Class of 2017 could be special
for Metea Valley and Plainfield North
By Chris Walker
AURORA -- Nowadays you never know if a high school student-athlete is going to be true to his school and play all four years.
It’s not uncommon for a kid to skip playing on the prep team because of the obligations he has to his club. At other times, a player may skip a high school season to give full attention to his club. There have even been instances where a standout, who didn’t come out for the team during his first three years of high school, finally joins the school squad his senior year to experience what it’s like to wear the school colors before graduation.
How the seven sophomores who started between Plainfield North and host Metea Valley on Monday night remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain -- the schools have a lot of young talent.
“It’s a good age group in the state both in the Academy and in club soccer,” Plainfield North coach Mike Skupien said.
Max Graf, Dominic Duffy and Michael Lothridge were the sophomore starters for Metea Valley, while goalkeeper Cade Fink, Ethan Barangan, Jake Farley and Nicholas Anweiler all got the nod from Tigers coach Skupien.
“Ethan really kind of solidifies the back line for us and is making players around him better,” Skupien said. “We’ve got Jake Farley at midfield who never gets credit because he’s the holding guy who really isn’t allowed to go forward. And if he does, I yell at him. He really is the kid who doesn’t score or doesn’t get assists, but is the unsung hero of the group.”
Anweiler, at forward, has been scoring. Skupien was unsure of his season totals, but estimates that the 5-7, 150-pounder has scored 11 or 12 goals this fall. Fink delivered another shutout in the 2-0 win against Metea Valley (6-5-1).
Jackson Ranck, Adam Ratini, Ryan Cartwright and Brandon Sherry are also sophomores listed on the team’s varsity roster, which also includes nine juniors. The Tigers have just four seniors on the team.
As for Metea Valley, Duffy was one of the few players who was able to put pressure on the Plainfield North backline Monday, creating a few late shots that were denied by Fink.
“That’s one of the best teams we’ve played,” Skupien said. “They outplayed us soccer-wise for the first 20 minutes, and we’re a group that wants to get the ball on the ground and wants to play. We would love to be able to play on this kind of field (artificial) all the time and unfortunately are not able to.”
What’s your record?
Plainfield North probably opened the eyes of many when it beat highly touted Hinsdale Central, 5-2, in late August.
The Tigers have continued to collect win after win since then, but coach Mike Skupien is wary of what a record really means toward your ultimate goal.
“I told them I’m more proud of that game right there (Monday’s 2-0 win over Metea Valley),” he said. “We won that because of set pieces and from a long-term standpoint we’re 12-0 and really don’t care about being 10-1 or 15-1 or whatever.”
For the record Plainfield North improved to 12-1 with the win.
Metea Valley outplayed Plainfield North for the first 20-to-25 minutes of the first half, but the Tigers were able to seize control of the game by converting two set pieces.
“We want to make a run downstate,” Skupien said. “When you’re playing games in late October and November, that’s how you’re going to have to win.”
No laughing matter
Metea Valley coach Josh Robinson was beside himself after Monday’s 2-0 loss to Plainfield North in Aurora.
The Mustangs dropped to 1-5-1 in their past six games. They have been held scoreless in five of those games, scoring all three of their goals during the slide in a 3-2 win over Fenwick on Sept. 18.
“It’s almost comical,” Robsinson said. “But not in a funny sense, but more from a what-does-it-take standpoint?” Robinson said.
Metea Valley (6-5-1) controlled its game against Washington on Saturday but fell 1-0.
“We probably outshot them 20-3 on Saturday,” Robinson said. “We’re doing good stuff, but early in the year we were winning 1-0 and 2-0. We weren’t really scoring, but playing great defense. Now we’re giving up some free kick goals, and a lot has to do with personnel issues with injuries where guys who normally win balls in the box aren’t there and the other guys are losing some focus.”
For a team that’s reeling though, they’re remaining competitive and appear awfully close to breaking through.
“A team like this was the hardest team we’ve faced this year,” Plainfield North’s Mitchell Rathbun said. “We lost to Plainfield South on a dinky goal, but I think this team was much better than South. They were better with technical skills and played soccer, not just booting the ball around.”
No case of the Mondays
Plainfield North senior James Thompson had no problem making the bus trip north to Aurora.
“It’s nice to get back to playing, even if it’s a Monday,” the senior said. “We didn’t have training yesterday so we had a break. It was nice out there tonight. I couldn’t even tell if it was cold out or anything.”
Scouting party?
Batavia senior standout Ian Larson and his father, Gary Larson, were spotted in the bleachers for the first half of Monday’s Plainfield North at Metea Valley game.
Larson and the Bulldogs (8-1-1) are scheduled to play the Mustangs in October. They do not have Plainfield North on their schedule.
Batavia has a big rivalry match-up against Geneva on Tuesday.
for Metea Valley and Plainfield North
By Chris Walker
AURORA -- Nowadays you never know if a high school student-athlete is going to be true to his school and play all four years.
It’s not uncommon for a kid to skip playing on the prep team because of the obligations he has to his club. At other times, a player may skip a high school season to give full attention to his club. There have even been instances where a standout, who didn’t come out for the team during his first three years of high school, finally joins the school squad his senior year to experience what it’s like to wear the school colors before graduation.
How the seven sophomores who started between Plainfield North and host Metea Valley on Monday night remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain -- the schools have a lot of young talent.
“It’s a good age group in the state both in the Academy and in club soccer,” Plainfield North coach Mike Skupien said.
Max Graf, Dominic Duffy and Michael Lothridge were the sophomore starters for Metea Valley, while goalkeeper Cade Fink, Ethan Barangan, Jake Farley and Nicholas Anweiler all got the nod from Tigers coach Skupien.
“Ethan really kind of solidifies the back line for us and is making players around him better,” Skupien said. “We’ve got Jake Farley at midfield who never gets credit because he’s the holding guy who really isn’t allowed to go forward. And if he does, I yell at him. He really is the kid who doesn’t score or doesn’t get assists, but is the unsung hero of the group.”
Anweiler, at forward, has been scoring. Skupien was unsure of his season totals, but estimates that the 5-7, 150-pounder has scored 11 or 12 goals this fall. Fink delivered another shutout in the 2-0 win against Metea Valley (6-5-1).
Jackson Ranck, Adam Ratini, Ryan Cartwright and Brandon Sherry are also sophomores listed on the team’s varsity roster, which also includes nine juniors. The Tigers have just four seniors on the team.
As for Metea Valley, Duffy was one of the few players who was able to put pressure on the Plainfield North backline Monday, creating a few late shots that were denied by Fink.
“That’s one of the best teams we’ve played,” Skupien said. “They outplayed us soccer-wise for the first 20 minutes, and we’re a group that wants to get the ball on the ground and wants to play. We would love to be able to play on this kind of field (artificial) all the time and unfortunately are not able to.”
What’s your record?
Plainfield North probably opened the eyes of many when it beat highly touted Hinsdale Central, 5-2, in late August.
The Tigers have continued to collect win after win since then, but coach Mike Skupien is wary of what a record really means toward your ultimate goal.
“I told them I’m more proud of that game right there (Monday’s 2-0 win over Metea Valley),” he said. “We won that because of set pieces and from a long-term standpoint we’re 12-0 and really don’t care about being 10-1 or 15-1 or whatever.”
For the record Plainfield North improved to 12-1 with the win.
Metea Valley outplayed Plainfield North for the first 20-to-25 minutes of the first half, but the Tigers were able to seize control of the game by converting two set pieces.
“We want to make a run downstate,” Skupien said. “When you’re playing games in late October and November, that’s how you’re going to have to win.”
No laughing matter
Metea Valley coach Josh Robinson was beside himself after Monday’s 2-0 loss to Plainfield North in Aurora.
The Mustangs dropped to 1-5-1 in their past six games. They have been held scoreless in five of those games, scoring all three of their goals during the slide in a 3-2 win over Fenwick on Sept. 18.
“It’s almost comical,” Robsinson said. “But not in a funny sense, but more from a what-does-it-take standpoint?” Robinson said.
Metea Valley (6-5-1) controlled its game against Washington on Saturday but fell 1-0.
“We probably outshot them 20-3 on Saturday,” Robinson said. “We’re doing good stuff, but early in the year we were winning 1-0 and 2-0. We weren’t really scoring, but playing great defense. Now we’re giving up some free kick goals, and a lot has to do with personnel issues with injuries where guys who normally win balls in the box aren’t there and the other guys are losing some focus.”
For a team that’s reeling though, they’re remaining competitive and appear awfully close to breaking through.
“A team like this was the hardest team we’ve faced this year,” Plainfield North’s Mitchell Rathbun said. “We lost to Plainfield South on a dinky goal, but I think this team was much better than South. They were better with technical skills and played soccer, not just booting the ball around.”
No case of the Mondays
Plainfield North senior James Thompson had no problem making the bus trip north to Aurora.
“It’s nice to get back to playing, even if it’s a Monday,” the senior said. “We didn’t have training yesterday so we had a break. It was nice out there tonight. I couldn’t even tell if it was cold out or anything.”
Scouting party?
Batavia senior standout Ian Larson and his father, Gary Larson, were spotted in the bleachers for the first half of Monday’s Plainfield North at Metea Valley game.
Larson and the Bulldogs (8-1-1) are scheduled to play the Mustangs in October. They do not have Plainfield North on their schedule.
Batavia has a big rivalry match-up against Geneva on Tuesday.