New Trier, Maine South battle to 0-0 draw
Defensive play dictates important CSL South match
By Ken Keenan
PARK RIDGE -- Scoring chances came and went during a Central Suburban League South Divisin showdown between New Trier and host Maine South Tuesday night, with neither team budging an inch on defense in a well-played 0-0 draw.
"I think it was good (play) back and forth on both sides," said Maine South senior defender Danny Guce, who shared Chicagoland Man of the Match honors with New Trier senior backliner Michael Zummer for their respective solid efforts. "We had chances ... just couldn't finish 'em. (The Trevians) had a couple of counters because we were coming up, but our midfielders did a good job stopping them. We played our game well -- strong in the midfield and in the back."
Playing in a game with at least one goose egg on the scoreboard after 80 minutes is nothing new for both the Trevians and the Hawks. Maine South, ranked no. 14 in the latest Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, counts seven shutouts in all this season, including all five victories during the team's 5-0-2 stretch in its last seven matches.
The Hawks (11-3-3 overall, 3-0-2 CSL) also lost to Notre Dame (Quincy) 4-3 on penalty kicks to break a 0-0 deadlock on Aug. 27, and fell 2-0 against Palatine on Sept. 1.
In its two matches prior to meeting Maine South, New Trier (7-5-3, 2-0-1) posted a 2-0 win over Niles North and a 1-0 decision over Loyola to cap a 4-game winning streak. The Trevians' 2016 ledger also includes three previous shutout wins and a trio of losses without scoring.
This time around, zeroes stayed put on both sides of the scoreboard.
"I think 0-0 doesn't describe the whole match -- it was very intense out there," said New Trier junior forward Ryan Krueger. "It's kinda disappointing ... not what we wanted. But it was a good performance. We were ready for (Maine South's) intensity, and we did a good job matching it."
Trevians head coach Matt Ravenscraft said, "Our back four, and our defensive effort as a team, was very strong. We just have to put the round thing (the ball) into the rectangular thing (the net). But, both teams can take something from this game. It was a pretty fluid game for 0-0."
The closest either team came to scoring occurred in the 77th minute. After a steal by Hawks' senior defender Michael Zimnoch, Maine South junior forward Alessandro Corazzina sent a cross to senior forward Philip Mierzwa, who headed the ball off the far post from the right side.
New Trier had one last chance, but a head attempt by senior midfielder Louis Shaw drifted wide-right with only 5 seconds left in the match.
"By and large, we did a great job defensively," said Maine South head coach Dan States. "I thought Zummer and (senior defender) Patrick Hopkins were really solid in denying any clean, open looks. New Trier -- they're skilled. They do a great job of spreading the field out. If you give them space, they'll hurt you."
Both teams had their share of opportunities in the first half. In the third minute, Zwick unleashed a 50-yard free-kick that was punched out by Hawks' senior goalkeeper Mark Biedke, but Krueger missed high on the rebound attempt. Three minutes later, Maine South junior mid Szymon Laczak fired wide-right from in close after bouncing his original shot off a Trevians' defender.
With 32:25 to go in the first half, New Trier sophomore middie Logan Weaver delivered a bending, 30-yard shot that Biedke easily stopped. About a half-minute later, Corazzina sent a 25-yard missile over the New Trier cage, guarded by senior keeper Sam Rutherford.
Maine South then produced a series of chances during a 7-minute span in the middle of the opening session, starting with a 15-yard try by Mierzwa that sailed wide-right with 29:05 to go -- and ending in the 18th minute on a hard, low shot by sophomore forward Alex Walega that Rutherford stopped.
"We could have done a better job on finishing," Corrazzina said. "But we did good possessing the ball and didn't let (New Trier) counter too much."
Added States: "We just couldn't manage to get one in. We hit the post ... had a couple go wide. We have to be a little more effective on those chances in a tight game like this."
The Trevians pieced together a pair of opportunities late in the first half. With 3:55 left, Weaver deflected a ball from the right side that Biedke dove to snuff at the far post. Weaver had another crack at it a minute later, but his 25-yard try soared wide-right.
"I thought it was very cagey in the first half -- not a lot of space and opportunities," Ravenscraft said. "Space opened more in the second half."
New Trier did win the possession-time battle in the final 40 minutes, resulting in several opportunities.
"At halftime, we took notice of (Maine South's) three defenders in back instead of the conventional four," Krueger said. "That gave us more space, and we used that to our advantage.
Added Zummer: "We were able to drop our no. 6 and play wide a little bit more."
Thanks to Maine South's rock-solid protection of the final third, none of the Trevians' tries were all that dangerous.
The Hawks' 'D' collectively smothered Trevians' senior mid Michael Neuhaus to spoil a charge in the 53rd minute, and Biedke easily scooped a left-footed, 30-yard strike by senior forward Matt Gallo with 25:25 showing. A minute later, New Trier senior defender Matt Underwood missed wide-left on a 20-yard try after corralling a free-kick by Ladik.
New Trier's best chance the rest of the way came on a sneaky, 25-yard shot by Underwood that Biedke stopped with 7:50 left.
The Trevians were stingy in the back end as well, keeping the Hawks from mounting any real threats down the stretch -- aside from Mierzwa's header off the post. Both teams were aware that one goal likely would have made the difference.
"Everything gets tighter," Zummer said. "No one wants mistakes in back in a 0-0 game."
Added States: "It was a good, even match. In these kind of games, it comes down to who can execute a set-piece, who makes a mistake. Sometimes it's just a matter of inches."
The match ended Maine South conference campaign. The Hawks sit atop the conference standings with 11 points. Only New Trier can pass them for the title, but to do so, they must win out against rival Evanston (7 p.m. home game Thursday) and Niles West (4:45 on the road Friday).
Starting lineups
New Trier
G: Sam Rutherford
D: Michael Zummer
D: Cameron Zwick
D: Danny Ladik
D: Matt Underwood
M: JoJo Farina
M: Louis Shaw
M: Logan Weaver
F: Al-ameen Salako
F: Will Felitto
F: Matt Gallo
Maine South
G: Mark Biedke
D: Danny Guce
D: Patrick Hopkins
D: Liam Pittges
D: Michael Zimnoch
M: Nathan Moy
M: Szymon Laczak
M: Jacob Rozynek
M: Ryan Bull
F: Phillip Mierzwa
F: Alessandro Corazzina
Men of the Match
Michael Zummer, D, New Trier
Danny Guce, D, Maine South
Defensive play dictates important CSL South match
By Ken Keenan
PARK RIDGE -- Scoring chances came and went during a Central Suburban League South Divisin showdown between New Trier and host Maine South Tuesday night, with neither team budging an inch on defense in a well-played 0-0 draw.
"I think it was good (play) back and forth on both sides," said Maine South senior defender Danny Guce, who shared Chicagoland Man of the Match honors with New Trier senior backliner Michael Zummer for their respective solid efforts. "We had chances ... just couldn't finish 'em. (The Trevians) had a couple of counters because we were coming up, but our midfielders did a good job stopping them. We played our game well -- strong in the midfield and in the back."
Playing in a game with at least one goose egg on the scoreboard after 80 minutes is nothing new for both the Trevians and the Hawks. Maine South, ranked no. 14 in the latest Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, counts seven shutouts in all this season, including all five victories during the team's 5-0-2 stretch in its last seven matches.
The Hawks (11-3-3 overall, 3-0-2 CSL) also lost to Notre Dame (Quincy) 4-3 on penalty kicks to break a 0-0 deadlock on Aug. 27, and fell 2-0 against Palatine on Sept. 1.
In its two matches prior to meeting Maine South, New Trier (7-5-3, 2-0-1) posted a 2-0 win over Niles North and a 1-0 decision over Loyola to cap a 4-game winning streak. The Trevians' 2016 ledger also includes three previous shutout wins and a trio of losses without scoring.
This time around, zeroes stayed put on both sides of the scoreboard.
"I think 0-0 doesn't describe the whole match -- it was very intense out there," said New Trier junior forward Ryan Krueger. "It's kinda disappointing ... not what we wanted. But it was a good performance. We were ready for (Maine South's) intensity, and we did a good job matching it."
Trevians head coach Matt Ravenscraft said, "Our back four, and our defensive effort as a team, was very strong. We just have to put the round thing (the ball) into the rectangular thing (the net). But, both teams can take something from this game. It was a pretty fluid game for 0-0."
The closest either team came to scoring occurred in the 77th minute. After a steal by Hawks' senior defender Michael Zimnoch, Maine South junior forward Alessandro Corazzina sent a cross to senior forward Philip Mierzwa, who headed the ball off the far post from the right side.
New Trier had one last chance, but a head attempt by senior midfielder Louis Shaw drifted wide-right with only 5 seconds left in the match.
"By and large, we did a great job defensively," said Maine South head coach Dan States. "I thought Zummer and (senior defender) Patrick Hopkins were really solid in denying any clean, open looks. New Trier -- they're skilled. They do a great job of spreading the field out. If you give them space, they'll hurt you."
Both teams had their share of opportunities in the first half. In the third minute, Zwick unleashed a 50-yard free-kick that was punched out by Hawks' senior goalkeeper Mark Biedke, but Krueger missed high on the rebound attempt. Three minutes later, Maine South junior mid Szymon Laczak fired wide-right from in close after bouncing his original shot off a Trevians' defender.
With 32:25 to go in the first half, New Trier sophomore middie Logan Weaver delivered a bending, 30-yard shot that Biedke easily stopped. About a half-minute later, Corazzina sent a 25-yard missile over the New Trier cage, guarded by senior keeper Sam Rutherford.
Maine South then produced a series of chances during a 7-minute span in the middle of the opening session, starting with a 15-yard try by Mierzwa that sailed wide-right with 29:05 to go -- and ending in the 18th minute on a hard, low shot by sophomore forward Alex Walega that Rutherford stopped.
"We could have done a better job on finishing," Corrazzina said. "But we did good possessing the ball and didn't let (New Trier) counter too much."
Added States: "We just couldn't manage to get one in. We hit the post ... had a couple go wide. We have to be a little more effective on those chances in a tight game like this."
The Trevians pieced together a pair of opportunities late in the first half. With 3:55 left, Weaver deflected a ball from the right side that Biedke dove to snuff at the far post. Weaver had another crack at it a minute later, but his 25-yard try soared wide-right.
"I thought it was very cagey in the first half -- not a lot of space and opportunities," Ravenscraft said. "Space opened more in the second half."
New Trier did win the possession-time battle in the final 40 minutes, resulting in several opportunities.
"At halftime, we took notice of (Maine South's) three defenders in back instead of the conventional four," Krueger said. "That gave us more space, and we used that to our advantage.
Added Zummer: "We were able to drop our no. 6 and play wide a little bit more."
Thanks to Maine South's rock-solid protection of the final third, none of the Trevians' tries were all that dangerous.
The Hawks' 'D' collectively smothered Trevians' senior mid Michael Neuhaus to spoil a charge in the 53rd minute, and Biedke easily scooped a left-footed, 30-yard strike by senior forward Matt Gallo with 25:25 showing. A minute later, New Trier senior defender Matt Underwood missed wide-left on a 20-yard try after corralling a free-kick by Ladik.
New Trier's best chance the rest of the way came on a sneaky, 25-yard shot by Underwood that Biedke stopped with 7:50 left.
The Trevians were stingy in the back end as well, keeping the Hawks from mounting any real threats down the stretch -- aside from Mierzwa's header off the post. Both teams were aware that one goal likely would have made the difference.
"Everything gets tighter," Zummer said. "No one wants mistakes in back in a 0-0 game."
Added States: "It was a good, even match. In these kind of games, it comes down to who can execute a set-piece, who makes a mistake. Sometimes it's just a matter of inches."
The match ended Maine South conference campaign. The Hawks sit atop the conference standings with 11 points. Only New Trier can pass them for the title, but to do so, they must win out against rival Evanston (7 p.m. home game Thursday) and Niles West (4:45 on the road Friday).
Starting lineups
New Trier
G: Sam Rutherford
D: Michael Zummer
D: Cameron Zwick
D: Danny Ladik
D: Matt Underwood
M: JoJo Farina
M: Louis Shaw
M: Logan Weaver
F: Al-ameen Salako
F: Will Felitto
F: Matt Gallo
Maine South
G: Mark Biedke
D: Danny Guce
D: Patrick Hopkins
D: Liam Pittges
D: Michael Zimnoch
M: Nathan Moy
M: Szymon Laczak
M: Jacob Rozynek
M: Ryan Bull
F: Phillip Mierzwa
F: Alessandro Corazzina
Men of the Match
Michael Zummer, D, New Trier
Danny Guce, D, Maine South