Kroll making a difference in first season with Dukes

After playing club with the Chicago Sockers FC the past three seasons, York senior Jim Kroll decided to give high school soccer a shot.

"It's my senior year and I just wanted to have fun," Kroll said. "I have friends on the team and wanted to play with them. I'm glad I chose to play this year because it's been a good time."

The Dukes are glad to have him in the program as well, especially after his performance Sept. 30.

Kroll scored two goals to help York knock off Hinsdale Central 4-1 in a West Suburban Conference Silver Division contest in Elmhurst. Hinsdale Central (10-5-2, 2-1 in Silver) suffered its first conference loss, leaving every Silver team with at least one loss.

"We definitely wanted to win pretty bad to prove ourselves," Kroll said. "It was kind of crazy to beat them like we did. Everybody was very happy."

What made the victory even more impressive was the fashion in which York (9-4, 2-1 in Silver) pulled out the win.

The Dukes led 1-0 at halftime thanks to a goal by Ryan Roberts off an assist from David Selvaggi, but their goalkeeper received a red card, resulting in York playing a man short for the final 30 minutes of the game.

That didn't prevent the Dukes from scoring three short-handed goals. Kroll scored off an assist from Selvaggi with 12 minutes left and added another goal with eight minutes remaining to put York ahead 3-0. Hinsdale Central scored to spoil the shutout, but Eric Moreau scored off a cross from Klaudio Kamberi to complete the scoring.

"The players played their hearts out," York coach Markus Roy said. "Scoring three goals with a man down is all effort from our team."

Backup goalie Chris Vargo made five saves for the Dukes.

Kroll has contributed four goals so far this season.

"If I went back and did it over, I probably would've played high school soccer," Kroll said. "Maybe not freshman or sophomore year, but definitely my junior year. We have a good team and I think we can do well."

York wasn't quite able to remain perfect in the Silver, losing to Lyons Township 1-0 in double overtime Oct. 2 in Elmhurst.