Batavia-Lake Park figures to be a battle
By Bill McLean
Batavia does keep team statistics.
But don’t look for Bulldogs coach Mark Gianfrancesco to wag one of those giant no. 1 foam fingers while viewing his team’s numbers after eight games.
Or at any point in the season.
“I’m not a big fan of stats,” he admitted Wednesday on the eve Batavia’s DuKane Conference game at 5:30 p.m. at Lake Park’s West Campus.
It’s a good bet that soccer fans in Roselle on Thursday afternoon, Gianfrancesco noted, will witness a lively contest.
“Competitive matches (vs. Lake Park in recent seasons) allowed players on both sides to be creative and expressive,” said Gianfrancesco, whose side — ranked no. 24 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 — is 5-2-1 overall and 1-0-0 in DuKane action.
“Lake Park,” he added, “is always well-coached and organized. The work rate and effort of their players are typically top-notch. Sean (Crosby, Lake Park’s coach) always has them prepared to play, and every player understands their role.”
Batavia features senior Iowa recruit Aubrey Hahn, an elite goalkeeper.
Lake Park sophomore keeper Vanessa Boafo (one shutout) had a stretch of four-consecutive shutout halves in March.
Crosby’s Lancers are 1-5-1, 0-1-0.
Senior tri-captain Bella Witt and sophomore Francesca Cali played in the back in 2021. Crosby now deploys them as midfielders.
“They’re traditional defensive players who have grown very quickly in their ballhandling and passing in the midfield,” Crosby said.
Lake Park’s line in front of Boafo consists of junior tri-captains Gianna Kubica and Madeline Mintrup, junior Peyton Sarubbi and freshman Brynn Ellenbecker.
Junior forward Peyton Olinski paces the Lancers in goals with two. Another forward to watch is senior Erin Vachlin.
“I knew,” Crosby added, “we were going to have a strong defensive team this year. But to see us take a step forward in our commitment to creating passing strings, protecting the ball and getting aggressive in the attack has been great.”
Batavia’s offense still has a penchant for working the middle hard, and the Bulldogs’ organized defense continues to be known for disrupting transitions early.
“Batavia’s technical ballhandling and passing ability of their midfielders and forwards kept us busy when we faced them last spring,” Crosby said. “I anticipate a similar level of talent (Thursday).”
Crosby also foresees sturdy challenges when his Lancers look to weave and connect in the midfield.
“We will need to be quick and precise on getting the ball forward to have good scoring opportunities,” he said. “What excites me about our team is our growth in possession and attack-minded play in a short period of time. The group has committed to passing as a unit, and working to create attacking chances in every match.”
Thursday’s date, to Gianfrancesco, is match no. 9 on the schedule.
And chance no. 9 to develop.
“Our team aims to build every game,” he said. “Our players continue to improve themselves individually and collectively to build for the playoffs.”
Flashback: Lake Park, with a backline of nothing but underclassmen, limited Batavia to one first half goal in the first of two meetings last spring.The Lancers tied it on a free kick in the second half before Batavia scored two more goals in a 3-1 victory. “In the first half it was great to see (our defenders) respond to the challenge of having to defend some of the best attacking players in the conference,” Crosby recalled.
By Bill McLean
Batavia does keep team statistics.
But don’t look for Bulldogs coach Mark Gianfrancesco to wag one of those giant no. 1 foam fingers while viewing his team’s numbers after eight games.
Or at any point in the season.
“I’m not a big fan of stats,” he admitted Wednesday on the eve Batavia’s DuKane Conference game at 5:30 p.m. at Lake Park’s West Campus.
It’s a good bet that soccer fans in Roselle on Thursday afternoon, Gianfrancesco noted, will witness a lively contest.
“Competitive matches (vs. Lake Park in recent seasons) allowed players on both sides to be creative and expressive,” said Gianfrancesco, whose side — ranked no. 24 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 — is 5-2-1 overall and 1-0-0 in DuKane action.
“Lake Park,” he added, “is always well-coached and organized. The work rate and effort of their players are typically top-notch. Sean (Crosby, Lake Park’s coach) always has them prepared to play, and every player understands their role.”
Batavia features senior Iowa recruit Aubrey Hahn, an elite goalkeeper.
Lake Park sophomore keeper Vanessa Boafo (one shutout) had a stretch of four-consecutive shutout halves in March.
Crosby’s Lancers are 1-5-1, 0-1-0.
Senior tri-captain Bella Witt and sophomore Francesca Cali played in the back in 2021. Crosby now deploys them as midfielders.
“They’re traditional defensive players who have grown very quickly in their ballhandling and passing in the midfield,” Crosby said.
Lake Park’s line in front of Boafo consists of junior tri-captains Gianna Kubica and Madeline Mintrup, junior Peyton Sarubbi and freshman Brynn Ellenbecker.
Junior forward Peyton Olinski paces the Lancers in goals with two. Another forward to watch is senior Erin Vachlin.
“I knew,” Crosby added, “we were going to have a strong defensive team this year. But to see us take a step forward in our commitment to creating passing strings, protecting the ball and getting aggressive in the attack has been great.”
Batavia’s offense still has a penchant for working the middle hard, and the Bulldogs’ organized defense continues to be known for disrupting transitions early.
“Batavia’s technical ballhandling and passing ability of their midfielders and forwards kept us busy when we faced them last spring,” Crosby said. “I anticipate a similar level of talent (Thursday).”
Crosby also foresees sturdy challenges when his Lancers look to weave and connect in the midfield.
“We will need to be quick and precise on getting the ball forward to have good scoring opportunities,” he said. “What excites me about our team is our growth in possession and attack-minded play in a short period of time. The group has committed to passing as a unit, and working to create attacking chances in every match.”
Thursday’s date, to Gianfrancesco, is match no. 9 on the schedule.
And chance no. 9 to develop.
“Our team aims to build every game,” he said. “Our players continue to improve themselves individually and collectively to build for the playoffs.”
Flashback: Lake Park, with a backline of nothing but underclassmen, limited Batavia to one first half goal in the first of two meetings last spring.The Lancers tied it on a free kick in the second half before Batavia scored two more goals in a 3-1 victory. “In the first half it was great to see (our defenders) respond to the challenge of having to defend some of the best attacking players in the conference,” Crosby recalled.