Leyden, Metea Valley introduce
themselves in PepsiCo opener
Meet for first time at 10 a.m. Saturday in LaGrange
By Bill Stone
Leyden boys soccer coach Mark Valintis enjoys that the annual Pepsi Showdown can be full of surprises, starting with the teams’ opponents after the first round.
“That’s one of the bright spots of the tournament, one of the things that the tournament emphasizes, especially when you get everyone to meet in one location,” Valintis said.
“You get a team from the Wisconsin border against a team from far out west, a Chicago team against another suburban team. It’s a nice way to get different styles of soccer to face. Because of the tournament format, everybody’s going to come and give their best effort. It’s kind of neat because anything can happen in a tournament.”
Such is the case for Leyden (3-1-1) and Metea Valley (5-1). They will meet for the first time in the opener of this year’s Showdown at 10 a.m. Saturday at Lyons’ soccer complex near its north campus in LaGrange.
Every team is guaranteed four matches. For Metea Valley, the Showdown has been a part of its schedule since it began as a varsity program in 2010. Leyden is making its third-straight appearance.
“I think that’s some of the allure, you get to see different competition,” Metea Valley coach Josh Robinson said in regard to the Leyden opener. “They have a great reputation. It’s a great program that’s been around for a while.”
Can anything happen at the Showdown? Last year, Leyden was 2-2 and won its first game to earn a matchup with Warren, the 2012 Class 3A champion.
Leyden scored an early goal and then struck again early in the second half. The Blue Devils scored on the ensuing kickoff, tied the game with 10 minutes left in regulation and then with one minute left in double overtime to pull out a 3-2 victory.
“It was back and forth until the end. The goalies were making saves all over the place,” Valintis said. “A great game all the way around, a fun game to watch.”
Metea was 2-1-1 at the Showdown in 2013, losing in the second round to eventual semifinalist Wheaton Academy. The Mustangs’ final opponent turned out to be downstate Washington, which eventually went on to win the 2A state championship. The teams tied 1-1.
“That’s the alluring element of the tournament. Even after you get knocked out (of the championship bracket), you’re still going to get to play a good game,” Robinson said. “The two weeks at Lyons are really awesome, all that’s going on there.”
Both teams are off to great starts this season, especially defensively.
Heading into Thursday’s nonconference matchup at Oswego, the Mustangs have won five straight with four shutouts, including three in a row to continue a scoreless streak that exceeds 210 minutes.
The Mustangs last surrendered in a goal during the seventh minute of their Sept. 2 game at West Aurora but rallied for a 2-1 victory. Metea’s defense has been successful with a combination led by goalies Jimmy Wyma and Joey Coryell, and junior defender Brandon Howard, who as a sophomore played every minute at center back.
“Actually Joey and Jimmy have been playing well. I think Jimmy is the senior leader and Joey is a strong, vocal leader (as a junior),” Robinson said. “Our guys in the back have done sensationally. The things (Howard) does are phenomenal, winning head balls, clearing balls. We’re more of an attacking squad at times because of what he does for us.”
Leyden is riding a three-game unbeaten streak and has allowed just two goals all season. Junior goalie Alfredo Recendez and central defenders Hector Herrera and Cesar Franco have been the “keys to getting everybody to defend properly” Valintis said.
The only goal that the Eagles have allowed through the run of play came Tuesday in their West Suburban Conference Gold Division opener at Hinsdale South. It put them behind with about 15 minutes left, yet the Eagles rallied for a 2-1 victory.
The Eagles were unable to clear the ball out twice. Hinsdale South regained possession, resulting in a nice pass into open space for the score.
“It was actually a really nice goal. That was a little disheartening. I like the shutouts,” Valintis said. “I’m very encouraged by our back line’s communication and goalkeeper’s communication and being able to limit teams’ chances.”
Offensively, both teams have been relying on group efforts.
Robinson said 20 players saw action in Tuesday’s 1-0 victory over Glenbard East. The Mustangs have won their last two games by 1-0 margins and have eight goals over their winning streak since being shut out 2-0 in the Aug. 28 opener by Neuqua Valley.
Junior Michael Adams, a varsity player since freshman year, has been supplementing his abilities as a strong offensive threat.
“I’ve been really, really happy with the play of Michael Adams lately. We’ve moved him into a couple of positions and wherever we put him, he’s been very successful,” Robinson said. “We’ve played him up top as a traditional forward, but also outside at times, midfield. He’s really matured as a great distributor of the ball. That’s something as a pleasant surprise that has showed.”
Leyden has just seven goals and has been shut out twice, losing to Oak Park-River Forest 1-0 on a PK Aug. 28 and playing Saint Ignatius to a scoreless tie Saturday.
Valintis is encouraged that the Eagles’ goals are distributed among five players with two from senior Erik Rodriguez. In the late comeback against Hinsdale South, senior Christian Sosnowski had a goal and assisted junior David Senk’s game-winner with about seven minutes left.
“It was a good game both ways. We had the better run of possession and probably more chances but they had the better chances,” Valintis said.
“It’s kind of nice (playing Metea Valley). We don’t get out to the Naperville area in the time I’ve been here except for when we’re in conference (Downers Grove South and Hinsdale South) so we’re looking forward to it. It’s a different style of soccer we’re facing. I know they’ve had recent success.”
themselves in PepsiCo opener
Meet for first time at 10 a.m. Saturday in LaGrange
By Bill Stone
Leyden boys soccer coach Mark Valintis enjoys that the annual Pepsi Showdown can be full of surprises, starting with the teams’ opponents after the first round.
“That’s one of the bright spots of the tournament, one of the things that the tournament emphasizes, especially when you get everyone to meet in one location,” Valintis said.
“You get a team from the Wisconsin border against a team from far out west, a Chicago team against another suburban team. It’s a nice way to get different styles of soccer to face. Because of the tournament format, everybody’s going to come and give their best effort. It’s kind of neat because anything can happen in a tournament.”
Such is the case for Leyden (3-1-1) and Metea Valley (5-1). They will meet for the first time in the opener of this year’s Showdown at 10 a.m. Saturday at Lyons’ soccer complex near its north campus in LaGrange.
Every team is guaranteed four matches. For Metea Valley, the Showdown has been a part of its schedule since it began as a varsity program in 2010. Leyden is making its third-straight appearance.
“I think that’s some of the allure, you get to see different competition,” Metea Valley coach Josh Robinson said in regard to the Leyden opener. “They have a great reputation. It’s a great program that’s been around for a while.”
Can anything happen at the Showdown? Last year, Leyden was 2-2 and won its first game to earn a matchup with Warren, the 2012 Class 3A champion.
Leyden scored an early goal and then struck again early in the second half. The Blue Devils scored on the ensuing kickoff, tied the game with 10 minutes left in regulation and then with one minute left in double overtime to pull out a 3-2 victory.
“It was back and forth until the end. The goalies were making saves all over the place,” Valintis said. “A great game all the way around, a fun game to watch.”
Metea was 2-1-1 at the Showdown in 2013, losing in the second round to eventual semifinalist Wheaton Academy. The Mustangs’ final opponent turned out to be downstate Washington, which eventually went on to win the 2A state championship. The teams tied 1-1.
“That’s the alluring element of the tournament. Even after you get knocked out (of the championship bracket), you’re still going to get to play a good game,” Robinson said. “The two weeks at Lyons are really awesome, all that’s going on there.”
Both teams are off to great starts this season, especially defensively.
Heading into Thursday’s nonconference matchup at Oswego, the Mustangs have won five straight with four shutouts, including three in a row to continue a scoreless streak that exceeds 210 minutes.
The Mustangs last surrendered in a goal during the seventh minute of their Sept. 2 game at West Aurora but rallied for a 2-1 victory. Metea’s defense has been successful with a combination led by goalies Jimmy Wyma and Joey Coryell, and junior defender Brandon Howard, who as a sophomore played every minute at center back.
“Actually Joey and Jimmy have been playing well. I think Jimmy is the senior leader and Joey is a strong, vocal leader (as a junior),” Robinson said. “Our guys in the back have done sensationally. The things (Howard) does are phenomenal, winning head balls, clearing balls. We’re more of an attacking squad at times because of what he does for us.”
Leyden is riding a three-game unbeaten streak and has allowed just two goals all season. Junior goalie Alfredo Recendez and central defenders Hector Herrera and Cesar Franco have been the “keys to getting everybody to defend properly” Valintis said.
The only goal that the Eagles have allowed through the run of play came Tuesday in their West Suburban Conference Gold Division opener at Hinsdale South. It put them behind with about 15 minutes left, yet the Eagles rallied for a 2-1 victory.
The Eagles were unable to clear the ball out twice. Hinsdale South regained possession, resulting in a nice pass into open space for the score.
“It was actually a really nice goal. That was a little disheartening. I like the shutouts,” Valintis said. “I’m very encouraged by our back line’s communication and goalkeeper’s communication and being able to limit teams’ chances.”
Offensively, both teams have been relying on group efforts.
Robinson said 20 players saw action in Tuesday’s 1-0 victory over Glenbard East. The Mustangs have won their last two games by 1-0 margins and have eight goals over their winning streak since being shut out 2-0 in the Aug. 28 opener by Neuqua Valley.
Junior Michael Adams, a varsity player since freshman year, has been supplementing his abilities as a strong offensive threat.
“I’ve been really, really happy with the play of Michael Adams lately. We’ve moved him into a couple of positions and wherever we put him, he’s been very successful,” Robinson said. “We’ve played him up top as a traditional forward, but also outside at times, midfield. He’s really matured as a great distributor of the ball. That’s something as a pleasant surprise that has showed.”
Leyden has just seven goals and has been shut out twice, losing to Oak Park-River Forest 1-0 on a PK Aug. 28 and playing Saint Ignatius to a scoreless tie Saturday.
Valintis is encouraged that the Eagles’ goals are distributed among five players with two from senior Erik Rodriguez. In the late comeback against Hinsdale South, senior Christian Sosnowski had a goal and assisted junior David Senk’s game-winner with about seven minutes left.
“It was a good game both ways. We had the better run of possession and probably more chances but they had the better chances,” Valintis said.
“It’s kind of nice (playing Metea Valley). We don’t get out to the Naperville area in the time I’ve been here except for when we’re in conference (Downers Grove South and Hinsdale South) so we’re looking forward to it. It’s a different style of soccer we’re facing. I know they’ve had recent success.”