Bremen meets Bolingbrook in WCRC final
By Steve Millar
Bremen has become a dynasty in Windy City Ram Classic play, advancing to the 32-team tournament’s championship game for the fourth-straight season.
The Braves have finished in top four in the tournament nine times in its 16-year history. That includes three titles (2017, 2015 and 2005), three runnerup finishes, two third place trophies and a fourth place run.
Bolingbrook, which is known for making perennially deep runs in the tournament, is back in the final for the first time since it won the event in 2014.
The Braves and Raiders will square off at noon Monday at Toyota Park with the championship trophy on the line.
“I’m really excited to play at Toyota Park again,” Bremen midfielder Nery Sanchez said. “We’ve got to stay focused, do our best in practice to get ready, and hopefully we can win it again.”
Monday’s game will mark the finale of a busy holiday weekend for the Braves, following play in the Urbana Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
Bremen, an honorable mention squad in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, was 4-1-0 heading into Saturday’s tournament play, after suffering its first loss of the season Friday night to Mahomet-Seymour in penalty kicks after the teams played to a 2-2 tie in regulation.
The Braves, who are attempting to become the first team to win back-to-back Windy City Ram Classic titles, lost six starters from its 2017 Class AA sectional champion squad, including All-State midfielder and leading scorer Fabian Lopez. But Bremen has reloaded quickly.
Junior forward Bruno Ortiz, a transfer from Mansueto, has been a big addition, scoring in three of the Braves’ Windy City games thus far.
Sanchez and senior midfielder Brandon Martinez have also been key contributors, while seniors Edgar Esparza and Miguel Camacho, and sophomore Aldo Lagunas have anchored the backline.
Aldo’s brother, Donato Lagunas, a top midfielder for the Braves, suffered an injury in the 2-1 semifinal win over St. Laurence and his status for Monday’s game was unknown.
“We’re really happy with how we’ve started the season,” Bremen coach Tom Piotrowski said. “We’re always excited to play in the Ram Classic championship game. We know it’ll be a challenge for us.”
Bolingbrook coach Jamie Clemmons echoed those sentiments.
“Bremen is a heck of a team,” he said. “The run they’ve had in this tournament the last few years is really impressive.
“It’s going to be a good game between very similar programs and styles of play, so I think it’s going to come down to who really brings it that day, who gets a bounce to put a ball away.”
No. 25 Bolingbrook (5-1-0) took an arduous path to the championship game, taking down a 2017 AA sectional finalist in Providence in the first round, followed by a win over Joliet Central and a shootout victory against highly-touted Lockport, which is also a Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 honorable mention team.
The Raiders rolled to a surprisingly easy 3-0 victory over Plainfield South in the semifinal.
“It definitely wasn’t easy getting to this point, and we know it won’t be easy Monday,” Clemmons said.
Senior midfielder Mauricio Bahena and senior forward Cristian Guzman are top players to watch for Bolingbrook. Senior Angel Terrazes and junior Joe Balas are also key contributors in the midfield.
Goalkeeper Oscar Leon is a talented senior.
“Oscar’s been insane for us in goal,” Clemmons said. “He made two saves in the shootout against Lockport, and he’s made some big stops throughout the whole tournament.”
By Steve Millar
Bremen has become a dynasty in Windy City Ram Classic play, advancing to the 32-team tournament’s championship game for the fourth-straight season.
The Braves have finished in top four in the tournament nine times in its 16-year history. That includes three titles (2017, 2015 and 2005), three runnerup finishes, two third place trophies and a fourth place run.
Bolingbrook, which is known for making perennially deep runs in the tournament, is back in the final for the first time since it won the event in 2014.
The Braves and Raiders will square off at noon Monday at Toyota Park with the championship trophy on the line.
“I’m really excited to play at Toyota Park again,” Bremen midfielder Nery Sanchez said. “We’ve got to stay focused, do our best in practice to get ready, and hopefully we can win it again.”
Monday’s game will mark the finale of a busy holiday weekend for the Braves, following play in the Urbana Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
Bremen, an honorable mention squad in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, was 4-1-0 heading into Saturday’s tournament play, after suffering its first loss of the season Friday night to Mahomet-Seymour in penalty kicks after the teams played to a 2-2 tie in regulation.
The Braves, who are attempting to become the first team to win back-to-back Windy City Ram Classic titles, lost six starters from its 2017 Class AA sectional champion squad, including All-State midfielder and leading scorer Fabian Lopez. But Bremen has reloaded quickly.
Junior forward Bruno Ortiz, a transfer from Mansueto, has been a big addition, scoring in three of the Braves’ Windy City games thus far.
Sanchez and senior midfielder Brandon Martinez have also been key contributors, while seniors Edgar Esparza and Miguel Camacho, and sophomore Aldo Lagunas have anchored the backline.
Aldo’s brother, Donato Lagunas, a top midfielder for the Braves, suffered an injury in the 2-1 semifinal win over St. Laurence and his status for Monday’s game was unknown.
“We’re really happy with how we’ve started the season,” Bremen coach Tom Piotrowski said. “We’re always excited to play in the Ram Classic championship game. We know it’ll be a challenge for us.”
Bolingbrook coach Jamie Clemmons echoed those sentiments.
“Bremen is a heck of a team,” he said. “The run they’ve had in this tournament the last few years is really impressive.
“It’s going to be a good game between very similar programs and styles of play, so I think it’s going to come down to who really brings it that day, who gets a bounce to put a ball away.”
No. 25 Bolingbrook (5-1-0) took an arduous path to the championship game, taking down a 2017 AA sectional finalist in Providence in the first round, followed by a win over Joliet Central and a shootout victory against highly-touted Lockport, which is also a Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 honorable mention team.
The Raiders rolled to a surprisingly easy 3-0 victory over Plainfield South in the semifinal.
“It definitely wasn’t easy getting to this point, and we know it won’t be easy Monday,” Clemmons said.
Senior midfielder Mauricio Bahena and senior forward Cristian Guzman are top players to watch for Bolingbrook. Senior Angel Terrazes and junior Joe Balas are also key contributors in the midfield.
Goalkeeper Oscar Leon is a talented senior.
“Oscar’s been insane for us in goal,” Clemmons said. “He made two saves in the shootout against Lockport, and he’s made some big stops throughout the whole tournament.”