Two Perez goals lift Red Devils past visiting Metea Valley

By Gary Larsen

Hinsdale Central graduated another stable of solid senior starters from last year’s team, but promise resides again in Hinsdale.

Coaches Paul Labbato of defending 3A state champion Lyons Township and Brian Gervase of rock-solid Downers Grove North have pointed to the Red Devils as possibly the team to beat in the West Suburban Silver Division this year.

Hinsdale Central senior goalkeeper Will Meyer wasn’t having any of it.

“I don’t think we’re up there yet. I think LT and DGN are definitely the teams to beat in the conference,” Meyer said. “And not a lot of people are talking about OPRF, but they’re good, too. Our conference is going to be extremely difficult.”

A pair of opportunistic strikes by Red Devils forward Leondro Perez gave Central a season-opening, 2-0 win over visiting Metea Valley on Tuesday. It was Red Devils coach Mike Wiggins’ 17th opening day as a head coach, and in his estimation it was about par for the course.

“It was sloppy, but it’s a first game,” Wiggins said. “I thought we had four good chances in the first half, and if we finish on some of those then maybe the game changes. Guys might start to loosen up a little bit.”

“We had some guys in their first varsity game, getting the jitters out, so it’s all that first-game stuff combined. I thought we were prepared and had a good plan, and at times we did well tactically on both sides of the ball. And for me, so far this is one of the most spirited, hard-working groups that I’ve had.”

Tuesday’s first goal came when Perez crashed net on a long shot by teammate Mitch Reavis. The ball came loose near the goalmouth, and Perez was there to clean it up into net. Perez’s second score again came from close range, when he located a loose ball and buried it from 7 yards out, in the game’s 63rd minute.

First-year varsity program Metea Valley threw a few good scares into the Red Devils’ back line early on, sending balls forward that junior Ryan Solomon was able to run down behind the defense.

Central’s defenders raced back to disrupt, and began limiting the Mustangs’ long-ball play after flirting with danger early on. Central goalkeeper Will Meyer has a pair of starting seniors in front of him in Andrew Worthington and Mike Oleferchik, with junior Alex Chiaramonte and sophomore Phillip Gutman starting outside.

“We have a lot of new guys on this team and we haven’t all played together,” Meyer said. “It’s going to take time. What I learned today is that I have to stay higher, to be able to cut those balls off if they do get over the top.”

“Andrew Worthington and Michael Oleferchik started last year and they’re really solid, so I’m really comfortable with them in back. They keep it organized and keep it under control. Phillip Gutman, as a sophomore, has come a long way and adjusted to the (varsity) game, and Alex (Chiaramonte) is just getting better and better.”

Wiggins likes the pieces his side has in back to start the season. “Will’s another solid keeper for our program,” Wiggins said. “We’ve got a new back four and they just need time to work out the kinks, and they’ll be fine.”

“Defensively we just need to do a better job collectively of sliding, and getting into position sooner. And when we got into the attack today, we just turned the ball over way too much.”

In the junior Reavis and senior Taylor Cole, the Red Devils have two rock-solid attacking players to lead the way, with Perez, Zach Chiaramonte, Michael Hrisstov, Gareth Parsons, Mike Krohn, and Connor Oleferchik all expected to contribute in a big way to the attack.

Central’s attacking players showed flashes of what’s possible on Tuesday. The Red Devils sent a shot off the crossbar in the game’s 5th minute, had a few more chances slip away in the first half, and Reavis ripped a shot from distance just wide of the post in the 26th minute.

“It’s a good start but we need a lot of work,” Cole said. “We should be pretty solid this year, but we’ll have to see. We need to work hard in practice and work on moving the ball quicker.”

The Red Devils’ coach knows it will take time but also likes this year’s attacking potential.

“With Zach (Chiaramonte) in the lineup, and then combining Taylor (Cole) and Mitch (Reavis) there, we feel like that gives us a pretty solid midfield. If our guys up top are willing to take guys on, we’ll be dangerous,” Wiggins said.

The Red Devils will also look for contributions this season from senior Steve Gianakas, along with juniors Andrew Scott, Aaron Cheever, Mark Tyler, RJ Dralle, and Killian Wagner.