Season recap: Downers Grove South
By Ken Keenan
A five-game losing streak wasn't exactly a smooth start for Downers Grove South in 2019. But the Mustangs bounced back to conclude the regular season on a 8-5-1 run, including a 6-2-1 mid-season stretch and a 4-2 mark in West Suburban Conference Gold Division play.
After falling by a 2-1 count to the host Red Devils in the IHSA Class 3A Hinsdale Central Regional on Oct. 23, Downers Grove South ended the campaign at a respectable 8-11-1 overall.
Longtime Mustangs head coach Jon Stapleton said the team began to find its footing after a couple of key players -- senior defender Peter Pierropoulous and junior forward Aaron Venouziou -- returned from injury. Not only did that bolster the lineup, it provided an opportunity for the squad to take stock as well.
"To me, it's no surprise that as we became healthy our play improved," Stapleton said. "Also, I feel our team leadership stepped up after the 0-5-0 start and demanded that we take the necessary steps to turn the season around. Peter (Pierropoulous), (senior defender) Ethan Kelly and (senior forward) Enrique Gonzalez were instrumental in helping the coaching staff connect with the team in a way that would allow for the improvement we saw during the last half of the season.
"And once Aaron (Venouziou) was healthy, he made an immediate impact."
Venouziou, who missed the first seven games of the season, was a key contributor on the attack, tallying 7 goals and 3 assists. Junior midfielder/defender Kyle Fenner matched those totals, while Gonzalez led the Mustangs in scoring with 10 goals and 9 assists.
"(Gonzalez) was our most dangerous player this season. He demanded most of the attention from the other teams' backline," Stapleton said. "He has an incredible work rate and often his efforts demanded more from those around him."
Stapleton continued: "Kyle (Fenner) was dangerous from both his outside back and midfield positions. He's a tireless worker on the field, and he often created match-up problems for other teams. Kelly was the strength of our defense. His size (6-foot-3) and his ability to defend 1-v.-1 was a huge asset to this year's team. Also, his long through-balls created numerous chances."
Gonzalez said that things started falling into place after Downers Grove South notched its first win of the season: a 3-0 decision over McCutcheon (Lafayette, Ind.) on Sept. 14 at the Midwest Classic in Indianapolis.
"In the beginning of the season, we didn't know how to play together as a team," Gonzalez said. "So we worked on changing our formation and doing different things on the field. We knew we could change it around, and we did. Our first win, the mentality changed. Things started to click, and we kept going the whole season."
Added Kelly: "If we would have played at the beginning as we did toward the end, we would have had a better season. But we had a lot of new players, so we had to get used to each other's style of play. We all come from different club teams with different styles. We had to adjust to our strengths and weaknesses and work off that."
Fenner said, "That first win boosted everyone's confidence. That led into practice -- the mood was better -- and then it snowballed from there. Everyone started jelling more and playing better."
Gonzalez, one of 14 seniors on this year's roster, said that team bonding away from the pitch was just as important to the Mustangs' success as the players' performances in the heat of battle.
"Off the field, I tried to be a good leader to keep the chemistry going ... keep everyone together," he said. "We're all one, not separate in our own little groups. Then we clicked in the second half of the season. The positivity we had was awesome."
Kelly had a similar view, adding, "During the game, I do my best to organize midfielders, and who to mark on corners ... just try to be a voice. Off the field, no goofing off. Keep a mindset to focus on doing things better. That brings up your confidence ... starts a fire that keeps growing. Coming off that winning feeling, you want it even more."
That feeling took a hit when Downers Grove South saw a 1-0 halftime lead over Hinsdale Central in the regional semifinal turn into a 2-1 defeat. The Mustangs entered the match looking to avenge a 4-1 loss to the Devils on Sept. 3.
"We could have won that playoff game," Fenner said. "But no regrets. We played well. We feel more that we were unlucky than anything else."
Added Gonzalez: "We didn't stop or give up. We played a hard game. As a team, we did as well as we could. We gave it everything we had, but it wasn't enough."
Kelly said, "We lost, but in our hearts, we knew we came out strong. The first time, (Hinsdale Central) beat us. This time, we came out as strong as we could. That would give us the best chance to win."
Win or lose, Stapleton had nothing but praise for his senior-laden squad.
"This year's senior class was a special group," he said. "Collectively, they were a great group of young men, both in their ability on the field as well as how they carried themselves off the field.
“They truly wanted what was best for the program and the team. So many of them had such pride in being part of the Mustang soccer family. I t will be tough to see them move on."
Looking ahead, Stapleton said key returnees include Fenner, Aaron Venouziou, sophomore midfielder Josh Venouziou (6 goals, assist in '19), junior mid Jony Flores (3 goals, 7 assists) and junior defender Jack Storrs.
"We have a good nucleus returning next year, but we will have some important positions up for grabs as we prepare to begin the 2020 season," Stapleton said. "There are several players at the lower levels under consideration as well, but a lot will depend on how they develop in the offseason. I hope we can begin play as we finished this season, improve for the entire season, and then make a deeper run in the postseason."
Added Fenner: "We can learn from what the seniors did this year. They showed us what energy we needed at practice and how to bring that to the game. If we do that, put in the work, we can get better results next year."
By Ken Keenan
A five-game losing streak wasn't exactly a smooth start for Downers Grove South in 2019. But the Mustangs bounced back to conclude the regular season on a 8-5-1 run, including a 6-2-1 mid-season stretch and a 4-2 mark in West Suburban Conference Gold Division play.
After falling by a 2-1 count to the host Red Devils in the IHSA Class 3A Hinsdale Central Regional on Oct. 23, Downers Grove South ended the campaign at a respectable 8-11-1 overall.
Longtime Mustangs head coach Jon Stapleton said the team began to find its footing after a couple of key players -- senior defender Peter Pierropoulous and junior forward Aaron Venouziou -- returned from injury. Not only did that bolster the lineup, it provided an opportunity for the squad to take stock as well.
"To me, it's no surprise that as we became healthy our play improved," Stapleton said. "Also, I feel our team leadership stepped up after the 0-5-0 start and demanded that we take the necessary steps to turn the season around. Peter (Pierropoulous), (senior defender) Ethan Kelly and (senior forward) Enrique Gonzalez were instrumental in helping the coaching staff connect with the team in a way that would allow for the improvement we saw during the last half of the season.
"And once Aaron (Venouziou) was healthy, he made an immediate impact."
Venouziou, who missed the first seven games of the season, was a key contributor on the attack, tallying 7 goals and 3 assists. Junior midfielder/defender Kyle Fenner matched those totals, while Gonzalez led the Mustangs in scoring with 10 goals and 9 assists.
"(Gonzalez) was our most dangerous player this season. He demanded most of the attention from the other teams' backline," Stapleton said. "He has an incredible work rate and often his efforts demanded more from those around him."
Stapleton continued: "Kyle (Fenner) was dangerous from both his outside back and midfield positions. He's a tireless worker on the field, and he often created match-up problems for other teams. Kelly was the strength of our defense. His size (6-foot-3) and his ability to defend 1-v.-1 was a huge asset to this year's team. Also, his long through-balls created numerous chances."
Gonzalez said that things started falling into place after Downers Grove South notched its first win of the season: a 3-0 decision over McCutcheon (Lafayette, Ind.) on Sept. 14 at the Midwest Classic in Indianapolis.
"In the beginning of the season, we didn't know how to play together as a team," Gonzalez said. "So we worked on changing our formation and doing different things on the field. We knew we could change it around, and we did. Our first win, the mentality changed. Things started to click, and we kept going the whole season."
Added Kelly: "If we would have played at the beginning as we did toward the end, we would have had a better season. But we had a lot of new players, so we had to get used to each other's style of play. We all come from different club teams with different styles. We had to adjust to our strengths and weaknesses and work off that."
Fenner said, "That first win boosted everyone's confidence. That led into practice -- the mood was better -- and then it snowballed from there. Everyone started jelling more and playing better."
Gonzalez, one of 14 seniors on this year's roster, said that team bonding away from the pitch was just as important to the Mustangs' success as the players' performances in the heat of battle.
"Off the field, I tried to be a good leader to keep the chemistry going ... keep everyone together," he said. "We're all one, not separate in our own little groups. Then we clicked in the second half of the season. The positivity we had was awesome."
Kelly had a similar view, adding, "During the game, I do my best to organize midfielders, and who to mark on corners ... just try to be a voice. Off the field, no goofing off. Keep a mindset to focus on doing things better. That brings up your confidence ... starts a fire that keeps growing. Coming off that winning feeling, you want it even more."
That feeling took a hit when Downers Grove South saw a 1-0 halftime lead over Hinsdale Central in the regional semifinal turn into a 2-1 defeat. The Mustangs entered the match looking to avenge a 4-1 loss to the Devils on Sept. 3.
"We could have won that playoff game," Fenner said. "But no regrets. We played well. We feel more that we were unlucky than anything else."
Added Gonzalez: "We didn't stop or give up. We played a hard game. As a team, we did as well as we could. We gave it everything we had, but it wasn't enough."
Kelly said, "We lost, but in our hearts, we knew we came out strong. The first time, (Hinsdale Central) beat us. This time, we came out as strong as we could. That would give us the best chance to win."
Win or lose, Stapleton had nothing but praise for his senior-laden squad.
"This year's senior class was a special group," he said. "Collectively, they were a great group of young men, both in their ability on the field as well as how they carried themselves off the field.
“They truly wanted what was best for the program and the team. So many of them had such pride in being part of the Mustang soccer family. I t will be tough to see them move on."
Looking ahead, Stapleton said key returnees include Fenner, Aaron Venouziou, sophomore midfielder Josh Venouziou (6 goals, assist in '19), junior mid Jony Flores (3 goals, 7 assists) and junior defender Jack Storrs.
"We have a good nucleus returning next year, but we will have some important positions up for grabs as we prepare to begin the 2020 season," Stapleton said. "There are several players at the lower levels under consideration as well, but a lot will depend on how they develop in the offseason. I hope we can begin play as we finished this season, improve for the entire season, and then make a deeper run in the postseason."
Added Fenner: "We can learn from what the seniors did this year. They showed us what energy we needed at practice and how to bring that to the game. If we do that, put in the work, we can get better results next year."