Ganancio continues to find the net

One of the biggest bright spots for the Warren High School soccer team this season hails from one of soccer's hottest hot spots.

Junior Thiago Ganancio, whose family moved to the area from Sao Paulo, Brazil, when he was a boy, has brought some samba flair to the Blue Devils' squad.

On Tuesday night, birthday boy Ganancio found the net for the seventh time this season in the Devils' 5-1 defeat to Lake Zurich.

"(Thiago) is the calmest, coolest person I've ever seen or coached in regard to having the ball at his feet and going to the goal. He's calm, cool and collected," Warren's first-year head coach Jason Ahonen said. "You give him the ball one-on-one in space, and he finishes 9 times out of 10."

Despite some strong play by Ganancio and some solid play overall, the Devils have struggled to get results. The Lake Zurich loss dropped them to 1-6-3 on the campaign, though they have played an extremely tough schedule.

Ahonen, who was promoted from the sophomore team after Jim McNamara resigned in the offseason, said Warren has played well at times and he is expecting its luck to change.

"We've had only two games where we've been beaten by more than one goal, so it's not like we're out of games," he said. "But we haven't been getting the lucky breaks that teams on a roll seem to get. But it's just a matter of time before we reel off, if not a group of wins, then a couple wins in a row."

The team has struggled at the beginning of halves, which happened again Tuesday when they allowed 3 goals in the first 10 minutes at Lake Zurich. In the four games prior to that, Warren had trouble holding onto leads.

The team has faced some challenges. After opening the season with a home victory over Grayslake Central, the Blue Devils have played 9 straight games away from home.

In addition, Ahonen has had to play a freshman in goal after the experienced keeper decided not to go out for the team.

That being said, Ahonen has not been disappointed with performance of his youngster, Brady Walsh, in net.

"Brady is technically sound and is getting adjusted to being a 14-year-old playing with, in some cases, 17- and 18-year olds, some of them men," the coach said. "At first, he was very reserved. (With the split campuses) he didn't know any of the guys. But he is adjusting to being a part of the team. He is still learning. But as a freshman, you couldn't expect more than what we've got out of him. He's limited his mistakes and done a nice job."

Ahonen has also been pleased with the play of forward Jarrett Jespersen, defender Michael Osmera, midfielder Jordan Foster and defender Matt Kinka.

"With all those guys, their workrate is extremely high," Ahonen said. "What they lack in some skill, they make up for with heart and hard work."

Senior Oskar Gasecki, the team's most experienced player, has been limited to four games thus far because of injuries.

RECAP: Last Thursday in Pepsi Showdown action, Ernie Hernandez scored off a Brandon Brown throw-in to give Warren a 1-0 lead over Kelly. But the Chicago team scored a late equalizer in the 1-1 game.

Two days earlier in the same tournament, Osmera and Ganancio found the net in a 3-2 loss to St. Charles North. Tyler Strenzel and Brown had the assists.

GAME DAY: The Blue Devils host Rolling Meadows at 5 p.m. today before resuming Pepsi Showdown action on Saturday at Lyons Township.