Naperville North outlasts
WWS to clinch DVC title
Sullivan's OT score gives Huskies 11th title in last 13 years
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – It had to be Chris Sullivan.
By now, no one should be surprised by that.
One of Naperville North’s all-time greats walked off his home field for the final time following a fantastic finish Tuesday night.
The Bowling Green-bound Sullivan took a pass from Jack Bromagen and buried a scissors kick with 2:30 left in overtime to lift the Huskies to a 1-0 victory over Wheaton Warrenville South.
Naperville North, ranked fourth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, thus clinched the DuPage Valley Conference championship for the 11th time in Jim Konrad’s 13-year tenure as head coach and 24th time overall.
“He’s going to make me cry,” Konrad said with some moisture in his eyes. “If I had to write it out, that’s how I would want it to end.
“It would be a ball from a senior to find Sully for whatever we want to call that, a scissors kick, and find the back of the net. For him to walk off this field for the last time for the last thing him doing to score a goal is pretty cool.
“It was the stuff of storybooks. But it was fitting of the family and all the Sullivans have done here, so I couldn’t be happier.”
Between Chris and his older brother, Joe, now a senior at Bowling Green, a Sullivan has graced the Huskies’ roster for eight-consecutive seasons. They’ve been filling the score sheet the entire time.
Sullivan’s goal was his 13th of the season and 44th of his career. He has scored more important goals, but this one, coming in his final home game to clinch the DVC title, was arguably his most memorable, so far.
“It felt awesome,” Sullivan said. “There is no better way to end it (than) like that.
“Obviously scoring a goal is nice, but we’re more happy about the DVC title. We’ve got to come out strong Thursday to make sure we don’t share it with anyone.”
The Huskies (13-2-3, 6-0-1) finish the league and regular season slate Thursday at Waubonsie Valley. Tuesday’s win clinched at least a share of the crown, and after Sullivan spoke the Huskies won it outright when Neuqua Valley (10-5-4, 5-1-2) was held to a 0-0 tie with Glenbard North.
The decisive play began with Bromagen, a senior midfielder, getting around a defender and sending a serve into the middle of the box to Sullivan, who blew it by Tigers goalkeeper Nate Friedle.
“I just beat the guy in line, and I looked up and saw Chris and Colin (Iverson) in the box,” Bromagen said. “I just tried to play it in between the goalie and the back line and Chris did the rest.”
Sullivan gave the credit to Bromagen.
“I saw Brom get the ball,” Sullivan said. “He was 1-v.-1, and as he’s done this season so many times this season, he beats that one guy.
“So I knew it was coming. He just put it on my foot, and it obviously was easy.”
Thus ended a match that saw the visiting Tigers (8-8-0, 5-3-0), who began the game with a remote chance to stay in the DVC race, put forth an inspired effort.
They did an admirable job of containing Sullivan, holding him to just two shots during regulation even as the Huskies piled up a 16-5 shot advantage. But it all went for naught.
“He was quiet for most of the game,” Friedle said. “He had one shot in the second half, but I guess that’s the mark of a great player.
“He might get only two shots for 80 minutes but you get one good chance and you make it count.”
Friedle was outstanding between the pipes, making 11 saves, including one on a 22-yard rocket from Sullivan midway through the second half. But he had no chance on the game-winner.
“I didn’t see it,” Friedle said. “All I saw was a blast to the far post, and I was on the near post. It was a good goal.”
The Huskies had a tough time breaking down the Wheaton Warrenville South defense, which tried valiantly to hold off the hosts. They tried different things, even moving striker Charlie Kerby, a former defender, to the backline.
But Naperville North would not be denied despite being held scoreless in regulation for just the third time this season.
“Wheaton South is a great team, really tough, but we believed as a team that it finally was going to come,” Sullivan said. “We just kept super positive with each other, and we knew it would come if we do our jobs.”
But the Tigers made it difficult. Playing their second overtime game in 24 hours, they fought hard and did not stay in a defensive shell.
Wheaton Warrenville South, which edged Lake Park 1-0 in overtime on Monday night, had five shots and caused some nervous moments for the Huskies defense, but ultimately only two offerings made it on frame. Naperville North goalkeeper Tommy Welch saved both, stopping Kerby’s volley midway through the first half and catching a 23-yard free-kick off the foot of Fabian Aranda.
“We went into overtime versus Lake Park last night, so we wanted to make sure nobody gets hurt today,” Kerby said. “This is our last game before playoffs for us, and I’m really proud of how the boys went out, especially after putting a ton of energy out yesterday.
“We came out today and gave the same effort. ... So that’s something to be proud of.”
Friedle, too, was happy with the performance.
“It’s kind of been the story of the past couple games; just a couple conference games, really close battles and it just comes down to one or two chances and they took theirs,” Friedle said. “But we had ours.
“We played really well. It was a great game.”
The Tigers wound up tied for third place in the DVC standings with Naperville Central, a team they beat 2-1 in overtime. Wheaton Warrenville South coach Guy Callipari was pleased with his troops, who were not expected to finish in the upper half of the league table.
“We played with a lot of heart and a lot of passion tonight,” Callipari said. “We went to OT last night in winning a big affair.
“We talked about duplicating that effort, playing for something tonight of maybe mathematically being conference champs. Regardless of the long shot, we think it’s worth the effort, and they had a choice.
“They very easily could have settled and rode it out defensively, but everybody wanted to go for it and played with confidence.”
That impressed Konrad.
“That’s a heckuva a team, super organized,” Konrad said. “Obviously Guy is one of the greatest coaches around.
“They’re physical, they’re athletic in the back, and we were fortunate. Tommy made two or three big saves for us and then we had a number of chances that we could have finished and their keeper came up big.”
But like most, Wheaton Warrenville South ultimately fell to the DVC juggernaut.
“Give credit where credit is due,” Callipari said. “They kept on coming.
“They have so many tools, and they work very hard and have some good leaders on that team. You can’t take a moment off, and we had just one moment off.”
The Huskies, who are unbeaten (8-0-1) in their last nine games, will tell you they aren’t the most talented team around. Yet they continue to get the job done.
With a win or tie against Waubonsie Valley, the Huskies have a chance to finish an unbeaten run through the DVC, something even Konrad thought no team would do this fall.
“That would be awesome,” Sullivan said. “I think this is one of those teams where we don’t have as much skill as some of the past teams. But we work hard, and we work for each other.
“We’re a close-knit team, so it would be awesome to achieve that with this team.”
Bromagen, a first-year starter, agreed.
“I feel really good,” Bromagen said. “We’re all really positive like Chris said, and we’re all really good friends with each other. It’s been like that kind of since the beginning.
“We’re starting to pick it up a little bit and starting to work really hard in practice more and more and get into the playoff mentality.”
That’s what Konrad likes to hear.
“They’re a funny group,” Konrad said. “There are times where I felt I can’t fire them up enough, but they never, ever drop.
“They are so steady, and they work incredibly hard. They care about each other.
“I told the boys to not let this be the high point. Hopefully we can make this another little step toward our ultimate goal of making a run in the playoffs.”
Starting lineups
Wheaton Warrenville South
GK Nathan Friedle
D Phillip Kyaw-Soe
D Will Buxton
D Ethan Weseman
D Gabby Lazcano
D Chris Stamatopoulos
M Kevin Noonan
M Fabian Aranda
M Carlos Rosas
M Noah Kettle
F Charlie Kerby
Naperville North
GK Tommy Welch
D Andrew Klaiber
D Ethan Harvey
D Mitch Konrad
D Colin Iverson
M Chris Sullivan
M Jack Bromagen
M Jack Berry
M Will Ritzmann
F James Zhang
F Ty Konrad
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Chris Sullivan, MF, Naperville North
WWS to clinch DVC title
Sullivan's OT score gives Huskies 11th title in last 13 years
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – It had to be Chris Sullivan.
By now, no one should be surprised by that.
One of Naperville North’s all-time greats walked off his home field for the final time following a fantastic finish Tuesday night.
The Bowling Green-bound Sullivan took a pass from Jack Bromagen and buried a scissors kick with 2:30 left in overtime to lift the Huskies to a 1-0 victory over Wheaton Warrenville South.
Naperville North, ranked fourth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, thus clinched the DuPage Valley Conference championship for the 11th time in Jim Konrad’s 13-year tenure as head coach and 24th time overall.
“He’s going to make me cry,” Konrad said with some moisture in his eyes. “If I had to write it out, that’s how I would want it to end.
“It would be a ball from a senior to find Sully for whatever we want to call that, a scissors kick, and find the back of the net. For him to walk off this field for the last time for the last thing him doing to score a goal is pretty cool.
“It was the stuff of storybooks. But it was fitting of the family and all the Sullivans have done here, so I couldn’t be happier.”
Between Chris and his older brother, Joe, now a senior at Bowling Green, a Sullivan has graced the Huskies’ roster for eight-consecutive seasons. They’ve been filling the score sheet the entire time.
Sullivan’s goal was his 13th of the season and 44th of his career. He has scored more important goals, but this one, coming in his final home game to clinch the DVC title, was arguably his most memorable, so far.
“It felt awesome,” Sullivan said. “There is no better way to end it (than) like that.
“Obviously scoring a goal is nice, but we’re more happy about the DVC title. We’ve got to come out strong Thursday to make sure we don’t share it with anyone.”
The Huskies (13-2-3, 6-0-1) finish the league and regular season slate Thursday at Waubonsie Valley. Tuesday’s win clinched at least a share of the crown, and after Sullivan spoke the Huskies won it outright when Neuqua Valley (10-5-4, 5-1-2) was held to a 0-0 tie with Glenbard North.
The decisive play began with Bromagen, a senior midfielder, getting around a defender and sending a serve into the middle of the box to Sullivan, who blew it by Tigers goalkeeper Nate Friedle.
“I just beat the guy in line, and I looked up and saw Chris and Colin (Iverson) in the box,” Bromagen said. “I just tried to play it in between the goalie and the back line and Chris did the rest.”
Sullivan gave the credit to Bromagen.
“I saw Brom get the ball,” Sullivan said. “He was 1-v.-1, and as he’s done this season so many times this season, he beats that one guy.
“So I knew it was coming. He just put it on my foot, and it obviously was easy.”
Thus ended a match that saw the visiting Tigers (8-8-0, 5-3-0), who began the game with a remote chance to stay in the DVC race, put forth an inspired effort.
They did an admirable job of containing Sullivan, holding him to just two shots during regulation even as the Huskies piled up a 16-5 shot advantage. But it all went for naught.
“He was quiet for most of the game,” Friedle said. “He had one shot in the second half, but I guess that’s the mark of a great player.
“He might get only two shots for 80 minutes but you get one good chance and you make it count.”
Friedle was outstanding between the pipes, making 11 saves, including one on a 22-yard rocket from Sullivan midway through the second half. But he had no chance on the game-winner.
“I didn’t see it,” Friedle said. “All I saw was a blast to the far post, and I was on the near post. It was a good goal.”
The Huskies had a tough time breaking down the Wheaton Warrenville South defense, which tried valiantly to hold off the hosts. They tried different things, even moving striker Charlie Kerby, a former defender, to the backline.
But Naperville North would not be denied despite being held scoreless in regulation for just the third time this season.
“Wheaton South is a great team, really tough, but we believed as a team that it finally was going to come,” Sullivan said. “We just kept super positive with each other, and we knew it would come if we do our jobs.”
But the Tigers made it difficult. Playing their second overtime game in 24 hours, they fought hard and did not stay in a defensive shell.
Wheaton Warrenville South, which edged Lake Park 1-0 in overtime on Monday night, had five shots and caused some nervous moments for the Huskies defense, but ultimately only two offerings made it on frame. Naperville North goalkeeper Tommy Welch saved both, stopping Kerby’s volley midway through the first half and catching a 23-yard free-kick off the foot of Fabian Aranda.
“We went into overtime versus Lake Park last night, so we wanted to make sure nobody gets hurt today,” Kerby said. “This is our last game before playoffs for us, and I’m really proud of how the boys went out, especially after putting a ton of energy out yesterday.
“We came out today and gave the same effort. ... So that’s something to be proud of.”
Friedle, too, was happy with the performance.
“It’s kind of been the story of the past couple games; just a couple conference games, really close battles and it just comes down to one or two chances and they took theirs,” Friedle said. “But we had ours.
“We played really well. It was a great game.”
The Tigers wound up tied for third place in the DVC standings with Naperville Central, a team they beat 2-1 in overtime. Wheaton Warrenville South coach Guy Callipari was pleased with his troops, who were not expected to finish in the upper half of the league table.
“We played with a lot of heart and a lot of passion tonight,” Callipari said. “We went to OT last night in winning a big affair.
“We talked about duplicating that effort, playing for something tonight of maybe mathematically being conference champs. Regardless of the long shot, we think it’s worth the effort, and they had a choice.
“They very easily could have settled and rode it out defensively, but everybody wanted to go for it and played with confidence.”
That impressed Konrad.
“That’s a heckuva a team, super organized,” Konrad said. “Obviously Guy is one of the greatest coaches around.
“They’re physical, they’re athletic in the back, and we were fortunate. Tommy made two or three big saves for us and then we had a number of chances that we could have finished and their keeper came up big.”
But like most, Wheaton Warrenville South ultimately fell to the DVC juggernaut.
“Give credit where credit is due,” Callipari said. “They kept on coming.
“They have so many tools, and they work very hard and have some good leaders on that team. You can’t take a moment off, and we had just one moment off.”
The Huskies, who are unbeaten (8-0-1) in their last nine games, will tell you they aren’t the most talented team around. Yet they continue to get the job done.
With a win or tie against Waubonsie Valley, the Huskies have a chance to finish an unbeaten run through the DVC, something even Konrad thought no team would do this fall.
“That would be awesome,” Sullivan said. “I think this is one of those teams where we don’t have as much skill as some of the past teams. But we work hard, and we work for each other.
“We’re a close-knit team, so it would be awesome to achieve that with this team.”
Bromagen, a first-year starter, agreed.
“I feel really good,” Bromagen said. “We’re all really positive like Chris said, and we’re all really good friends with each other. It’s been like that kind of since the beginning.
“We’re starting to pick it up a little bit and starting to work really hard in practice more and more and get into the playoff mentality.”
That’s what Konrad likes to hear.
“They’re a funny group,” Konrad said. “There are times where I felt I can’t fire them up enough, but they never, ever drop.
“They are so steady, and they work incredibly hard. They care about each other.
“I told the boys to not let this be the high point. Hopefully we can make this another little step toward our ultimate goal of making a run in the playoffs.”
Starting lineups
Wheaton Warrenville South
GK Nathan Friedle
D Phillip Kyaw-Soe
D Will Buxton
D Ethan Weseman
D Gabby Lazcano
D Chris Stamatopoulos
M Kevin Noonan
M Fabian Aranda
M Carlos Rosas
M Noah Kettle
F Charlie Kerby
Naperville North
GK Tommy Welch
D Andrew Klaiber
D Ethan Harvey
D Mitch Konrad
D Colin Iverson
M Chris Sullivan
M Jack Bromagen
M Jack Berry
M Will Ritzmann
F James Zhang
F Ty Konrad
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Chris Sullivan, MF, Naperville North
