DGN's backline, midfield
key win over Lemont
3-0 victory gives Downers Grove North Lemont Cup crown
By Gary Larsen
LEMONT -- Downers Grove North senior defender Jack Drobny remembers what it was like to be a sophomore playing varsity soccer. So he was happy to help a pair of sophomores playing on this year’s team, Nick Eshghy and Kevin Danner, get acclimated to varsity play.
It didn’t take long.
“At the beginning of the year they needed a lot of instruction, but every game they’ve improved more and more,” Drobny said. “In fact, they’ve started to tell me where to go at this point, which is a good sign. Everyone in back is pulling their weight.”
Defenders Drobny, Eshghy, Danner, and senior Matt Benge stood tall in protecting junior keeper Chris Bull throughout Saturday’s 3-0 win over Lemont, which secured the Trojan's their second-straight Lemont Cup title.
Downers Grove North (5-0-0) got a first half goal from Jack Richards and one apiece from Ethan Akkawi and Jokubas Baranauskas in the second half. But it was North’s ability to control the ball that stood out, as Drobny and the defense showed good chemistry with a midfield featuring Baranauskas, Richards, Ryan Shanahan, Alex Pacheco, and Renaldo Perez.
“We had a lot of good leadership from our backline and from our midfield,” Trojans' coach Mike Schmitt said. “Those two coupled together did a fantastic job of maintaining possession and maintaining protection from the pressure (Lemont) put on us.”
Junior midfielder Shanahan shined in the win, winning balls and finding attacking feet throughout the game. For his efforts, he was named Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match.
“I like having the ball at my feet, because we have a lot of people to distribute to,” Shanahan said. “Our defenders do a real good job of getting me the ball in good places. We attacked well and defended well today. We’re getting better every game.”
Schmitt is pleased with his Shanahan’s progress this season.
“Ryan is our holding-mid, and he’s a very talented young player,” Schmitt said. “He’s been up with us since he was a freshman. He’s a junior now, and he’s playing with a lot of confidence.”
Richards capped a good stretch of attacking pressure in the 17th minute, when he pulled a ball back and deposited a shot just under the crossbar from 18 yards.
Baranauskas scored seven minutes after halftime on an assist from Richards, and Akkawi scored from 20 yards 10 minutes later to end the day’s scoring.
North created chances throughout the second half, leaving Schmitt with almost nothing to complain about after the win.
But of course, Schmitt would have to turn in his coaching card if he couldn’t find at least one thing his squad might have done better.
“We did leave a couple of goals out there and probably could have gotten more, but we got the result,” Schmitt said. “We controlled the majority of the game, and we got the job done.
“We’re starting to figure it out. We’re creating chances. Our finishing can be better, and possession-wise we can spread the field a little more, and make the other team chase a little more. But we’re holding our own and we’re getting results.”
North also won 1-0 over Plainfield East and 3-2 over East Aurora during tournament play, and was awarded a forfeit win against Minooka. The Trojans are off to a perfect start this season thanks to a well-rounded side.
“The whole team is dynamic. We’ve got guys that can play multiple positions on the field,” Drobny said. “We have a lot of guys that can take guys on, one-on-one, and win balls. We’re good in the air, and we defend from the midfield back.”
Forwards Akkawi and Tyler Cree were prominent in the win, and Schmitt has been particularly pleased with the effort his outside-mids have given him in the attack.
“Alex Pacheko has had a really good season so far. He’s been a spark for our offense,” Schmitt said. “He hasn’t scored any goals yet but he has created a lot for us on the outside. He’s bringing energy to our midfield, and so is Ronaldo Perez.
“You have to have the legs to play on the outside and have confidence and energy. Our outside mids have that and with the ball at their feet, they’re looking to go up the field.”
The Trojans started the 2015 season with an unbeaten streak before hitting a rough patch. They finished 14-8-0 and lost 1-0 to St. Ignatius in a Class 3A regional opener.
North wants to play well past this year’s regional opener, and Drobny believes the Trojans have the potential to do so.
“We have guys stepping into new roles and guys putting in quality minutes,” he said. “Last year we were 9-0-0 before we had a lull, and then we picked it up by the playoffs.
“We’re winning balls in the air, we play with a physical presence, and our defense can stand up forwards when they try to turn. We have a lot of good players on this team.”
Starting lineup
Downers Grove North
GK-Christopher Bull
D-Kevin Danner
D-Jack Drobny
D-Nick Eshghy
D-Matt Benge
M-Ryan Shanahan
M-Jack Richards
M-Ronaldo Perez
M-Alex Pacheco
M-Jokubas Baranaukas
F-Ethan Akkawi
Man of the match: Ryan Shanahan, MF, Downers Grove North
key win over Lemont
3-0 victory gives Downers Grove North Lemont Cup crown
By Gary Larsen
LEMONT -- Downers Grove North senior defender Jack Drobny remembers what it was like to be a sophomore playing varsity soccer. So he was happy to help a pair of sophomores playing on this year’s team, Nick Eshghy and Kevin Danner, get acclimated to varsity play.
It didn’t take long.
“At the beginning of the year they needed a lot of instruction, but every game they’ve improved more and more,” Drobny said. “In fact, they’ve started to tell me where to go at this point, which is a good sign. Everyone in back is pulling their weight.”
Defenders Drobny, Eshghy, Danner, and senior Matt Benge stood tall in protecting junior keeper Chris Bull throughout Saturday’s 3-0 win over Lemont, which secured the Trojan's their second-straight Lemont Cup title.
Downers Grove North (5-0-0) got a first half goal from Jack Richards and one apiece from Ethan Akkawi and Jokubas Baranauskas in the second half. But it was North’s ability to control the ball that stood out, as Drobny and the defense showed good chemistry with a midfield featuring Baranauskas, Richards, Ryan Shanahan, Alex Pacheco, and Renaldo Perez.
“We had a lot of good leadership from our backline and from our midfield,” Trojans' coach Mike Schmitt said. “Those two coupled together did a fantastic job of maintaining possession and maintaining protection from the pressure (Lemont) put on us.”
Junior midfielder Shanahan shined in the win, winning balls and finding attacking feet throughout the game. For his efforts, he was named Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match.
“I like having the ball at my feet, because we have a lot of people to distribute to,” Shanahan said. “Our defenders do a real good job of getting me the ball in good places. We attacked well and defended well today. We’re getting better every game.”
Schmitt is pleased with his Shanahan’s progress this season.
“Ryan is our holding-mid, and he’s a very talented young player,” Schmitt said. “He’s been up with us since he was a freshman. He’s a junior now, and he’s playing with a lot of confidence.”
Richards capped a good stretch of attacking pressure in the 17th minute, when he pulled a ball back and deposited a shot just under the crossbar from 18 yards.
Baranauskas scored seven minutes after halftime on an assist from Richards, and Akkawi scored from 20 yards 10 minutes later to end the day’s scoring.
North created chances throughout the second half, leaving Schmitt with almost nothing to complain about after the win.
But of course, Schmitt would have to turn in his coaching card if he couldn’t find at least one thing his squad might have done better.
“We did leave a couple of goals out there and probably could have gotten more, but we got the result,” Schmitt said. “We controlled the majority of the game, and we got the job done.
“We’re starting to figure it out. We’re creating chances. Our finishing can be better, and possession-wise we can spread the field a little more, and make the other team chase a little more. But we’re holding our own and we’re getting results.”
North also won 1-0 over Plainfield East and 3-2 over East Aurora during tournament play, and was awarded a forfeit win against Minooka. The Trojans are off to a perfect start this season thanks to a well-rounded side.
“The whole team is dynamic. We’ve got guys that can play multiple positions on the field,” Drobny said. “We have a lot of guys that can take guys on, one-on-one, and win balls. We’re good in the air, and we defend from the midfield back.”
Forwards Akkawi and Tyler Cree were prominent in the win, and Schmitt has been particularly pleased with the effort his outside-mids have given him in the attack.
“Alex Pacheko has had a really good season so far. He’s been a spark for our offense,” Schmitt said. “He hasn’t scored any goals yet but he has created a lot for us on the outside. He’s bringing energy to our midfield, and so is Ronaldo Perez.
“You have to have the legs to play on the outside and have confidence and energy. Our outside mids have that and with the ball at their feet, they’re looking to go up the field.”
The Trojans started the 2015 season with an unbeaten streak before hitting a rough patch. They finished 14-8-0 and lost 1-0 to St. Ignatius in a Class 3A regional opener.
North wants to play well past this year’s regional opener, and Drobny believes the Trojans have the potential to do so.
“We have guys stepping into new roles and guys putting in quality minutes,” he said. “Last year we were 9-0-0 before we had a lull, and then we picked it up by the playoffs.
“We’re winning balls in the air, we play with a physical presence, and our defense can stand up forwards when they try to turn. We have a lot of good players on this team.”
Starting lineup
Downers Grove North
GK-Christopher Bull
D-Kevin Danner
D-Jack Drobny
D-Nick Eshghy
D-Matt Benge
M-Ryan Shanahan
M-Jack Richards
M-Ronaldo Perez
M-Alex Pacheco
M-Jokubas Baranaukas
F-Ethan Akkawi
Man of the match: Ryan Shanahan, MF, Downers Grove North