New Trier, Glenbrook N. vie in top 10 battle
By Mike Garofola
There's another high-profile weekend soccer game this weekend, and it's arguably the the best this half of the state has to offer. It begins at 3 p.m. Saturday -- New Trier at Glenbrook North, the fifth- and eighth-rated clubs in this week's Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
It's yet another quality opponent in the early part of the season for each club. Both are coming off of four games at the already become the prominent Northside College Showcase hosted by the Trevians program. Both teams competed in the event, but didn't meet.
"We're very proud of the tournament, and with the support of our adminstration, the village, and of course our entire program, (it's) become one of the top soccer tournaments of the entire fall season," said second-year New Trier coach Matt Ravenscraft just a few hours before his lads defeated Deerfield 7-0 Tuesday.
The Trevians (7-1-0) navigated their way through pool play to advance into the program's first appearance in the four-year-old event.
"We were all excited to play in our own final, but obviously so was Libertyville who beat us 5-2," began Ravenscraft.
"I give a lot of credit to Kevin Thunholm, who in his first year as head coach has transitioned so well from assistant to head coach, something I'm quite familiar with after going through the same thing a year ago.
"Libertyville is a very talented team, terrific team speed, really dangerous in set piece opportunities (but) we learned a lot of things about ourselves after playing that game, then watching the film as well.
"This was a good time of the year to experience situations like we did with Libertyville. We can all take a closer look at what needs to improve and be cleaned up.
"Our tournament gave us a great opportunity to play high-stakes games against some of the best teams around, and the guys relished that chance, and did quite well with it."
During the 5-2 defeat, the Trevians missed a pair of PKs and failed to finish a couple of early chances. So with rival Glenbrook North on the horizon, Ravenscraft
is anxious to see how his lads respond.
The Trevians manager says his big three, Logan Weaver, Ryan Krueger and Will Felitto, who have combined for over 20 goals thus far, will hopefully be the creative force in the attack.
Weaver is one of those rare junior captains, who plays with plays with enough confidence for the rest of his mates. He has tremendous positional awareness.
Krueger, who bagged three against Deerfield earlier in the week, has already committed to Colgate of the Ivy League, and has proven to be a great outlet in the Trevians attack, while becoming a quality goal-scorer from his spot up-top.
"Will has been with the varsity since he was a sophomore, and is so strong in the air, tenacious in 50-50 tackles, one of our key guys in the build-up of our attack," says Ravenscraft.
The Trevians drew 1-1 with Glenbrook North last season, and despite the Spartans loss of Chicagoland Soccer all-staters Timmy Iscra and Seth Grossman, Ravenscraft feels the Spartans 2017 version is just as dangerous, if not more.
"Sahil (Modi) pulls the strings in the midfield for them, Robbie Fraser is a great two-way player in the middle, and Deng Deng Kur is an amazing athlete up-front, who can hold and knock down the ball, and along with those other two guys can be so dangerous in their attack," said Ravenscraft.
"They have others we'll have to keep an eye on, and hopefully, we'll show what we can do on Saturday. It should be an entertaining soccer game for sure."
The aforementioned Fraser appreciated the kind words from Ravenscraft, and he too, along with his mates, cannot wait for match day at the Spartans home park.
"It's always one of our top nonconference games of the year, and this year, along with my teammates: Sahil, Deng Deng, Mason Rose and Evan Goldberg, who all play club with FC United, we'll be playing 7-8 guys from New Trier who are also our club teammates," said the superb student-athlete and senior.
"New Trier is always a quality opponent, and many of us know each other real well, so that should make for a very competitive game."
Fraser admits the Spartans (4-2-1) were disappointed with their third place finish in pool play at the Northside College Showcase and fifth-place trophy, but he points to a 0-0 draw with eventual champion Libertyville as proof he and his mates can play with the best.
"We have several first-year varsity players this season, so I really feel those guys grew up during the week of the tournament, and especially against Libertyville, where they all stepped up when we needed them to," offered Fraser.
"That experience will help us come playoff time when it really counts."
Glenbrook North manager Paul Vignocchi couldn't have agreed more with Fraser.
"That Libertyville game was big for us," began Vignocchi. They were fast, physical and technical, and there was a playoff atmosphere going on. We learned a lot about our team -- that our guys managed the game, and competed at a high level."
In the tournament, the Spartans were 2-1-1 overall, scoring 11 goals. The two they conceded, which included a 79th-minute strike, came in their tournament-opening loss to current no. 7 Lyons by a 2-1 score.
"The boys were disappointed with that result, but we learned to adjust to our mistakes last week," Vignocchi said. "And it was nice to see us demonstrate our perseverance against other good teams after that loss."
Vignocchi admitted the loss of Iscra (starting at DePaul University) is a tough one to overcome, however, the job Fraser has done in place of Iscra has been nothing short of amazing.
"When you lose a player like Iscra in the middle of the field, you worry a lot about that part of the game," he said.
"I cannot say enough about Robbie, who has stepped in and controlled the midfield for us, and with his great work rate and skill, he's become very dangerous for us."
Vignocchi likes what he's seen thus far from both Modi and Kur, who have become an explosive dynamic duo. Along the back, the aforementioned Rose and Goldberg have proven to be a water-tight combo in front of the Glenbrook North keepers.
"Ben (Gordon) has been a nice surprise as a junior, who has done everything we ask, while also becoming a steady leader as well," added Vignocchi.
Two thrilling and storied soccer progams are set to go. Let the futbol fiesta begin.
By Mike Garofola
There's another high-profile weekend soccer game this weekend, and it's arguably the the best this half of the state has to offer. It begins at 3 p.m. Saturday -- New Trier at Glenbrook North, the fifth- and eighth-rated clubs in this week's Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
It's yet another quality opponent in the early part of the season for each club. Both are coming off of four games at the already become the prominent Northside College Showcase hosted by the Trevians program. Both teams competed in the event, but didn't meet.
"We're very proud of the tournament, and with the support of our adminstration, the village, and of course our entire program, (it's) become one of the top soccer tournaments of the entire fall season," said second-year New Trier coach Matt Ravenscraft just a few hours before his lads defeated Deerfield 7-0 Tuesday.
The Trevians (7-1-0) navigated their way through pool play to advance into the program's first appearance in the four-year-old event.
"We were all excited to play in our own final, but obviously so was Libertyville who beat us 5-2," began Ravenscraft.
"I give a lot of credit to Kevin Thunholm, who in his first year as head coach has transitioned so well from assistant to head coach, something I'm quite familiar with after going through the same thing a year ago.
"Libertyville is a very talented team, terrific team speed, really dangerous in set piece opportunities (but) we learned a lot of things about ourselves after playing that game, then watching the film as well.
"This was a good time of the year to experience situations like we did with Libertyville. We can all take a closer look at what needs to improve and be cleaned up.
"Our tournament gave us a great opportunity to play high-stakes games against some of the best teams around, and the guys relished that chance, and did quite well with it."
During the 5-2 defeat, the Trevians missed a pair of PKs and failed to finish a couple of early chances. So with rival Glenbrook North on the horizon, Ravenscraft
is anxious to see how his lads respond.
The Trevians manager says his big three, Logan Weaver, Ryan Krueger and Will Felitto, who have combined for over 20 goals thus far, will hopefully be the creative force in the attack.
Weaver is one of those rare junior captains, who plays with plays with enough confidence for the rest of his mates. He has tremendous positional awareness.
Krueger, who bagged three against Deerfield earlier in the week, has already committed to Colgate of the Ivy League, and has proven to be a great outlet in the Trevians attack, while becoming a quality goal-scorer from his spot up-top.
"Will has been with the varsity since he was a sophomore, and is so strong in the air, tenacious in 50-50 tackles, one of our key guys in the build-up of our attack," says Ravenscraft.
The Trevians drew 1-1 with Glenbrook North last season, and despite the Spartans loss of Chicagoland Soccer all-staters Timmy Iscra and Seth Grossman, Ravenscraft feels the Spartans 2017 version is just as dangerous, if not more.
"Sahil (Modi) pulls the strings in the midfield for them, Robbie Fraser is a great two-way player in the middle, and Deng Deng Kur is an amazing athlete up-front, who can hold and knock down the ball, and along with those other two guys can be so dangerous in their attack," said Ravenscraft.
"They have others we'll have to keep an eye on, and hopefully, we'll show what we can do on Saturday. It should be an entertaining soccer game for sure."
The aforementioned Fraser appreciated the kind words from Ravenscraft, and he too, along with his mates, cannot wait for match day at the Spartans home park.
"It's always one of our top nonconference games of the year, and this year, along with my teammates: Sahil, Deng Deng, Mason Rose and Evan Goldberg, who all play club with FC United, we'll be playing 7-8 guys from New Trier who are also our club teammates," said the superb student-athlete and senior.
"New Trier is always a quality opponent, and many of us know each other real well, so that should make for a very competitive game."
Fraser admits the Spartans (4-2-1) were disappointed with their third place finish in pool play at the Northside College Showcase and fifth-place trophy, but he points to a 0-0 draw with eventual champion Libertyville as proof he and his mates can play with the best.
"We have several first-year varsity players this season, so I really feel those guys grew up during the week of the tournament, and especially against Libertyville, where they all stepped up when we needed them to," offered Fraser.
"That experience will help us come playoff time when it really counts."
Glenbrook North manager Paul Vignocchi couldn't have agreed more with Fraser.
"That Libertyville game was big for us," began Vignocchi. They were fast, physical and technical, and there was a playoff atmosphere going on. We learned a lot about our team -- that our guys managed the game, and competed at a high level."
In the tournament, the Spartans were 2-1-1 overall, scoring 11 goals. The two they conceded, which included a 79th-minute strike, came in their tournament-opening loss to current no. 7 Lyons by a 2-1 score.
"The boys were disappointed with that result, but we learned to adjust to our mistakes last week," Vignocchi said. "And it was nice to see us demonstrate our perseverance against other good teams after that loss."
Vignocchi admitted the loss of Iscra (starting at DePaul University) is a tough one to overcome, however, the job Fraser has done in place of Iscra has been nothing short of amazing.
"When you lose a player like Iscra in the middle of the field, you worry a lot about that part of the game," he said.
"I cannot say enough about Robbie, who has stepped in and controlled the midfield for us, and with his great work rate and skill, he's become very dangerous for us."
Vignocchi likes what he's seen thus far from both Modi and Kur, who have become an explosive dynamic duo. Along the back, the aforementioned Rose and Goldberg have proven to be a water-tight combo in front of the Glenbrook North keepers.
"Ben (Gordon) has been a nice surprise as a junior, who has done everything we ask, while also becoming a steady leader as well," added Vignocchi.
Two thrilling and storied soccer progams are set to go. Let the futbol fiesta begin.