Sizzling Saint Viator
to face no. 10 Evanston
Lions enter Mid-States Classic on 7-game win streak
By Ken Keenan
Two of the area's hottest teams will square off when Saint Viator
meets Evanston at 5:30 p.m. Friday on the opening night of the Mid-States Classic in Spingfield.
The tournament was originally scheduled to be played at Forest View in Arlington Heights, but was move downstate last week.
Saint Viator began the 2015 campaign with five-consecutive losses, a streak that
would spell doom for many teams. But they started to turn things around
with a 3-0 win over Nazareth on Sept. 11, and Saint Viator has barely
looked back since. Head coach Mike Taylor's crew earned its seventh-straight
victory with a 6-0 conquest of Notre Dame on Wednesday,
improving to 9-6-0 overall and 5-1-0 in East Suburban Catholic
Conference play.
During the perfect run, Saint Viator has scored a total of 15 goals
while allowing only three. Besides the blanking of Nazareth, the Lions
shut out Marist 1-0 at home Monday, and recorded identical 1-0 wins
over Wheaton Warrenville South on Sept. 19 and against Grayslake Central on Sept.
22.
Since its poor start, the Lions only blemish was a 2-1 road loss to Morton
on Sept. 15.
Evanston -- ranked No. 10 in the latest Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 -- will
take to the Morris Field pitch with an overall mark of 11-1-2, including a
3-1-1 record in Central Suburban League South Division play. The
Wildkits defeated Jacobs 1-0 in a nonconference game Wednesday, two
ays after topping league rival New Trier by the same score. Evanston's
only loss of the season came against Waukegan in a 1-0 decision on Sept. 24.
Senior forward Jesus Villasenor scored the game-winner against Jacobs,
with senior midfielder Christyan De La Cruz earning the assist.
"De La Cruz is playing a huge role as the midfielder in front of the
defensive line," said Evanston head coach Franz Calixte. "He helps to
keep our shape and start our counters."
Senior forward Erick Balthazar is the team's leading scorer, with nine
goals, followed by senior midfielder Adam Trujillo (goal, five
assists).
"Balthazar is a dangerous player in the final third who can shoot,
dribble and pass," Calixte said. "Trujillo can break opponents down
off his dribble."
The key player for Evanston this season is senior goalkeeper Adam
Masters, a three-year starter. In 14 matches this year, Masters has
chalked up 12 shutouts, and has allowed only three goals in all.
"The main key to our success this year is defense," Calixte said.
"With Masters in net leading the way, we have cemented into a
defensive wall."
Looking at the numbers, it figures to be a low-scoring affair Friday night.
"We always look forward to playing Saint Viator," Calixte said. "Mike
Taylor is a great coach. His program always presents a challenge, and
it's one we look forward to in our preparation for the playoffs."
to face no. 10 Evanston
Lions enter Mid-States Classic on 7-game win streak
By Ken Keenan
Two of the area's hottest teams will square off when Saint Viator
meets Evanston at 5:30 p.m. Friday on the opening night of the Mid-States Classic in Spingfield.
The tournament was originally scheduled to be played at Forest View in Arlington Heights, but was move downstate last week.
Saint Viator began the 2015 campaign with five-consecutive losses, a streak that
would spell doom for many teams. But they started to turn things around
with a 3-0 win over Nazareth on Sept. 11, and Saint Viator has barely
looked back since. Head coach Mike Taylor's crew earned its seventh-straight
victory with a 6-0 conquest of Notre Dame on Wednesday,
improving to 9-6-0 overall and 5-1-0 in East Suburban Catholic
Conference play.
During the perfect run, Saint Viator has scored a total of 15 goals
while allowing only three. Besides the blanking of Nazareth, the Lions
shut out Marist 1-0 at home Monday, and recorded identical 1-0 wins
over Wheaton Warrenville South on Sept. 19 and against Grayslake Central on Sept.
22.
Since its poor start, the Lions only blemish was a 2-1 road loss to Morton
on Sept. 15.
Evanston -- ranked No. 10 in the latest Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 -- will
take to the Morris Field pitch with an overall mark of 11-1-2, including a
3-1-1 record in Central Suburban League South Division play. The
Wildkits defeated Jacobs 1-0 in a nonconference game Wednesday, two
ays after topping league rival New Trier by the same score. Evanston's
only loss of the season came against Waukegan in a 1-0 decision on Sept. 24.
Senior forward Jesus Villasenor scored the game-winner against Jacobs,
with senior midfielder Christyan De La Cruz earning the assist.
"De La Cruz is playing a huge role as the midfielder in front of the
defensive line," said Evanston head coach Franz Calixte. "He helps to
keep our shape and start our counters."
Senior forward Erick Balthazar is the team's leading scorer, with nine
goals, followed by senior midfielder Adam Trujillo (goal, five
assists).
"Balthazar is a dangerous player in the final third who can shoot,
dribble and pass," Calixte said. "Trujillo can break opponents down
off his dribble."
The key player for Evanston this season is senior goalkeeper Adam
Masters, a three-year starter. In 14 matches this year, Masters has
chalked up 12 shutouts, and has allowed only three goals in all.
"The main key to our success this year is defense," Calixte said.
"With Masters in net leading the way, we have cemented into a
defensive wall."
Looking at the numbers, it figures to be a low-scoring affair Friday night.
"We always look forward to playing Saint Viator," Calixte said. "Mike
Taylor is a great coach. His program always presents a challenge, and
it's one we look forward to in our preparation for the playoffs."