McMinn's touch takes O'Fallon past Lyons
Perfectly executed free kick delivers 1-0 title victory
By Patrick Z. McGavin
HOFFMAN ESTATES — In nearly 1,700 minutes of playing time, only three times had a player struck gold against Lyons.
Behind the rangy and dominant backline spearheaded by Maddie McPartlin and an athletic keeper in Izzy Lee, the Lions were almost flawless.
Kiley McMinn found the vulnerability.
“The side netting was wide open, and I just relaxed and just hit right off,” the sophomore midfielder said.
That was enough to carry O’Fallon.
McMinn’s 25-yard goal off a free kick in the 55th minute completed the Panthers’ extraordinary rise with the 1-0 victory in the Class 3A state championship over previously unbeaten Lyons on Saturday evening.
O’Fallon (20-2-0) completed the three-class sweep for Metro East teams during a deeply memorable and historic championship day.
For the first time since the advent of the three-class system, all three state titles were staged on the same field on the same day.
The Panthers ran their winning streak to nine -- their last loss coming against Class AA state champion Triad on May 21.
Althoff defeated Timothy 7-0 to capture the Class A state championship. Triad beat Joliet Catholic 1-0 for the Class AA state title.
“We’re all family, and we are all supportive of everyone from Southern Illinois,” McMinn said.
She earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor for her overall play and game-winning shot.
McMinn also had the game-winning assist to star forward Aubrey Mister in the Panthers’ comeback victory over Libertyville in the semifinal Friday.
Off the restart following a foul by the Lions, she delivered the perfect touch by expertly placing the ball in the far right corner.
“She hit a great shot,” Lyons coach Bill Lanspeary said.
Mister said that coach Justin Judiscak allows for multiple variations and different actions off of set pieces to create scoring opportunities.
“He gives us free range, and we have a lot of options,” Mister said. “At that time, Kiley had an open net. I know she can shoot the ball super well, and she was going to put it on frame.
“She was the best option on that one.”
Lyons quest for a perfect season and the first state championship in program history fell agonizingly short.
The closeness manifested itself in multiple ways.
The most dramatic was a ball off the dribble that star forward Ava Dallavo smashed in the 36th minute that dipped but not enough before ricocheting off the crossbar.
“If I hit that a little bit less, it would have gone in,” Dallavo said. “It’s that once shot, it’s the one goal, it's the one save that wins the state championship.
“One penalty kick or foul changes the game.”
Lyons’ forward Jordan Lee-Caracci nearly worked her magic for the fourth-consecutive game.
The Lions’ leading scorer with 14 goals, she entered the state championship game having scored the game-winner in each of the Lions’ three previous games.
Several times she got free on the left wing or worked some excellent give-and-go scenarios with Dallavo that created heightened pressure.
Like any high-level and closely contested game, the state title match featured compelling and contrasting runs by each side.
The Panthers had the early advantage with the forward burst by Mister and junior forward Avery Christopher, the second-leading scorer.
Lyons (20-1-0) found life throughout parts of the second half. Dallavo also got free on the right wing in the ninth minute and smashed a ball on the run that was just wide off the frame.
Senior midfielder Avery Livingston is the Lions’ spark plug. She plays with guile and savvy, and has a great feel for involving her teammates.
“I enjoyed the game,” Livingston said. “I definitely went in with strong nerves, but I was thinking if I could outwork the person I’m on, and outwork the rest of the midfield, I’m doing my job.
“It’s what I have been doing my whole life.”
At the highest levels, soccer is a game of scarcity. The McGinn goal was just enough.
“In a game like that, one goal is really all you need,” said Mister, the clear MVP of the Class 3A state finals.
The Memphis recruit scored both goals in the Panthers’ 2-1 victory over defending state champion Naperville North on Tuesday. She also scored twice against Libertyville.
She finished the season with 27 goals.
In her freshman year, the first season under coach Justin Judiscak, the Panthers went just 2-15-2.
“We created a winning culture,” Mister said. “We created a legacy that is going to last beyond us.
“It comes down to our character. We’re all a bunch of fighters, and we work so hard. We motivate each other to do our best. The younger girls saw how hard the seniors worked to get this far.”
Her presence also opened up outlets for the other players to run off.
For the first time in a game, Lyons was forced to react rather than dictate the shape and pace of the game.
“I think, in the second half, we started off a little slower and with all that adrenaline we had from the first half, I think we just expected the ball to be in their half more of the time,” Dallavo said.
Lyons created moments and opportunities like a corner in the first half. They tended to be fractured and fragmented.
O’Fallon countered with a blitzing and aggressive defensive back that also proved exceptionally difficult to get behind or combine in the final third.
Junior Lyons’ forward Rielly Chesna broke free a couple of times on the right edge. During another moment, Chesna and forward Keira Sullivan nearly got loose inside the box.
Every time a scoring threat materialized, the Panthers generated a disruptive response, in the form of strong and fundamentally sharp tackles and closeouts.
Another free kick by Lyons’ midfielder Elli Kosanovich deflected off the back of a defender on the Panthers’ wall. The ball played back out to Kosanovich, and her second touch was wide of the mark.
O’Fallon senior keeper Grace Vincent had three saves. The most important came in the final minute on a toe-poke from Lee-Caracci in the box.
After finishing fourth two years ago, the Lions earned back-to-back state hardware. That created a heightened level of ambition and drive.
“Two years ago, we got to state and our mentality was just to get back there,” Dallavo said. “I think with our coaches and our team, we have a young team, some freshmen and sophomores, I think Lyons will be back here for many years to come.”
The Lions, which was the only no. 2 seed in the Class 3A finals, played in just the second state title game in program history.
Amid the exhaustion, tears and smiles, several of the seniors dove on the field, performing almost snow angels to create their own revelry.
Dallavo said many of the seniors have played together since they were in U-8.
“We started soccer, and we ended soccer,” she said.
Lee-Caracci is set to attend Butler University and has reached out to the coaching staff about walking on there.
The memories already burn bright.
“I can’t get over it,” she said. “I’m being emotional. I already lost one contact today, and I still can’t find it. This team has been amazing.
“I couldn’t ask for another one.”
Lanspeary’s third to the state finals with Lyons was the most memorable of his personal and professional journey.
“These kids loved each other, and they loved playing with each other,” he said. “From day one, they loved coming out to practices and games.
“Having last season taken away from us, we really cherished every moment we had together. We had a heck of a run. They’re an awesome group.”
Starting lineups
Lyons
GK: Izzy Lee
D: Maddie McPartlin
D: Ava Pike
D: Kate Fulscher
D: Elli Kosanovich
MF: Avery Livingston
MF: Eleanor Musgrove
MF: Lily Mattern
F: Jordan Lee-Caracci
F: Ava Dallavo
F: Reese Komsthoeft
O’Fallon
GK: Grace Vincent
D: Katelyn Knaust
D: Regan Schrenkenberg
D: Mackenzie James
D: Rebecca Koenig
MF: Ella Peterson
MF: Olivia Ori
MF: Kiley McMinn
MF: Josie Nieroda
F: Avery Christopher
F: Aubrey Mister
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Kiley McMinn, so., MF, O’Fallon
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
O’Fallon—Kiley McMinn (free kick), 55th minute
Perfectly executed free kick delivers 1-0 title victory
By Patrick Z. McGavin
HOFFMAN ESTATES — In nearly 1,700 minutes of playing time, only three times had a player struck gold against Lyons.
Behind the rangy and dominant backline spearheaded by Maddie McPartlin and an athletic keeper in Izzy Lee, the Lions were almost flawless.
Kiley McMinn found the vulnerability.
“The side netting was wide open, and I just relaxed and just hit right off,” the sophomore midfielder said.
That was enough to carry O’Fallon.
McMinn’s 25-yard goal off a free kick in the 55th minute completed the Panthers’ extraordinary rise with the 1-0 victory in the Class 3A state championship over previously unbeaten Lyons on Saturday evening.
O’Fallon (20-2-0) completed the three-class sweep for Metro East teams during a deeply memorable and historic championship day.
For the first time since the advent of the three-class system, all three state titles were staged on the same field on the same day.
The Panthers ran their winning streak to nine -- their last loss coming against Class AA state champion Triad on May 21.
Althoff defeated Timothy 7-0 to capture the Class A state championship. Triad beat Joliet Catholic 1-0 for the Class AA state title.
“We’re all family, and we are all supportive of everyone from Southern Illinois,” McMinn said.
She earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor for her overall play and game-winning shot.
McMinn also had the game-winning assist to star forward Aubrey Mister in the Panthers’ comeback victory over Libertyville in the semifinal Friday.
Off the restart following a foul by the Lions, she delivered the perfect touch by expertly placing the ball in the far right corner.
“She hit a great shot,” Lyons coach Bill Lanspeary said.
Mister said that coach Justin Judiscak allows for multiple variations and different actions off of set pieces to create scoring opportunities.
“He gives us free range, and we have a lot of options,” Mister said. “At that time, Kiley had an open net. I know she can shoot the ball super well, and she was going to put it on frame.
“She was the best option on that one.”
Lyons quest for a perfect season and the first state championship in program history fell agonizingly short.
The closeness manifested itself in multiple ways.
The most dramatic was a ball off the dribble that star forward Ava Dallavo smashed in the 36th minute that dipped but not enough before ricocheting off the crossbar.
“If I hit that a little bit less, it would have gone in,” Dallavo said. “It’s that once shot, it’s the one goal, it's the one save that wins the state championship.
“One penalty kick or foul changes the game.”
Lyons’ forward Jordan Lee-Caracci nearly worked her magic for the fourth-consecutive game.
The Lions’ leading scorer with 14 goals, she entered the state championship game having scored the game-winner in each of the Lions’ three previous games.
Several times she got free on the left wing or worked some excellent give-and-go scenarios with Dallavo that created heightened pressure.
Like any high-level and closely contested game, the state title match featured compelling and contrasting runs by each side.
The Panthers had the early advantage with the forward burst by Mister and junior forward Avery Christopher, the second-leading scorer.
Lyons (20-1-0) found life throughout parts of the second half. Dallavo also got free on the right wing in the ninth minute and smashed a ball on the run that was just wide off the frame.
Senior midfielder Avery Livingston is the Lions’ spark plug. She plays with guile and savvy, and has a great feel for involving her teammates.
“I enjoyed the game,” Livingston said. “I definitely went in with strong nerves, but I was thinking if I could outwork the person I’m on, and outwork the rest of the midfield, I’m doing my job.
“It’s what I have been doing my whole life.”
At the highest levels, soccer is a game of scarcity. The McGinn goal was just enough.
“In a game like that, one goal is really all you need,” said Mister, the clear MVP of the Class 3A state finals.
The Memphis recruit scored both goals in the Panthers’ 2-1 victory over defending state champion Naperville North on Tuesday. She also scored twice against Libertyville.
She finished the season with 27 goals.
In her freshman year, the first season under coach Justin Judiscak, the Panthers went just 2-15-2.
“We created a winning culture,” Mister said. “We created a legacy that is going to last beyond us.
“It comes down to our character. We’re all a bunch of fighters, and we work so hard. We motivate each other to do our best. The younger girls saw how hard the seniors worked to get this far.”
Her presence also opened up outlets for the other players to run off.
For the first time in a game, Lyons was forced to react rather than dictate the shape and pace of the game.
“I think, in the second half, we started off a little slower and with all that adrenaline we had from the first half, I think we just expected the ball to be in their half more of the time,” Dallavo said.
Lyons created moments and opportunities like a corner in the first half. They tended to be fractured and fragmented.
O’Fallon countered with a blitzing and aggressive defensive back that also proved exceptionally difficult to get behind or combine in the final third.
Junior Lyons’ forward Rielly Chesna broke free a couple of times on the right edge. During another moment, Chesna and forward Keira Sullivan nearly got loose inside the box.
Every time a scoring threat materialized, the Panthers generated a disruptive response, in the form of strong and fundamentally sharp tackles and closeouts.
Another free kick by Lyons’ midfielder Elli Kosanovich deflected off the back of a defender on the Panthers’ wall. The ball played back out to Kosanovich, and her second touch was wide of the mark.
O’Fallon senior keeper Grace Vincent had three saves. The most important came in the final minute on a toe-poke from Lee-Caracci in the box.
After finishing fourth two years ago, the Lions earned back-to-back state hardware. That created a heightened level of ambition and drive.
“Two years ago, we got to state and our mentality was just to get back there,” Dallavo said. “I think with our coaches and our team, we have a young team, some freshmen and sophomores, I think Lyons will be back here for many years to come.”
The Lions, which was the only no. 2 seed in the Class 3A finals, played in just the second state title game in program history.
Amid the exhaustion, tears and smiles, several of the seniors dove on the field, performing almost snow angels to create their own revelry.
Dallavo said many of the seniors have played together since they were in U-8.
“We started soccer, and we ended soccer,” she said.
Lee-Caracci is set to attend Butler University and has reached out to the coaching staff about walking on there.
The memories already burn bright.
“I can’t get over it,” she said. “I’m being emotional. I already lost one contact today, and I still can’t find it. This team has been amazing.
“I couldn’t ask for another one.”
Lanspeary’s third to the state finals with Lyons was the most memorable of his personal and professional journey.
“These kids loved each other, and they loved playing with each other,” he said. “From day one, they loved coming out to practices and games.
“Having last season taken away from us, we really cherished every moment we had together. We had a heck of a run. They’re an awesome group.”
Starting lineups
Lyons
GK: Izzy Lee
D: Maddie McPartlin
D: Ava Pike
D: Kate Fulscher
D: Elli Kosanovich
MF: Avery Livingston
MF: Eleanor Musgrove
MF: Lily Mattern
F: Jordan Lee-Caracci
F: Ava Dallavo
F: Reese Komsthoeft
O’Fallon
GK: Grace Vincent
D: Katelyn Knaust
D: Regan Schrenkenberg
D: Mackenzie James
D: Rebecca Koenig
MF: Ella Peterson
MF: Olivia Ori
MF: Kiley McMinn
MF: Josie Nieroda
F: Avery Christopher
F: Aubrey Mister
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Kiley McMinn, so., MF, O’Fallon
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
O’Fallon—Kiley McMinn (free kick), 55th minute