North vs. South a matter of Plainfield pride
By Steve Nemeth
Regardless of season or conference records, one thing that is always at stake whenever North and South meet in a battle of Plainfields is pride.
A Southwest Prairie Conference title is out of range for both, an above-.500 season record is still to be determined, and the postseason is also around the corner, so what’s left? The simple desire to win.
It’s the Senior Night home finale for Plainfield North (10-7-1, 4-3-0), which has three regular season matches left before serving as a Class 3A regional host.
For Plainfield South (8-6-5, 2-4-0), it’s the first of three league matches that lead into the playoffs. After Thursday’s 6:15 p.m. visit to North, South has an Oct. 9 home date with league leader Oswego plus an Oct. 11 conclusion to a Sept. 25 suspended match versus Oswego East. The two were locked in a 1-1 draw before weather halted any further play.
With East and Central in the mix, Plainfield North doesn’t place any additional importance on the contest.
“Certainly members of all the Plainfields know each other having also grown up as teammates or foes for club soccer,” North coach Stephen Berry said. “Because of that, we always anticipate getting a hard game from everybody.”
However, South admits to a little more desire in this particular matchup.
“Over the last few years North has generally been the most successful of the Plainfield programs, so I believe everyone wants to knock them off,” coach Bryant Williams noted.
During the tenure of any current four-year players, the series has been all Tigers. Last year, North won its visit to South (1-0) and then pulled an upset of sorts in an IHSA prelim. Seeded 18th, the Tigers used a 4-3 shootout to get past no. 14 South.
In 2016, the Tigers needed overtime, but posted a 3-1 triumph and in 2015, earned a 2-0 shutout.
One thing neither side anticipated was losing a key player before the season even began. The Tigers were looking forward to last season’s leading scorer Brian Bertoni leading the offense but a knee injury took him out of the lineup.
The Cougars figured they’d have an experienced goalie in senior Francisco Lomeli, but he and veteran defender Ryan Kabaker became sidelined. With that backdrop, coaches and players from both sides have seen necessary and positive growth.
“Our goal all along has been to grow within our own style which emphasizes a commitment to keep the ball,” Berry explained. “Every line has gotten better, but not always in the same game. Sometimes we’re still figuring things out in the final third.”
North strung together a trio of victories to stand at 5-3-0 through Sept. 4 and saw a four-match winning streak improve their record to 9-5-1 through Sept. 20. A 2-0 win at Joliet Central on Tuesday ended a three-match skid.
Plainfield South began the year 5-1-1 but endured a trio of ties before a loss and win were followed by a four-game slide. On the plus side, the Cougars are fresh off back-to-back victories having defeated Yorkville (4-1) and Plainfield East (3-1).
“Between the injuries and the flu bug hitting us hard, a lack of consistency has made it hard to move forward like we would prefer,” Williams said. “Right now our goal is to regain the form we showed early and get back to how we started the year.
“Thankfully we’ve had guys like Tyler Whitmore really step up and take on a starting role, the same with Fabian Alvarado, who transferred from Joliet West. (Goalkeeper) Nick Beemster was playing freshman soccer last year and took some time off in the summer which I believe has actually helped him. He gained a new perspective and has really grown into his 6-foot-5 frame. We’d just like him to be a little more aggressive with his voice,” Williams said.
Offensively South has looked to senior tri-captain Anthony Marmolejo, who sports career and season highs of 14 goals and seven assists despite moving from forward to midfield. Carlos Sagols, who had two goals in the East victory, has four goals along with Max Treptow and Ernesto Cortina. Williams also noted the improved play of sophomore Miki Derka plus the consistency and leadership of Gabe Sandoval, another tri-captain along with Josue Jimenez.
“Through all the injuries and lineup shifts, these guys have never quit,” Williams insisted. “The effort and intensity is there for every game and for all 80 minutes.”
When it comes to praising his players, North’s Berry begins and finishes with compliments for senior midfielder Patrick Elster.
“He is the spine, the backbone of our team, an important cog on both offense and defense. We’re talking about a four-year starter in every game since his freshman season and someone who still has grown as a captain and leader,” Berry stated. “He’s involved on offense and defense, left to right, everywhere on the field.”
The Tigers will start nine seniors for their night and have several other players making significant contributions to their attack.
Sophomore Kanon Woodill anchors the backline afer having taken on a the starting center back slot as a freshman. In addition to Elster, the midfield is bolstered by Yousef Ismail and John Seeley while Shea Bechtel has emerged as a threat from the inside or outside.
Bechtel tops North with 12 goals and eight assists; Ismail has four goals and 10 assists. Adan Juarez has tallied six goals and six assists, and Dilan Anweiler has added four goals.
“We’re approaching this game like every opportunity, go in hard and go for a win,” Ismail said. “I believe our defenders are much more calm and have improved. Nathan Green has gotten stronger on the ball which helps us in the middle, and despite his size Shea is very effective up-top. All of that gives us confidence for the regional as well.”
North takes on a hosting role and is hungry to play for a regional championship which would be its first since 2015. That year the Tigers lost 3-2 to a Naperville Central squad which used the same score to beat South in the opener. For the Cougars, their last appearance in a regional finale was in 2010.
“Sometimes it still feels like I’m a five-foot freshman with a buzz cut, so it’s crazy to how fast this senior year is going by,” Elster said. “I wouldn’t trade any of the four years. It’s all been a great experience representing the high school, and I’m excited about the upcoming games.
“I’d like to see us leave a legacy with a regional plaque, but right now the only focus is Plainfield South. Early on we had a lot of individual talent, but I believe our main progress has been coming together collectively as a team.”
By Steve Nemeth
Regardless of season or conference records, one thing that is always at stake whenever North and South meet in a battle of Plainfields is pride.
A Southwest Prairie Conference title is out of range for both, an above-.500 season record is still to be determined, and the postseason is also around the corner, so what’s left? The simple desire to win.
It’s the Senior Night home finale for Plainfield North (10-7-1, 4-3-0), which has three regular season matches left before serving as a Class 3A regional host.
For Plainfield South (8-6-5, 2-4-0), it’s the first of three league matches that lead into the playoffs. After Thursday’s 6:15 p.m. visit to North, South has an Oct. 9 home date with league leader Oswego plus an Oct. 11 conclusion to a Sept. 25 suspended match versus Oswego East. The two were locked in a 1-1 draw before weather halted any further play.
With East and Central in the mix, Plainfield North doesn’t place any additional importance on the contest.
“Certainly members of all the Plainfields know each other having also grown up as teammates or foes for club soccer,” North coach Stephen Berry said. “Because of that, we always anticipate getting a hard game from everybody.”
However, South admits to a little more desire in this particular matchup.
“Over the last few years North has generally been the most successful of the Plainfield programs, so I believe everyone wants to knock them off,” coach Bryant Williams noted.
During the tenure of any current four-year players, the series has been all Tigers. Last year, North won its visit to South (1-0) and then pulled an upset of sorts in an IHSA prelim. Seeded 18th, the Tigers used a 4-3 shootout to get past no. 14 South.
In 2016, the Tigers needed overtime, but posted a 3-1 triumph and in 2015, earned a 2-0 shutout.
One thing neither side anticipated was losing a key player before the season even began. The Tigers were looking forward to last season’s leading scorer Brian Bertoni leading the offense but a knee injury took him out of the lineup.
The Cougars figured they’d have an experienced goalie in senior Francisco Lomeli, but he and veteran defender Ryan Kabaker became sidelined. With that backdrop, coaches and players from both sides have seen necessary and positive growth.
“Our goal all along has been to grow within our own style which emphasizes a commitment to keep the ball,” Berry explained. “Every line has gotten better, but not always in the same game. Sometimes we’re still figuring things out in the final third.”
North strung together a trio of victories to stand at 5-3-0 through Sept. 4 and saw a four-match winning streak improve their record to 9-5-1 through Sept. 20. A 2-0 win at Joliet Central on Tuesday ended a three-match skid.
Plainfield South began the year 5-1-1 but endured a trio of ties before a loss and win were followed by a four-game slide. On the plus side, the Cougars are fresh off back-to-back victories having defeated Yorkville (4-1) and Plainfield East (3-1).
“Between the injuries and the flu bug hitting us hard, a lack of consistency has made it hard to move forward like we would prefer,” Williams said. “Right now our goal is to regain the form we showed early and get back to how we started the year.
“Thankfully we’ve had guys like Tyler Whitmore really step up and take on a starting role, the same with Fabian Alvarado, who transferred from Joliet West. (Goalkeeper) Nick Beemster was playing freshman soccer last year and took some time off in the summer which I believe has actually helped him. He gained a new perspective and has really grown into his 6-foot-5 frame. We’d just like him to be a little more aggressive with his voice,” Williams said.
Offensively South has looked to senior tri-captain Anthony Marmolejo, who sports career and season highs of 14 goals and seven assists despite moving from forward to midfield. Carlos Sagols, who had two goals in the East victory, has four goals along with Max Treptow and Ernesto Cortina. Williams also noted the improved play of sophomore Miki Derka plus the consistency and leadership of Gabe Sandoval, another tri-captain along with Josue Jimenez.
“Through all the injuries and lineup shifts, these guys have never quit,” Williams insisted. “The effort and intensity is there for every game and for all 80 minutes.”
When it comes to praising his players, North’s Berry begins and finishes with compliments for senior midfielder Patrick Elster.
“He is the spine, the backbone of our team, an important cog on both offense and defense. We’re talking about a four-year starter in every game since his freshman season and someone who still has grown as a captain and leader,” Berry stated. “He’s involved on offense and defense, left to right, everywhere on the field.”
The Tigers will start nine seniors for their night and have several other players making significant contributions to their attack.
Sophomore Kanon Woodill anchors the backline afer having taken on a the starting center back slot as a freshman. In addition to Elster, the midfield is bolstered by Yousef Ismail and John Seeley while Shea Bechtel has emerged as a threat from the inside or outside.
Bechtel tops North with 12 goals and eight assists; Ismail has four goals and 10 assists. Adan Juarez has tallied six goals and six assists, and Dilan Anweiler has added four goals.
“We’re approaching this game like every opportunity, go in hard and go for a win,” Ismail said. “I believe our defenders are much more calm and have improved. Nathan Green has gotten stronger on the ball which helps us in the middle, and despite his size Shea is very effective up-top. All of that gives us confidence for the regional as well.”
North takes on a hosting role and is hungry to play for a regional championship which would be its first since 2015. That year the Tigers lost 3-2 to a Naperville Central squad which used the same score to beat South in the opener. For the Cougars, their last appearance in a regional finale was in 2010.
“Sometimes it still feels like I’m a five-foot freshman with a buzz cut, so it’s crazy to how fast this senior year is going by,” Elster said. “I wouldn’t trade any of the four years. It’s all been a great experience representing the high school, and I’m excited about the upcoming games.
“I’d like to see us leave a legacy with a regional plaque, but right now the only focus is Plainfield South. Early on we had a lot of individual talent, but I believe our main progress has been coming together collectively as a team.”