Moraine Valley men’s soccer ends season, heads to Spain in spring

Another tough season is down in the books for the Moraine Valley Community College men’s soccer team. Things just didn’t go their way this year, but several players had some shining moments that bode well for 2013, including a team trip to Spain in the spring.

A shallow roster, smaller team and some absences took a toll, leaving the Cyclones with a 4-7-2 overall record and 1-4-2 Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference record. They ended the season in the first round of playoffs on Oct. 24. Nearly every game was tight. The team was close and bonded well, playing hard every game. “We fought until the very end. They gave it their all in every match; they tried,” said coach Chuck Bales. “We have some very good players. Pawel Rychtarczyk (Reavis) is quality through and through. He’s a fighter and the reason we got the wins we did and stayed in games. He was a threat.”

Aside from Rychtarczyk, there were few starting sophomores to lead the way, but they were strong. Edward Vallejo (Reavis) was a talented ball passer while captain Kris Dolinsky (Indiana) made sure the team was together. A task master, he did the small things so everyone was on the same page in training and games. Those sophomores will be missed, Bales said.

Along with freshman captain Luis Navarrete (Shepard), who “worked his socks off,” Bales said other freshmen who played “fantastic” this season—Jair Castanon (Reavis), Marko Enciso (Reavis) and Joe Mastej (Highland)—will make a difference in next year’s squad. Often times it’s hard to field any goalkeepers, let alone quality ones, but the Cyclones had four. Freshmen Max Boyso (Eisenhower), Jonathan Caratachea (Eisenhower), Tom Rice (Shepard), and Mousa Sheikh (Reavis) all made some noise at the net. “They were all fantastic. They were mature, responsible players, and it was hard not to have them all play every game,” Bales said.

For their efforts, Rychtarczyk earned All-Conference first team honors while Dolinsky, Navarrete and Vallejo were named to the second team.

“It was a difficult season with a small roster, but because we played so many freshmen for the whole season, the outlook for next year and the experience of the returners will be high,” Bales said.

Before the 2013 season, the Cyclones will take a trip to Valencia, Spain during spring break for international competition and a volunteer project.