Glenbrook South, Deerfield continue
prep for conference slate
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Reggie Lara got a shock to the system at the start of the new soccer season.
Amid an already complex backdrop of the pandemic year, Lara has a roster that is virtually unrecognizable from the one he used in November of 2019.
“We lost 16 seniors, I believe, and many of them were starters,” Lara said. “To the extent this new season feels like it’s a little bit of a rebuild, I feel very good about the group we have coming back, either seniors who are stepping into more prominent roles or new players.”
The Titans (3-1-0) play at Deerfield Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in a Central Suburban League cross-over match.
The game provides another window into the state of the two programs, each teeming with young talent and several established players taking on expanded roles.
Change is a constant at the high school level. The new players have flourished so far. Lara points to the example of David Sohn, one of the team's best two-way players.
Sohn made his reputation last year as a strong and steady presence playing in the back. Now he has shifted to a central midfielder to juice the attack.
“What I really like about this group are two things: their energy and drive,” Lara said. “These guys are firing off on all cylinders, showing a real grittiness and toughness, both in practice and during games.
“They are quick to pursue the goal, and they are fast to move off the ball. This team has a real competitive nature. I see it in practice a lot. These guys love to beat each other, even if it’s a small activity, and it shows how super competitive they are.”
In addition to Sohn, junior midfielders Owen Beumer and Arturo Moyo have shown creativity and dynamic play in establishing the middle of the attack.
The story has been on defense where the Titans have conceded just one goal in the four games. Keeper Colin Morse has three shutouts and has been a foundational player. He plays aggressively and instinctively.
Defender Dominik Danko has also been superb.
Given the backdrop to the season, this year is high variance, with profound changes and shifts from game to game. Sure enough, Glenbrook South and Deerfield are both on their spring break and missing some key players.
Deerfield had to postpone its scheduled game against Lakes on Saturday due to a lack of available players. Early bumps and bruises have been a problem after the Warriors played four games in five days during the opening week, and six in 10 days over two weeks.
“Reggie joked that he is going to be bringing up sophomores, and I joked we are going to be bringing up freshmen,” Deerfield coach Elliott Hurtig said.
The Warriors (2-2-2) have gone through a topsy-turvy early year, with a strong win over Evanston, a shutout of Grant and a scoreless tie with Glenbrook North.
The only inexplicable performance was a 6-0 drubbing against Niles West. They lost to No. 2 New Trier 3-0.
“This has been a strange dynamic so far because of everything going on with COVID-19 and spring break,” Hurtig said. “It’s been an adjustment for everyone.
“We feel like this season is a gift, and we just want to appreciate it, enjoy it and work really hard to get better and just appreciate the fact that things are to a point with the pandemic that we can practice and have games and compete.”
Deerfield has three players who stand above the cut, combining talent, drive and experience that makes the rest of the program go. Josh Berman is the heir to the Warriors’ long line of outstanding keepers.
The two offensive players to watch are midfielder Nicholas Prus, a rangy and dynamic threat in space. He uses his size to great effect. Ari Wainer is the lead threat at the top of the attack.
“When you have three quality players and quality people, you know going into the season you are going to have a strong year,” Hurtig said.
Hurtig said the team must match effort to results.
“My assistant, coach (Rich) Grady, tracks head balls and tackles won,” Hurtig said. “In the games we’ve won, we have had very favorable numbers.
“The data shows when we are winning, we are dominating those areas. Against Niles West, we were dominated. The numbers don’t lie.”
Hurtig said the program is playing four levels of soccer during the truncated season, and the participation numbers are up across the board. He is able to cycle in new players.
Every season is cyclical and marked by momentum swings and changes of fortune. Like Lara, Hurtig is excited by the development and pleased by the bigger picture going forward.
Mostly, Hurtig is ecstatic by the very fact of playing again. This game is another important showcase.
“There is so much joy in seeing kids and having fun with the game of soccer,” he said.
prep for conference slate
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Reggie Lara got a shock to the system at the start of the new soccer season.
Amid an already complex backdrop of the pandemic year, Lara has a roster that is virtually unrecognizable from the one he used in November of 2019.
“We lost 16 seniors, I believe, and many of them were starters,” Lara said. “To the extent this new season feels like it’s a little bit of a rebuild, I feel very good about the group we have coming back, either seniors who are stepping into more prominent roles or new players.”
The Titans (3-1-0) play at Deerfield Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in a Central Suburban League cross-over match.
The game provides another window into the state of the two programs, each teeming with young talent and several established players taking on expanded roles.
Change is a constant at the high school level. The new players have flourished so far. Lara points to the example of David Sohn, one of the team's best two-way players.
Sohn made his reputation last year as a strong and steady presence playing in the back. Now he has shifted to a central midfielder to juice the attack.
“What I really like about this group are two things: their energy and drive,” Lara said. “These guys are firing off on all cylinders, showing a real grittiness and toughness, both in practice and during games.
“They are quick to pursue the goal, and they are fast to move off the ball. This team has a real competitive nature. I see it in practice a lot. These guys love to beat each other, even if it’s a small activity, and it shows how super competitive they are.”
In addition to Sohn, junior midfielders Owen Beumer and Arturo Moyo have shown creativity and dynamic play in establishing the middle of the attack.
The story has been on defense where the Titans have conceded just one goal in the four games. Keeper Colin Morse has three shutouts and has been a foundational player. He plays aggressively and instinctively.
Defender Dominik Danko has also been superb.
Given the backdrop to the season, this year is high variance, with profound changes and shifts from game to game. Sure enough, Glenbrook South and Deerfield are both on their spring break and missing some key players.
Deerfield had to postpone its scheduled game against Lakes on Saturday due to a lack of available players. Early bumps and bruises have been a problem after the Warriors played four games in five days during the opening week, and six in 10 days over two weeks.
“Reggie joked that he is going to be bringing up sophomores, and I joked we are going to be bringing up freshmen,” Deerfield coach Elliott Hurtig said.
The Warriors (2-2-2) have gone through a topsy-turvy early year, with a strong win over Evanston, a shutout of Grant and a scoreless tie with Glenbrook North.
The only inexplicable performance was a 6-0 drubbing against Niles West. They lost to No. 2 New Trier 3-0.
“This has been a strange dynamic so far because of everything going on with COVID-19 and spring break,” Hurtig said. “It’s been an adjustment for everyone.
“We feel like this season is a gift, and we just want to appreciate it, enjoy it and work really hard to get better and just appreciate the fact that things are to a point with the pandemic that we can practice and have games and compete.”
Deerfield has three players who stand above the cut, combining talent, drive and experience that makes the rest of the program go. Josh Berman is the heir to the Warriors’ long line of outstanding keepers.
The two offensive players to watch are midfielder Nicholas Prus, a rangy and dynamic threat in space. He uses his size to great effect. Ari Wainer is the lead threat at the top of the attack.
“When you have three quality players and quality people, you know going into the season you are going to have a strong year,” Hurtig said.
Hurtig said the team must match effort to results.
“My assistant, coach (Rich) Grady, tracks head balls and tackles won,” Hurtig said. “In the games we’ve won, we have had very favorable numbers.
“The data shows when we are winning, we are dominating those areas. Against Niles West, we were dominated. The numbers don’t lie.”
Hurtig said the program is playing four levels of soccer during the truncated season, and the participation numbers are up across the board. He is able to cycle in new players.
Every season is cyclical and marked by momentum swings and changes of fortune. Like Lara, Hurtig is excited by the development and pleased by the bigger picture going forward.
Mostly, Hurtig is ecstatic by the very fact of playing again. This game is another important showcase.
“There is so much joy in seeing kids and having fun with the game of soccer,” he said.