CL South, DeKalb match mutually beneficial
By Steve Nemeth
A post-season re-match notwithstanding, Crystal Lake South and DeKalb consider Tuesday’s meeting the kind of challenge that pays dividends.
“It’s the type of match that helps you later in your year,” Lake South coach Brian Allen said. “It’s a final tune-up for us before FVC (Fox Valley Conference) play begins, it’s our first time on turf this season, and it’s been a nice little rivalry.”
The Gators -– who emerged at no. 24 in this week’s Chicagoland Soccer Top 25poll -- are looking to regain their offensive bite after having an undefeated start snapped. After averaging 4.8 goals in the first five games, South (5-1-0) lost 2-0 to Hampshire in the deciding match of the Rigby Challenge Tournament at Johnsburg High School.
And it wasn’t until the fifth outing -- a 6-1 win over the tourney host -- that the Gators allowed a goal.
While DeKalb (3-0-1) hasn’t been as prolific in scoring, coach Brent McIntosh produces grind-it-out clubs; something South discovered back in the 2015 regional opener. As the no. 1 seed for the upper half of the sectional structure, the Gators needed a 4-2 shootout to slip past the no. 9 seed and tourney host Barbs.
Just last year, the two sides were in a scoreless deadlock before South collected a pair of goals in the final five minutes for a 2-0 home victory.
“We’ve had some close battles, and we’ve got huge respect for FVC teams,” McIntosh said. “They’re generally big, talented and have solid coaching. Our focus like theirs is on conference and the postseason, but it’s games with South, Geneva and Boylan that really prepare us for conference and the playoffs.”
Both teams anticipate being contenders in their respective leagues -- the Northern Illinois Big XII for DeKalb -- and the opportunity to again enjoy postseason success.
South (13-9-1 overall in 2016) tied for fourth in the FVC with a 4-4-0 record and exited in the regional opener. That only added to the frustration of a shootout loss to league brethren Cary-Grove in the 2015 DeKalb Regional final.
The year prior to that, the Gators blanked Cary-Grove (3-0) for the school’s sixth regional and the third for Allen -- now in his 11th campaign – to go with 2009 and 2010 plaques.
DeKalb came up short of a regional crown in 2016 due to a 1-0 loss to another FVC school, McHenry. The Barbs’ last trophy success was in 2013, as part of a 19-win season when they won their first Class 3A regional plaque. McIntosh -- now in his 17th season -- guided DeKalb to Class AA regional success in 2007 and 2008.
Lauded by opposing coaches and veteran officials, DeKalb’s synthetic turf is 75 yards wide – a marked contrast from most high school set-ups where the football/soccer field is confined within a tighter, elongated oval track.
“It’s a little different environment, but we have enough experience and senior leadership to adjust,” Allen said. “What was a big disappointment against Hampshire was when they scored, our heads dropped.
“We can’t lose our focus. Maybe we were a little fatigued and frustrated that they took us out of our comfort zone, but we need to be a team that works hard, plays a full 80 minutes, and makes opponents earn goals.”
That is particularly the preference for veteran Gators goalie Brandon Gorka.
“We expect (DeKalb) to be just as tough as last season, but the key for us it to stick with what works for us,” Gorka noted. “We need to keep our focus and communicate between each line.”
The senior keeper combines with an extremely talented defensive anchor in junior Ryan Yazel – one of South’s three All-FVC honorees in 2016. The other two were Chicagoland Soccer all-state pick Andrew Grabowski – South’s no. 4 career scorer with 126 points on 47 goals and 32 assists – plus CS All-State Watch List member Nikolas Getzinger.
Getzinger tops the Gators production chart with 13 points (five goals, three assists) followed by juniors Nicolas Langdon (12 points/4 goals, 4 assists) and the younger Grabowski, Brad, (11 points/5 goals, 1 assists). Right behind are junior Ryan Coughlin (nine points/4 goals, 1 assists) and sophomore Alex Canfield (nine points/2 goals, 5 assists).
“None of the games on our schedule are walks in the park,” Langdon insisted. “But we have the chemistry to play strong soccer through all three lines. Defensively we’ll stay compact; offensively we’ll keep possession and get out wide to capitalize on opportunities. We’re pretty close on and off the field having played together for high school and club.”
The South roster breakdown features eight seniors, nine juniors and four sophomores. DeKalb’s makeup is 12 seniors, seven juniors and two sophomores.
“The spine of our line-up is real experienced,” McIntosh said in reference to defenders Lincoln Draper and Trevor Espy, midfielders Angel Martinez. and Benny Redzepi, plus forward Tristan Bujarski.
“Of those five, four of them have been playing varsity since their freshman days,” McIntosh noted. “All of them know the game, see the field, utilize their speed and fitness, plus they’re simply tough kids.”
In avoiding defeat through four games, the Barbs have eight goals spread out with Jesus Becerra owning two and one apiece from Martinez and Bujarski, Luis Cabral, Dylan Kvapil, and Andrew Leon.
DeKalb opens conference place on Thursday at Morris before hosting neighbor, nemesis, and league rival Sycamore the following Tuesday.
South returns home for a Thursday FVC date with McHenry and then takes part in the PepsiCo Showdown. Last year, the Gators were the runner-up in the Gatorade Division, one of the event’s five-bracketed tournaments.
By Steve Nemeth
A post-season re-match notwithstanding, Crystal Lake South and DeKalb consider Tuesday’s meeting the kind of challenge that pays dividends.
“It’s the type of match that helps you later in your year,” Lake South coach Brian Allen said. “It’s a final tune-up for us before FVC (Fox Valley Conference) play begins, it’s our first time on turf this season, and it’s been a nice little rivalry.”
The Gators -– who emerged at no. 24 in this week’s Chicagoland Soccer Top 25poll -- are looking to regain their offensive bite after having an undefeated start snapped. After averaging 4.8 goals in the first five games, South (5-1-0) lost 2-0 to Hampshire in the deciding match of the Rigby Challenge Tournament at Johnsburg High School.
And it wasn’t until the fifth outing -- a 6-1 win over the tourney host -- that the Gators allowed a goal.
While DeKalb (3-0-1) hasn’t been as prolific in scoring, coach Brent McIntosh produces grind-it-out clubs; something South discovered back in the 2015 regional opener. As the no. 1 seed for the upper half of the sectional structure, the Gators needed a 4-2 shootout to slip past the no. 9 seed and tourney host Barbs.
Just last year, the two sides were in a scoreless deadlock before South collected a pair of goals in the final five minutes for a 2-0 home victory.
“We’ve had some close battles, and we’ve got huge respect for FVC teams,” McIntosh said. “They’re generally big, talented and have solid coaching. Our focus like theirs is on conference and the postseason, but it’s games with South, Geneva and Boylan that really prepare us for conference and the playoffs.”
Both teams anticipate being contenders in their respective leagues -- the Northern Illinois Big XII for DeKalb -- and the opportunity to again enjoy postseason success.
South (13-9-1 overall in 2016) tied for fourth in the FVC with a 4-4-0 record and exited in the regional opener. That only added to the frustration of a shootout loss to league brethren Cary-Grove in the 2015 DeKalb Regional final.
The year prior to that, the Gators blanked Cary-Grove (3-0) for the school’s sixth regional and the third for Allen -- now in his 11th campaign – to go with 2009 and 2010 plaques.
DeKalb came up short of a regional crown in 2016 due to a 1-0 loss to another FVC school, McHenry. The Barbs’ last trophy success was in 2013, as part of a 19-win season when they won their first Class 3A regional plaque. McIntosh -- now in his 17th season -- guided DeKalb to Class AA regional success in 2007 and 2008.
Lauded by opposing coaches and veteran officials, DeKalb’s synthetic turf is 75 yards wide – a marked contrast from most high school set-ups where the football/soccer field is confined within a tighter, elongated oval track.
“It’s a little different environment, but we have enough experience and senior leadership to adjust,” Allen said. “What was a big disappointment against Hampshire was when they scored, our heads dropped.
“We can’t lose our focus. Maybe we were a little fatigued and frustrated that they took us out of our comfort zone, but we need to be a team that works hard, plays a full 80 minutes, and makes opponents earn goals.”
That is particularly the preference for veteran Gators goalie Brandon Gorka.
“We expect (DeKalb) to be just as tough as last season, but the key for us it to stick with what works for us,” Gorka noted. “We need to keep our focus and communicate between each line.”
The senior keeper combines with an extremely talented defensive anchor in junior Ryan Yazel – one of South’s three All-FVC honorees in 2016. The other two were Chicagoland Soccer all-state pick Andrew Grabowski – South’s no. 4 career scorer with 126 points on 47 goals and 32 assists – plus CS All-State Watch List member Nikolas Getzinger.
Getzinger tops the Gators production chart with 13 points (five goals, three assists) followed by juniors Nicolas Langdon (12 points/4 goals, 4 assists) and the younger Grabowski, Brad, (11 points/5 goals, 1 assists). Right behind are junior Ryan Coughlin (nine points/4 goals, 1 assists) and sophomore Alex Canfield (nine points/2 goals, 5 assists).
“None of the games on our schedule are walks in the park,” Langdon insisted. “But we have the chemistry to play strong soccer through all three lines. Defensively we’ll stay compact; offensively we’ll keep possession and get out wide to capitalize on opportunities. We’re pretty close on and off the field having played together for high school and club.”
The South roster breakdown features eight seniors, nine juniors and four sophomores. DeKalb’s makeup is 12 seniors, seven juniors and two sophomores.
“The spine of our line-up is real experienced,” McIntosh said in reference to defenders Lincoln Draper and Trevor Espy, midfielders Angel Martinez. and Benny Redzepi, plus forward Tristan Bujarski.
“Of those five, four of them have been playing varsity since their freshman days,” McIntosh noted. “All of them know the game, see the field, utilize their speed and fitness, plus they’re simply tough kids.”
In avoiding defeat through four games, the Barbs have eight goals spread out with Jesus Becerra owning two and one apiece from Martinez and Bujarski, Luis Cabral, Dylan Kvapil, and Andrew Leon.
DeKalb opens conference place on Thursday at Morris before hosting neighbor, nemesis, and league rival Sycamore the following Tuesday.
South returns home for a Thursday FVC date with McHenry and then takes part in the PepsiCo Showdown. Last year, the Gators were the runner-up in the Gatorade Division, one of the event’s five-bracketed tournaments.