Seniors spark return to championship form
Allen: "It's been the seniors and their leadership."
By Dave Owen
The Gators’ teeth are sharp again.
Coming off a nine-win season last year, Crystal Lake South rolled to a 13-5-1 record this fall and a perfect mark in conference for its first league title since 2010.
Gators’ coach Brian Allen sees one driving force behind the resurgence.
“It’s been the seniors and their leadership,” Allen said. “At the beginning of the year they determined that they wanted to leave their mark on the program, and they did. They knew what it took.
“We had a fantastic summer where we went out to a big showcase in Iowa and won a championship there, so they got a taste of it. So I said ‘Let’s carry it over, you’re capable of doing that during the season.’”
Seniors Andrew Perrine and Dalton Kause (goalkeeper) and juniors Jake Canfield and Kennan Grissom have led a Gators’ defense that posted its seventh shutout Thursday.
“That back four has been great all year,” Allen said, “and really it’s a back five with a rotation of Jeff Kirshenbaum and Zach Schmidt splitting time. They’ve bought into that role, the other three have anchored their sides and Dalton’s organizing them and making the saves he needs to make.
“They’re nothing flashy, but they get the job done, and that’s what we’re looking for.”
Four-year varsity players Orlando Tapia and Charlie Ruff and three-year letterman Perrine especially enjoyed the 2014 title run.
“It is beyond incredible for me,” Perrine said of the conference title. “We’ve been so close so many years. I couldn’t be more proud of the rest of my team for really stepping up this year and bringing it. They’ve given every single thing they have every game from start to finish, and just grown as a team.”
Seniors Ryan Russmann and Julio Campos and sophomore striker Andrew Grabowski have been among other major contributors this year.
Allen is both celebrating and focusing on the next prize.
“It starts with conference,” he said, “and now we look ahead to the postseason.”
Finishing touch
Crystal Lake South scored three goals in Thursday’s win over Huntley, but had several other close misses (including three off the post).
“In the final third we just need to be a little sharper,” Allen said. “It’s hard to complain when you score three, but we left some goals out there and that’s the difference in terms of easing the game in the playoffs where it gets tighter and tenser and giving yourself some breathing room.”
Perrine echoed his coach’s feelings, and added another area of focus with two nonconference games left before regionals.
“We definitely still need to straighten up in the back,” Perrine said. “Giving up a goal in the last five (minutes) isn’t acceptable as a team. But definitely finishing our shots is No. 1 for me. You can hit all the posts you want, but in the postseason that can mean a loss for you.”
Allen: "It's been the seniors and their leadership."
By Dave Owen
The Gators’ teeth are sharp again.
Coming off a nine-win season last year, Crystal Lake South rolled to a 13-5-1 record this fall and a perfect mark in conference for its first league title since 2010.
Gators’ coach Brian Allen sees one driving force behind the resurgence.
“It’s been the seniors and their leadership,” Allen said. “At the beginning of the year they determined that they wanted to leave their mark on the program, and they did. They knew what it took.
“We had a fantastic summer where we went out to a big showcase in Iowa and won a championship there, so they got a taste of it. So I said ‘Let’s carry it over, you’re capable of doing that during the season.’”
Seniors Andrew Perrine and Dalton Kause (goalkeeper) and juniors Jake Canfield and Kennan Grissom have led a Gators’ defense that posted its seventh shutout Thursday.
“That back four has been great all year,” Allen said, “and really it’s a back five with a rotation of Jeff Kirshenbaum and Zach Schmidt splitting time. They’ve bought into that role, the other three have anchored their sides and Dalton’s organizing them and making the saves he needs to make.
“They’re nothing flashy, but they get the job done, and that’s what we’re looking for.”
Four-year varsity players Orlando Tapia and Charlie Ruff and three-year letterman Perrine especially enjoyed the 2014 title run.
“It is beyond incredible for me,” Perrine said of the conference title. “We’ve been so close so many years. I couldn’t be more proud of the rest of my team for really stepping up this year and bringing it. They’ve given every single thing they have every game from start to finish, and just grown as a team.”
Seniors Ryan Russmann and Julio Campos and sophomore striker Andrew Grabowski have been among other major contributors this year.
Allen is both celebrating and focusing on the next prize.
“It starts with conference,” he said, “and now we look ahead to the postseason.”
Finishing touch
Crystal Lake South scored three goals in Thursday’s win over Huntley, but had several other close misses (including three off the post).
“In the final third we just need to be a little sharper,” Allen said. “It’s hard to complain when you score three, but we left some goals out there and that’s the difference in terms of easing the game in the playoffs where it gets tighter and tenser and giving yourself some breathing room.”
Perrine echoed his coach’s feelings, and added another area of focus with two nonconference games left before regionals.
“We definitely still need to straighten up in the back,” Perrine said. “Giving up a goal in the last five (minutes) isn’t acceptable as a team. But definitely finishing our shots is No. 1 for me. You can hit all the posts you want, but in the postseason that can mean a loss for you.”