Boys soccer: Lopez, Masciopinto lead the way
Strikers may score most of the goals, and of course defenders keep them out of the back of the net. But many of the game's real artisans reside at midfield, and that's where the captains of the Daily Herald's Northwest boys soccer all-area team can be found.
Schaumburg's Jessie Lopez and Buffalo Grove's Zach Masciopinto share the honor this season, not because of overly dramatic gaudy goal-scoring or points numbers, but instead due to what they meant to their programs, their teammates and their sport.
“Neither Jessie or Zach are very big guys physically, but they both play big,” said Schaumburg coach Hamid Mehreioskouei. “When you're looking to start a team, these two are who you start with. They just go out there and play, and that's the great thing about both.”
Lopez was more or less a three-way player of the year. The Schaumburg junior was first named the No. 1 player in sectional all-state balloting, making him a candidate for All-American honors.
The soft spoken three-year starter later found out, in front of his teammates, that he was indeed named All-America, along with Evan Floersch (Hindale Central) and Kyle Kanagy from Benet Academy.
Later that week, Mehreioskouei, himself a former all-stater from Schaumburg, would tell his top player, that he would share all-area captaincy honors.
“It was all too amazing — I was shocked each time coach told me the news of being named all-state, all-American and co-captain with Zach,” said Lopez. “It's always been about the team, and not individual awards. But I have to admit it felt good to know that others thought I was worthy of these types of awards, and for me to reach a few goals that I have set for myself.”
When Mehreioskouei and his long-time friend and assistant Brad Stevens brought their club together on that Monday, Lopez figured there would be a film session, and some conversaton in advance of the Saxons' regional opener.
“I thought it would be a great time to spring the news on Jessie and his teammates — nobody would expect it, and it just seemed like the perfect time to announce him being named an all-American,” said Mehreioskouei.
The Saxons coach's thoughts went back to the first time he saw Lopez, and thinking, “Wow, that kid is small and skinny” — but after watching him from that first day, Mehreioskouei knew the program might just have something special.
“He did then, and even more now, the little things you appreciate from watching him each and every day,” Mehreioskouei said. “I would see things I've never seen before, especially on the creative side, and he's gotten better every season since then. This season, he's just in another class. I have not seen the quality from any other player like I have with Jessie.”
Mehreoskouei felt early on the Saxons captain was all-state material, but not until a conversion with Barrington's Scott Steib and Tony Kees was an all-Amercan seed planted.
“Scott was very complimentary of Jessie's talents and indvidual skill, and Tony, who has so much respect in our state and has seen so many players on the local, state and national scene, said to both of us he could watch Jessie play every day of the week.”
That sealed it for the Saxons coach, and with Lopez and Steib in attendance and speaking before a coaching contingent from around the state, the voting body gave him the nod.
“That's another thing that I like and respect about coach,” said Lopez. “He's always there for you, and in your corner. For me, he will be there to help guide me through the recruiting visits, conversations with college coaches, my academics (and) just getting me ready for life after high school, and college.”
“Jessie isn't part of a soccer academy or an elite soccer club, and his family background is modest at best, but his biggest goal is to be the first in his family to get a college degree,” Mehreioskouei. “I — we — want to be there for him in order for him to reach that goal, and he's ready to put all the time into it that's needed to do so.”
The Saxons coach has been in contact with Eric Luzzi at NIU, and there's plenty of mutual interest between the two parties currently.
“Eric does a great job out there,” Mehreioskouei said, “and we've been talking a lot, so they could be a great fit for Jessie, for a lot of reasons, including the fact that DeKalb is close to his home and family.”
Mehreioskouei knows that whichever college program gets Lopez will welcome a quiet, hard-working young man, who plays as if he's 6-foot-2, and not the 5-2 he's listed on the Saxons roster.
“Because of numerous injuries, while having a few of the fellas struggling with eligibility, we just didn't have the weapons and tools around Jessie for us to be at a level to compete far into the playoffs,” Mehreioskouei said. “So he was the guy who had to do so much for us out there on match day, and it was interesting to see how many times he got bumped, kicked, and fouled — yet he still bounced up and off of people because of the way he plays. He's never stationary with the ball, so opponents get caught chasing him.”
“Yes, I kind of take a beating when I am playing,” said Lopez. “It will be one of the things I'll need to continue to work on — getting stronger — because I don't think I am going to get much taller!”
The three-time all-MSL midfielder had modest stats this year, 5 goals, 7 assists, but it's obvious it wasn't about numbers for the Saxons star. Lopez was born in California, and moved with his five older brothers here to Illinois when he was just 5. From the very start, he played soccer with older kids, as his father suggested, knowing it would make him better in the long run.
He's been a member of the Elgin Pumas club for quite some time, but will be moving over to Sports Club United, where Mehreioskouei is the executive director and has several former Saxons players on the coaching staff.
“It's the right move for me,” begins Lopez. “Coach has my best interests at heart. He's not only a great coach, who's taught me so much about playing at a higher level, but he's a good guy to be around. I can go in and just talk to him about things, and lately we've been doing (practice) interviews that will help be when I get together with college coaches during recruiting.
“He's been a positive influence for me, as have all the coaches here at Schaumburg, and that's just another reason I enjoy playing here, and why I look forward to my senior season next year.”
Masciopinto first made his mark on Bison soccer during his sophomore season, when BG made its first trip to the MSL Cup since 1988.
A midfielder with nomadic tendencies, the three-year starter worked this season from a much deeper position than his counterpart Lopez, as a defensive midfielder. But he was afforded plenty of freedom under coach Rick Carlson, who was continually amazed with each 80-minute, box-to-box performance his captain produced.
“Zach was that final chess move that I had this season to try to pull together how our team would line up, and what formation we would play to best use the talent that we had,” Carlson said during the opening round of the postseason. “He played out of position as our holding-mid so, at times, I believe people would not understand how crucial and valuable his play was for us.
“But he always was willing to do what was good for the team, and never himself. He really was the glue that held this team together. He clearly demonstrated his importance when we took control of No. 1 Warren, then later the MSL East champs Wheeling during regionals, and he did the same thing last year when we had that great postseason run. Even when he was just a sophomore, with all that great individual talent on that championship team, he was the guy who those great players, all seniors, looked to for leadership.”
“Zach has a lot of class, and he just carries that team of his,” said Wheeling coach Ed Uhrik, after his club was beaten by the Bison recently in the regional final.
If you kept your eyes focused on Masciopinto during that Wheeling match, you would see a player with boundless energy, whose tempo-setting displays made him such a precious commodity, while his deceptive pace, voracious tackling and off-the-charts work rate was unmatched.
“That's how I always saw my role when I joined the varsity,” Masciopinto said.
After a broef varsity stint as a freshman, Masciopinto moved into a starting position for the 2012 team which featured Irving Eloiza plus the sensational duo of Alberto Eloyza and Irving Balboa, among others on a high-scoring, exciting team.
“Zach was kind of a quasi-captain back then, the guy who was a vocal leader who helped direct traffic while being a tremendous influence, with his great work ethic and play,” said Carlson.
“We had a great year,” said Masciopinto, “but we were out pretty early in the playoffs. Then last year, we began the playoffs 3-8-6, with a No. 14 seed, but went all the way to the sectional final before losing to Barrington.
“We had another great run this season before falling short to Highland Park, and I look back at it now and realize how fortunate I was to be a part of three amazing years — and how quickly it has all gone for me.”
The quality and value of Masciopinto was never in doubt according to Carlson, who in his first year in 2012 knew he had the one player he could lean on through thick and thin.
“Zach is a natural-born leader, and I can tell you in my 20 years of coaching, there's not a player that comes close to the impact in leadership that he's made,” said Carlson. “He holds players accountable in a fair and straight way that his teammates respect, and it wouldn't surprise me if he were the captain for each and every team he's on. It's just the way he is.”
Masciopinto's plate has been full ever since stepping on the Buffalo Grove campus.
He wrestled for two seasons, has four seasons of volleyball on his resume (three with the varsity), will play basketball this winter, plays the cello with the orchestra, is president of the Blue Crew Spirit Club, and, oh by the way, carries a 5.40 GPA out of 5.00.
“I like to stay involved and be a part of high school life,” says Masciopinto, who had narrowed his collegiate choices down to Case-Western (Ohio) and Carnegie-Mellon (PA). Prospective fields of study including mechanical engineering and perhaps aerospace technology.
As an athlete, Masciopinto is that rare breed who never seems to have a bad game. He never got rattled and has a truly rare mix of mobility, acceleration and energy.
He is fearless in and around the box, particularly in his attempts to head corners and long throws. And defensively, he is always ready to pounce as soon as the other team's creators get possesion.
His 7 goals, and 2 assists gives him career marks of 25 and 12, quite impressive considering his frequent defensive-minded position.
Masciopinto cites Brian McBride as his favorite player owin to the high level of play the former international and MLS star from BG attained.
Masciopinto's best memory as a Bison comes down to competing in the 2012 MSL Cup, the first time in program history BG had appeared in it since McBride did so in 1988.
Another fond memory: playing with his older brother, Alex.
“Alex was a very good player who had a lot of bad luck due to injuries,” said Zach, “but I was so lucky to be on the varsity with him when I had a late call-up my freshmen year.”
Masciopinto said he was surprised to learn he'd be alongside Lopez for all-area captain honors this season, and was equally surprised and pleased to know he earned his second appearance on the all-area team.
He will be cheering for Elite Soccer Club teammate Zach Schoffstall this weekend after MSL-rival Fremd moved on to the 3A state tournament. Schoffstall, Gavin Falotico (Palatine), Campbell White (Hersey) and others MSL standouts brought home a second-place national trophy from national in North Carolina during the off-season, losing to the No. 1-ranked club from California.
“It's all part of the experience that I enjoy so much from playing soccer, and being around guys who have become my friends, and I look forward to getting back with them one more time before heading off to college,” Masciopinto said.
“He's been the glue to the program every since his first day here, and I shudder to think as to how we replace him next year,” said Carlson.