Notebook: Addison Trail
By Dave Owen
Progress has come fast for Addison Trail.
A three-game comparison is the proof. After Lyons defeated Morton in early March and the Blazers fell 4-1 to Morton on March 23, Addison Trail turned around four days later and defeated then top-ranked Lyons 1-0.
The abbreviated preseason before facing Morton was part of the challenge.
“We practiced in the fall a little bit and then had like a three-month break,” Angel Gomez said. “We had to build up our chemistry and didn’t have a lot of time to practice (in March). We started right away. Our first game was right in the first week we had started practice.”
Top scorer Anthony Hernandez (whose header goal off a well-struck free kick from midfield by Gomez won the Lyons game) also noted the unusual early season hurdles.
“It usually takes us three or four preseason games before we enter conference and by then we’re good,” Hernandez said, “but we don’t have that luxury this year. We had to go right away and bring as much energy as we could.”
A winning combination
The Gomez long free kick send and Hernandez finish at Lyons will be a tough play to top this season. But it’s been just one example of the two talented seniors’ key role in the Blazers’ spring success.
“Hernandez never quits,” Blazers coach Ryan Dini said, “He’s been our big goal scorer. And Angel, we play him on defense, we play him at mid and at the 10 position. He’s all over the field, and he’s tough.”
An underclassman has been the vital component of the Addison Trail defense.
“Our goalie Mateo (Gomez) is a junior who’s very athletic and long,” Dini said. “He’s had a good season.”
A bright future
A tough schedule so far (Lyons, Morton, Downers North and Hinsdale Central) gets no easier for the Blazers (4-2-1, 3-1-0 in conference).
A key Thursday WSC Gold Division match with Leyden (4-1-0, 2-0-0) and an April 15 season finale against York (3-1-1, with a tie against Morton) are among the impending tests.
But the progress so far this spring and a young roster bode well for April, and beyond.
“We only have seven seniors on this team,” Dini said, “so out of 19 guys we have a lot of juniors and a sophomore (Anthony Baciu). We’re trying to get them caught up.
“Usually we would have done open gym stuff (in the offseason), and we just weren’t allowed to do it. When you’re a year off and trying to piece things together it’s tough.
“I’ve been putting (players) in a lot of different spots to see where they’re going to fit in,” Dini added, “and with that junior group put them in positions to excel and see where we will put them in the fall.”
The prognosticator
In his postgame thoughts after the Blazers’ loss to Morton, Hernandez stressed the benefits of facing a top opponent.
“We learn a lot from this game,” he said, “especially our younger guys since we have a lot of juniors this year that didn’t play varsity last year. They’ll hopefully learn from this experience, bring energy to practice tomorrow and be prepared for our next games.”
Addison Trail’s wins over Hinsdale South and Lyons the next two matches made him a prophet.
A new approach
Boys soccer in the early spring and no postseason playoffs have made this a one-of-a-kind season.
“It’s different,” Dini said. “We’re approaching conference as the state championship. We need a little help now (with the loss to Morton). We’re 3-1-0 in conference.
“And on the other side of the conference we have some stacked teams with York and Lyons. Those games we try different things, and conference games we treat like playoff games this year.”
By Dave Owen
Progress has come fast for Addison Trail.
A three-game comparison is the proof. After Lyons defeated Morton in early March and the Blazers fell 4-1 to Morton on March 23, Addison Trail turned around four days later and defeated then top-ranked Lyons 1-0.
The abbreviated preseason before facing Morton was part of the challenge.
“We practiced in the fall a little bit and then had like a three-month break,” Angel Gomez said. “We had to build up our chemistry and didn’t have a lot of time to practice (in March). We started right away. Our first game was right in the first week we had started practice.”
Top scorer Anthony Hernandez (whose header goal off a well-struck free kick from midfield by Gomez won the Lyons game) also noted the unusual early season hurdles.
“It usually takes us three or four preseason games before we enter conference and by then we’re good,” Hernandez said, “but we don’t have that luxury this year. We had to go right away and bring as much energy as we could.”
A winning combination
The Gomez long free kick send and Hernandez finish at Lyons will be a tough play to top this season. But it’s been just one example of the two talented seniors’ key role in the Blazers’ spring success.
“Hernandez never quits,” Blazers coach Ryan Dini said, “He’s been our big goal scorer. And Angel, we play him on defense, we play him at mid and at the 10 position. He’s all over the field, and he’s tough.”
An underclassman has been the vital component of the Addison Trail defense.
“Our goalie Mateo (Gomez) is a junior who’s very athletic and long,” Dini said. “He’s had a good season.”
A bright future
A tough schedule so far (Lyons, Morton, Downers North and Hinsdale Central) gets no easier for the Blazers (4-2-1, 3-1-0 in conference).
A key Thursday WSC Gold Division match with Leyden (4-1-0, 2-0-0) and an April 15 season finale against York (3-1-1, with a tie against Morton) are among the impending tests.
But the progress so far this spring and a young roster bode well for April, and beyond.
“We only have seven seniors on this team,” Dini said, “so out of 19 guys we have a lot of juniors and a sophomore (Anthony Baciu). We’re trying to get them caught up.
“Usually we would have done open gym stuff (in the offseason), and we just weren’t allowed to do it. When you’re a year off and trying to piece things together it’s tough.
“I’ve been putting (players) in a lot of different spots to see where they’re going to fit in,” Dini added, “and with that junior group put them in positions to excel and see where we will put them in the fall.”
The prognosticator
In his postgame thoughts after the Blazers’ loss to Morton, Hernandez stressed the benefits of facing a top opponent.
“We learn a lot from this game,” he said, “especially our younger guys since we have a lot of juniors this year that didn’t play varsity last year. They’ll hopefully learn from this experience, bring energy to practice tomorrow and be prepared for our next games.”
Addison Trail’s wins over Hinsdale South and Lyons the next two matches made him a prophet.
A new approach
Boys soccer in the early spring and no postseason playoffs have made this a one-of-a-kind season.
“It’s different,” Dini said. “We’re approaching conference as the state championship. We need a little help now (with the loss to Morton). We’re 3-1-0 in conference.
“And on the other side of the conference we have some stacked teams with York and Lyons. Those games we try different things, and conference games we treat like playoff games this year.”