Waubonsie V. hosts Lake Park
for proverbial fresh start
By Steve Nemeth
Regardless of how the first few matches unfold, the start of conference play provides a reset to a 0-0 record.
In the case of Tuesday’s DuPage Valley Conference when Lake Park visits Waubonsie Valley, it also signifies the beginning of another shift for the league.
“When we first joined there were eight (schools), it went down to six and now it’s up to nine. But no matter the number, everyone is competitive,” Lake Park coach Anthony Passi said. “Look at the sectional results, and it’s a safe bet (a finalist) has come out of the DVC.”
Actually since the three-class system was implemented in the 2008-09 school year, the DVC has had a member school in 4-of-the-last-5 final fours.
The goal for Waubonsie Valley, which moved to the league this year with Metea Valley and Neuqua Valley, doesn't change.
“Being the top team in the conference is always a goal at Waubonsie,” Warrior co-captain Leo Mendoza said. “We aim to win throughout the season, the conference season and the post-season. No question the DVC is much more competitive, so it would be that much bigger of an achievement.”
Mendoza's coach agrees with him.
“The DVC has to be one of the toughest (leagues) in all of the state,” said Waubonsie Valley coach Jose Garcia, who thinks the opener against Lake Park could be a bellwether game. “With their success last year (when Lake Park finished second with a 3-0-2 record, it’ll give us a better idea of what to expect. Actually we expect every (DVC) game to be a battle.”
The Warriors see that the 6:30 p.m. game has the potential to become a new beginning after beginning the season with a 0-3-1 mark. It’s also Waubonsie’s home-opener.
“With our start, we definitely need to get into the win column,” Mendoza noted. “One plus for us is we’re back on where we practice, grass. Most of the games were on turf, which makes for a different pace. And it’ll be nice to have a home crowd.”
Mendoza had both goals in a season-opening 2-2 draw at Plainfield Central and had an equalizer before the Warriors ultimately lost 2-1 to Sandburg to start the Best of The West tournament. Waubonsie couldn’t find the net in it following losses to Bartlett and Naperville Central. It would help if someone besides Mendoza can contribute goals to the offense.
“While we know how good Lake Park is (fourth in the state in 2013 before a 1-0 supersectional loss to Streamwood last year), teams change in personnel and style every year, plus right now our focus is really on what we need to do better,” Garcia added.
Lake Park already had one reset following a season-opening 2-0 loss to Addison Trail.
“Perhaps a few of our guys thought it would be a cakewalk, well that’s never the case in soccer,” Passi said. “We were down one (to Conant) and came back to a tie on a goal by my son (Anthony Jr.). Then we were down one early (against York), got refocused for four second half goals. “
A 0-0 draw with St. Francis proved costly even though it was followed by a 1-0 win over Wheaton North in Lake Park’s Hillner Classic. That's because both the Lancers and St. Francis ended the tourney at 2-0-2. The first tiebreak criteria this year was goals against, and St. Francis had the edge with just one goal surrendered to Lake Park’s two.
“Perhaps that will also serve as another wake-up call,” Passi added.
Anthony Passi Jr. has accounted for three of the Lancers’ five goals thus far and while the senior believes his team has picked up its play based on improved chemistry, there’s another boost coming for Lake Park in the return to action of midfielders Alex Armas and Dan Hines. The two seniors were previously sidelined by injury.
“Continuing to improve our team chemistry should help us continue to win,” Passi Jr. noted. “In our view, the DVC is definitely one of the hardest conferences in the state, we know after finishing second despite not losing a game. Add in the three Valley (Waubonsie, Neuqua and Metea) schools, and it’s that much stronger.”
Historically, the two sides haven’t met since both were members of the Upstate Eight Conference. Lake Park was a 2-0 victor at home in 2012 while Waubonsie was a 4-1 winner on its home field in 2011.
for proverbial fresh start
By Steve Nemeth
Regardless of how the first few matches unfold, the start of conference play provides a reset to a 0-0 record.
In the case of Tuesday’s DuPage Valley Conference when Lake Park visits Waubonsie Valley, it also signifies the beginning of another shift for the league.
“When we first joined there were eight (schools), it went down to six and now it’s up to nine. But no matter the number, everyone is competitive,” Lake Park coach Anthony Passi said. “Look at the sectional results, and it’s a safe bet (a finalist) has come out of the DVC.”
Actually since the three-class system was implemented in the 2008-09 school year, the DVC has had a member school in 4-of-the-last-5 final fours.
The goal for Waubonsie Valley, which moved to the league this year with Metea Valley and Neuqua Valley, doesn't change.
“Being the top team in the conference is always a goal at Waubonsie,” Warrior co-captain Leo Mendoza said. “We aim to win throughout the season, the conference season and the post-season. No question the DVC is much more competitive, so it would be that much bigger of an achievement.”
Mendoza's coach agrees with him.
“The DVC has to be one of the toughest (leagues) in all of the state,” said Waubonsie Valley coach Jose Garcia, who thinks the opener against Lake Park could be a bellwether game. “With their success last year (when Lake Park finished second with a 3-0-2 record, it’ll give us a better idea of what to expect. Actually we expect every (DVC) game to be a battle.”
The Warriors see that the 6:30 p.m. game has the potential to become a new beginning after beginning the season with a 0-3-1 mark. It’s also Waubonsie’s home-opener.
“With our start, we definitely need to get into the win column,” Mendoza noted. “One plus for us is we’re back on where we practice, grass. Most of the games were on turf, which makes for a different pace. And it’ll be nice to have a home crowd.”
Mendoza had both goals in a season-opening 2-2 draw at Plainfield Central and had an equalizer before the Warriors ultimately lost 2-1 to Sandburg to start the Best of The West tournament. Waubonsie couldn’t find the net in it following losses to Bartlett and Naperville Central. It would help if someone besides Mendoza can contribute goals to the offense.
“While we know how good Lake Park is (fourth in the state in 2013 before a 1-0 supersectional loss to Streamwood last year), teams change in personnel and style every year, plus right now our focus is really on what we need to do better,” Garcia added.
Lake Park already had one reset following a season-opening 2-0 loss to Addison Trail.
“Perhaps a few of our guys thought it would be a cakewalk, well that’s never the case in soccer,” Passi said. “We were down one (to Conant) and came back to a tie on a goal by my son (Anthony Jr.). Then we were down one early (against York), got refocused for four second half goals. “
A 0-0 draw with St. Francis proved costly even though it was followed by a 1-0 win over Wheaton North in Lake Park’s Hillner Classic. That's because both the Lancers and St. Francis ended the tourney at 2-0-2. The first tiebreak criteria this year was goals against, and St. Francis had the edge with just one goal surrendered to Lake Park’s two.
“Perhaps that will also serve as another wake-up call,” Passi added.
Anthony Passi Jr. has accounted for three of the Lancers’ five goals thus far and while the senior believes his team has picked up its play based on improved chemistry, there’s another boost coming for Lake Park in the return to action of midfielders Alex Armas and Dan Hines. The two seniors were previously sidelined by injury.
“Continuing to improve our team chemistry should help us continue to win,” Passi Jr. noted. “In our view, the DVC is definitely one of the hardest conferences in the state, we know after finishing second despite not losing a game. Add in the three Valley (Waubonsie, Neuqua and Metea) schools, and it’s that much stronger.”
Historically, the two sides haven’t met since both were members of the Upstate Eight Conference. Lake Park was a 2-0 victor at home in 2012 while Waubonsie was a 4-1 winner on its home field in 2011.