2009-2010 Mission: We have created a Fútbol Club to engage our students in healthy lifestyle choices. These choices challenge the norm, giving opportunities and supports to our students to rethink their direction in life. They have regular practices during Physical Education classes.  Our school competes against other alternative schools in a monthly tournament for the Chi-Town Cup.  We have also joined forces with Rudy Lozano Academy in a father/son league.  Half of the team is made of students (8) and half of the team is made of parents and mentors (7).  We play every Sunday night and spend time learning from each other outside of the classroom.

Spring 2010

ChiTown Tournament April 2010

April 2010, The Albizu Campos Fútbol Club went undefeated to win the trophy back from Latino Youth.  They went undefeated in November 2009 to win the championship.

ACFC was hungry that day winning the first game against Rudy Lozano Leadership Academy, and went on to beat the defending champions in a very closely fought game.  Jose Toledo was the MVP scoring a tournament high six goals, and captain Shannon Peralta contributed with assists and solidified the defense only allowing four goals to be scored the entire tournament.

Jose Lopez and Jesus Garcia, took turns as goalkeeper with Jose coming up big with two assists in the championship game and Jesus Garcia with two big saves in the sudden death Penalty Kick Shootout.  Ricardo Cagnetta and Francisco Gomez played strong as outside midfielders and disrupted the other team enough at the top to make opportunities for us to score.

It was a well fought tournament!  Congrats to all teams!!

Winter 2009-2010

Copa Alivio Indoor 2010:

(Rauner YMCA – 26th & Western)

1/17/10            7PM                        St. Augustine vs. EFC                        W (14-4)

1/24/10            5PM                        Paisano vs. EFC                                 W (9-6)

1/31/10            7PM                        Reyes vs. EFC                                      L (2-7)

2/7/10             5PM                        Cantu vs. EFC                                     W (4-2)

2/14/10            7PM                        Alivio vs. EFC                                     L (2-3)

2/21/10            7PM                        St Augustine vs. EFC                        W (8-4)

2/28/10            5PM                        Paisano vs. EFC                                 L (2-6)

3/7/10               7PM                        Reyes vs. EFC                                    L (5-7)

3/14/10            5PM                        Cantu vs. EFC                                    T

3/21/10   Semi finals   6PM   Lost (6-4)

3/28/10   Final (Third Place Game)  5PM    Lost (4-2) Fourth Place Finish

FC Estudiantes vs Reyes FC Sunday

Rematch: March 7, 2010 at 7:00 PM

The play started out going back and forth with Los Reyes getting the better of the opportunities.  Within the first five minutes Los Reyes hit the goal post twice!  It was Shannon to score first on a poor clearance by the Reyes defenders.  Shannon would add another, and the Reyes forwards put more pressure on Estudiantes FC (EFC) defense.  Los Reyes would find the back of the net twice before the end of the first half to equalize and drive EFC crazy, stunned, speechless.

Gerazmo (Jose Toledo’s Uncle), was doing a solid job as the last man of the defense, but could not get help from the outside midfielders as Los Reyes sent their midfielders AND Defenders forward.  With this assault by Los Reyes, EFC was able to score two quick goals off of rebounds that el portero could not hold on to.  Los Reyes answered with a goal of their own bringing the score to four to three.  The fans were extremely loud rallying their team in blue jerseys (Los Reyes), and EFC was slowly losing steam.  EFC then connected on a string of brilliantly played passes for what should have been an insurance goal.  No team should allow an opponent to come back from a five to three deficit… but they did.

Los Reyes would rally scoring goal after goal by the back door cutter.  Los Reyes found holes in the back of the EFC defense, and EFC could not find a way to hold on.  Los Reyes would score FOUR unanswered goals.  Furious, Jose Toledo stormed off of the court unable to control his anger.

This loss forces a tie-breaker game with Cantu.  Both teams are in fourth place, and the winner will be sent to the playoffs.  For EFC to win a Championship, they will have win three games in a row.  This loss marks a two game losing streak.  EFC should be at full strength next week and will need all of the power, communication and passion to make far in the postseason.

EFC plays Cantu FC at 5pm next week (3/14/10)

FC Estudiantes vs Reyes FC Sunday

Game Three: January 31, 2010 at 7:00 PM

-RJ Rodriguez

The third game of EFC’s inaugural season, started off really well.  Jose Toledo found fellow PACHS student Shannon in the box for a quick goal.  FC Reyes, a more mature and definitely more physical team,  would counter with their own nice shot from short range to equalize the score.  There were many fouls, and EFC’s defense was showing signs of defeat as their big forwards would attack with their midfielders.  EFC attacked as a team going forward but could not do the same when the ball came back to the defensive side.  FC Reyes would score two goals on contragolpes (counterattacks).

Being down 2-1, EFC forward Shannon, found a hole in the goal from half court and brought the deficit to one goal just before halftime.  The team was frustrated but the adults pointed out what needed to be changed.  The younger players started to get more energized and was encouraged more by the fan base that had doubled since last week.

The second half found a similar style in EFC’s attack.  Moving forward together but not moving back as a team on defense.  This resulted in two quick goals after a scoreless fifteen minutes.  More fouls, more tough play, more of an eagerness to score goals, a lack of a team effort to prevent goals being scored.

FC Reyes would score two more goals before the game would end in a 7-2 loss for EFC.  EFC was angry and frustrated. The players noticed how the physical veteran play from the other team got EFC out of their element.  Midfielders Jose T. and Faustino, both commented on how they didn’t play how they normally do.

FC Estudiantes play at 5pm next week (Sacrificing the first half of the Super Bowl to spend time together hopefully in redemption)

FC Estudiantes vs Paisano

Game two: January 24, 2010  5 pm

-RJ Rodriguez

After winning 14 – 4 in game one against St. Augustine, FC Estudiantes (EFC) started off right were they left off with a quick goal from PACHS student Shannon Peralta.  It would be the first of five goals he would score.  He worked well with Lozano’s own Faustino and Jaime up top to produce a great turn around shot off of the post.  Short passes made EFC look like a team that has been together for more than one week.

Lozano goalie Ricardo, continued his solid play in the net stopping point blank shots putting less pressure on EFC forwards.  The goals came quick from EFC but there was a lot of time in between goals.  Paisano FC was attacking with a lot of players and EFC midfielders did not do a very good job returning on defense.

When the Paisano forward scored two quick goals, EFC did not panic. They identified what happened, individuals took some blame, some encouragement was yelled and they moved on.  EFC did not dwell on the fact that someone broke down their defense and took advantage of them.  They worked to improve.

“Improve,” they did. Jose Toledo would find ways to control the ball with his incredibly quick first touch.  He was losing the ball a lot in the first half, but showed growth in the second half not committing any more turnovers. Midfielders Miguel and Richard recorded assists, finding forwards crossing and EFC was able to maintain a lead. In the second half, Paisano FC would lose their composure with brutal fouls to EFC forward Shannon. Teachers and parents led by example standing up for their teammate by demanding justice. No fighting was necessary, just reasoning and strong physical play was returned.

EFC would end up winning 9 – 6.  Paisano FC was the physically stronger team.  They were taller, had more experience, more reserves, and more knowledge of the game.  They ironically did not show as much teamwork as EFC did. The truth is that this team had only spent fifty minutes of playing time as one team, before tonight.

FC Estudiantes, is a creation of Miguel Guevara, teacher and mentor at Rudy Lozano Academy, a small alternative school located in the south side of Chicago. He wanted to join a league at the YMCA on 26^th and Western, with some students from his school, but later decided to include a school from the north.  Raymond Rodriguez, a teacher and mentor at Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos high school, became a collaborator for the team. The two teachers would find a way to involve teachers, students and parents to make a very unique mix.

FC Estudiantes is composed of four teachers, three parents, and eight students.  The effort of Miguel and Raymond is bringing together people that would normally not share the same field let alone team. Most leagues are based on age and experience requirements. EFC, contains players ranging from not playing for almost 5 years to excelling in semi-professional teams.

Even though EFC, has a lot to learn about each other they play with a certain respect and positive-vibe that can usually be found on teams that have been together for multiple seasons.  It is inspiring to see two different alternative schools working together towards the same goal. Working hard and showing heart and compassion, are qualities of champions and proves that these students have an enormous amount of drive.  It is important that teachers and parents show the ability to compete with respect. It is important to show the skill of building new and positive relationships with people that share common interests. It is also necessary to show a strong work ethic and leave everything on the field once you walk off. These are lessons that Miguel and Raymond hope students take with them as they leave the field.

FC Estudiantes plays Reyes FC Sunday January 31, 2010 at 7:00 PM

Barreto’s Chi-Town Cup 2009:

Irving Ruiz, Jose Toledo, Shannon Peralta, Ricardo Cagnetta, Jose Lopez, Jorge Perez, Raymond Rodriguez

November 14, 2009

“Latino Youth H.S. claims victory at ChiTown Cup 2009; PACHS senior named MVP”

-Marisol Rodríguez

In neon-yellow, gray and maroon t-shirts, young men of Aspira Charter High School, Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican H.S., Rudy Lozano Leadership Academy and Latino Youth Alternative H.S. went “toe-to-toe” at the 2^nd annual ChiTown Cup Soccer Tournament on Saturday, November 14. Spectators, which included school staff, students and family members, gathered to watch the soccer games at the Barreto Union League Boys and Girls Club located in Humboldt Park.

After five games that lasted an average of 20 minutes each, the Latino Youth Alternative High School Soccer Team was named winner and awarded a trophy replica of the World Cup. Latino Youth will be able to hold the trophy at their school until the next Chi-Town Cup. Richard Peralta, senior at Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos H.S., was awarded Most Valuable Player award for scoring the most number of goals (8 goals) during the tournament.

The first ChiTown Cup was held in November 2008 at ChiTown Futbol indoor soccer facility located on the South Side. The tournament organizers Raymond Rodríguez, Math teacher at PACHS, and Miguel Guevara, Social Studies and Media Arts teacher at Rudy Lozano, met as members of the same cohort of the Type 9 teacher’s certification program through Illinois College.

“We both love soccer and our students so we put those two together,” said Rodríguez. “We also remember loving soccer tournaments ourselves when we were in high school.” Rodríguez played soccer for Oak Park H.S. while Guevara was on the soccer team at Quigley South H.S.

Rodríguez and Guevara hope to organize at least five soccer tournaments during the 2009-2010 school year that will include a larger group of high schools, alternating the tournament sites between South Side and North Side locations.

Most of the young men participating in the tournament were Mexican like Luis Cardozo, junior at Rudy Lozano and fan of Manchester United. “Mainly, I love the sport,” said Pilsen native Cardozo, while sitting in anticipation of his team’s chance to play at the tournament. “To me, nothing is as good as soccer because of the passion involved,” said Cardozo.

If you are interested in playing in upcoming tournaments or if you would like more information, you are encouraged to contact Raymond Rodríguez at 773-342-8022.