Tri-Cities Night at Batavia features
great soccer supporting great cause
Doubleheader raises money for cancer research
By Curt Herron
Tri-Cities Night is the ultimate evening out for soccer fans throughout the Fox Valley.
It features two great rivalry games in St. Charles East versus St. Charles North and Batavia against Geneva.
Beside the matches, the night has extra meaning -- it raises money to help local families who are in need.
Tonight's events will raise money for cancer research in honor of Tricia DePasquale, the mother of St. Charles North senior Michael DePasquale. She passed away following a long battle with cancer on July 17. Players on all four teams who played with Campton United SC knew Tricia since they were young.
Money will be raised through T-shirt sales, events at the games and through donations.
Youth soccer players will be active during the evening. At halftime of each match, local eighth graders, who will attend the four schools, will play scrimmage games.
The action begins at 5 p.m. tonight in Batavia with the St. Charles North meeting St. Charles East, which is ranked third in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25. The nightcap between Geneva and Batavia starts at 7 p.m.
Batavia and St. Charles East enter the night leading the DuKane Conference with 2-1-0 records.
Coach Vince DiNuzzo's St. Charles East squad opened the season with six-straight wins
and then suffered their lone loss by a 3-2 score to Lake Park on September 7. They followed that setback with their current six-match winning
streak.
The Fighting Saints have outscored their opponents by a 60-11 margin and have
scored three or more goals in a game on nine occasions.
Leading the way for the Fighting Saints is senior captain and all-stater Sebastian Carranza, who has 22 goals and 10 assists. Other top scorers include senior captain Connor King and classmates Luca Avendano and Josh Ruiz, and juniors Mason Brockmeyer and Colin Leatherbury. Avendano and King have both received Chciagoland Soccer Man of the Match awards this season.
Sophomore goalkeepers Tyler Benhart and Jordan Rolon benefit from a defense that includes senior captain Phil Anton. The team has recorded six shutouts and allowed just one goal in five matches.
"We look forward to coming together with the other programs to support the cause," DiNuzzo said.
St. Charles North is 4-2-5 overall and 0-0-4 is the only undefeated team in DuKane play. While the North Stars’s great defense has allowed only 10 goals, they've struggled connecting, scoring 11 goals. They've been shutout twice and scored only one goal in seven other matches.
Captains for the North Stars are seniors Michael DePasquale, Casey Graham and Isaac VanDeSampel. And coach Eric Willson is encouraged to see sophomore Walter DelaPaz, who earned Man of the Match honors this season, become another team leader.
"This team has played very well defensively from top to bottom," Willson said. "We are continuing to search for identity on the offensive end. One thing is certain, our effort is never in question.
"Tri-Cities is a special night for all involved. We look forward to a fun night out at Batavia where all four teams are playing together for a great cause."
Batavia (5-6-0, 2-1-0) owns league victories over Wheaton North and Glenbard North that place it in a tie for first place with St. Charles East.
The Bulldogs' captains are seniors William Bardol and Ryan Kahley. Senior Manasas Monarrez has earned Man of the Match honors this season.
After going on a three-match winning streak to get off to a 4-2-0 start, the Bulldogs have slipped with a recent 1-4-0 streak. Coach Mark Gianfrancesco hopes that his squad can turn things around to close out the regular-season with some momentum.
"We have been working hard to improve as a team in areas that we have not been at the top of our game," Gianfrancesco said. "Tonight is a great opportunity to continue to improve against a solid opponent and build for the playoffs."
Geneva (3-7-3, 1-1-2) has played better since breaking slowly out of the game with a 1-4-2 start.
The Vikings captains are seniors Braeden McPheron and Christian Diaz, who leads the team in scoring and was also recognized with the Man of the Match honor. Other top scorers for Geneva include seniors Ryan Leake and Aiden Leonard, and junior Trent Giansanti.
"It’s been a tough year but it’s been exciting to see the boys keep growing throughout the season," Vikings coach Jason Bhatta said.
"We’re excited to compete on a great night like Tri-Cities Night and look forward to playing in the atmosphere it always brings."
great soccer supporting great cause
Doubleheader raises money for cancer research
By Curt Herron
Tri-Cities Night is the ultimate evening out for soccer fans throughout the Fox Valley.
It features two great rivalry games in St. Charles East versus St. Charles North and Batavia against Geneva.
Beside the matches, the night has extra meaning -- it raises money to help local families who are in need.
Tonight's events will raise money for cancer research in honor of Tricia DePasquale, the mother of St. Charles North senior Michael DePasquale. She passed away following a long battle with cancer on July 17. Players on all four teams who played with Campton United SC knew Tricia since they were young.
Money will be raised through T-shirt sales, events at the games and through donations.
Youth soccer players will be active during the evening. At halftime of each match, local eighth graders, who will attend the four schools, will play scrimmage games.
The action begins at 5 p.m. tonight in Batavia with the St. Charles North meeting St. Charles East, which is ranked third in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25. The nightcap between Geneva and Batavia starts at 7 p.m.
Batavia and St. Charles East enter the night leading the DuKane Conference with 2-1-0 records.
Coach Vince DiNuzzo's St. Charles East squad opened the season with six-straight wins
and then suffered their lone loss by a 3-2 score to Lake Park on September 7. They followed that setback with their current six-match winning
streak.
The Fighting Saints have outscored their opponents by a 60-11 margin and have
scored three or more goals in a game on nine occasions.
Leading the way for the Fighting Saints is senior captain and all-stater Sebastian Carranza, who has 22 goals and 10 assists. Other top scorers include senior captain Connor King and classmates Luca Avendano and Josh Ruiz, and juniors Mason Brockmeyer and Colin Leatherbury. Avendano and King have both received Chciagoland Soccer Man of the Match awards this season.
Sophomore goalkeepers Tyler Benhart and Jordan Rolon benefit from a defense that includes senior captain Phil Anton. The team has recorded six shutouts and allowed just one goal in five matches.
"We look forward to coming together with the other programs to support the cause," DiNuzzo said.
St. Charles North is 4-2-5 overall and 0-0-4 is the only undefeated team in DuKane play. While the North Stars’s great defense has allowed only 10 goals, they've struggled connecting, scoring 11 goals. They've been shutout twice and scored only one goal in seven other matches.
Captains for the North Stars are seniors Michael DePasquale, Casey Graham and Isaac VanDeSampel. And coach Eric Willson is encouraged to see sophomore Walter DelaPaz, who earned Man of the Match honors this season, become another team leader.
"This team has played very well defensively from top to bottom," Willson said. "We are continuing to search for identity on the offensive end. One thing is certain, our effort is never in question.
"Tri-Cities is a special night for all involved. We look forward to a fun night out at Batavia where all four teams are playing together for a great cause."
Batavia (5-6-0, 2-1-0) owns league victories over Wheaton North and Glenbard North that place it in a tie for first place with St. Charles East.
The Bulldogs' captains are seniors William Bardol and Ryan Kahley. Senior Manasas Monarrez has earned Man of the Match honors this season.
After going on a three-match winning streak to get off to a 4-2-0 start, the Bulldogs have slipped with a recent 1-4-0 streak. Coach Mark Gianfrancesco hopes that his squad can turn things around to close out the regular-season with some momentum.
"We have been working hard to improve as a team in areas that we have not been at the top of our game," Gianfrancesco said. "Tonight is a great opportunity to continue to improve against a solid opponent and build for the playoffs."
Geneva (3-7-3, 1-1-2) has played better since breaking slowly out of the game with a 1-4-2 start.
The Vikings captains are seniors Braeden McPheron and Christian Diaz, who leads the team in scoring and was also recognized with the Man of the Match honor. Other top scorers for Geneva include seniors Ryan Leake and Aiden Leonard, and junior Trent Giansanti.
"It’s been a tough year but it’s been exciting to see the boys keep growing throughout the season," Vikings coach Jason Bhatta said.
"We’re excited to compete on a great night like Tri-Cities Night and look forward to playing in the atmosphere it always brings."