Neuqua avoids distraction in a 1-0 win over Waubonsie

By Eddie Burns

There were plenty of unusual circumstances surrounding Tuesday’s season opener between rivals Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley.

For starters, the fact these two foes were playing their first match of the season against each other was a bit out of the ordinary.

On top of that, the match was played on Waubonsie’s practice field, which measured 100 yards in length and 63 yards in width. Waubonsie’s normal field, which is still recovering from offseason renovations to fix a drainage issue, is 108 by 68. For a ball possession team like Neuqua, this could have potentially been a disaster.

Despite all of the outside factors, the Wildcats managed to score a 1-0 victory thanks to Bryan Ciesiulka’s goal in the 60th minute.

“There was a whole lot going on today that could have caused us to be distracted,” said Ciesiulka, who led the Wildcats in goals last season. “We got the win and that is all that matters.”

The match was evenly played through the first 40 minutes, but the Wildcats (1-0 overall, 1-0 Upstate Eight Conference) used the wind at their back in the second half to assert control. Zach Kovacevic put the winning goal in motion when he sent the ball into the Warriors’ end.

The ball slipped through a few defenders to teammate Scott Davis, who flicked it in Ciesiulka’s direction and he flipped it over the head of Waubonsie’s hard-charging goalie Sean Elvert (six saves).

“It was a beautiful play,” Neuqua coach Tony Kees, who was coaching in his first match as the Wildcats’ coach.  “We showed that we can play a more rugged game than the skillful beautiful game that we like to play.”

Kees said it took the Wildcats a bit longer than he would have liked to adjust to the game situations.

“Given the conditions I’m not going to be too hard on the guys,” Kees said. “Yes, we would like to keep the ball in back and knock it around more, but it was never going to happen today. So, I think it took us too long to recognize that we weren’t going to be able to keep possession like we normally do and it took me to say something. I would hope that they can figure that out on their own down the road.”

Waubonsie coach Angelo DiBernardo agreed that the second half was the difference.

“We did some good things,” DiBernardo said. “I thought the first half we played well, but the second half the wind was somewhat of a factor and they picked up their play. We weren’t able to match their energy or their speed of play, but those are things that will hopefully improve through the rest of the year.”

Player of the match: Bryan Ciesiulka

By Eddie Burns

Neuqua Valley senior Bryan Ciesiulka just kept plugging.

Ciesiulka was involved in a number of scoring chances throughout the match. He attempted shots, made passes and his corner attempts created several scoring opportunities.

All of Ciesiulka’s hard work paid off in the 60th minute when he managed to flip the game-winner into the Waubonsie net. 

“Bryan just made plays. It is that simple,” Kees said. “It doesn’t matter whether it is on offense or defense the ball follows him around and that is not because he’s lucky, but rather he knows what he’s doing.”

Ciesiulka, who plans to continue his playing career at Marquette, said it is just his style.

“I am always trying to be involved because I think I can make good things happen for the team,” he said. “My teammates really did all of the work on the goal. It was some great passing.”