Naperville North, Glenbard North
meet for chance at sole DVC lead
Undefeated league teams play in 1 big game of many
By Dave Surico
Addressing the DuPage Valley Conference battle of unbeatens Tuesday night requires perspective according to Naperville North coach Jim Konrad and Glenbard North leader Gregg Koeller.
It isn't wrong to get excited about the match-up between no. 6 Naperville North and seventh-ranked Glenbard North at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Carol Stream, it's just too early in the conference season to get too excited.
That doesn't just come off as merely coach-speak when discussing the DVC, which has added dramatically to its difficulty quotient with the additions of Lake Park in 2013 and the valley trio, Metea, Neuqua and Waubonsie, this season.
"Every single DVC game is a big one. If you you overlook anyone in this conference you are going to be in trouble," said Konrad. "I am not surprised at the run they (Glenbard North) are making in the DVC and the season in general.
"They have an excellent coach and the kids at Glenbard North are always willing to battle. Obviously the game has huge DuPage Valley Conference implications. With that said, it will be tough for anyone to run the whole table with there being so many good teams. If anyone has an off night, they will get beat."
The defending league champs, Naperville North (10-2-0. 3-0-0) hasn't experienced the defeat-thing at all lately. The Huskies are enjoying a nine-game win streak which began after back-to-back August losses to current no. 3 and no. 5 poll sitters Lyons and Morton. If Naperville North wins, it will finish a perfect September at 10-0-0.
"I have been happy with the boys this season," Konrad said. "They are humble and hard-working. This has resulted in us improving each game. We are on a good run and are hoping to keep it going.
"Our back line is coming together, and our midfield has become a strong unit as well. Our front line has been able to combine to create goal-scoring opportunities, and they have been finishing."
Glenbard North almost reached this match with an unblemished mark, but fell to no. 25 Bartlett 1-0 Thursday. That is the same surprising Hawk squad that Naperville North beat 1-0 in the Best of the West tourament title game Sept. 5.
The Panthers (10-1-0, 4-0-0) are eager to meet Naperville North.
"We look at it as one more measuring stick for our kids in a season where they've answered the bell just about every night," coach Gregg Koeller said. "We responded to the loss at Bartlett by coming back and grinding one out against a very tough Metea Valley (a 1-0 OT win) team two days later.
"We lost that Bartlett game by not managing the final minute well. We had a free kick with 50 seconds (left) in a 0-0 game and should have at least come away with a draw, but we learned from it and moved on."
Some may game plan that a team can hurt Naperville North if they try to mark a top player like junior midfielder Chris Sullivan or freshman phenom forward Josh Penn out of the mix, but that's not the case with Glenbard North according to their coach.
"We truly are the sum of our parts," Koeller said. "One of our biggest strenghts is that we don't have 'that guy.' We have multiple scoring threats who share the ball and on any given night can be a difference-maker.
"Gio Duenas, Livre Emena, Danny Koeller, Jacob Scheufler, Danny Ramirez, and Eduardo Guereca all have multiple goals and assists for us. And senior defenders Danny Jaimes and Miki Ramirez have been rock solid for us in the back in front of senior keeper and 3-year starter Nathan Chalus."
So expect a genuinely exciting game between teams whose coaches will not let them get too excited if they win and make sure they know it's not the end of their conference world if they lose.
"Both teams have a gauntlet of eight conference games to get through before the dust is settled and a winner is determined," said Koeller. "Not being prepared for any of our conference opponents on any given night will result in a negative result. A loss Week 1 to Naperville Central or Week 3 to Wheaton Warrenville South or Week 8 to Neuqua Valley is just as detrimental in the big picture as a loss to Naperville North."
meet for chance at sole DVC lead
Undefeated league teams play in 1 big game of many
By Dave Surico
Addressing the DuPage Valley Conference battle of unbeatens Tuesday night requires perspective according to Naperville North coach Jim Konrad and Glenbard North leader Gregg Koeller.
It isn't wrong to get excited about the match-up between no. 6 Naperville North and seventh-ranked Glenbard North at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Carol Stream, it's just too early in the conference season to get too excited.
That doesn't just come off as merely coach-speak when discussing the DVC, which has added dramatically to its difficulty quotient with the additions of Lake Park in 2013 and the valley trio, Metea, Neuqua and Waubonsie, this season.
"Every single DVC game is a big one. If you you overlook anyone in this conference you are going to be in trouble," said Konrad. "I am not surprised at the run they (Glenbard North) are making in the DVC and the season in general.
"They have an excellent coach and the kids at Glenbard North are always willing to battle. Obviously the game has huge DuPage Valley Conference implications. With that said, it will be tough for anyone to run the whole table with there being so many good teams. If anyone has an off night, they will get beat."
The defending league champs, Naperville North (10-2-0. 3-0-0) hasn't experienced the defeat-thing at all lately. The Huskies are enjoying a nine-game win streak which began after back-to-back August losses to current no. 3 and no. 5 poll sitters Lyons and Morton. If Naperville North wins, it will finish a perfect September at 10-0-0.
"I have been happy with the boys this season," Konrad said. "They are humble and hard-working. This has resulted in us improving each game. We are on a good run and are hoping to keep it going.
"Our back line is coming together, and our midfield has become a strong unit as well. Our front line has been able to combine to create goal-scoring opportunities, and they have been finishing."
Glenbard North almost reached this match with an unblemished mark, but fell to no. 25 Bartlett 1-0 Thursday. That is the same surprising Hawk squad that Naperville North beat 1-0 in the Best of the West tourament title game Sept. 5.
The Panthers (10-1-0, 4-0-0) are eager to meet Naperville North.
"We look at it as one more measuring stick for our kids in a season where they've answered the bell just about every night," coach Gregg Koeller said. "We responded to the loss at Bartlett by coming back and grinding one out against a very tough Metea Valley (a 1-0 OT win) team two days later.
"We lost that Bartlett game by not managing the final minute well. We had a free kick with 50 seconds (left) in a 0-0 game and should have at least come away with a draw, but we learned from it and moved on."
Some may game plan that a team can hurt Naperville North if they try to mark a top player like junior midfielder Chris Sullivan or freshman phenom forward Josh Penn out of the mix, but that's not the case with Glenbard North according to their coach.
"We truly are the sum of our parts," Koeller said. "One of our biggest strenghts is that we don't have 'that guy.' We have multiple scoring threats who share the ball and on any given night can be a difference-maker.
"Gio Duenas, Livre Emena, Danny Koeller, Jacob Scheufler, Danny Ramirez, and Eduardo Guereca all have multiple goals and assists for us. And senior defenders Danny Jaimes and Miki Ramirez have been rock solid for us in the back in front of senior keeper and 3-year starter Nathan Chalus."
So expect a genuinely exciting game between teams whose coaches will not let them get too excited if they win and make sure they know it's not the end of their conference world if they lose.
"Both teams have a gauntlet of eight conference games to get through before the dust is settled and a winner is determined," said Koeller. "Not being prepared for any of our conference opponents on any given night will result in a negative result. A loss Week 1 to Naperville Central or Week 3 to Wheaton Warrenville South or Week 8 to Neuqua Valley is just as detrimental in the big picture as a loss to Naperville North."