Wheaton Warrenville South roars
to win at Schaumburg
Tigers’ breakout 2nd half leads to 5-0 result
By Mike Garofola
SCHAUMBURG -- Marco Gonzalez scored one and helped on two others, and teammate Chase Kedzior provided a superb, long-range blast that guided Wheaton Warrenville South past Schaumburg on Saturday afternoon at Gary Scholz Stadium.
The Tigers (2-0-1) were superior to their hosts, who looked off form and may had just had one of those days when an opponent’s energy, pace and purpose were far too much to overcome.
"It was just not a very good day for us," said Schaumburg manager Eric Sorby, who along with his wife recently welcomed first child Cal to the family. “(We) lacked intensity, work-rate and desire needed to go out and compete against a team that had all of that. I would be hard pressed to find any positive things to say right now.”
Wheaton Warrenville South left the pitch in a fine mood.
"It was a pretty good overall performance by our team today," said Gonzalez, who shared the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor with Kedzior.
Kedzior added: "We came back with (nine) seconds to go the other day on a goal from Brooks (Becker) to tie Oswego (2-2). That kind of carried over into today's game, where we started strong and never really stopped after that.”
"We have a very young roster, witnessed by the (seven) sophomores and one freshman we have,” said Guy Callipari, the classy, longtime manager of the Tigers who is now in his 32nd season in charge. “Early on, all of them have shown they are capable of playing at this level. Although there's a lot of work ahead of (them) and the rest of the team, we've seen progress in each of our three games thus far."
Callipari, whose club went 8-8-3 overall and 3-3-1 in the DuKane Conference last season, continues to inch his way closer to 350 career victories on the boys side. He has already surpassed the 400-win mark in the girls program.
"It's been a terrific run here at South, one that is slowly coming to an end," began Callipari. "I have a great staff alongside me, and they deserve to have their chance. We'll figure all of that at some time in the near future."
Schaumburg junior Andrei Rotaru, whom the Tigers awarded their traditional sportsmanship award to after the game, gave his club the type of energy it wanted when he went just wide 60 seconds into the game. The shot brought his bench up onto their feet, but it wouldn't be until well into the second half that his club would put anything of value on frame.
"I thought at the start (we) came ready to play, but we started chasing the game so early because of their PK,” Rotaru said. “After that second goal right after the half, (our) confidence really dropped off."
Rotaru scored the first of three goals against Mid-Suburban League rival Conant last Thursday. Teammates Patrick Moskal and Ben Lainson added to the score line, but the Saxons fell 5-3.
Schaumburg’s offense never really got started Saturday.
"Our intensity, and work-rate did not match up very well at all against (them) today,” Rotaru said. “We have to get better at that as a team."
The early PK Rotaru spoke of came after a little confusion between the referee and his AR on what was originally an offsides. It led to a hand ball call along the end line that sent Gonzalez to the spot where he promptly steered in the fifth-minute opener.
Gonzalez, Kedzior, Becker, Jack Beres and freshman Semin Razman were a constant thorn in the side of the Saxons as the 4-2-3-1 formation Callipari opened with had this group do plenty of running, pressing to the gaps and work between each other to help keep the pressure on their hosts.
"I liked our work-rate today, and the guys played with confidence," said Callipari, who coached without four of his usual first 11 on this day.
Razman did well during his time on the pitch. His darting runs, ability to engage with his teammates and ability to create brought praise from the Tigers manager.
"Semin just arrived recently from Bosnia, where he was playing on their under-16 team,” he said. As you saw, he is crafty and has a good idea of how to play the game. As he gets bigger and stronger, he'll be able to do so many other things for us."
Wheaton Warrenville South recorded several quality early-balls that stretched Schaumburg in the middle of the park and then its backline. The first of many came when Quentin Oker put Gonzalez through. If not for a sharp tackle from Patrick Moskal, Gonzalez would have had Saxons first half keeper Kiki Urosevic all to himself.
A nicely played counter initiated by sophomore Jet Oehrlein and Becker ended with Gonzalez going over the bar. That was followed shortly by an offensive barrage by the visitors.
Oehrlein just missed to the back post; soph Diego Bautista sprayed his effort wide of frame; then a marvelous reaction save from Urosevic stopped Gonzalez from doubling the advantage at the half hour.
"We created a lot of chances today because of our pace and energy level, which was really high throughout the game," said Kedzior, whose plans to major in engineering in college.
"With so many of us playing for different club teams, it will take us a little while to build some chemistry, but I am super excited about this team and the future with so many young players on the roster," added Gonzalez, whose first two college choices are North Carolina, and Notre Dame.
The score nearly became 2-0 just off the second half whistle but for a superb save from Saxons keeper Max Niziolek on a wicked cracker from Gonzalez, who came roaring up the ride side. Unfortunately for the home side, when a long throw from Gonzalez slipped through the keepers’ hands, Beres was there to one-time the ball, which fell near the spot.
"Six of our goals thus far have come off dead ball opportunities, not the run of play, but that's the way the high school game goes," said Callipari.
Oehrlein made it 3-0 from 22 yards in the 49th minute, then watched his next effort punched away nicely by Niziolek and then parried out of danger by Saxons defender Joey Salatino.
Both sides began to bring reserves freely off the bench for the final quarter hour, but Kedzior remained and made his last few minutes of the game most memorable.
He dispossessed a Saxons player just inside 30 yards and on the turn unloaded a searing right-footer that exploded into the upper right corner far out of the reach of Niziolek, who made a valiant effort to get a glove on the Tigers' fourth goal of the afternoon.
"The ball was at my foot. When I turned and had the chance to shoot, I did," said Kedzior of his YouTube-worthy strike.
Gonzalez added his second helper of the day to make it 5-0 when a lovely ball from the senior put Bautista in seven minutes from time.
"Bautista and Oehrlein did all the work to score their goals," said the humble Gonzalez.
"Marco and Chase are fine examples of the type of leaders you need to have when there are so many new and inexperienced players on your varsity roster,” said a proud Callipari. “(They) support each other, and on top of everything else they do, both are fine young men.
"It was a good overall effort from the team today. We were able to get a lot of our guys quality minutes out there, which is an important thing to do especially during these nonconference games."
Next up for the Tigers is Willowbrook at home at 6:30 p.m. Monday. After training the rest of the week, Wheaton Warrenville South will travel to Glenbard East on Saturday morning.
Schaumburg (0-3-0, 0-1-0) continues play Wednesday at Rolling Meadows.
Starting lineups
Wheaton-Warrenville South (4-2-3-1)
G- Carrol Dunn
D- Christian Triscik
D- Nikhil Bawa
D- Jerry Cuatzo
D- Aaron Escareno
M- Jet Oehrlein
M- Brooks Becker
M- Chase Kezior
M- Jack Beres
M- Semin Razman
F- Marco Gonzalez
Schaumburg (4-5-1)
G- Kiki Urosevic
D- Mateusz Boksa
D- Patrick Moskal
D- Ryan Williams
D- Joey Salatino
M- Brady Phelps
M- Marek Jasinski
M- Eddie Montes
M- Ben Lainson
F- Victor DelRosarioSilva
F- Andrei Rotaru
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match:
Marco Gonzalez, sr., F, Wheaton Warrenville South;
Chase Kedzior, sr., F, Wheaton-Warrenville South
Referee: Mike Schmikley
Scoring summary
First half
WWS: Gonzalez (PK) 5'
Second half
WWS: Beres, (Escarino), 42'
WWS: Oehrlein, (Gonzalez, Beres), 49'
WWS: Kedzior, (unassisted), 65'
WWS: Bautista, (Gonzalez), 73'