Young needs win vs. motivated Kelly
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Three weeks ago Young was a talented team frustrated and seeking answers.
“We just have to score, and we will be good,” senior midfielder Leo Daley said. The Dolphins, loaded with athleticism, depth and skill, had just badly outplayed Von Steuben only to settle for a scoreless draw.
On that early September day at McKinley Park, the Dolphins showed a great desire to not simply repeat their past failures but find a way to transcend them. Young has done just that. Flash forward and the Dolphins are the hottest team in the city.
Young (8-4-3) is 7-1-1 in its last games as it travels to the southwest side to play Kelly at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in its final Premier Division game of the year. The game is loaded with significance for conference standings, the city tournament seeds and the continued growth of a team on the verge of something significant.
“I think what has happened is the kids have started to figure things out,” veteran Young coach Ian McCarthy said. “I think we have more defined roles. This year is no different than many other years. In the first few weeks everything is pretty experimental and then things start to settle into a rhythm.”
The Dolphins have won five in a row since dropping a narrow 2-1 road loss against Lockport in a PepsiCo Showdown bracket semifinal.
After the Von Steuben league game, the Dolphins failed to score in four of their first six games. Now the team has scored 23 goals in its last eight games. After the Von Steuben game, McCarthy said his team needed to demonstrate greater confidence and composure on its scoring chances.
“We also made some changes in our formation,” McCarthy said. The biggest change was moving from a 4-5-1 to a 4-4-2. Senior Evan Wimberly, an explosive and lightning quick player, has shifted from the middle to the top of the attack. He has flourished in that new role.
Senior Francisco Rojas, one of the team’s most experienced and talented players, is back from an injury and has added a new dimension to the Dolphins. Now Young is blessed with speed and size at every offensive position. Rojas’ return has allowed McCarthy to shift his son, sophomore Esme McCarthy, to the backline. Junior Jake Gerenraich, Elias Guzman and Josue Espinoza are other top significant offensive threats playing some of their best soccer.
Aidan Chapman joins Wimberly at the top of the attack.
Save for a controversial end to its 2-2 draw with Washington last week when a late Young goal was disallowed, the Dolphins could very well stand at the top of the Premier Division standings. Heading into the final division games on Wednesday, Washington (9-3-3, 3-0-3) holds a narrow advantage over Young and Lane, both of which stand at 3-1-2, and 11 points.
Washington has 12 points. Lane (7-4-2) hosts Hubbard on Wednesday. Lane holds the tiebreaker over the Dolphins for the city tournament seeds on the basis of its head-to-head victory.
McCarthy is very wary about the Trojans (5-10-1, 1-4-1). Kelly is fighting to remain in the Premier Division and avoid relegation.
“This is a program with a great history and great tradition,” McCarthy said. “This is a team with a lot of skilled players. I can’t ever remember them not being in the top division in the city.”
Kelly’s lone conference win was a 4-3 stunner over Solorio.
“We are struggling,” Kelly coach Stan Mietus said. “We are a young team, a few seniors mixed in with a lot of freshmen and sophomores. And we are kind of learning on the go. We have had strange scores the whole year. Our games have been higher scoring than any other team in the city. We have lost some games 6-1 and won others 5-4.”
Kelly had a so-so regular season last year before catching fire and reaching the semifinals of the city tournament. Senior forward Also Vasquez is one of the best players in the city. Stiven Gonzalez is another player to watch for the Trojans.
The Trojans have six sophomores and three freshmen among their top rotation.
“We are looking to do well and get hot in time for the start of the city tournament,” Mietus said. His 1994 team finished third in the Class AA state tournament. He has won more than a combined 550 games coaching the boys and girls program. His girls’ program was featured in the beautiful Chicago-made documentary, Maria Finitzo’s 'In the Game.'
“Of all the teams we play in the city, Young is the game I most look forward to coaching,” Mietus said. “Their coaches really teach and coach the game the right way, and they have wonderful values. Win or lose, it is always a great game.”
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Three weeks ago Young was a talented team frustrated and seeking answers.
“We just have to score, and we will be good,” senior midfielder Leo Daley said. The Dolphins, loaded with athleticism, depth and skill, had just badly outplayed Von Steuben only to settle for a scoreless draw.
On that early September day at McKinley Park, the Dolphins showed a great desire to not simply repeat their past failures but find a way to transcend them. Young has done just that. Flash forward and the Dolphins are the hottest team in the city.
Young (8-4-3) is 7-1-1 in its last games as it travels to the southwest side to play Kelly at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in its final Premier Division game of the year. The game is loaded with significance for conference standings, the city tournament seeds and the continued growth of a team on the verge of something significant.
“I think what has happened is the kids have started to figure things out,” veteran Young coach Ian McCarthy said. “I think we have more defined roles. This year is no different than many other years. In the first few weeks everything is pretty experimental and then things start to settle into a rhythm.”
The Dolphins have won five in a row since dropping a narrow 2-1 road loss against Lockport in a PepsiCo Showdown bracket semifinal.
After the Von Steuben league game, the Dolphins failed to score in four of their first six games. Now the team has scored 23 goals in its last eight games. After the Von Steuben game, McCarthy said his team needed to demonstrate greater confidence and composure on its scoring chances.
“We also made some changes in our formation,” McCarthy said. The biggest change was moving from a 4-5-1 to a 4-4-2. Senior Evan Wimberly, an explosive and lightning quick player, has shifted from the middle to the top of the attack. He has flourished in that new role.
Senior Francisco Rojas, one of the team’s most experienced and talented players, is back from an injury and has added a new dimension to the Dolphins. Now Young is blessed with speed and size at every offensive position. Rojas’ return has allowed McCarthy to shift his son, sophomore Esme McCarthy, to the backline. Junior Jake Gerenraich, Elias Guzman and Josue Espinoza are other top significant offensive threats playing some of their best soccer.
Aidan Chapman joins Wimberly at the top of the attack.
Save for a controversial end to its 2-2 draw with Washington last week when a late Young goal was disallowed, the Dolphins could very well stand at the top of the Premier Division standings. Heading into the final division games on Wednesday, Washington (9-3-3, 3-0-3) holds a narrow advantage over Young and Lane, both of which stand at 3-1-2, and 11 points.
Washington has 12 points. Lane (7-4-2) hosts Hubbard on Wednesday. Lane holds the tiebreaker over the Dolphins for the city tournament seeds on the basis of its head-to-head victory.
McCarthy is very wary about the Trojans (5-10-1, 1-4-1). Kelly is fighting to remain in the Premier Division and avoid relegation.
“This is a program with a great history and great tradition,” McCarthy said. “This is a team with a lot of skilled players. I can’t ever remember them not being in the top division in the city.”
Kelly’s lone conference win was a 4-3 stunner over Solorio.
“We are struggling,” Kelly coach Stan Mietus said. “We are a young team, a few seniors mixed in with a lot of freshmen and sophomores. And we are kind of learning on the go. We have had strange scores the whole year. Our games have been higher scoring than any other team in the city. We have lost some games 6-1 and won others 5-4.”
Kelly had a so-so regular season last year before catching fire and reaching the semifinals of the city tournament. Senior forward Also Vasquez is one of the best players in the city. Stiven Gonzalez is another player to watch for the Trojans.
The Trojans have six sophomores and three freshmen among their top rotation.
“We are looking to do well and get hot in time for the start of the city tournament,” Mietus said. His 1994 team finished third in the Class AA state tournament. He has won more than a combined 550 games coaching the boys and girls program. His girls’ program was featured in the beautiful Chicago-made documentary, Maria Finitzo’s 'In the Game.'
“Of all the teams we play in the city, Young is the game I most look forward to coaching,” Mietus said. “Their coaches really teach and coach the game the right way, and they have wonderful values. Win or lose, it is always a great game.”