Young-St. Ignatius tussle ends in draw
Neighborhood rivals battle to 1-1 result
By Mike Garofola
CHICAGO -- Keith Bevans scored the late equalizer and host St. Ignatius denied Young its first win of the young season Saturday afternoon at Fornelli Field in the West Loop campus.
Near the hour, Bevans drew the Wolfpack even when he broke free and ran hard into the box to finish and set up a frantic final 20 minutes when both clubs went in search of the game-winner.
"It was a fair result. (Obviously) we wanted to come away with a win today, but on the other hand, we didn't want to begin the season with three-straight losses in our first week," said Young manager Ian McCarthy, a 1991 graduate of St. Ignatius.
"It's great to bring my team to the place where I went to school, watch my son (Esme) playing for me here today, and to go against a quality program run by a good guy like Ryan Kearns."
Kearns had hoped his Wolfpack would match some of that prematch excitement from his counterpart. But it was clear in the early going his club would not come close to the pace and energy Young (0-2-1) brought. The Wolfpack produced a rather drab opening half hour in which the visitors scored, and could have added more.
"I don't know what it is about these games on Saturday -- whether the pre-game warmup is lacking, or the guys haven't eaten well enough, or gotten plenty of rest -- but we were awful at the start," began a disappointed Kearns.
"Credit Ian. He had his guys ready to go from the very start, and we looked like we were standing still during the first twenty minutes plus. (We) were kind of fortunate they didn't put another goal or two in on us, because they just pounded us into our own turf."
The visiting Dolphins wasted little time to get on the scoreboard. Aidan Chapman kept things alive in the area before playing a lovely ball to Evan Wimberly, who beat the backline and Wolfpack (2-0-1) keeper Orest Sison with a sublime finish in the fifth minute.
The combined efforts of the Dolphins front six, Wimberly, Chapman, Esme McCarthy, Leo Daley, Jake Gerenraich and senior Josue Espinoza, compounded the Ignatius first half woes because of their nonstop work rate and high-percentage possession rate.
"I thought we came out and played really well today, and although we gave up a bit of an unlucky goal in the second half, I thought we dominated a lot of the play in this game," said the junior Gerenraich, one of three who wore the captain's armband for Ian McCarthy.
With the aforementioned Wemberly and Chapman keeping up the high pressure on the Wolfpack backline, which played without two key starters including three-year starter and team co-captain A.J. Capitanini, the home side had trouble getting out of its own end.
"We really had to work hard to hold off (Young) for most of the first half," said Wolfpack senior Quinn Troy, whose box-to-box work on this day was cut short when a harsh second booking gave him the rest of the day off five minutes from time.
Young managed several half-chances on frame as the first period continued on. The Dolphins might well have doubled their advantage if not for a well-executed sharp tackle by Sachin Medler against Wimberly in the 32nd minute that ended any hope of a 1-v.-1 attack for the senior forward.
Just before the Wimberly attempt, then after, the Wolfpack finally came into the game with their best offensive outburst of the first half.
The home side recorded four corners in the final eight minutes, two of which created by Owen Allen.
Allen was part of some quality combination-play along with Brock Hurst. The hosts were unlucky when an early ball from Owen outpaced Hurst at the back post.
"We finally came alive a little at the end of the first half, but we got right back to where we started at the beginning of the second half," offered Kearns.
"I agree," said Troy. "But the goal by Keith really seemed to get us going and inspire our play."
Almost from nothing, Wimberly, Chapman and Gerenraich nearly made it 2-0 moments after the intermission. Then another well-timed tackle, this time from Daniel Fernandez, turned away a marvelous crossfield pass from Jonathan Perez to Daley at the back post.
Fernandez needed to be helped off minutes later, joining a growing list of Wolfp
ack injuries.
A deep throw found Hurst, then Medler and finally Jason Pratt, whose attempt on frame forced Dolphin keeper Dixon O'Banion into action in the 56th minute.
Two minutes later, Bevans came to the rescue for the Wolfpack.
"Coach told me when when I'm making my runs straight into the box (to) peel off sometimes to help create some space for myself," began the goal-scoring hero.
"That's what I did, and on that goal, I used my strength and speed to get to the ball and go for it when I got in-close."
Young's O'Banion looked confident and keep the game even when he went into full extension on the floor to stop Rudy Bieglmeier in the 63rd minute, just after Parker Ljung went wide with an attempt for the Dolphins.
There was a lot of one-way traffic during a 5-6 minute sequence by the home side, inspired most by Bevans, Troy and Pratt, but except for a couple of corners and deep throws, the Wolfpack were unable to put anything dangerous on frame while their guests did just once in the closing moments.
That came on 35-yard cracker from Espinoza.
The attack from both sides began to huff and puff down the stretch during the back-and-forth action. When the final whistle sounded, it brought many a player to his knees to catch his breathe.
"That was a fair result for both sides," said Young's Espinoza, who was honored as Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match for his terrific 80-minute performance.
"It's too bad we didn't get another goal or two along the way, but I really liked the way we played on both sides of the ball. (I've) seen good progress with our team in just this first week, and I know we'll continue to get better as we go along."
"I agree, the progress is there," said McCarthy. "We still need to correct some things and clean a few areas up here and there, but the boys are working hard, and all of that showed today with a real good all-around effort."
The Dolphins continue their season with a trip to meet Washington in a Chicago Public League Premier Division match Monday.
At the other end of the park, Kearns hopes the tepid start from his lads will not reappear when the Wolfpack opens pool play at the Red Devil Invitational against Morton on Tuesday at Hinsdale Central.
"We've got our fair share of guys fighting some nagging injuries, including Capitanini, but we're hoping most of them will be back for Tuesday when we play Morton," Kearns said. "We can't start that way again or we'll be in trouble.
"We were without three starters today, two of which were in our backline, but others filled in well. Although we'll be without Troy Quinn on Tuesday, we should get everyone else back."
Starting lineups
Young
GK- Dixon O'Banion
D- Reed Schaefer
D- Alex Espino
D- Christion Rice
D- Jonathan Perez
M- Esme McCarthy
M- Josue Espinoza
M- Jake Gerenraich
M- Leo Daley
F- Aidan Chapman
F- Evan Wimberly
St. Ignatius
GK- Orest Sison
D- Ethan Belnap
D- Connor Broeking
D- Christian Telles
D- Jack Galante
M- Rudy Bieglmeier
M- Daniel Fernandez
M- Owen Allen
M- Quinn Troy
M- Jason Pratt
F- Eduardo Lopez
Scoring summary
Whitney Young: Wimberly 5'
St. Ignatius: Bevans 58'
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Josue Espinoza, Young, sr., MF
Neighborhood rivals battle to 1-1 result
By Mike Garofola
CHICAGO -- Keith Bevans scored the late equalizer and host St. Ignatius denied Young its first win of the young season Saturday afternoon at Fornelli Field in the West Loop campus.
Near the hour, Bevans drew the Wolfpack even when he broke free and ran hard into the box to finish and set up a frantic final 20 minutes when both clubs went in search of the game-winner.
"It was a fair result. (Obviously) we wanted to come away with a win today, but on the other hand, we didn't want to begin the season with three-straight losses in our first week," said Young manager Ian McCarthy, a 1991 graduate of St. Ignatius.
"It's great to bring my team to the place where I went to school, watch my son (Esme) playing for me here today, and to go against a quality program run by a good guy like Ryan Kearns."
Kearns had hoped his Wolfpack would match some of that prematch excitement from his counterpart. But it was clear in the early going his club would not come close to the pace and energy Young (0-2-1) brought. The Wolfpack produced a rather drab opening half hour in which the visitors scored, and could have added more.
"I don't know what it is about these games on Saturday -- whether the pre-game warmup is lacking, or the guys haven't eaten well enough, or gotten plenty of rest -- but we were awful at the start," began a disappointed Kearns.
"Credit Ian. He had his guys ready to go from the very start, and we looked like we were standing still during the first twenty minutes plus. (We) were kind of fortunate they didn't put another goal or two in on us, because they just pounded us into our own turf."
The visiting Dolphins wasted little time to get on the scoreboard. Aidan Chapman kept things alive in the area before playing a lovely ball to Evan Wimberly, who beat the backline and Wolfpack (2-0-1) keeper Orest Sison with a sublime finish in the fifth minute.
The combined efforts of the Dolphins front six, Wimberly, Chapman, Esme McCarthy, Leo Daley, Jake Gerenraich and senior Josue Espinoza, compounded the Ignatius first half woes because of their nonstop work rate and high-percentage possession rate.
"I thought we came out and played really well today, and although we gave up a bit of an unlucky goal in the second half, I thought we dominated a lot of the play in this game," said the junior Gerenraich, one of three who wore the captain's armband for Ian McCarthy.
With the aforementioned Wemberly and Chapman keeping up the high pressure on the Wolfpack backline, which played without two key starters including three-year starter and team co-captain A.J. Capitanini, the home side had trouble getting out of its own end.
"We really had to work hard to hold off (Young) for most of the first half," said Wolfpack senior Quinn Troy, whose box-to-box work on this day was cut short when a harsh second booking gave him the rest of the day off five minutes from time.
Young managed several half-chances on frame as the first period continued on. The Dolphins might well have doubled their advantage if not for a well-executed sharp tackle by Sachin Medler against Wimberly in the 32nd minute that ended any hope of a 1-v.-1 attack for the senior forward.
Just before the Wimberly attempt, then after, the Wolfpack finally came into the game with their best offensive outburst of the first half.
The home side recorded four corners in the final eight minutes, two of which created by Owen Allen.
Allen was part of some quality combination-play along with Brock Hurst. The hosts were unlucky when an early ball from Owen outpaced Hurst at the back post.
"We finally came alive a little at the end of the first half, but we got right back to where we started at the beginning of the second half," offered Kearns.
"I agree," said Troy. "But the goal by Keith really seemed to get us going and inspire our play."
Almost from nothing, Wimberly, Chapman and Gerenraich nearly made it 2-0 moments after the intermission. Then another well-timed tackle, this time from Daniel Fernandez, turned away a marvelous crossfield pass from Jonathan Perez to Daley at the back post.
Fernandez needed to be helped off minutes later, joining a growing list of Wolfp
ack injuries.
A deep throw found Hurst, then Medler and finally Jason Pratt, whose attempt on frame forced Dolphin keeper Dixon O'Banion into action in the 56th minute.
Two minutes later, Bevans came to the rescue for the Wolfpack.
"Coach told me when when I'm making my runs straight into the box (to) peel off sometimes to help create some space for myself," began the goal-scoring hero.
"That's what I did, and on that goal, I used my strength and speed to get to the ball and go for it when I got in-close."
Young's O'Banion looked confident and keep the game even when he went into full extension on the floor to stop Rudy Bieglmeier in the 63rd minute, just after Parker Ljung went wide with an attempt for the Dolphins.
There was a lot of one-way traffic during a 5-6 minute sequence by the home side, inspired most by Bevans, Troy and Pratt, but except for a couple of corners and deep throws, the Wolfpack were unable to put anything dangerous on frame while their guests did just once in the closing moments.
That came on 35-yard cracker from Espinoza.
The attack from both sides began to huff and puff down the stretch during the back-and-forth action. When the final whistle sounded, it brought many a player to his knees to catch his breathe.
"That was a fair result for both sides," said Young's Espinoza, who was honored as Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match for his terrific 80-minute performance.
"It's too bad we didn't get another goal or two along the way, but I really liked the way we played on both sides of the ball. (I've) seen good progress with our team in just this first week, and I know we'll continue to get better as we go along."
"I agree, the progress is there," said McCarthy. "We still need to correct some things and clean a few areas up here and there, but the boys are working hard, and all of that showed today with a real good all-around effort."
The Dolphins continue their season with a trip to meet Washington in a Chicago Public League Premier Division match Monday.
At the other end of the park, Kearns hopes the tepid start from his lads will not reappear when the Wolfpack opens pool play at the Red Devil Invitational against Morton on Tuesday at Hinsdale Central.
"We've got our fair share of guys fighting some nagging injuries, including Capitanini, but we're hoping most of them will be back for Tuesday when we play Morton," Kearns said. "We can't start that way again or we'll be in trouble.
"We were without three starters today, two of which were in our backline, but others filled in well. Although we'll be without Troy Quinn on Tuesday, we should get everyone else back."
Starting lineups
Young
GK- Dixon O'Banion
D- Reed Schaefer
D- Alex Espino
D- Christion Rice
D- Jonathan Perez
M- Esme McCarthy
M- Josue Espinoza
M- Jake Gerenraich
M- Leo Daley
F- Aidan Chapman
F- Evan Wimberly
St. Ignatius
GK- Orest Sison
D- Ethan Belnap
D- Connor Broeking
D- Christian Telles
D- Jack Galante
M- Rudy Bieglmeier
M- Daniel Fernandez
M- Owen Allen
M- Quinn Troy
M- Jason Pratt
F- Eduardo Lopez
Scoring summary
Whitney Young: Wimberly 5'
St. Ignatius: Bevans 58'
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Josue Espinoza, Young, sr., MF