Ryan Nord may be only a high school sophomore, but already he has this incredible talent.
And while he plays soccer for Evanston, it’s not necessarily what he does with his feet. It’s what he does with his mouth.
After the Wildkits’ 2-0 victory over Lake Zurich in their own tournament Thursday, Nord revisted the goal he scored–his first of the season–with the help of fellow soph Phil Jones.
“He set me up and I was wide open,” Nord said. “I could’ve closed my eyes and scored.”
Good quotes. Keep going.
“This season we definitely have the ability to go Downstate. If we come to play every game, we have a chance.”
The future spokesman and Evanston (5-1-1) came to play, coach Randy DeRousse said, in the second half of its game with Lake Zurich (2-4-1). With just under 38 minutes left in the game, Nord connected from 15 yards after a feed from Jones.
Usually, the scoring is reversed.
DeRousse said the sophomores are “perfect examples of what quality off-season training will do. They each played 35 to 40 games and their touches improved tremendously.”
Lake Zurich, hampered by the loss of midfielder Brett Deuth, who still is ailing from a broken hip in the summer, played well the first half. But the Kits got rolling with Nord’s goal, outshooting the Bears 12-6 in the second half. Evanston’s second goal came on a direct kick from 20 yards by Michael Henes after a Lake Zurich foul.
In another tournament game, Brandon Harpe’s late goal gave No. 5 Libertyville (5-1) a 1-0 victory at Wheaton Warrenville South (2-2). Jeff Suzuki assisted on the score.
The tournament concludes Saturday morning with all games at Evanston.
