Meet Marmion's unsung heroes

The Marmion soccer team is having quite the season to remember.

Armando Hermosillo, Same Duffield and Pablo Del Toro are doing the damage offensively.

Taylor Weiss, Luke Friedman and Doug Conroy are the unsung heroes, doing what they do best for the Cadets -- play defense.

Friedman, Conroy and Weiss are all three-year varsity captains who do most of the dirty work for the Cadets, who are 13-2-2 through Wednesday's games and finished a perfect 6-0 in the Suburban Catholic Conference after topping St. Edward Tuesday.

That flawless conference record landed them the title, something they haven't done in 5 seasons.

Marmion coach Kevin O'Connor gave a lot of credit to his trio of defensive players for helping win the conference title -- and also for being under-appreciated and often forgotten.

"They are three of our veteran players and three of our strongest leaders," O'Connor said. "They do so much that is vital to the success of this team.

"You may read about Armando a lot, but he'd be the first player that would say these three guys deserve the same attention as he gets."

Friedman started playing soccer when he was 4. He's always been a defensive player. The lone junior of the trio had his season cut short last year after he sustained a lacerated kidney and liver against East Aurora after he took a knee to his ribcage.

"Luke is usually assigned to the other teams' best striker, best player, best attacking player, regardless of size," O'Connor said. "He usually relishes that challenge."

Conroy, a senior, also began his soccer career at 4 years old, though as a forward and midfielder. He became a defensive player at age 13.

Weiss, also a senior, has been a defensive player since age 6.

The best thing all three have going for them? They are incredibly versatile, according to O'Connor.

"They all have played multiple positions," O'Connor said. "Whatever I ask those guys to do, they do. Whether it's going forward in the attack, sacrificing personal stats for the benefit of the team or shutting down the opposing team, they've really done it all for us in the back."

Weiss is well aware of just how important defense is to a team.

"It's been vital," Weiss said. "One of our goals at the beginning of the season was to allow an average of 1.25 goals a game. After our first two games, we made some adjustments defensively…it's done wonders for our team. It's something everyone hopes to build upon. It's a solid wall we can lean back on if we need to at times."

Marmion's summer trip to Brazil really worked wonders for the team as well. Weiss, Friedman and Conroy all went and benefited from their experience.

O'Connor called the trip a once in a lifetime experience, as it really affected the lives of the players.

"The main thing we learned was team unity," Conroy said. "It was a big thing. We got to room with each other. When we came back, we were all in synch with our play. We definitely improved because of that."

"We learned the pace of the play needs to be fast at all times in practice and in games," Weiss added. "We learned a lot about defensive presence, defensive shape and how to move with each other and communicate in every aspect of the game. It was a great opportunity."

O'Connor was a defensive player in high school and college, so he understands what these three have gone through.

"I appreciate what they do and see they don't often get recognition for it," O'Connor said.

What Marmion has really gotten recognition for was winning the conference title this year. The Cadets last won it in 2002, so to be a part of this has been pretty special.

"It's really nice," Friedman said. "We've wanted to win conference for the last couple of years. We've come so close, so it means a lot to us."

"It's an amazing feeling to get it back for Marmion," Weiss added. "There's been that constant pressure to get the title back for the program, so it's amazing."