Rising DGS hopes to finish 2018 in style
By Dave Owen
Downers Grove South looks to take another step forward Thursday in a season of vast improvement.
The Mustangs (8-5-3, 3-1 in the West Suburban Conference Gold Division) host Addison Trail (2-12-1, 0-3) at 6:30 p.m. With three final regular season matches to follow, Downers Grove South has already surpassed its 2017 victory total of 6-11-4 when it relied on a young nucleus.
“DGS was a team in transition last year, and our record reflected that,” Mustangs coach Chris Hernandez said. “This year is a step in the right direction.”
“The lineup has been composed of a mixture of four sophomores, eight juniors and two seniors. Like many teams, we have had some terrific results, but also some we wish we had back. However, such results remind us we still have more work to do in order to reach our potential.”
The terrific games column includes a win over Geneva and a tie with 2017 Class 3A state fourth place finisher Downers Grove North.
“We have played eight opponents that have been been ranked at some point this season,” Hernandez said, a list that includes five Illinois foes (Lane, Downers Grove North, Batavia, Geneva and Waubonsie Valley) and three from Iowa (North Scott, Pleasant Valley and Cedar Falls).
“We’ve grown and developed from playing against such opponents, where each mistake is punished. We have made some mistakes this year, but the team has evolved.”
Individual standouts during that evolution have been plentiful.
“Over the past two seasons Jennifer Masello (2017 IHSSCA All-Sectional) and Emily Brindac have been absolutely fantastic as defenders,” Hernandez said of the Mustangs’ two 2017 all-conference standouts.
“Junior Jillian Paladino has developed into a very intelligent midfielder that continues to demonstrate growth during her third year on varsity.”
And several other Mustangs have established themselves as potential cornerstones of the program for years to come.
“Some of the greatest surprises have been with the sophomores that have become key parts of the varsity group,” Hernandez said. “In particular, Jordan Rose, Marlo Rachie, Talia Davis, Allison Eberhard and Rose Dumford have competed to earn a lot of playing time.
“This young group of players has established themselves as an integral part of our attack. That definitely bodes well for our future.”
Next up in the Mustangs’ future is Addison Trail, which comes off a 9-0 loss to Elgin. The Blazers had defeated Proviso West 2-0 in their previous game.
Comparing recent opponents, Addison Trail fell 2-0 to Leyden on April 24, one week after Downers Grove South grounded the Eagles 6-0.
While a 2-0 loss to Morton last week took Downers Grove South’s conference title destiny out of its hands, Hernandez is using the setback as another learning experience.
“We understand that our loss to a conference opponent places us in a situation where we are behind the leaders and favorite (Morton),” Hernandez said.
“No team ever wants to lose a game, especially a conference match, but the performance and result were teaching moments for our young team.
“We must live with the result of that loss and do what we can to be ready for another opportunity.”
That next opportunity against Morton could come at the Downers Grove South regional. The fifth-seeded Mustangs host 12th-seed Argo at 6:30 p.m. May 15 in the regional semifinal. Four-seed Morton or 13th-seed Proviso West would await the winner in the May 18 regional final.
But before that, Downers South has other looming challenges.
After Thursday, Downers Grove South has a huge test at noon Saturday at Naperville North (ranked third in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25). The Mustangs’ WSC Gold finale follows at 5 p.m. Monday at Hinsdale South, with the regular season finale at home Thursday against York.
“Currently there are some inconsistencies in our game that come from inexperience in our roster,” Hernandez said. “As we move throughout the remainder of the season, we aim to learn from those moments and eliminate our mistakes.”
By Dave Owen
Downers Grove South looks to take another step forward Thursday in a season of vast improvement.
The Mustangs (8-5-3, 3-1 in the West Suburban Conference Gold Division) host Addison Trail (2-12-1, 0-3) at 6:30 p.m. With three final regular season matches to follow, Downers Grove South has already surpassed its 2017 victory total of 6-11-4 when it relied on a young nucleus.
“DGS was a team in transition last year, and our record reflected that,” Mustangs coach Chris Hernandez said. “This year is a step in the right direction.”
“The lineup has been composed of a mixture of four sophomores, eight juniors and two seniors. Like many teams, we have had some terrific results, but also some we wish we had back. However, such results remind us we still have more work to do in order to reach our potential.”
The terrific games column includes a win over Geneva and a tie with 2017 Class 3A state fourth place finisher Downers Grove North.
“We have played eight opponents that have been been ranked at some point this season,” Hernandez said, a list that includes five Illinois foes (Lane, Downers Grove North, Batavia, Geneva and Waubonsie Valley) and three from Iowa (North Scott, Pleasant Valley and Cedar Falls).
“We’ve grown and developed from playing against such opponents, where each mistake is punished. We have made some mistakes this year, but the team has evolved.”
Individual standouts during that evolution have been plentiful.
“Over the past two seasons Jennifer Masello (2017 IHSSCA All-Sectional) and Emily Brindac have been absolutely fantastic as defenders,” Hernandez said of the Mustangs’ two 2017 all-conference standouts.
“Junior Jillian Paladino has developed into a very intelligent midfielder that continues to demonstrate growth during her third year on varsity.”
And several other Mustangs have established themselves as potential cornerstones of the program for years to come.
“Some of the greatest surprises have been with the sophomores that have become key parts of the varsity group,” Hernandez said. “In particular, Jordan Rose, Marlo Rachie, Talia Davis, Allison Eberhard and Rose Dumford have competed to earn a lot of playing time.
“This young group of players has established themselves as an integral part of our attack. That definitely bodes well for our future.”
Next up in the Mustangs’ future is Addison Trail, which comes off a 9-0 loss to Elgin. The Blazers had defeated Proviso West 2-0 in their previous game.
Comparing recent opponents, Addison Trail fell 2-0 to Leyden on April 24, one week after Downers Grove South grounded the Eagles 6-0.
While a 2-0 loss to Morton last week took Downers Grove South’s conference title destiny out of its hands, Hernandez is using the setback as another learning experience.
“We understand that our loss to a conference opponent places us in a situation where we are behind the leaders and favorite (Morton),” Hernandez said.
“No team ever wants to lose a game, especially a conference match, but the performance and result were teaching moments for our young team.
“We must live with the result of that loss and do what we can to be ready for another opportunity.”
That next opportunity against Morton could come at the Downers Grove South regional. The fifth-seeded Mustangs host 12th-seed Argo at 6:30 p.m. May 15 in the regional semifinal. Four-seed Morton or 13th-seed Proviso West would await the winner in the May 18 regional final.
But before that, Downers South has other looming challenges.
After Thursday, Downers Grove South has a huge test at noon Saturday at Naperville North (ranked third in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25). The Mustangs’ WSC Gold finale follows at 5 p.m. Monday at Hinsdale South, with the regular season finale at home Thursday against York.
“Currently there are some inconsistencies in our game that come from inexperience in our roster,” Hernandez said. “As we move throughout the remainder of the season, we aim to learn from those moments and eliminate our mistakes.”