Schools
Team of the week: Libertyville Boys Soccer
State-ranked Wildcats are a real threat to win a state title
A year ago, 's boys soccer team finished second in the state. That's quite an accomplishment. But it's a new season at Libertyville and frankly second place won't do this fall.
To start the season, Andy Bitta's team was ranked No. 1 in the state, and despite a few losses, this team seems to be on track.
"We are pretty good,'' Bitta said. "We have a bunch of guys who play like brothers."
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Named MVP of the tourney was senior center-midfielder Marshall Hollingsworth. He plays this game at 145 pounds.
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"You won't find a bigger heart,'' Bitta said. "He really unbreakable. He got hurt against Lyons and we had to carry him off the field."
Bitta was worried about his key senior.
"And then my assistant said Marshall is ready to play,'' he said. "Marshall wouldn't miss a game."
Hollingsworth is headed for more soccer next year at Wheaton College.
Another key senior in Bitta's lineup is Sam Kaplan. His specialty is defense.
"He's the best defender I've ever coached,'' Bitta said. "He wins everything in the back.''
Bitta has soccer players who are soccer lovers first.
"This is their life,'' he said. "They don't play any other sports. They play soccer 365 days a year."
Now you can find Joey Ruppert on a baseball field in the spring. But in the fall, he's all soccer.
"He runs a 4.5 40,'' Bitta said. "He's 5-foot-5 and built like a locomotive. He's just as fast without the ball.'
A year ago, Ruppert was the team's second-leading scorer.
Bitta's 1986 club finished second in the state. Despite nearly 400 victories coaching the boys team, he would like to bring home a first-place state trophy.
"This is one of the best teams I've coached,'' he said. "We have so many talented kids. We haven't played a weak team this year. We also have a big target on our back. Every team is ready to play us."
The Wildcats losses have come at the hands of Waukegan and Round Lake. Bitta wondered how his team would fare against Round Lake following the big win at the Pepsi Challenge.
"We were up 1-0 but I could tell we had dead legs,'' Bitta said.
Round Lake tripped the Wildcats 3-1. No doubt these two teams will meet again when conference play gets serious.
Bitta gets help from assistant coaches Al Beard, Vince Deluca and Alvaro Castro.
