Krawczyk, Lockport stop Lake Zurich cold
Porters goalkeeper makes three PK saves in shootout win
By Dave Owen
LAKE ZURICH -- Facing Lockport goalkeeper Jakub Krawczyk in penalty kicks is becoming a nightmare for PepsiCo Showdown opponents.
After stopping two PKs Saturday in the Porters’ upset win over third-seeded Streamwood, Krawczyk went one better in the tournament second round Tuesday at Lake Zurich in another tight 0-0 battle through regulation and overtimes.
The senior made two clean saves and partially deflected another Bears PK off the post as Lockport won the shootout 3-2 to advance to the PepsiCo quarterfinals.
“I didn’t think it could possibly go 0-0 again, but it’s a testament to the kids and the way they work and the desire they show,” Lockport coach Chris Beal said.
One kid in particular was in the spotlight again.
“Jakub pulled off two big saves against Streamwood and came up big again tonight,” Beal said. “Not that I want to keep relying on him like that, but when he’s called on he steps up and makes big time saves. I’m really proud of him.”
The Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match for the second time in four days, Krawczyk’s initial opinion on two-straight PK sessions more aptly described his opponents’ feelings.
“It’s kind of annoying,” he said.
“I just don’t let the nerves get to me. Last year we went to PKs in this tournament, and I was so nervous because it was my first PK shootout at Lockport. I just try to keep my calm, and it’s worked.”
Making Krawczyk’s effort more impressive was that on Saturday Lake Zurich converted all five of its PKs to defeat Oak Park and River Forest in the PepsiCo first round.
“He made some big saves throughout the game,” Lake Zurich coach Mike Schmitz said. “On set pieces he did a nice job, and then obviously on PKs he did a nice job.”
While Lockport’s Jack Dilger, Drake Silver and Thomas Calderaro converted their PKs, Krawczyk denied the first, third and fifth Bears shooters. The clincher was a diving block to his right, ending the session before the Porters even had to take a fifth PK.
The regulation and pair of five-minute overtimes was a tribute to Lockport’s bend but never break defense.
But the biggest stand came 2:40 before halftime. Off a Lake Zurich corner kick, Nate Rathe’s header appeared headed inside the right post. But Lockport sophomore defender Charlie Garcia blocked the would-be goal to maintain the 0-0 score.
Brian Moore and Silver also had first half blocked shots from less dangerous distances. Silver followed his block of a 35-yard shot with an ensuing steal and clear.
“We just worked hard on our defensive shape,” Beal said. “We’ve been a 4-4-2 (formation) and we saw tonight that they went 4-3-3 so we dropped it back to a 4-2-3-1 and went symmetrical defensively and matched up player by player.
“But it really comes down to heart and desire sometimes, and the boys have heart and desire.”
Maximum defensive effort was again needed with 32:40 left in regulation. A 30-yard Bears direct kick was initially blocked by Kezie Nwachukwu, but a rebound cross led to a Rathe header caught by Krawczyk.
“As a whole we stay together and communicate with each other,” Lockport senior David Villa said. “I think it’s the bond with each other that works.”
It has led to two-straight dramatic wins.
“Taking a defensive game, it’s not necessarily park the bus and get all on defense,” Villa said. “You have to get back behind the ball and work your way up, because if you don’t hustle back you leave gaps open. It’s got to be more intense.”
The Lockport defensive effort was frustrating to the other side.
“We possessed the ball pretty well in the middle third,” Schmitz said, “but they did a nice job packing it back, putting numbers in and kind of clogging up that offensive zone. It made it a little frustrating, but what can you do. It’s one of those days.”
The Lockport offense had its moments as well.
A 90-second sequence started with Dilger’s 30-yard high drive off Lake Zurich goalkeeper Shawn Chervets’ hands. Villa’s ensuing corner kick produced a foul just outside the box and a 23-yard Jose Magallanes free kick caught by Chervets at the far post.
Lockport’s Nick Kowalczyk was nearly a last-minute hero twice. He burst in on left wing with 1:45 left, but had his 8-yard shot stopped by Chervets at the left post.
Then in the final 45 seconds of the second OT, the combination of goalkeeper Krawczyk and Kowalczyk produced an unlikely offensive chance.
Grabbing a low shot by Lake Zurich’s Zane Chung-Mehdi, Krawczyk boomed a 70-yard punt in the air which became a race for the bouncing ball. Chervets narrowly won, grabbing the ball at the top of the box as a racing Kowalczyk hurdled him with 25 seconds left in the second OT.
“Freshman Nick Kowalczyk was outstanding up front with his work rate and intensity,” Beal said, “holding the ball up and continuing to run to channels. He pressed the back line as hard as he could, and he led by example on the field.”
As for Krawczyk, his threatening final punt followed two other 60-yard rockets that generated chances late in the second half.
“My sophomore year I couldn’t kick, and somewhere between my junior year and now it developed insanely,” Krawczyk said. “I don’t know how it happened.
“I work on punts and drop kicks a lot, and it’s paid off. It’s a huge weapon we can use a lot on counterattacks to hit it over the top and get guys 1-on-1 against the keepers.”
But Krawczyk was even more impressive in the typical goalkeeper role. He stopped a well-defended Brandon Klett shot early in the first OT, and followed with two more saves in the second OT.
“We kept our composure and kept our shape,” Krawczyk said of the Lockport defense. “Today we didn’t talk as much as we’d like, but Saturday against Streamwood I’ve never seen a more solid backline. We were talking the entire 90 minutes and overtime, and we kept our shape and kept our cool.”
Krawczyk was World Cup cool in the PK session, helping produce a second-straight dramatic PepsiCo Showdown win.
“It’s huge because we have shutouts two games in a row,” Krawczyk said, “first with Streamwood which was seeded third, and Lake Zurich was a really solid team. This is huge for our confidence. We never thought we’d make it this far. It’s a dream.”
Whatever the quarterfinals and beyond hold, Beal expects that dream to continue to benefit his squad.
“We’re in the final 8 of the Pepsi,” Beal said. “It’s good to go as far as you can in the Pepsi, and it’s good for the rest of the season beating teams like Streamwood and Lake Zurich.
“After the success they had in the first game (with Streamwood), they’re going to really fight and not let it go,” Beal added. “They want to go far in the tournament and keep fighting and scrapping to the bitter end. And it paid off tonight.”
Starting lineups
Lockport
GK- Jakub Krawczyk
D- Kezie Nwachukwu
D- Charlie Garcia
D- Thomas Inczauskis
D- Brian Moore
M- Drake Silver
M- Jack Dilger
M- Jose Magallanes
M- Nick Kowalczyk
F- David Villa
F- Thomas Calderaro
Lake Zurich
GK- Shawn Chervets
D- Trevor Niedzwicki
D- Ian Root
D- Luke Kuhn
D- Kyle Schroeder
M- Scott Shadrick
M- Zane Chung-Mehdi
M- Brandon Klett
M- Joaquin Ganoza
F- Nate Rathe
F- Jordan Fleita
Man of the Match: Jakub Krawczyk, GK, Lockport
Porters goalkeeper makes three PK saves in shootout win
By Dave Owen
LAKE ZURICH -- Facing Lockport goalkeeper Jakub Krawczyk in penalty kicks is becoming a nightmare for PepsiCo Showdown opponents.
After stopping two PKs Saturday in the Porters’ upset win over third-seeded Streamwood, Krawczyk went one better in the tournament second round Tuesday at Lake Zurich in another tight 0-0 battle through regulation and overtimes.
The senior made two clean saves and partially deflected another Bears PK off the post as Lockport won the shootout 3-2 to advance to the PepsiCo quarterfinals.
“I didn’t think it could possibly go 0-0 again, but it’s a testament to the kids and the way they work and the desire they show,” Lockport coach Chris Beal said.
One kid in particular was in the spotlight again.
“Jakub pulled off two big saves against Streamwood and came up big again tonight,” Beal said. “Not that I want to keep relying on him like that, but when he’s called on he steps up and makes big time saves. I’m really proud of him.”
The Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match for the second time in four days, Krawczyk’s initial opinion on two-straight PK sessions more aptly described his opponents’ feelings.
“It’s kind of annoying,” he said.
“I just don’t let the nerves get to me. Last year we went to PKs in this tournament, and I was so nervous because it was my first PK shootout at Lockport. I just try to keep my calm, and it’s worked.”
Making Krawczyk’s effort more impressive was that on Saturday Lake Zurich converted all five of its PKs to defeat Oak Park and River Forest in the PepsiCo first round.
“He made some big saves throughout the game,” Lake Zurich coach Mike Schmitz said. “On set pieces he did a nice job, and then obviously on PKs he did a nice job.”
While Lockport’s Jack Dilger, Drake Silver and Thomas Calderaro converted their PKs, Krawczyk denied the first, third and fifth Bears shooters. The clincher was a diving block to his right, ending the session before the Porters even had to take a fifth PK.
The regulation and pair of five-minute overtimes was a tribute to Lockport’s bend but never break defense.
But the biggest stand came 2:40 before halftime. Off a Lake Zurich corner kick, Nate Rathe’s header appeared headed inside the right post. But Lockport sophomore defender Charlie Garcia blocked the would-be goal to maintain the 0-0 score.
Brian Moore and Silver also had first half blocked shots from less dangerous distances. Silver followed his block of a 35-yard shot with an ensuing steal and clear.
“We just worked hard on our defensive shape,” Beal said. “We’ve been a 4-4-2 (formation) and we saw tonight that they went 4-3-3 so we dropped it back to a 4-2-3-1 and went symmetrical defensively and matched up player by player.
“But it really comes down to heart and desire sometimes, and the boys have heart and desire.”
Maximum defensive effort was again needed with 32:40 left in regulation. A 30-yard Bears direct kick was initially blocked by Kezie Nwachukwu, but a rebound cross led to a Rathe header caught by Krawczyk.
“As a whole we stay together and communicate with each other,” Lockport senior David Villa said. “I think it’s the bond with each other that works.”
It has led to two-straight dramatic wins.
“Taking a defensive game, it’s not necessarily park the bus and get all on defense,” Villa said. “You have to get back behind the ball and work your way up, because if you don’t hustle back you leave gaps open. It’s got to be more intense.”
The Lockport defensive effort was frustrating to the other side.
“We possessed the ball pretty well in the middle third,” Schmitz said, “but they did a nice job packing it back, putting numbers in and kind of clogging up that offensive zone. It made it a little frustrating, but what can you do. It’s one of those days.”
The Lockport offense had its moments as well.
A 90-second sequence started with Dilger’s 30-yard high drive off Lake Zurich goalkeeper Shawn Chervets’ hands. Villa’s ensuing corner kick produced a foul just outside the box and a 23-yard Jose Magallanes free kick caught by Chervets at the far post.
Lockport’s Nick Kowalczyk was nearly a last-minute hero twice. He burst in on left wing with 1:45 left, but had his 8-yard shot stopped by Chervets at the left post.
Then in the final 45 seconds of the second OT, the combination of goalkeeper Krawczyk and Kowalczyk produced an unlikely offensive chance.
Grabbing a low shot by Lake Zurich’s Zane Chung-Mehdi, Krawczyk boomed a 70-yard punt in the air which became a race for the bouncing ball. Chervets narrowly won, grabbing the ball at the top of the box as a racing Kowalczyk hurdled him with 25 seconds left in the second OT.
“Freshman Nick Kowalczyk was outstanding up front with his work rate and intensity,” Beal said, “holding the ball up and continuing to run to channels. He pressed the back line as hard as he could, and he led by example on the field.”
As for Krawczyk, his threatening final punt followed two other 60-yard rockets that generated chances late in the second half.
“My sophomore year I couldn’t kick, and somewhere between my junior year and now it developed insanely,” Krawczyk said. “I don’t know how it happened.
“I work on punts and drop kicks a lot, and it’s paid off. It’s a huge weapon we can use a lot on counterattacks to hit it over the top and get guys 1-on-1 against the keepers.”
But Krawczyk was even more impressive in the typical goalkeeper role. He stopped a well-defended Brandon Klett shot early in the first OT, and followed with two more saves in the second OT.
“We kept our composure and kept our shape,” Krawczyk said of the Lockport defense. “Today we didn’t talk as much as we’d like, but Saturday against Streamwood I’ve never seen a more solid backline. We were talking the entire 90 minutes and overtime, and we kept our shape and kept our cool.”
Krawczyk was World Cup cool in the PK session, helping produce a second-straight dramatic PepsiCo Showdown win.
“It’s huge because we have shutouts two games in a row,” Krawczyk said, “first with Streamwood which was seeded third, and Lake Zurich was a really solid team. This is huge for our confidence. We never thought we’d make it this far. It’s a dream.”
Whatever the quarterfinals and beyond hold, Beal expects that dream to continue to benefit his squad.
“We’re in the final 8 of the Pepsi,” Beal said. “It’s good to go as far as you can in the Pepsi, and it’s good for the rest of the season beating teams like Streamwood and Lake Zurich.
“After the success they had in the first game (with Streamwood), they’re going to really fight and not let it go,” Beal added. “They want to go far in the tournament and keep fighting and scrapping to the bitter end. And it paid off tonight.”
Starting lineups
Lockport
GK- Jakub Krawczyk
D- Kezie Nwachukwu
D- Charlie Garcia
D- Thomas Inczauskis
D- Brian Moore
M- Drake Silver
M- Jack Dilger
M- Jose Magallanes
M- Nick Kowalczyk
F- David Villa
F- Thomas Calderaro
Lake Zurich
GK- Shawn Chervets
D- Trevor Niedzwicki
D- Ian Root
D- Luke Kuhn
D- Kyle Schroeder
M- Scott Shadrick
M- Zane Chung-Mehdi
M- Brandon Klett
M- Joaquin Ganoza
F- Nate Rathe
F- Jordan Fleita
Man of the Match: Jakub Krawczyk, GK, Lockport