The Green White First Team opened the second half of the 2009-2010 Metropolitan League outdoor season on April 18, 2010 with a home fixture against Vikings AA.  Dispatching any notion of rust from the long layoff, GW got off to a fast start with the opening goal coming just 12 minutes into the match.  Brendan Connor spread the ball wide to brother Sean Connor on the left who played forward to the feet of Rolando “don’t call me Tom” Cruz (also dubbed “Goalando” by Matt Connor).  As Goalando baited the defense with a threatened sprint down the line, Sean Connor dutifully followed his pass and Cruz rewarded the run by laying the ball into Connor’s path as he chugged by.  With all the deliberate speed of a passing glacier, Connor carried to the endline and as the defense collapsed around him, craftily slotted the ball across the face of goal where Nick Dudziak and a host of yellow jerseys crashed into the area to bundle the ball across the line for an own goal and the opening tally of the match.  Later in the half, Jamie Limna locked boots in midfield to spring the ball behind the Viking defense.  While the Vikings stood and watch, Matt Stukenberg chased it down to go in on goal alone.  Unfortunately, as Stuckenberg turned to feed an on-rushing Goalando for the tap in, the ball hit a divot causing a mis-hit up and off the crossbar.  Despite the mishap, Green White doubled the lead at the 32 minute mark when Vikings failed to clear a corner kick.  The ball went only so far as the top of the box where Goalando laid in wait; settled and curled a shot inside the far post.  By this time everything was going the green white way and Nick Dudziak was unlucky when his break away effort was denied by the right stanchion just before the end of the first half.  Of course, the first half was not without its odd moments as Stukenberg found himself engaged in a slow dance with Vikings’ Randy Merkle, who inexplicably threw himself to the ground off of Stukenberg’s body, not once . . . not twice . . . but three times in quick succession, surely in an effort to draw a foul.  As the second half got underway, Vikings found hope when Asher Mendelsohn saw a cross from the right take an errant spin off his shin and into the Green White net.  Later, Jared Heyman, by all accounts a caring and compassionate sole, sought to unburden Mendelsohn from the anguish of his earlier gaff by chopping down a Viking forward in the box, thereby placing a quantum of blame on his own shoulders.  But the referee swallowed his whistle, and the assault went for naught, meaning Mendelsohn retained the good natured honor of goat of the game.  But in the waning seconds of the match, all was moot when Brendan Connor released Brady Hyde from the midfield where he took two touches and pushed around the keeper to seal the win and save the blushes of the little man who wears his shorts backwards.  Asked about the incident after the game, Mendelsohn retorted, “Leave me alone.  I just wish Colum was here.”

Squad:  Danny Caruso (k), Jose Cornejo (k), Brendan Connor, Matt Connor, Sean Connor, Rolando Cruz, Anthony Derose, Nick Dudziak, Brady Hyde, Jared Heyman, Jamie Limna, Asher Mendelsohn, Eric Spiess, Matt Stukenberg, Niko Voules.  Goals:  RCruz (unassisted), BHyde (Assist: BConnor), OG.  

In other Metropolitan League Major Division action on April 18, 2010:  Liths 0 – Belgrade 1; United Serbs – Schwaben (postponed); Sockers – Maroons (postponed); Zrinski – Eagles (postponed).

The April edition of the Green White Newsletter is hear just in time for the Easter weekend.  This month, we say goodbye with a tribute to Mrs. Gyurko; catch up on the final indoor games of the men’s teams, and look forward to the spring with the complete schedules for all Green White teams.  Don’t forget the indoor end of season award winners and answer to the trivia question on page 13.

• April 2010I hope you enjoy it.

Fritz

This month’s edition of the Green White Newsletter contains a tribute to Stefan Zimmer, one of the all time greats of Green White lore.  We’ve also recounted the exploits of the alte herren at the 2010 Las Vegas King Cup; scoured the police blotters to note the activities of recidivist Jon Duddles; contacted PETA to report abuses by the youth teams, and are pleased to see that Colum Donahue has finally found happiness.  I hope you enjoy.

• February 2010

On January 10, 2010, the Green White First Team opened the 2010 Metropolitan Major Division Indoor season against a familiar foe in the United Serbs from Gurnee, Illinois.  As the game got underway, Green White was the surprise aggressor, moving the ball forward with pace as prescribed by coach Jake Truty.  In the early going, GW had a superlative chance go for naught when Anthony Derose and Arso Mitreski exchanged touches that freed Mitreski for a 1 v. 1 with the keeper, but Mitreski hit the left post with the net minder falling back on his heels.  As the period continued, Serbs employed a post-up game unique to all teams in the Major Division this year.  But Green White bodied up and stood tall, with Jason Okroy, Colum Donahue, Monroe Bell Jr., Jimmy Romano and Sean Connor each taking turns in the central defense and refusing to bite as the portly Serbian forward danced with the ball under foot and his back to the goal.  Despite the generally good defending, at the 7:20 mark, Green White left a man unmarked in the middle as the ball was fed across the face of goal from the left.  The first time shot deflected off the right post and in to give Serbs a 1-0 lead that they carried into the intermission.  But Green White came out firing in the second half and found the equalizer when Mitreski carried up the gut before dishing to Brendan Connor on the right.  From an acute angle, the poster boy for Lucky Charms fired at the far post to knot the game at one apiece.   As the boys in green continued to press, Rolando Cruz cursed his luck when he missed a chance in front with only the keeper to beat, and then wanted back a volley that fell to him in the same rapid exchange.  But with just three minutes remaining, Green White captured the lead on the counter-attack.  It started with a nifty over the head flick from Art Rosiles to free himself of challengers near the Serbian bench.  Once cleared, Rosiles spotted Cruz down field.  Cruz received the pass and slotted Brandon Hardy, who had out raced the tired defense to find an opening on the doorstep.  Hardy managed to slide the ball past the keeper for the game winner, but not without paying the price, as the keeper barreled into his planted foot; severely twisting Hardy’s ankle.  The angular one needed assistance from the field and was forced to watch from the bench with a bag of ice as Green White anxiously tried to kill off the remaining time.  With just 25 seconds remaining, and the Serbs throwing everything forward, Brendan Connor nearly collected his brace to seal the deal, but his ¾ length attempt with the goalie stranded at midfield bounced off the post just inches from the prize.  Nonetheless, time soon thereafter expired on the Serbs and Green White picked up a deserved win on their first outing of the young season. 

Squad:  Jose Cornejo (k), Nick Dudziak, Brandon Hardy, Jason Okroy, James Limna, Sean Connor, Brendan Connor, Eric Spiess, Tom Czop, Arso Mitreski, Rolando Cruz, Jimmy Romano, Monroe Bell, Jr., Anthony Derose, Colum Donahue, Art Rosiles.  Goals:  BConnor (asst. AMitreski), BHardy (assts. RCruz, ARosiles).

In other Metropolitan League Major Division action on January 10, 2010:  HNK Zrinski 3 – Sockers FC 1; Vikings AA 6 – SC Connection 1; Maroons 1 – Schwaben AC 2; AAC Eagles 1 – International 0.

October 18, 2009, was Saganaki Day at the Schwaben Center in Buffalo Grove as Niko Voules had a break out game with the Green White First Team against Vikings AA.  It was also, it turned out, a laundry free day as Coach Truty arrived late with the uniforms, forcing the squad to don the lightly soiled and pre-moistened Reserve Team kits.  On the field, the first half did not produce many clear cut chances on either side.  But Green White geared it up in the second half.  The first goal came soon after the intermission when Adam Misirly, Eric Spiess and Matt Stukenberg combined to strip possession along the touchline.  As the ball broke to Stukenberg, he found Justin Dugena in the middle.  Dugena carried to the top of the box before slotting Niko Voules to the left of goal where the little Greek took no more than a touch to beat the keeper for his first goal of the season.  Later in the game, Green White put the game out of reach when Dugena played Stukenberg out wide to the right side.  With the sun flashing off his freshly Naired head, Stukenberg beat his mark to the endline, but his cross found nobody home in front of the net.  Voules chased the service into the left corner; turned with the ball and dished to Brady Hyde.  From there, Hyde froze the defense as he pushed to the inside around his mark and buried the rock from in close to seal the 2-0 victory.

Squad: Dan Caruso (k), Matt Connor, Tom Czop, Anthony Derose, Justin Dugena, Brady Hyde, Jamie Limna, Asher Mendelsohn, Adam Misirly, Eric Spiess, Matt Stukenberg, Niko Voules.  Goals:  NVoules (assts. JDugena, MStukenberg);  BHyde (asst. NVoules)

On October 11, 2009,  the GW 1st Team met SC Lituanica at Metro-Majewski Park.  With the coolest weather of the season to date, Green White opened the scoring at the 10 minute mark when Justin Dugena found Eric Spiess out wide.  Spiess sent in a driven cross from the 18 yard line that took a deflection on its way into the net.  But Liths struck back when GW allowed a forward to post and turn from 22 yards out.  The shot found the lower left corner to knot the score at 1-1.  After a couple of forays back and forth, GW snatched the lead in lightning quick fashion when keeper Danny Caruso collected an errant throw-in.  As Rolando Cruz revved his engines at the midfield stripe, Caruso released him with a driven drop-kick into the Liths side of the field.  Caruso’s opposite number made the mistake of charging off his line to challenge, but he came nowhere close as Cruz lofted into the vacated net.  The lead held until the second half when Liths struck back in controversial fashion.  Niko Voules took a few unwelcomed elbows and when Sean Connor stepped in to straighten things out, he was shown a yellow card.  Even though Green White had possession at the time, Liths were given a free kick just outside the box.  Then, as he stood in the wall set for the free kick, the ball struck Connor in the hand; deflected off the cross bar and out.  The infraction produced both a penalty kick and a second yellow card for Connor.  The PK was turned in and the match was all square.  Still, GW had chances to win the match, but Anthony Derose’s sharply struck shot went wide; Matt Connor couldn’t find his left foot as he closed in; Justin Dugena shied from the post and charging keeper on a cross, and JP Reyes fired at the satellite dish, which wasn’t working anyway.  In the end, the teams settled to share of the spoils.

Squad: Dan Caruso (k), Brendan Connor, Matt Connor, Sean Connor, Rolando Cruz, Anthony Derose, Justin Dugena, Jamie Limna, Adam Misirly, JP Reyes, Eric Spiess, Matt Stukenberg, Niko Voules.  Goals:  ESpiess (asst. JDugena); RCruz (asst. DCaruso).

On September 20, 2009, the Green White First Team faced down Maroons in an away fixture at Elmwood Park HS.  The match ended in a stalemate but not for the want of quality chances on both sides of the ball.  Of significance, Matt Connor was forced from the game on 10 minutes with the recurrence of a hip flexor injury.  Almost immediately thereafter, confusion in the back allowed a one-on-one break that keeper Dan Caruso confidently dispatched with a kick save.  At the 28 minute mark, Brady Hyde did well to hold and turn to find Adam Misirly posting at the top of the box.  Misirly slipped the ball across the top of the box for Kyle Retzlaff, but his  side-footed effort was well wide of the mark.  Shortly thereafter, Niko Voules sent Brady in on goal but the keeper stood tall to turn him away.  As Green White continued to find strength, a melee in the box saw the ball bounce out to Sean Connor, but his dipping, deflected shot sailed just over the crossbar.   As the first half ended, the rainclouds rolled in and the intermission lasted a little longer than usual until the Thor-guard sounded the all clear.  The second half proved to be a wet and slippery affair with no team able to grab the upper hand.  In the end, a share of the points was a fair result for both teams.  At the end of week #3, with seven points from two wins and a draw, Green White sits in first place atop the Metropolitan League Major Division table.  

Squad: Dan Caruso (k), Brendan Connor, Matt Connor, Sean Connor, Rolando Cruz, Anthony Derose, Brady Hyde, Bunny Larmond, Adam Misirly, Jason Okroy, Kyle Retzlaff, JP Reyes, Eric Spiess, Niko Voules.

On September 13, 2009, the Green White First Team welcomed a young and bountiful Sockers FC squad to the friendly confines of Majewski Park for an afternoon run in the sun.  Before the match kicked off; however, many in the assembled crowed noticed a new sense of purpose from the team, with new coach Jake Truty running the squad through the pre-game paces.  And once underway, the new energy and attitude only continued as Green White jumped all over Sockers from the opening whistle.  Unfortunately, the home team hit a snag when Matt Connor had his pocket picked in the rear defense to allow a break away that resulted in the opening tally.  But to their credit, Green White maintained their poise in the collective as they pulled themselves back into the match.  And in the 65th minute their perseverance paid off when Sean Connor (sans the mustache) crossed in for Eric Speiss to pick out the left side of the net for the equalizer.  But then the armor began to crack.  First, Matt Connor pulled up lame and had to watch the remainder of the game from the bench with an ice bag.  Shortly thereafter, Connor’s partner in central defense, Bunnyray Larmond, limped off with a groin strain.  Later, both JP Reyes and Justin Dugena were observed to be cramping and Jamie Limna, who had finished a 12K earlier in the day, was seen to be stretching his calves at every opportunity.  Thankfully, a late arriving Tyson Masar, who apparently is new to the concept of the “no parking zone,” was on hand to spell the dwindling troops.  Yet despite the tiring legs, with just 10 minutes remaining, Green White took the match by the scruff of the neck in stunning fashion.  The series commenced when keeper Dan Caruso outlet to JP Reyes on the left.  From his position at the midfield stripe, Reyes eyed Matt “The Duke of Shine” Stukenberg in full gallop on the opposite side of the field.  With laser-like accuracy, Reyes hit Stukenberg from 40 yards just as he reached the box.  With equal skill, Stukenberg took the service in stride and volleyed into the middle where Sean Connor pounced upon it for the game winner as the crowd erupted with joy.  For the remaining nine minutes, Green White tightened their boots and successfully killed off the game to maintain their perfect record on the young season.

The Green White First Team opened the new season on August 30, 2009 with a matinee performance against last season’s 3rd place finishers, HNK Zrinski.  The game marked the debut of new coach Jake Truty and a number of new faces in the lineup had the Green White faithful optimistic about the start of the new season.  And after 20 minutes, the confidence only continued to grow as Green White had the better of the possession and created several good chances.  The opening tally was nicely worked across the face of goal and knocked in from the eight yard line by Kyle Retzlaff off a feed from Justin Dugena.  Unfortunately, the goal was given back 10 minutes later on a strike from in close.  But Green White were not to be denied on this day.  Still in the first half, Niko Voules came on as a substitute, and made an immediate impact.  The young, second generation GW player found himself on the end of a flurry of blocked shots, including his own.  But with no shortage of hustle, Voules chased down his turned away effort; put the closing defender on his back with a sliding tackle; and raced back toward the goal from whence he came.  As he neared the target, Voules curled in a cross to pick out Dugena for the snapping header into the corner of the net.  Later, GW nearly made it a two goal advantage, but the near post saved the blushes of the Zrinski keeper who took rather lightly a seemingly innocuous strike from distance from JP Reyes that just missed the mark.  In the second half, both teams had several good chances, and as the game wound to its conclusion Dugena rued a handful of near misses that would have closed out the game.  But all was forgiven on the final whistle as GW walked away with the 2-1 victory and a rightful position at the head of the table. 

The first team will play Zrinski at 3:00 pm at Metro/Majewski and the Reserve Team will play at 1:00