Wheaton Warrenville South blanks Glenbard North, takes 2nd in DuKane
Tigers go 5-1-0 down the stretch, build postseason momentum
By Curt Herron
CAROL STREAM -- After an 0-5-1 run dropped the team’s record to 3-5-3, it would have been easy to think that Wheaton Warrenville South wouldn't be much of a factor in the upcoming rugged Class 3A Bolingbrook Sectional.
Similarly, the Tigers were certainly down after getting off to an 0-2-1 start in DuKane Conference play and definitely appeared out of the running for a top-half finish in the league.
But coach Guy Callipari's charges won their final four league matches, capping that run with a 4-0 victory Tuesday at Glenbard North on Tuesday. The streak put the Tigers in second place in the DuKane with a 4-2-1 record and 13 points. That edged district rival Wheaton North, who tied champion St. Charles East 1-1 in the conference finale to finish 3-1-3 with 12 points.
Wheaton Warrenville South scored two goals in the opening 20 minutes to grab the advantage over the Panthers (8-7-3, 1-4-2), who had posted nine shutouts and had four other matches where they allowed just one goal. They entered the contest with just 12 tallies given up all season.
But after yielding two more scores in a span of 1 minute, five seconds during the match's final 10 minutes, Glenbard North suffered its biggest loss of the season and was beaten by more than one goal for just the second time. The other was a 2-0 setback to current no. 13 St. Charles East on September 8.
Sophomore Jet Oehrlein was credited with the first goal. Senior Gael Alfaro followed with a score about 10 minutes later to put the Tigers in control around the midpoint of the opening half on a night where a steady rain fell throughout much of the match. Junior Eric Criostomo and sophomore Aaron Escareno added two more scores in the late going after the rain ended.
Improved defensive play has been a key for the Tigers resurgence. With sophomore goalkeeper Jared Ferreyra stopping everything that came his way, the starting backline of seniors Nikhil Bawa, Tim Foley and Christian Triscik and junior Brooks Becker have recorded shutouts in their last three victories. Those defenders shared the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor after equaling their team's previous total of shutouts in two weeks' time.
"We started off strong at 2-0 in the first half, but in the second half, the wind was going toward us," Ferreyra said. "Toward the end, the wind started slowing down and the rain ended, and that's when we started playing better. I was prepared for their shots. They were focused, knew what they were doing and wanted to get on target.
"I'm very excited about my defense because I've been playing with everybody in club, except for Nikhil. I like Brooks on the left. He's very good in 1-v-1 situations and no one gets past him. The same with Nikhil, it's like in a way the strikers are scared of him.
“Sometimes Jerry (Coatzo) and Timmy switch off, and they're very good in staying in position. Christian is my right back, and he's very good there. He makes sure the ball doesn't go above him or through him.
"We have a very good team, and we should have started strong. I don't know what happened. I feel like we needed to get used to each other, because we have some young guys that are new to the program. They've helped us out a lot. I really like our team chemistry. I like that on some days when we don't have school, we like to go shoot around or do passing drills just so that we can get better passing chemistry."
As a result of posting a 5-1-0 record down the stretch, with the only loss by a 2-0 score against defending Class 3A champion York (14-0-3, no. 2 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25), the Tigers (8-6-3, 4-2-1) have assured themselves of a winning season and believe that they can be a factor in the Plainfield North Regional, despite their 11th-seed in one of the state's toughest sectionals.
They'll open regional play next Wednesday with a 7 p.m. match against sixth-seed Oswego East.
Third-seed Plainfield North (16-4-1, no. 11, top ranked in the preseason First 50 poll), meets 13th-seed Oswego at 5 p.m. on the same night. The final is scheduled for 3 p.m. Oct. 22.
Callipari, a 2012 Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee who has led the Tigers boys program for 31 seasons, is excited about how well his team has come together in the last half of the season.
"We're 5-1-0 in the last six games and ran the table after only getting one point out of a possible nine in the first three conference games, finished in second place and were the only other team with four wins, out of eight teams," Callipari said. "It's just been a good mix of ideas and potential coming to fruition from young guys stepping up. We had all kinds of injuries, as all teams do, but we weathered that storm, because the young guys had the ability and talent. They just don't have the experience.
"They were given much experience early on, and you're starting to see that now with their confidence with the ball and their ability to read and to play faster and stay out of trouble. I think that we're in about as good shape as we can be going into the playoffs.
"I'm glad that there was a lot at stake here this evening, because that's the kind of adversity or stress level that they're going to have to deal with. There needs to be a lot to play for, and they have to be under pressure, and play well under pressure, so they're not surprised by the pressure come next Wednesday.
“We're never going to be the higher seed, so we have nothing to lose. We can just go after it."
Coach Spero Mandakas' Panthers hope to bounce back with a home win over Glenbard West on Thursday in their regular-season finale. The winner of that 6:30 p.m. match claims the championship of the Glenbard Cup. The Panthers previously recorded 1-0 wins over both Glenbard South and Glenbard East.
Then it's on to the Class 3A Lake Park Regional in the St. Charles East Sectional where ninth-seed Glenbard North meets the host and eighh-seeded Lancers in a semifinal Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. York plays the winner between Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg before that for the right to advance to the 3 p.m. final Oct. 22.
"It was one of those games where we showed up and were down four regular starters due to injuries and sickness," Mandakas said. "But at that point, as we told the guys before, that we have to step up, it's next man up. We can't have that big lapse. Unfortunately, we had that tonight.
"It was unfortunate to go out in our last conference game with that, but we saw some things and know some things that we need to be able to adjust to to get better. And the guys know that they have to do the little things right.
“Tonight we got beat in every facet of the game. Credit to Wheaton Warrenville South, because they played a great game and really took it to us.
"Hopefully this is an eye opener for us. There are some guys who really kind of had off nights. Hopefully they'll look at it and break down film and do the things that they were lacking … and be ready to change it up and work hard.”
Wheaton Warrenville South got the opener in the ninth minute when Oehrlein sent a corner kick into the box, and it deflected off a Panthers defender and went in for a score.
In the 19th minute, Wheaton Warrenville South struck again as Alfaro got free and placed an attempt over Glenbard North senior Stavros Veremis, who had come off of his line to challenge.
Despite the unpleasant conditions, both sides had a few good chances. But there were few serious threats, which was a stark contrast to what would unfold following the intermission.
Glenbard North put the pressure on right away in the second half. Senior Luis Roman sent a shot wide, and junior Christian Escobedo followed with a liner to Ferreyra. After the Tigers responded with a long free kick from sophomore Diego Bautista and senior Marco Gonzalez sent a header to Veremis, Escobedo sent in another liner that was hauled in.
Shortly before the midpoint of the second half, Alfaro and Criostomo got off close-range attempts against Veremis. Not long after that, Oehrlein had a shot that Veremis tipped over the net.
Glenbard North senior Diego Chicas sent in a free kick that was headed away by Foley and Criostomo answered on the other side of the field by being denied on a close attempt.
Wheaton Warrenville South extended its advantage to 3-0 in the 74th minute when Criostomo fired in a shot from the side from about 30 yards. It was the first goal of the season for the Tigers junior.
"The team has put in a lot of effort," Criostomo said. "We were struggling a little bit, but now we're back on track, and our offense is looking better than what it was. I think that we're ready for the playoffs. We have a lot of potential on this team. I definitely like our passing. It's gotten a lot better."
Just 65 seconds later and in the 75th minute, the visitors concluded the scoring when sophomore Aaron Escareno put in an attempt from the side from about 15 yards.
Both teams tried to connect again during the final minutes. Senior Bryan Rosal Ruiz was denied by Ferreyra, and Veremis halted a shot from senior Chase Kedzior.
"We started the conference off with two losses and one tie and that really took a toll on the team," said Escareno, one of his team's seven sophomores. "But we talked it over and got things settled. Now we've won every other game in our conference and gotten momentum going into the playoffs. The team has really found our rhythm.
"We really have a diverse group on the bench, so anyone that comes off the bench can make an impact on the field. There's not really like one standout star, everyone is like a star on the team and everyone does their part.
“On a given day, we can pull someone from the bench and they'll fill in a spot nicely. We really don't have a top scorer, everyone has two or three goals. The diversity of our group is really helpful."
Starting lineups
Wheaton Warrenville South
GK: Jared Ferreyra
D: Tim Foley
D: Christian Triscik
D: Brooks Becker
D: Nikhil Bawa
MF: Chase Kedzior
MF: Diego Bautista
MF: Jack Beres
MF: Gael Alfaro
F: Jet Oehrlein
F: Marco Gonzalez
Glenbard North
GK: Stavros Veremis
D: Diego Navarro
D: Diego Chicas
D: Azael Velazquez
D: Michael Bonsi
MF: Adan Solorio
MF: Christian Escobedo
MF: Andy Pena
MF: Luis Roman
F: Rijad Kadiric
F: Jorge Roman
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match:
Tim Foley, sr., D, Wheaton Warrenville South
Christian Triscik, sr., D, Wheaton Warrenville S;
Brooks Becker, jr., D, Wheaton Warrenville S;
Nikhil Bawa, sr., D, Wheaton Warrenville S
Scoring summary
First half
WWS: Jet Oehrlein [CK], 9'
WWS: Gael Alfaro (unassisted), 19'
Second half
WWS: Eric Criostomo (unassisted), 74'
WWS: Aaron Escareno (unassisted), 75'
Tigers go 5-1-0 down the stretch, build postseason momentum
By Curt Herron
CAROL STREAM -- After an 0-5-1 run dropped the team’s record to 3-5-3, it would have been easy to think that Wheaton Warrenville South wouldn't be much of a factor in the upcoming rugged Class 3A Bolingbrook Sectional.
Similarly, the Tigers were certainly down after getting off to an 0-2-1 start in DuKane Conference play and definitely appeared out of the running for a top-half finish in the league.
But coach Guy Callipari's charges won their final four league matches, capping that run with a 4-0 victory Tuesday at Glenbard North on Tuesday. The streak put the Tigers in second place in the DuKane with a 4-2-1 record and 13 points. That edged district rival Wheaton North, who tied champion St. Charles East 1-1 in the conference finale to finish 3-1-3 with 12 points.
Wheaton Warrenville South scored two goals in the opening 20 minutes to grab the advantage over the Panthers (8-7-3, 1-4-2), who had posted nine shutouts and had four other matches where they allowed just one goal. They entered the contest with just 12 tallies given up all season.
But after yielding two more scores in a span of 1 minute, five seconds during the match's final 10 minutes, Glenbard North suffered its biggest loss of the season and was beaten by more than one goal for just the second time. The other was a 2-0 setback to current no. 13 St. Charles East on September 8.
Sophomore Jet Oehrlein was credited with the first goal. Senior Gael Alfaro followed with a score about 10 minutes later to put the Tigers in control around the midpoint of the opening half on a night where a steady rain fell throughout much of the match. Junior Eric Criostomo and sophomore Aaron Escareno added two more scores in the late going after the rain ended.
Improved defensive play has been a key for the Tigers resurgence. With sophomore goalkeeper Jared Ferreyra stopping everything that came his way, the starting backline of seniors Nikhil Bawa, Tim Foley and Christian Triscik and junior Brooks Becker have recorded shutouts in their last three victories. Those defenders shared the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor after equaling their team's previous total of shutouts in two weeks' time.
"We started off strong at 2-0 in the first half, but in the second half, the wind was going toward us," Ferreyra said. "Toward the end, the wind started slowing down and the rain ended, and that's when we started playing better. I was prepared for their shots. They were focused, knew what they were doing and wanted to get on target.
"I'm very excited about my defense because I've been playing with everybody in club, except for Nikhil. I like Brooks on the left. He's very good in 1-v-1 situations and no one gets past him. The same with Nikhil, it's like in a way the strikers are scared of him.
“Sometimes Jerry (Coatzo) and Timmy switch off, and they're very good in staying in position. Christian is my right back, and he's very good there. He makes sure the ball doesn't go above him or through him.
"We have a very good team, and we should have started strong. I don't know what happened. I feel like we needed to get used to each other, because we have some young guys that are new to the program. They've helped us out a lot. I really like our team chemistry. I like that on some days when we don't have school, we like to go shoot around or do passing drills just so that we can get better passing chemistry."
As a result of posting a 5-1-0 record down the stretch, with the only loss by a 2-0 score against defending Class 3A champion York (14-0-3, no. 2 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25), the Tigers (8-6-3, 4-2-1) have assured themselves of a winning season and believe that they can be a factor in the Plainfield North Regional, despite their 11th-seed in one of the state's toughest sectionals.
They'll open regional play next Wednesday with a 7 p.m. match against sixth-seed Oswego East.
Third-seed Plainfield North (16-4-1, no. 11, top ranked in the preseason First 50 poll), meets 13th-seed Oswego at 5 p.m. on the same night. The final is scheduled for 3 p.m. Oct. 22.
Callipari, a 2012 Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee who has led the Tigers boys program for 31 seasons, is excited about how well his team has come together in the last half of the season.
"We're 5-1-0 in the last six games and ran the table after only getting one point out of a possible nine in the first three conference games, finished in second place and were the only other team with four wins, out of eight teams," Callipari said. "It's just been a good mix of ideas and potential coming to fruition from young guys stepping up. We had all kinds of injuries, as all teams do, but we weathered that storm, because the young guys had the ability and talent. They just don't have the experience.
"They were given much experience early on, and you're starting to see that now with their confidence with the ball and their ability to read and to play faster and stay out of trouble. I think that we're in about as good shape as we can be going into the playoffs.
"I'm glad that there was a lot at stake here this evening, because that's the kind of adversity or stress level that they're going to have to deal with. There needs to be a lot to play for, and they have to be under pressure, and play well under pressure, so they're not surprised by the pressure come next Wednesday.
“We're never going to be the higher seed, so we have nothing to lose. We can just go after it."
Coach Spero Mandakas' Panthers hope to bounce back with a home win over Glenbard West on Thursday in their regular-season finale. The winner of that 6:30 p.m. match claims the championship of the Glenbard Cup. The Panthers previously recorded 1-0 wins over both Glenbard South and Glenbard East.
Then it's on to the Class 3A Lake Park Regional in the St. Charles East Sectional where ninth-seed Glenbard North meets the host and eighh-seeded Lancers in a semifinal Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. York plays the winner between Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg before that for the right to advance to the 3 p.m. final Oct. 22.
"It was one of those games where we showed up and were down four regular starters due to injuries and sickness," Mandakas said. "But at that point, as we told the guys before, that we have to step up, it's next man up. We can't have that big lapse. Unfortunately, we had that tonight.
"It was unfortunate to go out in our last conference game with that, but we saw some things and know some things that we need to be able to adjust to to get better. And the guys know that they have to do the little things right.
“Tonight we got beat in every facet of the game. Credit to Wheaton Warrenville South, because they played a great game and really took it to us.
"Hopefully this is an eye opener for us. There are some guys who really kind of had off nights. Hopefully they'll look at it and break down film and do the things that they were lacking … and be ready to change it up and work hard.”
Wheaton Warrenville South got the opener in the ninth minute when Oehrlein sent a corner kick into the box, and it deflected off a Panthers defender and went in for a score.
In the 19th minute, Wheaton Warrenville South struck again as Alfaro got free and placed an attempt over Glenbard North senior Stavros Veremis, who had come off of his line to challenge.
Despite the unpleasant conditions, both sides had a few good chances. But there were few serious threats, which was a stark contrast to what would unfold following the intermission.
Glenbard North put the pressure on right away in the second half. Senior Luis Roman sent a shot wide, and junior Christian Escobedo followed with a liner to Ferreyra. After the Tigers responded with a long free kick from sophomore Diego Bautista and senior Marco Gonzalez sent a header to Veremis, Escobedo sent in another liner that was hauled in.
Shortly before the midpoint of the second half, Alfaro and Criostomo got off close-range attempts against Veremis. Not long after that, Oehrlein had a shot that Veremis tipped over the net.
Glenbard North senior Diego Chicas sent in a free kick that was headed away by Foley and Criostomo answered on the other side of the field by being denied on a close attempt.
Wheaton Warrenville South extended its advantage to 3-0 in the 74th minute when Criostomo fired in a shot from the side from about 30 yards. It was the first goal of the season for the Tigers junior.
"The team has put in a lot of effort," Criostomo said. "We were struggling a little bit, but now we're back on track, and our offense is looking better than what it was. I think that we're ready for the playoffs. We have a lot of potential on this team. I definitely like our passing. It's gotten a lot better."
Just 65 seconds later and in the 75th minute, the visitors concluded the scoring when sophomore Aaron Escareno put in an attempt from the side from about 15 yards.
Both teams tried to connect again during the final minutes. Senior Bryan Rosal Ruiz was denied by Ferreyra, and Veremis halted a shot from senior Chase Kedzior.
"We started the conference off with two losses and one tie and that really took a toll on the team," said Escareno, one of his team's seven sophomores. "But we talked it over and got things settled. Now we've won every other game in our conference and gotten momentum going into the playoffs. The team has really found our rhythm.
"We really have a diverse group on the bench, so anyone that comes off the bench can make an impact on the field. There's not really like one standout star, everyone is like a star on the team and everyone does their part.
“On a given day, we can pull someone from the bench and they'll fill in a spot nicely. We really don't have a top scorer, everyone has two or three goals. The diversity of our group is really helpful."
Starting lineups
Wheaton Warrenville South
GK: Jared Ferreyra
D: Tim Foley
D: Christian Triscik
D: Brooks Becker
D: Nikhil Bawa
MF: Chase Kedzior
MF: Diego Bautista
MF: Jack Beres
MF: Gael Alfaro
F: Jet Oehrlein
F: Marco Gonzalez
Glenbard North
GK: Stavros Veremis
D: Diego Navarro
D: Diego Chicas
D: Azael Velazquez
D: Michael Bonsi
MF: Adan Solorio
MF: Christian Escobedo
MF: Andy Pena
MF: Luis Roman
F: Rijad Kadiric
F: Jorge Roman
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match:
Tim Foley, sr., D, Wheaton Warrenville South
Christian Triscik, sr., D, Wheaton Warrenville S;
Brooks Becker, jr., D, Wheaton Warrenville S;
Nikhil Bawa, sr., D, Wheaton Warrenville S
Scoring summary
First half
WWS: Jet Oehrlein [CK], 9'
WWS: Gael Alfaro (unassisted), 19'
Second half
WWS: Eric Criostomo (unassisted), 74'
WWS: Aaron Escareno (unassisted), 75'