Another shutout for U-15/16 results in scoreless draw with Sockers FC

By Curt Herron

The Fire Academy U-15/16 team has kept itself in each of its matches in Great Lakes Division play by not allowing the ball to go into the net.

That is evidenced by the fact that the Fire has allowed just one goal while recording three shutouts during its initial four division matches.

While that type of performance usually translates into a lot of positive results, Chicago has been frustrated in its ability to score goals.

That was the story again on Sunday when the Fire prevented their opponents from scoring but themselves weren't able to connect for any scores.

Following Sunday's 0-0 draw with Sockers FC on a warm afternoon at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Chicago is now 1-1-2 in division play.

After scoring their first two goals in Great Lakes play in Saturday's 2-0 win at FC Milwaukee, the Fire got blanked for a third time on Sunday.

Instead of picking up six points over the weekend, Chicago settled for four, which Sockers also did after beating Chicago Magic the day before.

Christian Lomeli has played in goal while his regular defense has included Cody Witkowski, Charlie Oliver, Benjamin Kucera and Louis Bennett.

That group limited Sockers to only a few opportunities, however, the Fire also only had a handful of chances against keeper Nick Landsberger.

"Our defense has really been coming up big," Lomeli said. "It's not the goalie that gets the shutout, it's also all of the defensive backs. I think our communication back there has been the reason why we're doing alright.

"There was a little more heat on me than I've faced recently, but you always have to be ready for everything that comes at you. And I feel that our backs and I were ready for that and we came out prepared for today's game.

"I liked how we looked offensively during the second half on Saturday when played with intensity and were going toward the goal. We're going to need to see more of that type of play from our strikers and our midfielders."

Shortly after the match began, Bennett had a long try and the Sockers keeper made the stop on one of the Fire's few first half shots on goal.

Meanwhile, the hosts countered with only a couple of good attempts during the opening half and Lomeli was able to deny both of those efforts.

Things picked up offensively during the final half, beginning with shot tries from Jesus Medina and Sockers' Damien Sampson in the early going.

After Jacob Bevan lined a shot across the front of the Fire net, Manny Rios responded with an attempt that also sailed just wide of the goal.

A short time later, Joel Salmeron took a free kick just beyond the top of the box but sent it directly to Landsberger, who hauled the shot in.

The last good Fire chance came a few minutes after that on another free kick, this one by Medina from near the sideline that was punched away.

Sockers had a few chances during the final 10 minutes, but one shot was stopped by Lomeli and a pair of corner kicks didn't lead to anything.

Chicago will have just one match this weekend, when it travels to Butler University in Indianapolis on Saturday to meet Indiana United Academy.