New DVC teams Metea Valley,
Waubonsie Valley renew district rivalry
By Matt Le Cren
The switch from the Upstate Eight Conference to the DuPage Valley Conference has been a rough one for Metea Valley and Waubonsie Valley.
Both received rude welcomes while enduring offensive struggles during the first month of the season.
Waubonsie Valley has lost its first four DVC games, while Metea Valley dropped its first two before mustering an historic 1-0 victory over Naperville Central last Tuesday. That not only was the first DVC win for the Mustangs; it was also the first time they have ever beaten Naperville Central.
So perhaps that makes Metea Valley (5-7, 2-3) a slight favorite when they host District 204 rival Waubonsie Valley (1-8-1, 0-4) at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Or perhaps not.
“It doesn’t matter if our record was 12-0, and they were winless; they always give us a battle,” Metea Valley coach Josh Robinson said. “That district rivalry game always goes back and forth. They got us last year – so we’re looking forward to it. The boys are excited.”
After a 1-5-0 start, the Mustangs won four of their next five games before Saturday’s 1-0 overtime loss to DVC leader Glenbard North. That defeat was the only thing that kept Robinson from describing last week as “a great week.”
Instead, it was merely good, beginning with the win over Naperville Central and continuing with a 3-0 blanking of Wheaton North.
The turnaround has coincided with Robinson’s calling up four sophomores to the varsity team, three of whom have cracked the starting lineup.
“It gives us some depth on the bench and guys are competing to stay in the game,” Robinson said. “They know they are competing even during games for playing time, and they’ve bought into it.”
Chief among the newcomers is midfielder Nathan Barrett, who scored the game-winning goals in Metea’s first two victories. Midfielder Luca Francisco and defender Ethan Williams have also made an impact.
Williams is playing at center back, thus taking some of the pressure of star fullback Ryan Donovan.
“It’s allowed us to shift Donovan to right back, which is his natural position,” Robinson said. “We’ve asked Ryan to do so much for us, and we’ve played him out of position and this allows him to play to his strengths.”
While the Mustangs still aren’t prolific offensively, the attack is starting to bear fruit. Senior Michael Adams, who leads the team with three goals, is rounding into form.
“He’s hitting his stride, playing with more confidence,” Robinson said. “He’s putting pressure on defenses.”
Waubonsie Valley is still trying to figure out how to do that. The Warriors were winless in their first seven outings before beating Oswego East 4-3 and following that up with a solid effort in a 3-2 double overtime loss to Neuqua Valley.
But they reverted to form in a 2-0 loss to Naperville Central on Thursday, the fourth time they’ve been shut out. The Warriors have a talented playmaker in senior Leo Mendoza, but they have struggled to get him the ball in places where he can be dangerous.
Waubonsie Valley renew district rivalry
By Matt Le Cren
The switch from the Upstate Eight Conference to the DuPage Valley Conference has been a rough one for Metea Valley and Waubonsie Valley.
Both received rude welcomes while enduring offensive struggles during the first month of the season.
Waubonsie Valley has lost its first four DVC games, while Metea Valley dropped its first two before mustering an historic 1-0 victory over Naperville Central last Tuesday. That not only was the first DVC win for the Mustangs; it was also the first time they have ever beaten Naperville Central.
So perhaps that makes Metea Valley (5-7, 2-3) a slight favorite when they host District 204 rival Waubonsie Valley (1-8-1, 0-4) at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Or perhaps not.
“It doesn’t matter if our record was 12-0, and they were winless; they always give us a battle,” Metea Valley coach Josh Robinson said. “That district rivalry game always goes back and forth. They got us last year – so we’re looking forward to it. The boys are excited.”
After a 1-5-0 start, the Mustangs won four of their next five games before Saturday’s 1-0 overtime loss to DVC leader Glenbard North. That defeat was the only thing that kept Robinson from describing last week as “a great week.”
Instead, it was merely good, beginning with the win over Naperville Central and continuing with a 3-0 blanking of Wheaton North.
The turnaround has coincided with Robinson’s calling up four sophomores to the varsity team, three of whom have cracked the starting lineup.
“It gives us some depth on the bench and guys are competing to stay in the game,” Robinson said. “They know they are competing even during games for playing time, and they’ve bought into it.”
Chief among the newcomers is midfielder Nathan Barrett, who scored the game-winning goals in Metea’s first two victories. Midfielder Luca Francisco and defender Ethan Williams have also made an impact.
Williams is playing at center back, thus taking some of the pressure of star fullback Ryan Donovan.
“It’s allowed us to shift Donovan to right back, which is his natural position,” Robinson said. “We’ve asked Ryan to do so much for us, and we’ve played him out of position and this allows him to play to his strengths.”
While the Mustangs still aren’t prolific offensively, the attack is starting to bear fruit. Senior Michael Adams, who leads the team with three goals, is rounding into form.
“He’s hitting his stride, playing with more confidence,” Robinson said. “He’s putting pressure on defenses.”
Waubonsie Valley is still trying to figure out how to do that. The Warriors were winless in their first seven outings before beating Oswego East 4-3 and following that up with a solid effort in a 3-2 double overtime loss to Neuqua Valley.
But they reverted to form in a 2-0 loss to Naperville Central on Thursday, the fourth time they’ve been shut out. The Warriors have a talented playmaker in senior Leo Mendoza, but they have struggled to get him the ball in places where he can be dangerous.