Warren fits in just fine on new turf

The first shot at playing on the school’s new field turf playing surface at the O’Plaine campus was a huge success for the Warren boys soccer team on Wednesday night.

The Blue Devils enjoyed the new carpeting and luxuriated in a 4-0 victory over Mundelein in a North Suburban Lake Division opener in Gurnee.

Daniel Sczcepanek scored twice to lead Warren (7-2-1, 1-0). Aunor Solis and Sean Kirwin had the other 2 two goals, Nick Wegrzynowicz picked up 2 assists and Ryan Foster 1.

The field drew positive reviews from Warren coach Jason Ahonen.

“I like it, and it’s a flat surface,” he said. “We’re a fast team, and the flatter the surface, the better for us. With the turf it’s consistent and we know how the ball will react to it.”

Warren reacted quite well, finding the back of the net four times in the first half.

“We possessed the ball nicely and moved the ball throughout the midfield well,” Ahonen said. “Mundelein had some nice defensive stops off the end line. It took a little time to get used to the surface. But once we figured it out, we got dangerous and finished our chances that were there.”

Sczcepanek scored the first goal unassisted on a header in the 17th minute.

Two minutes later, Kirwin knocked in the second goal off an assist from Wegrzynowicz.

Solis coverted the third goal in the 30th minute off a feed from Foster.

Sczcepanek struck again a couple minutes after with the help of a well-placed pass from Wegrzynowicz.

“We don’t look to see who’s the goal scorer,” said Sczcepanek, who now has 6 goals. “We have all different types of goal scorers. We just play the game and whoever is there to finish it, does it.”

Keeper Brady Walsh made a couple of saves, and Nick Hathuc also had a save toward Warren’s fourth shutout of the season.

Mundelein (3-7, 0-2) didn’t have many answers for Warren’s impressive midfield and offensive possession game.

“We’re trying to find guys to step up and be leaders,” Mundelein coach Ernie Billittier said. “We’re trying to get all the pieces to fit. We’ve got some talent here on the team and need to find the right combinations.”