Huskies survive Trojans on Trychta, Gastouniotis goals

By Darryl Mellema

For 20 minutes on Saturday afternoon, Downers Grove North put on an attacking clinic against Naperville North. The Trojans carved openings in the Huskies defense. They had a massive dominance in possession and were clearly the dominant team.

But Downers Grove North did not score in that period. The Trojans hit the side netting, shot narrowly over the bar and had a goal disallowed for offside. And when they did get shots on goal, Naperville North's Mike Wiest was there to make saves.

When a team finally found the net, it was Naperville North. And the Huskies, who improved as the match progressed, doubled their advantage midway through the second half – and then survived a late onslaught to win 2-1, claim the Class 3A Regional title and oust a Downers Grove North team that is one of the most-improved teams when compared to 12 months ago.

“The first half was a little rough,” Wiest said. “But after the first half, we definitely started to pick it up. I can't say enough about our defense and how well they did in the second half. The first half, we had some rough spots.”

For their efforts, Naperville North (16-2-4) earns a shot at Wheaton-Warrenville South on Wednesday night in the semifinals of the Naperville North Sectional.

“We know we're not the best team and we know we have to work really hard,” Naperville North's Evan Trychta said. “But winning the game is huge.”

Downers Grove North (11-8-3) tore into the Huskies from the opening whistle. Paul Hogan pulled many of the offensive strings, but Luis Salas was dangerous on wings and Matt Weiss and Pickering had their chances too.

“I thought we had a couple we could have finished and that was our chance to establish ourselves in the game,” Downers Grove North coach Brian Gervase said. “You've got to finish, you know? That's a big part of this game. “

But while Naperville North's defense was breached, its goal was not. On the other end, the Huskies worked to make a breakthrough of their own, and got what they were looking for when a free kick was called just outside the penalty area on the left wing with 12 minutes to play in the half.

Lee Grander took that kick, and the ball was directed from the center of goal to the far post, where Trychta was standing. Trychta met that ball and scored from close range.

“I was just making the run all the way through,” Trychta said. “It was right there and all I had to do was to put it in.”
Even at halftime, though, Downers Grove North had an edge in possession time and in scoring chances. But they were behind on the scoreboard.

“That's been the way it's been all year,” Naperville North coach Jim Konrad said. “We struggle at times to play. We struggle at times to find each others' feet and we struggle with the technical aspects of the game, for sure. The boys weren't dialed in for the first half of the game today. We really gave (Downers Grove North) space to play – and they're a great team anyway, the way they move the ball.”

Naperville North nearly doubled its lead with 4 minutes left in the half after Sean Labahn's dribble into the penalty area ended in a shot saved by Matt Paprocki.

The Huskies finished the first half without influential central midfielder Chris Boswell, who left the field with a bleeding abrasion on his cheek. He left the stadium for further attention and did not return to the contest.

Naperville North's defense was the dominant force in the early exchanges of the second half. At nearly the midpoint of the half, Trychta played a leading pass for Dean Gastouniotis, who dribbled into the penalty area on the left wing. Gastouniotis got free and scored his team's second goal.

From that point, Downers Grove North moved through its gears again, reaching its sharpest moments in the final 10 minutes of play. This time, the Trojans' dominance was rewarded when Weiss scored with 5:28 to play.

“As soon as I scored, I wanted to get the ball out of the net, get it back and start it again,” Weiss said. “We had the momentum. We were pounding on them and we couldn't get it in. I felt if we had a couple more minutes, we would have put one in, but there wasn't that much time.”

Downers Grove North found an even higher gear from that moment, and had an open shot in side the final minute when Hogan got loose in the penalty area. Wiest spread his body and made the one-on-one save and the Huskies survived.

“I told the boys that I'm on them all the time about how they don't play technical soccer,” Konrad said. “They make so many mistakes. But they're winners. They really are. They will fight and fight and find a way to be dangerous.”

Downers Grove North improved mightily from its two-win campaign in 2008. The roster is loaded with players who will return in 2010, through seniors like Weiss have played their last match in the program.

“It was a good season, especially compared to last year,” Weiss said. “We played a lot better soccer. It's a disappointing loss, but we really played their hearts out.”

Weiss said he is aware of the magnitude of the achievement in bringing the Trojans program to more than a level of mere respectability.

“All the returning seniors, we were hoping for a brand new start,” Weiss said. “We got it this year. There's a lot of young talent on this team that'll bring the hard work and dedication back here again. Hopefully I'll have a chance to come back and cheer them on.”
Gervase said those seniors helped set the tone for this year's squad.

“There are a lot of young guys on that field for us,” Gervase said. “Hopefully this is a stepping stone for our program. Those seniors should feel a big part of how this program has improved.”

Man of the Match: Mike Wiest

By Darryl Mellema

Asked who his team's best player had been in Saturday's 2-1 win over Downers Grove North, Naperville North coach Jim Konrad's response was immediate and emphatic.

“It's got to be Mike Wiest,” he said.

And it was impossible to argue. Wiest, the Huskies’ senior goalkeeper, made a string of key saves and also kept Downers Grove North at bay throughout a hectic contest.

“He's so good in the net,” Konrad said. “Thank goodness for Wiest in the nets.”

Wiest's abilities were needed in the opening minutes when the Trojans threatened to over-run the Huskies. And they were needed again in the final 10 minutes when Downers Grove North worked its way back into the contest.

“The last five minutes, it was crazy,” Wiest said. “The fans were going nuts. Everything was back and forth, back and forth. Balls kept coming in and out. It was very hectic but it was also awesome.”

The man charged with weeding through that chaos and bringing some order to the penalty area is usually a central defender or the goalkeeper. On Naperville North's team, that man is Wiest.

“I've definitely got to concentrate,” Wiest said. “I've still got to organize everybody and let them know that a ball's coming in and things like that because I can see the whole field. Our defense has to have a great concentration too. And our midfield has to come back and do some defending too.”

Through it all, the Huskies have come to trust each other.

“Definitely,” Wiest said. “If you don't trust your whole team, we wouldn't be regional champions right now.”

Wiest said he's not a big fan of making point blank saves, but he also knows it's part of the job.

“If I have to, I'll do it,” Wiest said.