Boys soccer: Scouting the Class 3A Bartlett supersectional
Class 3A Bartlett supersectionalWhen and where: 5 p.m. Tuesday at Streamwood's Millennium Field
How they got here: Jacobs defeated Cary-Grove 2-0 and Elgin 5-0 at the Class 3A Crystal Lake South regional and defeated McHenry 2-1 and Rockford Guilford 6-1 at the Huntley sectional. Conant defeated Willowbrook 2-0 and Wheaton Academy 1-0 at the Elk Grove regional and defeated St. Charles North 3-1 and Addison Trail 3-1 to win the Glenbard East sectional.
Outlook: Jacobs heads to a supersectional for only the second time in school history. Led by junior forward Noah Melick's 32 goals and 8 assists, the Golden Eagles won their first outright Fox Valley championship since 2001 and first sectional since 2000. McHenry knocked Jacobs out in last year's sectional but Jacobs got its revenge this year in conference play and in the Huntley sectional thanks to Patrick Murphy's late heroics. Jacobs has cruised to the supersectional beating its opponents by a 15-2 margin.
"I think we feel good and mentally we're in a good spot," Jacobs coach Anthony Cappello chimed. "We're definitely not complacent and we're definitely still hungry. I've had teams in the past where we'd win a regional and celebrate like we won state but this group wants more."
That's been done by example thanks to the speedy Melick, who increased his goal output by 14 this season. Aiding to the attack is midfielder Colin Walsh (5 goals, 17 assists), midfielder Gabe Swarthout (5 assists) and Dan Buirge. Keeper Ethan Pickering mustered 10 shutouts this season and he's blanketed by defenders Jacob Moser, Jacob Sabella, Michael Pasetes and Max McGregor. Melick's scored 7 goals in the playoffs so far - 4 in a regional final win over a pesky Elgin team and a hat trick to beat Guilford for the sectional title. But unsung heroes like Murphy have stepped up along the away.
"As far as confidence and momentum, these kids think they can play with anyone," Cappello said. "They truly believe they can play with everyone and they talk about it and come out and actually do it and put make themselves the team they can be."
Conant and Jacobs shared 5 common opponents. Both lost to Barrington while both beat Crystal Lake South. Jacobs tied St. Charles North while Conant owns 2 wins over North, including a sectional victory. Jacobs tied Wheeling 1-1 whereas the Cougars lost 5-3. Conant, which was 8-6-6 last season, has upset quite a few teams in the playoffs along the way, including Addison Trail. Its last regional came in 2006. The Cougars had a sectional and state run in 2002 and placed fourth in state in 1999. They're led by Sota Ono's 10 goals and 10 assists. Mike Rizzo has 8 goals and Harris Dibek has 7 goals and 4 assists. Six Cougars have at least 6 goals and keeper Piotr Pyz's allowed 21 goals in 18 games with 5 shutouts. The regional win over Wheaton Academy is where things turned. "The guys brought a different level of focus and determination into that game and they saw what it could produce," Conant coach Jason Franco said. "They've been able to sustain that same level for the last three games and that has been key."
Dibek, Noah Ozbag and Nico Scimeca scored timely playoff goals while Rizzo, Tommy Biernat and Jason Fillingim have helped Matt Biernat on the defensive side.
It's also sort of a reunion with Cappello and Franco. Both played on the back line together for their team called the Wings in the Chicago Metro League in the past and Cappello has a good idea of how the Cougars play. "They're a very organized and very disciplined team," said Cappello. "They're not going to make anything easy for you up and down the field. They're going to defend well and they're very tough and knowing Jason they're going to come out ready to play. "
Mike Garofola contributed