Lyons crumbles Morton on Kracker goal
Lions’ 1-0 road win ends Mustangs 32-match, home unbeaten run
By Matt Le Cren
BERWYN – The shot was not a cracker.
It did, however, come off Patrick Kracker’s foot. And it proved to be a real kick in the pants for Morton.
The senior midfielder somehow squeezed a five-yard shot in between Morton goalkeeper Brandon Flores and the right post with 26:07 left in the first half of Saturday’s game at the Morton Premier Invite.
The goal held up as the game-winner as Lyons ended Morton’s 32-game home unbeaten streak with a 1-0 victory.
Ironically, the Lions were the last team to beat the Mustangs at home, doing so 3-2 on March 11, 2021, in the opener of a pandemic-shortened season.
Kracker wasn’t yet on varsity that year, but he witnessed the win from the stands.
“I remember watching that game,” Kracker said. “We kind of got a trash goal at the end, and that’s just what we do.
“We like to run teams. When the game is on the line, I feel like we always perform our best.
“It kind of speaks for our program, how committed we are to beating the big teams like this.”
Any team has to be at its best to beat the Mustangs, who are ranked second in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25. The seventh-ranked Lions (8-1-3) certainly played at a high level Saturday. Both teams displayed lots of energy despite having played Friday night, but Morton coach Jim Bageanis said the Lions had a clear edge in that area.
“They just outhustled us,” Bageanis said. “We didn’t come out with the same effort they did early in the game, and it caught up to us.
“It looked like we were a little tired, a little slower to the ball. We’ve played back-to-back games before, and we’ve played three in a row in Iowa, so I don’t want to use that as an excuse.”
Morton’s defense took a split-second nap when Lyons striker Larry Martinez served a corner kick in from the left side. The ball went over the top of the defense to a wide-open Kracker on the far post.
“We got caught sleeping,” Bageanis said. “No one was marking that kid, and he ran right by one of our guys.”
Kracker settled the ball and didn’t have much time to decide what to do with it. The far post was closed off, and Flores moved quickly to cut off the angle to the near post.
Somehow, Kracker threaded the needle and his shot sneaked inside the post just before Flores could get a hand there.
“I got to my spot where I was supposed to be and then all I had to do when the ball fell to me … was my one job to put it in,” Kracker said. “I saw there was a little window on that inside post, and I did my best to hit it right there, and that’s where I put it.”
It was the third goal of the season for Kracker and the third assist for Martinez, who created several chances for the Lions with his corner kicks.
“We do have set plays that we like to run on corner kicks,” Martinez said. “We like to get our guys to our marks, and I was really just looking to see where I could put the ball, to get it on somebody’s head and hopefully get something in the back of the net.”
Kracker, Haris Sarajlija and Ben Swicionis all had shots go wide and Florez made a diving save on Sarajlija midway through the second half, so the Lions were glad to get the early lead.
“I think it was a critical moment in the game that really just turned the tide for us,” Martinez said. “Patrick got his foot on the ball and put it in the back of the net.
“Against a great goalie like (Flores), it’s hard to get something by him, so it was really helpful to get that in.”
The Mustangs (9-2-0), who had its current nine-game winning streak snapped, were not without chances. Lyons goalkeeper Connor Schmitt made three saves, including a stop on Deyair Ruiz’s 1-v-2 counterattack with 2:20 to go in the first half, and a diving denial on a19-yard drive by Ruiz at the 31:05 mark of the second half.
Lyons defense also blocked several shots, including Ismael Zepeda’s drive off an indirect kick in the middle of the box with 15:10 remaining in the first half
“They’re a great team overall,” Martinez said. “They pressure really high and move the ball really well. They’ve got some phenomenal players. I think it was just our engine.”
Bageanis didn’t disagree.
“It was a great game,” Bageanis said. “I just feel that we could have played a level higher.
“I just don’t think we gave our ‘A’ effort in that game. It wasn’t up to our expectations as coaches. It should have been a better effort.”
What is Lyon’s secret to beating Morton? Many other teams would like to know. Lions coach Paul Labbato said there isn’t one.
“I think we just played really well,” Labbato said. “We had four days off and that helped a bunch to get us focused.
“We got to play everybody yesterday and rested a lot of guys some minutes to go back-to-back. I thought we did a nice job both halves.”
The win was the second straight for the Lions following Sunday’s 1-0 loss to then no. 15 Conant, which knocked them out of the top spot. Lyons played a man down for nearly all of that match, but they’ve proven they can get back up quickly.
“I’m really impressed with how well we come off after a tie or a loss,” Kracker said. “I feel like our bounce back is really good.
“We lost a lot of these crucial games last year. We went 1-1-0 in this tournament last year, so to be able to go 2-0-0 going into the final half of the season is really important for us.”
There is no rest for the weary. The win over Morton was big in terms of sectional seeding and the Lions face another big test Tuesday when they travel to rival Hinsdale Central. The Red Devils (7-1-1) are ranked 14th.
Kracker, the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match, has proven he has a knack for rising to the occasion. This isn’t the first time he’s scored in a big game – he also notched a goal in a win over Naperville North last year.
“It definitely came at a good time,” Kracker said. “We really needed this going into next week playing our rival Hinsdale Central.
“It always feels good to help out the team.”
Starting lineups
Lyons
GK: Connor Schmitt
D: Colin Sullivan
D: Jackson Rempfer
D: Igor Chrobotowicz
D: Liam Carolan
M: Patrick Kracker
M: Ben Swicionis
M: Haris Sarajlija
M: Will Swicionis
F: Brian Salvino
F: Larry Martinez
Morton
GK: Brandon Flores
D: Leo Ramirez
D: David Cisneros
D: Josh Trujillo
D: Christian Valadez
M: Edgar Quintero
M: Julian Sotelo
M: Caleb Mendoza
M: Ivan Ramirez
F: Deyair Ruiz
F: Ismael Zepeda
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match:
Patrick Kracker, sr., MF, Lyons.
Scoring summary
First half
Lyons – Patrick Kracker (Larry Martinez) 26:07 remaining
Second half
No scoring
Lions’ 1-0 road win ends Mustangs 32-match, home unbeaten run
By Matt Le Cren
BERWYN – The shot was not a cracker.
It did, however, come off Patrick Kracker’s foot. And it proved to be a real kick in the pants for Morton.
The senior midfielder somehow squeezed a five-yard shot in between Morton goalkeeper Brandon Flores and the right post with 26:07 left in the first half of Saturday’s game at the Morton Premier Invite.
The goal held up as the game-winner as Lyons ended Morton’s 32-game home unbeaten streak with a 1-0 victory.
Ironically, the Lions were the last team to beat the Mustangs at home, doing so 3-2 on March 11, 2021, in the opener of a pandemic-shortened season.
Kracker wasn’t yet on varsity that year, but he witnessed the win from the stands.
“I remember watching that game,” Kracker said. “We kind of got a trash goal at the end, and that’s just what we do.
“We like to run teams. When the game is on the line, I feel like we always perform our best.
“It kind of speaks for our program, how committed we are to beating the big teams like this.”
Any team has to be at its best to beat the Mustangs, who are ranked second in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25. The seventh-ranked Lions (8-1-3) certainly played at a high level Saturday. Both teams displayed lots of energy despite having played Friday night, but Morton coach Jim Bageanis said the Lions had a clear edge in that area.
“They just outhustled us,” Bageanis said. “We didn’t come out with the same effort they did early in the game, and it caught up to us.
“It looked like we were a little tired, a little slower to the ball. We’ve played back-to-back games before, and we’ve played three in a row in Iowa, so I don’t want to use that as an excuse.”
Morton’s defense took a split-second nap when Lyons striker Larry Martinez served a corner kick in from the left side. The ball went over the top of the defense to a wide-open Kracker on the far post.
“We got caught sleeping,” Bageanis said. “No one was marking that kid, and he ran right by one of our guys.”
Kracker settled the ball and didn’t have much time to decide what to do with it. The far post was closed off, and Flores moved quickly to cut off the angle to the near post.
Somehow, Kracker threaded the needle and his shot sneaked inside the post just before Flores could get a hand there.
“I got to my spot where I was supposed to be and then all I had to do when the ball fell to me … was my one job to put it in,” Kracker said. “I saw there was a little window on that inside post, and I did my best to hit it right there, and that’s where I put it.”
It was the third goal of the season for Kracker and the third assist for Martinez, who created several chances for the Lions with his corner kicks.
“We do have set plays that we like to run on corner kicks,” Martinez said. “We like to get our guys to our marks, and I was really just looking to see where I could put the ball, to get it on somebody’s head and hopefully get something in the back of the net.”
Kracker, Haris Sarajlija and Ben Swicionis all had shots go wide and Florez made a diving save on Sarajlija midway through the second half, so the Lions were glad to get the early lead.
“I think it was a critical moment in the game that really just turned the tide for us,” Martinez said. “Patrick got his foot on the ball and put it in the back of the net.
“Against a great goalie like (Flores), it’s hard to get something by him, so it was really helpful to get that in.”
The Mustangs (9-2-0), who had its current nine-game winning streak snapped, were not without chances. Lyons goalkeeper Connor Schmitt made three saves, including a stop on Deyair Ruiz’s 1-v-2 counterattack with 2:20 to go in the first half, and a diving denial on a19-yard drive by Ruiz at the 31:05 mark of the second half.
Lyons defense also blocked several shots, including Ismael Zepeda’s drive off an indirect kick in the middle of the box with 15:10 remaining in the first half
“They’re a great team overall,” Martinez said. “They pressure really high and move the ball really well. They’ve got some phenomenal players. I think it was just our engine.”
Bageanis didn’t disagree.
“It was a great game,” Bageanis said. “I just feel that we could have played a level higher.
“I just don’t think we gave our ‘A’ effort in that game. It wasn’t up to our expectations as coaches. It should have been a better effort.”
What is Lyon’s secret to beating Morton? Many other teams would like to know. Lions coach Paul Labbato said there isn’t one.
“I think we just played really well,” Labbato said. “We had four days off and that helped a bunch to get us focused.
“We got to play everybody yesterday and rested a lot of guys some minutes to go back-to-back. I thought we did a nice job both halves.”
The win was the second straight for the Lions following Sunday’s 1-0 loss to then no. 15 Conant, which knocked them out of the top spot. Lyons played a man down for nearly all of that match, but they’ve proven they can get back up quickly.
“I’m really impressed with how well we come off after a tie or a loss,” Kracker said. “I feel like our bounce back is really good.
“We lost a lot of these crucial games last year. We went 1-1-0 in this tournament last year, so to be able to go 2-0-0 going into the final half of the season is really important for us.”
There is no rest for the weary. The win over Morton was big in terms of sectional seeding and the Lions face another big test Tuesday when they travel to rival Hinsdale Central. The Red Devils (7-1-1) are ranked 14th.
Kracker, the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match, has proven he has a knack for rising to the occasion. This isn’t the first time he’s scored in a big game – he also notched a goal in a win over Naperville North last year.
“It definitely came at a good time,” Kracker said. “We really needed this going into next week playing our rival Hinsdale Central.
“It always feels good to help out the team.”
Starting lineups
Lyons
GK: Connor Schmitt
D: Colin Sullivan
D: Jackson Rempfer
D: Igor Chrobotowicz
D: Liam Carolan
M: Patrick Kracker
M: Ben Swicionis
M: Haris Sarajlija
M: Will Swicionis
F: Brian Salvino
F: Larry Martinez
Morton
GK: Brandon Flores
D: Leo Ramirez
D: David Cisneros
D: Josh Trujillo
D: Christian Valadez
M: Edgar Quintero
M: Julian Sotelo
M: Caleb Mendoza
M: Ivan Ramirez
F: Deyair Ruiz
F: Ismael Zepeda
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match:
Patrick Kracker, sr., MF, Lyons.
Scoring summary
First half
Lyons – Patrick Kracker (Larry Martinez) 26:07 remaining
Second half
No scoring