Veteran New Trier, young GBS to mix it up
By Michael Wojtychiw
New Trier has gotten off to a undefeated 9-0-0 start on the season and recently moved up to the top spot in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, largely in part to an experienced returning cast and a roster filled with upperclassmen.
The Trevians will try to extend their win streak and become the first no. 1 team to hold its perch for a second week when they meet visiting Glenbrook South at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Twelve returning varsity players, seven returning starters, and a large supporting cast who have been in the program for three or four years, have all helped the Trevians to the hot start.
With nearly 500 days between the Trevians' 2019 sectional semifinal loss and their season opener March 9, it was up to those returning players to take charge and help lead the team, especially since players were limited to their contact with coaches.
"I was really impressed with the guys through the offseason," New Trier coach Matt Ravenscraft said. "They were so committed and focused to the process of improving. They're a very competitive group, so when we were able to train and do contact days. The intensity and the level of sessions was so high. These guys brought it every day."
Even though they have so many returnees, a big question coming into the season was where scoring was going to come from. At least half of last year's goals graduated with Aidan Crowder's and Alex Powell's departure.
But enter a new set of players putting numbers up in Will Franzen, Dante Mitchell, Peter Kanellos and Collin Donnelly-Maine.
"We might not have that one (dangerous) guy, but we've got five or six that can score and have been scoring pretty consistently," Ravenscraft said.
It hasn't been only the offense that's stepped up for the Trevians early on. Goalkeepers Aidan Crawford and Nate Tanner have combined to post seven clean-sheets and allow less than one-half goal per game.
"It speaks to our system and the style of our play, it doesn't matter who's in net," Ravenscraft said. "Guys are comfortable in our system, and it's next man up."
The Trevians won their league opener 2-0 against nemesis Evanston on Tuesday.
Glenbrook South, on the other hand, has gone into the year with a squad that isn't as experienced as their Thursday opponent. Coach Reggie Lara has been mixing and matching his lineup, not only getting as many players as possible experience but also seeing what will lead the Titans to the most success.
"We've got a lot of potential when we are sharp," he said. "When we're communicating, I think we're as good as any other team, but we've had moments of inconsistency.
"Our key as we move forward is how do we stay more consistent and if we can figure that out, we'll start to see the results we're hoping for."
A couple of the players that have stood out to Lara and his coaching staff have been captains Colin Morse, David Sohn and Drew Maytum, as well as junior midfielder Owen Beumer.
The first week of the conference schedule hasn't done any favors for the Titans (3-3-0). They fell in their league opener on late goals in a 2-0 defeat in the Glenbrook Derby on Tuesday. Now it's New Trier and Saturday 12th-ranked Maine South.
"Normally we have nonconference games where we can move around our rotation or conference games spread out, but we've got five conference games in a week-and-a-half," Lara said. "We're trying to make sure the boys stay positive, work on things in practice and take that step forward. This is a unique year and the fact we get to play is an opportunity we got lucky to have."
By Michael Wojtychiw
New Trier has gotten off to a undefeated 9-0-0 start on the season and recently moved up to the top spot in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, largely in part to an experienced returning cast and a roster filled with upperclassmen.
The Trevians will try to extend their win streak and become the first no. 1 team to hold its perch for a second week when they meet visiting Glenbrook South at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Twelve returning varsity players, seven returning starters, and a large supporting cast who have been in the program for three or four years, have all helped the Trevians to the hot start.
With nearly 500 days between the Trevians' 2019 sectional semifinal loss and their season opener March 9, it was up to those returning players to take charge and help lead the team, especially since players were limited to their contact with coaches.
"I was really impressed with the guys through the offseason," New Trier coach Matt Ravenscraft said. "They were so committed and focused to the process of improving. They're a very competitive group, so when we were able to train and do contact days. The intensity and the level of sessions was so high. These guys brought it every day."
Even though they have so many returnees, a big question coming into the season was where scoring was going to come from. At least half of last year's goals graduated with Aidan Crowder's and Alex Powell's departure.
But enter a new set of players putting numbers up in Will Franzen, Dante Mitchell, Peter Kanellos and Collin Donnelly-Maine.
"We might not have that one (dangerous) guy, but we've got five or six that can score and have been scoring pretty consistently," Ravenscraft said.
It hasn't been only the offense that's stepped up for the Trevians early on. Goalkeepers Aidan Crawford and Nate Tanner have combined to post seven clean-sheets and allow less than one-half goal per game.
"It speaks to our system and the style of our play, it doesn't matter who's in net," Ravenscraft said. "Guys are comfortable in our system, and it's next man up."
The Trevians won their league opener 2-0 against nemesis Evanston on Tuesday.
Glenbrook South, on the other hand, has gone into the year with a squad that isn't as experienced as their Thursday opponent. Coach Reggie Lara has been mixing and matching his lineup, not only getting as many players as possible experience but also seeing what will lead the Titans to the most success.
"We've got a lot of potential when we are sharp," he said. "When we're communicating, I think we're as good as any other team, but we've had moments of inconsistency.
"Our key as we move forward is how do we stay more consistent and if we can figure that out, we'll start to see the results we're hoping for."
A couple of the players that have stood out to Lara and his coaching staff have been captains Colin Morse, David Sohn and Drew Maytum, as well as junior midfielder Owen Beumer.
The first week of the conference schedule hasn't done any favors for the Titans (3-3-0). They fell in their league opener on late goals in a 2-0 defeat in the Glenbrook Derby on Tuesday. Now it's New Trier and Saturday 12th-ranked Maine South.
"Normally we have nonconference games where we can move around our rotation or conference games spread out, but we've got five conference games in a week-and-a-half," Lara said. "We're trying to make sure the boys stay positive, work on things in practice and take that step forward. This is a unique year and the fact we get to play is an opportunity we got lucky to have."