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2009 Preview: Downers Grove North By Gary Larsen Downers Grove North struggled the last two seasons, but the 2009 squad may have both the desire and the talent to climb back into area prominence. “We come in after winning six games in two seasons, so we’ve been down, but we’ve got a junior class that is really outstanding,” said Trojans coach Brian Gervase. “We’ve also got some nice seniors that will also be a big part of what we’re doing.” One of those seniors is team co-captain Neil Corcoran, who along with Paul Hogan will lead a team that’s ready to put past struggles behind them. “Team morale is a lot better this year,” Corcoran said. “England helped a lot. That was really the first time we all met each other.” Gervase and the Trojans took a trip to England over the summer, where they played “It was a great experience,” Gervase said. “We played some big boys in the 18-year-old bracket up there. They tackle like madmen, and we really did a nice job of handling it dishing it out. I said to my assistant coach ‘we’re not going to get away with this at home’.” “They play very direct. They don’t play with their midfielders. Everything is from the defenders to the forwards. Get the ball up, use our strength and speed, and they finish – that was something my guys really took home, is that you have to finish goals. And when they miss they don’t miss over the top. They miss right by the post. Every miss is a good miss.” “Last year we’d get in good positions but not finish, and that’s something we have to work on.” As the attack develops, the Trojans will rely on a defense that aims to keep things locked down in the meantime. “Our defense should be strong and we’ve got a couple fast people in the attack,” Corcoran said. “But we’re kind of basing everything on shutouts, and the goals will come.” Junior Matt Paprocki and senior Blayne Munar vied for net time in the preseason after the two split time in goal last season, with Paprocki’s athleticism and quickness counterbalancing Munar’s size, strength, and big leg. “We’re blessed. There are a lot of programs that would be happy to have either one of them,” Gervase said. Corcoran will anchor the back line, with juniors Alex Vogler and Jake Mousel stepping into the other central spot in back. Juniors Tom Budnik and Marcin Modzelewski will roam the outside in back for the Trojans this year. “They’re both good. We kept trying Marcin up front but wait until people see him in back,” Gervase said. “He’s got a left foot and nothing gets through him.” The Trojans may play with three central midfielders, with Hogan likely settling in as a defensive mid in his third varsity season. Hogan was an all-conference and an honorable mention all-sectional player last year. “He plays center back on his club team but we want to move him into the midfield and let him use his speed and creativity there,” Gervase said. “He’ll stand out immediately when you see him.” Seniors Ben Stein and Justin Pickering, and currently-injured junior Stu Melton will rotate into the other two center mid spots. Senior Matt Weiss has locked down a spot at one outside mid, with a pair of talented freshmen in AJ Jeffries and Cullen Cummings competing for time at the outside position. “We don’t usually bring up freshmen to the varsity but these two can play,” Gervase said. Downers North will look to a skilled and creative senior in Luis Salas to finish in the final third, but the attack will develop as the year moves forward. “We’re working hard on our transition game and we want to get our defenders forward,” Gervase said. “We watched a film of goals scored in the European league, and one thing you notice is that people are coming from everywhere. It’s not just one guy.” “These guys have worked super hard in the off-season, and most of our defense was part of the Roadrunners team that won the state cup over the summer,” Gervase said. “We feel real comfortable in the back. “The last few years we’ve looked like boys out there. This year, we’re starting to look like men.”
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2009 Schedule
2009 Roster
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