CL South notches win over CL Central
Gators win 4-1 to stay unbeaten in Fox Valley Conference play
By Matt Misiek
CRYSTAL LAKE – After Thursday night’s game, Crystal Lake Central coach Jay Schwarzrock and Crystal Lake South coach Brian Allen had a quick chat about appreciation and being flexible for playing the game under the lights.
Neither schools’ soccer complexes have lights but several times, including last spring at Crystal Lake South’s Ken Bruhn field, the soccer programs have held night games against each other on both campuses.
A new Gator showed that he was ready for prime time under the lights, in the form of freshman forward Ali Ahmed.
With Crystal Lake South holding a slim 2-1 lead in the 37th minute, senior defender Tomecz Slawek played a great through-ball to fellow senior and Chicagoland Soccer All-Stater Tom Coughlin. At the top of the 18, Coughlin was bundled over the ball by the Tigers defense, but still managed to get a foot on it to tap it left.
Ahmed was on the spot and smashed home the loose ball to the right of Crystal Lake Central keeper Joey Moore to extend the lead and help the visiting Gators to a 4-1 victory.
“I just made the run up the field,” Ahmed said. “The ball came to me perfectly. It feels great to help the team and to get the win against our rival.”
Ahmed was named the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match not only for his timely goal-scoring exploit, but also what he brought to the game.
“Ali had a good showing against Hampshire (on September 21), and we usually give him about five minutes to give others a breather,” Allen said. “If he plays well, we extend it. In the first half tonight, he was buzzing around the defensive side, being disruptive and taking some people on and getting confidence.”
“Right spot, right time,” Allen continued. “However, you have to credit Tom (Coughlin) for engaging. But Ali still had to finish there. You have to make it count, put it on frame, and he did just that. It was huge.”
It took nearly 20 minutes for Crystal Lake South (13-2-1, 6-0-0) to notch the opening goal. Foiled by four early saves by Moore, including a point-blank save on a header from eight yards by Slawek in the fifth minute, the Gators breakthrough came courtesy of Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List forward Michel Dejworek.
Dejworek latched on to a right-to-left cross from sophomore midfielder Nolan Getzinger 30 yards from goal, took a few touches and slotted it from the top of the 18 to the left of Moore into the bottom right corner.
“Nolan served an amazing ball,” Dejworek explained. “I took a great touch and slotted the ball away. The key was us playing quick in the first 10 minutes, and we needed to get that one.”
Even after that first goal, the Gators backline was still trying to find their traction as Crystal Lake Central (1-6-1, 1-5-0) found opportunities deep in its attacking third.
The payoff for the Tigers came in the 24th minute. With the Gators unable to clear a ball inside their own six, Tigers sophomore forward Joseph Gumecino tapped in from close range into the bottom left corner past Crystal Lake South keeper Logan Vargas.
“We thought the ball was going to go out, “Gumecino said.” But my friend Jorge (Garcia) was able to cross the ball and all of the defenders were sort of looking at the ball. I took a chance and stabbed at the ball with my foot, and it was a great outcome.”
Crystal Lake South got the lead back five minutes later on another interesting play. After a long shot was driven in by senior forward Matt Horvath, the ball took an upwards deflection toward the goal line. After Moore and Gators midfielder Deven Tinajero battled for the ball. Tinajero got a touch and shot, sending Moore and the ball over the goal line.
“The start of the game was rocky for us.” Tinajero said. “We all grouped up at halftime and agreed that we needed to put in more work and believe on each other. Just relax as we were going too fast and not thinking on our plays.”
Dejworek (seven goals this season) closed out the scoring with the only second half goal. Off of an inswinging corner from Tinajero, Dejworek initially headed the ball low toward goal from eight yards. The ball came right back to his feet and only required a calm slotting past Moore.
For Crystal Lake Central and Schwarzrock, the overall mood was still positive afterward.
“It was a good start to the game.” Schwarzrock explained. “We came out with a lot of passion at the start. I think they (Crystal Lake South) thought they were going to steamroll us, and we showed a little gumption, a little heart tonight. It paid off with that goal.
“I’m proud of my players tonight. They could have easily rolled over after the second or third goal, but they kept at it and showed up.”
Moore had a total of six saves for Crystal Lake Central. Vargas had two saves in the victory.
Coach Allen recognized Tinajero and another Gator who had notable performances.
“Deven (Tinajero) was all over the place. He was box-to-box, playing that true eight position. Winning balls in the air, winning second tackles where he pressed. It was unfortunate that he had a goal also called back, but he played really well,” Allen said. “And Blake (Marunde) came inside over the middle and settled things down for us, because they (Crystal Lake Central) were having success over the top.”
Starting lineups
Crystal Lake Central
GK Joey Moore
D Aiden Andrews
D Matt Pinion
D Anthony Virruso
D Garret Gebhart
MF Evin Perez
MF Joseph Gumecino
MF Jorge Garcia
MF Carlos Garcia
F Danny Cubelic
F Elijah Burleson
Crystal Lake South
GK Logan Vargas
D Dayton Murphy
D Josh Washington
D Tomasz Slawek
D Andrew Smart
MF Brendan Lewis
MF Deven Tinajero
MF Tom Coughlin
F Michel Dejworek
F Matt Horvath
F Nolan Getzinger
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Ali Ahmed, fr., F, Crystal Lake South
Scoring summary
First half
CLS – Dejworek (Getzinger) – 19:32
CLC – Gumencino (Garcia) – 23:18
CLS – Tinajero (unassisted) – 29:59
CLS – Ahmed (Coughlin) - 36:44
Second half
CLS – Dejworek (Tinajero)
Gators win 4-1 to stay unbeaten in Fox Valley Conference play
By Matt Misiek
CRYSTAL LAKE – After Thursday night’s game, Crystal Lake Central coach Jay Schwarzrock and Crystal Lake South coach Brian Allen had a quick chat about appreciation and being flexible for playing the game under the lights.
Neither schools’ soccer complexes have lights but several times, including last spring at Crystal Lake South’s Ken Bruhn field, the soccer programs have held night games against each other on both campuses.
A new Gator showed that he was ready for prime time under the lights, in the form of freshman forward Ali Ahmed.
With Crystal Lake South holding a slim 2-1 lead in the 37th minute, senior defender Tomecz Slawek played a great through-ball to fellow senior and Chicagoland Soccer All-Stater Tom Coughlin. At the top of the 18, Coughlin was bundled over the ball by the Tigers defense, but still managed to get a foot on it to tap it left.
Ahmed was on the spot and smashed home the loose ball to the right of Crystal Lake Central keeper Joey Moore to extend the lead and help the visiting Gators to a 4-1 victory.
“I just made the run up the field,” Ahmed said. “The ball came to me perfectly. It feels great to help the team and to get the win against our rival.”
Ahmed was named the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match not only for his timely goal-scoring exploit, but also what he brought to the game.
“Ali had a good showing against Hampshire (on September 21), and we usually give him about five minutes to give others a breather,” Allen said. “If he plays well, we extend it. In the first half tonight, he was buzzing around the defensive side, being disruptive and taking some people on and getting confidence.”
“Right spot, right time,” Allen continued. “However, you have to credit Tom (Coughlin) for engaging. But Ali still had to finish there. You have to make it count, put it on frame, and he did just that. It was huge.”
It took nearly 20 minutes for Crystal Lake South (13-2-1, 6-0-0) to notch the opening goal. Foiled by four early saves by Moore, including a point-blank save on a header from eight yards by Slawek in the fifth minute, the Gators breakthrough came courtesy of Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List forward Michel Dejworek.
Dejworek latched on to a right-to-left cross from sophomore midfielder Nolan Getzinger 30 yards from goal, took a few touches and slotted it from the top of the 18 to the left of Moore into the bottom right corner.
“Nolan served an amazing ball,” Dejworek explained. “I took a great touch and slotted the ball away. The key was us playing quick in the first 10 minutes, and we needed to get that one.”
Even after that first goal, the Gators backline was still trying to find their traction as Crystal Lake Central (1-6-1, 1-5-0) found opportunities deep in its attacking third.
The payoff for the Tigers came in the 24th minute. With the Gators unable to clear a ball inside their own six, Tigers sophomore forward Joseph Gumecino tapped in from close range into the bottom left corner past Crystal Lake South keeper Logan Vargas.
“We thought the ball was going to go out, “Gumecino said.” But my friend Jorge (Garcia) was able to cross the ball and all of the defenders were sort of looking at the ball. I took a chance and stabbed at the ball with my foot, and it was a great outcome.”
Crystal Lake South got the lead back five minutes later on another interesting play. After a long shot was driven in by senior forward Matt Horvath, the ball took an upwards deflection toward the goal line. After Moore and Gators midfielder Deven Tinajero battled for the ball. Tinajero got a touch and shot, sending Moore and the ball over the goal line.
“The start of the game was rocky for us.” Tinajero said. “We all grouped up at halftime and agreed that we needed to put in more work and believe on each other. Just relax as we were going too fast and not thinking on our plays.”
Dejworek (seven goals this season) closed out the scoring with the only second half goal. Off of an inswinging corner from Tinajero, Dejworek initially headed the ball low toward goal from eight yards. The ball came right back to his feet and only required a calm slotting past Moore.
For Crystal Lake Central and Schwarzrock, the overall mood was still positive afterward.
“It was a good start to the game.” Schwarzrock explained. “We came out with a lot of passion at the start. I think they (Crystal Lake South) thought they were going to steamroll us, and we showed a little gumption, a little heart tonight. It paid off with that goal.
“I’m proud of my players tonight. They could have easily rolled over after the second or third goal, but they kept at it and showed up.”
Moore had a total of six saves for Crystal Lake Central. Vargas had two saves in the victory.
Coach Allen recognized Tinajero and another Gator who had notable performances.
“Deven (Tinajero) was all over the place. He was box-to-box, playing that true eight position. Winning balls in the air, winning second tackles where he pressed. It was unfortunate that he had a goal also called back, but he played really well,” Allen said. “And Blake (Marunde) came inside over the middle and settled things down for us, because they (Crystal Lake Central) were having success over the top.”
Starting lineups
Crystal Lake Central
GK Joey Moore
D Aiden Andrews
D Matt Pinion
D Anthony Virruso
D Garret Gebhart
MF Evin Perez
MF Joseph Gumecino
MF Jorge Garcia
MF Carlos Garcia
F Danny Cubelic
F Elijah Burleson
Crystal Lake South
GK Logan Vargas
D Dayton Murphy
D Josh Washington
D Tomasz Slawek
D Andrew Smart
MF Brendan Lewis
MF Deven Tinajero
MF Tom Coughlin
F Michel Dejworek
F Matt Horvath
F Nolan Getzinger
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Ali Ahmed, fr., F, Crystal Lake South
Scoring summary
First half
CLS – Dejworek (Getzinger) – 19:32
CLC – Gumencino (Garcia) – 23:18
CLS – Tinajero (unassisted) – 29:59
CLS – Ahmed (Coughlin) - 36:44
Second half
CLS – Dejworek (Tinajero)