Lane, Young fail to gain elusive win
Both teams have reasons for optimism after 2-2 draw
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO — Nothing interrupts effort quite like frustration. Sports are results-based endeavors, and the underside of success is a nagging sense of inability to positively impact an outcome.
Pessimism is the inevitable result. Lane Tech forward Owen Finn has seen all sides. Two years ago he was on the field at Toyota Park when Lane became the first Chicago Public League team to capture the PepsiCo Showdown by ousting Morton 1-0.
Last year he scored the game winner as Lane captured the most prestigious prize in city soccer, the Public League tournament championship. Now success has been more elusive. The hardest part is staying mentally alert and ready to meet any challenge.
"We've underachieved this year," Finn admitted. "It's upsetting to say the least -- frustrating to be there in every game and give it up at the end."
Two teams with proud histories and mirror narratives clashed at Lane Stadium, and if the result proved inconclusive, the larger values gained from the game went far in suggesting a more optimistic foundation going forward.
Finn appeared the hero of the game as he scored one goal and assisted on another, though Young overcame its own frustrating past to generate two separate equalizers as two teams eager for a victory had to settle for the well-played 2-2 draw.
As the dominant rivalry in Public League sports, Young and Lane played the part with emotion and intensity despite the fact that the programs entered the game with just a combined two victories. The atmosphere was terrific, with a huge crowd of face-painted partisans representing both sides. For a night, records were irrelevant. The teams played aggressive and fluid soccer.
"Both coaches and both programs do a lot of work on possession, and that is something that shows up a lot on the field," Young coach Ian McCarthy said. "Finishing has been our biggest struggle this year. We've hung with the best teams in the state. It's just a matter of getting into those dangerous positions and finishing."
The teams alternated attacks right from the start. Lane midfielder Nestor Aviles played a ball that skimmed off the far post. Young (1-8-3, 0-2-2 Premier) countered with some dynamic runs and sharp playmaking from quick and explosive sophomore midfielder Leo Daley. He had the Indians back on their heels with his ability to create off the dribble and pressure.
"Leo has great speed," McCarthy said. "We're obviously playing a 4-5-1 formation, and that gives our wings the liberty to go forward. We put the speed on the outside to create the chances that you saw us get."
After the initial back-and-forth forays, Lane (1-5-4, 1-0-2) struck first when Finn collected a through ball from Cesar Garcia and advanced the ball down the right wing. He drilled a sidewinder with perfect touch and sharp spin that perfectly curved inside the near post in the 17th minute.
"We had a couple of chances before that I guess we couldn't capitalize on," Finn said. "Cesar found me over the top, and that was good to be able to finish in space like that."
To its credit, Young was not flustered. The Dolphins regained their composure and began to find open space and rely on Daley's creativity to develop more sustained and meaningful possessions.
"I thought we dominated possession," Young midfielder Patryk Kopytyko said. "Leo was making great runs, and I was able to find him with through balls. We kept pressuring them, and we were dangerous in the front of the goal.
"It was just a matter of finishing in the final third."
That activity yielded a positive result. Kopytko converted a penalty kick in the 29th minute after a Lane defender was cited for obstruction inside the box. It was the first penalty kick attempt of the season for the Dolphins.
"There was a lot of pressure, but I didn't really think about it," Kopytko said. "I kept my head in the game because I knew I was going to shoot left from the beginning, and I went for the bottom corner."
Lane coach Andrew Ricks said Young played with greater energy and purpose in the first half.
"We were working hard in the first half, but I thought Young wanted it more," he said. "I thought we wanted it more in the second half."
In a rivalry game, the mental advances always weigh larger. Lane again appeared to gain a significant edge when Finn again stepped up to help the Indians jump ahead. Working the right flank, Finn was knocked down from behind. Off the restart, Finn played a beautiful ball that forward Damian Pikul elevated on and smashed in with a header in the 49th minute.
The Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match, Finn has five goals and six assists for the year.
"I saw Damian running over at the other end," Finn said. "The wall didn't really cover it. So I felt like I should just hit it with the outside of my foot, and it curved in right to his head.
"That's something we work on a lot in practice."
The textbook goal gave the Indians life.
"It was a nice soccer goal, not a fluke set piece or an own goal," Ricks said. "We have guys who can score goals, but we aren't taking enough advantage of the opportunities we get, and we are not getting more opportunities. The few opportunities we get, we have to finish two or three of them, and we haven't been doing that."
The game seemed a repeat of a year ago when Lane scored a late goal to break a scoreless tie. Young persevered, and the Dolphins refused to go quietly. The Dolphins struck again with one of their best goals of the year.
In the 67th minute, midfielder Alex West worked the ball from the left wing toward the center of the field before slotting a ball that sophomore forward Parker Ljung drilled with his left foot from just inside the top of the box.
"That second goal is something we want to do," McCarthy said. "A guy gets deep and plays a negative ball, and we have a one-touch finish. The aggressive attacking is something we want to do. You saw it led to the penalty in the first half."
The Lane perspective was more downbeat. Surrendering a late lead is a disheartening prospect, Finn said. "Twice we had the lead and we gave it up on easy things, like simple covering and the set plays," he said.
Ricks said the goal was a byproduct of a mental breakdown and not better anticipating what followed a ball out of bounds given to Young.
"We had a mistake, and that cost us," Ricks said. "The ball went out, and when it did the mental energy dropped. There was nobody in there, and the guy (West) dribbled a long time, 20 yards, from the outside to the center and that's why we gave up the goal."
Still, both coaches saw enough positives. Strong effort is a worthy action in itself.
"I liked our heart in the second half," Ricks said.
Starting lineups
Young
GK: Hector Torres
D: Fabio Cesar
D: Francisco Rojas
D: Credo Duarte
D: Eric Thompson
M: Leo Daley
M: Josue Espinoza
M: Patryk Kopytko
M: Alexander West
M: Reed Shaefer
F: Ricky Tovar Jr.
Lane Tech
GK: Fernando Salas
D: Cesar Garza
D: Charlie Bauer
D: Zachary Rogers
M: Ricky Delgado
M: Alex Mezyk
M: Alex Rydberg
M: Marci Kieta
M: Nestor Aviles
F: Owen Finn
F: Jose Terrazas
Man of the Match: Owen Finn, F, Lane Tech
Both teams have reasons for optimism after 2-2 draw
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO — Nothing interrupts effort quite like frustration. Sports are results-based endeavors, and the underside of success is a nagging sense of inability to positively impact an outcome.
Pessimism is the inevitable result. Lane Tech forward Owen Finn has seen all sides. Two years ago he was on the field at Toyota Park when Lane became the first Chicago Public League team to capture the PepsiCo Showdown by ousting Morton 1-0.
Last year he scored the game winner as Lane captured the most prestigious prize in city soccer, the Public League tournament championship. Now success has been more elusive. The hardest part is staying mentally alert and ready to meet any challenge.
"We've underachieved this year," Finn admitted. "It's upsetting to say the least -- frustrating to be there in every game and give it up at the end."
Two teams with proud histories and mirror narratives clashed at Lane Stadium, and if the result proved inconclusive, the larger values gained from the game went far in suggesting a more optimistic foundation going forward.
Finn appeared the hero of the game as he scored one goal and assisted on another, though Young overcame its own frustrating past to generate two separate equalizers as two teams eager for a victory had to settle for the well-played 2-2 draw.
As the dominant rivalry in Public League sports, Young and Lane played the part with emotion and intensity despite the fact that the programs entered the game with just a combined two victories. The atmosphere was terrific, with a huge crowd of face-painted partisans representing both sides. For a night, records were irrelevant. The teams played aggressive and fluid soccer.
"Both coaches and both programs do a lot of work on possession, and that is something that shows up a lot on the field," Young coach Ian McCarthy said. "Finishing has been our biggest struggle this year. We've hung with the best teams in the state. It's just a matter of getting into those dangerous positions and finishing."
The teams alternated attacks right from the start. Lane midfielder Nestor Aviles played a ball that skimmed off the far post. Young (1-8-3, 0-2-2 Premier) countered with some dynamic runs and sharp playmaking from quick and explosive sophomore midfielder Leo Daley. He had the Indians back on their heels with his ability to create off the dribble and pressure.
"Leo has great speed," McCarthy said. "We're obviously playing a 4-5-1 formation, and that gives our wings the liberty to go forward. We put the speed on the outside to create the chances that you saw us get."
After the initial back-and-forth forays, Lane (1-5-4, 1-0-2) struck first when Finn collected a through ball from Cesar Garcia and advanced the ball down the right wing. He drilled a sidewinder with perfect touch and sharp spin that perfectly curved inside the near post in the 17th minute.
"We had a couple of chances before that I guess we couldn't capitalize on," Finn said. "Cesar found me over the top, and that was good to be able to finish in space like that."
To its credit, Young was not flustered. The Dolphins regained their composure and began to find open space and rely on Daley's creativity to develop more sustained and meaningful possessions.
"I thought we dominated possession," Young midfielder Patryk Kopytyko said. "Leo was making great runs, and I was able to find him with through balls. We kept pressuring them, and we were dangerous in the front of the goal.
"It was just a matter of finishing in the final third."
That activity yielded a positive result. Kopytko converted a penalty kick in the 29th minute after a Lane defender was cited for obstruction inside the box. It was the first penalty kick attempt of the season for the Dolphins.
"There was a lot of pressure, but I didn't really think about it," Kopytko said. "I kept my head in the game because I knew I was going to shoot left from the beginning, and I went for the bottom corner."
Lane coach Andrew Ricks said Young played with greater energy and purpose in the first half.
"We were working hard in the first half, but I thought Young wanted it more," he said. "I thought we wanted it more in the second half."
In a rivalry game, the mental advances always weigh larger. Lane again appeared to gain a significant edge when Finn again stepped up to help the Indians jump ahead. Working the right flank, Finn was knocked down from behind. Off the restart, Finn played a beautiful ball that forward Damian Pikul elevated on and smashed in with a header in the 49th minute.
The Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match, Finn has five goals and six assists for the year.
"I saw Damian running over at the other end," Finn said. "The wall didn't really cover it. So I felt like I should just hit it with the outside of my foot, and it curved in right to his head.
"That's something we work on a lot in practice."
The textbook goal gave the Indians life.
"It was a nice soccer goal, not a fluke set piece or an own goal," Ricks said. "We have guys who can score goals, but we aren't taking enough advantage of the opportunities we get, and we are not getting more opportunities. The few opportunities we get, we have to finish two or three of them, and we haven't been doing that."
The game seemed a repeat of a year ago when Lane scored a late goal to break a scoreless tie. Young persevered, and the Dolphins refused to go quietly. The Dolphins struck again with one of their best goals of the year.
In the 67th minute, midfielder Alex West worked the ball from the left wing toward the center of the field before slotting a ball that sophomore forward Parker Ljung drilled with his left foot from just inside the top of the box.
"That second goal is something we want to do," McCarthy said. "A guy gets deep and plays a negative ball, and we have a one-touch finish. The aggressive attacking is something we want to do. You saw it led to the penalty in the first half."
The Lane perspective was more downbeat. Surrendering a late lead is a disheartening prospect, Finn said. "Twice we had the lead and we gave it up on easy things, like simple covering and the set plays," he said.
Ricks said the goal was a byproduct of a mental breakdown and not better anticipating what followed a ball out of bounds given to Young.
"We had a mistake, and that cost us," Ricks said. "The ball went out, and when it did the mental energy dropped. There was nobody in there, and the guy (West) dribbled a long time, 20 yards, from the outside to the center and that's why we gave up the goal."
Still, both coaches saw enough positives. Strong effort is a worthy action in itself.
"I liked our heart in the second half," Ricks said.
Starting lineups
Young
GK: Hector Torres
D: Fabio Cesar
D: Francisco Rojas
D: Credo Duarte
D: Eric Thompson
M: Leo Daley
M: Josue Espinoza
M: Patryk Kopytko
M: Alexander West
M: Reed Shaefer
F: Ricky Tovar Jr.
Lane Tech
GK: Fernando Salas
D: Cesar Garza
D: Charlie Bauer
D: Zachary Rogers
M: Ricky Delgado
M: Alex Mezyk
M: Alex Rydberg
M: Marci Kieta
M: Nestor Aviles
F: Owen Finn
F: Jose Terrazas
Man of the Match: Owen Finn, F, Lane Tech