On Tuesday, Sept. 3, Kaneland’s varsity soccer team played against Yorkville High School in their first home non-conference game in Maple Park.
Kaneland’s last game against Yorkville was in 2019, and they won 2-0. However, this year Kaneland lost to Yorkville by “a final score of” 4-0.
Head girls and boys soccer coach Scott Parillo, a social studies teacher at Kaneland, felt confident in his team after the game despite the loss.
“I believe we played well. Yorkville is a big school and very aggressive, and we knew that they were going to be tough to play.” Parillo said, “I wanted us to win because it was a home game, but that’s just how it is. [Midfielder, senior] Matthew Mitchinson had been playing very well all season, and he played the best against Yorkville. His presence on the field, his footwork, his mental toughness, physical toughness was very [effective] against Yorkville as they were physical and aggressive. [Goalie, senior] Cooper Van Wagoner was hurt, and he took some goal kicks that he shouldn’t have.”
Parillo didn’t know how hurt Van Wagnor was, but once he saw the kick he knew it was pretty bad.
Kaneland almost scored nine minutes into the game but failed to do so, and two minutes later Yorkville scored a goal to take a 1-0 lead. “With 26 minutes left in the first half, senior forward Cameron Guernon got injured and was taken off the field. With 10 minutes left “in the first half”, Yorkville scored again to take a 2-0 lead into halftime.
“Our first home game, I don’t think we played well. I didn’t see much effort.” Mitchinson said. “I think we can play a lot better coming up. Just getting a day of rest and come back Thursday against Batavia and put effort in and get the win. I think if we come off strong and not slow we can play well, but it all comes down to our effort. If we don’t show effort, then it doesn’t matter.”
At the beginning of the second half, there were penalty kicks missed by both teams. With 38 minutes left of the second half, Yorkville missed a shot on goal. Then at 31 minutes left. Yorkville scored once again to take a 3-0 lead.
“Mitchinson had the most impact on our team today,” junior forward Noah McKittrick said, “He worked the hardest and played the best. He did the most. One of the harder players on Yorkville’s team was number 10.”
With 26 minutes left of the second half, Kaneland senior defender Josh Schimmel was injured on the field.
“I believe we played an overall seven out of 10 today,” junior striker Abe Paulino said “Mitchinson had the most impact on today’s game. He’s a great player overall and can change the game. Number 10 on Yorkville’s team had the hardest defense against us today.”
With 22 minutes left of the second half, Yorkville scored again to bring the final score to 4-0.
“The game against Batavia should be a good game, and it should be tough,” Parillo said. “Our first five games are all much bigger schools that we are facing.”
Last year, Kaneland was 11-10 overall. Kaneland earned second place in the Interstate 8 conference. Kaneland’s next game is on Sept. 5 at Batavia High School.
