History on the line as Naperville Central, Naperville North meet in crosstown rivalry
By Matt Le Cren
Naperville North and Naperville Central will not lack for motivation when they meet for their annual crosstown clash on Saturday night at North.
On one hand, the visitors will seek payback from the Huskies. Naperville Central lost only twice last season and both defeats came against Naperville North, which first denied the Redhawks the DuPage Valley Conference title before ending their season in a sectional semifinal.
On the other, Naperville North is shooting for the program’s 600th victory and an early boost in the DVC race.
"It’s definitely a good rivalry and all the boys are such good friends," Naperville North coach Jim Konrad said.
The host Huskies (5-2) are rested and come into the game on a high after winning the Best of the West Tournament for just the second time in 20 years last Saturday.
Most of the players have known each other since grade school, having played with and against each other for years. They may be friendly rivals, but that doesn’t make the competition any less intense.
“It’s North-Central. There’s going to be emotion, there’s going to be passion,” Naperville Central coach Troy Adams said. “The thing that we need to do is make sure that we keep it in check and that we understand that, yeah, the game is a big deal, but as soon as that whistle blows, you’ve got to take a deep breath and recognize that it is still a soccer game.
“You’ve got to play the way you’re supposed to play. You can’t do things that you’re not supposed to do just because it’s North or there might be a big crowd there. Stay under control and play within the role you’re supposed to play.”
That can be easier said than done, especially for players new to the varsity level or filling larger roles.
“In a crosstown game it’s such a big rivalry, especially because most of the players on the teams know each other from club soccer or other events, so it’s always very, very physical,” Naperville North goalkeeper Riley Wiest said. “So we need to play good on the ball, but we also need to have as much energy as possible so we can bring it to them.”
This will be Wiest’s first start against the Redhawks. He relieved the injured Christian Robert with 28 minutes left in last year’s sectional semifinal game, helping preserve the Huskies’ 2-1 victory.
Wiest, a senior, has started every game this fall and played well behind an inexperienced back line that is still learning to play together. The positive signs are there -- the Huskies have given up only a goal per game and recorded their first shutout in the 1-0 win over Bartlett in the Best of the West final.
Konrad seems to have settled on five players splitting the bulk of the minutes at the four positions – seniors Nick Carballo, Kevin Keane and Jon Heitz, and sophomores Mitch Konrad and Ethan Harvey.
“We’ve been trying people in and out at those positions, and I think we’ve found a lock finally,” Wiest said. “They’re very strong together, and they pitch in for each other. They’ve got a lot of communication. They’re very strong as a defensive line, so I’m proud of them.”
As is Jim Konrad, whose main concern coming into the season was the defense.
“I think we still have a lot to work on, but we’re learning how to defend,” Konrad said. “We still have a long way to go, but I’m really proud of the way they battle. The most important thing is how hard they play.”
Ironically, the Huskies seemed to have flipped their usual script. Traditionally known for their tough defense, North is striking fear in opponents with its offense.
“They are probably craftier than they’ve been in the time I can remember,” Adams said.
“They’ve got a lot of kids that rely less on physical talents and more on that deceptiveness and the ability to move than ball at the their feet. Since I’ve seen them I don’t remember a North team that is this skillful up top.”
Indeed, the Huskies have two of the most talented forwards in the area in junior Chris Sullivan and freshman Josh Penn, who has five goals in his first seven high school games. Senior Ryan Budicin, like Penn a former Fire Academy player, is a formidable playmaker in the midfield.
Naperville Central (4-3) lacks a powerful striker like the graduated Jordi Heeneman, now playing at Lewis, but they have spread their offensive output around. Their first six goals were scored by six different players.
Seniors Christopher Schwaiger and Kyle Forest, and sophomore Jimmy Kalkofen have been key cogs, but the linchpin is senior midfielder Noah Canlas.
“Canlas has been playing really well,” Adams said. “He’s that senior who I think his maturity finally caught up to his body. He’s strong, he’s so much quicker than he was last year, so much faster.
“There are some kids that mature early, as sophomores they’re physical. He was lankier and all of a sudden he’s matured into being more of that senior dominant player.
“He has been without a doubt the kid that if I had to say I can’t take a kid off the field, he’s it. He has to get off because he’s a center mid so I’ve sometimes got to get him a sub, but if I have a choice he’s the one I don’t want off the field.”
Besides the tradition of the rivalry, there are several interesting subplots to the match.
Naperville North sophomore defender Mitch Konrad is the nephew of Jim Konrad and the son of Jay Konrad, who won 100 games as Naperville Central’s coach from 2002-2009. Jim and Jay Konrad both starred at Naperville North, where Jay also briefly coached the girls team.
Jay Konrad was succeeded at Central by Adams, who has guided the Redhawks to 89 wins and three state trophies. Adams played against Josh Penn’s father, Brian, when both were teenagers.
“When we were 18, Penn’s dad and I played against each other in high school in a regional final to see who advanced to the (club) nationals,” Adams recalled. “We won 5-0.”
Neither side is likely to win 5-0 on Saturday, but one thing is guaranteed.
“It will be a fun game,” Adams said. “That’s the game you want to win.
“You want to win Best of the West, conference and the state title and then you throw the North game in as the one (game) you want to win.”
By Matt Le Cren
Naperville North and Naperville Central will not lack for motivation when they meet for their annual crosstown clash on Saturday night at North.
On one hand, the visitors will seek payback from the Huskies. Naperville Central lost only twice last season and both defeats came against Naperville North, which first denied the Redhawks the DuPage Valley Conference title before ending their season in a sectional semifinal.
On the other, Naperville North is shooting for the program’s 600th victory and an early boost in the DVC race.
"It’s definitely a good rivalry and all the boys are such good friends," Naperville North coach Jim Konrad said.
The host Huskies (5-2) are rested and come into the game on a high after winning the Best of the West Tournament for just the second time in 20 years last Saturday.
Most of the players have known each other since grade school, having played with and against each other for years. They may be friendly rivals, but that doesn’t make the competition any less intense.
“It’s North-Central. There’s going to be emotion, there’s going to be passion,” Naperville Central coach Troy Adams said. “The thing that we need to do is make sure that we keep it in check and that we understand that, yeah, the game is a big deal, but as soon as that whistle blows, you’ve got to take a deep breath and recognize that it is still a soccer game.
“You’ve got to play the way you’re supposed to play. You can’t do things that you’re not supposed to do just because it’s North or there might be a big crowd there. Stay under control and play within the role you’re supposed to play.”
That can be easier said than done, especially for players new to the varsity level or filling larger roles.
“In a crosstown game it’s such a big rivalry, especially because most of the players on the teams know each other from club soccer or other events, so it’s always very, very physical,” Naperville North goalkeeper Riley Wiest said. “So we need to play good on the ball, but we also need to have as much energy as possible so we can bring it to them.”
This will be Wiest’s first start against the Redhawks. He relieved the injured Christian Robert with 28 minutes left in last year’s sectional semifinal game, helping preserve the Huskies’ 2-1 victory.
Wiest, a senior, has started every game this fall and played well behind an inexperienced back line that is still learning to play together. The positive signs are there -- the Huskies have given up only a goal per game and recorded their first shutout in the 1-0 win over Bartlett in the Best of the West final.
Konrad seems to have settled on five players splitting the bulk of the minutes at the four positions – seniors Nick Carballo, Kevin Keane and Jon Heitz, and sophomores Mitch Konrad and Ethan Harvey.
“We’ve been trying people in and out at those positions, and I think we’ve found a lock finally,” Wiest said. “They’re very strong together, and they pitch in for each other. They’ve got a lot of communication. They’re very strong as a defensive line, so I’m proud of them.”
As is Jim Konrad, whose main concern coming into the season was the defense.
“I think we still have a lot to work on, but we’re learning how to defend,” Konrad said. “We still have a long way to go, but I’m really proud of the way they battle. The most important thing is how hard they play.”
Ironically, the Huskies seemed to have flipped their usual script. Traditionally known for their tough defense, North is striking fear in opponents with its offense.
“They are probably craftier than they’ve been in the time I can remember,” Adams said.
“They’ve got a lot of kids that rely less on physical talents and more on that deceptiveness and the ability to move than ball at the their feet. Since I’ve seen them I don’t remember a North team that is this skillful up top.”
Indeed, the Huskies have two of the most talented forwards in the area in junior Chris Sullivan and freshman Josh Penn, who has five goals in his first seven high school games. Senior Ryan Budicin, like Penn a former Fire Academy player, is a formidable playmaker in the midfield.
Naperville Central (4-3) lacks a powerful striker like the graduated Jordi Heeneman, now playing at Lewis, but they have spread their offensive output around. Their first six goals were scored by six different players.
Seniors Christopher Schwaiger and Kyle Forest, and sophomore Jimmy Kalkofen have been key cogs, but the linchpin is senior midfielder Noah Canlas.
“Canlas has been playing really well,” Adams said. “He’s that senior who I think his maturity finally caught up to his body. He’s strong, he’s so much quicker than he was last year, so much faster.
“There are some kids that mature early, as sophomores they’re physical. He was lankier and all of a sudden he’s matured into being more of that senior dominant player.
“He has been without a doubt the kid that if I had to say I can’t take a kid off the field, he’s it. He has to get off because he’s a center mid so I’ve sometimes got to get him a sub, but if I have a choice he’s the one I don’t want off the field.”
Besides the tradition of the rivalry, there are several interesting subplots to the match.
Naperville North sophomore defender Mitch Konrad is the nephew of Jim Konrad and the son of Jay Konrad, who won 100 games as Naperville Central’s coach from 2002-2009. Jim and Jay Konrad both starred at Naperville North, where Jay also briefly coached the girls team.
Jay Konrad was succeeded at Central by Adams, who has guided the Redhawks to 89 wins and three state trophies. Adams played against Josh Penn’s father, Brian, when both were teenagers.
“When we were 18, Penn’s dad and I played against each other in high school in a regional final to see who advanced to the (club) nationals,” Adams recalled. “We won 5-0.”
Neither side is likely to win 5-0 on Saturday, but one thing is guaranteed.
“It will be a fun game,” Adams said. “That’s the game you want to win.
“You want to win Best of the West, conference and the state title and then you throw the North game in as the one (game) you want to win.”