Yorkville gives IMSA the Monday blues
Foxes rally for 2-1 nonconference victory
By Chris Walker
AURORA – Edgar Barrientos hasn’t scored a goal this season for Yorkville, but he has now been named a Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match.
Barrientos received the accolade Monday after Yorville’s 2-1 road victory against Illinois Math & Science Academy (IMSA). The junior played a huge role in both goals.
He assisted on the first goal and then was taken down in the box which resulted in the game-deciding penalty kick by Preston Huitron late in the second half. That is more proof that even without the glory of scoring a goal, you can still figure heavily in how well your team does on offense.
“I think I’m going to get one (a goal) soon,” Barrientos, a junior, said. “Hopefully I can get it tomorrow or Senior Night.”
Yorkville (6-7-1) tied the game at 1-1 midway through the second half. Barrientos initially thought of taking a shot, but thought better of it due to the loud advice (hollering) of his senior brother Alex.
“I didn’t know what to do,” Edgar Barrientos said. “I was thinking about turning and hitting a shot, and then I heard Alex scream at me to play him the ball. So I did and then laid it off, and he put it in.”
Alex Barrientos tends to be at the top of the box looking for the ball and that’s precisely where he found himself when he howled for the ball from his younger brother.
“I was there again and saw that Edgar couldn’t really turn so I called for the ball,” he said. “After I got the ball I just took a touch and then just hit it.”
It was a long overdue finish for the Foxes who created numerous chances, most coming later in the first half and throughout the second half.
“We need to start scoring our chances better,” Alex Barrientos said. “We’re creating a lot of chances, but not putting them away. And we have to stop starting so slowly. It has cost us before. We just need to start off starting out stronger.”
IMSA (9-3-1) came within inches of regaining the lead with 15:54 left in the game during one of the only solid scoring opportunities it had in the second half. Left wing Chetan Reddy sent a cross to Alex Domowicz whose shot was out of the reach of Yorkville goalkeeper Brandon Ducoin but clanked off the cross bar.
The Titans had another great chance about a minute later when Patrick Hulquist was able to get past two defenders and challenge Ducoin, but his shot slid wide right.
While Ducoing was able to watch that particular shot sail off target, he had to come up big on a handful of other occasions to keep the Titans out of the net.
With 12:40 remaining in the first half, Ducoing needed a full-out dive to get a hand on a header from Brandon Park.
Then with 8:05 left before halftime, Ducoing denied a header from Nikita Elkin on a shot the appeared destined to settle just inside the far post.
The Titans first real chance in the second half came with 28:40 on the clock when Nafay Abdul went 1-v.-1 with Ducoing. Again the junior prevailed and knocked away Abdul’s attempt.
“Brandon gives us a lot of confidence, and he’s also good with his feet so he helps retain possession,” Alex Barrientos said. “It’s important having a good goalie.”
It’s a strange dynamic when Ducoing is coming up with big-time saves. While it’s great he can keep the Foxes in games, it also leaves them wondering why they’re allowing such a great opportunities that he’s forced to save.
“Yeah it’s a little bit of both,” Alex Barrientos said. “On the one side Brandon making a great save is props to him, but on the other side, we gave the other team a chance to score which should not be happening.”
Something that can’t keep on happening is slow starts, which continue to plague the Foxes.
Unlike Peter Gibbons in the cult classic comedy, “Office Space,” when the Barrientos brothers and the rest of their teammates took the field no one said to them, “Sounds like somebody has a case of the Mondays” after they got off to a slow start, but they certainly were sluggish once again. And, it was a Monday, after all.
“Saturdays and Mondays have not been our strength so I’m glad we were able to get a win on a Monday. We really needed that,” Yorkville coach Andrew Johnson said. “I think we carry too much of a false sense of confidence, and you’ve got to have confidence in your ability to start a game. But I think we expect the game to come to us so we’re trying to tweak that.”
IMSA took advantage of Yorkville’s slow start by getting off to a strong beginning when Hasan Almousawi scored from about 40 yards on a free kick just 5:51 into the action.
The Titans had created some chances before Almousawi scored, as well as after, and had a particularly strong run of play for the first 20 minutes or so before Yorkville started to come alive.
“I thought we came out really well and we just got a little lax on the defensive end especially,” IMSSA coach Josiah Payne said,. “A little fatigue got to us. We really weren’t taking care of ourselves later. We were jumping at balls instead of containing on our defense, and we just let it get away. We let them back in it and let them take it.”
IMSA has a big game at Harvest on Tuesday so while disappointed with the defeat, they have a chance to dive right back into action in conference play.
“It was a hard-fought game,” Payne said. “We’re still pressing toward a repeat conference championship so we’re gearing up for that against a rival. We’ll take this one and learn from it and probably learn more tomorrow.”
Yorkville is still trying to learn how to come out quickly. There’s no knocking Johnson for trying something new, and he’ll likely keep on tweaking things until something sticks.
“I developed a new warm-up routine to try to get them moving, but this was the first game since then so it was more of a walkthrough,” he said. “Hopefully in the next games they’ll start doing it on their own. We have talent, speed and size, but we haven’t been able to put it all together at the start of the game.”
The Foxes were coming off a tough week, tying Kaneland on Tuesday before getting blitzed by Rochelle 5-0 Thursday.
“The second half (Saturday) was one of our best halves in a while,” Johnson said. “I felt like we dictated play the second half. We’ve got to work on our touches, but we haven’t had many games with those scoring opportunities, so we’re not going to look sharp in that attacking third. But it’s good to get those opportunities.”
Ultimately the game-winner was initiated by Peyton Senffner and Edgar Barrientos and finished by Preston Huitron. Senffner sent the pass in the direction of Barrientos who was taken down in the box with just under 10 minutes left in the game.
“I just saw the open space and screamed at Peyton to play me the ball through,” Barrientos said. “And he did and I got taken down. I was trying to score my first goal, but unfortunately I couldn’t. But as long we score I’m happy.”
While Yorkville (1,781 students) is about twice as big as IMSA (837) according to the IHSA, the match up between these two squads has been a good one in recent years. That’s not necessarily always the case, but at least for now, they have a good thing going.
“It’s been great because these last couple of years the program here has really been growing and improving,” Payne said. “There was a time a few years ago where these guys would have beaten us 8-0. We got them last year; they got this one, so it’s been good.”
It all comes down to the talent a coaching staff is given to work with. Especially at IMSA, athletics obviously come after education. The school's academically talented students strive to become creative, ethical leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Goal scoring on the pitch isn’t anywhere listed in the school’s mission and beliefs, but having well-rounded students who also shine in athletics has been a nice bonus.
“We’ve gotten a little bit lucky with the talent that has come in and everyone has bought into the idea of winning, which I think has been the big thing,” Payne said. “Last year (in the postseason) we got Wheaton Academy in our second game and that was tough, especially because we had some injuries and a player out with a red card. But this year we feel good heading into the post-season.”
For at least a while, Yorkville will revel in the win.
“Years ago this might not have been a competitive game, but now they’ve got some great players, and (Chetan Reddy) gave us fits,” Johnson said. “They’re just another competitive game, and I love what (Payne) has done with their program.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be a stat-stuffer or anything like that. I don’t think there’s one of those on the schedule. This was good competition for a Monday.”
Back on the winning track, the Foxes have no time for rest with Geneseo visiting Yorkville on Tuesday. Perhaps, Edgar Barrientos can get that first goal?
“I think he’s going to get it,” his brother Alex Barrientos said. “He had a lot of assists already, so he’ll get a goal for sure.”
Starting lineups
Yorkville
GK: Brandon Ducoing
D: Nicholas Bivens
D: Ryan Schwarz
MF: Alex Barrientos
MF: Edgar Barrientos
MF: Preston Huitron
MF: J.C. Noyola
MF: Jake Rodgers
MF: Peyton Senffner
F: Caleb Law
F: K.J. Calder
IMSA
GK: Alej Curtis
D: Brandon Park
D: Lucien Putnam
D: Ethan Tse
D: Arthur Wang
MF: Hasan Almousawi
MF: Nafay Abduk
MF: Patrick Hultquist
F: Alex Domowicz
F: Quadri Durojaiye
F: Chetan Reddy
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Edgar Barrientos, jr., MF, Yorkville
Scoring summary
First half
IMSA – Hasan Almousawi (unassisted), 34:09
Second half
Yorkville – Alex Barrientos (Edgar Barrientos), 22:12
Yorkville – Preston Huitron PK, 9:38
Foxes rally for 2-1 nonconference victory
By Chris Walker
AURORA – Edgar Barrientos hasn’t scored a goal this season for Yorkville, but he has now been named a Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match.
Barrientos received the accolade Monday after Yorville’s 2-1 road victory against Illinois Math & Science Academy (IMSA). The junior played a huge role in both goals.
He assisted on the first goal and then was taken down in the box which resulted in the game-deciding penalty kick by Preston Huitron late in the second half. That is more proof that even without the glory of scoring a goal, you can still figure heavily in how well your team does on offense.
“I think I’m going to get one (a goal) soon,” Barrientos, a junior, said. “Hopefully I can get it tomorrow or Senior Night.”
Yorkville (6-7-1) tied the game at 1-1 midway through the second half. Barrientos initially thought of taking a shot, but thought better of it due to the loud advice (hollering) of his senior brother Alex.
“I didn’t know what to do,” Edgar Barrientos said. “I was thinking about turning and hitting a shot, and then I heard Alex scream at me to play him the ball. So I did and then laid it off, and he put it in.”
Alex Barrientos tends to be at the top of the box looking for the ball and that’s precisely where he found himself when he howled for the ball from his younger brother.
“I was there again and saw that Edgar couldn’t really turn so I called for the ball,” he said. “After I got the ball I just took a touch and then just hit it.”
It was a long overdue finish for the Foxes who created numerous chances, most coming later in the first half and throughout the second half.
“We need to start scoring our chances better,” Alex Barrientos said. “We’re creating a lot of chances, but not putting them away. And we have to stop starting so slowly. It has cost us before. We just need to start off starting out stronger.”
IMSA (9-3-1) came within inches of regaining the lead with 15:54 left in the game during one of the only solid scoring opportunities it had in the second half. Left wing Chetan Reddy sent a cross to Alex Domowicz whose shot was out of the reach of Yorkville goalkeeper Brandon Ducoin but clanked off the cross bar.
The Titans had another great chance about a minute later when Patrick Hulquist was able to get past two defenders and challenge Ducoin, but his shot slid wide right.
While Ducoing was able to watch that particular shot sail off target, he had to come up big on a handful of other occasions to keep the Titans out of the net.
With 12:40 remaining in the first half, Ducoing needed a full-out dive to get a hand on a header from Brandon Park.
Then with 8:05 left before halftime, Ducoing denied a header from Nikita Elkin on a shot the appeared destined to settle just inside the far post.
The Titans first real chance in the second half came with 28:40 on the clock when Nafay Abdul went 1-v.-1 with Ducoing. Again the junior prevailed and knocked away Abdul’s attempt.
“Brandon gives us a lot of confidence, and he’s also good with his feet so he helps retain possession,” Alex Barrientos said. “It’s important having a good goalie.”
It’s a strange dynamic when Ducoing is coming up with big-time saves. While it’s great he can keep the Foxes in games, it also leaves them wondering why they’re allowing such a great opportunities that he’s forced to save.
“Yeah it’s a little bit of both,” Alex Barrientos said. “On the one side Brandon making a great save is props to him, but on the other side, we gave the other team a chance to score which should not be happening.”
Something that can’t keep on happening is slow starts, which continue to plague the Foxes.
Unlike Peter Gibbons in the cult classic comedy, “Office Space,” when the Barrientos brothers and the rest of their teammates took the field no one said to them, “Sounds like somebody has a case of the Mondays” after they got off to a slow start, but they certainly were sluggish once again. And, it was a Monday, after all.
“Saturdays and Mondays have not been our strength so I’m glad we were able to get a win on a Monday. We really needed that,” Yorkville coach Andrew Johnson said. “I think we carry too much of a false sense of confidence, and you’ve got to have confidence in your ability to start a game. But I think we expect the game to come to us so we’re trying to tweak that.”
IMSA took advantage of Yorkville’s slow start by getting off to a strong beginning when Hasan Almousawi scored from about 40 yards on a free kick just 5:51 into the action.
The Titans had created some chances before Almousawi scored, as well as after, and had a particularly strong run of play for the first 20 minutes or so before Yorkville started to come alive.
“I thought we came out really well and we just got a little lax on the defensive end especially,” IMSSA coach Josiah Payne said,. “A little fatigue got to us. We really weren’t taking care of ourselves later. We were jumping at balls instead of containing on our defense, and we just let it get away. We let them back in it and let them take it.”
IMSA has a big game at Harvest on Tuesday so while disappointed with the defeat, they have a chance to dive right back into action in conference play.
“It was a hard-fought game,” Payne said. “We’re still pressing toward a repeat conference championship so we’re gearing up for that against a rival. We’ll take this one and learn from it and probably learn more tomorrow.”
Yorkville is still trying to learn how to come out quickly. There’s no knocking Johnson for trying something new, and he’ll likely keep on tweaking things until something sticks.
“I developed a new warm-up routine to try to get them moving, but this was the first game since then so it was more of a walkthrough,” he said. “Hopefully in the next games they’ll start doing it on their own. We have talent, speed and size, but we haven’t been able to put it all together at the start of the game.”
The Foxes were coming off a tough week, tying Kaneland on Tuesday before getting blitzed by Rochelle 5-0 Thursday.
“The second half (Saturday) was one of our best halves in a while,” Johnson said. “I felt like we dictated play the second half. We’ve got to work on our touches, but we haven’t had many games with those scoring opportunities, so we’re not going to look sharp in that attacking third. But it’s good to get those opportunities.”
Ultimately the game-winner was initiated by Peyton Senffner and Edgar Barrientos and finished by Preston Huitron. Senffner sent the pass in the direction of Barrientos who was taken down in the box with just under 10 minutes left in the game.
“I just saw the open space and screamed at Peyton to play me the ball through,” Barrientos said. “And he did and I got taken down. I was trying to score my first goal, but unfortunately I couldn’t. But as long we score I’m happy.”
While Yorkville (1,781 students) is about twice as big as IMSA (837) according to the IHSA, the match up between these two squads has been a good one in recent years. That’s not necessarily always the case, but at least for now, they have a good thing going.
“It’s been great because these last couple of years the program here has really been growing and improving,” Payne said. “There was a time a few years ago where these guys would have beaten us 8-0. We got them last year; they got this one, so it’s been good.”
It all comes down to the talent a coaching staff is given to work with. Especially at IMSA, athletics obviously come after education. The school's academically talented students strive to become creative, ethical leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Goal scoring on the pitch isn’t anywhere listed in the school’s mission and beliefs, but having well-rounded students who also shine in athletics has been a nice bonus.
“We’ve gotten a little bit lucky with the talent that has come in and everyone has bought into the idea of winning, which I think has been the big thing,” Payne said. “Last year (in the postseason) we got Wheaton Academy in our second game and that was tough, especially because we had some injuries and a player out with a red card. But this year we feel good heading into the post-season.”
For at least a while, Yorkville will revel in the win.
“Years ago this might not have been a competitive game, but now they’ve got some great players, and (Chetan Reddy) gave us fits,” Johnson said. “They’re just another competitive game, and I love what (Payne) has done with their program.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be a stat-stuffer or anything like that. I don’t think there’s one of those on the schedule. This was good competition for a Monday.”
Back on the winning track, the Foxes have no time for rest with Geneseo visiting Yorkville on Tuesday. Perhaps, Edgar Barrientos can get that first goal?
“I think he’s going to get it,” his brother Alex Barrientos said. “He had a lot of assists already, so he’ll get a goal for sure.”
Starting lineups
Yorkville
GK: Brandon Ducoing
D: Nicholas Bivens
D: Ryan Schwarz
MF: Alex Barrientos
MF: Edgar Barrientos
MF: Preston Huitron
MF: J.C. Noyola
MF: Jake Rodgers
MF: Peyton Senffner
F: Caleb Law
F: K.J. Calder
IMSA
GK: Alej Curtis
D: Brandon Park
D: Lucien Putnam
D: Ethan Tse
D: Arthur Wang
MF: Hasan Almousawi
MF: Nafay Abduk
MF: Patrick Hultquist
F: Alex Domowicz
F: Quadri Durojaiye
F: Chetan Reddy
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Edgar Barrientos, jr., MF, Yorkville
Scoring summary
First half
IMSA – Hasan Almousawi (unassisted), 34:09
Second half
Yorkville – Alex Barrientos (Edgar Barrientos), 22:12
Yorkville – Preston Huitron PK, 9:38