Season recap: Downers Grove North
By Dave Owen
Making the most of a bad situation has become the worldwide theme of the last 15 months.
Downers Grove North’s boys soccer team took that to new extremes this season.
The Trojans (8-2-1) not only overcame the season delay and other COVID-19 generated hurdles to produce a 5-1-0 West Suburban Conference Silver Division record, but turned a potentially season-marring match into a trampoline towards new heights.
With the conference title on the line against Lyons, the Trojans endured one of those days against the powerful Lions in a 7-1 loss.
“The group of seniors we had was pretty special,” Trojans coach Mike Schmitt said. “We kind of knew they had something about them to turn things around, and after the LT game they all saw that as a one-off. They knew that performance wasn’t typical, that it was just a bad day.
“They looked inward, and realized there’s nothing they can do about it. You get down a couple goals and push to get back in the game, and you’re left exposed. It was impressive how they were quickly able to move past that.”
Did they ever. Downers North regrouped to close the 2021 spring with three-straight wins. The run began and was highlighted by a 3-1 win at Leyden (7-1-0 at the time).
“After the LT game,” DGN goalkeeper Gavin Crowson said, “a few of us got together and talked about what needed to change and be done so it wouldn't happen again.
“Where we really saw improvement was training. Easily the last week of the season had the best sessions the team had all year. Everyone had a sense of togetherness and the chemistry was the best it had been all season.”
Defender Brian Benton remembers the aftermath of the loss well.
“There was one training in between the LT match and our next one,” Benton said, “and in that singular training session, we took it seriously and got after it really preparing us for our next game.
“For the seniors,” Benton added, “we stepped up as leaders and led by example and that’s what I think was our biggest responsibility leading to a great conference record.”
Like Benton and Crowson, Trgvye Hansen was part of a corps of strong seniors with multiple seasons on varsity. And with one more abbreviated and delayed season to make their mark, the Trojans weren’t going to let one game deter them.
“I think we improved a lot from last year because of our mentality,” Hansen said. “We knew how much potential our team had this year, so we went out there thinking we were going to win every game.
“I think that is also one of the main reasons we came back so strong after a poor showing against LT. We knew that it was just a one game slip-up so we had to come back stronger with a couple statement wins. Our mentality after LT wasn’t to dwell on the loss, but to rather move forward and leave it in the past.”
The 5-1 record in conference (the WSC goes straight to shootouts if games are tied) put this year’s Trojans in special company.
The last Downers Grove North team to achieve that WSC Silver five-win mark was the 2001 squad that advanced all the way to the state quarterfinals. The 2000 team that also reached the Elite Eight posted a 3-3-0 conference record.
“In general the conference wins were the most meaningful, because we don’t get to see that (five-win season) often,” said Schmitt, who scored three goals as a midfielder on the 2001 team.
“The (Downers) South game was fun (a 3-0 crosstown win), but it was a matter this year of the conference wins. We beat York, Hinsdale Central, Oak Park – teams we don’t normally beat year-in and year-out. The kids put their stamp on the season. They took it for what it was worth and finished 5-1 in conference. Last year we did the exact opposite. We finished 1-5.”
That incredible reversal of fortunes was a credit to the Trojans seniors.
“We had a lot of those guys for two or three years on varsity,” Schmitt said. “Last year it seemed like they were kind of waiting for that (2019 season) senior group to get out of the way so they could take charge. And that’s exactly what they did this year. They had a really strong balance and had really good energy in terms of training. They did a fantastic job throughout.
“We shut out York and Hinsdale Central and only gave up one goal vs. Oak Park,” Schmitt added. “We did what we set out to do this year and held strong on both sides of the ball.”
On the offensive side, all-state selection Hansen (12 goals, five assists in 11 games) and all-sectional senior Ben Schaub (eight goals in nine games) were an impressive combination.
“Ben was a newcomer,” Schmitt said. “He decided not to play Academy (club this spring), and he had such a massive impact on the squad with his talent and IQ. He was a great addition to the team.
“Ben ended up on a quarantine list the last week of the season, but was our leading goal scorer up until that Leyden game.”
It was that Leyden game when Hansen turned an enhanced offensive role after the loss at Lyons into a hat-trick performance and a great finish to the season.
“We put Trygve out at more of a wider position to give him more space to play in,” Schmitt said. “He’s so good on the ball, but when you restrict the space around a player like that it can kind of bunker him in. So, we gave him some space and liberty to play, and that really turned things around.
“And we pushed Ben Schaub into more of a free space, and that also had a big impact. Trygve came out of that (Leyden) game with three goals, and Ben had an assist or two, so it was a really positive change.”
Hansen was quick to share the credit for his big numbers.
“I think the key to my success was how much chemistry my team had,” Hansen said. “Most of the team had been playing together for a long time, and we all knew what each other were capable of. We tried to play to each other’s strengths, and I think we did very well at that. My teammates set me up to succeed on the field, and I tried to do the same for them.”
Versatility was Hansen’s strength throughout his Trojans career.
“Trygve was never in the position he was this year,” Schmitt said. “We kind of bounced him back and forth between attacker and the second forward. In the formation we play he was a little bit deeper at times last year, so he was able to play in the final third a lot more this year and that allowed him to exhibit his offensive capabilities.
“If we had players around him as good as him, he could have easily doubled his output. He’s a tremendous talent. He’s going to be hard to replace.”
The same applies to the defensive unit led by all-sectional player Benton.
“Brian was such a standout and a leader of our central backline,” Schmitt said. “He was a big reason we only conceded two goals (in conference) besides the LT game. He did a super job of leading our backline this year.”
Benton’s senior maturity was a major factor.
“He came in this year super positive and was able to take ownership of a lot of things that happened on the field,” Schmitt said. “If he made a mistake, he was quick to take responsibility and lead the team forward, which in previous seasons he kind of struggled with. This year he kept his head up and kept us in games and led us from the backline forward. The same with Sam (Bull) and Gavin.”
Throw in all-conference defender Bull and four-year varsity goalkeeper Crowson, and the Trojans had a strong and veteran back row.
“I believe the key to our defensive success this year was working as a unit,” Benton said. “No one person was more important than the other when it came to a defensive play, it was a group effort.”
Crowson’s entire high school experience paid off in a great season.
“Playing on varsity the last four years was the best thing I could've done for my development,” Crowson said. “Always playing against guys older than me until this year was great. It definitely made me more confident and a better player overall.”
Said Schmitt: “The emotional toll a season takes on you is pretty immense, and the way they moved forward was pretty special.”
That emotional toll began in March, 2020, with the 10-month shutdown of Illinois high school sports due to COVID-19. Crowson summed up that angst and limbo, and the motivation it produced.
“The heart we had this year was tremendous, and I think the uncertainty of what was to come played a big part,” Crowson said. “A lot of the boys who play club on our team had no clue until the day of our last game if we had a league to play in after. So, for the majority of the season, including myself, we thought this was it.”
Benton dealt with similar emotions as the hoped-for August start came and went.
“The delay was very frustrating,” he said. “At least for me, it felt one day the season was going to happen, and the next it felt maybe not. When it came time for the start of the season, we were all just happy to play. I think that also contributed to a great season. We came out ready to go and ready to win.”
Hansen tried to make the most of the long postseason.
“I felt the delay was a great time to work on your game,” he said. “With having a shortened season, us seniors knew that each game we had to go out and give it our all because it’s our last season.”
The results were impressive. And the seniors set the tone.
“They were very instrumental to the team’s success this year,” Schmitt said. “We knew this senior class was pretty special. We had 14 total, and that’s probably the biggest senior class I’ve had in the last seven years.
“We had some high expectations for them. We knew what we had was something really cool and special, and they had massive impacts this year. Sam’s leadership, Brian, Trygve’s talent, and we had some other support players like Franklin Griffin and Lucas Turk.
“They were all so instrumental,” Schmitt added. “And they had played club together for a long time as well as in the North program, so we had this chemistry that we hadn’t had in a long time.”
The top memories were many.
“I would say the most memorable game was our last game against Glenbard West (a 4-1 win),” Hansen said, “because it was Senior Night and it was fun to see everyone play. Another memorable game was against DGS, because we were playing against a bunch of friends, and it was a good win.”
Said Crowson: “The most memorable game was either DGS or Leyden. Both games, the team played very well overall. But overall that Leyden game was pretty special and the boys played amazing to bounce back (from the loss to Lyons and an early 1-0 deficit).”
The Trojans not only made great things happen, but set the stage for the fall season.
“This year we had a larger roster with 27 kids, and four keepers,” Schmitt said. “Having a lot of juniors this year seeing what it takes and what it feels like (to win), they want to replicate that. We have a pretty positive outlook for next year, and a good group of sophomores coming up as well.”
Two underclassmen in particular made an impression.
“We pulled up a freshman Ryan Wilson (at midfield),” Schmitt said, “and after the first game he ended up starting just about every game. He had a really strong impact from a technical and physicality standpoint. He’s just a really solid all-around player.
“It took one game to get over that shock factor of playing up and against bigger kids, but he really adjusted to that and really held his own for the last 10 games. He can play on the outside, in the middle. We’re looking for some big things out of him.
“And Bradley Szydlowski at center back is a sophomore this year, so he’ll be returning for us. It’s his second year on varsity so he’s got some experience. And the leadership of this current senior group, hopefully they can take it from them and keep pulling the program forward.”
Downers Grove North made its mark. After not being ranked in the Chicagoland Soccer First 50 state-wide preseason poll, the Trojans ended the season at no. 22 in the state in the season-ending Final 50 ranking.
And whatever the future holds, the never-quit spring squad made memories to savor.
“It was disappointing that there wasn’t a postseason,” Benton said. “I think we could’ve done some great things this year. But just because there wasn’t a postseason does not mean that this season was a waste, nor should our heads be down.
“Even though we didn’t get a full season, I’d say this was the most enjoyable and best season the seniors could’ve asked for and this is a season to be proud of.”
By Dave Owen
Making the most of a bad situation has become the worldwide theme of the last 15 months.
Downers Grove North’s boys soccer team took that to new extremes this season.
The Trojans (8-2-1) not only overcame the season delay and other COVID-19 generated hurdles to produce a 5-1-0 West Suburban Conference Silver Division record, but turned a potentially season-marring match into a trampoline towards new heights.
With the conference title on the line against Lyons, the Trojans endured one of those days against the powerful Lions in a 7-1 loss.
“The group of seniors we had was pretty special,” Trojans coach Mike Schmitt said. “We kind of knew they had something about them to turn things around, and after the LT game they all saw that as a one-off. They knew that performance wasn’t typical, that it was just a bad day.
“They looked inward, and realized there’s nothing they can do about it. You get down a couple goals and push to get back in the game, and you’re left exposed. It was impressive how they were quickly able to move past that.”
Did they ever. Downers North regrouped to close the 2021 spring with three-straight wins. The run began and was highlighted by a 3-1 win at Leyden (7-1-0 at the time).
“After the LT game,” DGN goalkeeper Gavin Crowson said, “a few of us got together and talked about what needed to change and be done so it wouldn't happen again.
“Where we really saw improvement was training. Easily the last week of the season had the best sessions the team had all year. Everyone had a sense of togetherness and the chemistry was the best it had been all season.”
Defender Brian Benton remembers the aftermath of the loss well.
“There was one training in between the LT match and our next one,” Benton said, “and in that singular training session, we took it seriously and got after it really preparing us for our next game.
“For the seniors,” Benton added, “we stepped up as leaders and led by example and that’s what I think was our biggest responsibility leading to a great conference record.”
Like Benton and Crowson, Trgvye Hansen was part of a corps of strong seniors with multiple seasons on varsity. And with one more abbreviated and delayed season to make their mark, the Trojans weren’t going to let one game deter them.
“I think we improved a lot from last year because of our mentality,” Hansen said. “We knew how much potential our team had this year, so we went out there thinking we were going to win every game.
“I think that is also one of the main reasons we came back so strong after a poor showing against LT. We knew that it was just a one game slip-up so we had to come back stronger with a couple statement wins. Our mentality after LT wasn’t to dwell on the loss, but to rather move forward and leave it in the past.”
The 5-1 record in conference (the WSC goes straight to shootouts if games are tied) put this year’s Trojans in special company.
The last Downers Grove North team to achieve that WSC Silver five-win mark was the 2001 squad that advanced all the way to the state quarterfinals. The 2000 team that also reached the Elite Eight posted a 3-3-0 conference record.
“In general the conference wins were the most meaningful, because we don’t get to see that (five-win season) often,” said Schmitt, who scored three goals as a midfielder on the 2001 team.
“The (Downers) South game was fun (a 3-0 crosstown win), but it was a matter this year of the conference wins. We beat York, Hinsdale Central, Oak Park – teams we don’t normally beat year-in and year-out. The kids put their stamp on the season. They took it for what it was worth and finished 5-1 in conference. Last year we did the exact opposite. We finished 1-5.”
That incredible reversal of fortunes was a credit to the Trojans seniors.
“We had a lot of those guys for two or three years on varsity,” Schmitt said. “Last year it seemed like they were kind of waiting for that (2019 season) senior group to get out of the way so they could take charge. And that’s exactly what they did this year. They had a really strong balance and had really good energy in terms of training. They did a fantastic job throughout.
“We shut out York and Hinsdale Central and only gave up one goal vs. Oak Park,” Schmitt added. “We did what we set out to do this year and held strong on both sides of the ball.”
On the offensive side, all-state selection Hansen (12 goals, five assists in 11 games) and all-sectional senior Ben Schaub (eight goals in nine games) were an impressive combination.
“Ben was a newcomer,” Schmitt said. “He decided not to play Academy (club this spring), and he had such a massive impact on the squad with his talent and IQ. He was a great addition to the team.
“Ben ended up on a quarantine list the last week of the season, but was our leading goal scorer up until that Leyden game.”
It was that Leyden game when Hansen turned an enhanced offensive role after the loss at Lyons into a hat-trick performance and a great finish to the season.
“We put Trygve out at more of a wider position to give him more space to play in,” Schmitt said. “He’s so good on the ball, but when you restrict the space around a player like that it can kind of bunker him in. So, we gave him some space and liberty to play, and that really turned things around.
“And we pushed Ben Schaub into more of a free space, and that also had a big impact. Trygve came out of that (Leyden) game with three goals, and Ben had an assist or two, so it was a really positive change.”
Hansen was quick to share the credit for his big numbers.
“I think the key to my success was how much chemistry my team had,” Hansen said. “Most of the team had been playing together for a long time, and we all knew what each other were capable of. We tried to play to each other’s strengths, and I think we did very well at that. My teammates set me up to succeed on the field, and I tried to do the same for them.”
Versatility was Hansen’s strength throughout his Trojans career.
“Trygve was never in the position he was this year,” Schmitt said. “We kind of bounced him back and forth between attacker and the second forward. In the formation we play he was a little bit deeper at times last year, so he was able to play in the final third a lot more this year and that allowed him to exhibit his offensive capabilities.
“If we had players around him as good as him, he could have easily doubled his output. He’s a tremendous talent. He’s going to be hard to replace.”
The same applies to the defensive unit led by all-sectional player Benton.
“Brian was such a standout and a leader of our central backline,” Schmitt said. “He was a big reason we only conceded two goals (in conference) besides the LT game. He did a super job of leading our backline this year.”
Benton’s senior maturity was a major factor.
“He came in this year super positive and was able to take ownership of a lot of things that happened on the field,” Schmitt said. “If he made a mistake, he was quick to take responsibility and lead the team forward, which in previous seasons he kind of struggled with. This year he kept his head up and kept us in games and led us from the backline forward. The same with Sam (Bull) and Gavin.”
Throw in all-conference defender Bull and four-year varsity goalkeeper Crowson, and the Trojans had a strong and veteran back row.
“I believe the key to our defensive success this year was working as a unit,” Benton said. “No one person was more important than the other when it came to a defensive play, it was a group effort.”
Crowson’s entire high school experience paid off in a great season.
“Playing on varsity the last four years was the best thing I could've done for my development,” Crowson said. “Always playing against guys older than me until this year was great. It definitely made me more confident and a better player overall.”
Said Schmitt: “The emotional toll a season takes on you is pretty immense, and the way they moved forward was pretty special.”
That emotional toll began in March, 2020, with the 10-month shutdown of Illinois high school sports due to COVID-19. Crowson summed up that angst and limbo, and the motivation it produced.
“The heart we had this year was tremendous, and I think the uncertainty of what was to come played a big part,” Crowson said. “A lot of the boys who play club on our team had no clue until the day of our last game if we had a league to play in after. So, for the majority of the season, including myself, we thought this was it.”
Benton dealt with similar emotions as the hoped-for August start came and went.
“The delay was very frustrating,” he said. “At least for me, it felt one day the season was going to happen, and the next it felt maybe not. When it came time for the start of the season, we were all just happy to play. I think that also contributed to a great season. We came out ready to go and ready to win.”
Hansen tried to make the most of the long postseason.
“I felt the delay was a great time to work on your game,” he said. “With having a shortened season, us seniors knew that each game we had to go out and give it our all because it’s our last season.”
The results were impressive. And the seniors set the tone.
“They were very instrumental to the team’s success this year,” Schmitt said. “We knew this senior class was pretty special. We had 14 total, and that’s probably the biggest senior class I’ve had in the last seven years.
“We had some high expectations for them. We knew what we had was something really cool and special, and they had massive impacts this year. Sam’s leadership, Brian, Trygve’s talent, and we had some other support players like Franklin Griffin and Lucas Turk.
“They were all so instrumental,” Schmitt added. “And they had played club together for a long time as well as in the North program, so we had this chemistry that we hadn’t had in a long time.”
The top memories were many.
“I would say the most memorable game was our last game against Glenbard West (a 4-1 win),” Hansen said, “because it was Senior Night and it was fun to see everyone play. Another memorable game was against DGS, because we were playing against a bunch of friends, and it was a good win.”
Said Crowson: “The most memorable game was either DGS or Leyden. Both games, the team played very well overall. But overall that Leyden game was pretty special and the boys played amazing to bounce back (from the loss to Lyons and an early 1-0 deficit).”
The Trojans not only made great things happen, but set the stage for the fall season.
“This year we had a larger roster with 27 kids, and four keepers,” Schmitt said. “Having a lot of juniors this year seeing what it takes and what it feels like (to win), they want to replicate that. We have a pretty positive outlook for next year, and a good group of sophomores coming up as well.”
Two underclassmen in particular made an impression.
“We pulled up a freshman Ryan Wilson (at midfield),” Schmitt said, “and after the first game he ended up starting just about every game. He had a really strong impact from a technical and physicality standpoint. He’s just a really solid all-around player.
“It took one game to get over that shock factor of playing up and against bigger kids, but he really adjusted to that and really held his own for the last 10 games. He can play on the outside, in the middle. We’re looking for some big things out of him.
“And Bradley Szydlowski at center back is a sophomore this year, so he’ll be returning for us. It’s his second year on varsity so he’s got some experience. And the leadership of this current senior group, hopefully they can take it from them and keep pulling the program forward.”
Downers Grove North made its mark. After not being ranked in the Chicagoland Soccer First 50 state-wide preseason poll, the Trojans ended the season at no. 22 in the state in the season-ending Final 50 ranking.
And whatever the future holds, the never-quit spring squad made memories to savor.
“It was disappointing that there wasn’t a postseason,” Benton said. “I think we could’ve done some great things this year. But just because there wasn’t a postseason does not mean that this season was a waste, nor should our heads be down.
“Even though we didn’t get a full season, I’d say this was the most enjoyable and best season the seniors could’ve asked for and this is a season to be proud of.”