Bison have won 12 matches; Barriga leads team with 26 goals.
By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
The Fenton boys soccer team played right with Riverside-Brookfield and York in a pair of recent games but came away with nothing to show for it in the win column.
Fenton lost a 2-1 Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division game to Riverside-Brookfield in a shootout situation. In the shootout, Fenton made its first shot, but missed its next three.
“We didn’t capitalize on some opportunities,” said Fenton coach Victor Ruiz.
Angel Barriga had Fenton’s lone goal in regulation against R-B. He also had the lone shootout make.
Fenton also lost 4-3 to York. Barriga and Ivan Jaramillo each had a goal. Sophomore Conrad Macieg had a goal off a Barriga assist.
“Again, we had some missed opportunities,” said Ruiz.
In earlier action, Fenton was a 4-0 non-conference winner over Downers Grove South.
Branny Salas had two goals, while Barriga and Jaramillo each had a goal.
Overall, Ruiz has been pleased with the team’s progress, but errors at key times, he noted, have come back to hurt his squad.
“We are moving the ball well,” he said. “The problem is we keep making mistakes and the other team seems to capitalize on our mistakes. I tell the guys we keep beating ourselves as opposed to the other team beating us. We have to clean it up. Once the playoffs come, if we do this we will get knocked out early and we don’t want that. We’re hosting regionals and sectionals this year.”
Fenton was 12-5 overall after the non-conference loss to York.
“A 12-5 record is OK, but we are not where we should be,” said Ruiz. “Out of those five games, there’s only one we should have lost and that was to Wheaton Academy.”
Ruiz said Salas continues to make improvements to his game along with Johnny Chavez.
“Brammy has been stepping up and scoring some goals,” he said. “Johnny plays defensive mid and wins balls and wins tackles. He does a good job setting up his teammates.”
Through late last week, Barriga was leading the team with 26 goals. Jaramillo had 17 goals.
Fenton played earlier in the week at Glenbard South in a MSC Blue game. The Bison are home today at 4:30 p.m. for a key contest against Elgin St. Edward. The Green Wave were 20-0 through late last week.
“It will be a huge challenge for us,” said Ruiz of the St. Edward game. “Everything in the season for us is a challenge. We set team and individual goals. This game against St. Edward is a great opportunity for us. We know we will have to play well and have one of the best games of the season. If we do that, we have a chance to beat a very good team.”
Fenton football
The Fenton football team dropped a recent 55-21 Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division contest to Elgin St. Edward.
The loss put Fenton at 2-4 overall and 0-2 in conference play.
Fenton returns to action Friday at home against Riverside-Brookfield.
