Prospect hopes to slow down Buffalo Grove
By Mike Garofola
There's always a surprise team every soccer season.
Case in point -- Buffalo Grove.
The Bison lost their two best players from a 2016 club that finished 8-10-4. With several first-time varsity players on this season's roster, the club seemed destined for a final spot far down the Mid-Suburban League table at season's end.
Not so fast said one of its captains, senior Kyle Adams.
"True we lost Alex Alfaro (playing at Wisconsin) and Tyler Nieman (playing at Bellarmine University, Kentucky) our absolute two best players, (but) I'm an eternal optimist, and I never felt for a minute we would have a big drop-off this season," said Adams, who leads the club with an impressive 12 goals.
"We're a real young team except for a few of us, but it all began for us during our preseason when we ran for hours in order to get in shape for the season. It was at that time we were all helping each other out, and slowly we came together as a team."
The Bison (8-4-0, 4-1-0), who travel to Prospect for a 4:45 p.m. game Friday, opened the new season with consecutive wins over Maine East and Stevenson with relative ease before reality sunk in at the high profile Northside College Showcase, which featured five top eight clubs from the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
"Yeah, we took some bad losses there, 5-0 defeats to New Trier and Glenbrook North," said Adams. "But we played Waukegan real tough in a 2-1 loss, and we also found out what we needed to do against the big boys.
"It made us a better team and prepared us for play in the MSL, and so far, so good."
After its league season-opening loss to Conant (2-1) and two-straight defeats to end tourney play at the showcase, the Bison have reeled off five-consecutive victories. Four of them came in MSL play.
"That tournament was a real grind, and in playing those teams our weaknesses were exposed," said Bison manager Brad Abel. "But it helped us learn through adversity, and although there's still a lot of work ahead of us, that week at New Trier went a long way towards us improving as a team,"
Both Abel and Adams say the club is taking it one game at a time; each are in full agreement that no opponent will be overlooked.
The Bison have done enough to keep pace with reigning MSL division and league champion Wheeling. Entering Friday's afternoon contest with Prospect, the Bison are even with Wheeling with 12 points each.
"Kevin Eloiza has been great so far, he has improved so much from last season" said Adams of his junior teammate, who bagged three on Thursday during a 4-0 victory over Hoffman Estates.
Senior goalkeeper Daniel Sempoch has 5.5 clean-sheets on the season.
Another senior, Manny Mazariegos is running the show from the middle of the park. Michael Botello and Brian Hanus have impressed Adams -- he calls them two of the best surprises on the season so far.
"After playing the type of competition we met at the Northside tournament none of us are overwhelmed of any opponent, but we respect everyone we play and know we have to be at our best in order to win," said Adams.
His counterpart at Prospect, Aaron Whiteman, shares the same philosophy even though his club just lost to MSL kingpins, Wheeling and Barrington.
"We all feel we can play with anybody, we showed that we could with both of those teams, so our confidence is still way up there. (We) just have to cut down on those 8-10 minute lapses which cost us against Wheeling and Barrington," said the Knights senior, who wears the captains armband for manager Mike Andrews.
"Regardless of both of those results, I am still proud of my guys and their attitude and work rate.
"Wheeling and Barrington are teams with incredible talent, anyone who follows high school soccer knows that.
"I see the quality of our season improving with each game, and I feel that everyone on my club is ready to go into the second half of the season after learning some valuable lessons along the way."
The host Knights (4-4-0, 1-4-0) won four of their first six contests before the back-to-back losses to aforementioned Wheeling and Barrington.
"The Wheeling game was frustrating because we went long stretches where we moved the ball quickly and with precision. (We) generated more scoring opportunities than any other game," said Andrews.
"We watched film, noticed some errors in our defensive positioning, and against Barrington we really tightened things up."
The positives are showing for the Knights.
"We played so well against Barrington. Even with them up 2-0 (Patrick Limanowka) put one in with eight minutes left. But in the end it was a few mental lapses that got us," added Whiteman.
Andrews says the leadership and overall effort put forth from both Whiteman and Nico Mho has been off the charts, but the first-year manager was quick to point out the contributions of several others.
"Sid Gaire can run forever, and he's made a big difference on the outside, while Limanowka and Joey Boduch are both skilled, creative players whose combination play is essential in our attack," he said.
Two-year starter, Kevin Shane between the sticks earned high praise from his manager, as well as Tengis Tulga, who has become first-rate along the back.
"I like the fact that we played a strong nonconference schedule early on. (It) has helped us prepare for the MSL season," says Whiteman. "If we can learn to play 80 complete minutes, the second half of the season will be a very good one for this team."
By Mike Garofola
There's always a surprise team every soccer season.
Case in point -- Buffalo Grove.
The Bison lost their two best players from a 2016 club that finished 8-10-4. With several first-time varsity players on this season's roster, the club seemed destined for a final spot far down the Mid-Suburban League table at season's end.
Not so fast said one of its captains, senior Kyle Adams.
"True we lost Alex Alfaro (playing at Wisconsin) and Tyler Nieman (playing at Bellarmine University, Kentucky) our absolute two best players, (but) I'm an eternal optimist, and I never felt for a minute we would have a big drop-off this season," said Adams, who leads the club with an impressive 12 goals.
"We're a real young team except for a few of us, but it all began for us during our preseason when we ran for hours in order to get in shape for the season. It was at that time we were all helping each other out, and slowly we came together as a team."
The Bison (8-4-0, 4-1-0), who travel to Prospect for a 4:45 p.m. game Friday, opened the new season with consecutive wins over Maine East and Stevenson with relative ease before reality sunk in at the high profile Northside College Showcase, which featured five top eight clubs from the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
"Yeah, we took some bad losses there, 5-0 defeats to New Trier and Glenbrook North," said Adams. "But we played Waukegan real tough in a 2-1 loss, and we also found out what we needed to do against the big boys.
"It made us a better team and prepared us for play in the MSL, and so far, so good."
After its league season-opening loss to Conant (2-1) and two-straight defeats to end tourney play at the showcase, the Bison have reeled off five-consecutive victories. Four of them came in MSL play.
"That tournament was a real grind, and in playing those teams our weaknesses were exposed," said Bison manager Brad Abel. "But it helped us learn through adversity, and although there's still a lot of work ahead of us, that week at New Trier went a long way towards us improving as a team,"
Both Abel and Adams say the club is taking it one game at a time; each are in full agreement that no opponent will be overlooked.
The Bison have done enough to keep pace with reigning MSL division and league champion Wheeling. Entering Friday's afternoon contest with Prospect, the Bison are even with Wheeling with 12 points each.
"Kevin Eloiza has been great so far, he has improved so much from last season" said Adams of his junior teammate, who bagged three on Thursday during a 4-0 victory over Hoffman Estates.
Senior goalkeeper Daniel Sempoch has 5.5 clean-sheets on the season.
Another senior, Manny Mazariegos is running the show from the middle of the park. Michael Botello and Brian Hanus have impressed Adams -- he calls them two of the best surprises on the season so far.
"After playing the type of competition we met at the Northside tournament none of us are overwhelmed of any opponent, but we respect everyone we play and know we have to be at our best in order to win," said Adams.
His counterpart at Prospect, Aaron Whiteman, shares the same philosophy even though his club just lost to MSL kingpins, Wheeling and Barrington.
"We all feel we can play with anybody, we showed that we could with both of those teams, so our confidence is still way up there. (We) just have to cut down on those 8-10 minute lapses which cost us against Wheeling and Barrington," said the Knights senior, who wears the captains armband for manager Mike Andrews.
"Regardless of both of those results, I am still proud of my guys and their attitude and work rate.
"Wheeling and Barrington are teams with incredible talent, anyone who follows high school soccer knows that.
"I see the quality of our season improving with each game, and I feel that everyone on my club is ready to go into the second half of the season after learning some valuable lessons along the way."
The host Knights (4-4-0, 1-4-0) won four of their first six contests before the back-to-back losses to aforementioned Wheeling and Barrington.
"The Wheeling game was frustrating because we went long stretches where we moved the ball quickly and with precision. (We) generated more scoring opportunities than any other game," said Andrews.
"We watched film, noticed some errors in our defensive positioning, and against Barrington we really tightened things up."
The positives are showing for the Knights.
"We played so well against Barrington. Even with them up 2-0 (Patrick Limanowka) put one in with eight minutes left. But in the end it was a few mental lapses that got us," added Whiteman.
Andrews says the leadership and overall effort put forth from both Whiteman and Nico Mho has been off the charts, but the first-year manager was quick to point out the contributions of several others.
"Sid Gaire can run forever, and he's made a big difference on the outside, while Limanowka and Joey Boduch are both skilled, creative players whose combination play is essential in our attack," he said.
Two-year starter, Kevin Shane between the sticks earned high praise from his manager, as well as Tengis Tulga, who has become first-rate along the back.
"I like the fact that we played a strong nonconference schedule early on. (It) has helped us prepare for the MSL season," says Whiteman. "If we can learn to play 80 complete minutes, the second half of the season will be a very good one for this team."