Finals of Bracket A.

Game 11, 30 September vs. Naperville North in Burlington (3-4)

What should have been a great celebratory match ended in absolute disaster. 

Yes, we lost Reid Howard midway first half—the guy who runs the back—but we played almost all of the first half without him, and we played pretty solid defense. 

Yes, we may have scored a goal that the ref ruled did not cross the goal line. And yes they had a similar shot that did count. And there was a handball on their second goal. 

But hey, we were up 3-0 with under 30 to go. 

They were dangerous on long throws and all set pieces. We offered them way too many opportunities. We played too many balls out of bounds, creating long throws, and we parried too many balls we should have just caught. 

And with the match 3-2 our keeper grabbed a guy’s legs in the box to take him down, creating a PK and a red card to leave us tied and with only 10 guys for the rest of the game. 18 long minutes. 

I think we made it to the 6-minute mark before they got us on a long throw. 

So, we left quite a bit on the table. We now will pray Reid is not done for the year and prepare Spencer and PJ to play goal. 

One cool thing that teams do in Illinois is they award a sportsmanship and good play award to one player on the other team each game. Their captains brought Jack Mason the award. So BWhite must go with them for the match. Jack Mason it is.

Stats:

First Half: Saints

Shots. 4 (3). Corners 1 (Wirt)

34:57. Whigham (Parker’s throw creates a handball in the box)

32:43. Wirt (Mason to Arias who chips it to Wirt)

30:48 Mason (Colling hit the long ball over the top)

NVN:  Shots. 3 (2) Corners. 2

Second Half:  

Shots. 3 (1). Corners. 1. (Mason)

NVN. Shots: 10 (6)

27:03 Long throw with back post knock-in

21:17 Dribble through and small T

17:12 PK

6:47 Long throw again

Semis of Goal 4 Goal Fall Classic

Game 10: 29 September in Burlington vs. Jefferson City (1-0)

After going 0-3 last year at the Gateway Classic, we have rebounded to make it to the finals of the Goal 4 Goal Fall Classic.  Our first half was about as well as we can play (outside of not finishing 2-3 more chances).

We were just ok during the second half, having to really scramble to keep them out of the net the last 5 minutes. Shae made a double safe in that time period that was just brilliant. We subbed but we probably should have distributed minutes better in the second half, keeping everyone fresher.

BWhite name Esteban Arias as the BWhite Player of the Match.  He did score the only goal of the match, but more importantly, his work rate in the center of the field was great. 

We will go for game 3 in 3 days tomorrow, knowing that we have to use subs for more minutes in 24 hours.  We meet a Top Ranked team out of Naperville North (14-1-1). 

STATS:  First Half

Saints: Shots: 6 (4) Corners: 2 (Mason, Wirt)

22:30 Arias (set play gets the ball to Marty who goes baseline, T's it through the Whigham dummy.)

Jeff City

Shots: 1 (1)  Corners: 0

Second half:

Saints: 4 (1) Corners: 3 (Carta, Holland, Landon)

Jeff City: Shots: 4 (1) Corners: 3

Opening Round GFG

Game 9: 28 September in Burlington vs. Lake Forest Academy (5-1)

Well, we weren’t great but we had moments. Shae Wirt, the BWhite Player of the Game, made 3 next-level saves, and that happened when the match was just 2-1. 

I loved that quick throw-in by Parker, the Landon t-ball and the great crashing finish by Biggins towards the end of the match. 

Now their goal off the PK appeared to come off a really soft call very top the box. (We’ll check the video.)

We jumped out early 2-0, but then seemed to lose our energy and focus until the PK. 

We play the winner of Marquette and Jefferson City match tomorrow in the semis. We expect Marquette, but Jeff City should play them well. 

STATS

First Half:

Saints:  Shots:  13 (7). Corners: 4 (Mason. Whigham. Carta. Martinek.)

39:40 L. Wirt (Howard chips it forward)

21:20 Arias (Lillis bends it in for a Howard dummy)

LFA. Shots. 4 (2) Corners. 0

Second Half:

Saints. Shots:  5 (5). Corners. 3 (Wirt 2. Arias 1. )

16:30 L. Wirt (Reid lifts the through ball)

4:50 Howard (Caragher lifts long free kick)

2:22 Biggins (Wirt T’s it)

LFA:  

25:50 PK Strudwick

Shots 7 (5). Corners. 4

#13 in US Comes to STA

Game 8, 26 September: at STA vs. BV Southwest (2-3)

Well, 33 seconds after our own kickoff, we were down 1-0.  We were atrocious defensively in the first 20 minutes of the match. We dodged a few bullets but gave up another goal about 18 in.

We finally settled on Howard and Holland at centerback, Payne at left back with Colling at right back.  And the freshman, Mitchell Farrar took over at centerback. They did not get much the rest of the match. In fact, we battled back to even the score at 2 with 11 minutes to go.  

We cashed two of our long deadballs, something we have been pretty good at all year. Unfortunately, we did not defend one very well two minutes later. 3-2 stood.

I would say after we got our defense structure right, got better organized in the back, with some personnel changes the match was pretty even.

But we have to be more dangerous offensively.  When we got to the box, we could not get our offensive center mids downfield to help frame the goal. 

Southwest is fast and talented—so if we want to compete for a state title we have to figure out a way to beat them.  

That said, I did like our play that came after the first 20 minutes.  We could have easily been down 4-5 zero in that first 20.

BWhite named freshman Mitchell Farrar as the BWhite Player of the Match. Spencer Mogren made two big saves during the craziness of that first 20 as he replaced Shae for a few minutes after Shae's yellow card.

Jack Shaw actually played some centerback during that span; Kraft played some right back—and both of those guys helped settle us down defensively.  We just have to maintain our shape in the back; we have to make our opponent beat multiple defenders.

STATS:  First Half:

Saints:  Shots: 7 (4) Corners: 2 (Esteban, Connor)

21:24 Farrar (Stoecklein lofts the long set piece to the back side)

Timbers: Shots: 8 (4) Corners: 0

39:27 Lawrence (Ball crossed on the ground to back post )

22:47 Bates (Long counter beats our entire back line and keeper)

Second Half:  Saints: Shots: 6 (3) Corners: 1 (Esteban)

11:37 Howard (Joey puts a nice ball into the box that moves to the back post)

Timberwolves: Shots: 5 (2) Corners: 3

9:05 Bates (long deadball skips through the box to the back post)

Road to BVN

Game 7: 23 September at SwiDAC vs. BV North (4-0)

All right—today was, as Coach Hammons said, "a lot of firsts": 1) corner kick goal 2) Matthew Connor appearance 3) varsity goal by Mitchell Farrar 4) game after the renewed commitment to the team and STA Soccer. 5) varsity goal by Mark Biggins 6) game in the diamond

I hope the boys had as much fun as I had watching them play with such enthusiasm and discipline. And everyone played, lots.  

BWhite named Curt Whigham the BWhite Player of the Match as he played so hard and with such determination that he made those around him better. He also donned a little or a lot of flair, as well.  

Notice not only did Parker score a goal, he helped create the first two goals, as well. And to see us run a new corner perfectly with Luke driving that ball into the ground where Biggins could 1-touch it in. Well, that was the game-winning goal. (Even if Mitchell's was more of a drop-your-mouth-and-stare goal.

I will admit we were happy with our play in the first half holding them to a couple of shots with no corners. But second-half North did not get a shot off, and once again did not earn a corner while we put 13 shots on goal out of a crazy half of 16 shots. . . with 4 corners, 7 for the day.

Coach Pendelton was there scouting as we all know what Tuesday is—showdown with BV Southwest.

STATS: First Half:

Saints: Shots: 4 (4) Corners: 3 (Wirt 2, Biggins)

17:00 Biggins: (Whigham serves the perfect corner for a Lillis' header down)

Mustangs: Shots: 2 (1) Corners: 0

Second Half:  Saints

Shots: 16 (13) Corners: 4 (Connor 2, Holland, Stoecklein)

37:23 Wirt: (Joey lofts the perfect floater to the back post a Howard push off the keeper)

36:19 Stoecklein:  (Whigham attacks the baseline turns and rips it off the defense into a T-ball)

1:44 Farrar: (As they try to clear our throw-in, Mitchell chests it down and rips it)

Mustangs: Shots: 0 Corners: 0

#50 Hosts #43

Game 6: 19 September vs. Bishop Miege at Home (0-2)

Honestly, it was a pretty darn good battle. Close. Close. Close. even though the score doesn't really suggest it.  In fact, we only took 1 shot in the first half. But that was the best shot of the half—a Wirt screaming header off a great Caragher set piece—right at the goalie who made the good save.

And Miege scored two goals in the first half within 30 seconds of one another, but I still say we had the best shot of the half. The Miege deadball play was pretty clever, I admit.

It seemed like the second half was pretty even, and sort of lived up to its 0-0 score. 

BWhite Player of the Match, junior, PJ Garcia, came in for the second half to play brilliantly. I love how he is so involved in the match, constantly directing.

Miege is very good. It was a great soccer match.

We, of course, want our boys to attack the baseline, and really they didn't, but I am sure Miege had a lot to do with that. We were limited to just a few deadballs, but we were dangerous on all of those chances. 

And a shoutout to Eli Weissend who B said: "played the best of anyone at the 9" who gave us some great minutes.

It comes down to Miege or Southwest for the EKL. That should be quite a match.

STATS:

Saints: First Half:  Shots: 1 (1) Corners: 1 (Whigham)

Stags: Shots: 4 (3) Corners: 1

6:25 Deadball goal

5:59 Shot from distance

Saturday Afternoon in Tonganoxie

Game 5: 16 September vs. Tonganoxie (2-2, lightning-shortened) 

Well, I hate to bring Coach Brown's favorite saying up, but "2-0 is the most dangerous score in soccer." And we certainly proved that today. We needed to get to 3 before they got to 1.  

Tongi is obviously a solid team as they entered the match, 5-0, and they are well coached. Having said that, they barely crossed half-field the entire first half, a half where we failed to finish several chances. So it was that dangerous 2-0 at the half.

And to their credit, we basically went with our starting lineup second half, minus an injured Reid Howard. They got within one on a T-ball and then earned a corner to tie it soon after. 

I did think we responded with some pretty good soccer after they tied it.  So obviously it was disappointing not to finish the match that also offered up possibly two ten-minute overtimes. We seemed on the verge of a goal right at the delay.

My guess is Tongi will get to the final four along with Miege. So we might well see the 4A state finalists in back-to-back matches.

BWhite chose not to name a BWhite Player of the Match; I sure liked the fact that Landon got us 3 second-half corners (and that was half of a half really), each of which could have won the game. I also thought Arquez had a fine, fine game coming up from JV.  He and Weissend teamed for just a great goal, and then Arquez hit the top of the bar on a shot shortly thereafter.

STATS:

First Half:

Saints: Shots: 9 (7) Corners: (Mason, Biggins, Vance 2, Wirt, Arias, Holland) 

38:48 Mason (Holland T's it after overlapping Esteban.)

23:03 Weissend (Morrisette D's the back post)

Chieftans: Shots: 0 (0)  Corners: 1

Second Half:

Saints:  Shots: 2 (1)  Corners: 4 (Wirt 3, Vance 1)

Chieftans: Shots: 4 (3) Corners: 0

32:50 Ahlen (Ball is T'ed)

27:35 Caldwell (shoulders in on the corner where we have no one on front post)

Mill Valley at Home

12 September vs. Mill Valley at STA (2-1 2 OT's)

Although most might be talking about iPhone 10 today, we ended up with a pretty exciting soccer match at Aquinas.  

It took us 2 overtimes almost before we could hand Mill Valley its first defeat of the season.  It was an exciting finish where Joey lifted the long deadball past the back post where Curt Whigham headed it back across for Landon's Wirt birthday gift to his mom—a header into the back post.

Mill Valley was quite good with a couple of special players, obviously, #11 was a talent in the center of the field, but we also thought the centerbacks played exceptionally well.

We came out of the gate pretty soft, getting destroyed early in the center of the field. Their early builds resulted in an own goal that put them up 1-0.

Gabe Kraft came off the bench to give us a great 30 minutes in that first half. He went into beast mode as we gradually won back the middle of the field.

He couldn't go for us in the second half, but Matthew Carta returned to his old position, posting a great a half along with two overtimes. 

BWhite gave a huge shoutout to both Carta and Kraft but he named Ryan Holland the BWhite Player of the Match.  He came off the bench to play left back and centerback, once again proving he is the best tackler on the team.  Mill Valley had some players who could run at you with the ball—but not through Holland. (So another happy birthday, only dad this time.)


Reid Howard put in a pretty darn good 97 minutes as well, holding down the middle of the back.

Jack Mason got a big goal for us once again to get us tied off the great cross from Landon. There is no overtime without that goal.


And then it is hard to beat a golden goal to finish the match.  Curt Whigham, in his first match back, was a big part of the win, and a key part of that golden goal as well.

STATS:

Saints: Shots: 3 (2) Corners: 1 (Wirt)

24:16 Mason: (Wirt lifts the cross)

Jags: Shots: 2 (1) Corners: 2

32:29 Own Goal

Second Half and Overtime:

Shots: 4 (2) Corners: 2 (Colling and Curt)

3:22 Wirt in 2nd OT (Joey lifts the long deadball to the back post where Whigham heads it back across)

Jags: Shots: 1 (0) Corners: 2

EKL at SwiDAC vs. BVNW

Game 3:  7 September vs. BV Northwest at SwiDAC (3-0)

Wow—that has to be one of the top lineups in the city on paper. And they could run at you with pace, flush with quick deadballs and some nice shots.

We prevailed by just getting after it all over the field, and by capitalizing on those few opportunities we found ourselves in.  I loved that first goal because you could watch player after player apply pressure on the ball, and sure enough, eventually we picked one off, before finding Landon's foot.

BWhite had just named Landon BWhite Player of the Game Tuesday with a shoutout to Parker. So yes, Landon scored two more goals tonight, but B went Parker who just has flourished in the defensive center midfield spot—winning balls, dispossessing the opponent, and finding feet forward. But he did give a huge shoutout to Landon. (The other Wirt wasn't too shabby either!)


Jack Mason's determination and skill created goal 2. Don't miss that replay.

Jack Shaw made his varsity forward debut, and he got some rave reviews. With Shaw & Biggins and Esteban chasing there together, Northwest couldn't get it out of their own end for about 10 minutes.

And how about Shae's quick recovery from trying to catch a drink right before their late deadball? 

But for us coaches we just appreciated the effort and preparation it took to go 2-0 for the week, knowing the quality of opponents and the fact that Whigham and Colling were out for the week.

Now we move on to an undefeated Mill Valley team, another EKL opponent. Hopefully, we get our entire lineup back for that match.

STATS:

Saints: Shots: 8 (3) Corners: 5 (Vance 3, Mason, Wirt)

35:19 Wirt: (high pressure allows Landon to intercept the pass, and find Joey who gives it back)

5:29 Mason: (Parker wins a tough headball to get it forward to Jack who goes to a knee before foot-flicking it over the keeper.

Huskies: Shots: 1 (1) Corners: 1

Second Half: Saints: Shots: 4 (2) Corners: 1 (Stoecklein)

18:02 Wirt: (Farrar pops it forward for the goalie to overplay)

Huskies: Shots: 4 (1) Corners: 3

Travel to #50

Game 2: 5 September vs. Washburn Rural (3-1)

Just a great win by the boys on the road against a very, very good Rural team. We knew they would be good on set pieces, and they were. We knew they would be good in the air, and they were. We knew they had a couple of skilled center mids who would dribble right at us, and they did. 

Overall the game really challenged our defense and our goal keeping. Overall we did pretty well. We won't grade out as an "A," but perhaps a B. 

Shae Wirt made two tremendous saves second half. And Ryan Holland stopped a breakaway with a fine fine 1 v 1 tackle. But second half we got off only 2 shots and did not generate a corner. Rural, however, earned 3 corners and got off 6 shots. 

BWhite went on the offensive side of the ball for the BWhite Player of the game with Landon Wirt. He hit one rope to make it 3-1 after getting the opening goal of the match on a nice, opportunistic play. He also had another rim off the top of the bar from 35. 

B gave a huge shoutout to Parker for his play at defensive center midfield as well. 80 great minutes. Honestly, everyone healthy got in and found some way to contribute to the win. 

Northwest Thursday. 

Stats:

STA: Shots: 6 (3). Corners::6. (Carragher. 2. Vance. 2. Stoecklein. Wirt)

30:50. L. Wirt (Mason finds him through)

24:38. Holland (Mason finds feet)

Rural:  Shots: 1 (1). Corners. 2. 

27:52 Chandler (loose ball off the corner)

2nd Half;

Saints:  Shots: 2 (2). Corners:  0

33:43. L. Wirt (Joey finds Landon through)

Rural. Shots:  6 (3) Corners. 3.