Lyons overpowers Leyden in second half
Turner leads no. 2 Lions in 4-0 W. Suburban cross-over victory
By Patrick Z. McGavin
WESTERN SPRINGS — Jackson Turner is one of the best two-way players in the state.
Even elite players have the occasional regret. Like all players, they can lament a lost chance or missed opportunity. Soccer is random and filled with, at least, occasional failures.
“I missed (a free kick) against Morton (in the Lions stirring 3-2 win March 11),” Turner said. “I hit it at the keeper, so I really wanted another one. In that situation, your eyes light up and see you have a chance here.”
A minute into the second half of a scoreless game, Turner had his chance. A quick burst of activity created the best scoring opportunity in the windy and blisteringly unforgiving cool night air.
He blasted a perfect free kick from the top of the box that was a highlight of the no. 2 Lions’ impressive 4-0 victory over previously unbeaten Leyden on Thursday night.
“I just wanted to make sure it was on goal,” Turner said.
It was, perhaps, a symbolic gesture as well. The game was played in 23-mph southern winds. Leyden played with the wind during the first half.
“They’re a very good team,” Lyons coach Paul Labbato said. “They just came out at us and with the wind that first half, they had us on our heels a bit, and we were just trying to get out of the half. We created some chances, but nothing substantial.
“In the second half we knew we’d have a little bit more pressure, and we thought we’d be able to win the ball deeper in the field and come at them quicker.”
As impressive as his shot was, Turner was divine in leading the Lions to their second-consecutive shutout.
“Our whole backline, we’re big and we talk a lot,” Turner said. “We want the ball and keep it for our team. When you have four big guys back there who all really want the ball, it is hard to get by.”
Since conceding two first half goals against preseason top-ranked Morton in its first game, Lyons (3-0-0) has not surrendered a goal in five halves of play.
“Our back is big, fast, aggressive and has very good ball skills. They win in the air and play out of the back,” Labbato said.
“Those are the things that get our offense going.”
Jackson Turner earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor for his outstanding all-around play.
Leyden (2-1-0) had outscored its first two opponents 10-2. Coach Mark Valintis likes the makeup of this team with its blend of experience, athleticism and high-quality playmakers.
“Everybody clicks on our team,”Eagles senior forward Pablo Mancha said. “We all know each other, even back to middle school. We all went to middle school together.
“It is a great feeling to be out here playing again with everybody. It’s always good chemistry with Leyden. We have six guys who are in their third year playing together.”
Midfielder Alan Jacinto is a brilliant free kick specialist. Blessed with the wind behind his back during the first half, he created several tantalizing opportunities.
Valintis objected to the notion that his team’s failure to score in the first half sealed its fate.
“I don’t think that hurt us that much,” he said. “Whenever there’s wind or no wind, when you play Lyons and it’s zeroes at halftime, most of the time that would be great, and you are comfortable with that.”
The wind did create havoc on the ball, and Leyden had to adjust. By contrast, Lyons appeared emboldened by the Turner goal. The score opened up their offense.
Pushing numbers, Lyons senior forward Timothy Slusarczyk was clipped from behind, producing a penalty kick opportunity.
Slusarczyk drilled the shot inside the far post for the 2-0 advantage in the 48th minute.
“I think the wind played a big factor,” Slusarczyk said. “The guys came out just ready to fight. We had a talk at halftime, we came out hungry. and we performed well.”
The anxiousness and uncertainty about the status of the season has now given way to a sense of performance and excitement. It is as if all the pent up emotions have been unleashed.
“Guys have been waiting for this,” Slusarczyk said. “We waited 10 months for this season. We have been working hard.
“Now it’s time to perform and guys are putting in the hours. We are all working hard in and out of practice, making sure we are doing the right things and executing the coach’s plans. We are all focused on the team plans and ready to move forward.”
The decision-sequence played out just after the penalty kick. Leyden generated its best scoring opportunities in the field of play. Jacinto wove through the Lions’ back and slotted a beautiful ball for Mancha.
His howitzer shot smashed off the near post, the deflected ball danced inside the box with the Eagles unable to get the necessary second touch on the ball.
An inch inside and the whole nature of the game could have changed.
“The first goal, we fouled and their guy hit a phenomenal free kick to go up,” Valintis said. “Then they got a penalty kick, and that’s debatable as always. We thought we had a handball in the box.
“We had our chances. We hit the post, and we missed; and Lyons finished their chances. Credit to them. They kept the pressure on. They made the most of their chances.”
Lyons midfielder Jonathan Hill put the game out of reach by smashing home a short ball off a throw in from Slusarczyk. Aidan Hilling completed the sharp and impressive second half performance with a goal in the 68th minute.
“Sometimes luck doesn’t go your way,” Mancha said. “They played a good game. We might have been able to put in more effort.”
Leyden opens up its West Suburban Conference Gold Division play Tuesday against Downers Grove South. Lyons hosts Proviso West for its first game in the Silver Division the same day.
During this truncated season, the players understand the magnitude of every game.
“We were just hoping we’d have a season,” Turner said.
“When we found out we’d have one, even though it was short, we were all super pumped to get back at it. I think it’s showing. We are just really excited to be here and not taking it for granted.”
Starting lineups
Leyden
GK: Kai Kopera
D: Jesus Recendez
D: Krystian Martinez
D: Matt Espinoza
D: Edgar Orozco
MF: Dylan Santamaria
MF: Alan Jacinto
MF: Ozzie Pacheco
F: Javier Solis
F: Pablo Mancha
F: Cris Hernandez
Lyons
GK: Colin Cummings
D: Robert Sullivan
D: Jackson Turner
D: Jackson Sullivan
D: John Schmitt
MF: John Swicionis
MF: Jonathan Hill
MF: Cameron Labbato
F: Timothy Slusarczyk
F: Jack Luttrell
F: Maxwell Behm
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Jackson Turner, sr., D, Lyons
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Lyons—Jackson Turner (free kick), 41st minute
Lyons—Timothy Slusarczyk (penalty kick), 48th minute
Lyons—Jonathan Hill (Slusarczyk), 57th minute
Lyons—Aidan Hilling (Cameron Labbato), 68th minute
Turner leads no. 2 Lions in 4-0 W. Suburban cross-over victory
By Patrick Z. McGavin
WESTERN SPRINGS — Jackson Turner is one of the best two-way players in the state.
Even elite players have the occasional regret. Like all players, they can lament a lost chance or missed opportunity. Soccer is random and filled with, at least, occasional failures.
“I missed (a free kick) against Morton (in the Lions stirring 3-2 win March 11),” Turner said. “I hit it at the keeper, so I really wanted another one. In that situation, your eyes light up and see you have a chance here.”
A minute into the second half of a scoreless game, Turner had his chance. A quick burst of activity created the best scoring opportunity in the windy and blisteringly unforgiving cool night air.
He blasted a perfect free kick from the top of the box that was a highlight of the no. 2 Lions’ impressive 4-0 victory over previously unbeaten Leyden on Thursday night.
“I just wanted to make sure it was on goal,” Turner said.
It was, perhaps, a symbolic gesture as well. The game was played in 23-mph southern winds. Leyden played with the wind during the first half.
“They’re a very good team,” Lyons coach Paul Labbato said. “They just came out at us and with the wind that first half, they had us on our heels a bit, and we were just trying to get out of the half. We created some chances, but nothing substantial.
“In the second half we knew we’d have a little bit more pressure, and we thought we’d be able to win the ball deeper in the field and come at them quicker.”
As impressive as his shot was, Turner was divine in leading the Lions to their second-consecutive shutout.
“Our whole backline, we’re big and we talk a lot,” Turner said. “We want the ball and keep it for our team. When you have four big guys back there who all really want the ball, it is hard to get by.”
Since conceding two first half goals against preseason top-ranked Morton in its first game, Lyons (3-0-0) has not surrendered a goal in five halves of play.
“Our back is big, fast, aggressive and has very good ball skills. They win in the air and play out of the back,” Labbato said.
“Those are the things that get our offense going.”
Jackson Turner earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor for his outstanding all-around play.
Leyden (2-1-0) had outscored its first two opponents 10-2. Coach Mark Valintis likes the makeup of this team with its blend of experience, athleticism and high-quality playmakers.
“Everybody clicks on our team,”Eagles senior forward Pablo Mancha said. “We all know each other, even back to middle school. We all went to middle school together.
“It is a great feeling to be out here playing again with everybody. It’s always good chemistry with Leyden. We have six guys who are in their third year playing together.”
Midfielder Alan Jacinto is a brilliant free kick specialist. Blessed with the wind behind his back during the first half, he created several tantalizing opportunities.
Valintis objected to the notion that his team’s failure to score in the first half sealed its fate.
“I don’t think that hurt us that much,” he said. “Whenever there’s wind or no wind, when you play Lyons and it’s zeroes at halftime, most of the time that would be great, and you are comfortable with that.”
The wind did create havoc on the ball, and Leyden had to adjust. By contrast, Lyons appeared emboldened by the Turner goal. The score opened up their offense.
Pushing numbers, Lyons senior forward Timothy Slusarczyk was clipped from behind, producing a penalty kick opportunity.
Slusarczyk drilled the shot inside the far post for the 2-0 advantage in the 48th minute.
“I think the wind played a big factor,” Slusarczyk said. “The guys came out just ready to fight. We had a talk at halftime, we came out hungry. and we performed well.”
The anxiousness and uncertainty about the status of the season has now given way to a sense of performance and excitement. It is as if all the pent up emotions have been unleashed.
“Guys have been waiting for this,” Slusarczyk said. “We waited 10 months for this season. We have been working hard.
“Now it’s time to perform and guys are putting in the hours. We are all working hard in and out of practice, making sure we are doing the right things and executing the coach’s plans. We are all focused on the team plans and ready to move forward.”
The decision-sequence played out just after the penalty kick. Leyden generated its best scoring opportunities in the field of play. Jacinto wove through the Lions’ back and slotted a beautiful ball for Mancha.
His howitzer shot smashed off the near post, the deflected ball danced inside the box with the Eagles unable to get the necessary second touch on the ball.
An inch inside and the whole nature of the game could have changed.
“The first goal, we fouled and their guy hit a phenomenal free kick to go up,” Valintis said. “Then they got a penalty kick, and that’s debatable as always. We thought we had a handball in the box.
“We had our chances. We hit the post, and we missed; and Lyons finished their chances. Credit to them. They kept the pressure on. They made the most of their chances.”
Lyons midfielder Jonathan Hill put the game out of reach by smashing home a short ball off a throw in from Slusarczyk. Aidan Hilling completed the sharp and impressive second half performance with a goal in the 68th minute.
“Sometimes luck doesn’t go your way,” Mancha said. “They played a good game. We might have been able to put in more effort.”
Leyden opens up its West Suburban Conference Gold Division play Tuesday against Downers Grove South. Lyons hosts Proviso West for its first game in the Silver Division the same day.
During this truncated season, the players understand the magnitude of every game.
“We were just hoping we’d have a season,” Turner said.
“When we found out we’d have one, even though it was short, we were all super pumped to get back at it. I think it’s showing. We are just really excited to be here and not taking it for granted.”
Starting lineups
Leyden
GK: Kai Kopera
D: Jesus Recendez
D: Krystian Martinez
D: Matt Espinoza
D: Edgar Orozco
MF: Dylan Santamaria
MF: Alan Jacinto
MF: Ozzie Pacheco
F: Javier Solis
F: Pablo Mancha
F: Cris Hernandez
Lyons
GK: Colin Cummings
D: Robert Sullivan
D: Jackson Turner
D: Jackson Sullivan
D: John Schmitt
MF: John Swicionis
MF: Jonathan Hill
MF: Cameron Labbato
F: Timothy Slusarczyk
F: Jack Luttrell
F: Maxwell Behm
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Jackson Turner, sr., D, Lyons
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Lyons—Jackson Turner (free kick), 41st minute
Lyons—Timothy Slusarczyk (penalty kick), 48th minute
Lyons—Jonathan Hill (Slusarczyk), 57th minute
Lyons—Aidan Hilling (Cameron Labbato), 68th minute