New Trier solves Young’s skilled defense
Perchik delivers game-winner in 57th minute of 1-0 victory
By Patrick Z. McGavin
NORTHFIELD — The heart of the game is about alchemy, blending and reshaping actions, tendencies and moments to fit the need.
Such was the case with the high-profile showdown of Chicago Public League stalwart Young turning up for a bracing friendly at New Trier.
Scoring was going to be the ultimate example of success with two great defenses at work.
The first thing known was that goals were likely to be highly difficult to come by.
Young had seven goals through seven games. New Trier had conceded an identical number through 11 games.
On a beautiful and breezy late summer afternoon, those two defenses held center stage.
The offenses had to find ways to make themselves seen.
“We knew they were a big and very physical backline, so we had to work around them,” New Trier defender/midfielder Oliver Fernandez said.
Young also had to find alternate means to try and break the Trevians down. Scoring opportunities figured to be sparse.
Defender Garens Petrulis was spectacular with his throws. His ball from the left wing at the start of the second half yielded one of the Dolphins’ sharpest scoring threats.
“When we play a team that is big and strong like that, we have to find more creative ways to score,” Petrulis said.
New Trier struck at the appointed hour.
Forward Matthew Perchik received a through-ball from Fernandez and drilled home a 12-yard laser shot in the 57th minute to deliver a 1-0 victory for the Trevians on Saturday before a sizeable crowd of about 200 people.
New Trier (9-1-2), which is ranked eighth in the Week 3 Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, completed a perfect 3-0-0 week with conference victories over Maine South and Niles West.
“It’s all about taking what they give you,” Perchik said. “It was a great ball from Ollie. We were able to take the center back out of the play, and I felt the ball off my chest.
“If you want to win close games like this, you have to take your chances.”
Young played physically and aggressively, using its length and size to collapse space and shut down the channels.
“We were very competitive for the whole game, and then we had that one slip up,” Petrulis said.
“I was not able to get an inside shoulder on the ball there. Good teams are going to take advantage. It was a good play by them, but we should have been able to stop it at the point of attack.”
Both teams were missing significant personnel.
The Trevians’ best playmaker and distributor, Evan Kanellos, missed the game following the death of his grandfather.
Midfielders Theo Franzen and Karsten Segall were also out. The game underscored the Trevians’ depth.
“We were missing probably three of our top-five goal-scorers, so we had to look for our chances out there,” Perchik said.
“We had to take whatever opportunity we could get.”
Young played without Diego Delgado, a forceful and dynamic two-way threat.
The Dolphins (4-3-2) were at their most dangerous off dead balls, restarts and set pieces.
Defender Nate Chmielowicz served some terrific deep free kicks. Defender Sasha Frias-Kaehler, another rangy and gifted athlete, created some solid chances. His header off a corner in the 38th minute constituted the Dolphins’ best first half scoring chance.
“I thought in the first half, we played extremely well,” midfielder Nikhil Bapat said. “We didn’t quite match that in the second half.
“We have had some trouble with having the same level of intensity with both halves. One half is great, and the other not great. The half we lose is the difference in the game.”
Keeper was the great question mark for New Trier following the graduation of Aidan Crawford, a three-time Chicagoland Soccer all-state selection.
Shafer Brahm has split time with Thomas Terry. The two are solid, dependable and read the game beautifully.
Brahm had four saves. His aggressiveness inside the box nullified the Dolphins’ set pieces.
New Trier shut out Niles West 6-0 Friday night.
“We have this great competition with Thomas, creating this friendly environment where we both grow as players,” Brahm said. After having another game not even 12 hours ago, it was good to turn around and get one another in, and stay strong.
“They gave us a lot of opportunities in the air, and it was really important that we communicated in the back.”
Possession was evenly split, and the teams sought any crucial opportunity to break the other down.
In the back-and-forth affair, New Trier made one more play.
“We practice all the time about getting the ball wide, and we really put an emphasis on getting it into the assist zone,” Perchik said.
For his outstanding play, Perchik earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match distinction.
At the BodyArmor Classic Series last weekend, Young played defending Class AA state champion Boylan to another narrow one-goal loss despite missing three starters. The also dropped a 3-2 decision at Morton after holding a 2-0 lead Aug. 30.
The New Trier game offered further evidence of the Dolphins’ promise and powers.
Young is trying to find an offensive firepower to match its defensive prowess.
“We are not hiding from anybody that we are having trouble scoring sometimes,” Young coach Nick Maksa said.
“We have been shut out three times now. Scoring goals is hard. A lot of things havse to go right to score goals.”
New Trier created fluidity and sharp passing required to create the crucial separation.
“Credit to New Trier,” Maksa said. “They do a great job. They find the soft spot between our outside back and center back. We fall asleep and nobody has got the inside shoulder. They find him, and they score.
“The one time we didn't do the right thing, we got punished. That’s life against great teams. You have to take advantage of your opportunities and deny them the easy ones.”
Young started the season with a scoreless tie against New Trier’s neighborhood rival and antagonist Loyola.
The game offered a telling self-assessment from both sides of where they stood.
“The regular-season is just about testing yourself,” Perchik said. “We had a good test today. This was a quality team. We were short some guys.
“These types of games are teaching us how to play in close games, taking your chances and getting a tight win. It’s a skill that really comes out in the playoffs.”
Young had a less ecstatic sensation, but optimism reigned supreme.
“It was a little bittersweet,” Petrulis said. ‘We have been in every single game, and we probably think we should have won most of our games.
“The foundation is in place. We are just trying to rack up some wins at this point. These results are fine, but we have some good wins before the start of the state tournament.”
Starting lineups
Young
GK: Jackson Sprenger
D: Garens Petrulis
D: Alejandro Goldstein
D: Sascha Frias-Kaehler
D: Nate Chmielowicz
MF: John Stanton
MF: M.J. Hicks
MF: Nikhil Bapat
F: Cole Hockman
F: Reese Kruschke
F: Cesar Lopez
New Trier
GK: Shafer Brahm
D: Colin Gottshall
D: Liam Myers
D: Kevin Farina
D: Ian Vichnik
MF: Aryan Krishna
MF: Wyatt McAlexander
MF: Eli Drake
MF: Liam Myers
F: Matthew Perchik
F: Aidan Nicholson
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match:
Matthew Perchik, sr., F, New Trier
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
New Trier—Matthew Perchik (Oliver Fernandez), 57th minute
Perchik delivers game-winner in 57th minute of 1-0 victory
By Patrick Z. McGavin
NORTHFIELD — The heart of the game is about alchemy, blending and reshaping actions, tendencies and moments to fit the need.
Such was the case with the high-profile showdown of Chicago Public League stalwart Young turning up for a bracing friendly at New Trier.
Scoring was going to be the ultimate example of success with two great defenses at work.
The first thing known was that goals were likely to be highly difficult to come by.
Young had seven goals through seven games. New Trier had conceded an identical number through 11 games.
On a beautiful and breezy late summer afternoon, those two defenses held center stage.
The offenses had to find ways to make themselves seen.
“We knew they were a big and very physical backline, so we had to work around them,” New Trier defender/midfielder Oliver Fernandez said.
Young also had to find alternate means to try and break the Trevians down. Scoring opportunities figured to be sparse.
Defender Garens Petrulis was spectacular with his throws. His ball from the left wing at the start of the second half yielded one of the Dolphins’ sharpest scoring threats.
“When we play a team that is big and strong like that, we have to find more creative ways to score,” Petrulis said.
New Trier struck at the appointed hour.
Forward Matthew Perchik received a through-ball from Fernandez and drilled home a 12-yard laser shot in the 57th minute to deliver a 1-0 victory for the Trevians on Saturday before a sizeable crowd of about 200 people.
New Trier (9-1-2), which is ranked eighth in the Week 3 Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, completed a perfect 3-0-0 week with conference victories over Maine South and Niles West.
“It’s all about taking what they give you,” Perchik said. “It was a great ball from Ollie. We were able to take the center back out of the play, and I felt the ball off my chest.
“If you want to win close games like this, you have to take your chances.”
Young played physically and aggressively, using its length and size to collapse space and shut down the channels.
“We were very competitive for the whole game, and then we had that one slip up,” Petrulis said.
“I was not able to get an inside shoulder on the ball there. Good teams are going to take advantage. It was a good play by them, but we should have been able to stop it at the point of attack.”
Both teams were missing significant personnel.
The Trevians’ best playmaker and distributor, Evan Kanellos, missed the game following the death of his grandfather.
Midfielders Theo Franzen and Karsten Segall were also out. The game underscored the Trevians’ depth.
“We were missing probably three of our top-five goal-scorers, so we had to look for our chances out there,” Perchik said.
“We had to take whatever opportunity we could get.”
Young played without Diego Delgado, a forceful and dynamic two-way threat.
The Dolphins (4-3-2) were at their most dangerous off dead balls, restarts and set pieces.
Defender Nate Chmielowicz served some terrific deep free kicks. Defender Sasha Frias-Kaehler, another rangy and gifted athlete, created some solid chances. His header off a corner in the 38th minute constituted the Dolphins’ best first half scoring chance.
“I thought in the first half, we played extremely well,” midfielder Nikhil Bapat said. “We didn’t quite match that in the second half.
“We have had some trouble with having the same level of intensity with both halves. One half is great, and the other not great. The half we lose is the difference in the game.”
Keeper was the great question mark for New Trier following the graduation of Aidan Crawford, a three-time Chicagoland Soccer all-state selection.
Shafer Brahm has split time with Thomas Terry. The two are solid, dependable and read the game beautifully.
Brahm had four saves. His aggressiveness inside the box nullified the Dolphins’ set pieces.
New Trier shut out Niles West 6-0 Friday night.
“We have this great competition with Thomas, creating this friendly environment where we both grow as players,” Brahm said. After having another game not even 12 hours ago, it was good to turn around and get one another in, and stay strong.
“They gave us a lot of opportunities in the air, and it was really important that we communicated in the back.”
Possession was evenly split, and the teams sought any crucial opportunity to break the other down.
In the back-and-forth affair, New Trier made one more play.
“We practice all the time about getting the ball wide, and we really put an emphasis on getting it into the assist zone,” Perchik said.
For his outstanding play, Perchik earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match distinction.
At the BodyArmor Classic Series last weekend, Young played defending Class AA state champion Boylan to another narrow one-goal loss despite missing three starters. The also dropped a 3-2 decision at Morton after holding a 2-0 lead Aug. 30.
The New Trier game offered further evidence of the Dolphins’ promise and powers.
Young is trying to find an offensive firepower to match its defensive prowess.
“We are not hiding from anybody that we are having trouble scoring sometimes,” Young coach Nick Maksa said.
“We have been shut out three times now. Scoring goals is hard. A lot of things havse to go right to score goals.”
New Trier created fluidity and sharp passing required to create the crucial separation.
“Credit to New Trier,” Maksa said. “They do a great job. They find the soft spot between our outside back and center back. We fall asleep and nobody has got the inside shoulder. They find him, and they score.
“The one time we didn't do the right thing, we got punished. That’s life against great teams. You have to take advantage of your opportunities and deny them the easy ones.”
Young started the season with a scoreless tie against New Trier’s neighborhood rival and antagonist Loyola.
The game offered a telling self-assessment from both sides of where they stood.
“The regular-season is just about testing yourself,” Perchik said. “We had a good test today. This was a quality team. We were short some guys.
“These types of games are teaching us how to play in close games, taking your chances and getting a tight win. It’s a skill that really comes out in the playoffs.”
Young had a less ecstatic sensation, but optimism reigned supreme.
“It was a little bittersweet,” Petrulis said. ‘We have been in every single game, and we probably think we should have won most of our games.
“The foundation is in place. We are just trying to rack up some wins at this point. These results are fine, but we have some good wins before the start of the state tournament.”
Starting lineups
Young
GK: Jackson Sprenger
D: Garens Petrulis
D: Alejandro Goldstein
D: Sascha Frias-Kaehler
D: Nate Chmielowicz
MF: John Stanton
MF: M.J. Hicks
MF: Nikhil Bapat
F: Cole Hockman
F: Reese Kruschke
F: Cesar Lopez
New Trier
GK: Shafer Brahm
D: Colin Gottshall
D: Liam Myers
D: Kevin Farina
D: Ian Vichnik
MF: Aryan Krishna
MF: Wyatt McAlexander
MF: Eli Drake
MF: Liam Myers
F: Matthew Perchik
F: Aidan Nicholson
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match:
Matthew Perchik, sr., F, New Trier
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
New Trier—Matthew Perchik (Oliver Fernandez), 57th minute