Warren, Libertyville open
North Suburban play in ranked battle
By Mike Garofola
There will be plenty of North Suburban Conference attention focused when Warren (5-1-0) takes a Thursday trip to Libertyville’s Walter R. Johnson Stadium.
Of course, there's always honor at stake when these two fine soccer clubs get together, but a good result in the league opener between the Blue Devils, listed ninth in the Chicagoland Soccer 25, and their 19th-ranked hosts could decide where the league title resides at the end of the season.
Both sides are coming off surprising 1-0 home shutout defeats Tuesday: Huntley upset Libertyville (2-3-1); and Warren saw its season-opening five-game win streak stopped by the feet of Class AA state power and 10th-ranked Grayslake Central.
"Grayslake has a lot of impressive players and play a quality brand of soccer. They were just better than us in that game," said Warren’s Lucas Ahonen.
Last year the junior played outside back for the Blue Devils. This year from the 10 spot he has produced a team-high eight assists. His talented teammate Miguel Garcia leads the club with 10 goals.
"We were very good defensively last year, played a lot of 2-1, 1-0 games, but this year we are more attacked-minded,” Ahonen continued. “That has helped our defense to get comfortable and gain more confidence. We do our best to put constant pressure on our opponents."
"(Ryan) Stanciak has taken over the leadership role for us along the back,” said coach Jason Ahonen, who doubles as Lucas’ father. “Since moving him into the back late last year, his overall growth has been some of the best I've experienced during my time at Warren. He clearly knows his role on the team and is excelling at it. "
The Blue Devils manager has deployed senior Tyler Hughes alongside Stanciak as his other central defender and has rotated Jack Elkinton, Brady Lockwood and Diego Torres at the outside back position.
Ahonen says center midfielders Chris Crowson and Tommy DeSanto, and defensive mid Mike Galvan, have added plenty of punch to the Blue Devils attack in the early going.
"Crowson is another player who moved into a new position this year, playing opposite of Tommy, at one of the eights. He's a defender by trade but was pushed up because of his composure on the ball, vision and understanding of the game.
"DeSanto continues to grow into the position with each game, and he has shown great improvement from a year ago. He has become a guy that we can rely on every game."
"(Mike) Galvan plays the six and allows our attacking players more freedom than normal because of his ability to delay the counter and connect passes. He does all of it with a terrific overall work-rate."
Lucas Ahonen will see a friendly face on the other side of the pitch in Libertyville senior Andrew Phillips, who is a club teammate at FC United.
"Andrew is a great guy and a great player. Along with Alek LaRoi, they will present a lot of trouble for us in the midfield," Lucas Ahonen said.
"We've got Libertyville tonight and (no. 16) Stevenson next Tuesday, so we have to be at our best against two great teams."
This game gives Libertyville the perfect opportunity to show they are a serious contender after a surprisingly slow start.
"We always know when we play Warren (that) it's going to be a hard-fought game. We'll need to play smart, defend their set piece opportunities and keep an eye on Miguel Garcia," said Phillips, one of three who wear the captain’s armband for manager Kevin Thunholm. “Even though we're struggling a little bit with our finishing, I know we can go out and compete with them."
The senior has been asked by Thunholm to play the six alongside seniors Alek LaRoi and Cole Danner, whether the Wildcats come out in a 4-3-3, or 4-5-1 formation,
"Andrew has been and is a fantastic student, terrific leader and incredible soccer player, who leads by example," began Thunholm.
"He is literally everywhere on the field constantly moving. It's his energy that helps change the game for us.
"We've had a lot of very special players who have gone through our program, but he is on Libertyville High School’s Mt. Rushmore for soccer."
The Wildcats opened the season with wins against Loyola and Class A Cristo Rey St. Martin. Since then, they dropped games to sixth-ranked New Trier and Grayslake Central, and tied Round Lake to finish Northside College Showcase play.
Tuesday night they were held goal-less by visiting Huntley (5-1-2).
"Scoring has obviously been a problem thus far, but we've created chances and just have not finished those chances. I know it will come for us if we continue to work hard," said Phillips.
"It's been a couple of things with us in the final third," began Thunholm.
"We've possessed well, but in the final third it has been disappointing -- hit the post three times against Round Lake in the first three minutes. So it's a work in progress, and we're trying to find the right combination up-top.”
The 2022 Wildcats have a roster filled with numerous underclassmen, all of whom have impressed Phillips thus far.
"The thing I like about our sophomore group is their intensity and willingness to work in order to be better. It's that intensity that will make a difference as the season goes on."
North Suburban play in ranked battle
By Mike Garofola
There will be plenty of North Suburban Conference attention focused when Warren (5-1-0) takes a Thursday trip to Libertyville’s Walter R. Johnson Stadium.
Of course, there's always honor at stake when these two fine soccer clubs get together, but a good result in the league opener between the Blue Devils, listed ninth in the Chicagoland Soccer 25, and their 19th-ranked hosts could decide where the league title resides at the end of the season.
Both sides are coming off surprising 1-0 home shutout defeats Tuesday: Huntley upset Libertyville (2-3-1); and Warren saw its season-opening five-game win streak stopped by the feet of Class AA state power and 10th-ranked Grayslake Central.
"Grayslake has a lot of impressive players and play a quality brand of soccer. They were just better than us in that game," said Warren’s Lucas Ahonen.
Last year the junior played outside back for the Blue Devils. This year from the 10 spot he has produced a team-high eight assists. His talented teammate Miguel Garcia leads the club with 10 goals.
"We were very good defensively last year, played a lot of 2-1, 1-0 games, but this year we are more attacked-minded,” Ahonen continued. “That has helped our defense to get comfortable and gain more confidence. We do our best to put constant pressure on our opponents."
"(Ryan) Stanciak has taken over the leadership role for us along the back,” said coach Jason Ahonen, who doubles as Lucas’ father. “Since moving him into the back late last year, his overall growth has been some of the best I've experienced during my time at Warren. He clearly knows his role on the team and is excelling at it. "
The Blue Devils manager has deployed senior Tyler Hughes alongside Stanciak as his other central defender and has rotated Jack Elkinton, Brady Lockwood and Diego Torres at the outside back position.
Ahonen says center midfielders Chris Crowson and Tommy DeSanto, and defensive mid Mike Galvan, have added plenty of punch to the Blue Devils attack in the early going.
"Crowson is another player who moved into a new position this year, playing opposite of Tommy, at one of the eights. He's a defender by trade but was pushed up because of his composure on the ball, vision and understanding of the game.
"DeSanto continues to grow into the position with each game, and he has shown great improvement from a year ago. He has become a guy that we can rely on every game."
"(Mike) Galvan plays the six and allows our attacking players more freedom than normal because of his ability to delay the counter and connect passes. He does all of it with a terrific overall work-rate."
Lucas Ahonen will see a friendly face on the other side of the pitch in Libertyville senior Andrew Phillips, who is a club teammate at FC United.
"Andrew is a great guy and a great player. Along with Alek LaRoi, they will present a lot of trouble for us in the midfield," Lucas Ahonen said.
"We've got Libertyville tonight and (no. 16) Stevenson next Tuesday, so we have to be at our best against two great teams."
This game gives Libertyville the perfect opportunity to show they are a serious contender after a surprisingly slow start.
"We always know when we play Warren (that) it's going to be a hard-fought game. We'll need to play smart, defend their set piece opportunities and keep an eye on Miguel Garcia," said Phillips, one of three who wear the captain’s armband for manager Kevin Thunholm. “Even though we're struggling a little bit with our finishing, I know we can go out and compete with them."
The senior has been asked by Thunholm to play the six alongside seniors Alek LaRoi and Cole Danner, whether the Wildcats come out in a 4-3-3, or 4-5-1 formation,
"Andrew has been and is a fantastic student, terrific leader and incredible soccer player, who leads by example," began Thunholm.
"He is literally everywhere on the field constantly moving. It's his energy that helps change the game for us.
"We've had a lot of very special players who have gone through our program, but he is on Libertyville High School’s Mt. Rushmore for soccer."
The Wildcats opened the season with wins against Loyola and Class A Cristo Rey St. Martin. Since then, they dropped games to sixth-ranked New Trier and Grayslake Central, and tied Round Lake to finish Northside College Showcase play.
Tuesday night they were held goal-less by visiting Huntley (5-1-2).
"Scoring has obviously been a problem thus far, but we've created chances and just have not finished those chances. I know it will come for us if we continue to work hard," said Phillips.
"It's been a couple of things with us in the final third," began Thunholm.
"We've possessed well, but in the final third it has been disappointing -- hit the post three times against Round Lake in the first three minutes. So it's a work in progress, and we're trying to find the right combination up-top.”
The 2022 Wildcats have a roster filled with numerous underclassmen, all of whom have impressed Phillips thus far.
"The thing I like about our sophomore group is their intensity and willingness to work in order to be better. It's that intensity that will make a difference as the season goes on."