Libertyville title game rally stuns Lyons
Wildcats win 2-1 for 3rd-straight North Shore Showcase title
By Gary Larsen
NORTHFIELD — Libertyville keeper Hunter Lynch likely put it best, after watching the grit his team showed in a 2-1 comeback win against Lyons in the title game of this year’s North Shore Showcase.
“It’s such an honor to be able to play for this team,” Lynch said. “I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
The Wildcats, ranked second in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, won their third-consecutive Showcase title on Saturday at New Trier. To earn it, they had to get past a seventh-ranked Lyons team that led 1-0 to the 67th minute and played exceptional soccer throughout.
“I would say for 60 minutes of that game, they possessed the ball,” Libertyville coach Kevin Thunholm said of Lyons. “They were flying at us. A lot of times I think we’re waiting for teams to sit back a little bit, but they gave it right to us.”
Take one team controlling play and grabbing a lead, and add a second team turning the tables late in the game, and you have the makings of a classic comeback. On Saturday, Lyons (3-1-2) filled the first role in that scenario against Libertyville (5-0-0).
The Lions took a 1-0 lead at 25 minutes on a Julio Torres penalty kick and kept solid possession for the next 40 minutes before Libertyville did what great teams do: figure out a way.
Having played for the counter to no avail off of Lyons’ possession for most of the game, Libertyville finally began making dangerous runs at the goal around the 60-minute mark.
A Lyons foul at 67 minutes set up a 28-yard free kick for Libertyville, with Reilly setting up to take it. That’s when the trust between Thunholm and his players came to the forefront.
“I called a play on that dead ball but Mickey saw something different,” Thunholm said. “He looked at me (to change the play), and I told him to trust himself. So he sent it in instead of what we were going to run.”
Reilly served the free kick to the goal mouth, where Underwood buried it to tie the game.
“Mickey sent it in, and I got it on the foot,” Underwood said. “I usually don’t go in. I usually stay on top of the box for free kicks, but I decided to go in for that one. I wanted a goal.”
The Lions’ Jack Luttrell fired just wide at 70 minutes and two minutes later a foul in the Lions’ box gave Libertyville a penalty kick. The Wildcats’ Jack Brennan volunteered to take it and sent a perfect shot to the right upper ninety to give Libertyville a 2-1 lead.
The Lions were stunned but fought hard down the stretch, earning a pair of corner kicks and a deep throw-in, plus a shot that hit the post at 78 minutes by Cameron Labbato before time ran out.
“It was unlucky, but Libertyville created their own luck,” Paul Labbato said. “They’re a seasoned team, and they made it happen. That’s what good teams do at the end of games; they figure it out. We’re learning how to be that team, too.”
The Wildcats were tested throughout the Showcase but also won 2-1 over fourth-ranked New Trier and 12th-ranked Loyola, and 3-1 over Grayslake Central.
“Coach tells us that there’s always a target on our backs,” Lynch said. “We’re going to get the best of every team so we have to perform. Lyons showed it, Grayslake Central showed it, and New Trier and Loyola showed it. So the bar was high, but our guys stepped right up to it.”
Lyons won their first three Showcase games by shutting out Waukegan, Glenbrook North, and Buffalo Grove and were frustrated to be 13 minutes away from a fourth tournament shutout, only to see Libertyville score two late goals.
“The boys felt like we gave one away. We felt like we should have put it away,” Lyons coach Paul Labbato said.
“We felt like we played very well for 65 minutes, and we didn’t play badly at the end. We had some unlucky fouls called while they were able to dribble towards our goal, and they capitalized on both of them in the last 15 minutes.”
Still, the positives far outweighed the negatives for Lyons.
“I feel like we had a better game, and we were really good at bringing it out of the back and holding onto it, and moving it up the field,” Torres said. “It’s a little bit disappointing, but it’s also a game we have to recognize, and look forward to our other games.
“They’re the number two team in Illinois, so it wasn’t what I expected. I liked our passing and our distribution. We were really good at moving up the field with the ball, and we executed really well.”
Long throw-ins by Lyons defender Zack Kristy were also perpetually dangerous for 80 minutes. With three shutouts in four tournament games, Lyons defenders Kristy, Tommy Abbs, Graham Bearman, and keeper Gavin Fertitta were all named to the Showcase’s all-tournament team.
Labbato was pleased with players in every third of the field.
“Julio Torres has been scoring for us in this tournament, Max Behm has done a great job at forward, and so has Mike Niedermeyer at center mid,” Labbato said.
Libertyville beat Lyons 5-0 during last year’s Showcase but it was clear Saturday that last year is officially ancient history in LaGrange.
“As far as this group goes, we didn’t know how the coming together would be,” Labbato said. “These (seniors) are fantastic leaders, and they brought this group together very quickly. We’re pretty dynamic on the field, and we come off the bench with lots of talent.”
Libertyville midfielders Reilly and Underwood and defender Jacopo Franciosi were named to the Showcase’s all-tournament team. Thunholm also applauded the effort given by banged-up forward Patrick Graham and cited the relentlessness of Brennan in Saturday’s win.
In his first season as Libertyville’s starting keeper, Lynch is also growing into the role. He stayed aggressive throughout, tipped a shot by Behm over the bar at 65 minutes, and made a good handful of quality saves in the win.
Lynch was named Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match for not giving up a single goal in the run of play against a Lyons team that kept steady pressure on him.
“Hunter had a couple big saves and his confidence is growing,” Thunholm said. “He’s getting better, which is making us more confident in the back.”
Defenders Fanciosi, Landon Johnson, Cole Houser, and Will Herbek are slowly rounding into form in front of Lynch.
“All last year I was a backup, and I was just getting used to it and now it’s a whole new backline,” Lynch said. “But it’s such good chemistry between the five of us, and I can’t be any more proud of them.
“We also have (Colin) Klainos coming out on the right (outside defender position) and give a lot of credit to him as well. He does a great job.”
Notes:
Kristy’s toss
Illinois soccer fans might not see a longer throw-in from anyone not named Zack Kristy this season. The Lyons senior defender constantly trotted upfield to launch incredibly long throws to the Libertyville goalmouth during Saturday’s game. “He can crank it. When you need it in the box from practically midfield, he can do that,” Lions coach Paul Labbato said. “Teams don’t realize what it’s going to look like until they see one or two, and then they realize they’d better drop another 10 yards or so.”
Franciosi’s versatility
Libertyville coach Kevin Thunholm moved forward Jacopo Franciosi to central defender this season, and the senior has been outstanding. Franciosi was one of three Wildcats named to the Showcase’s all-tournament team, and Thunholm knew Franciosi was cut from a different cloth after last year’s loss in the 3A state title game.
“He’s just been hungry,” Thunholm said. “When we lost to Naperville (North), and he came off the field, he came up to me and said ‘We’ll take care of it next year.’ Then he called me and it was ‘When are we starting? When are we starting?’ So he’s been on a mission.”
Starting lineups
Libertyville
GK: Hunter Lynch
D: Jacopo Franciosi
D: Will Herbek
D: Cole Houser
D: Landon Johnson
M: Cade Apton
M: Jack Brennan
M: Mickey Reilly
M: Luke Underwood
F: Connor Hay
F: Patrick Graham
Lyons
GK: Bradley De Boer
D: Tommy Abbs
D: Zack Kristy
D: Graham Bearman
D: Rob Sullivan
M: Cameron Labbato
M: Mike Niedermeyer
M: Jackson Turner
F: Max Behm
F: Julio Torres
F: Jake Fraser
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Hunter Lynch, sr., GK, Libertyville
Scoring summary
First half
Lyons — Torres (PK) 25th minute
Second half
Libertyville — Underwood (Reilly) 67th minute
Libertyville — Brennan (PK) 72nd minute
Wildcats win 2-1 for 3rd-straight North Shore Showcase title
By Gary Larsen
NORTHFIELD — Libertyville keeper Hunter Lynch likely put it best, after watching the grit his team showed in a 2-1 comeback win against Lyons in the title game of this year’s North Shore Showcase.
“It’s such an honor to be able to play for this team,” Lynch said. “I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
The Wildcats, ranked second in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, won their third-consecutive Showcase title on Saturday at New Trier. To earn it, they had to get past a seventh-ranked Lyons team that led 1-0 to the 67th minute and played exceptional soccer throughout.
“I would say for 60 minutes of that game, they possessed the ball,” Libertyville coach Kevin Thunholm said of Lyons. “They were flying at us. A lot of times I think we’re waiting for teams to sit back a little bit, but they gave it right to us.”
Take one team controlling play and grabbing a lead, and add a second team turning the tables late in the game, and you have the makings of a classic comeback. On Saturday, Lyons (3-1-2) filled the first role in that scenario against Libertyville (5-0-0).
The Lions took a 1-0 lead at 25 minutes on a Julio Torres penalty kick and kept solid possession for the next 40 minutes before Libertyville did what great teams do: figure out a way.
Having played for the counter to no avail off of Lyons’ possession for most of the game, Libertyville finally began making dangerous runs at the goal around the 60-minute mark.
A Lyons foul at 67 minutes set up a 28-yard free kick for Libertyville, with Reilly setting up to take it. That’s when the trust between Thunholm and his players came to the forefront.
“I called a play on that dead ball but Mickey saw something different,” Thunholm said. “He looked at me (to change the play), and I told him to trust himself. So he sent it in instead of what we were going to run.”
Reilly served the free kick to the goal mouth, where Underwood buried it to tie the game.
“Mickey sent it in, and I got it on the foot,” Underwood said. “I usually don’t go in. I usually stay on top of the box for free kicks, but I decided to go in for that one. I wanted a goal.”
The Lions’ Jack Luttrell fired just wide at 70 minutes and two minutes later a foul in the Lions’ box gave Libertyville a penalty kick. The Wildcats’ Jack Brennan volunteered to take it and sent a perfect shot to the right upper ninety to give Libertyville a 2-1 lead.
The Lions were stunned but fought hard down the stretch, earning a pair of corner kicks and a deep throw-in, plus a shot that hit the post at 78 minutes by Cameron Labbato before time ran out.
“It was unlucky, but Libertyville created their own luck,” Paul Labbato said. “They’re a seasoned team, and they made it happen. That’s what good teams do at the end of games; they figure it out. We’re learning how to be that team, too.”
The Wildcats were tested throughout the Showcase but also won 2-1 over fourth-ranked New Trier and 12th-ranked Loyola, and 3-1 over Grayslake Central.
“Coach tells us that there’s always a target on our backs,” Lynch said. “We’re going to get the best of every team so we have to perform. Lyons showed it, Grayslake Central showed it, and New Trier and Loyola showed it. So the bar was high, but our guys stepped right up to it.”
Lyons won their first three Showcase games by shutting out Waukegan, Glenbrook North, and Buffalo Grove and were frustrated to be 13 minutes away from a fourth tournament shutout, only to see Libertyville score two late goals.
“The boys felt like we gave one away. We felt like we should have put it away,” Lyons coach Paul Labbato said.
“We felt like we played very well for 65 minutes, and we didn’t play badly at the end. We had some unlucky fouls called while they were able to dribble towards our goal, and they capitalized on both of them in the last 15 minutes.”
Still, the positives far outweighed the negatives for Lyons.
“I feel like we had a better game, and we were really good at bringing it out of the back and holding onto it, and moving it up the field,” Torres said. “It’s a little bit disappointing, but it’s also a game we have to recognize, and look forward to our other games.
“They’re the number two team in Illinois, so it wasn’t what I expected. I liked our passing and our distribution. We were really good at moving up the field with the ball, and we executed really well.”
Long throw-ins by Lyons defender Zack Kristy were also perpetually dangerous for 80 minutes. With three shutouts in four tournament games, Lyons defenders Kristy, Tommy Abbs, Graham Bearman, and keeper Gavin Fertitta were all named to the Showcase’s all-tournament team.
Labbato was pleased with players in every third of the field.
“Julio Torres has been scoring for us in this tournament, Max Behm has done a great job at forward, and so has Mike Niedermeyer at center mid,” Labbato said.
Libertyville beat Lyons 5-0 during last year’s Showcase but it was clear Saturday that last year is officially ancient history in LaGrange.
“As far as this group goes, we didn’t know how the coming together would be,” Labbato said. “These (seniors) are fantastic leaders, and they brought this group together very quickly. We’re pretty dynamic on the field, and we come off the bench with lots of talent.”
Libertyville midfielders Reilly and Underwood and defender Jacopo Franciosi were named to the Showcase’s all-tournament team. Thunholm also applauded the effort given by banged-up forward Patrick Graham and cited the relentlessness of Brennan in Saturday’s win.
In his first season as Libertyville’s starting keeper, Lynch is also growing into the role. He stayed aggressive throughout, tipped a shot by Behm over the bar at 65 minutes, and made a good handful of quality saves in the win.
Lynch was named Chicagoland Soccer’s Man of the Match for not giving up a single goal in the run of play against a Lyons team that kept steady pressure on him.
“Hunter had a couple big saves and his confidence is growing,” Thunholm said. “He’s getting better, which is making us more confident in the back.”
Defenders Fanciosi, Landon Johnson, Cole Houser, and Will Herbek are slowly rounding into form in front of Lynch.
“All last year I was a backup, and I was just getting used to it and now it’s a whole new backline,” Lynch said. “But it’s such good chemistry between the five of us, and I can’t be any more proud of them.
“We also have (Colin) Klainos coming out on the right (outside defender position) and give a lot of credit to him as well. He does a great job.”
Notes:
Kristy’s toss
Illinois soccer fans might not see a longer throw-in from anyone not named Zack Kristy this season. The Lyons senior defender constantly trotted upfield to launch incredibly long throws to the Libertyville goalmouth during Saturday’s game. “He can crank it. When you need it in the box from practically midfield, he can do that,” Lions coach Paul Labbato said. “Teams don’t realize what it’s going to look like until they see one or two, and then they realize they’d better drop another 10 yards or so.”
Franciosi’s versatility
Libertyville coach Kevin Thunholm moved forward Jacopo Franciosi to central defender this season, and the senior has been outstanding. Franciosi was one of three Wildcats named to the Showcase’s all-tournament team, and Thunholm knew Franciosi was cut from a different cloth after last year’s loss in the 3A state title game.
“He’s just been hungry,” Thunholm said. “When we lost to Naperville (North), and he came off the field, he came up to me and said ‘We’ll take care of it next year.’ Then he called me and it was ‘When are we starting? When are we starting?’ So he’s been on a mission.”
Starting lineups
Libertyville
GK: Hunter Lynch
D: Jacopo Franciosi
D: Will Herbek
D: Cole Houser
D: Landon Johnson
M: Cade Apton
M: Jack Brennan
M: Mickey Reilly
M: Luke Underwood
F: Connor Hay
F: Patrick Graham
Lyons
GK: Bradley De Boer
D: Tommy Abbs
D: Zack Kristy
D: Graham Bearman
D: Rob Sullivan
M: Cameron Labbato
M: Mike Niedermeyer
M: Jackson Turner
F: Max Behm
F: Julio Torres
F: Jake Fraser
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Hunter Lynch, sr., GK, Libertyville
Scoring summary
First half
Lyons — Torres (PK) 25th minute
Second half
Libertyville — Underwood (Reilly) 67th minute
Libertyville — Brennan (PK) 72nd minute