Reavis senior looking to set records

Updated: March 22, 2011 4:30PM

Paul Rychtarczyk is a marked man for the upcoming boys soccer season. That's what happens when you lead the state in goals as a junior, and follow that with 27 goals in 13 games in summer league play.

"I know people will be coming after me," the Reavis senior said. "I'm not afraid of anything."

Nor is he terribly concerned about matching last season's 46 goals - the 24th-best single-season total in IHSA history and enough to lift Rychtarczyk to SouthtownStar Player of the Year honors. Or even the fact that he is 15 goals away from breaking Mario Zubek's Reavis career mark of 99.

"It isn't all about scoring," Rychtarczyk said. "I'm happier about my team winning than anything. I will do anything to help my team."

That's a good attitude to take, given history shows goals may be tougher to come by this season.

Of the top 52 goal-scoring seasons in Illinois, only twice has a player come back in a later season to match or score more goals. Ryan Salazar, of Hinckley-Big Rock, and Ned Grabavoy, of Lincoln-Way Central, both went from 42 to 43 goals.

"You made your name and you don't think we're prepared?" Lincoln-Way East soccer coach Brian Papa said. "We make sure our kids know who to watch at all times."

Papa has seen many adjustments in his 28 years of coaching, specifically coaching Josh Feigl at Sandburg from 1990 to '93. Feigl, a two-time prep all-American, is ninth in career goals in IHSA history with 132.

"They couldn't stop Feigl," Papa said. "They marked him, but Josh was a man playing among boys.

"For (Rychtarczyk), we'd make sure he had a shadow. Would that stop him? No. We would make sure we contained him, though. You give any kids like that time or space and it's good night, Eileen."

Mike Zadan coached soccer for 32 years, 30 of which were at Rich East, until retiring in 2009. Zadan coached Mike Thompson at Rich East in 1998 when Thompson, then a senior, put himself 10th on the top goal-scoring seasons list, scoring 53 goals. Zadan saw things get a bit more physical as the season progressed.

"They doubled Mike, put their most physical defender on him 1-on-1 and tried to be physical with him," Zadan said. "I would tell him before games, ‘You're going to get pounded and you're going to get doubled.'

"There are not a whole lot of secrets. If you have a big, strong, fast defender, you put him on (goal-scorers). Any coach worth their salt has (Rychtarczyk) marked."

From 1990 to '93, Nick Markulin, Brother Rice's soccer coach since 1972, coached Billy Savarino, whose 159 goals rank first in IHSA history. Last season, Markulin guided the Crusaders past Reavis in a regional title game, 2-1 in double-overtime.

"I remember one particular game, the player who was shadowing Billy actually followed him to the bench when he was coming out," Markulin said. "You have to track these players down and always have one or two guys focus on them in goal-scoring situations. That's what we did against Reavis."

Papa and Zadan were quick to explain there is more to judging a goal-scorer than just the amount of times a ball lands in the back of the net.

"The competition will depict the goals scored," Papa said. "We played the top teams in the north suburbs. Reavis doesn't go north of their school. You have to have something to score 46 goals in a season, but to be compared to greats like Feigl or Savarino, you have to have better competition."

Zadan agreed, saying, "If they play any of the players in the northwestern suburbs, (Rychtarczyk's) going to run into spectacular defense, but if he runs into players from the south suburbs, although they are pretty good, it isn't as tough."

Reavis, which finished 17-5-2 in 2009, is scheduled to play Oct. 1 against reigning Class 3A state champion Lyons Township, its only scheduled game outside the Southland.

Top Teams

Brother Rice: The Crusaders finished the 2009 season 15-10-1, losing 1-0 in four overtimes to Eisenhower in the sectional championship. Coach Nick Markulin is high on forward/midfielder Greg Healey, an All-Area selection last year as a sophomore.

Eisenhower: The 2009 Cardinals went further in the state tournament than any previous team in school history, falling in a 3A supersectional. That 16-6-3 squad loses graduated forwards Joey Bahena and Erik Gomez, who combined for 31 goals and 21 assists last season.

Lemont: No one went further in 2A in the Southland than the Indians, who fell in the supersectional and finished 21-5-1. Losses include team leader Kyle Spoo, who notched 20 goals last season, and defender David Plecki. Returning is goalkeeper Jonathan Remiasz, who had 88 saves on 102 shots last season.

Providence Catholic: The Celtics fell in the sectional championship 2-1 in two overtimes to Edwardsville, ending the team's season at 13-9-4. The Celtics lost to graduation forward Jeff Hayes, who totaled 14 goals and four assists.

Reavis: The Rams are coming off the most successful season in program history, going 17-5-2 and winning a regional championship behind SouthtownStar Player of the Year Paul Rychtarczyk's 46 goals. Rychtarczyk is back for his senior season and hoping to avenge last year's 2-1 double-overtime loss to Brother Rice in the regional championship.

Sandburg: The Eagles finished 14-8-1 after falling to Brother Rice 2-0 in the sectional semifinals. Sandburg loses goalkeepers Sean Healy and Dave Mulac - who had nine shutouts combined - but return 15 varsity players as seniors, including defender Kevin Tolley and midfielder Jeff Grider.

Players to Watch

Each of these players earned All-Conference and SouthtownStar All-Area berths last season.

Jeff Grider, Senior, midfielder, Sandburg (7 goals, 3 assists in 2009).

Greg Healy, Junior, forward/midfielder, Brother Rice (10 goals, 10 assists in 2009).

Zack Judickas, Senior, forward, Stagg (16 goals in 2009).

Tom Lujek, Senior, midfielder, Stagg (17 goals in 2009).

Carlos Posada, Junior, forward, Crete-Monee (26 goals, 6 assists in 2009).

Jonathan Remiasz, Senior, goalkeeper, Lemont (20 shutouts in 2009).

Paul Rychtarczyk, Senior, forward, Reavis (46 goals, 7 assists in 2009).

Kevin Tolley, Senior, defender, Sandburg (2 goals, 1 assist in 2009).

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