Huskies win physical affair over West Chicago
Auden, Trychta goals send Naperville North into sectional showdown vs. Benet

 

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTO GALLERY COURTESY OF SCOTT BUTLER

By Gary Larsen

It wasn’t pretty.

Heck, based on all the cards issued, you could argue that for stretches of Saturday’s match between Naperville North and West Chicago, it wasn’t even soccer.

But that’s always the danger when two conference rivals square off with a regional title on the line.

“It’s a DVC game. It was rough,” North coach Jim Konrad said. “It's always heated, especially with West Chicago and us. Things got a bit chippy, it was physical early, and the officials struggled to maintain the game."

Goals from Max Auden and Evan Trychta provided the margin in a 2-1 Huskies’ win. North topped West Chicago 3-1 11 days prior to Saturday’s meeting, and the Huskies knew that the Wildcats would again be a dangerous team the second time around.

"We knew they'd be crafty on the ball, especially (Jenaro Terrazas)," North defender Jimmy Butler said. "This last week we focused on one-on-one defending, not getting beat off the dribble, and giving each other cover if we do get beat. I thought we brought that to the field today."

Konrad was happy with the job his side did in slowing down a WEGO (7-9-6) team that possessed with cohesion and attacking purpose all season.

"They're good. They're physical, they're athletic, and they've got two or three kids that are clever on the ball,” Konrad said. “Tonight that didn't show itself as much. (Terrazas) is a real nice player and we shifted Max Auden to his side, and Max did a real good job of limiting his time and space. Max did a great job on him."

Auden netted a ball early on in Saturday’s rematch, and the 1-0 lead held to halftime. Play suffered in the second half as yellow cards came out in droves.

"This game had more atmosphere because obviously it meant a lot more," Butler said. "It got a little more intense, a little more chippy, and everyone was fighting for it more."

A West Chicago foul late in the second half resulted in a red card, and North set up for a free kick from 30 yards out. It was Trychta who was the victim of the foul that sent a Wildcat off with a red card, and the junior made WEGO pay with a ball blistered inside the near post.

"We were kind of focusing on playing it back-post. We had Lee as our target because we knew (WEGO keeper Adrian Porcayo) comes out a lot and he's aggressive," Trychta said. "I saw him creeping far post so I thought if I whipped it near post..."

It was Trychta’s team-leading 14th goal of the season.

West Chicago’s Estaban Fernandez cut the Huskies’ lead in half with a free kick goal of his own down the stretch, but North wouldn’t allow an equalizing goal.

"We haven't given up opportunities this year. Tonight was probably the most chances a team had to score against us," Konrad said. "They worked hard, and I thought Jimmy Butler was fantastic in the back. He won a couple huge head balls in back, cleared balls well -- I thought Jimmy Butler held this game together for us."

Back line defenders and goalkeepers never get enough recognition for the thankless work they do, and if any defense deserves it this season it’s Naperville North’s.

In 22 games this year, Huskies keeper Kevin Anderson and his back four of Auden, Butler, Lee Grander, and Jack Henderson have only given up 11 goals.

Last year’s squad only gave up 13 goals in 23 games, but relied heavily on a world-class effort in net from Mike Wiest. This year, the Huskies’ boys in back have worked to severely limit their opponents’ scoring chances, and of the 11 goals they’ve given up, only two have come during the run of play.

Butler applauded the leadership that Anderson has shown in net during another fine defensive season for the program.

"Kevin keeps us organized back there. He's always telling us where to go," Butler said. "And even with Lee out and Matt Vogel subbing in, everyone knows each other's tendencies, and we cover for each other. It's working out really well for us."

Henderson’s emergence as a defender has also keyed the defense. "Henderson was a surprise. He was a forward to start the first few games for us, he struggled, and he asked if he could try outside back," Konrad said. "And he has made a huge difference."

The day’s most unfortunate play for North came when junior Kyle Lindberg was red-carded for an intentional hand-ball. Lindberg is second in both goals and assists on this year’s team, after moving into more of an attacking role this season.

The Huskies will have to beat Benet (12-8-1) without him. The Redwings won a regional title with their 1-0 win over Naperville Central on Saturday.

North beat Benet on penalty kicks on Sept. 4 during Best of the West tournament play, after regulation ended in a 1-1 tie. Anderson stopped two kicks in the shootout to get his side the win, and Grander flicked a Trychta serve into net for North’s lone goal of the game.

"They're good. They're like us," Konrad said. "We'll hit each other in the mouth a few times, see who can stand the punches. They've been up and down all year but they do a lot of nice things. That should be another even game."

"I know it's going to be a good match," Butler said. "Both teams have changed a lot since we played the first time, and we're really looking forward to that game."

Trychta also expects an intense rematch with Benet.
 
"I think we have a better idea of what to do, but it's still going to be difficult because they're going to want revenge," he said.