Waubonsie working towards more action, less reaction

By Gary Larsen

Waubonsie Valley coach Angelo DiBernardo has seen a lot of exceptional soccer played in Illinois, in nearly 20 years of head coaching one of the premier programs in the state.

His opinion of Neuqua Valley was clear after his boys battled but lost 4-1 in the title game of this year’s Best of the West tournament at Naperville North.

“In terms of possession of the play, in terms of playing the ball to the feet, in terms of moving off the ball, anticipating and not reacting, aggressiveness, knowing where everyone is – everything,” DiBernardo said.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen a team at the high school level that is as good as Neuqua is this year.”

Anticipating the play in front of you rather than reacting to it is the difference between controlling and being controlled.

Waubonsie is much-improved in that area since the season’s opening game, but the 3-3 Warriors were in reaction mode more often than anticipation mode against their highly-touted sister school.

“They’re very well organized and they always keep their composure,” Waubonsie Valley senior Johnny Akl said of Neuqua. “And if they lose the ball they work hard to get back. It’s tough to play against them. They’re spread out and they move the ball so well.”

“We don’t have the skills or knowledge that they have,” DiBernardo said of Neuqua. “They’re a smart group of players.”

After opening the season with a pair of losses to Neuqua and Benet, Waubonsie Valley reeled off three wins to reach the tournament’s title game and a rematch with the Wildcats.

Waubonsie won a trio of 1-0 games over Fremd, Carl Sandburg, and Naperville Central to set up the title game.

“Benet destroyed us. The effort just wasn’t there,” Akl said. “But in the three games we won we learned to play as a team, and everyone trusts each other and reacts quicker to each other.

The three games we won really boosted us. We’re working harder as a team and we improved in each game.”

Through 40 minutes of play against Neuqua, Corey Lettieri launched a few Akl feeds on net, but couldn’t get one to fall as the Warriors battled well in the face of the Wildcats’ cohesive and patient attack.

Neuqua went up 1-0 before halftime on a Scott Davis head shot goal near the goalmouth, and Waubonsie stayed within striking distance of a tying goal ten minutes into the second half.

“Can we compete with them? Well, for a while we can,” DiBernardo said. “But they had a ten-minute spurt there where they just took it to us. They smelled the blood and they went after us.”

Neuqua Valley goals in the 49th, 51st, and 53rd minutes effectively ended the contest. “They’re very patient and they wait to get the chance they’re looking for. And when they do, they finish,” Akl said.

After playing a strong early schedule, Waubonsie has a much better idea of where it is, and where it needs to be.

“The effort was there tonight,” DiBernardo said. “At the beginning of the game we had a few chances, but couldn’t put one away. But they played hard and tried hard. We did as well as we could tonight.

I’m always happy with the way (Nik) Patel plays, and the way Oliver Mayer plays. They are two of our standout players. But Neuqua has sixteen or eighteen of those guys.”

2009 Schedule

Waubonsie starters vs. Neuqua