Glenbard West overcomes rival Glenbard South
Glenbard West seniors Luke Andreasik and Brady Heller have been quite a soccer scoring combination for several years.
"I can't really count," Heller said. "We've been playing together for a long time, ever since when we were little in Lakers (traveling soccer) over at Ackerman (Park)."
On Tuesday night the 6-foot-3 co-captains filled a tall order. They combined forces for the first goal in the Hilltoppers' 4-1 victory over cross-town rival Glenbard South in Glen Ellyn.
Sophomore Jesus Meza and junior reserve Seth Dillworth also scored in the opening half to give host Glenbard West (4-0) a 3-0 advantage. Dillworth scored again on a breakaway with 5:56 left.
The Hilltoppers started seven seniors, including five returning starters - forward Andreasik, center defender Heller and seniors Blaise Bishop, Alexis Rogel and Jake Smith.
"I know we have a lot of talent on this team. It's just putting it together for us," Heller said. "I feel like the expectations for us are just what we make them. Right now I feel like we have some pretty high expectations for ourselves. We want to do some big things."
Both teams entered the game undefeated behind three impressive victories. Glenbard West had beaten those opponents by a combined 9-2, Glenbard South 16-2. Last season the District 87 rivals tied 1-1 in October.
Andreasik scored when Heller booted a high, long cross toward the top of the box.
After the ball popped off the artificial grass, Andreasik won the ball in the air near the 15-yard line and helped the ball along for his third goal this season.
"Last year it did (work) a lot, (Heller) setting the balls and (my) running onto them," Andreasik said. "We've got momentum going right now and we've got to push with it. I think we can shock other teams. We have some new talent and seniors that have been playing for a while and we know what to do."
Strong passing combinations followed. Meza scored his team-high fourth goal off a give-and-go combination with Bishop down right wing. Dillworth scored his first goal of the season off a beautiful through ball from P.J. Knapke.
"From the very beginning we started to implement a certain way of playing, a way we are capable of," Glenbard West coach Maciej Kusmierz said. "When it works, it looks good out there, but there are times we need to improve it definitely."
The Raiders scored on their first shot on goal 4:04 before halftime. Junior Spencer Pyle notched his ninth goal this season by heading home Kevin Enright's throw-in kept alive in the crease by senior Alex Dumitrescu.
"They're a quality team. They play in a (tough) conference," Glenbard South coach Adam Szyszko said. "We didn't show up for the first half. We told them this was going to be a challenge. We didn't rise to meet it so now we'll see how they respond."
Throughout the early going, the Raiders had several threatening lead passes to Pyle and forward Ryan Vozza and thanks to Enright's throw-ins. But they could not muster quality chances against defenders Heller, Smith and Rogel and defensive midfielder Knapke.
Junior goalkeeper Gabe Billings started before being replaced by freshman Oliver Holowinski in the 10th minute. Billings returned for the latter part of the second half.
Dillworth later controlled the ball near midfield, turned and outran defenders down the left side to score again. Earlier in the half, Dillworth nearly scored again and nearly assisted Andreasik and Christian Doweidt.
"Seth gives us pace and quickness up front. He can play at a high intensity level," Kusmierz said.