Huntley four help MCC soccer

HUNTLEY – After contributing to the success of Huntley’s boys soccer teams, four long-time soccer players are keeping a love of the sport going.

The quartet of Tyler Roberts, Hayden Lidgett, Diego Luna and Jack Bakey, don the McHenry Country Scots purple this fall on the pitch for the junior college school in Crystal Lake. Last year they were on a Red Raiders team that was co-Fox Valley Conference champs and won a regional title.

“It’s good, it keeps us going in soccer,” Luna, a forward, said after a recent practice. His teammates all agreed.

Bakey is one of two goalies this season for the Scots while Roberts and Lidgett are forwards.

“We grew up playing soccer together,” Bakey said. “I wanted to keep on playing.”

The group has made a good first impression on the junior college’s new coach, Jeff Nehila.

“All four have a superb work ethic and all of them continue to give quality minutes on the field,” Nehila said. They established themselves quickly as go to players during the preseason and whether they are or coming on during a game I can count on them for smart and disciplined play.”

Players from Huntley and eight other area high schools comprise the Scots team, which competes in the Skyway Conference.

“The team culture has continued to develop,” Nehila said. “With student athletes from multiple high schools in McHenry County, players who they used to play against are now teammates. Our two points of emphasis this year is trust and team and I’m elated to say we’re excelling with both principles.”

Season outlook

The Scots have specific goals for 2024.

“I see our biggest strength as depth,” Nehila said. “We have eight returning players and 16 first year players. A number of those players can play multiple positions and perform diverse roles within the team.”

Returning players include captains sophomores David Aquino of Harvard; Lorenzen Eichloz and Jair Ayala of Woodstock.

In addition to the Huntley four, among the talented newcomers are goalie freshmen Chris Slowak, from Crystal Lake South; Martin Quintero, Harvard; and Chase Vrba and Ethan Ormsby from Prairie Ridge.

“We have developed a vision for the program which includes transforming it into a year-round program,”  Nehila said. “With in-and off-season activities such as strength and fitness training, team building trips and spring competition in addition to our fall season. This ultimately leads to our vision of having MCC being the school of choice for northern Illinois student athletes for soccer. Some of our goals this year include increasing our goals per game average and decreasing goals against. Goals also include having a team GPA of 3.0.”

Recent matches

MCC battled Bryant & Stratton College to a 3-2 loss in Milwaukee Sept. 7 in non-conference play.

“We played superb soccer for the first half, it was our best match of the season. Then they played their best match in the second half,”  Nehila said.

Quintero scored one goal and had an assist. Aquino scored the second goal. Vrba also had an assist. Dylan Flores, a freshman from Woodstock North, made two saves in goal.

MCC lost to Elgin 5-1 in a Skyway Conference match for an 0-5 record as of Sept. 10.

New coach

Nehila has a varied soccer background. This includes coaching at youth teams at club level in the area as well as coaching US soldiers stationed in Germany and playing soccer in two German clubs teams.

“I spent three years working as a civilian worker for the Army. I got to know how soccer should be played, with discipline,” Nehila said.