Last line of defense
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By PAUL HUSET
paul.huset@lee.net
Tuesday, November 4, 2008 12:20 AM CST
Most members of the McDonell basketball squad are gearing up for their 2008 campaign.
Not senior Chris Eckes, though. He’ll have to wait awhile, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
He’s still playing soccer and doing his best to keep McDonell/Regis alive in the WIAA Division 3 playoffs and at state. It’s been a mixed run, with two shutouts and two one-goal games.
Eckes said he’ll take it either way.
“It’s nice to get a 5-0 win, but winning in close games, in double overtime — it’s the greatest feeling in the world,” he said.
His defense has had a heavy hand in all four wins. The two shutouts saw Eckes and his teammates snuff out attack after attack while the close games have seen the goalie literally save the season.
None exemplify this better than Eckes’ one-on-one stop against an Omro player in the first overtime of the third round’s 3-2 win that took two extra periods.
Coach Tim Jenneman said that save is typical of Eckes’ play.
“He has always played big for me and the team when needed and when asked to step it up,” he said.
The 2-1 victory over Conserve the next round also had some clutch saves, though Eckes tries to remain calm through all the nail-biting excitement.
“I just got to do everything I can to stop the ball,” he said. “I get pretty nervous, but I just have to keep my composure and stop the ball.”
As the scores indicate, that’s getting tougher and tougher to do.
Eckes said the playoff opponents have shown an increased level of play. He mentioned the quickness of the forwards and midfielders as well as superior ball handling as major areas of concern.
Of course, Eckes isn’t alone in this and he’ll be the first to point it out.
He owes a lot of the defense’s success to Ryan Kozuch on the right side, Alex Flunker on the left, James Gunderson at stopper and Matt Fialkowski at striker.
Fialkowski actually suggested the changed defense McDonell has employed this year after losing three starting defenders to graduation.
Instead of a diamond defense, the Macks have been showcasing a flat-3. It puts pressure on the defenders, but Eckes said the guys in front of him have held up.
He said Fialkowski has improved his game from last year and that Flunker has fit in nicely on defense after being a midfielder last season.
He added that Gunderson and Kozuch have matched their peers’ play.
“Ryan (Kozuch) subbed in last year, but he’s been phenomenal this year,” he said. “Gunner (Gunderson) has played great as stopper too.”
Fialkowski’s idea has worked for the group, as Eckes said his team has posted nearly 10 shutouts.
Of course, that doesn’t come without some great goalie play. Eckes estimated he had 250 to 300 saves this year.
His said his play has proved to his team that they can depend on the senior when opponents slip through.
“I just got to show leadership,” he said. “They’ve been able to show confidence in me as the last line of defense.”
Some of those saves had stood out more than others. He listed a save in the waning seconds of the 5-0 playoff win over Wausau Newman as a favorite, especially considering it preserved a shutout.
He went on to describe a mix of regular season and playoff stops, as well as saves on penalty kicks.
The Macks have stopped seven of eight penalty kicks they have faced, all with Fialkowski again offering his thoughts.
“Fialkowski is pretty good at psyching out the opponents,” Eckes said. “He lets them know how many I’ve stopped or that I stopped the last one.”
With each clutch stop and each crucial win, Eckes extends his high school career.
It’s a career he wants to end on top, however, after last year’s early exit from state.
“I didn’t want this year to end in the playoffs,” he said. “I want to go back to state and do better.”
Eckes will get his chance on Friday when his team faces University School at noon in Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
Paul Huset can be reached at paul.huset@lee.net.
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