Leyden ends long St. Ignatius streak
Visiting Eagles' 1-0 win ends 2-year home unbeaten stretch
By Mike Garofola and Alison Moran
CHICAGO -- With a single decisive strike, Francisco Toral ended a long, home winning streak for St. Ignatius at its gorgeous Fornelli Field, but it was actually three moments of brilliance by Leyden sophomore keeper David Duwal that struck down the Wolfpack on Saturday afternoon on the West Side of Chicago.
The last time St. Ignatius lost on its home turf, its current crop of seniors were mere sophomores. Leyden's win also ended a 10-game unbeaten streak for the 2016 Catholic League Blue Division champions, who ranked 23rd in the final regular season edition of the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
In the final regular season tune-up of the 2016 soccer campaign for both teams, Duwal and his Leyden mates defeated the Wolfpack 1-0, sending both sides head first into the class 3A state tournament next week. Despite the result, each brimmed with confidence and had plenty of wind in their sails.
"I know right now my guys are kind of bummed out about losing our first game (here) in over two years, but, for me, there's so many good things to take away from this game, even with this loss. I am feeling very good about this team, and next week when we open regional play," said St. Ignatius manager Ryan Kearns.
"Leyden is always a quality team - well-coached, and this was the perfect game for us to play just before the playoffs.
"We played well, and created some very good chances, but (their) keeper made some great saves to help keep them in the game. We had that one little letdown in our end, but that's the way it goes."
The players were recovering from the sting of the defeat after the game.
"A very tough loss," said senior defender A.J. Capitanini. "For the majority of the time, we dominated, but we could've had a better effort at the goal line."
Allen agreed.
"Give credit to (Leyden's) goalkeeper," he said. "We couldn't put anything in."
But both agreed that while this loss was disappointing, it strengthened their resolve as they meet Juarez in the playoffs, and to start a new unbeaten streak.
Kearns liked the positives his team could take from the game.
"This is good for the team coming into the regionals, which we're hosting," he said. "The emotional angst and hurt that comes from a loss like this... they're going to feel that coming into next week. And that means more to me than getting another W."
The sixth-seeded Wolfpack (15-3-3) will host no. 12-seed Juarez from the Chicago Public League at 6 p.m. Wednesday on the St. Ignatius campus. A win would likely pit the Wolfpack against fourth-seeded Downers Grove South for the title at 5 p.m. Friday.
Leyden (13-5-0) made the bus ride over without three starters: all-state midfielder Angel Lopez, and leading scorer, Krystian Havran (10 goals, 6 assists) were both on college visits, and up-and-coming sophomore Eduardo Hernandez, whom manager Mark Valintis chose to keep on the bench to rest a nagging injury.
"You could tell in that first half how much we missed Angel running the show in the midfield for us, as well as the work rate and pace of Krystian up-top, plus the creativity that Eduardo gives us. But that's no excuse for our lackluster play in the first half, which, to be fair, had a lot to do with the way Ignatius played," said Valintis.
The home side was clearly on its front foot after referee Marwin Zein whistled the start of this contest under cloudy skies. After a half-chance from Patrick Breslin on frame in the 5th minute, the visitors were forced to weather a long storm as a rampant Wolfpack attack kept them under pressure for most of the first half.
"Yeah, we weren't very good in that first half," began co-captain, and center-back, Damian Kosakowski.
"We came out really flat, all of us. But the one thing about this team is we have a lot of heart, and that's what we had to depend on, especially in the first half. And it's what carried us through in the second half to help get us the win."
Heart, and plenty of hard work in its own end, particularly from Kosakowski and his backline mates -- Daniel Kulawiak, Abel Estrada and Diego Peralta -- helped insure that Leyden first half keeper Jason Andrade left the game without being scored upon.
The home side beat a high, tight line on two occasions in the first 10 minutes, but Nico Rinella saw his efforts go over the crossbar each time.
Minutes later, a well-paced free-kick from Capitanini forced Andrade into action, as did a nicely played attempt from Allen, who broke free up the center channel in the 13th minute.
The work on the outside from Quinn Troy and Allen allowed the Wolfpack to storm forward, almost completely at ease as their pace and energy helped bend and stretch Leyden in its own end - much to the delight of Kearns.
"We count on those two (to do) exactly what they did today, but to be honest, sometimes I wish they would get all the way over to the (touch) line to use more width in our attack, but both did a great job for us all afternoon."
St. Ignatius continued to enjoy the better of the exchanges during the first quarter hour, and it looked its best on a lovely build-up, orchestrated by Patrick Breslin, Allen and Quinn - that ended with Berhane Berhane nearly on the end of it all.
The visitors slowly got back into the match, beginning with a long free-kick from Kulawiak that Matt Makowiec put onto the roof of the net.
With a little more life now in its attack, the Eagles went close twice in the closing minutes of the first half, each coming from Toral. The second chance came after the junior dispossessed a Wolfpack defender to set him free inside the box.
St. Ignatius' keeper Bryant Hales, who was strong all throughout this afternoon affair, won the 50-50 challenge with Toral to keep things goalless heading into the break.
The Eagles players had a discussion after Valintis game his halftime talk.
"We talked to each other at halftime. You gotta come out and play like there's something inside of us that wants to win," said senior defender Damian Kosakowsi.
Valintis liked what he saw after the break.
"We got out alive in that first half, and finally got back to playing with more energy and urgency ... (to) put them under pressure." Valintis said. "And finally, with a little luck, we put one away, then turned to David (Duwal) who really came through for us today."
A nifty little half-volley from Esteban Hernandez off another free-kick attempt from Kulawiak came just before the Toral game-winner. It was initiated by Kulawiak, whose 40-yard serve created enough of a scrum near the six-yard box to allow Toral to get enough on his shot to go past a diving Hales.
The 59th-minute goal signaled the beginning of the David Duwal show. On two-consecutive chances, one by Rinella, the other by Breslin, Duwal managed to steer both strikes from going into the back of the net in sensational style.
As the clock ticked down, a terrific reaction save from the sophomore kept Breslin from equalizing.
"I just tried to do what coach asked of me," said the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match.
"David commanded the box really well in the second half, and played big just as we asked him to do," added Valintis.
When the final whistle brought an end to a pulsating final quarter hour, Kearns would sport a smile as he shook the hands of each of his players.
"This was a game that could have been 1-0, 2-0 (either way). It was a very good game between two quality teams, and (one) that gets us ready for what's ahead," he said.
If defense wins games, then the Wolfpack appear to be set for the postseason, with the backline quartet of Conor Broeking, Christian Forster, Jonathan Manzo and Capitanini the key figures of a unit which has recorded eight clean-sheets in its last 10 games.
"Our defense has been playing very well, even in our 3-2 loss against Addison Trail (the no. 3 seed in the Wolfpacks' sectional) - so they are capable of playing against some of the best, including a team like Leyden," said Kearns.
After the win Leyden joined the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 at no. 22.
The regional host, which is seeded fifth in the Maine East Sectional, will greet 11th-seeded Niles West at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the West Leyden campus in Northlake. A win could put them in a regional final rematch with fourth-seeded and 7th-ranked Lane at 5 p.m. Friday.
"Niles West is not going to be an easy opponent for us, so we can't look past them or we won't be playing in our own regional final," said Valintis.
Starting lineups
Leyden
GK- David Andrade
D- Abel Estrada
D- Damian Kosakowski
D- Daniel Kulawiak
D- Diego Peralta
M- Oscar Duarte
M- Marco Villalobos
M- Adrian Flores
M- Esteban Hernandez
F- Francisco Toral
F- Matt Makowiec
St. Ignatius
GK- Bryant Hales
D- Conor Broeking
D- Christian Forster
D- A.J. Capitanini
D- Jonathan Manzo
M- Quinn Troy
M- Nico Rinella
M- Berhane Berhane
M- Brendan Lynch
F- Patrick Breslin
F- Owen Allen
Man of the Match: David Duwal, GK, Leyden
Officials: Marwin Zein (center); Justo Avila; Israel Bustamante
Visiting Eagles' 1-0 win ends 2-year home unbeaten stretch
By Mike Garofola and Alison Moran
CHICAGO -- With a single decisive strike, Francisco Toral ended a long, home winning streak for St. Ignatius at its gorgeous Fornelli Field, but it was actually three moments of brilliance by Leyden sophomore keeper David Duwal that struck down the Wolfpack on Saturday afternoon on the West Side of Chicago.
The last time St. Ignatius lost on its home turf, its current crop of seniors were mere sophomores. Leyden's win also ended a 10-game unbeaten streak for the 2016 Catholic League Blue Division champions, who ranked 23rd in the final regular season edition of the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
In the final regular season tune-up of the 2016 soccer campaign for both teams, Duwal and his Leyden mates defeated the Wolfpack 1-0, sending both sides head first into the class 3A state tournament next week. Despite the result, each brimmed with confidence and had plenty of wind in their sails.
"I know right now my guys are kind of bummed out about losing our first game (here) in over two years, but, for me, there's so many good things to take away from this game, even with this loss. I am feeling very good about this team, and next week when we open regional play," said St. Ignatius manager Ryan Kearns.
"Leyden is always a quality team - well-coached, and this was the perfect game for us to play just before the playoffs.
"We played well, and created some very good chances, but (their) keeper made some great saves to help keep them in the game. We had that one little letdown in our end, but that's the way it goes."
The players were recovering from the sting of the defeat after the game.
"A very tough loss," said senior defender A.J. Capitanini. "For the majority of the time, we dominated, but we could've had a better effort at the goal line."
Allen agreed.
"Give credit to (Leyden's) goalkeeper," he said. "We couldn't put anything in."
But both agreed that while this loss was disappointing, it strengthened their resolve as they meet Juarez in the playoffs, and to start a new unbeaten streak.
Kearns liked the positives his team could take from the game.
"This is good for the team coming into the regionals, which we're hosting," he said. "The emotional angst and hurt that comes from a loss like this... they're going to feel that coming into next week. And that means more to me than getting another W."
The sixth-seeded Wolfpack (15-3-3) will host no. 12-seed Juarez from the Chicago Public League at 6 p.m. Wednesday on the St. Ignatius campus. A win would likely pit the Wolfpack against fourth-seeded Downers Grove South for the title at 5 p.m. Friday.
Leyden (13-5-0) made the bus ride over without three starters: all-state midfielder Angel Lopez, and leading scorer, Krystian Havran (10 goals, 6 assists) were both on college visits, and up-and-coming sophomore Eduardo Hernandez, whom manager Mark Valintis chose to keep on the bench to rest a nagging injury.
"You could tell in that first half how much we missed Angel running the show in the midfield for us, as well as the work rate and pace of Krystian up-top, plus the creativity that Eduardo gives us. But that's no excuse for our lackluster play in the first half, which, to be fair, had a lot to do with the way Ignatius played," said Valintis.
The home side was clearly on its front foot after referee Marwin Zein whistled the start of this contest under cloudy skies. After a half-chance from Patrick Breslin on frame in the 5th minute, the visitors were forced to weather a long storm as a rampant Wolfpack attack kept them under pressure for most of the first half.
"Yeah, we weren't very good in that first half," began co-captain, and center-back, Damian Kosakowski.
"We came out really flat, all of us. But the one thing about this team is we have a lot of heart, and that's what we had to depend on, especially in the first half. And it's what carried us through in the second half to help get us the win."
Heart, and plenty of hard work in its own end, particularly from Kosakowski and his backline mates -- Daniel Kulawiak, Abel Estrada and Diego Peralta -- helped insure that Leyden first half keeper Jason Andrade left the game without being scored upon.
The home side beat a high, tight line on two occasions in the first 10 minutes, but Nico Rinella saw his efforts go over the crossbar each time.
Minutes later, a well-paced free-kick from Capitanini forced Andrade into action, as did a nicely played attempt from Allen, who broke free up the center channel in the 13th minute.
The work on the outside from Quinn Troy and Allen allowed the Wolfpack to storm forward, almost completely at ease as their pace and energy helped bend and stretch Leyden in its own end - much to the delight of Kearns.
"We count on those two (to do) exactly what they did today, but to be honest, sometimes I wish they would get all the way over to the (touch) line to use more width in our attack, but both did a great job for us all afternoon."
St. Ignatius continued to enjoy the better of the exchanges during the first quarter hour, and it looked its best on a lovely build-up, orchestrated by Patrick Breslin, Allen and Quinn - that ended with Berhane Berhane nearly on the end of it all.
The visitors slowly got back into the match, beginning with a long free-kick from Kulawiak that Matt Makowiec put onto the roof of the net.
With a little more life now in its attack, the Eagles went close twice in the closing minutes of the first half, each coming from Toral. The second chance came after the junior dispossessed a Wolfpack defender to set him free inside the box.
St. Ignatius' keeper Bryant Hales, who was strong all throughout this afternoon affair, won the 50-50 challenge with Toral to keep things goalless heading into the break.
The Eagles players had a discussion after Valintis game his halftime talk.
"We talked to each other at halftime. You gotta come out and play like there's something inside of us that wants to win," said senior defender Damian Kosakowsi.
Valintis liked what he saw after the break.
"We got out alive in that first half, and finally got back to playing with more energy and urgency ... (to) put them under pressure." Valintis said. "And finally, with a little luck, we put one away, then turned to David (Duwal) who really came through for us today."
A nifty little half-volley from Esteban Hernandez off another free-kick attempt from Kulawiak came just before the Toral game-winner. It was initiated by Kulawiak, whose 40-yard serve created enough of a scrum near the six-yard box to allow Toral to get enough on his shot to go past a diving Hales.
The 59th-minute goal signaled the beginning of the David Duwal show. On two-consecutive chances, one by Rinella, the other by Breslin, Duwal managed to steer both strikes from going into the back of the net in sensational style.
As the clock ticked down, a terrific reaction save from the sophomore kept Breslin from equalizing.
"I just tried to do what coach asked of me," said the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match.
"David commanded the box really well in the second half, and played big just as we asked him to do," added Valintis.
When the final whistle brought an end to a pulsating final quarter hour, Kearns would sport a smile as he shook the hands of each of his players.
"This was a game that could have been 1-0, 2-0 (either way). It was a very good game between two quality teams, and (one) that gets us ready for what's ahead," he said.
If defense wins games, then the Wolfpack appear to be set for the postseason, with the backline quartet of Conor Broeking, Christian Forster, Jonathan Manzo and Capitanini the key figures of a unit which has recorded eight clean-sheets in its last 10 games.
"Our defense has been playing very well, even in our 3-2 loss against Addison Trail (the no. 3 seed in the Wolfpacks' sectional) - so they are capable of playing against some of the best, including a team like Leyden," said Kearns.
After the win Leyden joined the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 at no. 22.
The regional host, which is seeded fifth in the Maine East Sectional, will greet 11th-seeded Niles West at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the West Leyden campus in Northlake. A win could put them in a regional final rematch with fourth-seeded and 7th-ranked Lane at 5 p.m. Friday.
"Niles West is not going to be an easy opponent for us, so we can't look past them or we won't be playing in our own regional final," said Valintis.
Starting lineups
Leyden
GK- David Andrade
D- Abel Estrada
D- Damian Kosakowski
D- Daniel Kulawiak
D- Diego Peralta
M- Oscar Duarte
M- Marco Villalobos
M- Adrian Flores
M- Esteban Hernandez
F- Francisco Toral
F- Matt Makowiec
St. Ignatius
GK- Bryant Hales
D- Conor Broeking
D- Christian Forster
D- A.J. Capitanini
D- Jonathan Manzo
M- Quinn Troy
M- Nico Rinella
M- Berhane Berhane
M- Brendan Lynch
F- Patrick Breslin
F- Owen Allen
Man of the Match: David Duwal, GK, Leyden
Officials: Marwin Zein (center); Justo Avila; Israel Bustamante