Salvino, no. 1 Lyons need extra time
to solve Downers Grove North
Lions edge Trojans 2-1 in double OT conference thriller
By Chris R. Walker
DOWNERS GROVE -- Just about every time Lyons got close to scoring during Tuesday’s West Suburban Conference Silver Divison game, Downer Grove North’s senior defenseman Bradley Szydlowski was there to foil its plans.
Finally, in the second overtime, Lyons found the only way away around him was to get away from him. Senior Brian Salvino scored in the run of play with 7:53 left in the second overtime to thwart the plans of the upset-minded Trojans in a 2-1 league-opening win.
“Owen Suda had the ball at around the 50-yard line, and I made a run diagonally across and just used my pace to get around their backline and slot it in near post with the keeper coming out,” Salvino said.
“They were a well-organized team with a great backline. I have to give credit to them. (Szydlowski) followed me around, and it was tough to get away from him. He was always on my back. It was good to get away from him. I don’t think he was in the play I scored. I think if he were there, it wouldn’t have happened. He’s a great player.”
For scoring the game-winning goal and ending this thrilling opener for both teams in conference play, Salvino was named the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match.
Szydlowski and his fellow backline mates Will Beatty, Jackson Irby and Tomislav Petkovski wouldn’t back down to the size advantage and proficiency of Lyons to turn set pieces into points. Goalkeeper Will Barnett was a strong presence throughout, but even that wasn’t enough to earn a victory.
“It could’ve gone either way, and these are all my club guys (on Lyons). That’s why I have a smile on my face,” Szydlowski said. “We just stayed really tight (in back). They had a size advantage, definitely, but our guys fought as hard as they could to try to jostle them around a bit before they got up in the air, so they were a little bit off. I know how they play.”
Downers Grove North (2-4-0, 0-1-0) may have been able to negate numerous scoring opportunities by Lyons, but the chaos caused by their foe also played into surrendering an own-goal with 29:10 left in the second half to break a scoreless tie.
When a team is as dangerous as Lyons can be on set pieces, sometimes it works in the attacking team’s favor even if they aren’t the one burying the shot.
“All I do when I get my throw-ins is to just try to throw the ball near the goalie and maybe try to force him out,” Lyons senior Will Swicionis said. “We’ll try to reach for it and get our big kids’ heads on it or get it right next to the goal and flick it right past him to the second post. That’s our main objective on throw-ins and how we’re most dangerous there, even better than the run of play.”
“They’re such a big and physical team and so dangerous on set pieces,” Trojans coach Mike Schmitt said. “We met that challenge today. I was pleasantly surprised we were able to do it. Will Barnett came up with some saves with catching the ball and keeping it in his hands and giving us a way out. He played a fantastic game today, along with everyone else.
“We were really good on the day, but unfortunately the result didn’t go our way.”
Lyons came into the action riding high after topping host New Trier to win the Northside College Showcase on Saturday. Meanwhile Downers Grove North dropped its final two games in the St. Charles Invitational.
What was already a well-hyped match had the added bonuses of being the first conference game of the year, the first home match of the season for the Trojans and the first opportunity for Lyons to play after being ranked the new no. 1 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, which was released on Monday.
“It was such a good game,” Schmitt said. “It was unfortunate (to lose). The downside is that this is our level and the expectation is to see this level every time we step on the field, which is something we haven’t really been able to do as of yet. We saw opportunities from the get-go and it’s a matter of putting them away. We missed a couple chances early on, and if we get those, it’s confidence building going forward.”
Lyons (5-0-2, 1-0-0) proved unable to hold onto its 1-0 lead. Downers Grove North senior Jack Ryan gained possession from about 10 yards away and dribbled into a position to net the equalizer with 16:39 left in regulation.
Once again, we had a new ballgame.
For the remainder of the second half, Lyons threatened more than the hosts, with a corner kick from Haris Sarajlija, a few throw-ins from Will Swicionis and shots from Larry Martinez and Sarajlija. The Trojans were unable to match their game-tying score, although they put a brief scare into the Lions when Petkovski charged the goal hard with just under five minutes remaining.
Salvino had two difficult scoring chances in the first overtime, both from a good distance, before he was able to use his athleticism to create and bury the game-winner. On the flip side, Downers Grove North was limited with Ben Llewellyn firing a 42-yard free kick off line for one of the Trojans only real chances the rest of the evening.
“They are a good team, and they play hard, but ultimately we’re the better side, and we showed it to them,” senior defender Igor Chrobotowicz said. “We pressed on and on and finally got the goal that we needed to win this game. We’re playing really good, but we could get much better. We could finish our chances. We had a lot toward the second half, and we shouldn’t have given up that goal. You have to finish the game so we’ve got to do that, and we’ll get the result.”
Last year, Lyons beat Downers Grove North, 3-2.
“It was definitely a close game last year, too,” Salvino said. “It’s always a great conference match. We heard their bench saying ‘No. 1, no. 1, we’re going to beat no. 1'. It’s just great to keep them quiet for a while longer.”
After a big tournament win there’s always concern of a letdown. When you throw in the fact that Monday was Labor Day and abnormal to the team’s routine, there was additional cause for concern. Salvino ultimately assured Lyons that everything would work out. The team remains unbeaten through seven games and has now beaten Downers Grove North eight-straight times.
“We came off a great win on Saturday. I think I was telling our team that every conference game is going to be hard and we can never take a step back. We have to keep going forward,” Will Swicionis said. “We did it when beating Naperville North and tying Round Lake. We all are really hyped up for games and never sit back after beating a big team. We know we have to keep working hard every game or we’ll lose our games.”
Plus, opponents will be motivated more than ever playing the no. 1 team.
“A lot of teams put a target on our backs now,” Chrobotowicz said. “We think you just have to play your game and not let it get to you that we’re no. 1.”
Despite coming up short, Downers Grove North showed how capable their unit can be. Whether they can play with the same amount of intensity and consistency will need to be determined in going forward.
“Lyons is always a big game no matter if ranked no. 1 in the state like this year or other years,” Szydlowski said. “Everyone puts in 110 percent effort for them. And it usually helps us throughout the season, because we know what level we have to play at. I’m proud of our guys. It was a tough loss, but I love playing those guys, too.”
Unbeaten through seven games, Lyons is off to its best start since opening the 2013 season without a loss in its first eight games.
Starting lineups
Lyons
GK: Connor Schmitt
D: Igor Chrobotowicz
D: Jackson Rempfer
D: Will Swicionis
D: Daniel Svelnis
MF: Haris Sarajlija
MF: Collin Sullivan
MF: Patrick Kracker
MF: Mason Burda
MF: Larry Martinez
F: Brian Salvino
Downers Grove North
GK: Will Barnett
D: Bradley Szydlowski
D: Tomislav Petkovski
D: Jackson Irby
D: Will Beatty
MF: Holden Peckenpaugh
MF: James Harkness
MF: Quinn O’Reilly
MF: Ben Llewellyn
F: Ryan Wilson
F: Max Prince
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Brian Salvino, sr., F, Lyons
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Lyons – (own-goal), 50:50
Downers Grove North – Jack Ryan (Riley Botha), 63:21
First ovetime
No scoring
Second overtime
Lyons - Brian Salvino (Owen Suda), 92:07
to solve Downers Grove North
Lions edge Trojans 2-1 in double OT conference thriller
By Chris R. Walker
DOWNERS GROVE -- Just about every time Lyons got close to scoring during Tuesday’s West Suburban Conference Silver Divison game, Downer Grove North’s senior defenseman Bradley Szydlowski was there to foil its plans.
Finally, in the second overtime, Lyons found the only way away around him was to get away from him. Senior Brian Salvino scored in the run of play with 7:53 left in the second overtime to thwart the plans of the upset-minded Trojans in a 2-1 league-opening win.
“Owen Suda had the ball at around the 50-yard line, and I made a run diagonally across and just used my pace to get around their backline and slot it in near post with the keeper coming out,” Salvino said.
“They were a well-organized team with a great backline. I have to give credit to them. (Szydlowski) followed me around, and it was tough to get away from him. He was always on my back. It was good to get away from him. I don’t think he was in the play I scored. I think if he were there, it wouldn’t have happened. He’s a great player.”
For scoring the game-winning goal and ending this thrilling opener for both teams in conference play, Salvino was named the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match.
Szydlowski and his fellow backline mates Will Beatty, Jackson Irby and Tomislav Petkovski wouldn’t back down to the size advantage and proficiency of Lyons to turn set pieces into points. Goalkeeper Will Barnett was a strong presence throughout, but even that wasn’t enough to earn a victory.
“It could’ve gone either way, and these are all my club guys (on Lyons). That’s why I have a smile on my face,” Szydlowski said. “We just stayed really tight (in back). They had a size advantage, definitely, but our guys fought as hard as they could to try to jostle them around a bit before they got up in the air, so they were a little bit off. I know how they play.”
Downers Grove North (2-4-0, 0-1-0) may have been able to negate numerous scoring opportunities by Lyons, but the chaos caused by their foe also played into surrendering an own-goal with 29:10 left in the second half to break a scoreless tie.
When a team is as dangerous as Lyons can be on set pieces, sometimes it works in the attacking team’s favor even if they aren’t the one burying the shot.
“All I do when I get my throw-ins is to just try to throw the ball near the goalie and maybe try to force him out,” Lyons senior Will Swicionis said. “We’ll try to reach for it and get our big kids’ heads on it or get it right next to the goal and flick it right past him to the second post. That’s our main objective on throw-ins and how we’re most dangerous there, even better than the run of play.”
“They’re such a big and physical team and so dangerous on set pieces,” Trojans coach Mike Schmitt said. “We met that challenge today. I was pleasantly surprised we were able to do it. Will Barnett came up with some saves with catching the ball and keeping it in his hands and giving us a way out. He played a fantastic game today, along with everyone else.
“We were really good on the day, but unfortunately the result didn’t go our way.”
Lyons came into the action riding high after topping host New Trier to win the Northside College Showcase on Saturday. Meanwhile Downers Grove North dropped its final two games in the St. Charles Invitational.
What was already a well-hyped match had the added bonuses of being the first conference game of the year, the first home match of the season for the Trojans and the first opportunity for Lyons to play after being ranked the new no. 1 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, which was released on Monday.
“It was such a good game,” Schmitt said. “It was unfortunate (to lose). The downside is that this is our level and the expectation is to see this level every time we step on the field, which is something we haven’t really been able to do as of yet. We saw opportunities from the get-go and it’s a matter of putting them away. We missed a couple chances early on, and if we get those, it’s confidence building going forward.”
Lyons (5-0-2, 1-0-0) proved unable to hold onto its 1-0 lead. Downers Grove North senior Jack Ryan gained possession from about 10 yards away and dribbled into a position to net the equalizer with 16:39 left in regulation.
Once again, we had a new ballgame.
For the remainder of the second half, Lyons threatened more than the hosts, with a corner kick from Haris Sarajlija, a few throw-ins from Will Swicionis and shots from Larry Martinez and Sarajlija. The Trojans were unable to match their game-tying score, although they put a brief scare into the Lions when Petkovski charged the goal hard with just under five minutes remaining.
Salvino had two difficult scoring chances in the first overtime, both from a good distance, before he was able to use his athleticism to create and bury the game-winner. On the flip side, Downers Grove North was limited with Ben Llewellyn firing a 42-yard free kick off line for one of the Trojans only real chances the rest of the evening.
“They are a good team, and they play hard, but ultimately we’re the better side, and we showed it to them,” senior defender Igor Chrobotowicz said. “We pressed on and on and finally got the goal that we needed to win this game. We’re playing really good, but we could get much better. We could finish our chances. We had a lot toward the second half, and we shouldn’t have given up that goal. You have to finish the game so we’ve got to do that, and we’ll get the result.”
Last year, Lyons beat Downers Grove North, 3-2.
“It was definitely a close game last year, too,” Salvino said. “It’s always a great conference match. We heard their bench saying ‘No. 1, no. 1, we’re going to beat no. 1'. It’s just great to keep them quiet for a while longer.”
After a big tournament win there’s always concern of a letdown. When you throw in the fact that Monday was Labor Day and abnormal to the team’s routine, there was additional cause for concern. Salvino ultimately assured Lyons that everything would work out. The team remains unbeaten through seven games and has now beaten Downers Grove North eight-straight times.
“We came off a great win on Saturday. I think I was telling our team that every conference game is going to be hard and we can never take a step back. We have to keep going forward,” Will Swicionis said. “We did it when beating Naperville North and tying Round Lake. We all are really hyped up for games and never sit back after beating a big team. We know we have to keep working hard every game or we’ll lose our games.”
Plus, opponents will be motivated more than ever playing the no. 1 team.
“A lot of teams put a target on our backs now,” Chrobotowicz said. “We think you just have to play your game and not let it get to you that we’re no. 1.”
Despite coming up short, Downers Grove North showed how capable their unit can be. Whether they can play with the same amount of intensity and consistency will need to be determined in going forward.
“Lyons is always a big game no matter if ranked no. 1 in the state like this year or other years,” Szydlowski said. “Everyone puts in 110 percent effort for them. And it usually helps us throughout the season, because we know what level we have to play at. I’m proud of our guys. It was a tough loss, but I love playing those guys, too.”
Unbeaten through seven games, Lyons is off to its best start since opening the 2013 season without a loss in its first eight games.
Starting lineups
Lyons
GK: Connor Schmitt
D: Igor Chrobotowicz
D: Jackson Rempfer
D: Will Swicionis
D: Daniel Svelnis
MF: Haris Sarajlija
MF: Collin Sullivan
MF: Patrick Kracker
MF: Mason Burda
MF: Larry Martinez
F: Brian Salvino
Downers Grove North
GK: Will Barnett
D: Bradley Szydlowski
D: Tomislav Petkovski
D: Jackson Irby
D: Will Beatty
MF: Holden Peckenpaugh
MF: James Harkness
MF: Quinn O’Reilly
MF: Ben Llewellyn
F: Ryan Wilson
F: Max Prince
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Brian Salvino, sr., F, Lyons
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Lyons – (own-goal), 50:50
Downers Grove North – Jack Ryan (Riley Botha), 63:21
First ovetime
No scoring
Second overtime
Lyons - Brian Salvino (Owen Suda), 92:07