Broncos' hoist Classic trophy with win over Boylan
By Mike Garofola

CLICK HERE FOR BARRINGTON'S TEAM PAGE

Barrington is back on top of its own tournament for the first time in five years, after freshman Kendall Stork delivered twice to help defeat Rockford Boylan in the 24th annual Barrington Classic Saturday evening on the big pitch at Barrington Community Park.

The Broncos’ freshman was at his best just three minutes into the match when he thumped a header high into the back post corner, and later gave his mates a two-goal advantage before turning everything over to the Broncos’ quartet of defenders.

Barrington staved off a furious comeback attempt by the Titans (3-3-1) whose gallant effort to get even fell short.

"It's been a long time since a Barrington team has won its own tournament," said senior mid Ethan Claes, who no doubt was reminded of the program's recent success by coach Scott Steib in this high profile week-long affair.

"Even in (2007) when Barrington won a state title, they weren't able to do so here so this is quite an accomplishment for all of us, and it's something we can build off as we begin play in the MSL next week."

The Broncos’ (4-1-0) tourney success by no means seemed inevitable in the opening stages of the 2012 campaign with a rebuilt backline, a new keeper, and several fresh faces injected in the first-11, including the aforementioned Stork up top, who already impressed Boylan head coach Chris Mera, who was impressed by the rookie right from the start.

"It would be hard to believe that (Stork) isn't one of the top freshman in the state, if not eventually the best by the end of the season," said Mera, who last season guided his club to a tournament crown after defeating Wheaton-Warrenville South 2-1.

"It's been kind of an amazing first two weeks of varsity soccer for me," admitted Stork, with a wide grin.

"I feel like I've been able to get over the hard part of being a freshman, and playing at the varsity level, and mostly because my confidence has improved, I feel my teammates have grown more confident in me as well."

Stork will get no argument there. "Kendall sure doesn't play like a freshman," began Steib.

"He attacks, runs some great routes, has a nice awareness of what's going on around him, and can really elevate to go get a ball in the air, like he did on his first goal, and in the closing moments when he won an important ball to clear our end.

"There's still a lot for him to learn, but he's a hard worker, just like this entire team is, and I believe we haven't seen the best just yet."

The Broncos’ faithful certainly wouldn't disagree with its long-time head coach after watching Stork out-leap the Boylan backline giants to meet Connor Hennelly's superb cross from the right endline, driving his header past keeper David Reha Suma. Suma had no chance on the bang-bang play that stunned the visiting side and were suddenly chasing the lead.

"Our entire backline are all new to the starting lineup, but that still didn't excuse that particular sequence happening, including allowing their guy to go endline on us," said Mera.

After celebrating its early lead, the Broncos back four of Tyler Anderson, Fernando Telles, Dylan Nelson and Zach Rowe went to work on showing the Titans why it had conceded just one goal in pool play en route to lifting the big trophy later in the night.

"We didn't really spend a lot of time talking about what Boylan does, instead we just went out and played our game, and tried to defend as a team the best that we could," offered Claes, whose play all week earned him a spot on the all-tournament team.

The Broncos would neutralize the angular trio of Mitchell Lotko, Tony Montoya and Peter Hall, who despite a distinct advantage of overall height, were unable to win the air war against the Broncos, who countered with very good positioning and a quick first step to most of the 50-50 balls.

A wonderfully-played early ball from Stork helped put Jack Hoots in at 26 minutes, but Rehak Suma was up to the task and would stop what could have been a two-goal advantage for the home side.

The Telles vs. Lotko match-up was a good one to watch with the Broncos' first-year starter doing well to keep the Titans’ striker away from teammate Pat Deroche, who was between the sticks once again for Steib and Broncos.

Just before intermission, Claes' corner would sail freely through the box and get cleared out to the top of the box, where an anxious Danny Jaderholm unloaded a wicked one-timer that went just away from the post.

"It was a good first half of soccer on both sides of the ball for us, but it would have been nice to get one more in before the half, because I think we all knew that Boylan would really come at us in the second half," said Steib.

And the Titans did just that.

With plenty more urgency, obviously inspired by a speech by Mera during the break, Boylan's second period start would see a pattern of increasing pressure from Lotko, Moreno, Montoya and Mauro Castro up top, and much more desire in its tackling to help keep the ball in the Broncos’ end in the first 15 minutes of the new half.

Deroche was called upon to come off his line to clear a delightful ball out of the back from Tristan Davenport, but in doing so allowed a loose ball which fell to Nick Krahmer, whose quick strike veered right of the post in the 56th minute.

With the Broncos' lukewarm possession percentage only a fraction of what the Titans were totaling,  it appeared it would be only a matter of time before the visitors would draw even, until the Broncos took advantage to an unfortunate error by Rehak Suma.

Although Claes' serve to the back post had plenty of pace and meaning, it appeared that it was catchable, but the Titans’ senior’s inability to collect the crossfield pass left a sitter for Stork on the floor at the back post. Stork immediately poked it into the back of the net.

"It was tough to go down two with 20 minutes to go, and especially on a play like that one, but it happens sometimes, and I have to credit the guys because they didn't hang their heads and really fought hard afterwards," said Mera.

The rest of regulation was played at a fierce pace, with Mera throwing extra numbers forward, while Davenport, Nick Schaefer and James Hoff sending balls over the top with more regularity in hopes of stretching and beating the Broncos' back four.

"In 2007, we had a backline much like this one. They would bend, but not break, then wait for (former Broncos) Ata (Ozbay) or Francisco Furio to score a goal, ease the pressure, and put us in control," offered Steib.

While the 2012 club doesn't boast a pair quite like Ozbay and Furio, who combined for 37 goals that year, they do have Stork, Jaderholm, Hoots and freshmen Sean Kim -- a group which combines a high work rate, quickness and enough creative talent to cause plenty of problems for most backlines.

Lotko headed two freekick serves over the woodwork as the Titans continued their push, as did Hoff after another Davenport delivery.

In between the Boylan barrage, the Broncos nearly struck the death blow when Logan Morris headed wide after Craig Zahour started things with a superb ball down the right side.

The Titans' persistence would finally pay off with Lotko earning a well-deserved goal in the 78th minute to bring the Broncos' faithful to the edge of their seats, but the home side stayed air tight for the final 120 seconds to secure the win and the right to lift the championship cup.

"I know we've had a lot of bad starts to the season during the past couple of years, but this was a very good week for us," said a happy Claes.

"There's a lot for us to be proud of, but I think all of us know this is just the start of the season (too) and we have to continue to work to get even better, if we hope to be playing for the championship in the MSL later on."