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Late Hersey goal ties Mustangs By Eddie Burns When one problem appears to be solved another one is created. For Downers Grove South coach Jon Stapleton, this scenario has played out in the early stages of the 2009 campaign – a season that thus far has been anything but easy. The Mustangs remained winless after having to settle for a 1-1 draw against Hersey when the Huskies netted the tying goal with 57 seconds remaining in their match as part of the Hinsdale Central Red Devil Cup Tournament on Thursday night in Downers Grove. “We have to improve on our ability to win balls in the air and finish games off,” Stapleton said. “We don’t know how to win right now; we just don’t know how to do it. Until they figure it out, it is going to be that type of year.” Coming into the match, the Mustangs (0-2-2) had allowed six goals with five of them coming in the early stages of either first half or second half of their matches. Downers South solved that problem against Hersey by beginning the match with solid ball control and movement. The hard work paid off when Matt LaLonde scored in the 18th minute. LaLonde converted when the Hersey defense failed to clear the ball from its penalty area. The ball ended up right at LaLonde’s feet and he sent a low shot past Huskies goalie Greg Janicki. From there, the match began to slowly turn in Hersey’s favor. “We got off our game,” Mustangs captain Cal Roselieb said. “In the beginning of the match, we possessed the ball and moved it around. However, at the end of the game, we were just looking to get the ball out and they jammed it right down our throats every single time.” Hersey (2-1-2) had the better of the play during the final 40 minutes and had appeared to tie the match in the 71st minute when Janicki sent a restart from midfield toward Downers South’s penalty area where teammate Chris Naranjo finished it with a shot into the net, but the play was ruled offside. “We caught a break with that call,” Stapleton said. The Mustangs couldn’t take advantage and continued to give the Huskies opportunities. “I don’t think we created enough scoring chances in the second half,” Stapleton said. “We had way too many turnovers. We lost the ball way too many times.” The sloppy play caught up with Downers South when Hersey freshman Matt Quick slipped behind the defense and sent a shot past goalie Andrew Reed in the 80th minute. “They got it in and we cleared it out and they knocked it right back in,” Roselieb said. “We didn’t mark the back post and that has happened a number of times to us this season.” “We’re not very good in the air,” Stapleton said. “We don’t stay with people and we don’t win head balls. We were right there. We played well for 79 minutes, but we just can’t put 80 minutes together. We have a lot to work on.” Bottom line is the Mustangs have to play the entire match if they want to get results they desire. “It really comes staying focused for 80 minutes,” Roselieb said. “We can’t play well for 20 minutes and then let up for the next five minutes because those mistakes we’ve been making have come back to kill us.” Stapleton used two goalies in junior Sam Hadley for the first half and senior Andrew Reed in the second half. Both had their share of good plays, but don’t expect one to assume full-time duties yet. “We’ll see how it plays out,” Stapleton said. “I haven’t decided yet. Andrew did a nice job in the second half.”
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2009 Schedule
Mustangs starters vs. Hersey
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