OPRF faces tough test at York
By Dave Owen
Two steps from an undefeated West Suburban Conference Silver Division title, Oak Park and River Forest looks to complete half that remaining journey at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Elmhurst.
But the 10th-ranked Huskies (13-2-1, 4-0-0) know the trip to York (10-6-0, 2-2-0) will be anything but easy.
“The key really is to put 80 minutes of solid soccer together,” OPRF coach Jason Fried said. “York is having a great season and is a really good team. We need to focus
on playing our style of soccer and being proactive with our play and not reactive.”
York lost 1-0 in two overtimes to Downers Grove North on Tuesday, but that doesn't signal a downward trend -- the Dukes have won nine of their last 12 games. One of many exceptional performances in that run was a 5-1 win last month at Hinsdale Central. The Red Devils are Oak Park and River Forest's final conference opponent Oct. 10.
Tuesday at Downers Grove North, York had a day of strong play but bad luck included a shot off the post by Jakub Knurek and an early first half hamstring injury to standout senior forward Joe Reinhofer.
“I think our health is the most important thing right now,” York coach Lukas Majewski said after Tuesday’s match. “We are hoping (with Reinhofer and other injuries) that we are going to survive. We have a tough game Thursday against Oak Park. We still want to do well in conference. If we can’t win it, see if we can trip some people up along the way.”
When healthy, York has a formidable offense (50 goals this season, an average of three scored per game). But the Dukes face an Oak Park and River Forest team that has soared to a 7-0-1 record in its last eight games and has run the table thus far in the WSC Silver with particularly important wins over Lyons (4-2 Sept. 19) and Downers Grove North (2-1 Sept. 21).
“The biggest factor (in the eight-game unbeaten streak) is the team has had time to all get on the same page and create some chemistry,” Fried said. “Everyone has the same goals. It’s not about any single player, but winning games as a whole unit.
“I think a lot of credit has to go to our players off the bench as well. When they come in they fit in seamlessly and standard of play does not lower at all.”
The deep and talented Huskies feature a strong senior nucleus, including midfielder Andrew Barkidjija and goalkeeper Kel Felton.
With a chance to secure at least a share of the WSC Silver title Thursday, the Huskies are staying focused on the bigger picture.
“Winning conference is important to any team,” Fried said, “but what is most important is that the team keeps getting better and player at a higher level each day.
“If they do this they should give themselves a very high chance of winning conference and preparing themselves for the state tournament.”
By Dave Owen
Two steps from an undefeated West Suburban Conference Silver Division title, Oak Park and River Forest looks to complete half that remaining journey at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Elmhurst.
But the 10th-ranked Huskies (13-2-1, 4-0-0) know the trip to York (10-6-0, 2-2-0) will be anything but easy.
“The key really is to put 80 minutes of solid soccer together,” OPRF coach Jason Fried said. “York is having a great season and is a really good team. We need to focus
on playing our style of soccer and being proactive with our play and not reactive.”
York lost 1-0 in two overtimes to Downers Grove North on Tuesday, but that doesn't signal a downward trend -- the Dukes have won nine of their last 12 games. One of many exceptional performances in that run was a 5-1 win last month at Hinsdale Central. The Red Devils are Oak Park and River Forest's final conference opponent Oct. 10.
Tuesday at Downers Grove North, York had a day of strong play but bad luck included a shot off the post by Jakub Knurek and an early first half hamstring injury to standout senior forward Joe Reinhofer.
“I think our health is the most important thing right now,” York coach Lukas Majewski said after Tuesday’s match. “We are hoping (with Reinhofer and other injuries) that we are going to survive. We have a tough game Thursday against Oak Park. We still want to do well in conference. If we can’t win it, see if we can trip some people up along the way.”
When healthy, York has a formidable offense (50 goals this season, an average of three scored per game). But the Dukes face an Oak Park and River Forest team that has soared to a 7-0-1 record in its last eight games and has run the table thus far in the WSC Silver with particularly important wins over Lyons (4-2 Sept. 19) and Downers Grove North (2-1 Sept. 21).
“The biggest factor (in the eight-game unbeaten streak) is the team has had time to all get on the same page and create some chemistry,” Fried said. “Everyone has the same goals. It’s not about any single player, but winning games as a whole unit.
“I think a lot of credit has to go to our players off the bench as well. When they come in they fit in seamlessly and standard of play does not lower at all.”
The deep and talented Huskies feature a strong senior nucleus, including midfielder Andrew Barkidjija and goalkeeper Kel Felton.
With a chance to secure at least a share of the WSC Silver title Thursday, the Huskies are staying focused on the bigger picture.
“Winning conference is important to any team,” Fried said, “but what is most important is that the team keeps getting better and player at a higher level each day.
“If they do this they should give themselves a very high chance of winning conference and preparing themselves for the state tournament.”