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 18, 2009, against the odds, the Green White Reserve Team set a new low-light, this time against Vikings, giving up the opening goal in less than 60 seconds.  Incredibly, the early goal bested the 90 second standard set just one week earlier against Liths.    Unfortunately, the hold got deeper 20 minutes in when Nate Walker was clipped on the heel by an aged Viking forward; sending Walker sprawling with no call and allowing another uncontested break away.  Green White nearly halved the deficit just before intermission when Rob Czop served to the far post, but Jon Duddles could only clank the upright from two feet away.  Mitch Lechowski chased down the ensuing rebound and was likewise denied by the woodwork.  In the second half, Green White made it close when Neaman Lewis provided for Duddles who this time managed to direct the ball inside the frame to make it 2-1.  But with GW maintaining a high defensive line in search of the equalizer, Vikings hit for a third on yet another break away.  And then things got ugly.  A foul deep in the Vikings’ side of the field resulted in threats from a portly Viking defender to break legs.  Within minutes of the proclamation, the Irish thug, whose best days are well behind him, did his best to make good on the threat with a unwarranted two-footed, studs-up tackle on Matt Perille.  It was a flagrant and intentional assault to be sure, but the referee’s failure to show a straight red was equally gutless.  It was an example of what can ensue when a official fails to pull in the reins from the start.  Instead, as a mob scene began to develop, the referee called the game with several minutes remaining in the match.    As a result, the GW Reserve Team fell by a score of 3-1.

Squad:  Mike Magner (k), Keith Andersson, Bobby Bless, Rob Czop, Tom Czop, Jon Duddles, Mitch Lechowski, Neaman Lewis, Matt Perille, Mel Qoku, Dominick Storelli, Nate Walker, Prosper Wang.  Goals:  JDuddles (asst. NLewis).

On October 17, 2009, the Over 30 Team played Calisia at the Schwaben Center in Buffalo Grove.  The first half was evenly played with both sides having share of possession and chances on goal.  Keith Andersson and Mitch Lechowski played well up front and created 5 or 6 attempts at goal that resulted in near misses.  Defensively, GW played solidly in the first half with Gabby Sepiashvili making a couple saves when Calisia was able to find holes in the defense.  The score at half time was 0-0.  Andres Marcus yellow card.  The second half started the way the first half ended and was even until 15 minutes into the match when a turnover in the midfield led to a quick counter.  After a couple short passes, Calisia played a long ball to a wide open winger who from 15 yards out was able to slide it past a sprawling Sepiashvili.  Calisia scored 15 minutes later when GW was pushing forward for the equalizer.  They played a long ball out of the back and after a quick couple passes found a wide open Calisia player in the 18 yard box and who easily played the ball into an empty net (Gabby had come off his line to thwart the initial attempt).  Man of the match was Sepiashvili who, as usual, made several point blank stops to keep the score line close.  Of course, it could  not go without mention that resident brainiac Herb Sherry was dropped off at an empty GW Clubhouse for the away fixture.  Realizing the mistake and unable to make contact with his ride, Sherry borrowed a the car of a certain Newsletter Editor and in classy style, returned it with no gas in the tank.  Nice.  (Reporting contributions from John Parsinen).

Squad:  Gabby Sepiashvili (k), Keith Andersson, John Christopher, Rob Czop, Mike Gressle, Eugene Kim, Mitch Lechowski, Andres Marcus, Pat Palbicke, John Parsinen, Les Rebbeck, Herb Sherry, Axel Vega, Nate Walker.

On October 17, 2009, the Green White O40 Team met old nemesis Fiche Rams at Metro-Majewski Park.  From the outset, all cylinders were clicking for the home team, but for the cork in between the pipes.  Indeed, Green White peppered the opposition’s net, but couldn’t seem to solve the keeper.  The stalemate was eventually broken when Greg Healy eyed Todd Schneider sneaking behind the defense and so released him from his position in midfield.  The keeper was late to come off his line, which sealed his fate as Schneider collected his fifth goal on the campaign.  But with the exception of an Art Caliskan tantrum and the return of Angry Todd at the stroke of half time (which apparently was ugly enough that even Steve Pastorelli and Rolf Albrecht thought best to seek cover inside the clubhouse), that was all the fireworks for the first half.  But following apologies from and on behalf of Angry Todd, the goals finally started to pour in the second half.  It started when Pat Nash worked the ball free for Schneider to pick out David Nichols in midfield, who then sent in Mark Stein for his first tally of the afternoon.  Then a fully recovered Mark Wisnevitz (read “innocent Angry Todd victim”) turned provider for Stein to collect his brace.  With the game well in hand, the referee, a clear Scandia-phobe, whistled resident Sven, Cliff Sellie for a handball as he was drilled in the box with his arms at his side.  The resultant penalty kick spoiled the clean sheet for Armando Carlo.  But it was no matter as Green White continued to light the lamp at the other end.  The three goal cushion was regained when Andy Finn chased down a ball in the corner; turned and found Pat Nash breaking into the box.  Nash then turned provider for the last goal of the game, floating in a cross to David Nichols as he settled in between two defenders and flicked a header into the corner.  But the talking point of the afternoon was the Match.com rendezvous arranged by Dan Rogan.  Unfortunately, it turned a little uncomfortable for everyone else when Rogan’s slide tackle on his new mate turned  into an extended bear hug with Rogan face down on the touch line.  At last report, Rogan had cleared out the Walgreens and all 17 EPT tests were negative.  

Squad:  Armando Carlo (k), Roni Arusi, David Breines,  Art Caliskan, John Dunkas, Andy Finn, Mike Grosse, Greg Healy, George Lymperis, Rich Moroney, Pat Nash, David Nichols, Dan Rogan, Russell Rosenberg, Todd Schneider, Cliff Sellie, Mark Stein, Jason Thodos, Mark Wisnevitz.  Goals:  PNash (asst. AFinn), DNichols (asst. PNash), TSchneider (asst. GHealy); MStein 2 (assts. 1st – DNichols, TSchneider; 2nd – MWisnevitz).

The game schedules for the men’s teams this weekend are as follows:

• October 17, 2009 – GWO30 v. Calisia – 3:00 p.m. @ Schwaben Center
• October 17, 2009 – GWO40 v. Fichte Rams – 4:00 p.m. @ Metro-Majewski Park
• October 18, 2009 – GW Reserves v. Vikings – 12:00 p.m. @ Schwaben Center 
• October 18, 2009 - GW 1st Team v. Vikings – 2:00 p.m. @ Schwaben Center

For all GW Youth Team schedules, visit www.yssl.org and www.iwsl.com/club.php?clu_code=GW

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 October 11, 2009, the Green White Reserve Team continued their yo-yo season against SC Lituanica at Metro-Majewski Park.  Things did not exactly start off well for the home team as Keith Andersson hip-checked a forward at the 1:30 mark.  The referee had difficulty making up his mind and vacillated between a PK and a free kick, ultimately opting for the later, which was set and struck past something resembling a wall for the opening goal.  But GW would pull it back 18 minutes later when Tom Czop played through Jon Duddles, who rounded the keeper with a heavy touch.  While it is difficult to imagine the fleet one being caught from behind, Duddles was clipped as he hustled to retrieve his advance inside the box.  Tom Czop trotted up to dispatch the PK and even the score.  Before the end of the half, following a melee in the box, Kurt Melcher pounced upon a free ball to bury it from the five yard line.  But shortly after the restart, Liths scored again to knot the score at 2-2.  As the game neared its conclusion, Green White found the game winner on a cross from Duddles into Melcher at the penalty spot.  Melcher took a wind-mill swat at the ball that meekly rolled through the keeper’s hands and legs where Todd Schneider stepped in to clean up the slop and claim the 3-2 victory.

Squad:  Mike Magner (k), Keith Andersson, Bobby Bless, Rob Czop, Tom Czop, Chris Doran, Jon Duddles, Neaman Lewis, Kurt Melcher, A.J. Nawrocki, Todd Schneider, Mel Qoku.  Goals:  TCzop (asst. JDuddles); KMelcher (unassisted); TSchneider (asst. KMelcher, JDuddles).

On October 10, 2009, the GWO40 team went the distance to Lemont, Illinois in search of the tonic to cure their woes, and they hoped to find it against bottom feeding Youths FC.  Unfortunately, what was anticipated to be an easy three points was in doubt from the start as the directions were unjustifiably called into question and Green White had only 10 players at kickoff, including an AWOL keeper.  The deficit, however, proved immaterial as GW could have kept pace with a compliment of circus monkeys.  Still, the game remained a stalemate through the first half and required a parry from the big Swede, Cliff Sellie, to keep it that way.  In the second half, Green White took the wind at their backs and poured in the goals.  Yet the opening goal came in curious fashion.  Paul Weaver sent in a cross from the right that saw Roni Arusi leveled at the penalty spot.  The referee let that assault go, but then whistled a foul as Dan Rogan and the keeper chased down the ball in the far reaches of the box.  Mike Grosse stroked in the PK to open the flood gates.  Shortly thereafter, Grant Smale crossed in from the right.  Arusi wound up for the volley, but the defender reached up with his hand to thwart what Arusi claimed would have been a spectacular volley.  After much debate over whether the keeper could be switched for the PK, Arusi finally put it in for the Green White second.  Following some Harlem Globetrotting by Grant Smale in the net, Dan Rogan whiffed on a chip sent in by Jason Thodos, but saved the blushes with a second effort.  The scoring  was closed out when Thodos fed Todd Schneider for a fourth goal.  In the end, the game got chippy, as Paul Weaver’s shin can attest, but his pains were soothed by the cevapcici in the clubhouse following the game.  

Squad:  Cliff Sellie (k), Grant Smale (k), Roni Arusi, John Dunkas, Eric Gottung, Mike Grosse, George Lymperis, Dan Rogan, Todd Schneider, Jason Thodos, Paul Weaver, Chris Wellman.  Goals:  MGrosse (asst. DRogan); RArusi (unassisted); DRogan (asst. JThodos); TSchneider (asst. JThodos). 

Mr. Metzinger had surgery yesterday. They didn’t want to wait any longer, so by 3:30 yesterday he was already in recovery. In the end, he had a triple bypass, and they also had to operate on his carotid artery. The surgery went much quicker than anticipated. Now he’s in intensive care where he will stay for most of the week. Hopefully, he will be in a regular room by the end of the week. He’ll stay there for a few days, and, most likely, he’ll have to go to a rehab facility for a while after that.

They’ve already made him sit up. It sounds like he’s doing pretty well.