Early, late offense leads Lyons past Young
Lions star Musgrove scores twice in Lions’ 3-2 opening victory
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO — Starts are crucial, though sometimes arbitrary. Coaches have different philosophies about early season games.
Some coaches prefer to glide into the season and find their way. Others prefer to take a plunge, and make the players adjust on the fly.
Hinsdale Central coach Tony Madonia had a great idea to start the season, a shootout involving two of the best teams from the city with traditional powers Hinsdale Central and Lyons from the West Suburban Conference Silver Division.
The City-Suburbs Connect Invitational lived up to its billing as an exhilarating early season showcase.
Against a magnificent Chicago skyline, Lyons and Young exhibited why each team is bursting with excitement, intensity and heightened expectations.
In a riveting and high-skill game that season-opening placement, Lyons established the early dominance only for the host Dolphins to counter with beautiful set pieces.
After two ties and two lead changes, Lyons prevailed with a beautiful goal by star midfielder Eleanor Musgrove in the 74th minute for the 3-2 victory.
Musgrove scored two goals — one early and one late in the second half — for the Lions (1-0).
“We have a lot of younger players who are super energetic and gung-ho,” Musgrove said.
“The younger players know we have expectations coming into the new season. Already, in practice, we see their attitudes are very positive. Everybody is accepting their roles.”
Lyons is coming off the high of a near-perfect season last year that reached the Class 3A state title game.
Young is also a team poised for greatness. Fourth-year coach Ross LaBauex has a core group of standouts who have been there from the start.
Dolphins’ star forward Ella Koleno started the last time these teams hooked up in a sectional championship in 2019.
That season Lyons pulled out the 2-1 victory en route to a fourth place finish in the state tournament.
Coming into this season the Lions are ranked no. 4 in the Chicagoland Soccer First 50 preseason poll. Young clocked in at no. 23.
“Despite the loss, I think we got off to a great start,” said Koleno. “I’m really confident about this season, and I think this could be our year.
“I think we’re much better off than the start of last year.”
Ella, her twin sister and midfielder Sydney, had another reason to feel exuberant.
Their younger sister, freshman Moira Koleno, made her varsity debut as a starting midfielder.
The younger Koleno flashed the same savvy, composure and on-the-ball skills of her older sisters.
“It’s going to be really special, because we have always wanted to play with three of us on one team,” Sydney Koleno said.
“I think it also helps with our team chemistry. We already have a great team dynamic, but I think this makes us even better, with three sisters on the team.
Two families accounted for almost half of the Dolphins’ starting field players. Sisters Celeste Garton and Chloe Garton started on the backline.
Young had one significant absence -- Chicagoland Soccer all-state midfielder Alexis Sassower, who was unavailable due to illness.
The game marked a beautiful clash of styles. Lyons set pieces and possessive style was set against Young’s athleticism and grace in the form of attacking talents Ella Koleno, forward Maisy Connolly and star newcomer senior midfielder Daphne Murray.
The beautiful part of soccer is that newcomers are always welcome. The unknown juices up the drama.
Lyons forward Caroline Mortonson is certainly never going to forget the first few minutes of her debut high school game.
Following a terrific build-up and assault on the Dolphins’ end, Mortonson smashed home a second ball in the sixth minute for the stunning early Lions’ advantage.
The sequence originated off a corner by junior midfielder Katie O’Malley. Sophomore forward Chandlar Lay was credited with the assist.
What a start by a freshman.
“I was really nervous before the game,” Mortonson said. “Once we started playing, it got better.
“The goal means a lot. Everybody on the team is really nice and really good.”
Part of the intangibles that make great teams is the comfort level and egalitarian sense of togetherness.
The best teams, like Lyons and Young, know how to make each player feel like they’re a part of something.
“We work with each other, and make sure that we hold everybody accountable,” Musgrove said.
“We give it our all.”
The Lions’ two leaders are Musgrove, an Air Force recruit, and star keeper Izzy Lee, who committed to Illinois.
“With the seniors we had last year, we had a great group to follow,” Lee said.
“I think we’re just trying to do the same for the younger people, and echo what we had last year and make it a positive environment.”
Lyons lost the state title game 1-0 against O’Fallon. The Lions hit several posts and were denied a perfect season in the loss.
Lee was spectacular in the game. She is fluid and rangy in goal.
“Our goal is always the state championship,” Lee said. “Ever since that loss last year, that is what we have our sights set on.
“I think, as seniors, we are trying to create an environment where everybody can play their best.”
Lyons dominated possession and bottled up the Young attack. In one extraordinary sequence, the Dolphins underscored just how dangerous they are.
Young’s Murray, a Butler recruit playing her first high school game after playing exclusively with the Oak Brook-based Eclipse club program, showed off her dazzling skills.
In the 35th minute, she beautifully played a free kick from 37 yards that curved beyond the reach of Lions’ first half keeper Brigid Dunne for the equalizer.
“Usually, I serve balls in, and I tend to shoot balls in longer range, or I even overthink that kind of stuff,” Murray said.
“I wear glasses, and I couldn’t really see the ball. I thought it was over the top.”
Moments later, off a counter, Ella Koleno worked the ball down the right edge and served a perfect one-touch ball that midfielder Ella Kadish finished for the 2-1 Young advantage in the 38th minute.
Young (0-1) accomplished in four minutes what no team did in 20 games last year against the Lions: score more than one goal in a game.
“I thought we competed,” LaBauex said. “Part of the game, I thought we were really good.
“I thought we were resilient. We were down 1-0 pretty early, and we came back and got the lead. From there, it was back and forth.”
Musgrove, heady and sharp on the ball, has a great scorer’s instinct.
She was the difference-maker.
Her 41st minute goal off a beautiful cross from Rielly Chesna yielded the final tie of the game.
“We always know how we need to react when we go down,” Musgrove said.
“I just think we have been practicing really well this past week, and we have been working on our defense and our offense.”
O’Malley created repeated scoring threats off her corner kicks. In the 74th minute, she helped sequence the game-winner.
After a deflection, she powered down the left edge and served a ball into that box that Musgrove finished.
Eleanor Musgrove earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor for her superb play.
“It’s great when we score off a corner because it shows what a team effort it is,” she said.
“It comes from the back, and we get it down the side and we have those outside moves that get us down the side.”
Playing the second half, Lee posted four saves.
She stopped a bullet shot by Murray in the 67th minute.
“I played with the twins and Alexis on club, and that definitely helped coming into this,” Murray said.
“All the seniors are friends, and we have great connections. Even though we lost, I’m proud of this game. It’s a great basis moving forward.”
Starting lineups
Lyons
GK: Brigid Dunne
D: Caroline McKenna
D: Kate Fulscher
D: Brennan Israel
D: Izzi Wirtz
MF: Rielly Chesna
MF: Eleanor Musgrove
MF: Bella Schierl
F: Chandlar Lay
F: Katie O’Malley
F: Caroline Mortonson
Young
GK: Zoe Adelstein
D: Celeste Garton
D: Chloe Garton
D: Kate Sweitzer
MF: Ella Kadish
MF: Daphne Murray
MF: Lauren Roche
MF: Sydney Koleno
MF: Moira Koleno
F: Maisy Connolly
F: Ella Koleno
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Eleanor Musgrove, sr., MF, Lyons
Scoring summary
First half
Lyons—Caroline Mortonson (Chandlar Lay), 6th minute
Young—Daphne Murray (free kick), 35th minute
Young—Ella Kadish (Elena Koleno), 38th minute
Second half
Lyons—Eleanor Musgrove (Rielly Chesna), 41st minute
Lyons—Musgrove (Katie O’Malley), 74th minute
Lions star Musgrove scores twice in Lions’ 3-2 opening victory
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO — Starts are crucial, though sometimes arbitrary. Coaches have different philosophies about early season games.
Some coaches prefer to glide into the season and find their way. Others prefer to take a plunge, and make the players adjust on the fly.
Hinsdale Central coach Tony Madonia had a great idea to start the season, a shootout involving two of the best teams from the city with traditional powers Hinsdale Central and Lyons from the West Suburban Conference Silver Division.
The City-Suburbs Connect Invitational lived up to its billing as an exhilarating early season showcase.
Against a magnificent Chicago skyline, Lyons and Young exhibited why each team is bursting with excitement, intensity and heightened expectations.
In a riveting and high-skill game that season-opening placement, Lyons established the early dominance only for the host Dolphins to counter with beautiful set pieces.
After two ties and two lead changes, Lyons prevailed with a beautiful goal by star midfielder Eleanor Musgrove in the 74th minute for the 3-2 victory.
Musgrove scored two goals — one early and one late in the second half — for the Lions (1-0).
“We have a lot of younger players who are super energetic and gung-ho,” Musgrove said.
“The younger players know we have expectations coming into the new season. Already, in practice, we see their attitudes are very positive. Everybody is accepting their roles.”
Lyons is coming off the high of a near-perfect season last year that reached the Class 3A state title game.
Young is also a team poised for greatness. Fourth-year coach Ross LaBauex has a core group of standouts who have been there from the start.
Dolphins’ star forward Ella Koleno started the last time these teams hooked up in a sectional championship in 2019.
That season Lyons pulled out the 2-1 victory en route to a fourth place finish in the state tournament.
Coming into this season the Lions are ranked no. 4 in the Chicagoland Soccer First 50 preseason poll. Young clocked in at no. 23.
“Despite the loss, I think we got off to a great start,” said Koleno. “I’m really confident about this season, and I think this could be our year.
“I think we’re much better off than the start of last year.”
Ella, her twin sister and midfielder Sydney, had another reason to feel exuberant.
Their younger sister, freshman Moira Koleno, made her varsity debut as a starting midfielder.
The younger Koleno flashed the same savvy, composure and on-the-ball skills of her older sisters.
“It’s going to be really special, because we have always wanted to play with three of us on one team,” Sydney Koleno said.
“I think it also helps with our team chemistry. We already have a great team dynamic, but I think this makes us even better, with three sisters on the team.
Two families accounted for almost half of the Dolphins’ starting field players. Sisters Celeste Garton and Chloe Garton started on the backline.
Young had one significant absence -- Chicagoland Soccer all-state midfielder Alexis Sassower, who was unavailable due to illness.
The game marked a beautiful clash of styles. Lyons set pieces and possessive style was set against Young’s athleticism and grace in the form of attacking talents Ella Koleno, forward Maisy Connolly and star newcomer senior midfielder Daphne Murray.
The beautiful part of soccer is that newcomers are always welcome. The unknown juices up the drama.
Lyons forward Caroline Mortonson is certainly never going to forget the first few minutes of her debut high school game.
Following a terrific build-up and assault on the Dolphins’ end, Mortonson smashed home a second ball in the sixth minute for the stunning early Lions’ advantage.
The sequence originated off a corner by junior midfielder Katie O’Malley. Sophomore forward Chandlar Lay was credited with the assist.
What a start by a freshman.
“I was really nervous before the game,” Mortonson said. “Once we started playing, it got better.
“The goal means a lot. Everybody on the team is really nice and really good.”
Part of the intangibles that make great teams is the comfort level and egalitarian sense of togetherness.
The best teams, like Lyons and Young, know how to make each player feel like they’re a part of something.
“We work with each other, and make sure that we hold everybody accountable,” Musgrove said.
“We give it our all.”
The Lions’ two leaders are Musgrove, an Air Force recruit, and star keeper Izzy Lee, who committed to Illinois.
“With the seniors we had last year, we had a great group to follow,” Lee said.
“I think we’re just trying to do the same for the younger people, and echo what we had last year and make it a positive environment.”
Lyons lost the state title game 1-0 against O’Fallon. The Lions hit several posts and were denied a perfect season in the loss.
Lee was spectacular in the game. She is fluid and rangy in goal.
“Our goal is always the state championship,” Lee said. “Ever since that loss last year, that is what we have our sights set on.
“I think, as seniors, we are trying to create an environment where everybody can play their best.”
Lyons dominated possession and bottled up the Young attack. In one extraordinary sequence, the Dolphins underscored just how dangerous they are.
Young’s Murray, a Butler recruit playing her first high school game after playing exclusively with the Oak Brook-based Eclipse club program, showed off her dazzling skills.
In the 35th minute, she beautifully played a free kick from 37 yards that curved beyond the reach of Lions’ first half keeper Brigid Dunne for the equalizer.
“Usually, I serve balls in, and I tend to shoot balls in longer range, or I even overthink that kind of stuff,” Murray said.
“I wear glasses, and I couldn’t really see the ball. I thought it was over the top.”
Moments later, off a counter, Ella Koleno worked the ball down the right edge and served a perfect one-touch ball that midfielder Ella Kadish finished for the 2-1 Young advantage in the 38th minute.
Young (0-1) accomplished in four minutes what no team did in 20 games last year against the Lions: score more than one goal in a game.
“I thought we competed,” LaBauex said. “Part of the game, I thought we were really good.
“I thought we were resilient. We were down 1-0 pretty early, and we came back and got the lead. From there, it was back and forth.”
Musgrove, heady and sharp on the ball, has a great scorer’s instinct.
She was the difference-maker.
Her 41st minute goal off a beautiful cross from Rielly Chesna yielded the final tie of the game.
“We always know how we need to react when we go down,” Musgrove said.
“I just think we have been practicing really well this past week, and we have been working on our defense and our offense.”
O’Malley created repeated scoring threats off her corner kicks. In the 74th minute, she helped sequence the game-winner.
After a deflection, she powered down the left edge and served a ball into that box that Musgrove finished.
Eleanor Musgrove earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor for her superb play.
“It’s great when we score off a corner because it shows what a team effort it is,” she said.
“It comes from the back, and we get it down the side and we have those outside moves that get us down the side.”
Playing the second half, Lee posted four saves.
She stopped a bullet shot by Murray in the 67th minute.
“I played with the twins and Alexis on club, and that definitely helped coming into this,” Murray said.
“All the seniors are friends, and we have great connections. Even though we lost, I’m proud of this game. It’s a great basis moving forward.”
Starting lineups
Lyons
GK: Brigid Dunne
D: Caroline McKenna
D: Kate Fulscher
D: Brennan Israel
D: Izzi Wirtz
MF: Rielly Chesna
MF: Eleanor Musgrove
MF: Bella Schierl
F: Chandlar Lay
F: Katie O’Malley
F: Caroline Mortonson
Young
GK: Zoe Adelstein
D: Celeste Garton
D: Chloe Garton
D: Kate Sweitzer
MF: Ella Kadish
MF: Daphne Murray
MF: Lauren Roche
MF: Sydney Koleno
MF: Moira Koleno
F: Maisy Connolly
F: Ella Koleno
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Eleanor Musgrove, sr., MF, Lyons
Scoring summary
First half
Lyons—Caroline Mortonson (Chandlar Lay), 6th minute
Young—Daphne Murray (free kick), 35th minute
Young—Ella Kadish (Elena Koleno), 38th minute
Second half
Lyons—Eleanor Musgrove (Rielly Chesna), 41st minute
Lyons—Musgrove (Katie O’Malley), 74th minute