Seager tops 100 career goals in
Wheaton Academy's 6-3 win over Batavia
Warriors rounding into form for 1st Class 3A tourney try
By Steve Nemeth
WEST CHICAGO -- Regardless of the final 6-3 tally, both a victorious Wheaton Academy side and visiting Batavia believed Tuesday’s nonconference meeting was a positive tune-up for the upcoming IHSA playoffs.
The host Warriors treated their seniors to a regular-season home finale triumph complete with some notable scoring. Ranked no. 13 in the latest Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, Wheaton Academy boosted its record to 15-3-1 and extended its win streak to six games heading into a Thursday visit to former conference foe Marmion.
For Batavia, despite a fifth-straight defeat that dipped its record to 6-9-5, coach Mark Gianfrancesco and his players insisted they lived up to their “Battlin' Bulldogs” reputation by rallying from an early two-goal deficit, tallying “quality goals,” and hanging with “the best team” they’ve faced while not yet being at full strength.
“I’m really encouraged,” Gianfrancesco insisted. “This is the best team we’ve seen, especially in terms of how quickly they move the ball. Even though we talked about their speed, it still caught us by surprise initially. But then we fought back, and we kept the attack coming.”
Wheaton Academy took the lead just 1:14 into the contest with its first shot on goal. Timothy Steininger’s cross found Elias McCloud for a 12-yarder from left of center.
“Getting the ball out to the wing and using crossing passes to find someone open is something we do throughout every practice,” McCloud said in describing his fifth goal of the year. “Once I spotted Tim getting the ball out there he put a perfect pass in there, and I just finished it.”
Although not as perfect in terms of scoring, Batavia did answer with a counter of its own as Nate Allen began another stellar performance by serving the ball from the far right before Davis DiBiase’s left-side shot ricocheted off the post.
With just 5:39 played, the Warriors took a 2-0 lead as McCloud registered the first of two assists that led to the host’s 3-2 halftime lead and earned the junior Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match honor. McCloud’s pass set up standout Ty Seager for an eight-yard finish that became his 100th high school goal. His penalty conversion with 20:42 left in regulation completed the Warriors’ scoring and boosted his career total to 101 – a school record as best as coach Jeff Brooke has been able to determine.
“When I came here as a freshman I just thought it was an honor to wear the Wheaton Academy uniform my two older brothers had worn,” Seager said. “But as a freshman on varsity, I was blessed to play with older guys who were committed to success. They mentored me, set me up for goals, led by example and demonstrated the value of work ethic. What I’ve accomplished now as a senior is in many ways a tribute to those guys and to this program.”
The deficit didn't discourage Batavia. Regardless of how daunting a quick 2-0 deficit against a team that was rated no. 1 for three-of-the-first-four weeks in the Chicagoland Soccer rankings may have been, the Bulldogs began making connections and got on the scoreboard at the 16:20 time-point. Allen’s feed to a wide-open Luke Laurich was followed by an 18-yard blast that gave Laurich a team-high sixth goal and became Allen’s fourth assist.
“That was a huge boost for us, not just putting us back in this game, but because we’d been struggling to score in first halves,” Laurich said. “Better yet, we got a second goal, and I believe all three of our scores tonight were quality goals.
"Tonight we talked more, possessed the ball better in stretches, created chances. They’re a really good team so there’s nothing to hang our head over,” Laurich added.
Wheaton Academy responded quickly, scoring with 20:35 still to play before the halftime horn. McCloud returned the favor and set-up to Steininger for a four-yard finish from the middle.
“That was his first goal and then the night became more memorable for him with his first hat trick,” Brooke noted. “Obviously he was in the right spot for that first one, but the key on each was staying composed and finishing well.”
It took less than three minutes for Batavia to pull back within a goal as Allen hit a cannon shot that Warrior goalie John David Gunn could only block before Joe Corno nailed his fifth goal with a solid putback of the rebound.
“We work on following up on shots as a matter of routine, but when I saw (Nate) get ready to really rip it, I suspected there might be a rebound, and I wanted to be there for it,” Corno said. “Battling back against a team this good should be a great confidence booster for us.”
Wheaton Academy hoped to dilute Batavia’s comeback hopes with an aggressive second half start. Isaac Anthony had a heavy shot carom off the crossbar and down but not in just 1:09 after the intermission. Just 33 seconds after that, Steininger got his second goal and four minutes later completed his hat trick.
After Seager’s penalty kick conversion made it 6-2, the Batavia showed more tenacity as Brandon Knapp’s 19-yard missile sailed into the back of the net with 19:51 remaining.
“After our initial adjustment, we matched their intensity for much of the game. I saw some chemistry we’d been lacking,” Gianfrancesco said. “We did a nice job of serving the ball to create chances and also moved well off the ball. We have a big rivalry match (hosting Geneva on Thursday) and we get back to full strength, then whatever we do in the postseason is what will count from then on.”
From the other bench, Brooke also noticed his team taking steps forward with some room for improvement.
“We kept improving in respect to maintaining our defensive shape. Granted, giving up three goals isn’t ideal, but those were more a result of a technical mistake in terms of not clearing the ball than being out of place,” Brooke said. “Offensively, we continue to move more toward the one- and two-touch attack we want to execute.”
Left unspoken was the Warriors’ hopes that the seniors can play on their Performance Trust Field when Wheaton Academy serves as a sectional host. However, Marmion is the next order of business before the Hoffman Estates Regional. After their Class 2A championship season in 2014, the IHSA moved Wheaton Academy into the big school pool. Now the Warriors must get past the regional hosts before a possible title match no. 22 St. Charles East, who they lost to earlier this season, or a Conant unit that has been lurking just below the Top 25 teams this season.
At some point, Seager will finish amending his career-goal standard knowing a future with Northwestern soccer awaits.
“Winning the 2A title and getting bumped up (to 3A) is something we view as a challenge,” Seager said. “We’ve played a number of 3A programs this year and the lesson we learned and remember from last year is that the postseason requires an extra level of focus.
“I’ve watched games on BTN (Big Ten Network) and have been following college soccer more, but even though a year from now I’ll be in that position, right now my focus is on giving it my best with a high school program I’m honored to be with.”
Starting lineups
Batavia
G Jimmy Perreault
D Daniel Zagoren
D Bryant Kintz
D Sal Garcia
D Trevor Hockings
M Matt Allen
M Nathan Carey
M Erik Faessler
M Brandon Knapp
F Davis DiBiase
F Luke Laurich
Wheaton Academy
G John David Gunn
D Luis Rocha
D Simon Spivey
D Christian Ziesemer
D Sam Bergquist
M Timothy Steininger
M Jacob Kaptaniuk
M Elisa McCloud
M Ethan Stoneman
F Isaac Anthony
F Ty Seager
Man of the Match: Elias McCloud, MF, Wheaton Academy
Officials: Alin Pepescu (center), Carlos Herrera, Tim Visco
Wheaton Academy's 6-3 win over Batavia
Warriors rounding into form for 1st Class 3A tourney try
By Steve Nemeth
WEST CHICAGO -- Regardless of the final 6-3 tally, both a victorious Wheaton Academy side and visiting Batavia believed Tuesday’s nonconference meeting was a positive tune-up for the upcoming IHSA playoffs.
The host Warriors treated their seniors to a regular-season home finale triumph complete with some notable scoring. Ranked no. 13 in the latest Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, Wheaton Academy boosted its record to 15-3-1 and extended its win streak to six games heading into a Thursday visit to former conference foe Marmion.
For Batavia, despite a fifth-straight defeat that dipped its record to 6-9-5, coach Mark Gianfrancesco and his players insisted they lived up to their “Battlin' Bulldogs” reputation by rallying from an early two-goal deficit, tallying “quality goals,” and hanging with “the best team” they’ve faced while not yet being at full strength.
“I’m really encouraged,” Gianfrancesco insisted. “This is the best team we’ve seen, especially in terms of how quickly they move the ball. Even though we talked about their speed, it still caught us by surprise initially. But then we fought back, and we kept the attack coming.”
Wheaton Academy took the lead just 1:14 into the contest with its first shot on goal. Timothy Steininger’s cross found Elias McCloud for a 12-yarder from left of center.
“Getting the ball out to the wing and using crossing passes to find someone open is something we do throughout every practice,” McCloud said in describing his fifth goal of the year. “Once I spotted Tim getting the ball out there he put a perfect pass in there, and I just finished it.”
Although not as perfect in terms of scoring, Batavia did answer with a counter of its own as Nate Allen began another stellar performance by serving the ball from the far right before Davis DiBiase’s left-side shot ricocheted off the post.
With just 5:39 played, the Warriors took a 2-0 lead as McCloud registered the first of two assists that led to the host’s 3-2 halftime lead and earned the junior Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match honor. McCloud’s pass set up standout Ty Seager for an eight-yard finish that became his 100th high school goal. His penalty conversion with 20:42 left in regulation completed the Warriors’ scoring and boosted his career total to 101 – a school record as best as coach Jeff Brooke has been able to determine.
“When I came here as a freshman I just thought it was an honor to wear the Wheaton Academy uniform my two older brothers had worn,” Seager said. “But as a freshman on varsity, I was blessed to play with older guys who were committed to success. They mentored me, set me up for goals, led by example and demonstrated the value of work ethic. What I’ve accomplished now as a senior is in many ways a tribute to those guys and to this program.”
The deficit didn't discourage Batavia. Regardless of how daunting a quick 2-0 deficit against a team that was rated no. 1 for three-of-the-first-four weeks in the Chicagoland Soccer rankings may have been, the Bulldogs began making connections and got on the scoreboard at the 16:20 time-point. Allen’s feed to a wide-open Luke Laurich was followed by an 18-yard blast that gave Laurich a team-high sixth goal and became Allen’s fourth assist.
“That was a huge boost for us, not just putting us back in this game, but because we’d been struggling to score in first halves,” Laurich said. “Better yet, we got a second goal, and I believe all three of our scores tonight were quality goals.
"Tonight we talked more, possessed the ball better in stretches, created chances. They’re a really good team so there’s nothing to hang our head over,” Laurich added.
Wheaton Academy responded quickly, scoring with 20:35 still to play before the halftime horn. McCloud returned the favor and set-up to Steininger for a four-yard finish from the middle.
“That was his first goal and then the night became more memorable for him with his first hat trick,” Brooke noted. “Obviously he was in the right spot for that first one, but the key on each was staying composed and finishing well.”
It took less than three minutes for Batavia to pull back within a goal as Allen hit a cannon shot that Warrior goalie John David Gunn could only block before Joe Corno nailed his fifth goal with a solid putback of the rebound.
“We work on following up on shots as a matter of routine, but when I saw (Nate) get ready to really rip it, I suspected there might be a rebound, and I wanted to be there for it,” Corno said. “Battling back against a team this good should be a great confidence booster for us.”
Wheaton Academy hoped to dilute Batavia’s comeback hopes with an aggressive second half start. Isaac Anthony had a heavy shot carom off the crossbar and down but not in just 1:09 after the intermission. Just 33 seconds after that, Steininger got his second goal and four minutes later completed his hat trick.
After Seager’s penalty kick conversion made it 6-2, the Batavia showed more tenacity as Brandon Knapp’s 19-yard missile sailed into the back of the net with 19:51 remaining.
“After our initial adjustment, we matched their intensity for much of the game. I saw some chemistry we’d been lacking,” Gianfrancesco said. “We did a nice job of serving the ball to create chances and also moved well off the ball. We have a big rivalry match (hosting Geneva on Thursday) and we get back to full strength, then whatever we do in the postseason is what will count from then on.”
From the other bench, Brooke also noticed his team taking steps forward with some room for improvement.
“We kept improving in respect to maintaining our defensive shape. Granted, giving up three goals isn’t ideal, but those were more a result of a technical mistake in terms of not clearing the ball than being out of place,” Brooke said. “Offensively, we continue to move more toward the one- and two-touch attack we want to execute.”
Left unspoken was the Warriors’ hopes that the seniors can play on their Performance Trust Field when Wheaton Academy serves as a sectional host. However, Marmion is the next order of business before the Hoffman Estates Regional. After their Class 2A championship season in 2014, the IHSA moved Wheaton Academy into the big school pool. Now the Warriors must get past the regional hosts before a possible title match no. 22 St. Charles East, who they lost to earlier this season, or a Conant unit that has been lurking just below the Top 25 teams this season.
At some point, Seager will finish amending his career-goal standard knowing a future with Northwestern soccer awaits.
“Winning the 2A title and getting bumped up (to 3A) is something we view as a challenge,” Seager said. “We’ve played a number of 3A programs this year and the lesson we learned and remember from last year is that the postseason requires an extra level of focus.
“I’ve watched games on BTN (Big Ten Network) and have been following college soccer more, but even though a year from now I’ll be in that position, right now my focus is on giving it my best with a high school program I’m honored to be with.”
Starting lineups
Batavia
G Jimmy Perreault
D Daniel Zagoren
D Bryant Kintz
D Sal Garcia
D Trevor Hockings
M Matt Allen
M Nathan Carey
M Erik Faessler
M Brandon Knapp
F Davis DiBiase
F Luke Laurich
Wheaton Academy
G John David Gunn
D Luis Rocha
D Simon Spivey
D Christian Ziesemer
D Sam Bergquist
M Timothy Steininger
M Jacob Kaptaniuk
M Elisa McCloud
M Ethan Stoneman
F Isaac Anthony
F Ty Seager
Man of the Match: Elias McCloud, MF, Wheaton Academy
Officials: Alin Pepescu (center), Carlos Herrera, Tim Visco