Lane, Jones bring out the best in each other
Game of subplots between top CPL programs ends in draw
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO — Games in the Chicago Public League’s top conference typically weave their own magic and an incandescent variation of themes, style and meaning.
The showdown between Lane and Jones on Friday afternoon in Chinatown was just the latest iteration in a knockout series with the kind of games typified by the Premier Division.
Lane is the kingmaker, winners of an unprecedented five-consecutive city titles. Jones is the interloper, a rising program eager to prove its worth on the largest platform.
The series is both personal and deeply familiar. Identical twin sisters Lisa and Laura Rios are dramatic emblems of that divide. Lisa is a starting midfielder at Lane. Laura is a starting midfielder at Jones.
The game also served as a deeply involved showdown featuring two of the city’s best players, Lane junior forward Scout Murray and Jones senior forward Carmen Marshall.
With Young junior forward Ella Koleno, Murray and Marshall represent the most dynamic individual talents in the league.
All those pieces whirled together in an outstanding game as Murray and Marshall put on breathtaking individual performances, and Lisa Rios appeared to be the hero with a 73rd minute goal.
Marshall had other plans and made a thrilling and remarkable closing goal off her own rebound in the 78th minute resulting in the dramatic 2-2 tie on a sunny, wind-blown afternoon at 22nd and Cermak.
The Public League does not play overtime.
“I really enjoyed the game,” Marshall said. “We worked our hardest, which is what we always look for against Lane. We had everybody putting forth their greatest effort.
“Even when we were down, we kept the energy up and that helped us pull through.”
Marshall and Murray put on their own variation of can you top this? A two-time Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List member, Murray has blossomed into one of the state’s top players.
Part of that is by necessity after graduation losses and the basketball knee injury that canceled forward Eily Quinn’s soccer season.
Murray registered another goal and assist, blending athleticism and grace, power and a superb finishing touch.
“Lane’s fantastic, and they have a history of beating us year after year,” Jones coach Derek Bylsma said. “I think this is just the second time we’ve tied them since I have been here.
“Every year they’re a quality team. They don’t beat themselves ever. They don’t make mistakes. Everybody on the field can play. They’re tough, and they’re well coached. They’re always a really tough team to play against. You see it in the quality results of the really tough suburban teams they always play.”
Marshall is also a two-time Watch List player who made Chicagoland Soccer’s honorary all-state team last year. Bylsma predicted a major breakthrough for her last year in the weeks the team was able to train before the pandemic wiped out the season.
Marshall has just affirmed her own coach’s extravagant praise, suggesting if anything she is better than advertised. In the fourth minute, going into the wind, she blasted a ball from the right wing that stretched just wide of the mark.
Marshall was the equal of Murray by scoring both of the Eagles’ goals. She has now scored 11 goals in just six games for the Eagles (4-1-1, 1-1-1).
“Carmen’s just ridiculous,” Bylsma said. “She’s the fastest girl I’ve ever had on my team. She is just so quick, and a super hard-worker.
“You see how she tracks back on her runs. She has a quiet confidence about her, and I think if anything, I want her to understand how great she is. I want her to be a little cocky.’
Murray and Marshall shared the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor for their superb play.
Jones’ junior keeper Nicole Leon made the most significant play of the first half when she jumped on a penalty kick by Lane midfielder Laura Butler and denied the early Indians’ advantage.
“Butler’s been itching for a goal, and I thought she would put it away,” Lane coach Michelle Vale said. “I know she tried her very best. Their keeper was ready, and she made the right move.”
Leon finished with seven saves. She showed athleticism, balance and the willingness to come off her line to cut off angles.
The wind jutted hard south, and Lane (3-3-2, 2-0-2) had the advantage in the first half. Rios, Butler and captain Juliana Medina have fortified the Indians middle.
Lane has played a typically challenging schedule. After dropping their first two games of the season against top 10 teams Glenbrook North and Loyola, the Indians have gone 3-1-2 .
“Our team is much better than we were at the start of the year,” Vale said. “They’re playing together much more consistently. I am pleased with how much they have grown. I am looking forward to seeing them move forward.”
Lane’s pressure delivered late in the first half. Working in the final third, sophomore midfielder Mary Rau slotted a ball on the right wing that Murray hammered home for the first goal in the 37th minute.
A central part of the equation, the various entwined subplots, was the struggle between Lane’s developing offense against a quality Jones back featuring the Ellis twins, Parker and Shayna. The pair bring athletic, disruptive talent and have plied their trade on the varsity since their freshmen year.
Olivia Rodriguez, a junior, is the other key figure of that skilled defense.
“We were super proud of how we played today,” Parker Ellis said. “After losing to Young last week, we realized we have to put everything out there.
“I think everyone left everything on the field. We were scrambling. I think our mentality is really strong this year. We have been working super hard in practice every day. We treat it like we are playing Lane every other day.”
Jones also had the knowledge the wind would shift to their end for the crucial second half. The wind clearly influenced the game.
Lane actually had the superior possession time and opportunities at the start of the second half as the Indians looked to expand their lead.
A shot by Gabriela Pop, for instance, hung in the air, almost listlessly. It nullified their advantage.
Both the Eagles’ goals developed by playing the ball over the top to Marshall in space.
In the 54th minute, Rodriguez played the ball down the left line to a streaking Marshall. Lane defender Maya Warkentin tried to cut off the angle and create the clearance.
Marshall’s quickness and elusiveness in space proved impossible to deny. She controlled the ball and went inside the far post for the 1-1 equalizer.
“Their defender tried to get a touch on it, and I was able to take it away and just make a play on the ball,” Marshall said.
Lisa Rios nearly connected with Murray moments later, the ball just pushed out a bit off her foot. The combination worked its own magic with a dazzling late goal.
Murray worked the ball down the right sideline that forced Leon off her line. Her cross to Lisa Rios resulted in the Indians’ 2-1 lead.
The goal appeared to seal the fate of the Eagles. History has always favored Lane.
“Our kids are starting to believe that we could play with them, which is what I’ve always wanted,” Bylsma said. “Our seniors really stepped up. Parker and Shayna and Laura Rios.
“I was super proud of the girls. I told them after the game in the past we’d have lost 3-1. We’d have gotten down, lost our composure and probably given up another late goal.”
Instead Marshall took advantage of a blown Lane coverage and got deep in the closing moments. Lane junior keeper Siena Belko, who’s rapidly improving and had six saves, appeared to make a game-saving kick save.
The ball took a weird hop that allowed Parker to get another touch for the defining play of the game.
For the second-consecutive game, Lane failed to protect a late lead and allowed a 78th-minute goal. Young tied the Indians 1-1 on Wednesday.
“I thought it was a good play on her part,” Vale said. “She saw an opportunity, and she took advantage of it. We were pressing a little high, and we were also a little flat.
“That’s soccer.”
Starting lineups
Lane
GK: Siena Belko
D: Alexis Dempsey
D: Maria Katsogridakis
D: Maya Warkentin
D: Jocelyn Ramirez
MF: Laura Butler
MF: Juliana Medina
MF: Lisa Rios
F: Maya Martinez-Bates
F: Scout Murray
F: Gabriela Pop
Jones
GK: Nicole Leon
D: Olivia Rodriguez
D: Shayna Ellis
D: Parker Ellis
D: Patricia Felder
MF: Morgan Scott
MF: Elena Eisenberg
MF: Carolina Rondelli
MF: Laura Rios
MF: Caroline Patterson
F: Carmen Marshall
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match: Scout Murray, jr., F, Lane;
Carmen Marshall, sr., F, Jones
Scoring summary
First half
Lane—Scout Murray (Mary Rau), 37th minute
Second half
Jones—Carmen Marshall (unassisted), 54th minute
Lane—Lisa Rios (Murray), 73rd minute
Jones—Marshall (unassisted), 78th minute
Game of subplots between top CPL programs ends in draw
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO — Games in the Chicago Public League’s top conference typically weave their own magic and an incandescent variation of themes, style and meaning.
The showdown between Lane and Jones on Friday afternoon in Chinatown was just the latest iteration in a knockout series with the kind of games typified by the Premier Division.
Lane is the kingmaker, winners of an unprecedented five-consecutive city titles. Jones is the interloper, a rising program eager to prove its worth on the largest platform.
The series is both personal and deeply familiar. Identical twin sisters Lisa and Laura Rios are dramatic emblems of that divide. Lisa is a starting midfielder at Lane. Laura is a starting midfielder at Jones.
The game also served as a deeply involved showdown featuring two of the city’s best players, Lane junior forward Scout Murray and Jones senior forward Carmen Marshall.
With Young junior forward Ella Koleno, Murray and Marshall represent the most dynamic individual talents in the league.
All those pieces whirled together in an outstanding game as Murray and Marshall put on breathtaking individual performances, and Lisa Rios appeared to be the hero with a 73rd minute goal.
Marshall had other plans and made a thrilling and remarkable closing goal off her own rebound in the 78th minute resulting in the dramatic 2-2 tie on a sunny, wind-blown afternoon at 22nd and Cermak.
The Public League does not play overtime.
“I really enjoyed the game,” Marshall said. “We worked our hardest, which is what we always look for against Lane. We had everybody putting forth their greatest effort.
“Even when we were down, we kept the energy up and that helped us pull through.”
Marshall and Murray put on their own variation of can you top this? A two-time Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List member, Murray has blossomed into one of the state’s top players.
Part of that is by necessity after graduation losses and the basketball knee injury that canceled forward Eily Quinn’s soccer season.
Murray registered another goal and assist, blending athleticism and grace, power and a superb finishing touch.
“Lane’s fantastic, and they have a history of beating us year after year,” Jones coach Derek Bylsma said. “I think this is just the second time we’ve tied them since I have been here.
“Every year they’re a quality team. They don’t beat themselves ever. They don’t make mistakes. Everybody on the field can play. They’re tough, and they’re well coached. They’re always a really tough team to play against. You see it in the quality results of the really tough suburban teams they always play.”
Marshall is also a two-time Watch List player who made Chicagoland Soccer’s honorary all-state team last year. Bylsma predicted a major breakthrough for her last year in the weeks the team was able to train before the pandemic wiped out the season.
Marshall has just affirmed her own coach’s extravagant praise, suggesting if anything she is better than advertised. In the fourth minute, going into the wind, she blasted a ball from the right wing that stretched just wide of the mark.
Marshall was the equal of Murray by scoring both of the Eagles’ goals. She has now scored 11 goals in just six games for the Eagles (4-1-1, 1-1-1).
“Carmen’s just ridiculous,” Bylsma said. “She’s the fastest girl I’ve ever had on my team. She is just so quick, and a super hard-worker.
“You see how she tracks back on her runs. She has a quiet confidence about her, and I think if anything, I want her to understand how great she is. I want her to be a little cocky.’
Murray and Marshall shared the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor for their superb play.
Jones’ junior keeper Nicole Leon made the most significant play of the first half when she jumped on a penalty kick by Lane midfielder Laura Butler and denied the early Indians’ advantage.
“Butler’s been itching for a goal, and I thought she would put it away,” Lane coach Michelle Vale said. “I know she tried her very best. Their keeper was ready, and she made the right move.”
Leon finished with seven saves. She showed athleticism, balance and the willingness to come off her line to cut off angles.
The wind jutted hard south, and Lane (3-3-2, 2-0-2) had the advantage in the first half. Rios, Butler and captain Juliana Medina have fortified the Indians middle.
Lane has played a typically challenging schedule. After dropping their first two games of the season against top 10 teams Glenbrook North and Loyola, the Indians have gone 3-1-2 .
“Our team is much better than we were at the start of the year,” Vale said. “They’re playing together much more consistently. I am pleased with how much they have grown. I am looking forward to seeing them move forward.”
Lane’s pressure delivered late in the first half. Working in the final third, sophomore midfielder Mary Rau slotted a ball on the right wing that Murray hammered home for the first goal in the 37th minute.
A central part of the equation, the various entwined subplots, was the struggle between Lane’s developing offense against a quality Jones back featuring the Ellis twins, Parker and Shayna. The pair bring athletic, disruptive talent and have plied their trade on the varsity since their freshmen year.
Olivia Rodriguez, a junior, is the other key figure of that skilled defense.
“We were super proud of how we played today,” Parker Ellis said. “After losing to Young last week, we realized we have to put everything out there.
“I think everyone left everything on the field. We were scrambling. I think our mentality is really strong this year. We have been working super hard in practice every day. We treat it like we are playing Lane every other day.”
Jones also had the knowledge the wind would shift to their end for the crucial second half. The wind clearly influenced the game.
Lane actually had the superior possession time and opportunities at the start of the second half as the Indians looked to expand their lead.
A shot by Gabriela Pop, for instance, hung in the air, almost listlessly. It nullified their advantage.
Both the Eagles’ goals developed by playing the ball over the top to Marshall in space.
In the 54th minute, Rodriguez played the ball down the left line to a streaking Marshall. Lane defender Maya Warkentin tried to cut off the angle and create the clearance.
Marshall’s quickness and elusiveness in space proved impossible to deny. She controlled the ball and went inside the far post for the 1-1 equalizer.
“Their defender tried to get a touch on it, and I was able to take it away and just make a play on the ball,” Marshall said.
Lisa Rios nearly connected with Murray moments later, the ball just pushed out a bit off her foot. The combination worked its own magic with a dazzling late goal.
Murray worked the ball down the right sideline that forced Leon off her line. Her cross to Lisa Rios resulted in the Indians’ 2-1 lead.
The goal appeared to seal the fate of the Eagles. History has always favored Lane.
“Our kids are starting to believe that we could play with them, which is what I’ve always wanted,” Bylsma said. “Our seniors really stepped up. Parker and Shayna and Laura Rios.
“I was super proud of the girls. I told them after the game in the past we’d have lost 3-1. We’d have gotten down, lost our composure and probably given up another late goal.”
Instead Marshall took advantage of a blown Lane coverage and got deep in the closing moments. Lane junior keeper Siena Belko, who’s rapidly improving and had six saves, appeared to make a game-saving kick save.
The ball took a weird hop that allowed Parker to get another touch for the defining play of the game.
For the second-consecutive game, Lane failed to protect a late lead and allowed a 78th-minute goal. Young tied the Indians 1-1 on Wednesday.
“I thought it was a good play on her part,” Vale said. “She saw an opportunity, and she took advantage of it. We were pressing a little high, and we were also a little flat.
“That’s soccer.”
Starting lineups
Lane
GK: Siena Belko
D: Alexis Dempsey
D: Maria Katsogridakis
D: Maya Warkentin
D: Jocelyn Ramirez
MF: Laura Butler
MF: Juliana Medina
MF: Lisa Rios
F: Maya Martinez-Bates
F: Scout Murray
F: Gabriela Pop
Jones
GK: Nicole Leon
D: Olivia Rodriguez
D: Shayna Ellis
D: Parker Ellis
D: Patricia Felder
MF: Morgan Scott
MF: Elena Eisenberg
MF: Carolina Rondelli
MF: Laura Rios
MF: Caroline Patterson
F: Carmen Marshall
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match: Scout Murray, jr., F, Lane;
Carmen Marshall, sr., F, Jones
Scoring summary
First half
Lane—Scout Murray (Mary Rau), 37th minute
Second half
Jones—Carmen Marshall (unassisted), 54th minute
Lane—Lisa Rios (Murray), 73rd minute
Jones—Marshall (unassisted), 78th minute