Notebook: St. Charles North
By Dave Owen
In the late 1990s, musician Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys lived about a mile from St. Charles North High School in the Crane Road Estates area of the city.
In terms of St. Charles soccer, the North Stars hope one on-field historical factor this fall can help them “Get Around” remaining state tournament competition and “Do It Again” in the win column five more times this fall.
In that vein, "Good Vibrations" overflowed in the playoffs with Saturday’s 3-2 regional final win over crosstown rival St. Charles East. It may be a good omen.
“It’s been a while (since there was a North vs. East regional matchup),” North Stars coach Eric Willson said. “I remember maybe my third year, 2006, we went to PKs with them for a regional title. That was pretty intense as well.”
It was huge for the St. Charles North program that season. The North Stars followed that penalty kick shootout win over the Saints with 2-1 sectional wins over Geneva and Wheaton Warrenville South.
A 1-0 supersectional win over Benet then earned the North Stars their first and thus far only trip to the state quarterfinals (where they were edged 1-0 by Maine South).
That 2006 run followed the program’s first regional title in 2005, and marked the lone 20-win season for the North Stars.
St. Charles North hopes to compose similar postseason sweet music again in the coming weeks.
Senior moments
The 2017 North Stars have relied heavily on a standout senior class. Eight seniors started against the Saints, and three of them (Peter Willis, Jake Persenico and goalkeeper Piercarlo Ricossa) have been on the varsity team since sophomore year.
Willis is a three-year varsity starter who helped the North Stars to a 14-5-3 record in 2015 and a 14-4-3 record and regional title last fall. But he notes a special characteristic about this year’s squad.
“I think it’s just the togetherness,” Willis said. “Last year we won a regional championship but were really clique-y. This year we’re one big team. We’re all friends -- all guys that hang out with each other. And I think that will bring us far in the tournament.”
Senior forward Bernard Elegbede notices that chemistry at work on the field.
“I think where last year was a more talented team, I think this season it’s a more cohesive team,” Elegbede said. “Everyone fights together and everyone fights for each other. We really stress fighting for each other, working hard off the ball for each other, and just making the simple play for the next teammate.”
An all-senior defensive core of goalkeeper Ricossa and defenders Willis, Connor Bettini, Kyle Kolodziej and Alex Somera has produced six shutouts this fall, and held eight other 2017 opponents to one goal.
Midfielders Jameson D'Amico and forwards Elegbede, Persenico and top reserve Noah Linn have also been instrumental seniors for the Stars. Senior forward Michael Karalekas has also contributed off the bench.
“We’ve had so many special groups of seniors come through this program, and this group is no different,” Willson said. “They have bought into and been strong leaders in the unity aspect of the game that we believe so strongly in. They lead by example, by voice, and work for each other.”
THE rivalry
While the 2006 regional final PK battle has to rank atop the list of St. Charles North wins over its crosstown rival, it has new company.
Saturday’s fast start (Willis’ goal two minutes in), eventual 3-0 North lead and nail-biting 3-2 finish has its own special place in the long series of emotional regular season and postseason battles.
“They all (North-East) games have their own special quality to them, and this one certainly ranks right up there,” Willson said.
The quality of play Saturday was just part of the positive vibe.
“It certainly ranks on the positive side for us,” Willson said. “But I think anyone who’s been involved in a lot of games like this with rivalry teams, you expect it to get a little wild and a little crazy, and you just hope that your team is able to keep composure and find ways to do things the right way.
“I thought not only players but guys on the bench and fans all did things the right way this time around, which was good. Those are always fun games to be a part of, especially when you come out on the winning end of it.”
The numbers
St. Charles North’s senior leadership has extended to the scoring column as well.
Heading into sectionals, Persenico leads the Stars with 13 goals and six assists, followed by fellow senior forward Elegbede (nine goals, five assists). Junior Matt Beaulieu (five goals, six assists) and Willis (four goals, one assist) are next on the scoring list.
With Josh Amaro’s first goal of the season in Saturday’s regional final win, North has had 12 different goal scorers in 2017. Parker Kolb, Gabe D’Amico and Linn have two goals each, and Amaro, Jameson D’Amico, Kolodziej, Vito Lagioia and Joey Sommer have netted one apiece.
Mitch Bricker and Kolb each have two assists, and Linn, Amaro, Lagioia, Karalekas and Hunter Denson all have one.
Teamwork
Statistics aside, St. Charles North’s formula for success emphasizes team success over individual glory.
When Willson was asked about what players have stood out during the Stars’ excellent season, that theme was clear.
“No individual standouts in our eyes,” he said. “We are all on this bridge together, that's the way we look at it.”
The next river to cross comes Tuesday at the Conant sectional.
By Dave Owen
In the late 1990s, musician Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys lived about a mile from St. Charles North High School in the Crane Road Estates area of the city.
In terms of St. Charles soccer, the North Stars hope one on-field historical factor this fall can help them “Get Around” remaining state tournament competition and “Do It Again” in the win column five more times this fall.
In that vein, "Good Vibrations" overflowed in the playoffs with Saturday’s 3-2 regional final win over crosstown rival St. Charles East. It may be a good omen.
“It’s been a while (since there was a North vs. East regional matchup),” North Stars coach Eric Willson said. “I remember maybe my third year, 2006, we went to PKs with them for a regional title. That was pretty intense as well.”
It was huge for the St. Charles North program that season. The North Stars followed that penalty kick shootout win over the Saints with 2-1 sectional wins over Geneva and Wheaton Warrenville South.
A 1-0 supersectional win over Benet then earned the North Stars their first and thus far only trip to the state quarterfinals (where they were edged 1-0 by Maine South).
That 2006 run followed the program’s first regional title in 2005, and marked the lone 20-win season for the North Stars.
St. Charles North hopes to compose similar postseason sweet music again in the coming weeks.
Senior moments
The 2017 North Stars have relied heavily on a standout senior class. Eight seniors started against the Saints, and three of them (Peter Willis, Jake Persenico and goalkeeper Piercarlo Ricossa) have been on the varsity team since sophomore year.
Willis is a three-year varsity starter who helped the North Stars to a 14-5-3 record in 2015 and a 14-4-3 record and regional title last fall. But he notes a special characteristic about this year’s squad.
“I think it’s just the togetherness,” Willis said. “Last year we won a regional championship but were really clique-y. This year we’re one big team. We’re all friends -- all guys that hang out with each other. And I think that will bring us far in the tournament.”
Senior forward Bernard Elegbede notices that chemistry at work on the field.
“I think where last year was a more talented team, I think this season it’s a more cohesive team,” Elegbede said. “Everyone fights together and everyone fights for each other. We really stress fighting for each other, working hard off the ball for each other, and just making the simple play for the next teammate.”
An all-senior defensive core of goalkeeper Ricossa and defenders Willis, Connor Bettini, Kyle Kolodziej and Alex Somera has produced six shutouts this fall, and held eight other 2017 opponents to one goal.
Midfielders Jameson D'Amico and forwards Elegbede, Persenico and top reserve Noah Linn have also been instrumental seniors for the Stars. Senior forward Michael Karalekas has also contributed off the bench.
“We’ve had so many special groups of seniors come through this program, and this group is no different,” Willson said. “They have bought into and been strong leaders in the unity aspect of the game that we believe so strongly in. They lead by example, by voice, and work for each other.”
THE rivalry
While the 2006 regional final PK battle has to rank atop the list of St. Charles North wins over its crosstown rival, it has new company.
Saturday’s fast start (Willis’ goal two minutes in), eventual 3-0 North lead and nail-biting 3-2 finish has its own special place in the long series of emotional regular season and postseason battles.
“They all (North-East) games have their own special quality to them, and this one certainly ranks right up there,” Willson said.
The quality of play Saturday was just part of the positive vibe.
“It certainly ranks on the positive side for us,” Willson said. “But I think anyone who’s been involved in a lot of games like this with rivalry teams, you expect it to get a little wild and a little crazy, and you just hope that your team is able to keep composure and find ways to do things the right way.
“I thought not only players but guys on the bench and fans all did things the right way this time around, which was good. Those are always fun games to be a part of, especially when you come out on the winning end of it.”
The numbers
St. Charles North’s senior leadership has extended to the scoring column as well.
Heading into sectionals, Persenico leads the Stars with 13 goals and six assists, followed by fellow senior forward Elegbede (nine goals, five assists). Junior Matt Beaulieu (five goals, six assists) and Willis (four goals, one assist) are next on the scoring list.
With Josh Amaro’s first goal of the season in Saturday’s regional final win, North has had 12 different goal scorers in 2017. Parker Kolb, Gabe D’Amico and Linn have two goals each, and Amaro, Jameson D’Amico, Kolodziej, Vito Lagioia and Joey Sommer have netted one apiece.
Mitch Bricker and Kolb each have two assists, and Linn, Amaro, Lagioia, Karalekas and Hunter Denson all have one.
Teamwork
Statistics aside, St. Charles North’s formula for success emphasizes team success over individual glory.
When Willson was asked about what players have stood out during the Stars’ excellent season, that theme was clear.
“No individual standouts in our eyes,” he said. “We are all on this bridge together, that's the way we look at it.”
The next river to cross comes Tuesday at the Conant sectional.