Soccer team makes big strides in 2007

A game against the Proviso East soccer team will no longer be viewed by the opponent as an easy one-sided win.

Proviso East coach David Moss hopes that will be the feeling in the future after the program took several giant steps forward in 2007.

The Pirates had one of their most successful seasons in many years with an overall mark of 5-8.

The highlights included the first win in the West Suburban Conference Gold Division in 10 years and the first win ever in the state tournament.

The Pirates saw their season end with a 6-0 loss on Oct. 17 against top-seeded Downers Grove South at the Downers South Class 2A Regional.

"A season like this puts Proviso East on the map," Moss said.

Moss knows the Pirates will quickly fall off the radar screen if the returning players are not active in the offseason.

"They can't just be sitting around," said Moss, who completes his second year at the helm. "We need to get into summer leagues, join club teams and get into the weight room to get stronger. Some of these kids are starting to play more."

The Pirates were down by only a goal against the heavily favored Mustangs when the first half ended.

"We had our chances, but could not get any shots past their goalie," Moss said. "It might have been different if we had been able to tie the game early in the second half. They did everything we asked. We left everything out there on the field."

Proviso East finished eighth on Saturday at the Fenwick Class 3A Regional at Schiller Woods in Chicago.

The Pirates failed to qualify as a team or send any individuals to the Niles West Sectional on Saturday.

"We were the last team to leave," Proviso East coach Johnny Jenkins said. "There were some sad faces. Some of the kids just went out and walked the course again. That showed the kids cared and that made me feel good."

Keith Thames finished first for Proviso East and 42nd overall in 17:38 seconds for three miles, Christie Lopez 46th in 18:16, Marquis Williams 48th in 18:30, Adrian Hampton 50th in 18:45 and Terrence Williams 54th in 20:08 to complete the scoring.

The five teams to advance to the sectional were Fenwick (36), Oak Park-River Forest (53), Leyden (87), Morton (101) and Northside Prep (113).