Minus key personnel, OPRF soccer pushes record to 5-0

Team plagued by flu, injury to Locasto

Wednesday, August 31st, 2011 3:09 PM

Updated: Thursday, September 1st, 2011 9:51 AM

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OPRF's Stephen Golz goes up for a header during last week's win over Leyden. The senior recently announced that he has committed to Wheaton College. Frank Pinc/Contributor

By Brad Spencer

Sports Editor

The OPRF soccer team took to the field on Wednesday night against Whitney Young with several players missing from the lineup.

Along with Gian luca Locasto, who is out 4-6 weeks after suffering an injury to his right leg during OPRF's first game of the season, OPRF lost Max Menzies, Zack Weigel and Noe Espinoza for Wednesday night's game and possibly Saturday's home game against Highland Park. Menzies, Weigel and Espinoza have come down with a severe bout of the flu.

"[It's their] second day of being sick, so hopefully they'll be ready for the first Pepsi Showdown game," said head coach Paul Wright on Wednesday afternoon. "I doubt they will see minutes today and Saturday if it's the same flu bug everyone else has gotten."

Minus several of its key players, the Huskies still managed to shut out Whitney Young 5-0, pushing their early-season win-streak to 5-0. Stephen Golz, Marcus Machado, Mike Rajter, Ryan Huettel and Mike Bower all scored for OPRF.

OPRF has already picked up wins over Riverside-Brookfield, Larkin, Leyden and St. Ignatius, who the Huskies trounced 4-0 on Monday.

Wright said he's confident his team can weather through the next couple of games while the ill players recoup.

"We are going to test ourselves this week with some new formations," he said. "These kids have some phenomenal attitudes and in the past I would be nervous, but the way others have stepped up has been impressive."

One of those stepping up is Golz, who scored at least one goal in each of OPRF's first five games. The senior, who has committed to Wheaton College where he'll join his older brother Drew, scored twice in the win over Leyden last Saturday.

The Huskies host Highland Park on Saturday at 2 p.m. They'll begin the Pepsi Showdown Tournament on Sept. 6.

To read more about OPRF's first three games, click here.