Young Lyons shows mettle vs. Libertyville
Lions fall 4-1 to 2017 state-runnerup in Northside opener
By Mike Garofola
NORTHFIELD -- Lyons does not shy away from any opponent. Its yearly fixtures show that when the season comes to a close, the Lions strength of schedule typically is one of the toughest in the state.
The schedule at the start of the 2018 campaign validates just that for coach Paul Labbato's lads, who have now played the 2017 state finalists, Naperville North, ranked no. 1 in the Chicagoland Soccer Preseason Top 26, and second-ranked Libertyville in back-to-back contests.
Saturday afternoon the Lions opened pool play at the high profile Northside College Showcase at host New Trier with a 4-1 loss to 2017 3A state runner-up Libertyville. The Wildcats showed showed speed, power, scoring threats and the type of depth that could allow them to find a way back to the final for a third time in four years.
"Libertyville looks pretty good to me, but then so did Naperville North on Thursday," said Labbato before escaping the heat and humidity in Northfield to head back to western suburban LaGrange. "Now we've likely played the best two teams, and despite losing both, we've seen a quantum leap forward since our opening day victory over Sandburg.
"(Libertyville) is big, strong and experienced, something we're not this year. But we've had two years of high graduation losses, so there's a lot of new players we're breaking in.
"We lost (14) seniors from last year, 11 who would start at some point in the season, but as I said, there's been progress each time out, and that's something to feel very good about."
"I agree," echoed Lions co-captain, Mark Jareczek, who was strong between the sticks for his club and saved a couple of sure strikes against the Wildcats. He commanded his box well against the likes of all-state star and Michigan-bound Evan Rasmussen, who already looks the part of collegiate player.
"It's going to take a little time for us, (we) all know that. But I really feel if we work hard and continue to improve each time out, this Lyons team is going to be one to watch in the second half of the season," continued an upbeat Jareczek.
Labbato, and Jareczek and his teammates will all agree the secret to 80-minute success is to keep set piece and dead ball opportunities to a minimum, regardless of the opponent but especially to one that has a Land of the Giants-sized roster.
The Lions (1-2-0) conceded three of the Wildcats four goals from just such chances, the first coming when the quarter hour struck.
"It's something that we like to create and then take advantage of. (It) is a real nice strength for this team, but we also have to finish on more of those chances when they come," said Libertyville manager Kevin Thunholm, who in his first year in charge led the 'Cats to a 20-1-2 season after taking over for Hall-of-Famer Andy Bitta.
Libertyville (1-0-0) might have been a little out of step in this their first match of the season, but the Wildcats were still dangerous as they worked off the rust of its arsenal of weapons.
With Mickey Reilly, Jack VanDixhorn, Tanner Kelly, Rasmussen and others on their front foot prior to the opener, there was plenty of one-way traffic headed in the direction of Jareczek and his new backline mates, who did their best to absorb the early pressure.
"We're untested in the back, but guys like center-back Jason (Lichtenauer) did really well, and got stronger as the game went on despite everything they threw at us," said Jareczek.
Libertyville, which is highly capable of building an attack through the run of play, instead looked to counter during the early exchanges. It was one such foray forward which led to a corner, in which a sharp and accurate flick from Patrick Graham set up the aforementioned Reilly.
Kelly showed nice composure in the box before hitting a sweet, but deadly side volley at the near post from eight yards to give the Wildcats the scoreline advantage.
Just afterwards, Ty Williams and Jony Gray created a chance for Nolan O'Malley, but the senior sent his attempt over the bar - as did Williams' 30-yard freekick two minutes later.
Lyons was forced to stay in its own end for the next 20-plus minutes, thanks to the crafty and creative Reilly, who ran the Libertyville attack with pace and precision, and Rasmussen, who did his best to punish the Lions backline with his bruising diagonal runs.
"We did a lot of things well in that first period, but we were a little too frantic and fractured at times, (some) of which I can attribute to (this) being our first game, and others to us playing on a smaller field than usual," suggested Thunholm.
Lyons' Jareczek stamped out any thoughts of glory by DePaul-bound Grant Herbek when he punched his 12-yarder out of the area, then held his breathe after a long throw from Mason Williams ended up as a sitter for Brandon Murphy in front of the Lions net.
Murphy drove his close-range blast over the bar to send this contest into the intermission at just 1-0 after O'Malley did his best to turn the corner following an enterprising run up the right side into the Libertyville box.
"I would have liked us to calm down and play with a little more composure, on and off the ball in that first half. (We) did better with that after the break, so I know that will come as we get more games and time together," Thunholm said.
Reilly followed the lead of his manager when, with ice-water in his veins, he was given enough time to tee-up his short range shot that doubled the Wildcats' advantage three minutes after the intermission.
The Reilly strike came after another corner, this one sent in by VanDixhorn and kept alive beautifully from Murphy, who saw his attempt on frame parried away with a strong effort by Jareczek.
With their confidence growing, the Wildcats were on their front feet following the second strike, and if not for perhaps what might have Jareczek's best work of this match, the Lions might have been chasing another two or three goals.
After a Lichtenauer corner found Williams for a 20-yard blast over the bar, Libertyville went in search of adding another to its scoreline.
A lovely build-up inspired by Kelly and Rasmussen put VanDixhorn in position to have two goes at Jareczek, who saved the first in routine fashion but needed to come up with his best stop on the return attempt.
Lyons could do nothing on a Wildcats 56th minute corner whipped in by Kelly. Patrick Graham kept it in the mix for Rasmussen who thumped in his first of the season from just inside the six-yard box.
Gabriel Kosciuch added another at 61 minutes to make it 4-0.
"Despite their four-goal advantage, I felt very good about our effort, and with the way we played, especially during those final 15-20 minutes when it would have been easy just to fold up for the day," said Labbato.
Cases in point were quality work from Julio Torres, Jackson Turner, Tim Slusarczyk, Jake Fraser and Skip Locke in that final quarter hour of regulation.
A well-executed counter by Torres and Turner sent Slusarczyk into the Libertyville box, where he was promptly hauled down.
The sophomore collected himself, and then proceded to convert his spot-kick to end the Wildcats clean sheet hopes.
Locke forced Libertyville keeper Hunter Lynch into action three minutes later, as did Graham Bearman, whose long range free kick from just inside the midline was on target and headed for the back of the net if not for a late leap to turn the attempt up and over the bar.
"Skip has been my best friend, and to see him out here leading the way, helping to keep use organized in our own end is a great feeling," said Jareczek.
"It's what being a part of LT soccer is all about," continued the junior keeper.
"We have great tradition, and a fantastic coaching staff led by Labbato and Kelly Neidig, whose leadership wants you to be playing soccer here at LT."
Added Labbato: "We have terrific leaders and young men on this team. It's just going to take some time to sort things out with all of the new guys we have.
"This next game in group play with Buffalo Grove (Tuesday) is a big one for us."
"We've got to earn some points, but they will be a tough opponent."
Buffalo Grove, which beat 2017 MSL East champion Wheeling, 4-3 in its league opener last Friday evening, grabbed three points after defeating Grayslake Central, 2-0.
Next up for Libertyville is Lake County rival Grayslake Central, also on Tuesday.
"Lyons gave us a different look today and really played hard for the entire 80 minutes," said Thunholm.
"Your always a little nervous playing that first game of the year, and especially against a quality program, so I'm glad we got through this one. Now we can move on."
Starting lineups
Lyons (4-4-2)
GK: Mark Jareczek
D- Kyle Reblin
D- Jason Lichtenauer
D- Rory McLean
D- Tommy Abbs
M- Mike Niedermeyer
M- Skip Locke
M- Zack Kristy
M- Max Finder
F- Nolan O'Malley
F- Jonny Gray
Libertyville (4-5-1)
GK- Hunter Lynch
D- Jacob Damocles
D- Grant Herbek
D- Mason Williams
D- Nick Guarino
M- Ryan Klainos
M- Brandon Murphy
M- Jack VanDixhorn
M- Mickey Reilly
M- Luke Underwood
F- Tanner Kelly
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Mickey Reilly, jr., M, Libertyville
Referee: Mario Castillo
Scoring summary
First half
Libertyville: Kelly (Graham), 15'
Second half
Libertyville: Reilly (Murphy, VanDixhorn) 43'
Libertyville: Rasmussen (Graham) 56'
Libertyville: Kosciuch (U/A) 61'
Lyons: Slusarczyk (PK) 73'
Lions fall 4-1 to 2017 state-runnerup in Northside opener
By Mike Garofola
NORTHFIELD -- Lyons does not shy away from any opponent. Its yearly fixtures show that when the season comes to a close, the Lions strength of schedule typically is one of the toughest in the state.
The schedule at the start of the 2018 campaign validates just that for coach Paul Labbato's lads, who have now played the 2017 state finalists, Naperville North, ranked no. 1 in the Chicagoland Soccer Preseason Top 26, and second-ranked Libertyville in back-to-back contests.
Saturday afternoon the Lions opened pool play at the high profile Northside College Showcase at host New Trier with a 4-1 loss to 2017 3A state runner-up Libertyville. The Wildcats showed showed speed, power, scoring threats and the type of depth that could allow them to find a way back to the final for a third time in four years.
"Libertyville looks pretty good to me, but then so did Naperville North on Thursday," said Labbato before escaping the heat and humidity in Northfield to head back to western suburban LaGrange. "Now we've likely played the best two teams, and despite losing both, we've seen a quantum leap forward since our opening day victory over Sandburg.
"(Libertyville) is big, strong and experienced, something we're not this year. But we've had two years of high graduation losses, so there's a lot of new players we're breaking in.
"We lost (14) seniors from last year, 11 who would start at some point in the season, but as I said, there's been progress each time out, and that's something to feel very good about."
"I agree," echoed Lions co-captain, Mark Jareczek, who was strong between the sticks for his club and saved a couple of sure strikes against the Wildcats. He commanded his box well against the likes of all-state star and Michigan-bound Evan Rasmussen, who already looks the part of collegiate player.
"It's going to take a little time for us, (we) all know that. But I really feel if we work hard and continue to improve each time out, this Lyons team is going to be one to watch in the second half of the season," continued an upbeat Jareczek.
Labbato, and Jareczek and his teammates will all agree the secret to 80-minute success is to keep set piece and dead ball opportunities to a minimum, regardless of the opponent but especially to one that has a Land of the Giants-sized roster.
The Lions (1-2-0) conceded three of the Wildcats four goals from just such chances, the first coming when the quarter hour struck.
"It's something that we like to create and then take advantage of. (It) is a real nice strength for this team, but we also have to finish on more of those chances when they come," said Libertyville manager Kevin Thunholm, who in his first year in charge led the 'Cats to a 20-1-2 season after taking over for Hall-of-Famer Andy Bitta.
Libertyville (1-0-0) might have been a little out of step in this their first match of the season, but the Wildcats were still dangerous as they worked off the rust of its arsenal of weapons.
With Mickey Reilly, Jack VanDixhorn, Tanner Kelly, Rasmussen and others on their front foot prior to the opener, there was plenty of one-way traffic headed in the direction of Jareczek and his new backline mates, who did their best to absorb the early pressure.
"We're untested in the back, but guys like center-back Jason (Lichtenauer) did really well, and got stronger as the game went on despite everything they threw at us," said Jareczek.
Libertyville, which is highly capable of building an attack through the run of play, instead looked to counter during the early exchanges. It was one such foray forward which led to a corner, in which a sharp and accurate flick from Patrick Graham set up the aforementioned Reilly.
Kelly showed nice composure in the box before hitting a sweet, but deadly side volley at the near post from eight yards to give the Wildcats the scoreline advantage.
Just afterwards, Ty Williams and Jony Gray created a chance for Nolan O'Malley, but the senior sent his attempt over the bar - as did Williams' 30-yard freekick two minutes later.
Lyons was forced to stay in its own end for the next 20-plus minutes, thanks to the crafty and creative Reilly, who ran the Libertyville attack with pace and precision, and Rasmussen, who did his best to punish the Lions backline with his bruising diagonal runs.
"We did a lot of things well in that first period, but we were a little too frantic and fractured at times, (some) of which I can attribute to (this) being our first game, and others to us playing on a smaller field than usual," suggested Thunholm.
Lyons' Jareczek stamped out any thoughts of glory by DePaul-bound Grant Herbek when he punched his 12-yarder out of the area, then held his breathe after a long throw from Mason Williams ended up as a sitter for Brandon Murphy in front of the Lions net.
Murphy drove his close-range blast over the bar to send this contest into the intermission at just 1-0 after O'Malley did his best to turn the corner following an enterprising run up the right side into the Libertyville box.
"I would have liked us to calm down and play with a little more composure, on and off the ball in that first half. (We) did better with that after the break, so I know that will come as we get more games and time together," Thunholm said.
Reilly followed the lead of his manager when, with ice-water in his veins, he was given enough time to tee-up his short range shot that doubled the Wildcats' advantage three minutes after the intermission.
The Reilly strike came after another corner, this one sent in by VanDixhorn and kept alive beautifully from Murphy, who saw his attempt on frame parried away with a strong effort by Jareczek.
With their confidence growing, the Wildcats were on their front feet following the second strike, and if not for perhaps what might have Jareczek's best work of this match, the Lions might have been chasing another two or three goals.
After a Lichtenauer corner found Williams for a 20-yard blast over the bar, Libertyville went in search of adding another to its scoreline.
A lovely build-up inspired by Kelly and Rasmussen put VanDixhorn in position to have two goes at Jareczek, who saved the first in routine fashion but needed to come up with his best stop on the return attempt.
Lyons could do nothing on a Wildcats 56th minute corner whipped in by Kelly. Patrick Graham kept it in the mix for Rasmussen who thumped in his first of the season from just inside the six-yard box.
Gabriel Kosciuch added another at 61 minutes to make it 4-0.
"Despite their four-goal advantage, I felt very good about our effort, and with the way we played, especially during those final 15-20 minutes when it would have been easy just to fold up for the day," said Labbato.
Cases in point were quality work from Julio Torres, Jackson Turner, Tim Slusarczyk, Jake Fraser and Skip Locke in that final quarter hour of regulation.
A well-executed counter by Torres and Turner sent Slusarczyk into the Libertyville box, where he was promptly hauled down.
The sophomore collected himself, and then proceded to convert his spot-kick to end the Wildcats clean sheet hopes.
Locke forced Libertyville keeper Hunter Lynch into action three minutes later, as did Graham Bearman, whose long range free kick from just inside the midline was on target and headed for the back of the net if not for a late leap to turn the attempt up and over the bar.
"Skip has been my best friend, and to see him out here leading the way, helping to keep use organized in our own end is a great feeling," said Jareczek.
"It's what being a part of LT soccer is all about," continued the junior keeper.
"We have great tradition, and a fantastic coaching staff led by Labbato and Kelly Neidig, whose leadership wants you to be playing soccer here at LT."
Added Labbato: "We have terrific leaders and young men on this team. It's just going to take some time to sort things out with all of the new guys we have.
"This next game in group play with Buffalo Grove (Tuesday) is a big one for us."
"We've got to earn some points, but they will be a tough opponent."
Buffalo Grove, which beat 2017 MSL East champion Wheeling, 4-3 in its league opener last Friday evening, grabbed three points after defeating Grayslake Central, 2-0.
Next up for Libertyville is Lake County rival Grayslake Central, also on Tuesday.
"Lyons gave us a different look today and really played hard for the entire 80 minutes," said Thunholm.
"Your always a little nervous playing that first game of the year, and especially against a quality program, so I'm glad we got through this one. Now we can move on."
Starting lineups
Lyons (4-4-2)
GK: Mark Jareczek
D- Kyle Reblin
D- Jason Lichtenauer
D- Rory McLean
D- Tommy Abbs
M- Mike Niedermeyer
M- Skip Locke
M- Zack Kristy
M- Max Finder
F- Nolan O'Malley
F- Jonny Gray
Libertyville (4-5-1)
GK- Hunter Lynch
D- Jacob Damocles
D- Grant Herbek
D- Mason Williams
D- Nick Guarino
M- Ryan Klainos
M- Brandon Murphy
M- Jack VanDixhorn
M- Mickey Reilly
M- Luke Underwood
F- Tanner Kelly
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Mickey Reilly, jr., M, Libertyville
Referee: Mario Castillo
Scoring summary
First half
Libertyville: Kelly (Graham), 15'
Second half
Libertyville: Reilly (Murphy, VanDixhorn) 43'
Libertyville: Rasmussen (Graham) 56'
Libertyville: Kosciuch (U/A) 61'
Lyons: Slusarczyk (PK) 73'