant here, we never won more than four games in a season, and we hadn't won a game in the postseason either.
"Those are two great firsts for us. But I told the boys afterwards that in order to produce more of those firsts (we) have to continue to work hard, keep focused and play for each other."
Stavropoulos suggests' his club could have far more wins than losses this season if his lads could have reversed its fortunes against some of the best sides in its league, including Buffalo Grove, lifted the MSL Cup on Thursday with a 2-0 win over Fremd.
"We lost 1-0 to BG, and 2-1 to both Hersey and Wheeling, who were tied for third in the league table this year. So we were close to having a record at or over .500 this year."
It was clear from those results the Grens could play. And play they did during a terrific first half hour on this chilly early evening contest.
The Grens frontline led by Luis Godines, with running mates Hector Torres and Nazar Peron, had far too much pace for the Tigers in the early stages. However, others besides this trio were important parts of an attack that used quick, sharp passes with width and depth to keep the Tigers under pressure.
"Our unofficial stats said (we) had just 17 of the first 40 minutes of possession.," said Callipari. "But at times, it seemed even lower. We were under pressure for most of the first half, because we couldn't hold the ball long enough in order to get out of our own end."
That Elk Grove pressure produced five meaningful chances, plus five corners and several deep throws. Ermer and his backline mates Jackson Moran, Sam Schlegel and Morales defended with all their might in front of senior keeper Joe Adamek, who turned in a strong performance in his final time wearin the orange and black.
"I thought a lot of it (play) was even tonight after we got over that first 15-20 minutes," said Ermer.
"They had a lot of the possession, and even though they were dangerous I really don't think they had a real dangerous chance on Adamek."
The Grens were scary in dead ball opportunties. They moved their big, tall center back Alex Pillath into the mix with the hope of the senior flicking a serve from either Godines or Paul Jonas on frame, or to one of his mates for a close-range attempt.
Pillath did just that on two occasions, but the Tigers defended well enough to keep the ball out of the net.
The home side was truly at its best when senior Brandon Lazcano-Llanos provided eye-popping distribution and enterprising runs out of the middle of the park. A pair of lovely build-ups fueled by the Grens star produced chances that could have led to a home-side score.
The best of the two was at the tail-end of some nice combination work from Torres, Peron and then Lazcano-Llanos that allowed Godines enough time to measure a hopeful chip of Adamek from just inside the box. But the deft attempt landed on the roof.
When the Wheaton Warrenville South attack came to life, it was in part thanks to Sumani Husseini, whose pace, power and crafty play gave the home side fits.
The senior partnered well with Morales, who gave his teammate several good starts as he ventured into the Grens area. One forced keeper Sean Martinez to save in the 17th minute.
The Tigers came alive when Callipari introduced Cristian Munoz and Sean Tully at 23 minutes. The duo, with the combined efforts of Husseini, Morales and Kevin Stumbris, began to find their way in the last 10 minutes of the first period.
That was a major concern for Elk Grove.
"We've been able to possess and attack with the best of them," said Stavropoulos. "But you get a little nervous when you can't get into the back of the net. Tonight was no different, and with Wheaton-Warrenville starting to get more confident, that could have been trouble for us."
The second half began with more wide-open play with each side looking to spring an early surprise.
Elk Grove's Peron went close twice in the first six minutes after the break, but the Wheaton Warrenville South defense held. Ermer, terrific in the air all night long, moved quickly to head away two well-paced balls that Jonas sent into the Tigers box.
Adamek never hesitated when he came far off his line to haul in a looping ball from David Cuevas. On the other end, Morales sent a stern test on a wicked low drive off a free kick.
Husseini was betrayed by his final touch that could have put him in on Martinez at the hour after Morales and Tully put their mate through.
Ermer suggested the game-winner by Godines was unlucky. A brilliant left-footed inward swinger corner from Elk Grove's Diego Negrete Meza hit the back post before spilling freely into the six-yard box, where Godines guided it home.
"I thought Diego's corner was actually bending into the net," said Godines with a smile. "So when it fell right to me, I put it in with my knee."
"That's the way soccer goes," said Callipari. "We've all seen it, but they made their chance count. We just never did. It wasn't for a lack of trying."
The Tigers manager pushed Ermer up-top alongside Husseini and made Tully more of a withdrawn third forward. He went with just Schlegel, Morales and McGrath on his backline.
Husseini did his best to create a chance inside the Grens box with a clever heel-flick of a Nick McGrath long serve. Unfortunately, he injured his left foot on the play and did not return.
The Tigers (5-10-2) managed to earn a handful of corners and deep throws in the final eight minutes and sent countless balls into the mix. Their final attempt was headed wide by Ermer who elevated to redirect a Morales free kick.
"I feel really good about what we've accomplished when you consider where we started this season," said Morales.
"There's a real strong bunch of young players that worked hard all season, and I know they will really step up next year when it's their chance."
Morales, who says he's likely on his way to the College of DuPage for his first two years of college, was a four-year soccer player, as was Ermer, who is still undecided as to where his college address will be next fall.
"Still sorting that part out, but I'll miss the guys and playing soccer here at South," Ermer said.
The Tigers started the season at 0-3-1, but drew closer to the .500 level after victories over league rivals Glenbard North and St. Charles East, until a loss to St. Charles North ended that chance for good.
"We made progress all throughout the year," Callapari said before walking off the pitch for the last time this season. "So the hope is that will carry over to next fall when we get back together with players who had an opportunity to play and learn how to carry themselves as men in our program from a terrific group of seniors who made their mark while here."
Starting lineups
Wheaton Warrenville South (4-5-1)
G- Joe Adamek
D- Sam Schlegel
D- Declin Ermer
D- Jackson Moran
D- Jordy Morales
M- Rolin Thang
M- Kevin Stumbris
M- Paul Thalman
M- Nick McGrath
M- Ryan Dufty
F- Sumani Husseini
Elk Grove (4-3-3)
G- Sean Martinez
D- David Villegas
D- Paul Jonas
D- Alex Pillath
D- Kevin Rodriguez
M- Johnny Rivas
M- Brendna Lazcano-Llanos
M- Dabid Cuevas
F- Luis Godines
F- Hector Torres
F- Nazar Peron
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match: Luis Godines, jr., F, Elk Grove
Brandon Lazcano-Llanos, sr., M, Elk Grove
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Elk Grove: Godines (Negrete-Meza) 64'
Tigers fall 1-0 in playoffs, believe seeds planted for future success
By Mike Garofola
ELK GROVE VILLAGE-- Wheaton-Warrenville South said farewell to its 2018 soccer season following a hard-fought 1-0 loss Saturday night to Elk Grove at Robert Haskell Stadium.
While the defeat ended the career of seniors such as Declin Ermer and Jordi Morales, this classy duo instead chose to speak to the great times being part of Guy Callipari's program, as well as terrific future each can vision for their younger mates who will wear the Tigers badge next fall.
"I think Jordi and I, plus the other seniors have been very fortunate during our time on the varsity and with our coaching staff," said Ermer, who was stationed in the center of the Tigers backline, then later moved up-top when the club tried to equalize late. "The relationships we've developed while here have been very important, and something you'll always have.
"I've just loved playing here at South," echoed Morales, who was active all night long on the defensive end and was dangerous with his service from out of the back and when he joined the attack on the outside.
"This loss is tough, but there's so many positive things to take from tonight and our season. The young guys we've got coming back have come a long way since the start and will be ready to play at a higher level next season."
The words from two of his seniors brought a smile to the face of coach Guy Callipari, who concluded his 28th year in charge.
"I'm not surprised at what both Jordi and Declin had to say. Each is a classy kid. Both have worn the Tigers badge with pride and have conducted themselves in a positive way. Even in defeat tonight, they remained that way during their interview."
For all the seasons Callipari has been on the touchline, the contest with Elk Grove (7-10-0) was the first that one of his clubs was involved in a play-in game to stay alive in the state series.
"There's always a first time for everything," began Callipari.
"The effort has always been there this year with this team. W've had some ups and downs, which is to be expected when underclassmen are playing with the varsity for the first time.
"The progress has been slow, but there's been plenty. We've seen this team improve in so many ways. But tonight, to be honest, Elk Grove was the better team, and they deserve to move on.
"(Elk Grove) is very technical. They have 4-5 guys who can really play. When they attack it was with speed and numbers, and they defended when they had to in order to keep us away from their keeper."
Those words were music to the ears of Elk Grove second-year manager Alex Stavropoulos, who has taken his program out of the dark and back into the light. The Grenadiers' arrow is pointing up.
"Hearing those things from a coach like Guy means a lot to me and further validates what we've tried to do from day one when I arrived," said Stavropoulos, who was an assistant in the program before taking over in the fall of 2017.
"During my time as an assistant here, we never won more than four games in a season, and we hadn't won a game in the postseason either.
"Those are two great firsts for us. But I told the boys afterwards that in order to produce more of those firsts (we) have to continue to work hard, keep focused and play for each other."
Stavropoulos suggests' his club could have far more wins than losses this season if his lads could have reversed its fortunes against some of the best sides in its league, including Buffalo Grove, lifted the MSL Cup on Thursday with a 2-0 win over Fremd.
"We lost 1-0 to BG, and 2-1 to both Hersey and Wheeling, who were tied for third in the league table this year. So we were close to having a record at or over .500 this year."
It was clear from those results the Grens could play. And play they did during a terrific first half hour on this chilly early evening contest.
The Grens frontline led by Luis Godines, with running mates Hector Torres and Nazar Peron, had far too much pace for the Tigers in the early stages. However, others besides this trio were important parts of an attack that used quick, sharp passes with width and depth to keep the Tigers under pressure.
"Our unofficial stats said (we) had just 17 of the first 40 minutes of possession.," said Callipari. "But at times, it seemed even lower. We were under pressure for most of the first half, because we couldn't hold the ball long enough in order to get out of our own end."
That Elk Grove pressure produced five meaningful chances, plus five corners and several deep throws. Ermer and his backline mates Jackson Moran, Sam Schlegel and Morales defended with all their might in front of senior keeper Joe Adamek, who turned in a strong performance in his final time wearin the orange and black.
"I thought a lot of it (play) was even tonight after we got over that first 15-20 minutes," said Ermer.
"They had a lot of the possession, and even though they were dangerous I really don't think they had a real dangerous chance on Adamek."
The Grens were scary in dead ball opportunties. They moved their big, tall center back Alex Pillath into the mix with the hope of the senior flicking a serve from either Godines or Paul Jonas on frame, or to one of his mates for a close-range attempt.
Pillath did just that on two occasions, but the Tigers defended well enough to keep the ball out of the net.
The home side was truly at its best when senior Brandon Lazcano-Llanos provided eye-popping distribution and enterprising runs out of the middle of the park. A pair of lovely build-ups fueled by the Grens star produced chances that could have led to a home-side score.
The best of the two was at the tail-end of some nice combination work from Torres, Peron and then Lazcano-Llanos that allowed Godines enough time to measure a hopeful chip of Adamek from just inside the box. But the deft attempt landed on the roof.
When the Wheaton Warrenville South attack came to life, it was in part thanks to Sumani Husseini, whose pace, power and crafty play gave the home side fits.
The senior partnered well with Morales, who gave his teammate several good starts as he ventured into the Grens area. One forced keeper Sean Martinez to save in the 17th minute.
The Tigers came alive when Callipari introduced Cristian Munoz and Sean Tully at 23 minutes. The duo, with the combined efforts of Husseini, Morales and Kevin Stumbris, began to find their way in the last 10 minutes of the first period.
That was a major concern for Elk Grove.
"We've been able to possess and attack with the best of them," said Stavropoulos. "But you get a little nervous when you can't get into the back of the net. Tonight was no different, and with Wheaton-Warrenville starting to get more confident, that could have been trouble for us."
The second half began with more wide-open play with each side looking to spring an early surprise.
Elk Grove's Peron went close twice in the first six minutes after the break, but the Wheaton Warrenville South defense held. Ermer, terrific in the air all night long, moved quickly to head away two well-paced balls that Jonas sent into the Tigers box.
Adamek never hesitated when he came far off his line to haul in a looping ball from David Cuevas. On the other end, Morales sent a stern test on a wicked low drive off a free kick.
Husseini was betrayed by his final touch that could have put him in on Martinez at the hour after Morales and Tully put their mate through.
Ermer suggested the game-winner by Godines was unlucky. A brilliant left-footed inward swinger corner from Elk Grove's Diego Negrete Meza hit the back post before spilling freely into the six-yard box, where Godines guided it home.
"I thought Diego's corner was actually bending into the net," said Godines with a smile. "So when it fell right to me, I put it in with my knee."
"That's the way soccer goes," said Callipari. "We've all seen it, but they made their chance count. We just never did. It wasn't for a lack of trying."
The Tigers manager pushed Ermer up-top alongside Husseini and made Tully more of a withdrawn third forward. He went with just Schlegel, Morales and McGrath on his backline.
Husseini did his best to create a chance inside the Grens box with a clever heel-flick of a Nick McGrath long serve. Unfortunately, he injured his left foot on the play and did not return.
The Tigers (5-10-2) managed to earn a handful of corners and deep throws in the final eight minutes and sent countless balls into the mix. Their final attempt was headed wide by Ermer who elevated to redirect a Morales free kick.
"I feel really good about what we've accomplished when you consider where we started this season," said Morales.
"There's a real strong bunch of young players that worked hard all season, and I know they will really step up next year when it's their chance."
Morales, who says he's likely on his way to the College of DuPage for his first two years of college, was a four-year soccer player, as was Ermer, who is still undecided as to where his college address will be next fall.
"Still sorting that part out, but I'll miss the guys and playing soccer here at South," Ermer said.
The Tigers started the season at 0-3-1, but drew closer to the .500 level after victories over league rivals Glenbard North and St. Charles East, until a loss to St. Charles North ended that chance for good.
"We made progress all throughout the year," Callapari said before walking off the pitch for the last time this season. "So the hope is that will carry over to next fall when we get back together with players who had an opportunity to play and learn how to carry themselves as men in our program from a terrific group of seniors who made their mark while here."
Starting lineups
Wheaton Warrenville South (4-5-1)
G- Joe Adamek
D- Sam Schlegel
D- Declin Ermer
D- Jackson Moran
D- Jordy Morales
M- Rolin Thang
M- Kevin Stumbris
M- Paul Thalman
M- Nick McGrath
M- Ryan Dufty
F- Sumani Husseini
Elk Grove (4-3-3)
G- Sean Martinez
D- David Villegas
D- Paul Jonas
D- Alex Pillath
D- Kevin Rodriguez
M- Johnny Rivas
M- Brendna Lazcano-Llanos
M- Dabid Cuevas
F- Luis Godines
F- Hector Torres
F- Nazar Peron
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match: Luis Godines, jr., F, Elk Grove
Brandon Lazcano-Llanos, sr., M, Elk Grove
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Elk Grove: Godines (Negrete-Meza) 64'