Maine West Sports Roundup: Soccer Has Fresh Look in Title Run

Maine West’s soccer team is trying its hardest to forget about the past.

The team's conference championship in 2009 is history. The school’s first sectional championship in 2010--forget about it.

“Everything we’re trying to focus on is right now,” Maine West coach Mike Divincenzo said. “What can we do this practice, this drill, today to be a better team for tomorrow? The past is in the past.”

In his 10 years at Maine West, Divincenzo has built up an impressive soccer program at a school not known for its athletics. The Warriors routinely win more than 10 games each season and have captured five regional championships under his tutelage.

As Divincenzo points out, those regional championships aren’t easy to come by when playing the likes of soccer powerhouses Loyola, New Trier and Elk Grove.

Yet, 2010 was Maine West’s most successful season in school history. The Warriors went 14-5-7 and won a sectional championship before it lost to Libertyville 3-1 in the supersectional playoff round.

“You want to say that those groups will come often, it was a special group,” Divincenzo said. “That group was a lot different than this year’s group.”

Maine West lost five starters, including its entire back line, from last year’s team. However, 17 players on the varsity roster last season have returned.

“Last year’s group was gritty with a lot of confidence; this year’s group is more talented with a lot more confidence,” the coach said.

The Warriors are 2-1-1 so far this season, with their only defeat coming at the hands of South Elgin, 3-2. Divincenzo said it would take time for this team to gel defensively--last year Maine West posted 13 shutouts--but he was excited about the talent.

That was evident in a 6-0 shellacking of Taft on Monday. Gerardo Espinoza and Chayanne Trejo each scored 2 goals for Maine West.

Sophomore Alex Herrera is another young player who will continue to pace the Maine West program over the next couple years.

“If he’s not the best sophomore in the state, he’s the second. He’s unbelievable,” Divincenzo said about Herrera.

But for now, they’re focusing on the present. And all they have to do is look at their T-shirts or warm-up tape to find a reminder.

“We’ve been building up for this year’s group. Obviously expectations are high,” Divincenzo said.

BOYS GOLF: Maine West has won its last four matches, defeating Leyden, Evanston and Niles North in dual matches while coming out on top of a quad meet against Zion-Benton, Grant and Richmond-Burton.

Against Evanston, Tim Burchard fired a 30 over nine holes for a school record of 3-under-par. His performance earned him medalist honors and was a key part of the Warriors’ 136-146 victory.

SCOREBOARD

BOYS SOCCER

Aug. 22 - Maine West 2, Elk Grove 1

Aug. 24 - South Elgin 3, Maine West 2

Aug. 27 - Maine West 0, Prospect 0

Aug. 29 - Maine West 6, Taft 0

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Aug. 24 - Elk Grove defeated Maine West 20-25, 25-13, 25-19

Aug. 25 - Niles West defeated Maine West 25-18, 25-14

GIRLS GOLF

Aug. 30 - Glenbard South 212, Maine West 219