GRAYSLAKE -- Before a huge festive crowd on a simply magnificent September night, the Northern Lake County Conference-version of an English Premier League derby took place at William Eiserman Stadium.

Grayslake North at Grayslake Central.

The opposing players know each other very well, some went to grammar and middle schools together and wanted to best the other in front of a big crowd.

The home side took the game with three-straight goals to deliver a TKO.

The run sent the guests reeling. Tallies from Ivan Sereno, Damian Sereno and Cory Hayson built an insurmountable advantage on the way to a 4-1 victory Thursday night.

"The boys played exactly the way we've been emphasizing all season during training, two-touch soccer with quick passes and movement, and controlling the tempo. That gives you a real good chance to succeed," said Rams manager Keith Andersson.

"(They) did all of that exceptionally well in the first half, which was reflected in those three early goals and the eventual score line."

But it was Grayslake North that turned up the heat first.

"Those first four-five minutes it was all North," said senior Jake Clement, who captains the squad along with the Sereno cousins and four-year veteran Anderson Chevrier. “They came out super hard, and their spirit was way up there. But we managed that really well, then turned the game around with those three goals."

"(Except) for the start, we had pretty much all of the play in the first half," added Ivan Sereno. “My goal, then another from Damian really helped us settle down and just play soccer the way we know that we can.”

Damian Sereno is a key figure in the Rams attack after coming over from Grayslake North. As a sophomore he helped manager Adam DeCaluwe’s club stun Wauconda in its 2023 Class AA regional final before taking eventual state champion Crystal Lake South to overtime in a sectional semifinal.

"It was encouraging to see us come out so strong tonight," said DeCaluwe. “We may have given them just a little too much respect, and they soon made us pay the price with those three goals. That had us chasing the game the rest of the night.”

Danny Fabelo, Samuel Soriano and Steve Valdivia, three of several Knights who were at the heart of a fantastic second half of play, drove the early uprising that forced the home side to defend.

Then Grayslake Central flipped the field. Ivan Sereno opened the scoring in the 9th minute, firing beyond keeper Gio Rodriguez, Jr., with a lovely touch to the opposite side after collecting a nice helper from Evan Swiderski.

Three minutes later the Rams (6-2-1, 1-0-0) doubled their advantage after some superb ball movement between Clement, Marcus Arensen and Damian Sereno, who made a deft finish to the far-inside netting.

It was clear Grayslake North (5-2-0, 1-1-0) struggled with its composure and organization. The Knights allowed far too much space and time, and wound up chasing their foes, who seemed to move the ball at the speed of light.

"When the guys focus on two-touch play and stay composed and settled on the ball, they can be a dynamic team. We saw clearly how they dominated possession in the first half," said Andersson.

Hayson was the first to elevate in a crowd near the spot in the 19th minute. That gave him the chance to meet an inward swinger from Chevrier with a thundering header that went just under the bar for 3-0 lead.

"Our focus was not where it needed to be after our strong start. That's why it became 3-0 so quickly," said Alonso Morales, the Knights talented and classy central defender.

Grayslake Central built rather seamlessly from its back three of Chevrier, Clement and Uriel Alonso. The Rams were able to quickly regain possession from their hard working five-player midfield.

They also have a rock-solid keeper if things go south.

"We did so many good things to make it 3-0 and maybe could have made it 4-0," said Ivan Sereno. “(North) didn't let up, and thankfully we have Michal (Taradys) back in goal to save us a couple of times tonight.”

Taradys, who had the unenviable task of taking over between the sticks for two-time all-state keeper Uriel Garcia-Perez, proved to be the no. 1 star for his club. He shared Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors with Grayslake Central junior Danny Fabela.

"We've asked Michal to step into some big shoes, and he's doing an excellent job back there for us," began Andersson.

"He came through two-three times tonight, including that big PK save, which at the time really helped slow North, which had been building so much momentum."

In the first of two goal-saving stops, Taradys stalled Soriano in a 1-v-1 point-blank situation. Then six minutes before intermission, the junior went horizontal to his left to get a late glove on an upper-90 effort from Valdivia.

"Michal was amazing for us when we needed him most," said Clement.

"I was very proud of how we responded after we conceded those three goals,” said DeCaluwe. “It says a lot about these guys. Their keeper did a good job of keeping us from putting one or two into the back of the net."

"We felt pretty good about the last 8-10 minutes of the first half," said Morales.
“We have a lot of trust in each other as a team. I knew we could keep the pressure up after the break.”

In the 48th minute, the Knights’ Soriano took a poorly played square ball and put the ball home from 30 yards just inside the post to bring the visitors withing two.

Grayslake Central nearly answered moments later with a well-executed counter through Jaziel Alonso and Swiderski. It ended with Rodriguez, Jr., making a strong save in the 52nd minute.

With the visitors now brimming with confidence, Danny Fabela went close twice. Quick ball movement inside the box resulted in a blocked shot and a hand ball call.

The Knights sent junior Javy Villegas to the spot.

That's when Taradys provided more heroics. He guessed Villegas would look to go to the right of the Rams keeper.

"Coach (Brad) Needer did his homework, reviewing past PKs from North and advising Michal on where they tend to place the spot-kicks," said Andersson.

"Michal made an outstanding save on that PK, which helped slow them a little, and give us back some much-needed momentum."

As the game went on, things became a little more chippy and intense. There was more organized all-out pressing and ball-winning from the visitors, which kept the ball in the Rams end longer.

"They put a lot of pressure on us, especially after the PK save," said Clement. “I thought we did pretty well defending and keeping their chances from being too dangerous.”

Grayslake Central pressed with speed from sophomore Maksim Dupor, Soriano and then Brady Ronin, who was stopped cold with a strong challenge from Clement in the 73rd minute.

Another Fabela free kick ended off frame before his one-timer was saved by Taradys without trouble.

Ivan Sereno put the finishing touches on the big night in the 77th minute.

"(Central) has a good side," began DeCaluwe. “Both teams are so familiar with each other, which made for a hard-fought game.

"We have a good team as well. We'll use this experience to build and learn from, and I have no doubt we'll be better for it next time out."

The manager’s statement rung true. The Knights topped Deerfield 3-0 in a nonconference match Saturday (Sept. 21).

Grayslake Central savored the moment.

"I feel very fortunate to be a part of four-straight wins over North, it's something that I'll have long after I leave. It's really special," said Clement.

Overall, it was the sixth-consecutive Rams victory over their rivals, and the first time Grayslake Central has scored since a 3-2 loss  in 2019.

The Knights last claimed a victory (1-0) in 2018, the same year they went 5-1-1 and shared the league title with Round Lake.

The win was a great start to Grayslake Central’s straight seven-game run through its conference schedule.

"We had so many guys make big contributions tonight, our entire backline, Michal, of course, Damian and Cory with their goals, Erik (Swiderski) playing great, it was a real team effort, and one that really felt good with such a big crowd watching us," said a thrilled Ivan Sereno.

Said Andersson in closing: "Wow! What an incredible night of soccer between two great teams and rivals.

"(This) is why you play high school soccer -- to be a part of something so big, to represent your community and to play in front of your family and peers.

"A huge shoutout to the student section, Gang Green 2025, and the cheerleaders, who all made it an unforgettable evening."

"We are so lucky to be a part of an amazing community. The stands were packed for the boys, which means the world to us. We couldn't be more grateful for the support from everyone in the town of Grayslake."

 

Starting lineups

Grayslake North (4-5-1)
GK- Gio Rodriguez, Jr.
D- Andy Swigert
D- Chris VonBriesen
D- Alonzo Morales
D- Paul Chadick
M- Javy Villegas
M- Maksim Dupor
M- Brady Ronin
M- Danny Fabela
F- Steven Valdivia
F- Samuel Soriano

Grayslake Central (3-5-2)
GK- Michael Taradys
D- Jake Clement
D- Anderson Chevrier
D- Uriel Alonso
M- Cory Hayson
M- Jaziel Alonso
M- Marcus Arensen
M- Jack Lapidus
M- Damian Sereno
F- Evan Swiderski
F- Ivan Sereno

Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match: 
Danny Fabela, jr., MF, Grayslake North;
Michal Taradys, jr., GK, Grayslake Central

Referee: Zach Hader

Scoring summary

First half
GC: Ivan Sereno (Swiderski), 9'
GC: Damian Sereno (Arensen, Clement), 12
GC: Hayson (Chevrier), 19'

Second half
GN: Samuel Soriano (unassisted), 48'
GC: I. Sereno (unassisted), 78'