Short-Handed Kits Kick Deerfield, 8-2

Evanston’s soccer team set an unlikely school record Thursday night at Deerfield.

Unlikely because it’s not something they’d try --- at least one purpose --- to do again.

The Wildkits, down a man because of a red card issued midway through the first half, scored an astonishing 6 goals despite that disadvantage over the last 60 minutes and destroyed Deerfield 8-2 for their 9th straight victory.

Coach Franz Calixte’s unbeaten squad, behind 3 goals from Joseph Sargent and 2 from Johnny Hunwick, improved to 9-0-1 on the season and remained atop the Central Suburban League South division standings with Glenbrook South, both at 2-0.

The extended stretch when they were forced to play short-handed was part of a contentious contest that Calixte won’t soon forget.

The veteran coach showed his ire early in the game when the Warriors were awarded a penalty kick on an egregious call, and a couple of minutes later ETHS defender Kingston Scrim was ejected for “dissent” even though both sides acknowledged that the senior didn’t say a word in protest after being whistled for a foul.

“I know it won’t go anywhere, but this is the first time in 28 years as a coach that I’m going to write an official up (with a protest letter to the Illinois High School Association),” Calixte said. “There were just so many bad calls. How does Kingston get a red card for dissent when he didn’t say anything? I don’t know. It won’t go anywhere, but I can’t be silent about it.

“I got really passionate and sometimes that can backfire on you. I apologized to the boys for that. They didn’t say anything but it was like OK, Coach, we’ve got you. They just took over the game after I had to go sit down (on the bench) and be quiet. I felt like they won this one for their coach. They showed their maturity and they made me really, really proud of them.”

Evanston’s ability to dominate play when it was 10 players versus 11 was a reflection of the team’s overall talent and depth. It also helped that Deerfield (3-5-2, 0-2 CSL South) didn’t press that advantage and still kept four defenders back in the second half when they trailed 3-1.

The hosts converted another penalty kick --- by Jacob Gassman --- against ETHS backup goalie Finn Kramer-Mann (4 saves) just 90 seconds into the second half. But it was all Evanston after that.

“Deerfield really didn’t adjust in the second half. They still kept four guys back, so our guys could just keep playing,” Calixte noted.

It didn’t take long for the winners to respond to that second penalty kick. Hunwick drilled a shot past Deerfield’s keeper from the 15 yard line, then upped the margin to 5-2 with a left-footed laser in the game’s 67th minute.

Johnny O’Carroll, Sargent and John Isaac added goals and midfielder Orlando Tobin, who thrived against Deerfield’s wide open style of play, contributed a pair of assists.

Evanston’s defense also remained rock solid despite the disadvantage as both Charlie Weiss and Lincoln Carbray filled in capably in Scrim’s absence.

Carbray, a senior, played almost 30 minutes in his season debut. He missed most of the 2023 season with back problems and this fall has spent more time rehabbing in the swim pool than he has on a soccer pitch.

“I’m so proud of all of them, because they played with a chip on their shoulder even when they were winning,” Calixte said. “Orlando was fantastic tonight and he’s been so good for us especially over the last couple of games. He’s playing like a second-year varsity player.

“Everyone played a role in this win. Lincoln has such a calming effect when he’s back there --- we won’t be rushed when he’s around --- and it was great to have him back. Charlie (Weiss) is usually the first guy we sub in on the back line and he has that kind of calmness, too. He’s just there to win balls and give out good passes, not to do anything sensational.”