Bad experience brings
dividends for Crystal Lake South
By Mike Garofola
Brian Allen's men might forever have their trip to the Hononegah Invitational on their minds, but Crystal Lake South's three-game slip-up last month might have been exactly what the doctor ordered for the Gators, who find themselves on the brink of a second-consecutive Fox Valley Conference Valley Division crown should they defeat Huntley this evening (Oct. 8).
"It was painful for a lot of the guys to go through (that) weekend, but despite the disappointing results, it turned out to be an eye-opening experience as we finalized our rotation, system, and lineup, while allowing every player to see what their role on this club would be, and why," said the Gators manager.
"We were at a crossroad in our season after that tournament. So our seniors were challenged with the task of righting the ship. They did a phenomenal job of that, which has helped us play some of our best soccer at the right time of the season."
The idea of lifting the Valley Division trophy once more looked to be in jeopardy after the Gators stumbled out of Hononegah with three losses in as many games - conceding seven goals while bagging just two against Springfield, Hersey and Guilford.
But the club showed it had the capacity to come out victorious, even at its darkest time.
The Gators fired back with three-straight wins over FVC opponents to open conference play. They sent off Jacobs, Dundee-Crown and Cary-Grove to rise above the rest of the league, stay atop the table and put themselves in a position to close out their challengers.
"We played a brutal early nonconference, and tournament schedule to get us ready for the long haul - knowing exactly how tough our division is, and was going to be this fall," began Allen.
"I thought we had a decent time at the Barrington Classic, where we went 2-1-1, but maybe we ran out of gas at Hononegah."
South found its form, and the energy it was missing at Hononegah by wrapping around a thrilling win in PK's to Dundee-Crown with a pair of clean sheets against both Jacobs (1-0) and Cary-Grove (4-0).
Allen points to a veteran backline unit which has been sturdy, and nearly air-tight since its FVC opener with Jacobs, while adding his group in the middle of the park as a model of consistency in the Gators recent surge.
The duo of Grabowski and Getzinger have inspired the Gators attack, and can, at times, do it in a blink of an eye, according to Allen.
"Those two guys are starting to peak at the right time," Allen said. "And with them becoming more connected, it has opened things up for others, while forcing our opponents to defend and make choices they would rather not do."
The strike force duo has combined for 20 goals, and 12 helpers heading into tonight.
Senior Skyler Pentico has been one of those 'others' who have been shining brightly of late, as has freshmen Ryan Coughlin and Nick Langdon, the Gators hero in the aforementioned win over Dundee-Crown.
"Skyler's play had been a little up-and-down before Hononegah. But while most of the team was dreadful, he was steady and dangerous, and it has carried over into our last five matches."
Allen enjoys the work rate of Coughlin, and how he has caught up to the speed of play at this level. The coach raves about the soccer IQ of Langdon, who has thrived in his role as a utility player of sorts, whether as an outside back, or in the middle of the park.
Langdon would step up and convert his spot-kick attempt into the top corner in the sixth round to immediately put the pressure on his D-C counterpart - in which GK Spencer Taub would guess correctly - forcing the Chargers shooter to steer his spot-kick wide to give South a 6-5 PK advantage and the win.
"Team chemistry has been essential and the key of our recent success," offers Allen.
The Gators manager has nine seniors, but just five with previous varsity experience. Those veterans have helped mold a young group (four freshmen and sophomores) into the family-like atmosphere Allen has stressed from the first day of training.
As for Huntley, its manager Kris Grabner will always have a side that is athletic, disciplined and quite capable of knocking the ball around and using the width on the turf of its gorgeous new home park.
"They have some great ball winners in the midfield," said Allen. "We'll need to be disciplined in our defensive shape, as well as making sure to challenge, and win the 50-50s and second balls. Set pieces could be the ultimate difference, as I think both clubs can be dangerous in that phase of the game."
Allen feels the focus is right were it needs to be for tonight, especially with what's a stake, and what (Huntley) will bring with them.
"As a staff, we've been adamant about (our) approach not changing for this match - you know, the old one-game-at-a-time thing, very much a playoff-like approach," began Allen.
"With the expected level of competition that will be there, it will be important for the guys to bring their 'A' game, or your going to open yourself up for a long night, with a disappointing result in the end."
dividends for Crystal Lake South
By Mike Garofola
Brian Allen's men might forever have their trip to the Hononegah Invitational on their minds, but Crystal Lake South's three-game slip-up last month might have been exactly what the doctor ordered for the Gators, who find themselves on the brink of a second-consecutive Fox Valley Conference Valley Division crown should they defeat Huntley this evening (Oct. 8).
"It was painful for a lot of the guys to go through (that) weekend, but despite the disappointing results, it turned out to be an eye-opening experience as we finalized our rotation, system, and lineup, while allowing every player to see what their role on this club would be, and why," said the Gators manager.
"We were at a crossroad in our season after that tournament. So our seniors were challenged with the task of righting the ship. They did a phenomenal job of that, which has helped us play some of our best soccer at the right time of the season."
The idea of lifting the Valley Division trophy once more looked to be in jeopardy after the Gators stumbled out of Hononegah with three losses in as many games - conceding seven goals while bagging just two against Springfield, Hersey and Guilford.
But the club showed it had the capacity to come out victorious, even at its darkest time.
The Gators fired back with three-straight wins over FVC opponents to open conference play. They sent off Jacobs, Dundee-Crown and Cary-Grove to rise above the rest of the league, stay atop the table and put themselves in a position to close out their challengers.
"We played a brutal early nonconference, and tournament schedule to get us ready for the long haul - knowing exactly how tough our division is, and was going to be this fall," began Allen.
"I thought we had a decent time at the Barrington Classic, where we went 2-1-1, but maybe we ran out of gas at Hononegah."
South found its form, and the energy it was missing at Hononegah by wrapping around a thrilling win in PK's to Dundee-Crown with a pair of clean sheets against both Jacobs (1-0) and Cary-Grove (4-0).
Allen points to a veteran backline unit which has been sturdy, and nearly air-tight since its FVC opener with Jacobs, while adding his group in the middle of the park as a model of consistency in the Gators recent surge.
The duo of Grabowski and Getzinger have inspired the Gators attack, and can, at times, do it in a blink of an eye, according to Allen.
"Those two guys are starting to peak at the right time," Allen said. "And with them becoming more connected, it has opened things up for others, while forcing our opponents to defend and make choices they would rather not do."
The strike force duo has combined for 20 goals, and 12 helpers heading into tonight.
Senior Skyler Pentico has been one of those 'others' who have been shining brightly of late, as has freshmen Ryan Coughlin and Nick Langdon, the Gators hero in the aforementioned win over Dundee-Crown.
"Skyler's play had been a little up-and-down before Hononegah. But while most of the team was dreadful, he was steady and dangerous, and it has carried over into our last five matches."
Allen enjoys the work rate of Coughlin, and how he has caught up to the speed of play at this level. The coach raves about the soccer IQ of Langdon, who has thrived in his role as a utility player of sorts, whether as an outside back, or in the middle of the park.
Langdon would step up and convert his spot-kick attempt into the top corner in the sixth round to immediately put the pressure on his D-C counterpart - in which GK Spencer Taub would guess correctly - forcing the Chargers shooter to steer his spot-kick wide to give South a 6-5 PK advantage and the win.
"Team chemistry has been essential and the key of our recent success," offers Allen.
The Gators manager has nine seniors, but just five with previous varsity experience. Those veterans have helped mold a young group (four freshmen and sophomores) into the family-like atmosphere Allen has stressed from the first day of training.
As for Huntley, its manager Kris Grabner will always have a side that is athletic, disciplined and quite capable of knocking the ball around and using the width on the turf of its gorgeous new home park.
"They have some great ball winners in the midfield," said Allen. "We'll need to be disciplined in our defensive shape, as well as making sure to challenge, and win the 50-50s and second balls. Set pieces could be the ultimate difference, as I think both clubs can be dangerous in that phase of the game."
Allen feels the focus is right were it needs to be for tonight, especially with what's a stake, and what (Huntley) will bring with them.
"As a staff, we've been adamant about (our) approach not changing for this match - you know, the old one-game-at-a-time thing, very much a playoff-like approach," began Allen.
"With the expected level of competition that will be there, it will be important for the guys to bring their 'A' game, or your going to open yourself up for a long night, with a disappointing result in the end."