Grayslake Central senior forward Daniel Sachuk didn’t know what to expect this season.
Sachuk played on the junior varsity team last year and then suffered a broken ankle over the summer.
He also knew the Rams already had a number of talented seniors, most notably 2024 Class 2A all-state forward Ivan Sereno, 2024 all-sectional midfielder Damian Sereno, defender Uriel Alonso, midfielder Cory Hanson and goalkeeper Michal Taradys.
“I thought maybe I would get a starting spot,” Sachuk said. “But I came off the bench.”
With an undefined role, the 6-foot-2 Sachuk asked Grayslake Central coach Keith Andersson for a change after a few games.
“Right before the conference season started, Daniel came up to me and asked, ‘Coach, can I play JV?’” Andersson said. “He wasn’t getting a lot of playing time. We were still trying to figure everything out.
“I told Daniel just to wait and see how it goes against Wauconda. We put him in. He was a game-changer. With his size and presence, you have to mark him.”
Crosstown rival Grayslake North will remember Sachuk too. He scored a goal in each half of the Class 2A Grayslake Central Sectional championship game on Friday night to lead the fourth-seeded Rams to a 2-1 victory over the sixth-seeded Knights.
Grayslake Central (15-5), which needs one more win to make its third trip to the state semifinals in the past five seasons, will play Streamwood or Wheaton Academy in the Streamwood Supersectional at 4:30 p.m. Monday.
The Knights (15-6-1) came out aggressive and took a 1-0 lead on senior midfielder Javi Villegas’ goal in the 11th minute. But Sachuk took advantage of his opportunities, including the go-ahead goal on a header in the 65th minute.
“They have two players who hit the ball where they need to, and he is able to finish it for them,” Grayslake North coach Adam DeCaluwe said.
Sachuk raised his season total to 15 goals, including five in the playoffs, surprising even himself.
“I never thought I would be doing this,” he said.
Northern Lake County Conference player of the year Ivan Sereno, who has 33 goals and 13 assists, said he developed chemistry with Sachuk during the latter part of the regular season.
“He’s an absolute tank,” Sereno said. “His desire, energy, speed and passion on the field set him apart. He wasn’t getting as much time early in the season, but he kept putting in the work in practices. He showed that he wanted to be on the field.”
Sereno assisted on both of Sachuk’s goals.
“Ivan and Daniel are a good pair,” Andersson said. “Daniel does a lot of work. He’s a forward but he plays box to box. Sometimes, he’s all the way back on defense. He never complains. He just works. He wants to learn more.”
Sachuk has impressed Alonso too.
“Daniel has come a long way,” Alonso said. “He’s progressed a lot from his first couple of matches. He’s our anchor.”
Sachuk, who also runs track, said he’s ecstatic about his progress.
“I just started taking soccer seriously,” he said. “I’m super happy.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
