Lane puts it all together against Payton
Ramirez, Murray and Rau lead CPL tourney semifinal romp
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO -- Payton had a recent history of over-performing expectations in the Chicago Public League Tournament.
Lane has a legacy of excellence and posed the ultimate challenge.
The Grizzlies knew any shot they had required a fast start and the ability to slow down the Lane attack.
Those possibilities vanished in a matter of minutes.
Behind the early passing wizardry of star defender Jocelyn Ramirez and the high-powered attack of Scout Murray and Mary Rau, no. 22 Lane played at a different register.
The six-time defending city champions rolled to a 7-0 victory in the conference tournament semifinal on a glorious spring Saturday at Winnemac Stadium.
Lane (12-4-1) stretched its winning streak to seven games and now confronts supreme city rival, no. 21 Young, in the championship game at 7 p.m. at home Thursday.
Young defeated Jones 3-1 in the first semifinal.
A year ago, Payton turned the tables on top-seeded Young with a stunning 2-1 overtime victory in the semifinals.
Lane was poised to avoid a similar scenario.
On April 25, Lane topped Payton 4-1 in the regular-season Premier Division finale that handed Young the undisputed conference championship.
That game was tight for more than 60 minutes.
In the semifinal, Lane pulverized Payton with three goals in the first 15 minutes.
The final tally showed a weaponized attack with Ramirez and midfielder Gabriela Pop each recording two assists.
Murray and Rau scored two goals apiece. Maya Martinez-Bates had a goal and assist.
“I think, as a team, when we score, we play more confidently, especially if we are the first one to score,” Murray said.
“We just automatically start playing, and usually the goals keep coming once we score one.”
In the second minute, Ramirez played a beautiful cross into the box that Rau used to beat Payton keeper Chloe Guzik with a header.
“I think, personally, the goals just give us a huge confidence booster,” Rau said.
“Playing a team like Payton, which has a really skilled midfield, it can be intimidating when you go up against them and you haven’t scored yet.”
Lane effectively shattered any belief Payton had of scoring.
The Grizzlies (10-5-3) generated a corner moments later that led to a shot in the box that Lane keeper Siena Belko controlled.
“I think a large part that helped with our goals is that we were just connecting a lot better as a team today,” Rau said.
“I think in the past we struggled to connect in the midfield.”
Payton is still coping with the profound absence of Felicity Cole, its high-scoring sophomore forward.
She scored the game-winner against Young last year as part of a remarkable first year that saw her score 24 goals for a Class AA supersectional qualifier.
She has missed the last three weeks after suffering a foot injury against Jones.
Payton coach Paul Escobar said Cole is expected back for the state tournament.
Payton had a couple of decent looks off free kicks by midfielder Kate Cuppps and defender Madeleine Spark, but Belko was sharp in the back for Lane.
In the ninth minute, Ramirez, a Dominican University recruit, showed her touch and control with a beautiful ball down the left edge.
Murray worked the side and blasted a shot from 14 yards that handcuffed Guzik.
“The first goal was just so soon, and it got everybody on their toes,” Murray said.
“It got the game going really fast, and it just changed the game for everybody.”
Having a skilled shot-creator like Ramirez in the back makes Lane more versatile, unpredictable and hard to slow down.
“Before the game, we all communicated together, and we agreed this was the game we have to show off our best skills,” Ramirez said.
“This game proved whether we could go to the championship or not. In the beginning we just hit it off.”
Ramirez’s passing and the defensive acumen also unleashed Lane’s devastating transition game.
“Honestly, I just saw that they were open,” Ramirez said. “I just know that my crosses get to the right player most of the time.”
For her standout two-way action, Ramirez earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor.
She also helped slow down Payton standout Lola Feurer, who has stepped up in the absence of Cole to lead the attack.
Feurer scored against Lane in their previous matchup -- the only goal Lane has conceded during its seven-game winning streak.
Lane kept up the attack with a dazzling give-and-go collaboration with midfielders Gabriella Mann and Gabriela Pop.
Working a classic wheel route, Mann worked the ball to Pop on the right wing who returned the ball to the streaking Mann in space.
She blasted home the one-touch from about 12 in the 15th minute.
Lane coach Michelle Vale had the freedom and luxury of playing virtually her entire roster in the first half.
Lane had a strong start this season with a program-defining win over current no. 9 Loyola on March 26 and a competitive loss to fifth-ranked Glenbrook North on April 2.
The middle was more complicated with losses against no. 21 Young, and the defeats in the uber-tough Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic against no. 12 Stevenson and no. 20 New Trier.
“We reflected on our early season mistakes, and tried to move forward from there,” Vale said.
“I think this is a really smart group, and I think they do a lot of thinking and reflecting as well.”
Lane had to reconfigure on the run during the Malnati’s with several key starters unavailable due to illness and Spring Break.
“We had to utilize the bench players, and they grew,” Vale said. “The whole team grew.
“It was actually maybe a good thing for us. It allowed us to experiment with where people were playing on the field. It allowed us to experiment with different people, in certain positions. I think it has really been coming together for us.”
One of those younger players taking advantage of new opportunities, midfielder Avery Ellis, broke free for the final goal of the first half with an aggressive action in the 40th minute.
Murray and Rau followed up their superb first half play with two signature actions.
Murray scored her team-best 17th goal on a sensational shot. Rau scored on a header off a corner from Pop.
Martinez punctuated the rout with a shot from about 17 yards in the 62nd minute.
“We’re all super excited now to get to the city championship game,” Murray said.
“We wanted that, and I was really preparing hard for this game today to get there. We knew we had to focus on this game first.”
Lane never let Payton feel they were close. That psychological edge played out in multiple ways.
“The first really good chances we had, we finished all of them,” Murray said.
“All of our shots were so good, aimed, and really put away.”
Starting lineups
Payton
GK: Chloe Guzik
D: Shea Vandermeid
D: Madeleine Spark
D: Norah Denehan
D: Tess Scrivner
MF: Kate Feurer
MF: Isabella Chitarro
MF: Norah Duritsa
MF: Kate Cupps
F: Lola Feurer
F: Nadine Denehan
Lane
GK: Siena Belko
D: Jocelyn Ramirez
D: Olive Tinucci
D: Olivia Schmit
D: Maya Warkentin
MF: Dale Sink
MF: Mary Rau
MF: Maya Martinez-Bates
MF: Scout Murray
F: Gabriella Mann
F: Gabriela Pop
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Jocelyn Ramirez, sr., D, Lane
Scoring summary
First half
Lane—Mary Rau (Jocelyn Ramirez), 2nd minute
Lane—Scout Murray (Ramirez), ninth minute
Lane—Gabriella Mann (Gabriela Pop), 15th minute
Lane—Avery Ellis (unassisted), 40th minute
Second half
Lane—Murray (Maya Martinez-Bates), 43rd minute
Lane—Rau (Pop), 47th minute
Lane—Martinez (unassisted), 62nd minute
Ramirez, Murray and Rau lead CPL tourney semifinal romp
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO -- Payton had a recent history of over-performing expectations in the Chicago Public League Tournament.
Lane has a legacy of excellence and posed the ultimate challenge.
The Grizzlies knew any shot they had required a fast start and the ability to slow down the Lane attack.
Those possibilities vanished in a matter of minutes.
Behind the early passing wizardry of star defender Jocelyn Ramirez and the high-powered attack of Scout Murray and Mary Rau, no. 22 Lane played at a different register.
The six-time defending city champions rolled to a 7-0 victory in the conference tournament semifinal on a glorious spring Saturday at Winnemac Stadium.
Lane (12-4-1) stretched its winning streak to seven games and now confronts supreme city rival, no. 21 Young, in the championship game at 7 p.m. at home Thursday.
Young defeated Jones 3-1 in the first semifinal.
A year ago, Payton turned the tables on top-seeded Young with a stunning 2-1 overtime victory in the semifinals.
Lane was poised to avoid a similar scenario.
On April 25, Lane topped Payton 4-1 in the regular-season Premier Division finale that handed Young the undisputed conference championship.
That game was tight for more than 60 minutes.
In the semifinal, Lane pulverized Payton with three goals in the first 15 minutes.
The final tally showed a weaponized attack with Ramirez and midfielder Gabriela Pop each recording two assists.
Murray and Rau scored two goals apiece. Maya Martinez-Bates had a goal and assist.
“I think, as a team, when we score, we play more confidently, especially if we are the first one to score,” Murray said.
“We just automatically start playing, and usually the goals keep coming once we score one.”
In the second minute, Ramirez played a beautiful cross into the box that Rau used to beat Payton keeper Chloe Guzik with a header.
“I think, personally, the goals just give us a huge confidence booster,” Rau said.
“Playing a team like Payton, which has a really skilled midfield, it can be intimidating when you go up against them and you haven’t scored yet.”
Lane effectively shattered any belief Payton had of scoring.
The Grizzlies (10-5-3) generated a corner moments later that led to a shot in the box that Lane keeper Siena Belko controlled.
“I think a large part that helped with our goals is that we were just connecting a lot better as a team today,” Rau said.
“I think in the past we struggled to connect in the midfield.”
Payton is still coping with the profound absence of Felicity Cole, its high-scoring sophomore forward.
She scored the game-winner against Young last year as part of a remarkable first year that saw her score 24 goals for a Class AA supersectional qualifier.
She has missed the last three weeks after suffering a foot injury against Jones.
Payton coach Paul Escobar said Cole is expected back for the state tournament.
Payton had a couple of decent looks off free kicks by midfielder Kate Cuppps and defender Madeleine Spark, but Belko was sharp in the back for Lane.
In the ninth minute, Ramirez, a Dominican University recruit, showed her touch and control with a beautiful ball down the left edge.
Murray worked the side and blasted a shot from 14 yards that handcuffed Guzik.
“The first goal was just so soon, and it got everybody on their toes,” Murray said.
“It got the game going really fast, and it just changed the game for everybody.”
Having a skilled shot-creator like Ramirez in the back makes Lane more versatile, unpredictable and hard to slow down.
“Before the game, we all communicated together, and we agreed this was the game we have to show off our best skills,” Ramirez said.
“This game proved whether we could go to the championship or not. In the beginning we just hit it off.”
Ramirez’s passing and the defensive acumen also unleashed Lane’s devastating transition game.
“Honestly, I just saw that they were open,” Ramirez said. “I just know that my crosses get to the right player most of the time.”
For her standout two-way action, Ramirez earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor.
She also helped slow down Payton standout Lola Feurer, who has stepped up in the absence of Cole to lead the attack.
Feurer scored against Lane in their previous matchup -- the only goal Lane has conceded during its seven-game winning streak.
Lane kept up the attack with a dazzling give-and-go collaboration with midfielders Gabriella Mann and Gabriela Pop.
Working a classic wheel route, Mann worked the ball to Pop on the right wing who returned the ball to the streaking Mann in space.
She blasted home the one-touch from about 12 in the 15th minute.
Lane coach Michelle Vale had the freedom and luxury of playing virtually her entire roster in the first half.
Lane had a strong start this season with a program-defining win over current no. 9 Loyola on March 26 and a competitive loss to fifth-ranked Glenbrook North on April 2.
The middle was more complicated with losses against no. 21 Young, and the defeats in the uber-tough Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic against no. 12 Stevenson and no. 20 New Trier.
“We reflected on our early season mistakes, and tried to move forward from there,” Vale said.
“I think this is a really smart group, and I think they do a lot of thinking and reflecting as well.”
Lane had to reconfigure on the run during the Malnati’s with several key starters unavailable due to illness and Spring Break.
“We had to utilize the bench players, and they grew,” Vale said. “The whole team grew.
“It was actually maybe a good thing for us. It allowed us to experiment with where people were playing on the field. It allowed us to experiment with different people, in certain positions. I think it has really been coming together for us.”
One of those younger players taking advantage of new opportunities, midfielder Avery Ellis, broke free for the final goal of the first half with an aggressive action in the 40th minute.
Murray and Rau followed up their superb first half play with two signature actions.
Murray scored her team-best 17th goal on a sensational shot. Rau scored on a header off a corner from Pop.
Martinez punctuated the rout with a shot from about 17 yards in the 62nd minute.
“We’re all super excited now to get to the city championship game,” Murray said.
“We wanted that, and I was really preparing hard for this game today to get there. We knew we had to focus on this game first.”
Lane never let Payton feel they were close. That psychological edge played out in multiple ways.
“The first really good chances we had, we finished all of them,” Murray said.
“All of our shots were so good, aimed, and really put away.”
Starting lineups
Payton
GK: Chloe Guzik
D: Shea Vandermeid
D: Madeleine Spark
D: Norah Denehan
D: Tess Scrivner
MF: Kate Feurer
MF: Isabella Chitarro
MF: Norah Duritsa
MF: Kate Cupps
F: Lola Feurer
F: Nadine Denehan
Lane
GK: Siena Belko
D: Jocelyn Ramirez
D: Olive Tinucci
D: Olivia Schmit
D: Maya Warkentin
MF: Dale Sink
MF: Mary Rau
MF: Maya Martinez-Bates
MF: Scout Murray
F: Gabriella Mann
F: Gabriela Pop
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Jocelyn Ramirez, sr., D, Lane
Scoring summary
First half
Lane—Mary Rau (Jocelyn Ramirez), 2nd minute
Lane—Scout Murray (Ramirez), ninth minute
Lane—Gabriella Mann (Gabriela Pop), 15th minute
Lane—Avery Ellis (unassisted), 40th minute
Second half
Lane—Murray (Maya Martinez-Bates), 43rd minute
Lane—Rau (Pop), 47th minute
Lane—Martinez (unassisted), 62nd minute