Marmion attack shows signs of development vs. WEGO

By Gary Larsen

The annual game bettween West Chicago and Marmion is always sure to feature two teams aiming to play good soccer against one another, and Saturday’s 0-0 tie was no different.

Of course, the aim isn’t always true.

“I don’t think it was the prettiest game but we’re very, very young,” Marmion coach Kevin O’Connor said. “In the first half I thought we were a little intimidated by their speed. In the second half we had more possession … so that was better.”

I thought our effort was good. With (Mick) Maley and (Alex) Ruble in the back, and (Juan Pablo) Jasso, (Matt) Switzer, and (Mike) Frasca in the middle, our role players just have to develop a little bit more.”

With a huge chunk of last year’s scoring now graduated, defensive captains like Maley and Ruble know they’ll have to keep teams out of net as a bevy of new attacking players find cohesion.

“We have a young, inexperienced team. A lot of our guys haven’t worked together,” Maley said. “This summer was the first time we got people together. So we’re not looking to score a ton of goals in the first part of the season.

Once those (attacking players) gel, work together, and find some balls in the back of the net, then our team will be complete. So like it was for today’s game, we’re looking to soak up pressure, do what we can, and let Frasca and (Joe) Romanos and those guys work up top.”

West Chicago (0-1-1) applied good pressure through 40 minutes but Marmion (3-0-1) elevated its attacking play in the second half.

“We actually had three very nice looks in the second half,” O’Connor said. “Jasso hit one that was deflected, and it was a nice hit. But he had Frasca wide open in the middle, and then Frasca hit one when he had Romanos open in the middle.

So we know where (scoring) has got to come from and sometimes those guys are going to be able to hit the combinations, and sometimes they won’t.”

Marmion’s goalkeeping situation may be unique among area teams. Both Brad White and Evan Lefelstein were solid keepers for the Cadets last year, and both returned for this season.

“Brad’s got two years of varsity experience and Evan’s got one. They both came up huge for us in certain situations, and we definitely trust both of them in the back,” Maley said.

And when one Marmion keeper is in net, the Marmion faithful will see the other playing the field.
“We put (White) out there and got very positive play from him,” O’Connor said. “He was in goal all last game. We literally make our decision on keeper at the last minute before a game. I wish I didn’t have to play the backup keeper in the field but that’s the way it is this year.”

Lefelstein saved a pair of dangerous shots at the near post off the foot of West Chicago’s Esteban Fernandez on Saturday, and roamed the box aggressively throughout the contest.

West Chicago is loaded with skilled, attack-minded players, and Maley was also a pivotal figure in back against the Wildcats.

“Maley is a very good player – very solid and very consistent,” O’Connor said. “We count on him every game to be very good. And he never has a down game because he never has a down practice.”

Maley knew he and the boys in back would have their hands full in West Chicago.

“Their forwards and center mids are so quick,” Maley said. “They kept the ball and their forwards have such creativity in their runs that we had to make sure we were communicating well, and keep our heads on a swivel so we could find those runs. And then getting pressure on the ball, closing down space, and just winning our one-vee-one battles.”