Deerfield looks for turnaround vs. Lakes
By Mike Garofola
Two soccer clubs which find themselves on opposite ends of the Class AA Belvidere Sub-Sectional B will meet at 7 p.m. Monday with each side looking to end the regular season with momemtum.
Lakes (6-5-1) was recently anointed the top seed and arrives at Adams Field to play host Deerfield (2-12-2), which was seeded no. 8 in the sectional. The host Warriors are looking to shake free of a five-game winless streak at the expense of the visiting Eagles.
"We've been battling injuries all season long, and not only a lot of but injuries to some of our strongest players," said Deerfield manager Elliott Hurtig.
"Through it all, and our very disappointing results, the guys have done a fantastic job of staying together, working hard and still having fun despite the the losses."
When the Warriors ended a three-game skid with a 1-0 away victory over Vernon Hills on September 19, the club returned to the doldrums. Deerfield has not found the back of the net during its recent skein.
"It's obvious we have to put the ball into the net; it's pretty simple," Hurtig said. "And it might not be pretty, but we need more guys getting forward into the box so we are in position to finish our chances."
Lakes will look to add to the Warriors woes with the scoring partnership of Evan Larsen and Brady Lucas, manager Kevin Kullby's sensational scoring duo who have accounted for all but four of the Eagles goals this season.
"Evan is a force at 6-foot-4," said Kullby. "He's tough in the air and deceptively quick on the dribble, along with being your classic finisher.
"Brady Lucas is a complete player in the midfield. He covers well in defense. He's spot-on with his passing, and he can dribble at speed and get off great shots outside the box."
The two have combined for 19 goals, and should they strike again, Kullby will lean on his center backs Patrick Mayer and Kurtis Smith to keep things watertight.
"Both of those guys are outstandings in their positioning and ablity to tackle," Kullby said.
The Eagles manager, who is closing in on his 200-career victory at Lakes after running the show at Lake Forest, likes his first 11. He believes they are balanced from back-to-front. Roster depth, however, is a a concern.
"One thing we cannot afford is an injury to any of our top players, or for that matter any player in our starting lineup," he said.
Hurtig has also come to rely on a pair of his young men who through thick and thin have been guiding lights for the Warriors.
"Ben (Taxman) has been incredibly solid for us in the back," Hurtig said. "He was a strong player a year ago, and he's continued to gain confidence, and in his desire to win 50-50 balls in the air. His tackling has been an inspiraton to others."
Josh Berman, who took over between the sticks for former Warriors star Ryan Grady, who is now playing at Middlebury (Vermont), has done quite well for himself according to his manager.
"(Josh) has been phenomenal," Hurtig said. "He commands his box on crosses and long balls sent in, and I can say that's where most of his growth in his game has come.
"We always knew he was an excellent shot-blocker, so needless to say, that part of his game is still outstanding."
Hurtig said Ryder Coleman has made a favorable impression in his first year with the big club.
"It can be demanding moving from the freshmen team all the way up to the varsity, but with every game, Ryder's confidence on the ball shows through, as has his defense as we ask him to shut down some of the top players of the opposition," Hurtig said.
The selection of Lakes as the top seed came as no surprise to Kullby, who remembers one other instance when the Eagles were recieved the honor.
"It was a few years back, but unfortunately, we lost our regional opener to Wauconda 1-0 at the Vernon Hills Regional," said Kullby, whose club sits just behind Round Lake in the race for the big trophy in the Northern Lake County Conference.
"(But) this year, given the records of everyone in our sub-sectional, we had the only winning record against our opponents in the regional and nearly every other team had a losing record as well."
"So, by default, that top seed went our way. On the flipside, we've been competitive in each and every game."
Hurtig says his lads have ignored their record and remain a tight knit bunch, who continue to work hard and have fun while doing so.
"The guys have only checked out for one half of soccer all season. It's a credit to all of them," Hurtig said.
"I've had teams that won 18-20 games in a season, yet they've had more moments in which their focus has been lacking as well as their work rate and work ethic."
"These guys always give it their all. And even though our record is less than dazzling, it's been great fun coaching and being around them."
By Mike Garofola
Two soccer clubs which find themselves on opposite ends of the Class AA Belvidere Sub-Sectional B will meet at 7 p.m. Monday with each side looking to end the regular season with momemtum.
Lakes (6-5-1) was recently anointed the top seed and arrives at Adams Field to play host Deerfield (2-12-2), which was seeded no. 8 in the sectional. The host Warriors are looking to shake free of a five-game winless streak at the expense of the visiting Eagles.
"We've been battling injuries all season long, and not only a lot of but injuries to some of our strongest players," said Deerfield manager Elliott Hurtig.
"Through it all, and our very disappointing results, the guys have done a fantastic job of staying together, working hard and still having fun despite the the losses."
When the Warriors ended a three-game skid with a 1-0 away victory over Vernon Hills on September 19, the club returned to the doldrums. Deerfield has not found the back of the net during its recent skein.
"It's obvious we have to put the ball into the net; it's pretty simple," Hurtig said. "And it might not be pretty, but we need more guys getting forward into the box so we are in position to finish our chances."
Lakes will look to add to the Warriors woes with the scoring partnership of Evan Larsen and Brady Lucas, manager Kevin Kullby's sensational scoring duo who have accounted for all but four of the Eagles goals this season.
"Evan is a force at 6-foot-4," said Kullby. "He's tough in the air and deceptively quick on the dribble, along with being your classic finisher.
"Brady Lucas is a complete player in the midfield. He covers well in defense. He's spot-on with his passing, and he can dribble at speed and get off great shots outside the box."
The two have combined for 19 goals, and should they strike again, Kullby will lean on his center backs Patrick Mayer and Kurtis Smith to keep things watertight.
"Both of those guys are outstandings in their positioning and ablity to tackle," Kullby said.
The Eagles manager, who is closing in on his 200-career victory at Lakes after running the show at Lake Forest, likes his first 11. He believes they are balanced from back-to-front. Roster depth, however, is a a concern.
"One thing we cannot afford is an injury to any of our top players, or for that matter any player in our starting lineup," he said.
Hurtig has also come to rely on a pair of his young men who through thick and thin have been guiding lights for the Warriors.
"Ben (Taxman) has been incredibly solid for us in the back," Hurtig said. "He was a strong player a year ago, and he's continued to gain confidence, and in his desire to win 50-50 balls in the air. His tackling has been an inspiraton to others."
Josh Berman, who took over between the sticks for former Warriors star Ryan Grady, who is now playing at Middlebury (Vermont), has done quite well for himself according to his manager.
"(Josh) has been phenomenal," Hurtig said. "He commands his box on crosses and long balls sent in, and I can say that's where most of his growth in his game has come.
"We always knew he was an excellent shot-blocker, so needless to say, that part of his game is still outstanding."
Hurtig said Ryder Coleman has made a favorable impression in his first year with the big club.
"It can be demanding moving from the freshmen team all the way up to the varsity, but with every game, Ryder's confidence on the ball shows through, as has his defense as we ask him to shut down some of the top players of the opposition," Hurtig said.
The selection of Lakes as the top seed came as no surprise to Kullby, who remembers one other instance when the Eagles were recieved the honor.
"It was a few years back, but unfortunately, we lost our regional opener to Wauconda 1-0 at the Vernon Hills Regional," said Kullby, whose club sits just behind Round Lake in the race for the big trophy in the Northern Lake County Conference.
"(But) this year, given the records of everyone in our sub-sectional, we had the only winning record against our opponents in the regional and nearly every other team had a losing record as well."
"So, by default, that top seed went our way. On the flipside, we've been competitive in each and every game."
Hurtig says his lads have ignored their record and remain a tight knit bunch, who continue to work hard and have fun while doing so.
"The guys have only checked out for one half of soccer all season. It's a credit to all of them," Hurtig said.
"I've had teams that won 18-20 games in a season, yet they've had more moments in which their focus has been lacking as well as their work rate and work ethic."
"These guys always give it their all. And even though our record is less than dazzling, it's been great fun coaching and being around them."