Bartlett’s Comeback against Hampshire Led by Patryk Linski

Bartlett High School’s Patryk Linski regained his form recently. This was evident when the junior forward took a decisive penalty kick in the last minute of Monday night’s game. Despite trailing, Linski felt confident and motivated.

“In my head I was like, ‘I won that,’” Linski remarked, reflecting his self-assured mindset.

It wasn’t a planned move by Bartlett’s coach, Anthony Glorioso. Yet, Linski scored, leading the Hawks to a 2-2 nonconference tie against Hampshire. Bartlett’s Edwin Santillan had previously tied the game, scoring with 10:05 left in the first half. Hampshire’s Brian Vega scored earlier, giving them the initial lead.

Momo Allnoch later secured a 2-1 lead for Hampshire in the second half. Coach Glorioso was surprised when Linski prepared for the penalty kick, as he expected Santillan to take it.

“I told Pat from the sideline, pointed to my head, ‘Be smart,’” shared Glorioso, acknowledging the miscommunication.

Linski’s strategy was clever. He focused on one corner before quickly shifting his gaze to the other, ensuring his strike was precise.

“What I do is when the referee takes a long time, I always look at the corner I’m going to shoot at, and right before I shoot, I look at the other corner,” Linski explained.

His recent performance surge followed a trip to Iowa, during which he received motivational support from his father.

“Before Iowa, there was a lot going on in my life,” Linski shared. “My dad, before I left for Iowa, he just gave me a big speech. This is a one-time opportunity. Try your best.”

Since then, Linski has returned to his aggressive style, impressing Glorioso.

“He’s been doing his normal Pat stuff, which is nice, taking it down the line, winning balls,” Glorioso noted.

Hampshire, on the other hand, is amid a demanding schedule and aims for the Fox Valley Conference title. Coach Chayanne Martinez prioritized player rotation and safeguarded their health.

“We have three games this week. We have to make sure everyone gets their rotations in,” said Martinez.

Bartlett showed resilience with the tie, hinting at potential success in upcoming games.

“The record is just the record,” Linski stated. “In the playoffs, the record doesn’t matter. We’re here to play.”

Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.