TCS Varsity Soccer Blog

Must See Goal- Scorpion Kick From Distance

2012-02-03T08:14:00.001-06:00

2011 Team Photo Album

2012-01-27T09:38:00.001-06:00

There were over 480 pictures taken of the 2011 soccer team. The slideshow above contains them all. If you'd like access to the album to click through/save/print some of these pictures, click here.

Early Season Indoor Soccer Schedule

2012-01-17T13:01:00.002-06:00

Team, here are the indoor soccer open gym dates and times:

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 in the HS Gym from 6:30-8:00 AM

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 in the HS Gym from 6:30-8:00 AM

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 in the HS Gym from 6:30-8:00 AM

As always, open gyms are just that... open. Come one, come all! I look forward to seeing you there!

US Goalie Tim Howard Scores From DISTANCE!

2012-01-04T19:50:00.001-06:00

<a href='http://foxsports.com?vid=fac369d7-cda9-4662-a062-1b4b3af67df7&mkt=en-us&from=sp^foxsports_en-us_videocentral&src=FLPl:embed::uuids' target='_new' title='GOTD: Howard scores amazing Goal' >Video: GOTD: Howard scores amazing Goal</a>

This happened earlier today. I thought it was once in a lifetime, but then I found ANOTHER US keeper (Brad Friedel) scored a number of years ago:

Both goalies need to work on their goal celebrations!

New TC video... a few shots of our soccer team

2012-01-02T11:54:00.002-06:00

Thought you guys would like to see the TC video (official launch today). There's a few nice shots of our soccer practice.

Brian McBride Finishing Drills

2011-12-21T20:59:00.000-06:00

Hilarious Own Goal!

2011-12-20T15:22:00.001-06:00

Defensive Midfielder Tactics

2011-12-17T09:39:00.001-06:00

Robin Van Persie's Ridiculous Volley

2011-12-10T20:24:00.002-06:00

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href='http://foxsports.com?vid=db9e62f7-b3ed-4e7f-a0e1-87021f4fd24b&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;mkt=en-us&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;from=sp^foxsports_en-us_videocentral&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;src=FLPl:embed::uuids' target='_new' title='Van Persie&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s Glorious Goal' &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Video: Van Persie&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s Glorious Goal&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

I'd like to be able to say that I could have done this too... but I'd be lying. Wow- what a strike!

Program Alum News: Daihee Cho Accolades Keep Coming!

2011-12-08T11:30:00.003-06:00

As I've said many times, TC Soccer program alum Daihee Cho has really placed a permanent stamp on our program and our school. I've frequently joked that the "Team Spirit Award" should be renamed the "Daihee Cho Living Memorial Team Spirit Award" because he personified everything that that recognition is about.

Well... now Daihee's doing the same thing over at NIU. Here's an excerpt from an e-mail that he sent me sharing some good news. Way to go, Daihee- we're proud of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Many exclamation points in honor of his ridiculous texting habits):

First, I have become a member of Dean’s Student Advisory Board for College of Business. So, I will have a regular meeting with the Dean of College of Business.

Second, I got an internship interview with one of the Big 4 Accounting Firms! I will have an interview with Deloitte, currently the largest accounting firm in the world! I am really excited because they only select 12 students from NIU, and I am one of them! Also, I heard that I will be the FIRST sophomore EVER from NIU who will have an interview with them! They usually select 12 juniors or seniors, but they selected me this time! =)

Third, I received one of the most prestigious scholarship, Forward, Together Forward Scholarship. This scholarship is given to 5 students annually, and the criteria for the scholarship is student’s involvement, personality, work ethic, etc. Also, I am the FIRST international student receiving this award!

Tactics Video: Playing From The Back

2011-12-05T23:27:00.000-06:00

TC Soccer Program Alum Jeb Nash in National Championship Game Saturday Night

2011-12-01T21:27:00.003-06:00

Really proud to share some program alum news today.

TC soccer program alum Jeb Nash is currently a Junior at Geneva College (athlete of the week here). Jeb is a TC program all-timer. He recorded 20 goals and 32 assists over his varsity career. Jeb's senior class was one of the best ever, finishing with an 18-6-1 record and a 2nd place finish in the fall of 2008.

Jeb's continuing his winning ways and is now tearing it up at Geneva (7 goals, 8 assists this year... more stats here), and his team has just advanced to the national championship game (story here).

You can cheer Jeb on in the championship game on Saturday night at 6:30 PM. Here's a link to the online stream.

GO JEB! We're proud of you!

Substitution Fail

2011-11-08T08:03:00.001-06:00

Let's just call this a very LITERAL interpretation of the "if you take off your jersey on the field, you get a yellow card" rule.

Hilarious Goal: 70 Yard Headball Goal

2011-11-01T23:02:00.000-05:00

Concession Stand Final

2011-10-26T13:50:00.002-05:00

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Concession Stand Update

2011-10-21T09:50:00.002-05:00

Counters removed... Will be reinstalled next week. Floors and walls done. Looking nice!

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Post-Season Info:

2011-10-20T09:06:00.002-05:00

Team Party: team moms are currently planning a team party to end our season. Stay tuned for more information.

Uniform return: please return your uniforms to Coach Gesch directly. You can bring all uniforms to his office in the business office (next to Bov's room). Please make sure that all uniforms are washed, folded, and organized so that they are easily stored for next season.

Thanks! Looking forward to being together one last time!

Concession Stand Interior Upgrade

2011-10-18T16:32:00.001-05:00

The folks at ECI have generously donated an interior redesign of our bran new concession stand. The final product will include fiberglass panels over every wall surface (for quick clean up), new laminate countertops, and laminate tile flooring. The outside of the structure will also be painted soon. Thanks again to all who made this project possible. It's really proving to be an awesome addition to our soccer stadium.

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2011 Season By the Numbers

2011-10-17T10:57:00.005-05:00

2011 Season By the numbers**:

Team Stats:

The 2011 season saw the Trojans score 52 goals off of 42 assists. 52 goals is good for 5th all time behind the 55 goal effort of the 2005 campaign. This is noteworthy for a team that lost 40+ goals from the 2010 team to graduation.

The staunch 2011 TC defense allowed only 34 goals- an especially impressive number when you consider that 19 of these goals (over half of the season total) came from three games: Wheaton St. Francis (5 goals allowed), Francis Parker (6 goals allowed), and Fenton (8 goals allowed).

The teams 12 wins represent the program's 5th consecutive double-digit victory season. By finishing 4-2 in the Metro Suburban Conference, Timothy earned a 3rd place finish. The team was amazingly close to a first place finish if a few bounces had gone differently.

Individual Stats:

Both Nick Groenewold and Nolan DuBois finished their 3 year varsity careers with 23 goals- good for a tie for 5 place behind program alum Mike Pizzello. Both players also grace the all-time assist list with 20 and 18 career assists, respectively.

Nolan Du Bois and Jake Hooker shared the team lead in goals with 9 apiece this season.

Matt Robinson notched a piece of history with 10 assists this season. That placed him in the conversation with an impressive list of players who have piled up double-digit assists during one season.

Goalkeeper Danny Leach finished with only allowing 34 goals- good for a 1.61 goals against average- eerily similar to 1.60 goals against from Leach's 2010 season.

____________________________________________

**I keep historical records of all of our individual and team accomplishments. Take a look at the right-hand column of the blog for the archived statistics.

MSC All-Conference Recognition

2011-10-17T10:44:00.004-05:00

After this weekend's post-season meeting of Metro Suburban Coaches, I'm very pleased to announce the following recognitions:

All-Conference Players:
Nick Groenewold
Nolan DuBois
Matt Robinson
Colin Middel

All-Conference Honorable Mention:
Justin Rink
Devon Loerop
Danny Leach

Congratulations to all players- these are very well deserved recognitions!

Regional Championship Pics

2011-10-17T10:41:00.001-05:00

Timothy Christian 2011 Soccer Season Ends With 1-0 Loss 3OT to Defending State Champ Lisle

2011-10-14T22:25:00.003-05:00

The preseason goal set for the 2011 Trojans of Timothy Christian was to win a Regional Championship. After a tough loss to end the 2010 season, the Trojans refocused their efforts on a Regional title. The team fell just short of that goal tonight in a heartbreaking 1-0 loss in triple overtime.

The epic game would feature the past two state champions with Timothy having claimed the 2009 IHSA Class 1A state championship, and the Lions of Lisle took the honors last season in winning the 2010 championship. For two programs of this magnitude to meet at such an early stage of the playoffs was really a shame.

The two teams also faced off in the first game of the regular season, with Lisle having won the game 3-1. But this was not the same Trojans team that began the 2011 campaign. Timothy had improved drastically since the beginning of the season, getting healthier as a team, changing formations several times, and learning to employ several different strategies depending on game situations.

For the Regional final, Timothy entered play with a defensive focus- intent on shutting down the potent Lion attack. Devon Loerop, Nick Groenewold, Matt De Jong, and Nate Slager were an outstanding defensive grouping. Junior goalkeeper Danny Leach did a phenomenal job in net for Timothy. Seniors Matt Robinson and Colin Middel also played key roles in the middle of the field for Timothy. The Lions were held scoreless for two 40 minute periods of regulation, and through 2 and a half overtime periods. The deathblow came via the set piece when the Lions were able to finish off a corner kick with a headball that would earn Lisle the Regional Plaque and end the Trojans season.

Timothy had several scoring opportunities over the course of the game- particularly towards the end of regulation when the team changed formation and brought Nick Groenewold into the center midfield position- but the team simply couldn't finish. With the win, Lisle will advance to the sectionals versus Chicago Christian.

Timothy graduates seniors Nolan Du Bois, Nick Groenewold, Nate Slager, Colin Middel, Hoon Han, Max Jabaay, and Joel Brouwer.

__________________________________

On a personal note, I really wanted to thank the seniors and families represented in this graduating class. This class played such a strong role in building our program that it is. Thank you for your time and commitment over the years. You will be missed.

As I told the team after the game, I really appreciated how much we grew together over the course of the season, how much we improved as a team, and all of the things that we accomplished. The high-points that stand out include (but are not limited to): the pre-season retreat to Wisconsin, the Peoria Tournament, the tough conference wins versus R-B, Ridgewood, Illiana (OT at TCSFest!), and the tie versus St. Joe's. The bonfire after the St. Joe's team was great. The way that we ended our regular season was terrific. As a team, we were definitely peaking at the right time into the playoffs, and it's a shame that we came so close to advancing but fell just short.

Finishing 4-2 in the very tough Metro Suburban Conference is an amazing accomplishment. With a wacky game versus Glenbard South (remember- we were tied 1-1 when the goal was inexplicably called back), we were SO close to finishing 5-1 in conference... and we held head-to-head tie-breaker with Riverside Brookfield (finished 5-1). We were THAT close to our program's first ever conference title. That accomplishment is very impressive against such strong 2A competition.

Thanks to all- I really appreciate being a part of this soccer family. It is a big-time blessing to go to work every day knowing that I get to lead a group of maturing young Christian men. We get to use a sport that we love in a way that brings glory to Him. That's an awesome opportunity, and I feel privileged to be a part of it. One of the cool things about coaching for a little while is that you're connected to program alums. After our game, I received 15 text messages from program alums around the country expressing their hurt over our loss. That's really cool to see people connected to the family years after they've graduated. I pray that the Lord continues to bless our growing soccer family and that we can continue to give him the glory!

1st Playoff Game vs. Westmont: Pics/Press

2011-10-13T10:40:00.002-05:00

My Suburban Life publication snapped some pretty sweet pictures of our game versus Westmont.

Click here to access these pics.

Great practice this morning! We're ready for this challenge. Looking forward to devotions tomorrow morning, our last walk-through, and then... the Regional Championship game. Let's go TC!

Trojans Start Slow, Finish Strong in Regional Semifinal Game vs. Westmont, Lisle up next in the Regional Final

2011-10-12T14:47:00.005-05:00

The 2011 IHSA Class 1A post-season kicked soccer off on Tuesday night in the Timothy Christian Regional. With Timothy playing host, the 2-3 seed match pitted the Trojans of Timothy Christian (2) versus the Sentinels of Westmont (3). Earlier in the day, 1 seed and defending state champion Lisle defeated 4th seeded Montini by a 7-0 margin. Timothy Christian Schools is playing host to this year's regionals.

Timothy opened with slow, methodical control of the ball and very much controlled the flow of the game. However, Timothy just could not finish for the majority of the first half. Despite generating several opportunities, including a Jake Hooker blast that hit the crossbar, Timothy could not find the back of the net. The Trojans generated 12 first half corner kicks that produced no results, and the Sentinels ultimately capitalized, taking advantage of an opportunity and finishing off a 33rd minute goal to give Westmont the 1-0 lead.

As if woken up by the threat, Timothy responded immediately with goals coming in the 34th and 37th minutes by senior forward Nick Groenewold (who would finish with a goal and 3 assists) and senior captain Nolan DuBois (who would finish with two goals and an assist). The two players assisted each others' goals.

The second half started the way the first half ended, with Matt Robinson scoring just 2 minutes in. Goals by captains Nolan DuBois and Justin Rink would finish off the scoring for Timothy Christian. Despite allowing the one goal, it was another solid defensive effort for Timothy's defense, led by Devon Loerop, Matt De Jong, and Nate Slager. Junior goalie Danny Leach would finish the night with 4 saves.

Up Next for Timothy:
A big one- the Regional final versus 1 seed and defending state champion Lisle. The game will take place at Timothy at 6:30 PM on Friday, October 14th. We look forward to what should be an entertaining championship match. Hope to see a big crowd there!

This Week's Schedule

2011-10-10T09:44:00.003-05:00

UPDATED SINCE LAST TIME... note Thursday Practice Change to 8:00 AM

Some parents have asked about the logistics of this week- with a half-day Wednesday and Thursday and Friday off of school, with the state tournament starting, there are many potential options. Here's how we'll handle it (Please note that anything scheduled after our game on Tuesday, October 11th is with the asterisk of "if necessary". We don't want to overlook our playoff game against Westmont. We need to take every game seriously. I also want to be prepared to move forward in the event that we beat Westmont).

Monday:
Practice after school. Pasta Dinner at the Leach's house afterwards

Tuesday:
IHSA Class 1A Regional Semi-final versus Westmont High School: 6:30 PM. I exect every player to be at the varsity field at 4:30 PM. This will allow for us to watch the Montini/Lisle game that plays prior to oru game. In the event that we advance, knowing our opponents will be important.

Wedneday*:
Half day of school. Team picnic and practice to follow immediately after half-day. Bring a bag lunch and be ready for a light practice.

Thursday*:
Day off of school. Team practice from 8:00 AM until 10:00 AM.

Friday*:
Day off of school. Team walk-through and devotions at 9:30 AM until 10:30 AM on the varsity field.

IHSA Class 1A Regional Final versus winner of (1) Lisle vs. (4) Montini: 6:30 PM
___________________________

*if necessary

Senior Night Script

2011-10-10T09:38:00.003-05:00

Last year, I did something that I'd like to repeat every year: publishing the script that I read at Senior night. I thought that some of you seniors and parents would appreciate revisiting these comments... so here you go. Enjoy!
_____________________________________________

Welcome to the Timothy Varsity Soccer Senior Night 2011.

Tonight we’re here to honor the commitments of our seniors and their parents to the Timothy Soccer program.

To the seniors, thank you for your strong commitment to the soccer program over these past four years. Your hard work, effort, and commitment are appreciated by your coaches, your school, and by God.

To the parents, thank you for your constant support, prayers, driving long distances, doing concessions, hosting pasta parties, and most importantly for raising your sons into the young Christian Men that stand before you today.

So, without further ado, let’s meet this year’s seniors and their parents:

_____________________________________________

Brody Bilthouse- and his parents Randy and Melissa

Brody joined the program his Junior year. That’s an impressive feat in and of itself- to be able to join a sport in the middle of your high school career and to be able to play a significant role in the team’s success. Brody has learned a lot over these past two seasons, and has developed into a very good player.

He’s a very good athlete with good instincts and great hustle. He’s very fun to watch. He’s the proud winner of our 2nd annual mini golf tournament on our pre-season retreat to Wisconsin, and has been a great part of our team camaraderie.

Brody is a calming presence on our team- he’s sometimes known as captain chill or Brody-licious. Even this week, Brody scored one of our “goal of the year” candidates, and he just walked away from striking a perfect shot with a smile on his face very nonchalantly. Thank you, Brody for joining our program, and becoming an integral part of it. We’ll miss your unique blend of a calm personality and a fierce on-the-field competitor.

Joel Brouwer- and his parents Dennis and Barb

Joel: a.k.a “the Brouwer of Power,” flipped a switch this year. He always had the potential and the work ethic, but he’s this calm, quiet, really nice guy. Somewhere along the line, Joel decided to get aggressive on the field, and that transformation has been of big importance to our team.

He’s very willing to help our team out in whatever capacity is necessary. He’s played many different positions, has started, come off the bench, and just been a great teammate for our program. Thank you, Joel for flipping on the switch and for being a part of the glue of our team.

Nolan Du Bois- and his parents Jim and Sandy

To put it simply, Nolan is the heart of our program. His attitude in games is contagious. He is addicted to winning, and simply refuses to lose. He has a rare blend of scrappiness, skill, game sense, vision, and drive. He can do just about anything on the field that you ask him to do- and this is often in spite of a myriad of injuries that have plagued him over the course of his career. Nolan is literally the toughest athlete that I’ve ever personally known in my 24 years playing and coaching soccer. I’ve never seen someone play through as much pain as he has. He puts his whole self on the line for the team, and that sort of sacrificial leadership is a truly admirable quality.

Some of the highlights of his career include: being a three-year starter and key piece to our 2009 state championship, Team Captain for two years, a Metro Suburban Conference all-conference player, and just overall… one of the all-time great players in the history of Timothy soccer.

As a coach, Nolan is also the last player that I coached in middle school and also coached on Varsity. A young Nolan DuBois was pulled up to the Timothy middle school A-team as a 7th grader back in 2006, and it’s been a blessing to see him mature and develop into the leader that you see tonight. Nolan- continue to use your qualities as a sacrificial leader and as an intense competitor. Use these qualities in life, and remember to continue to give God the glory when you see success come your way.

Nick Groenewold- and his parents Jake and Linda

Nick has been a staple of our program for years. A 3 year starter, Nick was a starting forward as a sophomore on the 2009 State Championship team- he scored a key goal for us that year in the state semi-finals to help us advance to the final. Nick is an outstanding finisher. He’s 5th all-time in scoring in recorded program history with 22 goals, despite losing a large chunk of his senior year to injury. Last year was an all-conference honorable mention. He is an outstanding player, very bright, very vocal, very skilled- he has a great touch on the ball, very savvy, and is just a soccer addict. He watches soccer, plays soccer, plays video games, reads about soccer, talks about soccer… on and on. He loves the game, and he loves to win. Nick is very competitive and tries to win everything he does.

Nick is the final Groenewold boy from his family that will be in the soccer program at Timothy. I spoke with Linda yesterday, and she informed me that for the past 9 consecutive years, she’s had a son on the Timothy Christian Varsity soccer team. This year marks the end of that run. I was fortunate enough to coach Justin and now Nick. We’re thankful for the legacy that the Groenewold’s have left our program, and we’re excited to see where Nick’s soccer career continues. Thank you Nick for your commitment to the program, and for your love of the game. It has been a privilege to coach you.

Hoon Han- and his host parents Bill and Kim Lodewyk

When I think of Hoon, I think of the word “Commitment.” Hoon’s story is amazing. He’s one of our international students here at Timothy, but his interest in soccer has taken him on a wild ride for 3 years. For bizarre reasons (it’s a very long story… in the interest of time, I won’t share that here), Hoon wasn’t able to play until this year… his senior year. Through all of the ups and downs, Hoon continued to practice, continued to learn the Timothy soccer system, and continued to get better. That drive and commitment culminated in one of the big highlights of this year: he scored a goal against the defending state champions just 2 minutes into his varsity career. That was a heavenly moment for me as a coach to get to watch this hard-working, committed player finally get rewarded for his work.

It’s very rewarding as a coach to watch someone from a totally different culture and from literally the other side of the world come and join your “soccer family” and just blend in so seamlessly. God used the Lodewyks, the Timothy community, and the soccer program as ways to welcome Hoon into our family, and Hoon has repaid us with his warm personality, his sense of humor, and his commitment. He’s a shining example of what all Christian athletes should strive to be. Thank you, Hoon. We pray for your continued commitment to the Lord in all that you do, and for future successes wherever God calls you around the globe.

Colin Middel- and his parents Ray and Susan

Colin is a 3 year varsity player. He was a member of the 2009 state champs. Over his career, he has contributed to our team in many ways. He’s one of our fitness leader on the team, which always tells me that he is mentally tough and physically committed. As we’ve watched Colin over his career, he’s developed into a vocal leader on the team as well.

Colin Scored one of the key goals of the season for us in the dramatic 1-0 victory over the Metro Suburban Conference’s 1st place team: Riverside Brookfield. We were the only conference team to beat them as a result of Colin’s play. It was an outstanding hustle play, and a microcosm of Colin’s career. He works hard, contributes when needed, and helps our team win games.

Thank you, Colin for your quiet leadership and your “lead by example” approach. That’s something that I always appreciate about the Middel family first from your brother Nate, and now through you. Our program will definitely miss that after you graduate. Thank you for being a solid, reliable piece of our program for all of these years. We will miss you next year.

Matt Robinson- and his Robert and Deb

Matt Robinson, or “Robbie” as our team knows him is a vital piece for our team. We’ve allowed Matt the freedom this year of pretty much getting involved in the attack whenever he wants, and that has paid off in droves for our team.

Matt earned All-tournament team at Peoria Tournament this year as a result of his phenomenal play. He’s amassed 8 assists this season- a very good mark for someone who we ask to play all offense AND all defense. His throw-ins have been a key piece to our team’s attack this year.

Matt always has a smile on his face, and is always good for a laugh on the team. His sense of humor has endeared him to our team, and that is a key piece of team chemistry.

Thanks, Matt for using your abilities to contribute so meaningfully to our program. It has been fun to watch you develop as a play and as a man over your career, and I look forward to seeing similar successes on basketball and baseball as well this year!

Nathan Slager- and his parents Tim and Jan

Nate Slager is a great friend for the players on our team. He’s an outstanding player, and is a very self-less player. Nate does what he is asked and always does his job well no matter where the coaching staff needs him to play. This year, we’ve literally asked Nate to play just about every position on the field (other than goalie) and Nate always performs well, and does it without complaining. Nate missed a large chunk of his Junior year to injury but has bounced back in a big way this year. Nate was also awarded “All Tournament team” for the Peoria Tournament this year for his terrific work on the defensive side of the ball.

Thanks, Nate for your selfless attitude and your team-first commitment. Thanks for your perseverance through injury and other frustrations, and thanks for being a great teammate. We’ll miss what you bring to the team!

Bonfire Pics

2011-10-08T14:15:00.004-05:00

Senior Night Pics

2011-10-08T14:01:00.004-05:00

Nolan's Goal

Nate's Goal

In the net

Celebration time

Trojans End Regular Season on Strong Note, Extend Unbeaten Streak to 5 With Dramatic Come-From-Behind 2-2 Tie vs. St. Joseph on Senior Night

2011-10-08T13:13:00.006-05:00

In the final game of the 2011 regular season, the Trojans of Timothy Christian extended their unbeaten streak to 5 with a 2-2 tie versus IHSA Class 2A 2 seed St. Joseph (Westchester, IL). The result was an impressive one against a strong opponent. Timothy continues to get healthier and build off of previous successes toward the post-season.

"Senior Night" ceremonies preceded the game, as seniors Brody Bilthouse, Joel Brouwer, Nolan DuBois, Nick Groenewold, Hoon Han, Colin Middel, Matt Robinson, and Nathan Slager were recognized on the field with their parents for their contributions to the soccer program over their careers. A large crowd was on hand to celebrate senior night, enjoy a Friday night home game, and to participate in the whole-school bonfire after the game. The fans provided a great atmosphere for the duration of the night.

Timothy played a strong defensive first half, frustrating the Chargers and holding them scoreless for the first 40 minutes of play. "Bend but don't break," was the theme of the day. Junior Goalie Danny Leach in front of a strong defensive effort would finish the night with 6 saves.

Midway through the second half, St. Joe's earned a penalty kick versus the Trojan defense and capitalized by converting the try. Now down 1-0 Timothy began to push more offensively. This effort finally paid off with 10 minutes remaining in the game. In an outstanding effort from the two Timothy captains, Junior captain Justin Rink continued his run of good play with a terrific pass to senior captain Nolan Du Bois. Du Bois took the ball, scooted past a Charger defender to the middle of the box, and placed the ball in the lower right corner of the net as the home crowd erupted.

The Charger response was almost immediate as a St. Joe's forward found some space in the TC defense and ripped a terrific shot into the side of the Timothy net to reclaim the lead at 2-1.

With limited time remaining, Timothy again pushed to regain level ground with the strong opponent. Senior Matt Robinson set up many opportunities for Timothy via the throw-in, and the team finally converted with just over 3 minute remaining in the game. It was a fittingly senior connection when the Robinson throw-in found the head of senior Nathan Slager for the dramatic, late equalizer. The Slager head-ball goal would push the final score to 2-2.

Adding to the senior night festivities, the TCHS student body celebrated with an all-school bonfire that reached 25 foot tall flames. It was a great way to cap off a terrific regular season. Timothy finishes the regular season with a 11-6-2 mark.

Up Next for the Trojans:

TC enters the IHSA Class 1A state tournament as a 2 seed in the Timothy regional. Tuesday, October 11 marks the Regional semi-finals with 1 seed Lisle taking on 4 seed Montini. That 4:30 semi-final will be followed by the 2-3 matchup pitting Timothy Christian against Westmont. All games will be played at Timothy. Come on out and support your team, Trojans fans! We'd love this level of support for the rest of the year!

Senior Night/Bon Fire Logistics

2011-10-07T12:59:00.004-05:00

Parents,

A few of you have asked about tonight's ceremonies for Senior night. A few more of you have asked about the post-game bon fire.

Here's my attempt at answering:

The Senior/Parent ceremony will take place BEFORE the varsity soccer game (in-between Fresh/Soph and varsity). Please try to be there by 5:45. You can meet near the concession stand, and your sons will greet you and tell you where to go from there. Seniors and their parents will walk out on the field and be recognized in front of the entire crowd.

The all HS bonfire will take place AFTER the varsity soccer game. We'll likely wrap up around 8:15. We'll make an announcement from the press box as to when the fire will start... and then we'll start the bad-boy. Should be a lot of fun. Just so that you know, we've alerted the Elmhurst Fire Department (they're coming on campus the afternoon to inspect), we have 100 gallons of water in buckets and an additional hose (and a fire extinguisher) as precautionary measures, and we're doing everything as safely as we know how. Looking forward to a great time- and hopefully the start of an annual tradition!

I know that a lot of you will be participating in either the senior ceremony, the bon fire (or BOTH!) and I really appreciate your willingness to support our program in this way. Thanks for all that you do for TC Soccer!

See you tonight, and GO TC!

Senior Poster Project

2011-10-06T15:23:00.002-05:00

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Next Week's Schedule

2011-10-06T11:00:00.004-05:00

Some parents have asked about the logistics of next week- with a half-day Wednesday and Thursday and Friday off of school, with the state tournament starting, there are many potential options. Here's how we'll handle it (Please note that anything scheduled after our game on Tuesday, October 11th is with the asterisk of "if necessary". We don't want to overlook our playoff game against Westmont. We need to take every game seriously. I also want to be prepared to move forward in the event that we beat Westmont).

Monday:
Practice after school. Pasta Dinner at the Leach's house afterwards

Tuesday:
IHSA Class 1A Regional Semi-final versus Westmont High School: 6:30 PM. I exect every player to be at the varsity field at 4:30 PM. This will allow for us to watch the Montini/Lisle game that plays prior to oru game. In the event that we advance, knowing our opponents will be important.

Wedneday*:
Half day of school. Team picnic and practice to follow immediately after half-day. Bring a bag lunch and be ready for a light practice.

Thursday*:
Day off of school. Team practice from 9:30 AM until 11:30 AM.

Friday*:
Day off of school. Team walk-through and devotions at 9:30 AM until 10:30 AM on the varsity field.

IHSA Class 1A Regional Final versus winner of (1) Lisle vs. (4) Montini: 6:30 PM
___________________________

*if necessary

Pasta Dinner at Coach's House

2011-10-06T08:40:00.002-05:00

I know that the schedule says that tonight's pasta dinner is at school, but we've changed the location to my house. I'll give directions at practice.

My family's really looking forward to hosting. See everyone at practice!

Timothy Wins Third Straight, Defeats University High 5-1

2011-10-05T20:33:00.003-05:00

Timothy Christian took on University High today for another non-conference end-of-the-regular season challenge as the team prepares for the post season. The final result and the quality displayed showed the high level of play that Timothy is capable of achieving.

Another strong start saw Timothy take a 2-0 lead into half time. Timothy dominated possession and earned 7 corner kicks. Goals by Junior forward Jake Hooker and Senior midfielder Colin were results of corner kicks. Nolan Du Bois and Matt Robinson picked up assists on the two first half goals.

University High started the second half on the right foot with a goal, but Timothy immediately answered with a goal of their own. Senior Nick Groenewold capitalized off of a free kick from distance. Groenewold's blast from 35+ yards found the back of the net to put the Trojans comfortably back in the driver seat.

10 minutes later, senior Brody Bilthouse took a Nick Groenewold pass, dribbled past a defender, and ripped a shot from 20+ yards just inside the far post and into the side netting for the 4-1 lead.

The final goal was another phenomenal effort from the Trojans. This time, it was the two captains linking up, as Justin Rink placed a beautiful pass into a danger area at the top of the penalty area. Nolan Du Bois beat the goalie to the bouncing ball, flicked a looping lob over him, and watched as the ball sunk back softly into the net to cap off the convincing 5-1 victory.

All three second half goals by the Trojans were nominees for goal of the year. Overall, it was another strong showing for Timothy as the team continues to progress toward the post-season.

Up next for Timothy:

In the regular season finale, Timothy takes on a tough St. Joseph team on senior night at home. In addition to the fun of Friday Night Lights and senior night, there will be a huge all-high-school bon fire after the game. Come on out and support your team for the final time this regular season!

Notre Dame Game Pics

2011-10-05T08:30:00.000-05:00

Trojans Upend Dons With Convincing 4-1 Victory

2011-10-03T20:45:00.003-05:00

The Timothy Christian players were challenged before tonight's game versus the Dons of Niles Notre Dame to begin building. Building momentum from last Saturday's dramatic overtime winner over Illiana to cap off TCSFest. Building momentum in the final week of the regular season toward Senior Night and toward the IHSA class 1A state tournament.

Build is exactly what the Trojans of Timothy did- with an impressive 4-1 victory. In a full-team effort, Timothy controlled possession, won the lion share of 50/50 balls, and out-hustled the opposition for the full 80 minutes.

Timothy started strong with a Nick Groenewold penalty kick goal in the game's third minute. Jake Hooker earned the assist the hard way by beating his man into the penalty area and drawing the foul. Groenewold calmly finished the chance.

The Trojans second goal was slammed into the side netting by senior midfielder Colin Middel. Junior Jason Kuiper would push the Trojan lead to 3 by finishing off a chance generated by a Matt Robinson throw-in. Before the half, the Dons would get one back to put the halftime score at 3-1.

Early into the second half, Junior defender Matt De Jong would put the game out of reach with a blast from distance. Junior captain Justin Rink collected a loose ball laid off a beautiful back-pass to the in-stride De Jong who would leave no doubt by placing the ball perfectly into the side netting.

Timothy finished off this strong effort by not allowing many scoring chances. Goalie Danny Leach finished the night with 8 more saves. The defense of Nathan Slager and Devon Loerop continues to be strong for the Trojans.

Up Next for Timothy:

A day of practice followed by an away match versus University High in the city. Timothy continues to look to build.

Pics From Illiana Game

2011-10-01T23:07:00.008-05:00

Pre-game Team Pic

Illiana Goal

Shot Sequence of Nick's Goal

Ball flicked on

In the net

Celebration

Game-winning goal sequence

The thrill of victory!

TC Puts Exclamation Point On "TCSFest" With 2-1 OT Win Over Rival Illiana

2011-10-01T16:30:00.002-05:00

Saturday, October 1, 2011 marked a major milestone for Timothy Christian Schools as "TCSFest" hosted the outdoor celebration of the school's 100th year. There was food, fun, entertainment, rides, games, and many other fun activities to help the Timothy community celebrate the school's 100th. For the men's soccer program, there was also the added perk of hosting a soccer game versus MSC rival Illiana as the final portion of the day's ceremonies.

Despite the huge crowd and festive atmosphere, the Trojans of TC came out slow in the first half. Illiana Christian capitalized with a terrific goal to put the Vikings up 1-0. That score would persist to halftime.

After being challenged, the Trojans came out for the second half with much more focus and intensity. While controlling much of the possession, Timothy pulled ahead on a beautiful head-ball flick from senior Nick Groenewold. Senior Matt Robinson earned the assist off of a beautiful throw-in.

Timothy finished regulation play with a strong effort, but could not find the back of the net. Regulation ended at 1-1. In Metro Suburban Conference play, there are no ties- all games go to two, 10 minute golden-goal overtime periods, followed by a penalty-kick shoot-out if necessary.

Timothy would not need more than the first OT to put an exclamation point on the TCSFest activities. Off of another Robinson throw-in, the ball found senior captain Nolan DuBois on the far post. Du Bois settled the ball, passed it across the open mouth of the goal to Junior forward Jake Hooker, who buried the point-blank shot for the dramatic 2-1 victory.

The win puts Timothy's MSC season record at 4-2, and the overall record to 9-6-1. Danny Leach finished the game with 11 more saves as he continues to put forth a strong season in net.

On a personal note, thanks to all of the volunteers who made TCSFest such a great event. We're glad to have been able to contribute to the festivities!

Up Next for the Trojans:
A week of three non-conference games on Monday (Home vs. Niles Notre Dame), Wednesday (At University High), and Friday (Home for Senior Night vs. St. Joseph High School). The Friday game will be followed by a student-council sponsored all-high school bon fire. Keep coming out to support your team as we progress through the final week of the season, and into the playoffs!

Timothy Plays Northridge Prep to 0-0 Draw

2011-10-01T16:26:00.002-05:00

The elements played a major role in Friday Night's game versus Northridge Prep. The game had already been moved to Friday from Thursday due to field conditions at Northridge.

Then, half-way through the Fresh/Soph game, lightning sirens went off, declaring play too dangerous to continue.

After a LONG wait, the teams were able to finally play a weather-shortened game. By the end, the two teams fought to a 0-0 draw. Junior goalie Danny Leach was especially impressive in net for Timothy, ending the shutout with 6 saves.

Up Next for TC:
A HUGE rivalry match versus MSC foe Illiana. This game will be part of the closing portion of Timothy's "TCSFest," an outdoor celebration of Timothy's 100th year of existence.

Glenbard South Drops TC 2-0

2011-09-30T13:50:00.002-05:00

Many factors made Tuesday's game versus MSC foe Glenbard South unique. Weather-related field conditions led to the game location being changed- this was Timothy's first ever game on the beautiful (and large) turf field at College of Du Page. The game itself proved to be unique in that three Trojan yellow cards and two red cards were issued, and a Timothy goal was called back.

Ultimately, when the dust settled, it was another hard-fought loss versus this MSC opponent. Devon Loerop, Danny Leach, and Nick Groenewold played well for Timothy in the loss.

Up Next:
A game versus Northridge Prep High School- a non-conference opponent that is new to the Timothy calendar.

Address of the field

2011-09-30T12:06:00.002-05:00

For all you GPS people out there...

9150 N Cumberland Ave, Niles, IL 60714

Directions to tonight's field

2011-09-30T10:55:00.000-05:00

The field is located a block north of Northridge Prep at Golf Mill Park located on corner of W Church Street and N Cumberland Ave in Niles. Parking appears to be off Church Street.

URGENT SOCCER GAME UPDATE: GAME LOCATION, TIME CHANGED TO COD, 7:00 PM

2011-09-27T13:32:00.003-05:00

Late-breaking message:

Due to unplayable soccer field conditions at Timothy (standing water on our field) Tonight's Varsity game location and time have been changed.

Location: College Of DuPage

Time: 7:00 for Varsity team

Fresh/Soph update: We will attempt to reschedule the Fresh/Soph game for a later date to be announced.

Coaches will meet with the players immediately after school to address travel to the game. No matter what means of transportation are chosen, all players are expected to be at the field site by 6:00 PM.

Please help us spread the word.

State Tournament Specifics

2011-09-27T10:09:00.004-05:00

A number of parents have had questions about scheduling and the post-season State Tournament.

Here's a link to the IHSA class 1A bracket. It should have all of the information you need (where we play, when we would play, the site of all games, etc.)

___________________________

On another note, the weather (and our field conditions) may force changes in today's game logistics. Everything from rescheduling the game for another date to relocating the game to various turf fields (Glenbard ALSO has a grass field) and other options are being considered.

I will keep everyone informed as soon as I know more. Thanks for your patience and flexibility.

2011 TC Middle School Champs!

2011-09-25T19:45:00.003-05:00

Congrats to Coach Kate Adams and the TCMS A Team for winning the inaugural Timothy Christian Middle School Invitational Tournament.

TC went a perfect 3-0 with wins over Highland Christian (3-1), Harvest Christian (6-0), and Tinley Park Christian (4-0).

All-tournament team honors went to Josh Anderson, Michael Martens, Alex Marcowytz, Mitch Evenhouse, and Ben Lodewyk.

Thanks to all the varsity players for working the event and helping to build our program. A special thanks to the middle school parents for concession donations, and to Tracy Leach for spending an entire Saturday working for the program!

This really wound up being everything that I had hoped for in a MS tournament. Building relationships between the middle school and high school program is very important to the long-term success of Timothy soccer. Thanks for everything.

Ok- big week coming up for the varsity program- home games vs. Glenbard South (Tuesday) away game on Thursday and a massive rivalry game vs. Illiana (Saturday). Let's go TC!

Riverside-Brookfield Game Pics

2011-09-24T14:40:00.005-05:00

Thanks to Mr. Garza and to My Suburban Life Press for the pictures!

Colin's Goal and Celebration

Timothy Edges Riverside Brookfield 1-0 to Improve MSC Record to 3-1

2011-09-22T20:27:00.005-05:00

The Trojans of Timothy have played some epic games at Riverside Brookfield. Last season's 6-4 come-from-behind victory was certainly one of the high points of the 2010 season. As an encore, Timothy's 2011 performance against the Bulldogs had one tenth the scoring, but 100% of the drama of last season's conference match.

Coming off a tough 8-2 loss against the blazing speed and skill of Fenton, the Trojans took a defensive posture, a new formation, and a renewed focus on "defense-first" against an equally fast Riverside Brookfield team. The focus paid off, as the Trojans frustrated the Bulldogs throughout the first half. At halftime, the scoreboard read the same as the beginning of the game: 0-0.

Flipping the tables to start the second half, Timothy came out in a more conventional, offensive minded formation in the second half. This shift paid off. Through a tough, back-and-forth effort, Timothy eventually emerged the victor.

With less than 14 minutes remaining in regulation (All MSC games go to 2 10-minute golden goal overtime periods and then to a penalty kick shootout if necessary), Junior captain Justin Rink released a through-ball to senior wing midfielder Colin Middel. The ball was perfectly placed near the edge of the penalty area, so the Bulldog defense and goalie were placed in difficult positions. The ever-energetic Middel knifed in front of the keeper, one-touched the ball past the goalie, and passed the ball into the net. The head's up hustle goal would prove enough to win the night.

To see the game to victory, the Trojan defense hung on for the final 13 minutes against a very formidable Riverside Brookfield team. The Bulldogs generated several chances, but the Trojans exhibited a strong "bend but don't break" approach. Junior Goalie Danny Leach continued building on his strong season with a 10 save shut-out.

The win improves Timothy's overall record to 8-5, and their conference record to 3-1.

Up Next for the Trojans:
A quiet weekend precedes an important final week to the conference portion of the season. Timothy will take on MSC foe Glenbard South at home on Tuesday night. Come on out and support your team!

Timothy Loses First Conference Game in 8-2 Fenton Route

2011-09-22T14:07:00.002-05:00

Timothy was able to score 2 against the upstart Bison of Fenton high school, but that wasn't nearly enough as Fenton dominated the game with a convincing 8-2 victory. One of the Metro Suburban Conference soccer powers, Fenton high school has been steadily growing an impressive program, and the 2A school proved to be too much for Timothy on this night.

Timothy goals by Nick Groenewold (assisted by Matt Robinson) and Matt Robinson would be Timothy's only scoring on the night.

Despite giving up 8 goals, Junior goalkeeper Danny Leach played a terrific game in which he was under constant attack. Leach finished the night with 8 saves.

Up Next:
Timothy looks to improve upon its 2-1 conference record with another challenging contest at Riverside Brookfield Thursday night

Trojans Continue Winning Ways With 5-0 Win Over Westmont

2011-09-19T07:57:00.002-05:00

In another complete game effort, the Trojans of Timothy Christian defeated the Sentinels of Westmont High School by a final score of 5-0. It was the team's fourth straight win and fourth straight shut-out. Timothy's season record climbs to 7-4 (2-0 MSC).

Senior forward Nick Groenewold's recovery from a pre-season injury continued in a big way as he contributed to every goal scored- 2 goals and 3 assists. Sophomore call-up Wes Ditchfield started the scoring for Timothy with a beautiful finish, Junior captain Justin Rink added a tally with an outstanding midfield maneuver and long-range blast, and senior Matt Robinson added a goal and two assists to round out the scoring for the Trojans.

Timothy continues to improve team possession and finishing. Proving the old adage that "the other team can't score when they don't have the ball," Timothy controlled the flow of play for the vast majority of the game and limited the Sentinel chances to only a couple.

Junior goalie Danny Leach finished his fourth straight shut-out with a pair of saves. Major credit again goes to defenders Matt De Jong, Devon Loerop, and Kurt Munson in keeping the opposition scoreless.

Up Next for Timothy:
A big week of Metro Suburban Conference challenges: home against Fenton High School on Tuesday Night and an away game Thursday night at Riverside-Brookfield. These two games will go a long way in telling the conference story for the Trojan's 2011 season.

Elmwood Park Game Pics

2011-09-16T09:11:00.001-05:00

Keep Adam in Your Prayers

2011-09-16T08:53:00.002-05:00

Adam has his surgery for his torn miniscus (sp?) this morning. Sounds like things went well and that the tear was not as bad as originally thought.

Keep him in your prayers as he continues his recovery.

Timothy Tames Tigers With 1-0 Win at Elmwood Park

2011-09-15T18:57:00.003-05:00

The Trojans of TC made it 3 wins in a row with a 1-0 victory over the Tigers of Elmwood Park. The game also marked the Trojans second straight 1-0 victory against a Metro Suburban conference foe. With an overall record of 6-4 and a conference record of 2-0, the Trojans look to be slowly figuring out how to play together as a team.

Despite dominating the possession in the midfield, and generating 4 shots on goal Timothy couldn't muster a first half goal. The games lone goal was scored 10 minutes into the second half off of a corner kick. After the ball was sent into the box, Senior Joel Brouwer blasted the ball into a mix of players. Junior forward Jake Hooker was there to deflect the ball into the back of the net. That lone goal was all the Trojans would need. It was another strong performance from Defenders Matt De Jong, Kurt Munson, Devon Loerop and Goalkeeper Danny Leach. The team denied their third straight opponent from scoring.

Junior captain Justin Rink deserves special mention for his outstanding performance at the central midfielder position. Rink, together with Senior Defender Matt Robinson dominated the middle of the field and controlled possession for lion share of the game.

Timothy continues to rise above key injuries. Senior captain Nolan Du Bois, Junior Defender Adam Garza, and Senior Midfielder Nate Slager all missed this game. Senior Forward Nick Groenewold's recovery continued with a strong showing and an increased work load from his previous games.

Up next for the Trojans:
Practice on Friday with a focused eye on Saturday morning. Timothy will take on 1A opponent Westmont at 10:00 AM. Hope to see you there!

Concession Stand Installed!

2011-09-14T17:15:00.002-05:00

Thanks to all who made this project possible! Stand still has a few tweaks before she's 100% game ready, but it looks great!

Pics from Ridgewood Game

2011-09-13T22:56:00.002-05:00

Frame by frame of Colin's goal

Timothy Opens MSC Conference Play With Strong 1-0 Victory Over Ridgewood

2011-09-13T20:32:00.004-05:00

The Timothy Christian mens soccer team kicked off Metro Suburban Conference play tonight with a hard fought 1-0 victory over the Rebels of Ridgewood.

Senior midfielder Colin Middel would score the game's lone goal 17 minutes into the first half off a free kick set piece from distance. The Rebel's defensive wall opened up and the Middel shot deflected and found the back of the net.

That was all the scoring that Timothy would need as the Trojan defense earned the home shut-out against a very skilled, fast, physical Ridgewood team. Junior defender Matt De Jong played an especially important role at center back. Junior defenders Kurt Munson and Devon Loerop also turned in strong performances. Junior goalie Danny Leach had 9 saves to preserve the blank sheet.

In addition to opening up conference play in a big way, the Trojans also had more good news in the return of two key players. Both Senior captain Nolan Du Bois and Senior forward Nick Groenewold were able to work back onto the field for the second straight game. Both three year players continue to work themselves back to full health and game shape.

Up next for Timothy:
A Wednesday practice precedes Timothy's 2nd conference game in 3 days. The Trojans will take on the Tigers of Elmwood Park.

Timothy Routes Earlville 11-0

2011-09-13T11:57:00.002-05:00

Timothy bounced back from a difficult week in a big way with an 11-0 victory over the Earlville Red Raiders.

Goals by Jake Hooker (3), Nate Slager (2), Nolan DuBois, Jason Kuiper, Hoon Han, Colin MIddel, Zach Postma, and Brody Bilthouse led Timothy to a convincing victory. Assists on these goals were recorded by Justin Rink (2), Matt Robinson (2), Nolan DuBois, Nick Groenewold, Matt DeJong, Colin Middel, and Kurt Munson.

The 7-0 halftime lead dictated that the second half's time was cut in half. 4 second half goals finished this game off for TC.

Up next for Timothy:
The Trojans open up conference play with a home game against the Rebels of Ridgewood. Last year's class 2A state tournament runners up, the Rebels will certainly bring a high level of competition to Timothy.

Francis Parker Game Pics

2011-09-09T08:48:00.000-05:00

Trojans suffer worst loss of season with embarrassing 6-1 loss at Francis Parker

2011-09-08T18:23:00.002-05:00

The lone bright spot for Timothy came in the first half when Colin Middel headed home a matt Robinson throw in to make the score 2-1 at the half.

It was all Colonels in the second half as the team poured it on to the tune of a 4-0 half.

A lackluster team effort produced Timothy's worst game of the season.

Moving forward, another 1A match awaits TC on Saturday with a home match versus Earlville.

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Wheaton St. Francis Pics

2011-09-08T09:44:00.000-05:00

Timothy Loses Late, Big to Wheaton St. Francis 5-1

2011-09-08T09:07:00.003-05:00

The vast majority of Tuesday Night's home game versus Wheaton St. Francis was a closely fought contest. That is an unusual statment for a 5-1 soccer game, but this game was certainly unusual on a number of fronts. The game was originally scheduled as an away game for TC, but due to field conditions at Wheaton St. Francis, the game was moved to Timothy.

The Spartans of Wheaton St. Francis scored the first half's lone goal in the game's 8th minute. Timothy fought back and started the second half off in a big way with a goal in the 4th minute. Junior Captain Justin Rink slammed home a rebound off of a Matt De Jong long-range free kick.

The game was to remain at 1-1 until the final 20 minutes of the game. That's when the wheels fell off for the Trojans of TC. Injuries, a red card, and sub-par play all contributed to Timothy allowing three Spartan goals within a 5 minute span. This scoring frenzy put the game out of reach, and a late goal in the final seconds put the finishing touches on the 5-1 scoreline.

Before the game started, Timothy was already without senior captain Nolan Du Bois (injury), senior forward Nick Groenewold (injury), and Peoria Chrisian all-tournament team member Matt Robinson. To make things worse for Timothy's team health situation, Junior defender Adam Garza went down in this game with an injury as well. Missing these four key pieces certainly put the team in a difficult position. The Trojans also played the final portion of the game a man short after a Red Card was issued to Senior forward Joel Brouwer for a reckless challenge.

Up next for Timothy- The Trjoans look to right the ship in a Thursday away game on the city field of Francis Parker High School. These two schools last met in the 2009 sectional semi-finals which resulted in a penalty kick shootout victory for Timothy.

Pasta dinner pics

2011-09-07T21:42:00.002-05:00

Thanks to the Du Bois and Bilthouse families for a great pasta dinner.
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Francis Parker Game Information

2011-09-07T14:37:00.002-05:00

The Fresh/Soph and varsity games tomorrow will be played at different sites.

The Fresh/Soph game field is located at Montrose & Lake Shore Drive (a little north of Lincoln Park). There are a number of fields in the park but supposedly it is on the Wilson West field.

The Varsity game is at the Francis Parker campus on Webster Ave which is just a little south just off of Lake Shore Drive. Following the Varsity game the bus will return to the Fresh/Soph game site to pick them up.

The teams will be excused at 2:45 and the bus should leave about 3 pm.

For all parents planning on attending, I recommend taking money to feed meters. There is neighborhood parking available, but it is almost all metered parking.

Two Important Game Changes

2011-09-01T09:51:00.002-05:00

We have two alterations to our game schedule:

Wheaton St. Francis (next Tuesday) will now be a home game. Times will remain the same. Their field was destroyed in summer flooding, so they're playing all season on the road.

As discussed at the Parent Meeting, the October 1st Illiana soccer games will be pushed an hour later. Fresh/Soph will be at 12:00 noon and Varsity will be at 2:00 PM. Again, this will be a big part of the TCSFest celebration!

Thanks for your attention to these changes and your flexibility!

Montini Game Pics

2011-08-30T21:13:00.004-05:00

Trojans Buck Broncos With 3-1 Victory Over Montini

2011-08-30T18:49:00.003-05:00

Timothy improved its early season record to 3-2 with a win over the Broncos of Montini. The two teams faced off on the first ever soccer match on Montini's newly renovated athletic field. The facilities got very high marks from all involved.

It was another game of winning possession (62% for TC) but struggling to finish for the Trojans of Timothy Christian. First half goals by senior forward Joel Brouwer and Junior forward Jake Hooker put Timothy in a comfortable position at half time. Assists by Junior captain Justin Rink and Junior defender Matt De Jong sprung the two Timothy forwards to success in the offensive third of the field.

The Broncos would be first to strike 10 minutes into the second half on a Trojan own goal. Junior goalie Danny Leach would finish the night with 5 saves, but couldn't get to this deflection toward his own net in time. Leach actually dove back into his net to get the close call, but the official indicated that the full ball had crossed the goal line.

As the score drew closer, the game took on a new level of intensity. 4 Montini yellow cards, a bench red card, and an ejected fan were certainly indicators of this surge. Throughout the chaos, Timothy continued to push, controlling the possession and generating chance after chance, but ultimately being unable to put the finishing touch on the ball.

Finally, in the closing minutes of the game, Junior forward Jake Hooker blasted home the proverbial "nail in the coffin." Timothy had the 2 goal lead and the game in hand. A nice driven cross from Joel Brouwer found Hooker who settled the ball and laced it into the back corner of the net. Brouwer finished his first start of the season with a goal and an assist, and Hooker finished the game with 2 goals.

This was the second game in a row without injured captain Nolan DuBois. Timothy came together and grabbed the win without their leader on the field.

Up next for the Trojans: practice and Labor Day weekend rest. Timothy won't play until September 6th against Wheaton St. Francis.

More Pics From Peoria Classic Tournament

2011-08-29T20:37:00.002-05:00

Matt De Jong's Headball Goal

Timothy Finishes Off Peoria Classic with 1-0 Shutout Victory Over Peoria Christian

2011-08-29T09:57:00.003-05:00

In the final game of the Peoria Classic, Timothy took on the Chargers of Peoria Christian. A bit of a friendly rivalry is developing between the two schools- this would be their third match in three years, with Timothy having won the previous two.

When soccer teams play three full games in under 18 hours, the final game is all about fitness and endurance. Timothy finished in a strong way with a 1-0 victory over Peoria.

Controlling the lion share of possession, Timothy had several scoring opportunities, but could only muster the one goal. Senior Matt Robinson continued to thrive in the Trojans new formation and one-timed a Zach Postma pass into the back of the net in the 35th minute.

Behind a strong defensive effort from Nathan Slager, Adam Garza, Devon Loerop, Matt DeJong, and Matt Robinson, Junior goalkeeper Danny Leach finished the Trojan's first shut-out of the year with 3 saves.

Timothy finished the Peoria Classic with a 2-1 record- good for 2nd place in the second annual tournament. All Tournament Consideration went to Seniors Nolan Du Bois, Matt Robinson, and Nate Slager.

Up next for Timothy: The Trojans look to build on a 2-2 season record with another 1A match Tuesday evening at Montini high school.

Chicago Christian Slides Past Timothy 2-1 in Game 2 of Peoria Classic

2011-08-29T09:31:00.003-05:00

In the second of three games to be played within an 18 hour stretch, the Knights of Chicago Christian and the Trojans of Timothy Christian squared off on the first Saturday morning game of the Peoria Classic. It was a match of old rivals from the now defunct Private School League, where Timothy and Chicago Christian used to face off multiple times each year.

While the final score read 2-1 in favor of the Knights, possession and attempts on target certainly favored Timothy Christian. Timothy had many chances, particularly off of the eleven corner kicks that the team amassed over the course of the game. Despite many chances (in particular a Matt Robinson head ball that was a Chicago Christian goalie reflex-save away from scoring, and another non-keeper save on a Kurt Munson shot) the Trojans of Timothy were only able to find the back of the Knight net once.

The two Chicago Christian goals were both well taken. The opportunistic Knights finished 2 of 3 goals scoring chances on the match.

Timothy's lone goal again came from Senior Captain Nolan DuBois. Senior forward Joel Brouwer earned the assist as the Trojans attempted to mount a comeback. But it was not to be, and Chicago Christian won the pivotal game that proved to see them through to tournament champions.

More Pics from This Weekend

2011-08-27T22:39:00.004-05:00

Robbie's Goal

All-tournament Team (TC Representatives... Nolan, Robbie, Nate)

One big happy family!

All-Tournament Winners

2011-08-27T21:04:00.002-05:00

Congrats to Nolan, Nate, and Matt for making the all tournament team!!

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4 Christian School Soccer Team Prayer Groups

2011-08-26T21:13:00.003-05:00

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Timothy opens Peoria Classic Tournament With 5-1 Win Over Judah Christian

2011-08-26T19:54:00.002-05:00

Timothy responded to their season opening loss in a big way with a 5-1 win over Judah Christian.

The first game of the 2nd annual Peoria Christian invitational tournament was a good one for the Trojans of Timothy. Led by senior captain Nolan DuBois' hat trick, Timothy controlled the flow of play for the majority of the game. Other than a lone breakaway goal, the Trojans defense played a solid game. Junior goalie Danny Leach would finish the game with 2 saves.

Du Bois added an assist to his 3 goals. Junior forward Jake Hooker had another solid game with a goal and an assist. Junior Matt De Jong Had the goal of the match with a nice headball finih Junior captain Justin Rink rounded out the scoring with an assist.

Up next for Timothy: two tough games on a Saturday morning. 9:00 am versus old PSL foe Chicago Christian and 12:30 versus Peoria Christian. Chicago Christian defeated PC by a 4-1 margin in the tournament's only other game of the opening night.

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Hoon's 2nd Minute Goal

2011-08-25T08:42:00.008-05:00

Another sweet frame-by-frame sequence here (thanks, Mr. Garza!)... Hoon's season opening goal!

Very nice technique on the volley: eyes on the ball, arm out for balance, planting foot pics out the target, ball drops below the knee, and his right hip and shoulder finish through the ball. What a great goal, and what a way to start your varsity career, Hoon... just over a minute into your career!

Jake Hooker's Speed Run

2011-08-25T08:34:00.011-05:00

So... remember from last night's game when Jake took off with the ball last night and whoooooosh... was gone (and by the way, should have been a PK)?

Here's that sequence in a frame-by-frame picture. Go Jake! (By the way... nice technique keeping the ball close at full speed... AND bringing his touch to the center of the goal. Really well done).

Timothy Christian Drops Tough Season Opener to Defending State Champion Lisle 3-1

2011-08-24T21:02:00.004-05:00

In the 2011 Men's Soccer season opener, the Trojans of Timothy lost to the Lions of Lisle 3-1. The game featured the last two state champions in the IHSA's class 1A, with Timothy having claimed the crown in 2009, and Lisle in the 2010 season.

Timothy would jump out to a very early lead in the second minute of the game with a goal from Timothy senior Hoon Han. It has been a long road to the field for Hoon, and the goal, just 2 minutes into his varsity career, certainly started things off in style. Senior captain Nolan DuBois found the assist to Han's goal with a throw-in. The throw would bounce around the penalty area, and Hoon touched the ball to himself, and volleyed it out of the air and ripped the back of the net for the very quick 1-0 lead.

A tough defensive effort throughout the first half led by Timothy senior Matt Robinson, Junior Adam Garza, Junior Devon Loerop and Junior Matt De Jong held the Lions in check. While Lisle controlled much of the flow of play, the half-time score remained 1-0.

The second half saw Lisle take control of the game- where they would ultimately score three goals. Goal #1 came off of a corner kick scramble that saw 3 Trojan saves (including Junior captain Justin Rink's non-keeper save) and rebounds until Lisle ultimately pounded the ball into the back of the net. Goal #2 appeared to bounce off of a Lion hand in the box, but with no call, the Lions found the back of the net for the go-ahead goal which would prove to be the game winner. Final, with Timothy in an offensive push, the Lions found space behind the Trojans defense on a through ball, and Lisle finished the game off with a 3-1 final. The final score didn't reflect the tremendous goalie play of Junior Danny Leach who finished the night with 6 saves.

All in all, a pretty good start to the season- with plenty of things for the Trojans to improve upon. While the result was certainly not what the team had hoped for, Timothy will certainly be hungry for this weekend's defense of last season's Peoria Christian tournament championship.

Thanks to the family and friends for coming out and supporting the team. It was a terrific atmosphere on the first school night of the year. We would love to see continued support like this all year!

Funny Barca Team Juggling Drill

2011-08-23T14:14:00.002-05:00

Parent Meeting

2011-08-23T11:20:00.001-05:00

There will be a brief parent meeting after our game tomorrow night. We will go over many of the details that are tied to our team this year.

I apologize for the late notice. Hope to see you there.

Thanks!

Peoria Christian Charger Classic Tournament Details

2011-08-22T13:19:00.004-05:00

Several parents have asked about this weekend's tournament in Peoria (the 26th and 27th). We won this tournament last year, so it's time to defend our victory!

Here's a link to our weekend itinerary

Here's a link to the tournament game times and details

The team is staying at the Super 8 near the facility. $20 per player will cover overnight expenses

Team moms will be coordinating parent rooms at a separate hotel.

Team moms will also be coordinating a brief between-game lunch/snack for the players between our two Saturday games.

Team moms will ALSO be coordinating snacks and drinks for every player to take

Two weekends in a row together as a team! Should be a great time!

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Final preseason practice schedule

2011-08-21T09:10:00.001-05:00

The final two preseason practices will be on Monday and Tuesday mornings from 8:00-10:15. See you then!

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2nd annual mini golf tournament

2011-08-20T11:49:00.001-05:00

Tournament champion Brody

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Team building on the beach

2011-08-19T16:02:00.001-05:00

On top of the world.

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Pics: Last 2-a-day

2011-08-19T07:22:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Mr. Garza for the great pictures of our final 2-a-day practice! I'm excited for our pre-season retreat to Wisconsin! Please pray for safety and for a significant experience for our soccer team and for each individual.

Peoria Tournament T-Shirts for sale

2011-08-18T15:13:00.002-05:00

Note from Peoria Christian Soccer Coach:

I hope all is going well in your preseason preparations and we are excited about having you all down again for our tournament. We are going to sell tournament shirts this year for $15. Coaches will get a free shirt and all other orders will need to be turned in on Monday by noon. THERE WILL BE NO SHIRTS FOR SELL AT THE TOURNAMENT.

____________________________

Please note that LAST year's tournament had shirts given away- they're now selling them. SO... if you don't buy one, you won't get one.

Please get orders into your captains by Monday.

Schedule for the Week

2011-08-15T22:43:00.002-05:00

Parents, I hope we're all on the same page for the week. Just in case something was lost in translation from coach to player to parent... here goes:

1) Two-a-days continue this week from Monday through Thursday with AM sessions from 8:00 until 10:15 and PM sessions from 6:30 until 8:00 PM

2) We start Friday morning with a soccer program quiz and then leave for our Wisconsin Trip to my parents house. I will be sending out an itinerary for the trip tomorrow.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Man U Training Video

2011-08-15T22:41:00.002-05:00

Some interesting stuff... always nice to learn from some of the world's best.

Summer Soccer Camp Water Fight

2011-08-09T08:49:00.000-05:00

Fitness Results: Week 10

2011-08-06T08:55:00.000-05:00

Fitness results from each of the accountabilibudies teams for week 10!

Must See Goal- Marco Fabian

2011-08-04T08:10:00.001-05:00

Hilarious Goalie Error

2011-08-04T08:07:00.001-05:00

Meet the new USMNT Coach

2011-08-01T20:19:00.002-05:00

Coach Bob Bradley is done as US Men's National Team Coach. Here's an interview with new coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Should be interesting to see what he does with the program!

Fitness Results: Week 9

2011-07-30T08:55:00.000-05:00

Fitness results from each of the accountabilibudies teams for week 9!

Fitness Results: Week 8

2011-07-23T08:54:00.000-05:00

Fitness results from each of the accountabilibudies teams for week 8!

Must See Goal: Brek Shea

2011-07-22T20:44:00.002-05:00

Go it alone from midfield, blast it from 25 off the post and boom. Not bad!

7.19.11 Summer League Playoff Game: AT Bartlett at 6:30 PM

2011-07-18T13:15:00.002-05:00

Just got the word from our league coordinator. Our first summer league playoff game is AT Bartlett at 6:30 PM on Tuesday (tomorrow). Long road trip L See you there- let’s go TC!

Women's World Cup Final: USA vs. Japan

2011-07-17T09:28:00.002-05:00

Hope you find some time today to check out the 2o11 Women's World Cup final (ESPN... 1:00 PM). Should be a good game against a tough Japanese team. GO USA!!

Fitness Results: Week 7

2011-07-16T08:53:00.000-05:00

Fitness results from each of the accountabilibudies teams for week 7!

URGENT ANNOUNCEMENT: SUMMER LEAGUE GAME CANCELLED

2011-07-14T15:49:00.003-05:00

I've cancelled our summer league game vs. Glenbard West tonight. We don't have the numbers we need to compete tonight. Please help me spread the word.

Thanks- use the time off to keep hitting that One Sheet!

WOW! Megan Rocks Crazy Hair Day at Summer Camp

2011-07-14T15:27:00.003-05:00

Every year at the elementary and middle school camps, we have "Crazy Hair" day. This year, Nate and Colin's sister Megan showed up with the all-time best crazy hair: 17 inch spikes! Thought this picture was great!

**Please note that I do not participate in crazy hair day**

USWNT Advances to the Final Four in 2011 Women's World Cup

2011-07-10T20:05:00.002-05:00

Hope you're watching the US Women's National Team in the 2011 Women's World Cup. After a few terrible calls against them, a red card, a blown PK save, they came back to tie it 2-2 in the last minute of extra time. Abby Wombach headed home the game-tying goal in the last minute. The team then won on PKs 5-4. WOW!

Here's a video summary of the game: click here.

Fitness Results: Week 6

2011-07-09T08:52:00.000-05:00

Fitness results from each of the accountabilibudies teams for week 6!