Burns leads DGS to
league win over Willowbrook
Mustangs win 4-1, Warriors' coach Ginter set to retire
By Matt Le Cren
DOWNERS GROVE – Peter Ginter coached his final regular season game for Willowbrook on Thursday night.
Downers Grove South senior forward Garrett Burns will remember the historic occasion for a different reason.
Burns scored the first two goals of the game, including one on a great individual play in the third minute, to lift the host Mustangs to a 4-1 West Suburban Conference Gold Division victory.
The performance of Burns and his teammates spoiled the final league game of Ginter’s 18-year coaching career, though the Warriors will have a chance to win for him again in the playoffs.
“With coach Ginter retiring, he’s been such an important part of the growth of our conference and a class act,” Downers Grove South coach Jon Stapleton said. “I wish him the best. We’re going to miss him in our conference.”
Willowbrook’s regular season finale ended on a sour note because Burns didn’t miss on the first shot of the match.
It came just 2:49 into the match when Burns stole the ball from a defender, raced into the box with an impressive burst of speed and beat Warriors goalkeeper Mario Giase with a shot to the far post.
“It was a nice start,” Stapleton said. “It helps us with that early goal to settle in.
“I thought it was a great finish by (Burns) to be composed. He did a nice job, kept his head down, took his shot and found the back of the net. It took some of the pressure off.”
For Burns, it was a matter of the Mustangs practicing what the coaching staff preaches.
“For many of our games our main focus is to come right out at the team we play and try to score right away to boost our morale and diminish theirs,” Burns said. “We’ve been training like that, to go out strong. So I feel like that finish really emphasized what we’ve been training.”
Despite the strong start, the Mustangs (10-4-4, 3-3-0) were unable to extend their lead for 47 minutes.
Then Burns struck again when he headed home Peter Becht’s 50-yard free-kick to make it 2-0 with 29:57 to go in the second half.
Though it wasn’t reflected on the score sheet, Downers South’s third goal also was due in large part to Burns, who broke loose in the right side of the box and fired a low, hard shot which Giase did well to kick around the right post.
That gave the Mustangs a corner-kick, which senior Anthony Alcantara deposited just outside the 6 and set up senior Dylan Mobley for a header goal and a 3-0 lead at the 18:22 mark.
Burns’ performance was important as the Mustangs continue to play without senior striker Nick Rohl, who is recovering from vertigo. Rohl is hoping to be ready for next week’s playoffs, but in the meantime Burns has filled a variety of roles.
“I thought Garrett generated the third goal with his hustle,” Stapleton said. “He’s been solid for us, not only goals but assists and playmaking.
“With Nick out right now, he played three different positions tonight. We played him up-top and out wide, so he’s versatile, a real good player.”
Burns said the same description can be used for Alcantara, a reserve midfielder who is playing a bigger role lately.
Alcantara was one of the major reasons why the Mustangs gave the Warriors fits in the air. His corner-kicks, in particular, tended to find teammates’ heads in dangerous positions.
Alcantara nearly scored a couple goals of his own. He was unlucky not to find the back of the net with 12:40 left in the first half when his 25-yard cracker on the run hit the underside of the crossbar and came down on the goal line before Giase was able to corral it.
Alcantara also barely missed on a 12-yard shot over the right post midway through the second half and he appeared to have earned a second assist on a corner-kick with 15:25 to go, but Becht’s open six-yarder sailed over the crossbar.
“Last year he got a little time out wide but the coaches didn’t really play him that much, when he should have been playing,” Burns said of Alcantara. “So this year I feel like he’s getting more opportunities to come out and be the player that he really is.
“I’ve played with him for many years, and he’s a high-caliber player just like any of us on the team. He just doesn’t get recognized that much. He’s good on the ball, he thinks fast and that brings strength to the team.”
The increased playing time has helped Alcantara to quickly develop into another scoring threat for the Mustangs.
“At the beginning of the season I got around 10-20 minutes,” Alcantara said. “Honestly, I was trying to find my groove and then starting (with the game) against Addison Trail I played a really good amount, and this game, too, really sparked me to have more confidence on the field.
“I see myself as someone who doesn’t give up. When we are going back on defense I try my best to go back and try to make myself useful, make runs and try my best.”
The Warriors (8-8-0, 2-4-0) tried to make things interesting. Senior Saul Hernandez scored off an assist from his brother, Nico, to cut the deficit to 3-1 with 10:13 to go.
But the Mustangs answered at the 5:45 mark when junior Joseph Vargas scored to restore the three-goal cushion.
“We had a couple chances the first half,” Hernandez said. “I had two that I couldn’t put away.
“Obviously our defense wasn’t too good today. We took yesterday off because of the rain, and it showed during this game. We just weren’t ready today.”
That was a shame because the Warriors would have liked to finish the regular season on a better note.
“We’re a little disappointed at the result,” Ginter said. “Give (credit) to Downers Grove South. They have a good team.
“I thought we got outmatched today in our defense, with the aerial game especially. That’s something that we’ve got to work on. I know we’re kind of short, but we’ve got to figure out how to solve that problem.
“But this was a good warm-up for us for the IHSA playoffs. This was a good opponent to get us ready for Conant.”
The 12th-seeded Warriors will be an underdog against fifth-seeded Conant at Tuesday’s Elk Grove Regional semifinals.
“I think if we bring the intensity that we’ve brought into other games, we can get pretty far,” Hernandez said. “I think we can take on Conant, but if we play like we played today, it’s not going to be a good game for us.
“We just need to bring our intensity. We need to focus and play the possession game.”
Hernandez and his teammates would like to get one more victory for Ginter, who is retiring after an interesting career. He spent the past 18 years teaching and coaching in District 88. Before that he was in sales and marketing and also served 23 years in the Army and Army Reserves.
“He helped us a lot,” Hernandez said. “He’s been here for us, and I like playing for him.
“To me he’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever had, especially playing with him for four years. We really got chemistry between him and the whole team because we all get along with him.
“It’s sad that (Thursday) is his last (regular season) game and we gave him this horrible game.”
While it wasn’t the Warriors’ best game of the year, they have actually had a decent season.
“I graduated 11 seniors last year so it was a little bit of a rebuilding program,” Ginter said. “Our defense is almost all brand new, and I’ve got a sophomore keeper. But these kids will all get better in the coming years.”
Downers South hopes to continue improving for what it hopes will be another deep postseason run.
Last season, the Mustangs made it to the sectional final before losing to host Morton on penalty-kicks.
This year they are seeded fourth at the Morton Sectional and open with 13th-seed Kennedy on Tuesday at the St. Ignatius Regional.
“Last year we had a good run, and we’ve got all of our attacking starters back,” Burns said. “So I feel really confident.”
But Alcantara knows the team can’t be too confident.
“Playoffs is very different from the regular season,” Alcantara said. “You lose and you’re done.
“You’ve really got to give it your all. Especially the seniors, we have to bring something to the (table).”
Regardless of what happens in the postseason, Stapleton is pleased with how the Mustangs have played.
“I told our kids that I’m proud of the regular season that we had,” Stapleton said. “Even in all of our losses we played people really tough, and I think we grew as a team.”
Starting lineups
Willowbrook
GK Mario Giase
D Michal Pavlik
D Ali Saleh
D Tomas Hernandez
D Steven Cerda
D Ismael Roma
M Jose Alvarado
M Benigno Heredia
M Nicolas Hernandez
M Miguel Correa
F Saul Hernandez
Downers Grove South
GK Parker Smith
D Max Schmidt-Bailey
D Adam Chaplin
D Jack Reeg
D Luke Holzman
M James David
M Peter Becht
F Ian Wisniewski
F Garrett Burns
F Dylan Mobley
F Tommy Wielgosz
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match – Garrett Burns, F, Downers Grove South
league win over Willowbrook
Mustangs win 4-1, Warriors' coach Ginter set to retire
By Matt Le Cren
DOWNERS GROVE – Peter Ginter coached his final regular season game for Willowbrook on Thursday night.
Downers Grove South senior forward Garrett Burns will remember the historic occasion for a different reason.
Burns scored the first two goals of the game, including one on a great individual play in the third minute, to lift the host Mustangs to a 4-1 West Suburban Conference Gold Division victory.
The performance of Burns and his teammates spoiled the final league game of Ginter’s 18-year coaching career, though the Warriors will have a chance to win for him again in the playoffs.
“With coach Ginter retiring, he’s been such an important part of the growth of our conference and a class act,” Downers Grove South coach Jon Stapleton said. “I wish him the best. We’re going to miss him in our conference.”
Willowbrook’s regular season finale ended on a sour note because Burns didn’t miss on the first shot of the match.
It came just 2:49 into the match when Burns stole the ball from a defender, raced into the box with an impressive burst of speed and beat Warriors goalkeeper Mario Giase with a shot to the far post.
“It was a nice start,” Stapleton said. “It helps us with that early goal to settle in.
“I thought it was a great finish by (Burns) to be composed. He did a nice job, kept his head down, took his shot and found the back of the net. It took some of the pressure off.”
For Burns, it was a matter of the Mustangs practicing what the coaching staff preaches.
“For many of our games our main focus is to come right out at the team we play and try to score right away to boost our morale and diminish theirs,” Burns said. “We’ve been training like that, to go out strong. So I feel like that finish really emphasized what we’ve been training.”
Despite the strong start, the Mustangs (10-4-4, 3-3-0) were unable to extend their lead for 47 minutes.
Then Burns struck again when he headed home Peter Becht’s 50-yard free-kick to make it 2-0 with 29:57 to go in the second half.
Though it wasn’t reflected on the score sheet, Downers South’s third goal also was due in large part to Burns, who broke loose in the right side of the box and fired a low, hard shot which Giase did well to kick around the right post.
That gave the Mustangs a corner-kick, which senior Anthony Alcantara deposited just outside the 6 and set up senior Dylan Mobley for a header goal and a 3-0 lead at the 18:22 mark.
Burns’ performance was important as the Mustangs continue to play without senior striker Nick Rohl, who is recovering from vertigo. Rohl is hoping to be ready for next week’s playoffs, but in the meantime Burns has filled a variety of roles.
“I thought Garrett generated the third goal with his hustle,” Stapleton said. “He’s been solid for us, not only goals but assists and playmaking.
“With Nick out right now, he played three different positions tonight. We played him up-top and out wide, so he’s versatile, a real good player.”
Burns said the same description can be used for Alcantara, a reserve midfielder who is playing a bigger role lately.
Alcantara was one of the major reasons why the Mustangs gave the Warriors fits in the air. His corner-kicks, in particular, tended to find teammates’ heads in dangerous positions.
Alcantara nearly scored a couple goals of his own. He was unlucky not to find the back of the net with 12:40 left in the first half when his 25-yard cracker on the run hit the underside of the crossbar and came down on the goal line before Giase was able to corral it.
Alcantara also barely missed on a 12-yard shot over the right post midway through the second half and he appeared to have earned a second assist on a corner-kick with 15:25 to go, but Becht’s open six-yarder sailed over the crossbar.
“Last year he got a little time out wide but the coaches didn’t really play him that much, when he should have been playing,” Burns said of Alcantara. “So this year I feel like he’s getting more opportunities to come out and be the player that he really is.
“I’ve played with him for many years, and he’s a high-caliber player just like any of us on the team. He just doesn’t get recognized that much. He’s good on the ball, he thinks fast and that brings strength to the team.”
The increased playing time has helped Alcantara to quickly develop into another scoring threat for the Mustangs.
“At the beginning of the season I got around 10-20 minutes,” Alcantara said. “Honestly, I was trying to find my groove and then starting (with the game) against Addison Trail I played a really good amount, and this game, too, really sparked me to have more confidence on the field.
“I see myself as someone who doesn’t give up. When we are going back on defense I try my best to go back and try to make myself useful, make runs and try my best.”
The Warriors (8-8-0, 2-4-0) tried to make things interesting. Senior Saul Hernandez scored off an assist from his brother, Nico, to cut the deficit to 3-1 with 10:13 to go.
But the Mustangs answered at the 5:45 mark when junior Joseph Vargas scored to restore the three-goal cushion.
“We had a couple chances the first half,” Hernandez said. “I had two that I couldn’t put away.
“Obviously our defense wasn’t too good today. We took yesterday off because of the rain, and it showed during this game. We just weren’t ready today.”
That was a shame because the Warriors would have liked to finish the regular season on a better note.
“We’re a little disappointed at the result,” Ginter said. “Give (credit) to Downers Grove South. They have a good team.
“I thought we got outmatched today in our defense, with the aerial game especially. That’s something that we’ve got to work on. I know we’re kind of short, but we’ve got to figure out how to solve that problem.
“But this was a good warm-up for us for the IHSA playoffs. This was a good opponent to get us ready for Conant.”
The 12th-seeded Warriors will be an underdog against fifth-seeded Conant at Tuesday’s Elk Grove Regional semifinals.
“I think if we bring the intensity that we’ve brought into other games, we can get pretty far,” Hernandez said. “I think we can take on Conant, but if we play like we played today, it’s not going to be a good game for us.
“We just need to bring our intensity. We need to focus and play the possession game.”
Hernandez and his teammates would like to get one more victory for Ginter, who is retiring after an interesting career. He spent the past 18 years teaching and coaching in District 88. Before that he was in sales and marketing and also served 23 years in the Army and Army Reserves.
“He helped us a lot,” Hernandez said. “He’s been here for us, and I like playing for him.
“To me he’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever had, especially playing with him for four years. We really got chemistry between him and the whole team because we all get along with him.
“It’s sad that (Thursday) is his last (regular season) game and we gave him this horrible game.”
While it wasn’t the Warriors’ best game of the year, they have actually had a decent season.
“I graduated 11 seniors last year so it was a little bit of a rebuilding program,” Ginter said. “Our defense is almost all brand new, and I’ve got a sophomore keeper. But these kids will all get better in the coming years.”
Downers South hopes to continue improving for what it hopes will be another deep postseason run.
Last season, the Mustangs made it to the sectional final before losing to host Morton on penalty-kicks.
This year they are seeded fourth at the Morton Sectional and open with 13th-seed Kennedy on Tuesday at the St. Ignatius Regional.
“Last year we had a good run, and we’ve got all of our attacking starters back,” Burns said. “So I feel really confident.”
But Alcantara knows the team can’t be too confident.
“Playoffs is very different from the regular season,” Alcantara said. “You lose and you’re done.
“You’ve really got to give it your all. Especially the seniors, we have to bring something to the (table).”
Regardless of what happens in the postseason, Stapleton is pleased with how the Mustangs have played.
“I told our kids that I’m proud of the regular season that we had,” Stapleton said. “Even in all of our losses we played people really tough, and I think we grew as a team.”
Starting lineups
Willowbrook
GK Mario Giase
D Michal Pavlik
D Ali Saleh
D Tomas Hernandez
D Steven Cerda
D Ismael Roma
M Jose Alvarado
M Benigno Heredia
M Nicolas Hernandez
M Miguel Correa
F Saul Hernandez
Downers Grove South
GK Parker Smith
D Max Schmidt-Bailey
D Adam Chaplin
D Jack Reeg
D Luke Holzman
M James David
M Peter Becht
F Ian Wisniewski
F Garrett Burns
F Dylan Mobley
F Tommy Wielgosz
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match – Garrett Burns, F, Downers Grove South
