Deerfield’s great season comes to an end with sectional final loss

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Lakes' Morgan Hannum goes flying as Deerfield's Matthew Zussman (No. 12) slides into goalie Josh Norris during Saturday's sectional final. | Joe Shuman~For Sun-Times Media

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Updated: December 4, 2011 10:20AM

Sports offers many life lessons, some more painful than others.

Saturday’s IHSA Class 2A Lakes Sectional soccer final was one of those painful lessons for Deerfield High School.

The Warriors (18-6-1) were unable to score on numerous chances against Lakes. The Eagles converted once, which was just enough to beat Deerfield 1-0.

“We were all over them,” said Warriors head coach Elliot Hurtig. “We didn’t finish our chances. We should have — but we didn’t.”

One play illuminated his point. With Lakes up 1-0 early in the second half and Deerfield dominating the midfield, senior forward Joey Calistri had possession in front of the Eagles’ goal. His shot looked like a sure score, only to have Lakes defender Kevin Nadelhoffer clear it out just before it went over the goal line.

That was a running theme all day, as the Warriors controlled possession. But time after time, they were stonewalled by Lakes goalie Roberto Tre Re and a stout Eagles defense. Deerfield’s last two scoring chances were both punched out by Tre Re — a header from Calistri with 12 minutes remaining and a blast in the box from Connor Oriot with just under five minutes left.

“I thought at halftime we were going to score three or four goals,” Hurtig said. “They did a good job shutting Joey down. You have to give them credit.”

Lakes’ lone goal came on a fluke play. With just over two minutes remaining in the first half, the Warriors committed a foul, giving Lakes a free kick. Eagles midfielder Scott Brugioni lofted a high chip — not meant to be a shot — into the goal box, and the ball went over the head of Josh Norris into the back of the net. It was an unlucky bounce for the Warriors, but not the type of play they thought would end their season.

“I don’t think he was shooting. (Josh) just misjudged it,” Hurtig said. “The breaks didn’t go our way, and sometimes that happens.”

Recap: When the final seconds expired and the game was lost, Warriors players fell onto the grass field in disbelief, their state title hopes wiped out. The finality of the moment was stunning to watch.

After the game, players huddled with their coaches. They emerged teary-eyed, yet grateful for the experience they shared together.

“I’ll remember everything,” Calistri said. “Guys sticking up for each other. Family. It was great playing with these guys.”

Senior midfielder Jayson Kayne was equally appreciative for the time spent together — and the team’s success. 

“It was awesome,” he said. “We all love each other and stick up for each other. People coming off the bench knew what to do. We had a game plan and we executed it.”

The Warriors will graduate 11 seniors, including captains Calistri, Eric Gilbert and Andrew Sloan. Teams lose players at the end of every season, but this group was unique in the fact many of them had been playing together for years, well before high school in some cases.

Deerfield may never have a trio the likes of Gilbert, Kayne and Calistri again, who were not only great players but strong leaders. 

“They are a special group. They have a tremendous bond,” Hurtig said regarding senior class. “Life isn’t always fair. But the most important thing isn’t the win or loss, but the connections they have with each other, and those will last a lifetime.”

Before they walked off the field one last time together, Calistri and Kayne repeated their coaches’ sentiment.

“It’s sad to see it happen that way,” Kayne said. “I’m never going to forget this season.”

Added Calistri: “It’s hard to imagine this is the last time we’ll be representing our school. It was unbelievable.”