Cummings an Up-and-Comer for Downers North Soccer Team

Replacing graduated 26-goal scorer Paul Hogan won’t be easy, but if the  boys soccer team has anyone who can do it, it’s Cullen Cummings.

Cummings, a junior midfielder, scored only one goal last season but he found his scoring touch in an unusual place – Italy.

Cummings and 13 of his teammates toured Italy last month, playing four games against Italian youth club teams during a 10-day trip. The Trojans went 2-1-1 and Cummings scored eight goals, including a pair of hat tricks.

“Cullen the last couple years has not been able to finish,”  coach Brian Gervase said. “It was almost like a funny joke on the team. The guys were always laughing, but at the same time he was already a good player.

“He could get to good positions, he’s fast and he started every varsity match last year, so it’s not like he hasn’t been playing. But now he’s learned how to finish so he’s getting good opportunities and that’s kind of what we saw in Italy.”

Hogan, who is walking on at Northern Illinois, is one of eight starters lost to graduation.  also is without standout playmaker A.J. Jeffries, who had 11 goals and 12 assists as a sophomore last fall. Jeffries, a member of the U.S. U-17 national team, was prohibited from playing high school soccer by his club team, the Chicago Fire Academy.

Into that breach steps Cummings, who will be relied on to score with regularity.

“I’m trying to be like that,” Cummings said. Hogan's “are tough shoes to fill but I’m trying my best. I did pretty well in Italy. We all did.”

Gervase is confident that Cummings will have a breakout season.

“He’s in great shape,” Gervase said. “That’s been the big difference. He’s been a very encouraging sign. He’s every bit the goal scorer we’ve had in the past here.”

The Trojans enjoyed their best season since 2001 last year, compiling a 17-5-2 record and winning a regional championship. But 12 players graduated, leaving many questioning whether can replicate that success.

“I think everybody underestimates us,” Cummings said. “They don’t think we’re going to be as strong as last year, but we have high expectations for the team. We have good chemistry on our team. We work together really well.”

Senior co-captain Huge Pacheco said there is a good reason for that.

“We had a pretty solid sophomore team (last year), and that’s pretty much our varsity right now,” Pacheco said. “We won conference on (the) sophomore (level) and beat (Lyons Township). I think we know each other really well.”

Junior Reid Melton was a varsity starter last year at outside midfield and will move to center midfield to direct the offense. Newcomers Byron Perez and Aaron Menyes are two other juniors who could make an impact.

“This is a junior class that’s very big and very strong,” Gervase said. “We have some excellent seniors that are coming back, but it’s mostly juniors. Reid Melton is a fantastic player, Byron Perez will score a lot of goals. I think we’re going to be as strong as we left off last year and build” on it.

Seniors like Pacheco and Zack Parik will solidify an inexperienced back line. Pacheco has played mostly forward but doesn’t hesitate to embrace the challenge of playing defense for the first time.

“If (Gervase) needs me there I guess I’ll step in there,” Pacheco said. “We don’t have (many) defenders. Our team is offensive, so we’ve got to make some sacrifices.”

The 6-3 Parik is a two-way threat because of his ability to launch long throw-ins. A star setter on the volleyball team, he will have an expanded role.

“It’s great to have him back,” said Gervase, whose team opens the season Aug. 23 at Benet. “He’s played a lot of club volleyball this year so it’s going to take him a little while to get back in shape, but he’s going to be a big part of our team.”

Last year’s success has sparked expanded interest at . Gervase said 65 players tried out for 45 spots in the program. A run at the West Suburban Conference Silver Division title, which the Trojans have not won since 2003, is not out of the question.

“I think they know they can be successful,” he said, and “that they’re definitely a top team in the conference and we’re going to compete for it.”