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Mustangs take care of business at Willowbrook By Gary Larsen
Mustangs’ senior Cal Roselieb understands the soccer standard set at the school, and he’s determined to see this year’s squad get past a rocky start to the 2009 season. “This is the first day of the rest of the season,” Roselieb said. “As far as I’m concerned, we’re 1-0.” The Mustangs improved to 2-5-3 with a 4-1 win over West Suburban Gold foe Willowbrook on Tuesday. “We’ve had a bad first half of the season. We didn’t play up to our potential but tonight we got the result we needed.” During the win in Villa Park, Stapleton saw some of the positives that his squad needs to build on from here to the end of the year. “We played much quicker than we have in previous games, and were showed more patience and a willingness to move the ball from side to side,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of direct play this year, and there’s a time and a place for the counter, and to be more direct, and we were just having a hard time recognizing when those situations were. So I was pleased in that regard tonight.” Nick Suker scored twice on assists from Roselieb and Mike Leahy and the Mustangs got goals from Matt LaLonde and Zack Baleski in building a 4-0 lead, before Willowbrook’s Ibrahim Ramulic scored late in the second half. LaLonde started the scoring in the 14th minute. Standing near the post with his back to the goalmouth, the senior elevated and flicked a long Marcus Salinas throw-in off the far post and into the net. LaLonde’s goal was one of those that came from such a ridiculous angle, it couldn’t have possibly been intended as a shot on net. “He was obviously trying to get it to the back post,” Stapleton said. “And it went in.” Junior Joe McLean just missed volleying a shot into net on a cross from the corner shortly after LaLonde’s goal, before Suker buried the first of his two goals. Suker’s goal put the Mustangs up 2-0 at halftime. Holding leads this year has at times been troubling for South, but they brought a killer instinct into the second half. Suker scored quickly after the break, and Baleski’s goal on a Charlie Stanke assist made it 4-0 just six minutes into the second half. Stapleton applauded the play of his midfield after the contest, and Roselieb was glad to see his side get a positive result from a solid effort. “It’s been frustrating,” Roselieb said. “Being so successful last year, we came into this season with a couple guys who know how to win. Not getting it done has been real frustrating.” “It’s been a matter of playing eighty minutes. We haven’t stayed mentally focused. In Indianapolis we scored a goal, and 45 seconds later we gave one up.” “That’s kind of been the story of our season so far, and now we need to turn things around.” Turning things around may not be as difficult as all that. “It’s been a rough first part of the season, but I don’t think we’ve played as bad as our record indicates,” Stapleton said. “That being said, we made a lot of mistakes that put us in that position.” “This win feels good. We’re viewing this as our second half of the season. As a group, we’re kind of forgetting about the first half.”
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Man of the match: Nick Suker By Gary Larsen
It doesn't seem to matter where you play Downers Grove South junior Nick Suker. He'll get it done. “He’s extremely versatile,” Mustangs coach Jon Stapleton said. “He plays in back, he plays in the center mid, and he’s been so steady. He’s been a bright spot all season long, wherever I put him.” Suker scored twice in Tuesday's 4-1 win over Willowbrook, once in each half. “What a luxury he’s been to have around. He’s good in the air, he defends well – his versatility is really special.” The Mustangs' play at midfield keyed Tuesday's win, and Suker was a big part of it. His two goals were his first scored this season. "The midfield has to be the engine and get everyone involved, and I thought they did a much better job of that tonight,” Stapleton said.
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Downers Grove South has a proud tradition in both boys’ and girls’ soccer, built by coaches Chuck Novotny, Barry Jacobson, Mike Wiggins and current coach Jon Stapleton.
