Crawford saves New Trier
from Lyons in shootout instant classic
Blocks 2 penalty shots against Lions 'Northside' championship
By Patrick Z. McGavin
NORTHFIELD — Aidan Crawford is not exactly a shrinking violet.
The two-time all-state keeper loves the built-in pressure of the game’s most visceral confrontation: shooter versus keeper in the penalty kick.
“Shootouts are always about mentality,” he said. “I actually love shootouts. People always ask me whether or not I feel the pressure. As a keeper, you don’t have the pressure on you.
“The shooter is expected to score.”
In a riveting showdown, Crawford recorded two blocks and forced another errant shot as the no. 9 Trevians prevailed in the penalty phase 8-7 in 10 rounds over no. 3 Lyons for the championship of the Northside College Showcase on Saturday.
For his game-winning effort, Crawford earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor.
The game was knotted up 1-1 through regulation play and two overtime periods. Each team scored in the first half.
New Trier (4-0-1) captured the tournament for the first time in its seven-year history. Lyons (4-1-1) was stymied in its bid for its debut program title.
Lyons keeper Luke Stockbridge proved nearly as resilient and extraordinary as Crawford. He also blocked two shots, forcing the game to the 10th round.
Junior midfielder Eli Drake finally closed out the epic shootout by eluding the grasp of Stockbridge into the right corner.
Stockbridge partially deflected the ball, but the torque and force of the ball was sufficient.
“When I went up there, I had nothing more on my mind than scoring. I went up and told myself I’m putting this in the back of the net,” Drake said.
“I usually watch the goalie the whole time, and then I pick a side. I’m watching the keeper and his movements. That’s exactly what I did. Scoring felt great. I didn’t know what to do with myself.”
Stockbridge was just slightly off in his timing.
“I was just leaning right,” he said. “The shot was pretty middle, but it was a little bit to my left, and I was leaning too far right.”
Evan Kanellos, Ronan O’Neill, James Paden, Will Pasia, Kevin Farina, Dylan Zbaraz and Karsten Segall also converted for the Trevians.
Aidan Hilling, Finn Mahaney, Fisher Daniels, Jackson Sullivan, Larry Martinez, Stefan Soldat and Patrick Kracker converted for the Lions.
The shootout was tied at 4-4 after the first five shooters. During the sudden death phase, teams matched each shot with scorching accuracy and mental toughness.
Lyons went first in the order. After Crawford’s block on the fifth shooter appeared to turn the momentum, Stockbridge came right back with his own athletic marvel.
“You feel like the game is on the line, and you have to keep it going,” Stockbridge said. “At the same time, you look at the odds of a penalty shootout, there really isn’t a lot of pressure on the keeper.
“It’s up to you to come up with a big play.”
The shooters definitely got caught up in deep partisan emotions.
“You had fans heckling you, your parents cheering you on, and other parents from the other team saying they hoped you missed,” Hilling said.
“You just have to stay calm. I just wanted the keeper to make a dive, and I just tripped it up the middle.”
In a dizzying and successive line of shooters, the offensive players were up to the challenge.
“Those kickers were one after the other better than the next,” Lyons’ coach Paul Labbato said. “It was hard for the keepers to make saves, even very good keepers.”
Lyons started the game as though jet propelled, playing with a furious momentum and sharpness in its movements. Forward Zach Steck created a free kick in the opening seconds.
Crawford’s high-risk, high-reward playing style produced three shutouts and just one goal through the Trevians’ first four games.
Lyons struck in the third minute. Hilling caught a through ball from Jackson Sullivan deep on the left flank, pulling Crawford off his line and out of position.
Hilling made him pay with a beautiful one-touch for the stunning early score.
“It was a great start,” Hilling said. “We wanted this title badly. We never won it before. We all wanted to be part of this tournament, and we came out guns blazing.
“We got that quick goal. We kind of got stunned that we scored that quickly. Then we sat back, and we invited pressure.”
Crawford finished with eight saves, preventing any further damage.
“We built our way into the game,” he said. “I’m fortunate for this win. I’m also fortunate that we got to play this kind of game so early in the season.
“We were facing adversity, and I think we responded so well. I am excited, with that mentality, where this team is going to take us throughout the season.”
New Trier coach Matt Ravenscraft was excited at the manner his players dealt with the early deficit and maintained their cool and composure, even against the developing pressure of the Lions’ highly skilled, attacking style.
“Lyons is a great team, very organized and aggressive in the attack,” he said. “They can throw a lot at you. Their midfield is the best I’ve seen in a while.
“The bottom line is you are not going to get through this tournament without being tested. We were fortunate to go up early against Loyola and Libertyville. We were chasing the game, the first experience this season with this group.”
Both programs had standout spring seasons, and each spent time atop the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 rankings. Despite significant graduation losses, Lyons has had a magnificent start.
The Lions shut out previously top-ranked Naperville North.
“The juniors from the spring who are seniors now, they know it’s their turn, and they take a lot of responsibility for the upcoming season,” Labbato said.
“We give a lot of responsibility to those seniors, and this particular group came out and said this is our turn. They have worked very hard, and they have so much determination on the field. It is very difficult to deal with us.”
New Trier has multiple weapons of its own, and one of the developing stories of the tournament was the ascendance of junior midfielder Evan Kanellos.
A Chicagoland Soccer Watch List player last spring, he also had a goal and assist in the 2-1 victory over no. 6 Loyola in pool play.
Kanellos created the equalizer in the 34th minute, working in tandem with forward Will Passia. Working off a cross from Passia, Evan Kanellos brilliantly used a Lyons’ defender as a camouflage to block Stockbridge’s perspective in blasting a shot in from the top of the box.
“We came out really well, and then it flipped,” Labbato said. “Like any good team, New Trier put some pressure on us. They got their goal right before half.
“We needed halftime, but then I felt like the second half, we gave a great effort. We deserved a few goals that didn’t happen.”
Lyons’ forward Finn Mahaney had two dangerous moments in the closing minutes, getting behind the Trevians’ back and playing a ball just wide of the mark in the 78th minute. In the 80th minute, Crawford made a great stop.
Crawford also made an excellent stop of Steck early in the second half.
That is how close the game was.
Both teams proved they belong in the top five in the state. New Trier earned the bragging rights. Lyons achieved something important as well.
“I think this game has proven we can compete with any team,” Stockbridge said. “Even though the loss hurts, it’s going to be hard to ever find a better game.
“Ten penalty shootouts, a really respectful team. It was a lot of class. A great game.”
Starting lineups
Lyons
GK: Luke Stockbridge
D: Ryan Herchenroether
D: Fisher Daniels
D: Dom Panopoulos
D: Jackson Sullivan
MF: Patrick Kracker
MF: Aidan Hilling
MF: Will Swicionis
F: Zach Steck
F: Finn Mahaney
F: Anthony Curran
New Trier
GK: Aidan Crawford
D: Colin Gottshall
D: Ely Wilson
D: James Paden
D: Ronan O’Neill
MF: Eli Drake
MF: Evan Kanellos
MF: Peter Kanellos
F: Karsten Segall
F: Matthew Perchik
F: Aidan Nicholson
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Aidan Crawford, sr., GK, New Trier
Scoring summary
First half
Lyons—Aidan Hilling (Jackson Sullivan), 3rd minute
New Trier—Evan Kanellos (Will Pasia), 34th minute
Second half
No scoring
First overtime
No scoring
Second overtime
No scoring
Shootout
Lyons—Hilling, Mahaney, Daniels, Sullivan, Martinez, Soldat, Kracker. Two blocked, one miss.
New Trier—E. Kanellos, O’Neill, Paden, Pasia, Farina, Zbaraz, Segall, Drake. Two blocked.
from Lyons in shootout instant classic
Blocks 2 penalty shots against Lions 'Northside' championship
By Patrick Z. McGavin
NORTHFIELD — Aidan Crawford is not exactly a shrinking violet.
The two-time all-state keeper loves the built-in pressure of the game’s most visceral confrontation: shooter versus keeper in the penalty kick.
“Shootouts are always about mentality,” he said. “I actually love shootouts. People always ask me whether or not I feel the pressure. As a keeper, you don’t have the pressure on you.
“The shooter is expected to score.”
In a riveting showdown, Crawford recorded two blocks and forced another errant shot as the no. 9 Trevians prevailed in the penalty phase 8-7 in 10 rounds over no. 3 Lyons for the championship of the Northside College Showcase on Saturday.
For his game-winning effort, Crawford earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor.
The game was knotted up 1-1 through regulation play and two overtime periods. Each team scored in the first half.
New Trier (4-0-1) captured the tournament for the first time in its seven-year history. Lyons (4-1-1) was stymied in its bid for its debut program title.
Lyons keeper Luke Stockbridge proved nearly as resilient and extraordinary as Crawford. He also blocked two shots, forcing the game to the 10th round.
Junior midfielder Eli Drake finally closed out the epic shootout by eluding the grasp of Stockbridge into the right corner.
Stockbridge partially deflected the ball, but the torque and force of the ball was sufficient.
“When I went up there, I had nothing more on my mind than scoring. I went up and told myself I’m putting this in the back of the net,” Drake said.
“I usually watch the goalie the whole time, and then I pick a side. I’m watching the keeper and his movements. That’s exactly what I did. Scoring felt great. I didn’t know what to do with myself.”
Stockbridge was just slightly off in his timing.
“I was just leaning right,” he said. “The shot was pretty middle, but it was a little bit to my left, and I was leaning too far right.”
Evan Kanellos, Ronan O’Neill, James Paden, Will Pasia, Kevin Farina, Dylan Zbaraz and Karsten Segall also converted for the Trevians.
Aidan Hilling, Finn Mahaney, Fisher Daniels, Jackson Sullivan, Larry Martinez, Stefan Soldat and Patrick Kracker converted for the Lions.
The shootout was tied at 4-4 after the first five shooters. During the sudden death phase, teams matched each shot with scorching accuracy and mental toughness.
Lyons went first in the order. After Crawford’s block on the fifth shooter appeared to turn the momentum, Stockbridge came right back with his own athletic marvel.
“You feel like the game is on the line, and you have to keep it going,” Stockbridge said. “At the same time, you look at the odds of a penalty shootout, there really isn’t a lot of pressure on the keeper.
“It’s up to you to come up with a big play.”
The shooters definitely got caught up in deep partisan emotions.
“You had fans heckling you, your parents cheering you on, and other parents from the other team saying they hoped you missed,” Hilling said.
“You just have to stay calm. I just wanted the keeper to make a dive, and I just tripped it up the middle.”
In a dizzying and successive line of shooters, the offensive players were up to the challenge.
“Those kickers were one after the other better than the next,” Lyons’ coach Paul Labbato said. “It was hard for the keepers to make saves, even very good keepers.”
Lyons started the game as though jet propelled, playing with a furious momentum and sharpness in its movements. Forward Zach Steck created a free kick in the opening seconds.
Crawford’s high-risk, high-reward playing style produced three shutouts and just one goal through the Trevians’ first four games.
Lyons struck in the third minute. Hilling caught a through ball from Jackson Sullivan deep on the left flank, pulling Crawford off his line and out of position.
Hilling made him pay with a beautiful one-touch for the stunning early score.
“It was a great start,” Hilling said. “We wanted this title badly. We never won it before. We all wanted to be part of this tournament, and we came out guns blazing.
“We got that quick goal. We kind of got stunned that we scored that quickly. Then we sat back, and we invited pressure.”
Crawford finished with eight saves, preventing any further damage.
“We built our way into the game,” he said. “I’m fortunate for this win. I’m also fortunate that we got to play this kind of game so early in the season.
“We were facing adversity, and I think we responded so well. I am excited, with that mentality, where this team is going to take us throughout the season.”
New Trier coach Matt Ravenscraft was excited at the manner his players dealt with the early deficit and maintained their cool and composure, even against the developing pressure of the Lions’ highly skilled, attacking style.
“Lyons is a great team, very organized and aggressive in the attack,” he said. “They can throw a lot at you. Their midfield is the best I’ve seen in a while.
“The bottom line is you are not going to get through this tournament without being tested. We were fortunate to go up early against Loyola and Libertyville. We were chasing the game, the first experience this season with this group.”
Both programs had standout spring seasons, and each spent time atop the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 rankings. Despite significant graduation losses, Lyons has had a magnificent start.
The Lions shut out previously top-ranked Naperville North.
“The juniors from the spring who are seniors now, they know it’s their turn, and they take a lot of responsibility for the upcoming season,” Labbato said.
“We give a lot of responsibility to those seniors, and this particular group came out and said this is our turn. They have worked very hard, and they have so much determination on the field. It is very difficult to deal with us.”
New Trier has multiple weapons of its own, and one of the developing stories of the tournament was the ascendance of junior midfielder Evan Kanellos.
A Chicagoland Soccer Watch List player last spring, he also had a goal and assist in the 2-1 victory over no. 6 Loyola in pool play.
Kanellos created the equalizer in the 34th minute, working in tandem with forward Will Passia. Working off a cross from Passia, Evan Kanellos brilliantly used a Lyons’ defender as a camouflage to block Stockbridge’s perspective in blasting a shot in from the top of the box.
“We came out really well, and then it flipped,” Labbato said. “Like any good team, New Trier put some pressure on us. They got their goal right before half.
“We needed halftime, but then I felt like the second half, we gave a great effort. We deserved a few goals that didn’t happen.”
Lyons’ forward Finn Mahaney had two dangerous moments in the closing minutes, getting behind the Trevians’ back and playing a ball just wide of the mark in the 78th minute. In the 80th minute, Crawford made a great stop.
Crawford also made an excellent stop of Steck early in the second half.
That is how close the game was.
Both teams proved they belong in the top five in the state. New Trier earned the bragging rights. Lyons achieved something important as well.
“I think this game has proven we can compete with any team,” Stockbridge said. “Even though the loss hurts, it’s going to be hard to ever find a better game.
“Ten penalty shootouts, a really respectful team. It was a lot of class. A great game.”
Starting lineups
Lyons
GK: Luke Stockbridge
D: Ryan Herchenroether
D: Fisher Daniels
D: Dom Panopoulos
D: Jackson Sullivan
MF: Patrick Kracker
MF: Aidan Hilling
MF: Will Swicionis
F: Zach Steck
F: Finn Mahaney
F: Anthony Curran
New Trier
GK: Aidan Crawford
D: Colin Gottshall
D: Ely Wilson
D: James Paden
D: Ronan O’Neill
MF: Eli Drake
MF: Evan Kanellos
MF: Peter Kanellos
F: Karsten Segall
F: Matthew Perchik
F: Aidan Nicholson
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Aidan Crawford, sr., GK, New Trier
Scoring summary
First half
Lyons—Aidan Hilling (Jackson Sullivan), 3rd minute
New Trier—Evan Kanellos (Will Pasia), 34th minute
Second half
No scoring
First overtime
No scoring
Second overtime
No scoring
Shootout
Lyons—Hilling, Mahaney, Daniels, Sullivan, Martinez, Soldat, Kracker. Two blocked, one miss.
New Trier—E. Kanellos, O’Neill, Paden, Pasia, Farina, Zbaraz, Segall, Drake. Two blocked.