Meadows grads Olson, Allen in coaching battle when Mustangs host Crystal Lake S.
By Ken Keenan
When defending IHSA Class AA state champion Crystal Lake South visits Rolling Meadows Friday night, the match will carry with it the distinctive flavor of an Alumni Night celebration.
That's because the Mustangs are led by head coach Brett Olson, a former Rolling Meadows midfielder/defender who graduated in 2005, while the Gators feature skipper Brian Allen, a 4-year goalkeeper at Rolling Meadows and a Class of 2001 grad.
"Brian is a great buddy and a RM alum, like myself, so this is a match-up we're both excited about," said Olson, whose squad opened the 2019 season with a 1-0 win over Vernon Hills on Tuesday. "Crystal Lake South has a different team from last year, but Brian has a such a strong program from top to bottom. We know they'll be tough for all 80 minutes."
The Gators, who finished 22-2-3 overall in 2018, earned the Class AA crown with a shootout win over Notre Dame (Peoria) in the title match last November. Allen's bunch, ranked no. 7 in the 2019 Chicagoland Soccer First 50 preseason poll, is off to 2-0-0 start this year after topping Hononegah 2-0 on Tuesday and Belvidere 6-0 a day later.
"It will be fun to be back at Rolling Meadows as an alum," said Allen, the 2018 IHSSCA Coach of the Year. "Anytime I have the chance to return to my roots, it's a humbling and exciting experience -- for me and my squad -- to compete against my former high school."
Allen continued: "I know coach Olson well, and he's building Rolling Meadows back up since taking over the program (in 2017). I'm excited to see where he continues to take them."
Crystal Lake South's top returnee is senior forward Alex Canfield. The Chicagoland Soccer All-Stater and Player of the Year finalist who tallied 33 goals and seven assists last year. Canfield is a USA Today 2019 Preseason All-American selection as well.
"He's the entire package -- super-athletic, quick, fast and dangerous in air," Allen said. "He can beat you in so many ways. He's also one of the most humble and selfless players I've coached ... all about team first. His work rate up-top fuels the players behind him to get working, and that allows us to play our brand because of that effort on both sides of the ball."
Other key returnees include senior defender Evan Carlson (all-Fox Valley Conference in '18), senior midfielder Sabien Raymond and sophomore mid Tom Coughlin.
"(Carlson) is a leader along the backline," Allen said. "He reads the game well, wins balls in the air and can distribute with either foot to help us get into our attack. Raymond and Coughlin are both tireless workers and very skillful on the ball."
Among the newcomers to watch are senior goalkeeper Carson Hill, sophomore middie Sam Bahnfleth, sophomore defender Tomasz Slawek and junior defender Pawel Dejworek.
"Hill probably made the biggest gains this offseason," Allen said. "He really worked hard at improving all aspects of his game. (Bahnfleth) brings terrific skill and vision in the middle to help distribute all over the pitch. Slawek and Dejworek both give us solid depth along the backline."
After nabbing a state title last season, Allen is fully aware that this year's squad will have the proverbial target on its back. But he has a plan to avoid letting that become a distraction.
"We're running with the idea that pressure is really a privilege that we're trying to embrace," Allen explained. "We know the target will be there, so why not embrace the pressure as privilege, and rise up to try to maximize our potential in each outing of the season knowing most teams are going to force us to be at our best because of that. It will ultimately help us in our growth throughout the course of the season."
Meanwhile, Rolling Meadows will be looking to bounce back from a 5-11-2 overall finish in 2018. Olson will be counting on several returnees, as well as a handful of newcomers, to collectively come together and get the job done.
The Mustangs' top returning players include senior goalkeeper Matt Galvan, junior midfielders Ethan Kakavetsis and Luis Marquez (3 goals each in '18), senior mids Adan Ramirez, Erik Martens and Joao Sanchez, junior defender Ryan Stubitsch, and senior D-men Jesus Padilla and Isaac San Roman.
Key newcomers are senior middie Fabian Sarabia, junior mid Edwin Fuentes, junior defender Nikolay Pavlov, junior forward Arnulfo Mora and junior keeper Pablo Zarate.
"We are looking to finish in the top half of the (Mid-Suburban League)," Olson said. "This group has a lot of team speed, particularly on the outside. I feel Sanchez and Fuentes will really open some eyes around the area with their abilities to win balls and distribute to initiate our offense. In the back, we have three returning starters (Stubitsch, San Roman and Padilla) along with multiple guys off the bench. Scoring-wise, we will need to get production from multiple guys to be successful."
Added Olson: We do have quite the challenge for our home opener in Crystal Lake South, so we've stressed to our guys the importance of maintaining our shape and defensive responsibilities. Our 'D' will be the key this season. We're going to rely on locking opponents down in order to win tight games throughout the year."
By Ken Keenan
When defending IHSA Class AA state champion Crystal Lake South visits Rolling Meadows Friday night, the match will carry with it the distinctive flavor of an Alumni Night celebration.
That's because the Mustangs are led by head coach Brett Olson, a former Rolling Meadows midfielder/defender who graduated in 2005, while the Gators feature skipper Brian Allen, a 4-year goalkeeper at Rolling Meadows and a Class of 2001 grad.
"Brian is a great buddy and a RM alum, like myself, so this is a match-up we're both excited about," said Olson, whose squad opened the 2019 season with a 1-0 win over Vernon Hills on Tuesday. "Crystal Lake South has a different team from last year, but Brian has a such a strong program from top to bottom. We know they'll be tough for all 80 minutes."
The Gators, who finished 22-2-3 overall in 2018, earned the Class AA crown with a shootout win over Notre Dame (Peoria) in the title match last November. Allen's bunch, ranked no. 7 in the 2019 Chicagoland Soccer First 50 preseason poll, is off to 2-0-0 start this year after topping Hononegah 2-0 on Tuesday and Belvidere 6-0 a day later.
"It will be fun to be back at Rolling Meadows as an alum," said Allen, the 2018 IHSSCA Coach of the Year. "Anytime I have the chance to return to my roots, it's a humbling and exciting experience -- for me and my squad -- to compete against my former high school."
Allen continued: "I know coach Olson well, and he's building Rolling Meadows back up since taking over the program (in 2017). I'm excited to see where he continues to take them."
Crystal Lake South's top returnee is senior forward Alex Canfield. The Chicagoland Soccer All-Stater and Player of the Year finalist who tallied 33 goals and seven assists last year. Canfield is a USA Today 2019 Preseason All-American selection as well.
"He's the entire package -- super-athletic, quick, fast and dangerous in air," Allen said. "He can beat you in so many ways. He's also one of the most humble and selfless players I've coached ... all about team first. His work rate up-top fuels the players behind him to get working, and that allows us to play our brand because of that effort on both sides of the ball."
Other key returnees include senior defender Evan Carlson (all-Fox Valley Conference in '18), senior midfielder Sabien Raymond and sophomore mid Tom Coughlin.
"(Carlson) is a leader along the backline," Allen said. "He reads the game well, wins balls in the air and can distribute with either foot to help us get into our attack. Raymond and Coughlin are both tireless workers and very skillful on the ball."
Among the newcomers to watch are senior goalkeeper Carson Hill, sophomore middie Sam Bahnfleth, sophomore defender Tomasz Slawek and junior defender Pawel Dejworek.
"Hill probably made the biggest gains this offseason," Allen said. "He really worked hard at improving all aspects of his game. (Bahnfleth) brings terrific skill and vision in the middle to help distribute all over the pitch. Slawek and Dejworek both give us solid depth along the backline."
After nabbing a state title last season, Allen is fully aware that this year's squad will have the proverbial target on its back. But he has a plan to avoid letting that become a distraction.
"We're running with the idea that pressure is really a privilege that we're trying to embrace," Allen explained. "We know the target will be there, so why not embrace the pressure as privilege, and rise up to try to maximize our potential in each outing of the season knowing most teams are going to force us to be at our best because of that. It will ultimately help us in our growth throughout the course of the season."
Meanwhile, Rolling Meadows will be looking to bounce back from a 5-11-2 overall finish in 2018. Olson will be counting on several returnees, as well as a handful of newcomers, to collectively come together and get the job done.
The Mustangs' top returning players include senior goalkeeper Matt Galvan, junior midfielders Ethan Kakavetsis and Luis Marquez (3 goals each in '18), senior mids Adan Ramirez, Erik Martens and Joao Sanchez, junior defender Ryan Stubitsch, and senior D-men Jesus Padilla and Isaac San Roman.
Key newcomers are senior middie Fabian Sarabia, junior mid Edwin Fuentes, junior defender Nikolay Pavlov, junior forward Arnulfo Mora and junior keeper Pablo Zarate.
"We are looking to finish in the top half of the (Mid-Suburban League)," Olson said. "This group has a lot of team speed, particularly on the outside. I feel Sanchez and Fuentes will really open some eyes around the area with their abilities to win balls and distribute to initiate our offense. In the back, we have three returning starters (Stubitsch, San Roman and Padilla) along with multiple guys off the bench. Scoring-wise, we will need to get production from multiple guys to be successful."
Added Olson: We do have quite the challenge for our home opener in Crystal Lake South, so we've stressed to our guys the importance of maintaining our shape and defensive responsibilities. Our 'D' will be the key this season. We're going to rely on locking opponents down in order to win tight games throughout the year."