Game preview: Well-tested Leyden,
DGS look to turn corner
By Dave Owen
Downers Grove South and Leyden have been top-tier teams in the West Suburban Conference Gold Division for many years.
And while grueling early season schedules have impacted both squads in the win column, similar quality soccer can be expected at 6:30 p.m. when the Eagles (2-5-1, 1-0-0 in conference) and host Mustangs (1-6-0, 0-1-0) square off.
The Leyden schedule has included three teams in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, and the Eagles played the highest ranked of that trio of squads (no. 9 Oak Park and River Forest, with a 7-1-1 record) to a 1-1 tie.
But the team enters Tuesday after losses to Bolingbrook and York, where a lack defense was a key factor with seven goals allowed over the two matches.
“It has been a tough schedule, and we are a young team,” Leyden coach Mark Valintis said. “But right now we must improve overall team defending from front to back. If we can commit to that, wins will come and confidence will grow.”
That confidence and mental side of the game is perhaps even more vital to the Eagles’ season.
“Moving forward into DGS and beyond, our success lies between the ears and not the lines,” Valintis said.
If schedules were ears, Downers South would have just left a Megadeth concert.
Facing top-ranked Morton on Tuesday and then elite Indiana teams at the Great Midwest Classic over the weekend, the Mustangs have suffered record-wise but maintain high hopes.
“We had a productive weekend in Indianapolis,” DGS coach Jon Stapleton said.
“Our team was outmatched Friday night against North Central (Indianapolis, a 5-0 loss), but on Saturday we defeated McCutcheon 3-0 and we played well against Greenfield Central Saturday night, losing 3-1. That game was much closer than the score indicates.”
Kyle Fenner was an offensive star of the weekend with two goals in the win. Blazo Jovicevic also found the net vs. McCutcheon.
Ethan Kelly and Enrique Gonzalez have also been strong performers this fall for the Mustangs.
“I do feel winning Saturday morning was a lift in morale,” Stapleton said. “However, it was short lived since we had to turn around and play again Saturday night.
“With that said, we’ve played well in stretches during this difficult portion of our schedule, so it was nice to get rewarded with a win. I’m hoping it will boost confidence moving forward.”
The test of that thesis comes Tuesday in what has been a well-played and closely contested series in recent years.
Leyden has won the last three meetings (including 2-1 last year), but all by one goal. DGS had won the previous two meetings, including the last multi-goal difference in the series (3-0 in 2014). Two of the last five Eagles-Mustangs battles have been decided in overtime.
Another hard-fought, close game is likely Tuesday. But both coaches expect their defenses to be tested.
“Leyden is always very dangerous in the attack,” Stapleton said. “Each year they have players who are very skilled and dangerous around the goal, and we must defend well individually and collectively to be successful.”
How Leyden can handle DGS’ offensive attack is of paramount concern to Valintis.
“We have to defend better as a whole team,” Valintis said. “We have continually been our own worst enemy with mental mistakes and poor field awareness that lead directly to goals.
“If we can do our job individually as a player and collectively as a team and commit to doing the little things, we should be OK.”
Like DGS, the Eagles have had a tough time gaining September traction due to a punishing schedule.
But Valintis has seen plenty of individual positives.
“The funny thing is,” he said, “we have several players playing very well for us each and every game, yet we have very little to show for it (in wins).
“Alan Jacinto has been a rock in the middle of the field, Pablo Mancha has played everywhere and good things happen when the ball is at his feet.
“Jakub Dabek and Matt Espinoza have been relentless in our attack,” Valintis added, “and Edgar Orozco has been the lockdown back we need.”
With more forgiving schedules ahead for both sides, Tuesday could be a springboard to a big surge in the win column for the victor – or perhaps for both the Eagles and Mustangs.
“We just need to work collectively harder as a team,” Valintis said, “to create some good luck bounces that can go our way and help build our confidence.”
DGS look to turn corner
By Dave Owen
Downers Grove South and Leyden have been top-tier teams in the West Suburban Conference Gold Division for many years.
And while grueling early season schedules have impacted both squads in the win column, similar quality soccer can be expected at 6:30 p.m. when the Eagles (2-5-1, 1-0-0 in conference) and host Mustangs (1-6-0, 0-1-0) square off.
The Leyden schedule has included three teams in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, and the Eagles played the highest ranked of that trio of squads (no. 9 Oak Park and River Forest, with a 7-1-1 record) to a 1-1 tie.
But the team enters Tuesday after losses to Bolingbrook and York, where a lack defense was a key factor with seven goals allowed over the two matches.
“It has been a tough schedule, and we are a young team,” Leyden coach Mark Valintis said. “But right now we must improve overall team defending from front to back. If we can commit to that, wins will come and confidence will grow.”
That confidence and mental side of the game is perhaps even more vital to the Eagles’ season.
“Moving forward into DGS and beyond, our success lies between the ears and not the lines,” Valintis said.
If schedules were ears, Downers South would have just left a Megadeth concert.
Facing top-ranked Morton on Tuesday and then elite Indiana teams at the Great Midwest Classic over the weekend, the Mustangs have suffered record-wise but maintain high hopes.
“We had a productive weekend in Indianapolis,” DGS coach Jon Stapleton said.
“Our team was outmatched Friday night against North Central (Indianapolis, a 5-0 loss), but on Saturday we defeated McCutcheon 3-0 and we played well against Greenfield Central Saturday night, losing 3-1. That game was much closer than the score indicates.”
Kyle Fenner was an offensive star of the weekend with two goals in the win. Blazo Jovicevic also found the net vs. McCutcheon.
Ethan Kelly and Enrique Gonzalez have also been strong performers this fall for the Mustangs.
“I do feel winning Saturday morning was a lift in morale,” Stapleton said. “However, it was short lived since we had to turn around and play again Saturday night.
“With that said, we’ve played well in stretches during this difficult portion of our schedule, so it was nice to get rewarded with a win. I’m hoping it will boost confidence moving forward.”
The test of that thesis comes Tuesday in what has been a well-played and closely contested series in recent years.
Leyden has won the last three meetings (including 2-1 last year), but all by one goal. DGS had won the previous two meetings, including the last multi-goal difference in the series (3-0 in 2014). Two of the last five Eagles-Mustangs battles have been decided in overtime.
Another hard-fought, close game is likely Tuesday. But both coaches expect their defenses to be tested.
“Leyden is always very dangerous in the attack,” Stapleton said. “Each year they have players who are very skilled and dangerous around the goal, and we must defend well individually and collectively to be successful.”
How Leyden can handle DGS’ offensive attack is of paramount concern to Valintis.
“We have to defend better as a whole team,” Valintis said. “We have continually been our own worst enemy with mental mistakes and poor field awareness that lead directly to goals.
“If we can do our job individually as a player and collectively as a team and commit to doing the little things, we should be OK.”
Like DGS, the Eagles have had a tough time gaining September traction due to a punishing schedule.
But Valintis has seen plenty of individual positives.
“The funny thing is,” he said, “we have several players playing very well for us each and every game, yet we have very little to show for it (in wins).
“Alan Jacinto has been a rock in the middle of the field, Pablo Mancha has played everywhere and good things happen when the ball is at his feet.
“Jakub Dabek and Matt Espinoza have been relentless in our attack,” Valintis added, “and Edgar Orozco has been the lockdown back we need.”
With more forgiving schedules ahead for both sides, Tuesday could be a springboard to a big surge in the win column for the victor – or perhaps for both the Eagles and Mustangs.
“We just need to work collectively harder as a team,” Valintis said, “to create some good luck bounces that can go our way and help build our confidence.”