Schools
Strong Spirit to Set Tone for Hornets' Soccer Season
Led by third-year varsity players Paras Patel and T.J. Kubiesa, the Hinsdale South boys soccer team hopes to win its first regional title since 1998 after losing in last year's regional final.
HINSDALE SOUTH BOYS SOCCER PREVIEW
COACH: James VanDenburgh (3rd season, 15-22-6 record)
2010 RESULTS: 8-11-4 overall, 2-4 in West Suburban Conference Gold Division (tied for 4th with Addison Trail); lost to Downers Grove North 2-0 in Class 3A Hinsdale South Regional final
RETURNING STARTERS: Seniors Joey Gangi, Adam Garcia, T.J. Kubiesa, Paras Patel and Matt Schuster
OTHER VARSITY RETURNEES: Seniors Matteo Hoch, Bobby Jaworski, Kyle Murbach and Ernie Yanez
VARSITY NEWCOMERS: Seniors Brian Berry, Nick Campagna, Rory Caputo, Palfrid Mihindou, David Snell and Chris Tomaszkiewicz; juniors George Carioscia. Evan Goeke, Kenneth Ida, John Kotsiantos, Andrew Lane, Jeremy Leganski, Lenny Seivwright, Lane Tong and Jordan Wood; and sophomore GianCarlo Cianelli
OUTLOOK: The Hornets enjoyed a strong finish to 2010, beating Fenwick 2-1 in the regional semifinals by winning 4-3 on penalty kicks and coming one victory from capturing their first regional title since 1998. The Hornets lost to Downers North 2-0 after a whirlwind two goals in the final minute of regulation earned a 2-2 tie in their regular-season meeting.
The momentum has carried over, and something perhaps even more important.
“I think the team chemistry is the best I’ve seen so far,” VandenBurgh said. “This will be my seventh year here (with the program) and the spirit of the team (encourages me) I’ve never seen a team motivate themselves, push themselves. (At practices, assistant coach Jen Belmonte and I often say), ‘Keep going, keep going.’ We have not even had to step in to do that because they’re doing it themselves.”
The Hornets have six returning starters, including 2010 All-WSC Gold selection Kubiesa, last year’s leader in goals and assists, and third-year starting goalie Patel, who sets the tone for a defensive-minded VanDenburgh.
“I think defense will be a strength as always because I’m a defensive-minded coach. If we’re not strong, we’ll probably work on that first,” VanDenburgh said. “Hopefully, T.J. will lead us in the offensive category again. The preseason will be about looking at combos, seeing what’s working and then maybe making some changes.”
Patel played every minute of every game in goal last season and helped the defense record three shutouts and six one-goal efforts. Patel also had two assists on quick transitions.
“Paras is a great student, a great athlete and a great leader,” VanDenburgh said. “He’s just developed not only as an athlete but as a person and that’s what it’s all about here and the program’s goal. It starts with him and trickles down to the defense and moves up to forward. Something we’re always looking for is that T.J.-Paras connection on that quick break.”
Kubiesa scored 17 of the Hornets' 36 goals last season and also had a team-best five assists. He plans to continue producing, even if opponents try harder to defend him.
“He can smell the back of the net as they say. When he wants it, he’ll make it happen, but he also knows when to give the ball up,” VanDenburgh said. “He’s not just a goal scorer. He’s a playmaker. He knows how to play off that. If he sucks in a double team, he knows that’s going to open up scores for (his teammates).”
Also back are Garcia (assist in 2010) from the defense and Schuster (goal, assist), Gangi (3 goals, 2 assists). Murbach (goal) and Yanez (goal) at midfield. Hoch, hampered by injuries last season, currently is injured.
Sophomore Cianelli, Caputo, Ida and Wood are among the key defensive newcomers to join Garcia, last year’s stopper who will miss the first few matches.
Schuster either will return at center midfield or join Kubiesa up front. Yanez, Murbach and Jaworski are among those also contending for center midfield with Gangi and Leganski on the outsides.
“Part of those first few games are seeing what kind of combinations are good,” VanDenburgh said.
In the WSC Gold, the Hornets will have to overcome the threesome of Leyden, Downers Grove South and Morton, which have dominated the league in recent years. Morton took first place on every level in 2010.
Hinsdale South currently has an 0-3-2 record. The Hornets lost to
Wheaton Warrenville South 5-1 Aug. 23 and Morton 3-2 Aug. 25. They
posted an 0-2-1 record in pool play of Hinsdale Central's Red Devil
Cup, tying Hersey 0-0 Aug. 27 and Brother Rice 1-1 Aug. 31. The Hornets lost to Oswego East 4-0 Saturday.
QUOTABLE: “Obviously, the team success will come from the spirit, motivation and ambition that the guys put together. We want to build on the successes we had last year, playing our best soccer at the end of the year,” VanDenburgh said. “We want to make it back to the regional finals. Downers Grove North is a heck of a team, very, very good but they kind of crushed our dreams. We want to get back to that game and build on that.”
