York hustle delivers a break vs. Lake Park
Woolfe's hard cross leads to game-winning own goal
By Dave Owen
ROSELLE -- York’s push for a scoring breakout produced some unpredictable results Saturday.
Two incredible dribble drives into the box early in the second half by Parker Gawne produced the Dukes’ first two goals of the season just 67 seconds apart.
Then after defending Class 3A state fourth place finisher Lake Park, ranked no. 27 in Chicagoland Soccer's preseason First 50 poll, nicely rallied to tie 2-2 with just 5:55 left, no. 15 York (1-2-0) found another improbable score in its bag of tricks just over a minute later.
Ryan Woolfe won possession at the upper left corner of the box. Calmly creating some space, Woolfe rocketed a cross towards the crease that caromed hard off a Lake Park player and into the net.
The own-goal gave the Dukes a 3-2 win over the Lancers (0-3-0) in the second round of the Norm Hillner Classic at Lake Park's East Campus.
“As a winger,” Woolfe said, “I’m trying to block those inner balls, so I can run in and step on the goal like I did.
“I caught that kid slowing down (to win possession); I just took him on that bad touch he took. Then I tried to put it on goal, and hit it as hard as I could basically. Luckily it got deflected and went in.”
Woolfe made an impact as a sophomore last year, scoring goals in his first two games after a midseason elevation to varsity.
Saturday’s good strike and fortunate carom was even bigger.
“The focus of our last three or four training sessions has been getting the ball and driving it,” York coach Lukasz Majewski said. “That’s what Ryan did.
“Good things happen when you drive to the goal and force the other team to do something with that. That’s exactly what he did, ripped the ball across the face of the goal and fortunately for us it ended up in the back of the net.”
Good fortune had been elusive for York over its first two matches, both 1-0 losses. Ironically, its opening loss to Hoffman Estates was also decided by an own-goal – a game in which the Dukes defense actually allowed zero shots on goal but lost.
The soccer gods balanced the books late in Saturday’s game, at the expense of a Lake Park side that had played a stellar 20-plus minutes of soccer to draw even.
“It’s just unfortunate for us,” Lancers coach Sean Crosby said. “We were trying to make a play on the ball in a dangerous area, and we put it in our own net. But that (own-goal) happens at the highest level from the best players in the world to high school and the youth level.
“But I loved seeing the response from our team, picking each other up and knowing that we’re a step closer.”
The own-goal capped a wild second half, which began with two Lake Park corner kicks in the first two minutes.
Just three minutes later, the match evolved into a dribbling clinic by York senior Gawne.
Moved up from his usual defender spot, Gawne took an Erwin Morales throw-in and nicely dribbled around and past two defenders before being tripped in the box.
Joe Meade’s ensuing penalty kick goal made the score 1-0 York – and ended a season scoreless streak of 204 minutes, 38 seconds, for the Dukes.
“Parker’s a player who serves such an important role in the back for us with his speed and physicality,” Majewski said. “He’s able to match the speed (of opposing forwards) and body up in the back.
“So we like him back there, but we’ve been struggling to score some goals, and I know that he prides himself on pushing up and trying to create something. As he did today. Great individual effort.”
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match Gawne was just getting started.
Just 67 seconds after the PK goal, Gawne won a 35-yard free kick send to the top of the box, again eluded multiple defenders with strong dribbling, then passed across the box to Kalvin Glodz for a left side putaway.
York suddenly led 2-0 with 34:15 left thanks to two great individual efforts by Gawne. But the senior was almost apologetic afterward.
“I probably shouldn’t have done that,” Gawne said of his reliance on dribbling instead of passing, “but I got lucky that it worked out. We needed to score and needed somebody to step up.
“I love defense; it’s what I’m better at. But honestly if you just work hard at forward and just pressure the opposing team, it creates chances. That’s what our offense does. We just high pressure, high pressure, and it causes mistakes and gaps open up.”
Said Majewski: “Obviously he (Gawne) did a phenomenal job drawing the PK, and on the second opportunity down there with his dribble, but there are other things where we can make it a lot easier on ourselves.”
However, Lake Park was about to make the quest for victory a lot harder on the Dukes.
After enduring another Gawne threat (a 15-yard shot just over the net with 32:05 left), the Lancers produced an Olek Melnyk 22-yard free kick inches wide of the net (with 30:40 to play) and another header on goal with 29:50 to go before breaking through.
After an initial Lake Park push into the box was denied, Riccardo Ciaccio’s pass found Abel Campuzano 35 yards out. His well-struck right side shot found the upper right corner of the net, and the Lancers were within 2-1 with 26:23 to play.
“He was well outside the box, at least 30 yards,” Crosby said. “We’d been preaching to him all game long, ‘Shoot the ball. Stop giving it up when you get into that danger area. Just shoot it and see what happens.’ And it wasn’t his best strike, but it goes on frame and into the back of the net for us.
“He had a big smile on his face coming off, because he knows he hits a better ball than that every day. ‘That wasn’t my best, and it goes in the net.’ Hopefully that gives him the courage and the confidence. No one has seen him at his best yet. I can’t wait to see him open up and really get after it at his best, and he’s getting there. I’m excited for him.”
More excitement came in an eventful 30-second span with 19 minutes left.
Lancer goalkeeper Kyle Czeremuga’s catch of a 18-yard Morales drive led to a quick Lake Park counterattack.
A good defensive play near the box by York’s George Nolley and a strong clear by Sebastian Benavides then sprung Andrew Pygon for a Dukes right side rush. That ended with a Pygon shot that angled just wide of the left post.
The next 12 minutes was an extended version of similar back-and-forth.
The highlights included a 20-yard free kick by Lake Park’s Max Panek just over the net, York’s Meade sending a header just wide off a Pygon 30-yard free kick send, and a great block save by Czeremuga on a Jake Hansmann 8-yard shot with 8:30 left.
Lake Park would then turn a well-struck free kick into a rebound finish and a 2-2 tie with 5:55 to go.
After Ciaccio was fouled, Melynk lined the ensuing 25-yard free kick off the crossbar. Senior Konrad Sagan pounced on the rebound right of the crease and put away the game-tying goal.
“We were confident (about coming back from 2-0 deficit),” said Melynk, who had also lasered a 20-yard shot off the crossbar three minutes into the game.
“We stayed positive; we wanted to win this game. We’ve lost two games already and really wanted to win so we made the comeback. But then we just got unlucky at the end (on the own goal).”
Lake Park has also faced an unlucky one-two punch of sorts.
Graduation claimed much of the nucleus of last year’s state squad, even as the success created a reputation to live up to.
“Everyone wants to beat us,” Melnyk said. “We know we have to live up to our expectations -- we played amazing last year -- and we have to keep doing it.
“It’s been tough (losing last year’s seniors). We need new players, new names.”
Saturday’s response to adversity bodes well for the new Lancers to make a name for themselves.
“It’s great to have the target on your back,” Crosby said, “because it means you have some respect. But teams want to bring their best against you. Teams are going to keep coming at us, and we have to fight off their best play. So we have to match it every day, bring the work rate and the intensity.
“Our message to them was that we’re one step closer. We’re right there. Hopefully that keeps going for us.”
Crosby saw Saturday’s comeback as a testament to Lake Park’s depth.
“We threw everybody on the field,” he said. “Everybody’s here for a reason. We need our entire team to play.
“It was unfortunate giving up the penalty, and that was us just not moving our feet and being a little bit careless in the back.
“But once our goal went in (to make it 2-1),” Crosby added, “it was: ‘Everyone that’s here is playing and is here for a reason. Go out, work your tail off, change the pace and intensity of the game and impact the game right now.’”
But up 3-2, York quieted any Lancers’ hopes of another comeback. Glodz’s header upfield of a Ciaccio free kick send from midfield with 3:15 left was the Lancers’ last chance in the offensive zone.
And with its second half scoring outburst, York’s offense appears to be back on track.
“I challenged the boys at halftime, somebody has to put something away,” Majewski said. “We came out with a little more energy, a little more intensity.
“We got some finishes, but we’re still leaving way too much on the table. The first half, several of them should have been put away.”
York’s early chances included Czeremuga’s save on an Ethan Oder 18-yarder in the 17th minute; a Gawne redirect just wide off a Kol Rollins corner kick in the 21st minute; Meade’s strong rush to the left post and shot in the 31st minute that deflected across the crease; and a Hansmann 15-yard high chip in the 37th minute that was denied by Czeremuga’s leaping grab.
With those chances and the second half scores, playing their first game of the season on natural grass seemed to have few ill effects.
“We’re usually not playing on grass,” Gawne said. “We move way faster on turf.”
No matter the playing surface, the Dukes are cohesive.
“The chemistry on our team is absolutely phenomenal,” Gawne said. “It is a brotherhood. We have some newcomers, but they fit right in. Everybody contributes, whether you’re on the bench or starting it doesn’t matter. We’re a unit.”
After Saturday’s strong second half, that bond is being matched by rising confidence.
“We played very well against (no. 12) New Trier (a 1-0 loss Thursday),” Woolfe said, “but this (win) is really just getting us started. We’re a fast-paced team. Scoring three goals, it’s almost like a new team.”
Starting lineups
York
GK: Marco Aguilar
D: Boyd Puckett
D: Kalvin Glodz
D: Sebastian Benavides
D: Parker Gawne
M: Sam Musial
M: Jack Musial
M: Ethan Oder
M: Kol Rollins
F: Joe Meade
F: Erwin Morales
Lake Park
GK: Kyle Czeremuga
D: Francesco Caira
D: Anthony Magner
D: Max Panek
D: Edgar Villagran
M: Abel Campuzano
M: Riccardo Ciaccio
M: Olek Melnyk
M: Antonio Bavaro
M: Max Armas
F: Grayden McClellan
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Parker Gawne, sr. D, York
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
York – Joe Meade (PK), 45th min
York – Kalvin Glodz (Parker Gawne), 46th min
LP – Abel Campuzano (Riccardo Ciaccio), 54th min
LP – Konrad Sagan (free kick rebound), 75th min
York – LP own goal (Ryan Woolfe shot deflection), 76th min
Woolfe's hard cross leads to game-winning own goal
By Dave Owen
ROSELLE -- York’s push for a scoring breakout produced some unpredictable results Saturday.
Two incredible dribble drives into the box early in the second half by Parker Gawne produced the Dukes’ first two goals of the season just 67 seconds apart.
Then after defending Class 3A state fourth place finisher Lake Park, ranked no. 27 in Chicagoland Soccer's preseason First 50 poll, nicely rallied to tie 2-2 with just 5:55 left, no. 15 York (1-2-0) found another improbable score in its bag of tricks just over a minute later.
Ryan Woolfe won possession at the upper left corner of the box. Calmly creating some space, Woolfe rocketed a cross towards the crease that caromed hard off a Lake Park player and into the net.
The own-goal gave the Dukes a 3-2 win over the Lancers (0-3-0) in the second round of the Norm Hillner Classic at Lake Park's East Campus.
“As a winger,” Woolfe said, “I’m trying to block those inner balls, so I can run in and step on the goal like I did.
“I caught that kid slowing down (to win possession); I just took him on that bad touch he took. Then I tried to put it on goal, and hit it as hard as I could basically. Luckily it got deflected and went in.”
Woolfe made an impact as a sophomore last year, scoring goals in his first two games after a midseason elevation to varsity.
Saturday’s good strike and fortunate carom was even bigger.
“The focus of our last three or four training sessions has been getting the ball and driving it,” York coach Lukasz Majewski said. “That’s what Ryan did.
“Good things happen when you drive to the goal and force the other team to do something with that. That’s exactly what he did, ripped the ball across the face of the goal and fortunately for us it ended up in the back of the net.”
Good fortune had been elusive for York over its first two matches, both 1-0 losses. Ironically, its opening loss to Hoffman Estates was also decided by an own-goal – a game in which the Dukes defense actually allowed zero shots on goal but lost.
The soccer gods balanced the books late in Saturday’s game, at the expense of a Lake Park side that had played a stellar 20-plus minutes of soccer to draw even.
“It’s just unfortunate for us,” Lancers coach Sean Crosby said. “We were trying to make a play on the ball in a dangerous area, and we put it in our own net. But that (own-goal) happens at the highest level from the best players in the world to high school and the youth level.
“But I loved seeing the response from our team, picking each other up and knowing that we’re a step closer.”
The own-goal capped a wild second half, which began with two Lake Park corner kicks in the first two minutes.
Just three minutes later, the match evolved into a dribbling clinic by York senior Gawne.
Moved up from his usual defender spot, Gawne took an Erwin Morales throw-in and nicely dribbled around and past two defenders before being tripped in the box.
Joe Meade’s ensuing penalty kick goal made the score 1-0 York – and ended a season scoreless streak of 204 minutes, 38 seconds, for the Dukes.
“Parker’s a player who serves such an important role in the back for us with his speed and physicality,” Majewski said. “He’s able to match the speed (of opposing forwards) and body up in the back.
“So we like him back there, but we’ve been struggling to score some goals, and I know that he prides himself on pushing up and trying to create something. As he did today. Great individual effort.”
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match Gawne was just getting started.
Just 67 seconds after the PK goal, Gawne won a 35-yard free kick send to the top of the box, again eluded multiple defenders with strong dribbling, then passed across the box to Kalvin Glodz for a left side putaway.
York suddenly led 2-0 with 34:15 left thanks to two great individual efforts by Gawne. But the senior was almost apologetic afterward.
“I probably shouldn’t have done that,” Gawne said of his reliance on dribbling instead of passing, “but I got lucky that it worked out. We needed to score and needed somebody to step up.
“I love defense; it’s what I’m better at. But honestly if you just work hard at forward and just pressure the opposing team, it creates chances. That’s what our offense does. We just high pressure, high pressure, and it causes mistakes and gaps open up.”
Said Majewski: “Obviously he (Gawne) did a phenomenal job drawing the PK, and on the second opportunity down there with his dribble, but there are other things where we can make it a lot easier on ourselves.”
However, Lake Park was about to make the quest for victory a lot harder on the Dukes.
After enduring another Gawne threat (a 15-yard shot just over the net with 32:05 left), the Lancers produced an Olek Melnyk 22-yard free kick inches wide of the net (with 30:40 to play) and another header on goal with 29:50 to go before breaking through.
After an initial Lake Park push into the box was denied, Riccardo Ciaccio’s pass found Abel Campuzano 35 yards out. His well-struck right side shot found the upper right corner of the net, and the Lancers were within 2-1 with 26:23 to play.
“He was well outside the box, at least 30 yards,” Crosby said. “We’d been preaching to him all game long, ‘Shoot the ball. Stop giving it up when you get into that danger area. Just shoot it and see what happens.’ And it wasn’t his best strike, but it goes on frame and into the back of the net for us.
“He had a big smile on his face coming off, because he knows he hits a better ball than that every day. ‘That wasn’t my best, and it goes in the net.’ Hopefully that gives him the courage and the confidence. No one has seen him at his best yet. I can’t wait to see him open up and really get after it at his best, and he’s getting there. I’m excited for him.”
More excitement came in an eventful 30-second span with 19 minutes left.
Lancer goalkeeper Kyle Czeremuga’s catch of a 18-yard Morales drive led to a quick Lake Park counterattack.
A good defensive play near the box by York’s George Nolley and a strong clear by Sebastian Benavides then sprung Andrew Pygon for a Dukes right side rush. That ended with a Pygon shot that angled just wide of the left post.
The next 12 minutes was an extended version of similar back-and-forth.
The highlights included a 20-yard free kick by Lake Park’s Max Panek just over the net, York’s Meade sending a header just wide off a Pygon 30-yard free kick send, and a great block save by Czeremuga on a Jake Hansmann 8-yard shot with 8:30 left.
Lake Park would then turn a well-struck free kick into a rebound finish and a 2-2 tie with 5:55 to go.
After Ciaccio was fouled, Melynk lined the ensuing 25-yard free kick off the crossbar. Senior Konrad Sagan pounced on the rebound right of the crease and put away the game-tying goal.
“We were confident (about coming back from 2-0 deficit),” said Melynk, who had also lasered a 20-yard shot off the crossbar three minutes into the game.
“We stayed positive; we wanted to win this game. We’ve lost two games already and really wanted to win so we made the comeback. But then we just got unlucky at the end (on the own goal).”
Lake Park has also faced an unlucky one-two punch of sorts.
Graduation claimed much of the nucleus of last year’s state squad, even as the success created a reputation to live up to.
“Everyone wants to beat us,” Melnyk said. “We know we have to live up to our expectations -- we played amazing last year -- and we have to keep doing it.
“It’s been tough (losing last year’s seniors). We need new players, new names.”
Saturday’s response to adversity bodes well for the new Lancers to make a name for themselves.
“It’s great to have the target on your back,” Crosby said, “because it means you have some respect. But teams want to bring their best against you. Teams are going to keep coming at us, and we have to fight off their best play. So we have to match it every day, bring the work rate and the intensity.
“Our message to them was that we’re one step closer. We’re right there. Hopefully that keeps going for us.”
Crosby saw Saturday’s comeback as a testament to Lake Park’s depth.
“We threw everybody on the field,” he said. “Everybody’s here for a reason. We need our entire team to play.
“It was unfortunate giving up the penalty, and that was us just not moving our feet and being a little bit careless in the back.
“But once our goal went in (to make it 2-1),” Crosby added, “it was: ‘Everyone that’s here is playing and is here for a reason. Go out, work your tail off, change the pace and intensity of the game and impact the game right now.’”
But up 3-2, York quieted any Lancers’ hopes of another comeback. Glodz’s header upfield of a Ciaccio free kick send from midfield with 3:15 left was the Lancers’ last chance in the offensive zone.
And with its second half scoring outburst, York’s offense appears to be back on track.
“I challenged the boys at halftime, somebody has to put something away,” Majewski said. “We came out with a little more energy, a little more intensity.
“We got some finishes, but we’re still leaving way too much on the table. The first half, several of them should have been put away.”
York’s early chances included Czeremuga’s save on an Ethan Oder 18-yarder in the 17th minute; a Gawne redirect just wide off a Kol Rollins corner kick in the 21st minute; Meade’s strong rush to the left post and shot in the 31st minute that deflected across the crease; and a Hansmann 15-yard high chip in the 37th minute that was denied by Czeremuga’s leaping grab.
With those chances and the second half scores, playing their first game of the season on natural grass seemed to have few ill effects.
“We’re usually not playing on grass,” Gawne said. “We move way faster on turf.”
No matter the playing surface, the Dukes are cohesive.
“The chemistry on our team is absolutely phenomenal,” Gawne said. “It is a brotherhood. We have some newcomers, but they fit right in. Everybody contributes, whether you’re on the bench or starting it doesn’t matter. We’re a unit.”
After Saturday’s strong second half, that bond is being matched by rising confidence.
“We played very well against (no. 12) New Trier (a 1-0 loss Thursday),” Woolfe said, “but this (win) is really just getting us started. We’re a fast-paced team. Scoring three goals, it’s almost like a new team.”
Starting lineups
York
GK: Marco Aguilar
D: Boyd Puckett
D: Kalvin Glodz
D: Sebastian Benavides
D: Parker Gawne
M: Sam Musial
M: Jack Musial
M: Ethan Oder
M: Kol Rollins
F: Joe Meade
F: Erwin Morales
Lake Park
GK: Kyle Czeremuga
D: Francesco Caira
D: Anthony Magner
D: Max Panek
D: Edgar Villagran
M: Abel Campuzano
M: Riccardo Ciaccio
M: Olek Melnyk
M: Antonio Bavaro
M: Max Armas
F: Grayden McClellan
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Parker Gawne, sr. D, York
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
York – Joe Meade (PK), 45th min
York – Kalvin Glodz (Parker Gawne), 46th min
LP – Abel Campuzano (Riccardo Ciaccio), 54th min
LP – Konrad Sagan (free kick rebound), 75th min
York – LP own goal (Ryan Woolfe shot deflection), 76th min