Soccer Ends with a Bang
December 18, 2008
The Boys’ Varsity Soccer Team has a lot to be proud of at the conclusion of their 2008 season. Managing to endure the long, challenging year, the boys have become IHSA Regional, Sectional, and Super Sectional Champions. The team also earned “Best of the West Runner Up,” third place in the Collinsville Tournament, and fourth place in State after a hard fought battle with Rockford. The Wildcats also had a dominant record of 21-6-2 and were 7-1-2 in the Upstate Eight. It was the fifth time in the past seven years that the varsity team has posted at least twenty wins in a season.
Along with team accomplishments, individual accomplishments were abundant as well for the team this year. On November 19, Junior Bryan Ciesiulka was named the Naperville Sun’s 2008 Boys Soccer Offensive MVP alongside Naperville Central senior Tim Zimmer who was the Defensive MVP of the year. Ciesiulka recorded fifteen goals and fourteen assists for 44 points along the way this year. He also made the Chicago Sun-Times 2008 All-Area team and played a key role in the team’s success throughout the year.
Other players with successful seasons included Scott Davis who scored twelve goals to go along with five asissts for 29 points, and senior Ian Krol who had 11 goals and 4 assists for 26 points. Junior goalkeeper Jack Turancik led the way for the Wildcat defense appearing in 26 games, with only 24 goals against and a 92.3 save percentage. Turancik also recorded eleven shutouts throughout the year with the help of his defense.
A trophy ceremony was held in late November to honor the team’s fourth place finish in state. The ceremony can be viewed online through the Neuqua Media website at www.neuquamedia.org.
Though it was a long and tiring season, the 2008 Varsity Soccer team persevered, and showed that success in soccer at Neuqua Valley High School will not stop anytime soon.
By Kevin Maras, sports editor
