St. Ignatius, St. Rita meet
in preconference prep
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The coaching hierarchy at St. Ignatius has changed. Ryan Kearns stepped down from the head coaching position. He remains in the program as an assistant, a bridge connecting past and present.
Matt Miller, a former club coach, is the new man around. Fortunately for him, a lot of the players that carried Kearns to the state tournament last year are very much around.
“It has definitely been a little different,” midfielder Daniel Fernandez said. “But we still have the same basic outline of our formation, just a different system of play.
“Compared to last year, I think there’s a bit more pressing and high-uptempo style of play. We are adapting to his style, and it is going to take us a couple of games.”
The intermediate period seems to be over. The Wolfpack have scored 22 goals in their last two games in Chicago Catholic League cross-over games. Now St. Ignatius makes the trek to the South Side to play at St. Rita on Monday night.
St. Ignatius (3-1-0) is quick and explosive in space. The high-pressure style that Miller is adopting has certainly led to some offensive firepower. The Wolfpack also scored a quartet of goals in their season-opening 4-3 win over Chicago Public League power Washington.
The only team to nullify their attack is Oak Park and River Forest, ranked ninth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, who administered their only loss in a 2-0 shutout last week.
Fernandez is part of a dynamic and very versatile middle attack that also features Jaden Rice, who’s explosive and shifty in space, Aiden Hurt, who has a monster rocket shot, and Ethan Gould, another big-time athlete. Max Hanlon is another top player to watch.
At the top of their attack, forwards Luke Hogman, Ronan Sullivan and Christian Yonan infuse the formation with speed, creativity and shotmaking prowess.
“I have been trying to adapt my team to a very simple system,” Miller said. “I’ve got a lot of midfielders, and I have to make sure there are some defensive duties and also getting that ball into the final third.
“They have to figure it out once they get inside the box.”
St. Rita is a team trying to achieve what the Wolfpack have. They seek a consistent identity. It has led to some contrasting levels of play.
“We have been up and down lately,” coach Bob Kellam said. “We played really well against Marmion and were unfortunate not to get a better result. Then it took us to go down to St. Laurence 2-0 for us to wake up. We get one back, and they cleared an equalizer off the line at the last minute.
“We need to finish our opportunities and really play with some urgency.”
The Mustangs (5-3-0) have lost three of their last four games after the 4-0-0 start. This is a team with skill and talent throughout the lineup. St. Rita returns nine starters from a team that won the Catholic Green last year.
Forward Langston Bedgood had 23 goals last year. He is athletic and dynamic in space, and he is very good with his change of pace and half-volley shots.
“I like to dictate the pace of the game,” Bedgood said. “If I see things slow down, I like to push the attack forward. Generally I prefer having the ball at my foot, where I can see the opportunities to attack.
“I want to be aggressive. At the same time, I try not to force anything.”
Midfielder Jesus Flores, who goes by Chuy, is a dynamic member of the group. He plays with flair and style, and he brings the team together.
Midfielder Julio Walton is a chameleon who works effectively as a facilitator and and also a lockdown defensive center midfielder. He is also quick and very explosive with the ball.
Forward Juan Carlos Sanchez is another threat at the top of the formation opposite Bedgood. Brendan Breslin and Logan Corum are also active and skilled players.
Brendan Gleeson is the player to watch on the backline.
Two teams at a crossroads of sorts now clash by night. It should make for some very thrilling and interesting soccer. St. Ignatius wants to continue thrashing and scoring in waves.
St. Rita is looking for more cohesive style and a higher degree of preparation and readiness at the start.
“I am hoping we have another performance like Marmion and then move into our division games,” Kellam said.
in preconference prep
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The coaching hierarchy at St. Ignatius has changed. Ryan Kearns stepped down from the head coaching position. He remains in the program as an assistant, a bridge connecting past and present.
Matt Miller, a former club coach, is the new man around. Fortunately for him, a lot of the players that carried Kearns to the state tournament last year are very much around.
“It has definitely been a little different,” midfielder Daniel Fernandez said. “But we still have the same basic outline of our formation, just a different system of play.
“Compared to last year, I think there’s a bit more pressing and high-uptempo style of play. We are adapting to his style, and it is going to take us a couple of games.”
The intermediate period seems to be over. The Wolfpack have scored 22 goals in their last two games in Chicago Catholic League cross-over games. Now St. Ignatius makes the trek to the South Side to play at St. Rita on Monday night.
St. Ignatius (3-1-0) is quick and explosive in space. The high-pressure style that Miller is adopting has certainly led to some offensive firepower. The Wolfpack also scored a quartet of goals in their season-opening 4-3 win over Chicago Public League power Washington.
The only team to nullify their attack is Oak Park and River Forest, ranked ninth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, who administered their only loss in a 2-0 shutout last week.
Fernandez is part of a dynamic and very versatile middle attack that also features Jaden Rice, who’s explosive and shifty in space, Aiden Hurt, who has a monster rocket shot, and Ethan Gould, another big-time athlete. Max Hanlon is another top player to watch.
At the top of their attack, forwards Luke Hogman, Ronan Sullivan and Christian Yonan infuse the formation with speed, creativity and shotmaking prowess.
“I have been trying to adapt my team to a very simple system,” Miller said. “I’ve got a lot of midfielders, and I have to make sure there are some defensive duties and also getting that ball into the final third.
“They have to figure it out once they get inside the box.”
St. Rita is a team trying to achieve what the Wolfpack have. They seek a consistent identity. It has led to some contrasting levels of play.
“We have been up and down lately,” coach Bob Kellam said. “We played really well against Marmion and were unfortunate not to get a better result. Then it took us to go down to St. Laurence 2-0 for us to wake up. We get one back, and they cleared an equalizer off the line at the last minute.
“We need to finish our opportunities and really play with some urgency.”
The Mustangs (5-3-0) have lost three of their last four games after the 4-0-0 start. This is a team with skill and talent throughout the lineup. St. Rita returns nine starters from a team that won the Catholic Green last year.
Forward Langston Bedgood had 23 goals last year. He is athletic and dynamic in space, and he is very good with his change of pace and half-volley shots.
“I like to dictate the pace of the game,” Bedgood said. “If I see things slow down, I like to push the attack forward. Generally I prefer having the ball at my foot, where I can see the opportunities to attack.
“I want to be aggressive. At the same time, I try not to force anything.”
Midfielder Jesus Flores, who goes by Chuy, is a dynamic member of the group. He plays with flair and style, and he brings the team together.
Midfielder Julio Walton is a chameleon who works effectively as a facilitator and and also a lockdown defensive center midfielder. He is also quick and very explosive with the ball.
Forward Juan Carlos Sanchez is another threat at the top of the formation opposite Bedgood. Brendan Breslin and Logan Corum are also active and skilled players.
Brendan Gleeson is the player to watch on the backline.
Two teams at a crossroads of sorts now clash by night. It should make for some very thrilling and interesting soccer. St. Ignatius wants to continue thrashing and scoring in waves.
St. Rita is looking for more cohesive style and a higher degree of preparation and readiness at the start.
“I am hoping we have another performance like Marmion and then move into our division games,” Kellam said.