Boys soccer: Motivated Glenbard South beats Fenton, advances to state for first time
Glenbard South’s boys soccer team opened its season with three straight losses, playing with heavy hearts barely two weeks after head coach Willie Fajkus passed away from heart complications.
On Monday, the Raiders made school history, defeating Fenton 3-1 to win the Class 2A Hinsdale South supersectional and advance to state for the first time.
“This is all in memory of coach William Fajkus, who deserved this,” Raiders coach Mike Filipiak said. “He was meant to be the one who lifts this trophy, and I think this whole season is just one big dedication to coach Willie and what he’s done for the program.”
Glenbard South (14-9-2) jumped ahead early. Senior Clayton Nallbani received a pass from Adrian Maslanka in the sixth minute and tapped it in.
“That was definitely special to me,” Nallbani said. “Me and Adrian had this talk about long throws. He heads it backwards then I’m there in the box to pounce on it so it was a real good teamwork effort. I give him all the credit. We’re just a really good combo together.”
Playing with the wind at their backs in the first half, the Raiders took advantage in the 13th minute when senior Jackson Arnold scored.
“Clayton flicked it over and the goalie tried to shield it and I kind of pulled the chair and went around,” Arnold said. “I saw no one was back there and tried to hit it. I think the wind kind of helped me, but I won’t complain about it.”
Fenton (13-9-1) received a huge jolt from junior Nazar Prokulevich when he secured a loose ball in the box and blasted it home with 1:09 left before the break to make it 2-1.
“We talked to them at halftime and told them to forget about the first half, it's over and done with, so how do we respond,” Bison coach Victor Ruiz said. “Our emotions were too high and guys were trying to do it all on their own instead of playing like a team, and individual play came in and that shot us in the foot. So it’s a heartbreaker, especially the seniors who worked hard and wanted this.”
The Raiders got a little help from early in the second half when a Fenton player sent a ball back toward his own goal, but the pass went untouched for 30 yards and settled in the back of the net to give the Raiders a 3-1 lead.
“I was thinking the other day that given where we’re at now, it’s almost like maybe (Fajkus) is with us and maybe it’s in the stars,” Filipiak said. “And we have nothing to lose so let’s see what we can do at state. It’s just a great position to be in with these boys and they’ve earned it. And over the course of the season they have been amazing and the reaction has been amazing. It’s a family unit and when you build a family unit it takes you a long way.”
Fenton also lost a supersectional in 2018.
“It definitely was not our best game,” Ruiz said. “Give Glenbard South a lot of credit. They came out and wanted it and they got it.”