Libertyville puts Stevenson away
with strong 2nd half
Wildcats score 3 times after break to record 4-1 win
By Mike Garofola
GURNEE -- Libertyville set up a sectional final showdown with top-seed Glenbrook North after second half goals from Dakota Lyons, Avery Gleason and Sally Grace Rogers earned the Wildcats a well-deserved 4-1 victory over Stevenson in a Warren Sectional semifinal.
Second-seeded Stevenson took the lead on Mimi VanZanten's neat finish just 10 minutes into the contest. The Patriots created a few more half-chances, but Libertyville responded to deliver a masterful performance to avenge a 1-0 loss May 9 to the Patriots that cost them the North Suburban Conference championship.
"After losing out on that chance, this game was far more important than any other game we've played this season," said Rogers, who shared Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors with Lyons in a crowded field of candidates.
"There were so many heroes out there for us tonight,” said manager Daniel DePaz. “It truly was a team effort that allowed us to go out and dominate against a team that we respect and has so many very good players.”
"As a team, we didn't show up to play as Libertyville did," said Stevenson manager PepeJon Chavez.
"We played more independent of each other, instead of as a team. After coming out strong, scoring that early goal, we kind of faded away afterward and perhaps showed our immaturity as a team, which we'll obviously correct before we come out next spring," added Chavez, who will return eight starters.
"Libertyville was clearly the better team tonight, and deserved the result. And that's just how it goes sometimes."
The third-seeded Wildcats, who were ranked 10th in the final Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, equalized 10 minutes after the opener. Avery Gleason scored her first of two with a lovely finish inside an open back post after Lauren Rocco and Lyons set her free.
Rocco was a key figure in the victory. She, along with Jenna Krakowski, Abby Gordon and Sydney Dulak, turned in a high work-rate in the middle of the park and provided quality distribution, relentless ball-winning and an energy that eventually wore down the Patriots during a sensational second half of soccer.
"It wasn't the start that we wanted to have, but there really wasn't any letdown after they scored," said a proud DePaz. “You can tell the focus was so strong tonight, and got even stronger as the game went on.”
In Libertyville’s shootout regional title victory over Prospect on May 20, DePaz and his staff paired Avery Gleason alongside Lyons up-top. That moved the Ohio State-bound Lyons from her usual spot as an outside midfielder on the left side.
"We work really well together up-top," said Lyons. “In our regional final with Prospect, we had 30-plus shots. We have the depth for someone to step into my place on the outside which allows Avery, Paige (Gleason) and myself to be more dangerous."
Lyons was at the heart of a handful of nice build-ups that could have been more if not for some sturdy work from the Stevenson backline and Libertyville’s lack of sharpness in the final third.
"With the way we finished up the first half, I think we all knew goals were coming for us after the break if we just kept working, connecting passes and put some shots up," said Rogers.
The Wildcats co-captain opened up as half of the Wildcats' central defense, partnering with junior Pru Babat. Rogers began the second half playing more of a six stationed on the outside. DePaz had the liberty for the switch because of the terrific work of his backliners Riley Brennan, Audrey Brua, Babat and Stella Bechtold, who came on after the half.
"To score four goals against a team like Stevenson is amazing, but our backline was even more amazing,” said Lyons. “They were the reason that we were able to attack with numbers, and they joined the attack at times also."
Lyons used her great speed and ball control to chase down a long ball heading towards the corner flag. She took control, turned and dribbled past challengers before whacking a right-footed effort just inside the far post two minutes into the new half.
Stevenson responded by going to just three in the back: Kaitlyn Hong, Haylie Popkey and Hailey Livesay. The Patriots brought on their super-freshman sub Gabi Poretto to play just in front of the new back three as the Patriots went in search of the tying goal.
Libertyville (16-4-3) would have none of that.
"We just kept a lot of pressure on them after we went ahead, so they really never were able to get much of anything going in their attack," said Rogers.
Lyons went just wide at 49 minutes, then Rogers drove her header off a Krakowski corner directly at Patriots keeper Mandy Meliker. Avery Gleason just missed, before Rogers' blast from 20 yards called Meliker into action in the 58th minute.
Avery Gleason finished what Rocco Krakowski, and Lyons started on the hour to double the Wildcats advantage to 3-1. Lyons played a lovely ball across to Gleason who curled in her low smash past a helpless Meliker.
The Wildcats continued to go for the jugular, and found it when an unmarked Rogers stepped into another terrific corner four minutes from time to help complete a triumphant night.
"We came out and played some terrific soccer from front-to-back, created a lot of chances, defended really well as a team and just dominated play after that early goal," began DePaz.
"We'll celebrate this victory, but get back at it again +to get ourselves ready for another great team in Glenbrook North."
The win gives Libertyville another shot to even a score. Glenbrook North beat the Wildcats 3-1 in a nonconference road loss April 23.
"We had the chance to avenge our loss to Stevenson, and now we're fortunate to have the opportunity to do the same with Glenbrook North," said Lyons.
Second-seeded and ninth-ranked Stevenson collected 11 clean-sheets on the season and previously conceded a high of three goals against in a loss to Carmel on May 12. The Patriots finished the season with a sparkling 16-3-1 record and 6-0-1 mark in their undefeated league championship campaign (6-0-1).
Starting lineups
Stevenson (4-4-2)
G- Mandy Meliker
D- Bri Welter
D- Hayley Popkey
D- Hailey Livesay
D- Kaitlyn Hong
M- Ella Hong
M- Bella Chavez
M- Mimi VanZanten
M- Brynn Stein
F- Arria Chavez
F- Ellie Egeland
Libertyville (4-3-3)
G- Kate Hopma
D- Riley Brennan
D- Sally Grace Rogers
D- Pru Babat
D- Audrey Brua
M- Lauren Rocco
M- Jenna Krakowski
M- Abby Gordon
F- Avery Gleason
F- Dakota Lyons
F- Paige Gleason
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match:
Dakota Lyons, sr., F, Libertyville;
Sally Grace Rogers, sr., D, Libertyville
Scoring summary
First half
S: VanZanten (U/A) 10'
L: A. Gleason (Rocco, Lyons) 20'
Second half
L: Lyons (U/A) 42'
L: A. Gleason (Krakowski, Lyons) 60'
L: Rogers (Krakowski) 76'
Game Statistics
Shots on
Libertyville: 8
Stevenson: 3
Shots off
Libertyville: 8
Stevenson: 6
Fouls
Libertyville: 4
Stevenson: 7
Offsides
Libertyville: 2
Stevenson: 2
Corner kicks
Libertyville: 8
Stevenson: 1
with strong 2nd half
Wildcats score 3 times after break to record 4-1 win
By Mike Garofola
GURNEE -- Libertyville set up a sectional final showdown with top-seed Glenbrook North after second half goals from Dakota Lyons, Avery Gleason and Sally Grace Rogers earned the Wildcats a well-deserved 4-1 victory over Stevenson in a Warren Sectional semifinal.
Second-seeded Stevenson took the lead on Mimi VanZanten's neat finish just 10 minutes into the contest. The Patriots created a few more half-chances, but Libertyville responded to deliver a masterful performance to avenge a 1-0 loss May 9 to the Patriots that cost them the North Suburban Conference championship.
"After losing out on that chance, this game was far more important than any other game we've played this season," said Rogers, who shared Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors with Lyons in a crowded field of candidates.
"There were so many heroes out there for us tonight,” said manager Daniel DePaz. “It truly was a team effort that allowed us to go out and dominate against a team that we respect and has so many very good players.”
"As a team, we didn't show up to play as Libertyville did," said Stevenson manager PepeJon Chavez.
"We played more independent of each other, instead of as a team. After coming out strong, scoring that early goal, we kind of faded away afterward and perhaps showed our immaturity as a team, which we'll obviously correct before we come out next spring," added Chavez, who will return eight starters.
"Libertyville was clearly the better team tonight, and deserved the result. And that's just how it goes sometimes."
The third-seeded Wildcats, who were ranked 10th in the final Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, equalized 10 minutes after the opener. Avery Gleason scored her first of two with a lovely finish inside an open back post after Lauren Rocco and Lyons set her free.
Rocco was a key figure in the victory. She, along with Jenna Krakowski, Abby Gordon and Sydney Dulak, turned in a high work-rate in the middle of the park and provided quality distribution, relentless ball-winning and an energy that eventually wore down the Patriots during a sensational second half of soccer.
"It wasn't the start that we wanted to have, but there really wasn't any letdown after they scored," said a proud DePaz. “You can tell the focus was so strong tonight, and got even stronger as the game went on.”
In Libertyville’s shootout regional title victory over Prospect on May 20, DePaz and his staff paired Avery Gleason alongside Lyons up-top. That moved the Ohio State-bound Lyons from her usual spot as an outside midfielder on the left side.
"We work really well together up-top," said Lyons. “In our regional final with Prospect, we had 30-plus shots. We have the depth for someone to step into my place on the outside which allows Avery, Paige (Gleason) and myself to be more dangerous."
Lyons was at the heart of a handful of nice build-ups that could have been more if not for some sturdy work from the Stevenson backline and Libertyville’s lack of sharpness in the final third.
"With the way we finished up the first half, I think we all knew goals were coming for us after the break if we just kept working, connecting passes and put some shots up," said Rogers.
The Wildcats co-captain opened up as half of the Wildcats' central defense, partnering with junior Pru Babat. Rogers began the second half playing more of a six stationed on the outside. DePaz had the liberty for the switch because of the terrific work of his backliners Riley Brennan, Audrey Brua, Babat and Stella Bechtold, who came on after the half.
"To score four goals against a team like Stevenson is amazing, but our backline was even more amazing,” said Lyons. “They were the reason that we were able to attack with numbers, and they joined the attack at times also."
Lyons used her great speed and ball control to chase down a long ball heading towards the corner flag. She took control, turned and dribbled past challengers before whacking a right-footed effort just inside the far post two minutes into the new half.
Stevenson responded by going to just three in the back: Kaitlyn Hong, Haylie Popkey and Hailey Livesay. The Patriots brought on their super-freshman sub Gabi Poretto to play just in front of the new back three as the Patriots went in search of the tying goal.
Libertyville (16-4-3) would have none of that.
"We just kept a lot of pressure on them after we went ahead, so they really never were able to get much of anything going in their attack," said Rogers.
Lyons went just wide at 49 minutes, then Rogers drove her header off a Krakowski corner directly at Patriots keeper Mandy Meliker. Avery Gleason just missed, before Rogers' blast from 20 yards called Meliker into action in the 58th minute.
Avery Gleason finished what Rocco Krakowski, and Lyons started on the hour to double the Wildcats advantage to 3-1. Lyons played a lovely ball across to Gleason who curled in her low smash past a helpless Meliker.
The Wildcats continued to go for the jugular, and found it when an unmarked Rogers stepped into another terrific corner four minutes from time to help complete a triumphant night.
"We came out and played some terrific soccer from front-to-back, created a lot of chances, defended really well as a team and just dominated play after that early goal," began DePaz.
"We'll celebrate this victory, but get back at it again +to get ourselves ready for another great team in Glenbrook North."
The win gives Libertyville another shot to even a score. Glenbrook North beat the Wildcats 3-1 in a nonconference road loss April 23.
"We had the chance to avenge our loss to Stevenson, and now we're fortunate to have the opportunity to do the same with Glenbrook North," said Lyons.
Second-seeded and ninth-ranked Stevenson collected 11 clean-sheets on the season and previously conceded a high of three goals against in a loss to Carmel on May 12. The Patriots finished the season with a sparkling 16-3-1 record and 6-0-1 mark in their undefeated league championship campaign (6-0-1).
Starting lineups
Stevenson (4-4-2)
G- Mandy Meliker
D- Bri Welter
D- Hayley Popkey
D- Hailey Livesay
D- Kaitlyn Hong
M- Ella Hong
M- Bella Chavez
M- Mimi VanZanten
M- Brynn Stein
F- Arria Chavez
F- Ellie Egeland
Libertyville (4-3-3)
G- Kate Hopma
D- Riley Brennan
D- Sally Grace Rogers
D- Pru Babat
D- Audrey Brua
M- Lauren Rocco
M- Jenna Krakowski
M- Abby Gordon
F- Avery Gleason
F- Dakota Lyons
F- Paige Gleason
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match:
Dakota Lyons, sr., F, Libertyville;
Sally Grace Rogers, sr., D, Libertyville
Scoring summary
First half
S: VanZanten (U/A) 10'
L: A. Gleason (Rocco, Lyons) 20'
Second half
L: Lyons (U/A) 42'
L: A. Gleason (Krakowski, Lyons) 60'
L: Rogers (Krakowski) 76'
Game Statistics
Shots on
Libertyville: 8
Stevenson: 3
Shots off
Libertyville: 8
Stevenson: 6
Fouls
Libertyville: 4
Stevenson: 7
Offsides
Libertyville: 2
Stevenson: 2
Corner kicks
Libertyville: 8
Stevenson: 1