Green White Soccer Club

You can find them all in the photo gallery under the “multi-media”  tab.  Just scroll down to “First Team 2012.”

You can find them all in the photo gallery under the “Multi-media” tab.  Just scroll down to “Youth Teams 2012.”

You can find them in the photo gallery under the “Multi-media” tab.  Just scroll down to O40 Team 2012.

“When it rains, it pours.” Ever heard the saying?  Usually the idiom has a negative connotation, meaning that when things go wrong, they all go wrong at the same time.  But on May 6, 2012, when the Green White First Team took on perennial highfliers United Serbs, the phrase took on both a literal and positive reference for the boys in green.  In the literal sense, for periods of the game, there wasn’t exactly a threat of rain or clouds looming nearby – it was just flat out pouring rain.  But that did not stop Green White from getting up for some milk and cookies.  The first to open the cupboard was the newly acquired Marcin Simson who fought through a melee to turn in a corner kick at the 12 minute mark.  Five minutes later, Eric Spiess laid the ball off to Adrian Skital for a tidy finish from 22 yards out.  Still in the first half, Skital remained active and played a nifty diagonal ball to the opposite side of 6 yard box where Joe Klingelhoffer touched around a defender to deposit at the far post.  Green White took the 3-0 lead into the break, and minutes after the restart continued to build on their lead.  At 48 minutes, Chris Mills, making his first appearance of the spring, played to Patryk Ruta galloping into box and Ruta tucked it in at the near post with an uncommon cool.  Ten minutes later, Andreas Laxgang saw his shot blocked, but Gordy Gurson was Johnny on the Spot to hit the net through traffic.  Later, Gurson had to save his own blushes when he missed a penalty kick 20 minutes from time.  Double G saw his effort saved off the post, but was thankful to turn in the second effort.  In the end, Ruta found Klingelhoffer in a familiar spot at the corner of the 6 yard box for Klingelhoffer to collect his brace and close out the scoring at 7-0.  It has been some time since GW topped the Serbs on a Sunday, especially by such a lopsided score. And so goes the saying, “When it rains, it pours.”   (Reported by Jake Truty and Fritz Schneider).

Squad:  Marek Los (k), Monroe Bell, Jr., Matt Connor, Anthony DeRose, Gordy Gurson, Joe Klingelhoffer, Andreas Laxgang, Chris Mills, Jason Okroy, Rafa Popko, Ozzy Rodriguez, Patryk Ruta, Marcin Simson, Adrian Skital, Sebastian Skital, Edi Speth, Eric Spiess, Tim Weir.  Goals: MSimson (unassist); ASkital (assist: ESpiess); JKlingelhoffer (assist: ASkital); PRuta (assist: CMills); GGurson (assist: ALaxgang); GGurson (unassist); JKlingelhoffer (assist: PRuta).

In other Metropolitan League action on May 6, 2012:  Schwaben 5 – Zrinski 1; Vikings 2 – Kickers 2; International – Sockers (postponed); Connection – Eagles (postponed).

Sometimes the story of a game is not so much about what happened, as it is about what didn’t happen. That was the case on May 6, 2012, when the Green White Reserve Team faced off with the United Serbs.  The story of the game was not about how many goals were scored; it was more about how many goals were not scored. It was reported that Green White missed at least 10 sitters throughout the game; the biggest offenders being Jacob Kruhlik and Oscar, flubbing at least 3 a piece.   Kurt Melcher was good for a missed sitter with an attempt at a diving header when something less flashy would have easily earned him a goal under the circumstances.  Chilly Chill reportedly opted for the woodwork rather than the net.  But perhaps the most glaring negative was the fact that the two teams didn’t run for cover at the first clap of thunder and flash of lightning, which reportedly continued throughout the entire first half.  Of course, the game wasn’t just about low-lights.  In the first half, Phil Collins, on break from his Sussudio Tour, had a sharp finish, bending one over and around the keeper into the upper corner from 20 yards out to put GW up 1-0.  But Serbs got it back when Rob Czop passed a ball to within a few feet of his statuesque brother, Tom Czop.  (In this case, “statuesque” refers not so much to the Adonis-like physique of the elder Czop, as much as it means that he did not budge from his base in an effort to receive the slightly inaccurate pass.)  The result was a jail-break the other way and a tied game at 1-1.  Green White regained the lead when Phil Collins received a throw-in; collected and struck another zinger that took a deflection to catch the keeper out of position. With time winding down, Jose Cornejo made a big save in the net to preserve the lead.  Finally, a big “Welcome to GW” and a tip of the hat to Patrick Kelly who showed solid play and impressive speed all game long.  The GW faithful hope to see Kelly contributing to the First Team in the future, but once he finishes school, he’s more likely headed to the PDL first.  (Reported by Chris Salatino, Mike Magner and Fritz Schneider).

Squad: Jose Cornejo (k), Mike Collins, Phil Collins, Rob Czop, Tom Czop, Tony Howell, Jacob Kruhlik, Kurt Melcher, Mel Qoku, Chilly Chill, Chris Salatino, Craig, Oscar,  Pat Kelly.  Goals: PCollins (unassisted); PCollins (unassisted).

Not a whole lot reported from the O30 match on 5/5 against AAC Eagles, other than the Green White O30 Team appears to be gearing up for Las Vegas.  For the third week in a row, the O30s bellied up to the table and the shooter rolled a 7.  Ouch. Let’s just hope they were betting the come line.  Dan Briggs scored the lone consolation goal for the boys in green in the 7-1 loss.  Despite the lopsided score, reports were that GW played the Eagles straight up for 60 minutes, but in a 10 minute span, the damn burst wide open.    (Reported by Fritz Schneider).

Squad:  Jim Dionne (k), Greg Boltz, Dan Briggs, John Christopher, Rob Czop, Peter Gansler, Paul Paul Makovec, Pat Palbicke, John Parsinen, John Sedej, Edin Sejdinovic, Nate Walker, Derrick Wilkinson, Chris Wixson.  Goals: DBriggs.

On May 5, 2012 the GWO40 Team traveled to the far reaches of Cook County hoping to make up some ground on league leaders, HNK Concordia.  And the game started off well for the team in green.  Within 15 minutes of the opening whistle, Green White was on top thanks to a spectacular strike from newbie, Barney Hernandez.  The play started down the right side with Omer Hadzic pushing the ball forward to Marc Stein.  Steaming toward the corner, Stein floated a cross over the defense to the back stick where Hernandez wheeled off a full volley that ripped the back of the net.  Later in the half, Rich Moroney was sent to the showers with a red card for swinging hand-bags.  Moroney was fouled hard on the play, and for a moment, Green White could see the ensuing advantage with the Concordia player certain to see red.  But when Moroney hit back, both players were sent off.  The irony of it all is that Moroney isn’t usually prone to bouts of uncontrolled anger – but the last time it happened was in the 2011 Illinois State Cup semi-finals – at the same field, against the same opponent.  It may have even been the same player.  In any event, the game continued with 10-a-side and Green White carried the lead all the way until the final minutes of the game.  There were some harrowing moments along the way, the most glaring of which was when normally reliable defender Mel Qoku, inexplicably – for the third time in as many games – gifted an attempted clearance straight to the opposition.  Thankfully, keeper Armando Carlo was on his toes to palm away the point blank strike.  But in the waning minutes, Concordia capitalized off a corner and a melee in the box to equalize.  The whistle sounded soon thereafter and Green White were disappointed to leave knowing they had dropped points and were now resigned to playing the remainder of the season for second place. (Reported by Fritz Schneider).

Squad: Armando Carlo (k), Jeff Baker, Dan Donnellan, John Dunkas, Marco Garcia, Omer Hadzic, Barney Hernandez, Rich Moroney, Jusef Muratovic, Nick Paul, Mel Qoku, Mike Resnick, Russell Rosenberg, Ahmed Saleh, Todd Schneider, Cliff Sellie, Marc Stein, Jason Thodos.  Goals: BHernandez (assists: MStein, OHadzic).

Pictures of the Green White Stars (GU09) from 5/5/12.  You can find these and more pictures of the youth teams in the Photo Gallery under Youth Teams 2012.