Season preview: Barrington
By Mike Garofola
Barrington earned 26 points from a possible 33 during play in the Mid-Suburban League last season and registered a dazzling 16-4-2 overall record. The Broncos conceded just 15 goals on the year, and if not for longtime, league-rival Fremd they may have taken home more than a regional championship.
Manager Scott Steib and his staff did a wonderful job of identifying the group’s strengths and weaknesses, and pieced together a quality starting 11. The team leaned on trustworthy reserves and veterans who led by example on and off the pitch.
"The strength of our team last year was its character and depth," began the Broncos leader, who begins his 24th year in charge at the school. His career has spanned 28 seasons after a sharp start at Lake Zurich.
“(We) had so many players suffer short- or long-term injuries. In every case, another player would step in to do the job. While it's a cliche to go with the 'Next man up' mantra, it really was the case for us.
"Additionally, our guys were a terrific team who really loved being together -- competing with and for each other."
Those memories have stayed with the players, who will open the season at Evanston on Tuesday (Aug. 23) as part of the Central Suburban League/Mid-Suburban League Challenge.
"Despite falling short in the division race (after an 8-1-2 mark), and losing to Fremd in sectional final, it really was a great team to be with and around," said senior Mathew Klujian, who transferred from Highland Park last school year. He found out first-hand what it meant to be a part the storied program, which had adopted the famous line “You'll Never Walk Alone” that is sung by Liverpool fans before every contest played at Anfield.
"I immediately felt like I belonged here after coming over from Highland Park. It's one of the things that I like so much about playing here at Barrington -- we all really feel like we are a family."
The superb backline player, who played as a left or center back, earned league, IHSSCA sectional and Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List honors. He was voted a tri-captain in his first season with the program.
"We recently went to northern Michigan on a team bonding trip, doing exercises to bring us all together and to solidify our trust in one another in advance of the season,” he said. “Like last year it was a great trip, and one that was really worthwhile."
"We lost so many players including all of midfield and most of our backline from a year ago. We have a solid group up with us from our JV1 team who will handle things in the midfield, plus two experienced keepers back. With (junior defender) Adam (Walocha) and myself, I feel like we have a good core to build from."
Now-senior GKs Alex Hackney and Iker Villagomez combined for 14 clean-sheets a year ago.
"We have just seven back from a year ago, so we are hoping for incremental and sustained growth as the season progresses,” said Steib. “The hope is to hit our best soccer come October."
The biggest loss is Jeremiah Gascho, an Chicagoland Soccer and IHSSCA all-state midfielder who was the ultimate box-to-box warrior. He formed a rock-solid quartet in the middle of the park with fellow graduates David Gomez, Kyle Horak and Jonathan Li.
Klujian will miss his backline mates Ryan Chang, Kyle Wanca and Michael Vitale. The latter pair were particularly dangerous in and around the box during dead ball and set piece opportunities.
A top-four finish on the league table and some tournament hardware along the way would suit the Broncos just fine. The MSL crown is always in play at Barrington. Steib’s boys challenged last season but slipped on the proverbial banana peel with back-to-back draws with Elk Grove and Rolling Meadows in mid-September.
The Broncos league hopes were dashed after a 2-1 defeat at Buffalo Grove on Oct. 7.
Two days later in the regular-season finale with Fremd, Barrington delivered a hard-fought 1-0 overtime road victory that denied their host and the eventual state runnerup a conference sweep. It inspired pride as the Broncos eyed the postseason.
"It really was a great year for us. We played some really good soccer, and for me, I was able to develop connections and friendships which are very important to me," said Klujian, who is gathering data for where he will play in college.
"We'll have to see how much progress we've made once we get into the MSL season,” said Steib, who will win his 400th-career match if the Broncos hit 13 victories this season. “I can tell you we have great leadership and chemistry. Although we've pushed them extremely hard in our training sessions, they have attacked it without anything but a 'Yes coach' attitude.
"We are extremely pleased with the high energy, full effort and hard work the boys are putting in. All of us are anxious for the season to begin."
Barrington at a glance
2021 overall record: 16-4-2
Graduation losses: Will Aspin (MF), Ryan Chang (D-MF, all-MSL, Chicagoland Soccer Special Mention), Matthew Christensen (D), Jeremiah Gascho (MF, Chicagoland Soccer, IHSSCA all-state, all-MSL), David Gomez (MF, all-MSL, Chicagoland Soccer Special Mention), Kyle Horak (MF), Chris Kilayko (F), Jonathan Li (MF, all-MSL), Michael Vitale (D), Kyle Wanca (D, all-MSL), Ben Yaney (F).
Key Returning Players: Seniors: Mathew Klujian (D, Chicagoland Soccer Watch List; all-sectional, all-MSL), Jack Peterson (F, all-MSL), Iker Villagomez (GK), Alex Hackney (GK); juniors Adam Walocha (D-MF), Mattie Vitale (D).
Fixtures to watch: 8-26: At Red Devil (Hinsdale Central) invitational versus nationally ranked and reigning, Division I, Wisconsin state champion Marquette.
9-03: Barrington Classic pool-play game versus reigning Illinois Class AA champion Boylan.
9-24: MSL regular-season game vs. reigning league champion, and Class 3A runnerup Fremd.
9-29/30: Great River Classic at Burlington, Iowa, for matches against top Midwestern programs.
By Mike Garofola
Barrington earned 26 points from a possible 33 during play in the Mid-Suburban League last season and registered a dazzling 16-4-2 overall record. The Broncos conceded just 15 goals on the year, and if not for longtime, league-rival Fremd they may have taken home more than a regional championship.
Manager Scott Steib and his staff did a wonderful job of identifying the group’s strengths and weaknesses, and pieced together a quality starting 11. The team leaned on trustworthy reserves and veterans who led by example on and off the pitch.
"The strength of our team last year was its character and depth," began the Broncos leader, who begins his 24th year in charge at the school. His career has spanned 28 seasons after a sharp start at Lake Zurich.
“(We) had so many players suffer short- or long-term injuries. In every case, another player would step in to do the job. While it's a cliche to go with the 'Next man up' mantra, it really was the case for us.
"Additionally, our guys were a terrific team who really loved being together -- competing with and for each other."
Those memories have stayed with the players, who will open the season at Evanston on Tuesday (Aug. 23) as part of the Central Suburban League/Mid-Suburban League Challenge.
"Despite falling short in the division race (after an 8-1-2 mark), and losing to Fremd in sectional final, it really was a great team to be with and around," said senior Mathew Klujian, who transferred from Highland Park last school year. He found out first-hand what it meant to be a part the storied program, which had adopted the famous line “You'll Never Walk Alone” that is sung by Liverpool fans before every contest played at Anfield.
"I immediately felt like I belonged here after coming over from Highland Park. It's one of the things that I like so much about playing here at Barrington -- we all really feel like we are a family."
The superb backline player, who played as a left or center back, earned league, IHSSCA sectional and Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List honors. He was voted a tri-captain in his first season with the program.
"We recently went to northern Michigan on a team bonding trip, doing exercises to bring us all together and to solidify our trust in one another in advance of the season,” he said. “Like last year it was a great trip, and one that was really worthwhile."
"We lost so many players including all of midfield and most of our backline from a year ago. We have a solid group up with us from our JV1 team who will handle things in the midfield, plus two experienced keepers back. With (junior defender) Adam (Walocha) and myself, I feel like we have a good core to build from."
Now-senior GKs Alex Hackney and Iker Villagomez combined for 14 clean-sheets a year ago.
"We have just seven back from a year ago, so we are hoping for incremental and sustained growth as the season progresses,” said Steib. “The hope is to hit our best soccer come October."
The biggest loss is Jeremiah Gascho, an Chicagoland Soccer and IHSSCA all-state midfielder who was the ultimate box-to-box warrior. He formed a rock-solid quartet in the middle of the park with fellow graduates David Gomez, Kyle Horak and Jonathan Li.
Klujian will miss his backline mates Ryan Chang, Kyle Wanca and Michael Vitale. The latter pair were particularly dangerous in and around the box during dead ball and set piece opportunities.
A top-four finish on the league table and some tournament hardware along the way would suit the Broncos just fine. The MSL crown is always in play at Barrington. Steib’s boys challenged last season but slipped on the proverbial banana peel with back-to-back draws with Elk Grove and Rolling Meadows in mid-September.
The Broncos league hopes were dashed after a 2-1 defeat at Buffalo Grove on Oct. 7.
Two days later in the regular-season finale with Fremd, Barrington delivered a hard-fought 1-0 overtime road victory that denied their host and the eventual state runnerup a conference sweep. It inspired pride as the Broncos eyed the postseason.
"It really was a great year for us. We played some really good soccer, and for me, I was able to develop connections and friendships which are very important to me," said Klujian, who is gathering data for where he will play in college.
"We'll have to see how much progress we've made once we get into the MSL season,” said Steib, who will win his 400th-career match if the Broncos hit 13 victories this season. “I can tell you we have great leadership and chemistry. Although we've pushed them extremely hard in our training sessions, they have attacked it without anything but a 'Yes coach' attitude.
"We are extremely pleased with the high energy, full effort and hard work the boys are putting in. All of us are anxious for the season to begin."
Barrington at a glance
2021 overall record: 16-4-2
Graduation losses: Will Aspin (MF), Ryan Chang (D-MF, all-MSL, Chicagoland Soccer Special Mention), Matthew Christensen (D), Jeremiah Gascho (MF, Chicagoland Soccer, IHSSCA all-state, all-MSL), David Gomez (MF, all-MSL, Chicagoland Soccer Special Mention), Kyle Horak (MF), Chris Kilayko (F), Jonathan Li (MF, all-MSL), Michael Vitale (D), Kyle Wanca (D, all-MSL), Ben Yaney (F).
Key Returning Players: Seniors: Mathew Klujian (D, Chicagoland Soccer Watch List; all-sectional, all-MSL), Jack Peterson (F, all-MSL), Iker Villagomez (GK), Alex Hackney (GK); juniors Adam Walocha (D-MF), Mattie Vitale (D).
Fixtures to watch: 8-26: At Red Devil (Hinsdale Central) invitational versus nationally ranked and reigning, Division I, Wisconsin state champion Marquette.
9-03: Barrington Classic pool-play game versus reigning Illinois Class AA champion Boylan.
9-24: MSL regular-season game vs. reigning league champion, and Class 3A runnerup Fremd.
9-29/30: Great River Classic at Burlington, Iowa, for matches against top Midwestern programs.