New travelling trophy fans flames of Addison Trail-Willowbrook rivalry game
By Brian Thomas
Addison Trail and Willowbrook are set to write a new chapter in their intense rivalry when they face off Tuesday night in the first District 88 Derby.
Host Addison Trail (9-3-2, 2-1-0) and the Warriors (10-1-0, 2-0-0) are champing at the bit for the game, which is a annual highlight of the season. Adding to the excitement is a new travelling trophy that will leave the field with the winner.
“This is a very important game with much at stake,” said Willowbrook coach Peter Ginter. “It is a bragging rights game for our school district, of course, but also an important conference game with two teams aspiring to finish in the upper echelon in one of the toughest conferences in the state.
“We are both in the same sectional. This game will impact our sectional rankings as well.”
Addison Trail has won its last four games, most recently coming off a 2-0 shutout over Glenbard East. The Blazers are led by a strong defensive group who has been peaking of late.
“The key to our team is our defense,” said coach Ryan Dini. “In the last four games, we have only allowed 2 goals. Junior Uriel Martinez and senior Fernando Alvarado have been our anchors on defense and really give us experience and speed in the back.
“Seniors Adrian Rodzuska and Jakub Marek, along with juniors Noel Diaz and Juan Martinez, also give us lots of options in the back depending on what type of forwards our opposition have in the game. Our senior goalie Cosme Garcia has six shutouts this year along with a 1.07 GAA.”
Meanwhile, Willowbrook is on an even more impressive tear with wins in the last nine matches. The Warriors feature a dangerous offense that is constantly on the attack.
“We are getting goals from a number of different players,” coach Ginter said. “Saul Hernandez thus far has 17 goals scored, and Aaron Johnson has 12 goals.
“Lucas Betts has played outstanding in the center back position as well as Benny Heredia in the midfield. Saul Hernandez, of course, is a player to watch as well as a number of midfielders from different positions if Saul is double-teamed.”
Not that either team needed extra motivation to win against their archrival, but the victor of the District 88 Derby takes home the series’ first award.
“The trophy was something my assistant coach Angel Vega came up with over the summer,” Addison Trail’s Dini said. “I'm lucky to have assistants like Angel Vega and Jim Llorens to help challenge our players on a daily basis.
“Angel thought it would add to the rivalry and also prepare us to play games where a trophy was on the line. Our goal is to win a regional this year, and this will help prepare us for what October soccer is all about.”
By Brian Thomas
Addison Trail and Willowbrook are set to write a new chapter in their intense rivalry when they face off Tuesday night in the first District 88 Derby.
Host Addison Trail (9-3-2, 2-1-0) and the Warriors (10-1-0, 2-0-0) are champing at the bit for the game, which is a annual highlight of the season. Adding to the excitement is a new travelling trophy that will leave the field with the winner.
“This is a very important game with much at stake,” said Willowbrook coach Peter Ginter. “It is a bragging rights game for our school district, of course, but also an important conference game with two teams aspiring to finish in the upper echelon in one of the toughest conferences in the state.
“We are both in the same sectional. This game will impact our sectional rankings as well.”
Addison Trail has won its last four games, most recently coming off a 2-0 shutout over Glenbard East. The Blazers are led by a strong defensive group who has been peaking of late.
“The key to our team is our defense,” said coach Ryan Dini. “In the last four games, we have only allowed 2 goals. Junior Uriel Martinez and senior Fernando Alvarado have been our anchors on defense and really give us experience and speed in the back.
“Seniors Adrian Rodzuska and Jakub Marek, along with juniors Noel Diaz and Juan Martinez, also give us lots of options in the back depending on what type of forwards our opposition have in the game. Our senior goalie Cosme Garcia has six shutouts this year along with a 1.07 GAA.”
Meanwhile, Willowbrook is on an even more impressive tear with wins in the last nine matches. The Warriors feature a dangerous offense that is constantly on the attack.
“We are getting goals from a number of different players,” coach Ginter said. “Saul Hernandez thus far has 17 goals scored, and Aaron Johnson has 12 goals.
“Lucas Betts has played outstanding in the center back position as well as Benny Heredia in the midfield. Saul Hernandez, of course, is a player to watch as well as a number of midfielders from different positions if Saul is double-teamed.”
Not that either team needed extra motivation to win against their archrival, but the victor of the District 88 Derby takes home the series’ first award.
“The trophy was something my assistant coach Angel Vega came up with over the summer,” Addison Trail’s Dini said. “I'm lucky to have assistants like Angel Vega and Jim Llorens to help challenge our players on a daily basis.
“Angel thought it would add to the rivalry and also prepare us to play games where a trophy was on the line. Our goal is to win a regional this year, and this will help prepare us for what October soccer is all about.”