West Chicago hungers for success
By Steve Nemeth
It's true West Chicago's recent season history hasn't set the world on fire.
The Wildcats lost 7-0 May 4 to a high quality opponent in Metea Valley, ranked 10th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, and are currently 7-11-2 and haven't been above .500 this season.
But things are looking up, and rest assured, West Chicago craves a win in Tuesday’s 6:30 p.m. Upstate Eight Conference cross-over match with visitor Streamwood (4-9-0 and on a three-game skid). The Wildcats aren't looking past the Sabres, but there is a long view for a memorable finish.
Yes, the whitewash defeat courtesy of Metea Valley left a bitter taste, particularly because it followed a home date that was a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Bartlett and a 1-0 road win at Glenbard North. The loss loses some of its sting if the Wildcats can cap the regular season going 3-1-1 for their final five games. They'll need to take care of business against Streamwood, and then can use a myriad of incentives to get by South Elgin on Thursday.
This could be the kind of launch pad from negativity that leads to a brighter future.
“Late last year, we sometimes put our heads down as if just wanting to finish the game or the season. But not this year, we don’t quit,” coach J. Cesar Gomez said. “We’ve had to handle some adversity, and even bring up some JV players, but this year’s group has committed to playing more team-oriented soccer.
“In the past, we had groups with more individual talent, but they didn’t have the heart or the head of this team. It really showed in our games with Larkin,” Gomez noted.
After absorbing a 4-0 loss to the Royals in the midsection of the season, 10 days later West Chicago dealt Larkin a 2-0 defeat and followed with a 5-0 win over Rockford East. It was the second time in 2017 the Wildcats posted back-to-back shutout wins.
“We can feel the improvement we’ve made in teamwork,” senior goalie Emma Gaggioli said. “We’re playing with a lot more intensity and much better communication. Keeping things organized in back is a main focus of my job, but I also see the communicating extend up the field. When we do that, we play our best, maintain possession, connect passes and games are winnable.”
Winning Tuesday and even more down the road are clearly the plan.
“What matters most is the positive attitude we’re developing,” Odalis Martinez said. “People outside the team agree with us that we’re really improving and becoming a much more cohesive program. With so many players coming back, anticipation for next season is high, but it’ll be that much better based on how we finish.”
Gaggioli, who sign to play with Indiana-Purdue of Fort Wayne, is one of four seniors on the opening day roster that included a trio of freshmen, five sophomores and six juniors. Add in those JV call-ups and it’s no wonder that optimism continues to grow for the 11th year head coach.
“Because they’ve embraced the team concept, we’re making strides at being more consistent,” Gomez said. “Looking beyond final scores, there was really only one game (Glenbard East) that I’d say was really bad, one where we couldn’t connect passes.”
It’s also fair to say the quality of the Wildcats’ opponents has made an impact as well. Within that 7-11-2 record are 10 shutout losses. Eight of the 10 were courtesy of teams mentioned in Chicagoland Soccer's weekly poll and another was against a team ranked earlier this season.
Clearly coach Gomez believes in the “to beat the best you have to play the best” philosophy since his crew has faced the following Chicagoland Soccer-listed squads: Geneva, Metea Valley, Batavia, Crystal Lake South, West Aurora, Evanston, Sycamore, Lemont and Glenbard East.
That plethora of powerhouse programs makes it easier to understand how West Chicago has been outscored 44-20 this season. Heading into Tuesday, all but two of the Wildcats’ goals are returning in 2018. Senior midfielders Jasmine Mendoza and Kayla Schwarz each have one goal, juniors Giselle Navejas and Genesis Garcia have three and two, respectively.
Since scoring in a season-opening road loss to Evanston, sophomore Barbie Castellanos has been West Chicago's scoring machine. Despite defenses geared at limiting or stopping her, the sophomore has 13 goals.
“I don’t feel any pressure to score, actually it feels nice to have teammates counting on me,” Castellanos said. “The mindset to improve and work harder is part of how they push me, and we all push each other.
“A lot of teams have either size or numbers to their advantage, that’s why we’ve worked on playing hard and having confidence. We’ve really gotten better at getting rid of the ball quicker,” Castellanos added.
Martinez added: “Better communication and passes are key to our improvement throughout the season. But I also agree that being more positive makes a difference. Going into the Bartlett game, our attitude was to fight for every ball.”
Gomez is counting on the players’ enthusiasm and commitment to make a difference against Streamwood.
“We’re probably fairly similar in terms of structure and personnel, so possession and passing will be crucial along with attitude,” Gomez explained. “Both Genesis and Jasmine bring so much energy to every game while Odalis has shown a senior’s maturity in back despite being a freshman. She fears no one as a defender just like Barbie isn’t afraid to attack on offense.”
Ironically, the two schools are 20-plus minutes apart depending on traffic, but there’s very little soccer history between them. And despite both being in the UEC for the past four years, divisional shifts haven’t led to much interaction. When West Chicago entered in 2014, the two were in opposite divisions. For 2015, the Wildcats were switched to the River and claimed a 3-1 victory at Streamwood. For 2016, the Wildcats were reassigned to the Valley and that year’s schedule didn’t call for a crossover contest. The only other semi-recent meeting dates back to 2013 when West Chicago breezed to a 7-0 victory as part of a South Elgin tournament.
As for the current season, Streamwood’s last place (0-6-0) finish in the UEC River includes being shut out by no. 2 St. Charles North, no. 6 Geneva, no. 11 Batavia, no. 24 West Aurora, and no. 25 St. Charles East. Talk about running a gauntlet in conference play.
In addition, the recent trio of losses was preceded by one of the season’s high points. The Sabres took first place in St. Edward’s 11th annual Green Wave Invitational. Coach Kristin Duffy’s crew stunned the tourney host 5-0 – matching the tally in the year’s other shutout win versus Addison Trail – and then topped Westminster Christian 4-2.
“We struggled at the start of the year developing chemistry since we’re a pretty young squad,” Duffy said. “But we’ve really been improving as a team to the point where we expect this to be a competitive meeting and one we’re looking to win.”
The Sabres have a stellar senior trio in goalie Yasmine Resendiz (signed by Dubuque), Alondra Blanco – a hustling midfielder who can play both defensively and offensively – plus forward Shonali Pierce (a Minnesota-Crookston recruit). Like the Wildcats, Streamwood has been doubled up by the opposition 44-22. However, the Sabres’ goals are spread throughout the team with Blanco's seven leading the pack.
Duffy credits her seniors with stepping up as leaders and teachers for a youthful roster from which freshman forward Lesly Jimenez and sophomore midfielder Melanie Ramirez have stood out.
Streamwood, which has a home finale the next day with IMSA, serves as a regional host but has a May 13 prelim game at South Elgin. The winner then faces top-seeded Crystal Lake South on Tuesday.
West Chicago also hosts a regional and the Wildcats hope to avenge last year’s 2-0 first-round exit courtesy of Bartlett.
By Steve Nemeth
It's true West Chicago's recent season history hasn't set the world on fire.
The Wildcats lost 7-0 May 4 to a high quality opponent in Metea Valley, ranked 10th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, and are currently 7-11-2 and haven't been above .500 this season.
But things are looking up, and rest assured, West Chicago craves a win in Tuesday’s 6:30 p.m. Upstate Eight Conference cross-over match with visitor Streamwood (4-9-0 and on a three-game skid). The Wildcats aren't looking past the Sabres, but there is a long view for a memorable finish.
Yes, the whitewash defeat courtesy of Metea Valley left a bitter taste, particularly because it followed a home date that was a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Bartlett and a 1-0 road win at Glenbard North. The loss loses some of its sting if the Wildcats can cap the regular season going 3-1-1 for their final five games. They'll need to take care of business against Streamwood, and then can use a myriad of incentives to get by South Elgin on Thursday.
This could be the kind of launch pad from negativity that leads to a brighter future.
“Late last year, we sometimes put our heads down as if just wanting to finish the game or the season. But not this year, we don’t quit,” coach J. Cesar Gomez said. “We’ve had to handle some adversity, and even bring up some JV players, but this year’s group has committed to playing more team-oriented soccer.
“In the past, we had groups with more individual talent, but they didn’t have the heart or the head of this team. It really showed in our games with Larkin,” Gomez noted.
After absorbing a 4-0 loss to the Royals in the midsection of the season, 10 days later West Chicago dealt Larkin a 2-0 defeat and followed with a 5-0 win over Rockford East. It was the second time in 2017 the Wildcats posted back-to-back shutout wins.
“We can feel the improvement we’ve made in teamwork,” senior goalie Emma Gaggioli said. “We’re playing with a lot more intensity and much better communication. Keeping things organized in back is a main focus of my job, but I also see the communicating extend up the field. When we do that, we play our best, maintain possession, connect passes and games are winnable.”
Winning Tuesday and even more down the road are clearly the plan.
“What matters most is the positive attitude we’re developing,” Odalis Martinez said. “People outside the team agree with us that we’re really improving and becoming a much more cohesive program. With so many players coming back, anticipation for next season is high, but it’ll be that much better based on how we finish.”
Gaggioli, who sign to play with Indiana-Purdue of Fort Wayne, is one of four seniors on the opening day roster that included a trio of freshmen, five sophomores and six juniors. Add in those JV call-ups and it’s no wonder that optimism continues to grow for the 11th year head coach.
“Because they’ve embraced the team concept, we’re making strides at being more consistent,” Gomez said. “Looking beyond final scores, there was really only one game (Glenbard East) that I’d say was really bad, one where we couldn’t connect passes.”
It’s also fair to say the quality of the Wildcats’ opponents has made an impact as well. Within that 7-11-2 record are 10 shutout losses. Eight of the 10 were courtesy of teams mentioned in Chicagoland Soccer's weekly poll and another was against a team ranked earlier this season.
Clearly coach Gomez believes in the “to beat the best you have to play the best” philosophy since his crew has faced the following Chicagoland Soccer-listed squads: Geneva, Metea Valley, Batavia, Crystal Lake South, West Aurora, Evanston, Sycamore, Lemont and Glenbard East.
That plethora of powerhouse programs makes it easier to understand how West Chicago has been outscored 44-20 this season. Heading into Tuesday, all but two of the Wildcats’ goals are returning in 2018. Senior midfielders Jasmine Mendoza and Kayla Schwarz each have one goal, juniors Giselle Navejas and Genesis Garcia have three and two, respectively.
Since scoring in a season-opening road loss to Evanston, sophomore Barbie Castellanos has been West Chicago's scoring machine. Despite defenses geared at limiting or stopping her, the sophomore has 13 goals.
“I don’t feel any pressure to score, actually it feels nice to have teammates counting on me,” Castellanos said. “The mindset to improve and work harder is part of how they push me, and we all push each other.
“A lot of teams have either size or numbers to their advantage, that’s why we’ve worked on playing hard and having confidence. We’ve really gotten better at getting rid of the ball quicker,” Castellanos added.
Martinez added: “Better communication and passes are key to our improvement throughout the season. But I also agree that being more positive makes a difference. Going into the Bartlett game, our attitude was to fight for every ball.”
Gomez is counting on the players’ enthusiasm and commitment to make a difference against Streamwood.
“We’re probably fairly similar in terms of structure and personnel, so possession and passing will be crucial along with attitude,” Gomez explained. “Both Genesis and Jasmine bring so much energy to every game while Odalis has shown a senior’s maturity in back despite being a freshman. She fears no one as a defender just like Barbie isn’t afraid to attack on offense.”
Ironically, the two schools are 20-plus minutes apart depending on traffic, but there’s very little soccer history between them. And despite both being in the UEC for the past four years, divisional shifts haven’t led to much interaction. When West Chicago entered in 2014, the two were in opposite divisions. For 2015, the Wildcats were switched to the River and claimed a 3-1 victory at Streamwood. For 2016, the Wildcats were reassigned to the Valley and that year’s schedule didn’t call for a crossover contest. The only other semi-recent meeting dates back to 2013 when West Chicago breezed to a 7-0 victory as part of a South Elgin tournament.
As for the current season, Streamwood’s last place (0-6-0) finish in the UEC River includes being shut out by no. 2 St. Charles North, no. 6 Geneva, no. 11 Batavia, no. 24 West Aurora, and no. 25 St. Charles East. Talk about running a gauntlet in conference play.
In addition, the recent trio of losses was preceded by one of the season’s high points. The Sabres took first place in St. Edward’s 11th annual Green Wave Invitational. Coach Kristin Duffy’s crew stunned the tourney host 5-0 – matching the tally in the year’s other shutout win versus Addison Trail – and then topped Westminster Christian 4-2.
“We struggled at the start of the year developing chemistry since we’re a pretty young squad,” Duffy said. “But we’ve really been improving as a team to the point where we expect this to be a competitive meeting and one we’re looking to win.”
The Sabres have a stellar senior trio in goalie Yasmine Resendiz (signed by Dubuque), Alondra Blanco – a hustling midfielder who can play both defensively and offensively – plus forward Shonali Pierce (a Minnesota-Crookston recruit). Like the Wildcats, Streamwood has been doubled up by the opposition 44-22. However, the Sabres’ goals are spread throughout the team with Blanco's seven leading the pack.
Duffy credits her seniors with stepping up as leaders and teachers for a youthful roster from which freshman forward Lesly Jimenez and sophomore midfielder Melanie Ramirez have stood out.
Streamwood, which has a home finale the next day with IMSA, serves as a regional host but has a May 13 prelim game at South Elgin. The winner then faces top-seeded Crystal Lake South on Tuesday.
West Chicago also hosts a regional and the Wildcats hope to avenge last year’s 2-0 first-round exit courtesy of Bartlett.