Libertyville’s boys soccer team had high hopes last year , only to succumb to an injury-plagued 10-10-2 season.
“We thought that was a great team, with a lot of kids back from the sectional finals the year before, but it was terrible,” coach Andy Bitta said. “We lost a ton of key players, everyone from forwards to goalies. And not just for a game or two here and there, but season-ending injuries. It was a nightmare.”
If there was a silver lining to the disappointing year, it was the fact that several inexperienced players were stepped up and made a difference. It seems to be paying off.
The Wildcats are 9-1 and looking like one of the better teams in the state. Libertyville advanced to the quarterfinals of the PepsiCo Showdown before losing to Wheaton Academy. The Wildcats rebounded to beat Lane 4-0.
“I wouldn’t say this has been a surprise,” Bitta said, “because I see how hard they work and play together. If you would have asked me back in July where we’d be right now, I would have guessed maybe 7-3 or 8-4, just because of the good teams on the schedule. But they’ve really come together and showed some great leadership. It seems like it’s all paying off now.”
Two players who had to step up for the team during last year’s trying campaign, seniors Trey Touhey and Thomas Vondrak, have been no surprise. Bitta noted their talent and leadership skills.
What has been a surprise was the participation of several club soccer players, who were coaxed by teammates to join the high school team for their senior year. The list includes Cam Fragassi (11 goals) and Paul McKeon and juniors Kyle Robson and Tucker Goebeler. Jeff Wagner, who played as a freshman at Libertyville before moving to Brazil, has returned for his junior year.
Nine wins in 10 games is a great start for Libertyville, but the schedule ahead is just as daunting, as the North Suburban Lake is one of the toughest conference in the state. If the Wildcats can stay healthy, they may be a team to beat in the postseason.
“You don’t win a state championship in September,” Bitta said. “It doesn’t get any easier. This team has surprised me in a few ways. We talked about goals and what we want to do. And we wanted to get into the championship game of the Pepsi Showdown, but we were just a game away. We bounced back.
“This team is playing well. But the next few weeks will tell us a lot about this team.”
