Lane gain comes with pain in Metea V. win
Rivera gives Indians 1-0 victory before going down with injury
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO -- Never in his life has Brandon Rivera felt such pain coupled with a deep sense of satisfaction.
“It hurts, but it was worth it,” Rivera said.
The Lane senior midfielder made the play of the game in blasting home a rocket ball from just outside the box in the 20th minute that propelled the Indians past Metea Valley 1-0 in a PepsiCo Showdown consolation pool game Tuesday night at Lane Stadium.
Then came the pain. In the 73rd minute, Lane continued to fight hard to offset the Mustangs’ pressure. Metea Valley had dictated the shape and pace of the match in the second half, and much of it played out on the Indians’ defensive third. Rivera got tangled up fighting to hold down the fort.
“It was a 50-50 tackle with the defender and when I went up, I landed on my foot wrong,” Rivera said. “I twisted it, and then I felt it crack. I know it’s not something slight.”
The full extent of the injury was not immediately known. Neither Rivera nor his coach, Andrew Ricks, knew how much time he’d need to recover.
Rivera was in good spirits. “I am happy that I got the win,” he said.
Both teams were coming off exceptionally difficult losses in first round play of the TOPSoccer bracket at the McDonald’s Soccer Fields on Saturday in Oak Brook. Each lost in a shootout by a 4-2 margin. Lane got clipped by Wheaton Academy after playing to a 2-2 regulation draw. Metea Valley was beaten by Crystal Lake South.
It marked the second-straight year Lane lost a first round tournament game on penalty kicks. With his team shuttled to the consolation bracket, Ricks shuffled his starting lineup, and he made sure to freely substitute. Every available field player saw time against the Mustangs.
Lane was fresh and sharp at the start and the build-up achieved those ends.
“We were working off the ball on their half first,” Rivera said. “We were moving the ball around. Marcin (Kieta) passed the ball to (Alex) Mężyk, and he left the ball off for me. I just did a turn, and I shot the ball. I saw the keeper on the near post, and I tried to go for the far post. Luckily it went in.”
For his achievement, Rivera earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match distinction.
The score and the narrative trajectory mirrored the Indians’ Chicago Public League Premier Division game with Sullivan the week before. Striking first carries tremendous emotional relief. In a well-played game between quality opponents, the first dramatic action is crucial.
“It boosts our confidence level, because it is so early in the game we have to keep that level the rest of the game,” Rivera said. “We have to stay consistent and make sure we don’t make mistakes. Our defenders have to be solid, as do the midfielders and forwards, who have to keep the play and keep attacking forward.”
Metea Valley (3-4-1) was on the other side looking in. The Mustangs suffered their third-straight loss since their most impressive performance of the year, a 3-0 victory over rival Neuqua Valley in their DuPage Valley Conference opener September 7. Junior midfielder Evan Lang recorded all three goals. The team’s record stood at 3-1-1 after the win over the Wildcats.
It will take another try to end the slide.
“We lost to Naperville North in a battle,” Metea Valley coach Josh Robinson said. “We tied Crystal Lake South and lose on penalty kicks. We come here, and it’s 1-0. Because we are so young I hope we are not waiting for something. We have five seniors, four sophomores and 10 juniors. I hope they are not playing now to build for next year. It does not work that way.”
This tough stretch has tested the resolve and confidence of the team. Already the Mustangs have vanquished the bitter memories of a year ago when they went just 4-11-4. Robinson said the primary point of emphasis was on changing the culture. Last year’s team suffered from individual play and a lack of chemistry.
“The positive to take away from tonight is that we played better,” senior midfielder Alfonso Castillo said. “We have just not gotten the result we wanted. We have not been able to put the ball into the back of the net. I think we are still very confident. We are just trying to dig out of the hole we are in right now. It’s not too big of a hole; I think we can dig it out of it.”
Castillo is one of the five seniors. He sees the difference from a year ago. With his four senior classmates, he is working diligently to bring about a more open and sharing team camaraderie. “Last year we did not have the leadership,” he said. “The juniors make up a good part of our team, and they are doing an excellent job of keeping everything positive.”
The Mustangs’ backline has been exceptional. Only former no. 1 Naperville North has scored more than one goal in a game against the Mustangs. Sophomore keeper Gandhi Cruz exemplifies the skilled, gifted younger group of players who have infused energy and excitement for the Mustangs.
“The 19 that we have is a great group of guys,” Robinson said. “Everybody is playing; everybody is contributing. Different guys stepping up each game. Right now I am very proud of where we are compared to where we were a year ago. We just want to get some results.”
Lane enjoyed the greater possession and dangerous opportunities in the first 20 minutes of play, culminating in the Rivera goal. Senior midfielder Marcin Kieta is a foundational player for the Indians. He missed some early time because of a trip to Poland. He aggravated a hamstring injury, sat out against Sullivan and is trying to get back into game rhythm. Alex Mezyk, the Indians’ powerful forward, is the top scoring threat. Kieta is the one who steadies the attack.
“I am about 75 percent, and I still cannot make a full sprint without it giving out,” Kieta said. “Right now I am just trying to help the team as much as possible, monitor my health so that I am fully healthy by the time the city and state playoffs begin. It’s nice to get that goal early, but that is not the style we are trying to play. We are trying to get other scoring chances.
“I feel like we are the kind of team, once we score a goal, we can get one, two or three more after that.”
The clash between the two proud programs created conditions for a sharp and compelling game. Lane is trying to build off early pressure and early goals. Metea Valley is also looking to give its youthful roster a chance to grow and overcome mistakes.
“It took us a little while to get into the game,” Robinson said. “In the second half we started battling and winning the 50-50 balls. The majority of the game in the second half was (in their half). Credit the kid on their goal, he hit a bomb. We are working very hard. I am very proud of what we are doing. It’s just this one lapse that we are having and giving up a goal, and it has happened for a couple of games.
“We don’t have that cushion. We have not done enough to create that cushion. That is where it is frustrating. Mistakes are going to be made, but we have to ask, where is our cushion, and we are not doing enough to create that cushion.”
Lane withstood Metea Valley’s pressure. Despite the loss, the Mustangs showed encouraging play. On Thursday, Lane (5-2-1) plays no. 23 St. Ignatius and Metea Valley hosts Plainfield Central.
“It was a really good soccer game,” Ricks said. “The goal was a really good soccer goal. It could have gone either way. Both teams were trying to play soccer. It was a beautiful night. The referees were good. It was a great night for soccer. There was good play, and it broke down at times, as high school soccer will, but there were some good plays as well. They pressed a lot at the end.
“I think it was a pleasurable experience for Metea Valley.”
Starting lineups
Metea Valley
GK: Gandhi Cruz
D: Liam Duffy
D. Erik Severson
D: Ethan Ytterberg
D: Ethan Williams
MF: Ryan Barry
MF: Evan Lang
MF: Matthew Berry
F: Jaylen Brooks
F: James Lynch
F: Shareff Amor
Lane
GK: Fabian Venegas
D: Omar Divanovic
D: Arnel Sinanagic
D: Greg Golba
D: Zach Rogers
MF: David de la Fuente
MF: Cathal O’Connor
MF: Jack Erickson
MF: Michael McMahon
MF: Marcin Kieta
F: Alex Mezyk
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Brandon Rivera, sr., MF, Lane
Scoring summary
First half
Lane—Brandon Rivera (Alex Mezyk), 20th minute
Rivera gives Indians 1-0 victory before going down with injury
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO -- Never in his life has Brandon Rivera felt such pain coupled with a deep sense of satisfaction.
“It hurts, but it was worth it,” Rivera said.
The Lane senior midfielder made the play of the game in blasting home a rocket ball from just outside the box in the 20th minute that propelled the Indians past Metea Valley 1-0 in a PepsiCo Showdown consolation pool game Tuesday night at Lane Stadium.
Then came the pain. In the 73rd minute, Lane continued to fight hard to offset the Mustangs’ pressure. Metea Valley had dictated the shape and pace of the match in the second half, and much of it played out on the Indians’ defensive third. Rivera got tangled up fighting to hold down the fort.
“It was a 50-50 tackle with the defender and when I went up, I landed on my foot wrong,” Rivera said. “I twisted it, and then I felt it crack. I know it’s not something slight.”
The full extent of the injury was not immediately known. Neither Rivera nor his coach, Andrew Ricks, knew how much time he’d need to recover.
Rivera was in good spirits. “I am happy that I got the win,” he said.
Both teams were coming off exceptionally difficult losses in first round play of the TOPSoccer bracket at the McDonald’s Soccer Fields on Saturday in Oak Brook. Each lost in a shootout by a 4-2 margin. Lane got clipped by Wheaton Academy after playing to a 2-2 regulation draw. Metea Valley was beaten by Crystal Lake South.
It marked the second-straight year Lane lost a first round tournament game on penalty kicks. With his team shuttled to the consolation bracket, Ricks shuffled his starting lineup, and he made sure to freely substitute. Every available field player saw time against the Mustangs.
Lane was fresh and sharp at the start and the build-up achieved those ends.
“We were working off the ball on their half first,” Rivera said. “We were moving the ball around. Marcin (Kieta) passed the ball to (Alex) Mężyk, and he left the ball off for me. I just did a turn, and I shot the ball. I saw the keeper on the near post, and I tried to go for the far post. Luckily it went in.”
For his achievement, Rivera earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match distinction.
The score and the narrative trajectory mirrored the Indians’ Chicago Public League Premier Division game with Sullivan the week before. Striking first carries tremendous emotional relief. In a well-played game between quality opponents, the first dramatic action is crucial.
“It boosts our confidence level, because it is so early in the game we have to keep that level the rest of the game,” Rivera said. “We have to stay consistent and make sure we don’t make mistakes. Our defenders have to be solid, as do the midfielders and forwards, who have to keep the play and keep attacking forward.”
Metea Valley (3-4-1) was on the other side looking in. The Mustangs suffered their third-straight loss since their most impressive performance of the year, a 3-0 victory over rival Neuqua Valley in their DuPage Valley Conference opener September 7. Junior midfielder Evan Lang recorded all three goals. The team’s record stood at 3-1-1 after the win over the Wildcats.
It will take another try to end the slide.
“We lost to Naperville North in a battle,” Metea Valley coach Josh Robinson said. “We tied Crystal Lake South and lose on penalty kicks. We come here, and it’s 1-0. Because we are so young I hope we are not waiting for something. We have five seniors, four sophomores and 10 juniors. I hope they are not playing now to build for next year. It does not work that way.”
This tough stretch has tested the resolve and confidence of the team. Already the Mustangs have vanquished the bitter memories of a year ago when they went just 4-11-4. Robinson said the primary point of emphasis was on changing the culture. Last year’s team suffered from individual play and a lack of chemistry.
“The positive to take away from tonight is that we played better,” senior midfielder Alfonso Castillo said. “We have just not gotten the result we wanted. We have not been able to put the ball into the back of the net. I think we are still very confident. We are just trying to dig out of the hole we are in right now. It’s not too big of a hole; I think we can dig it out of it.”
Castillo is one of the five seniors. He sees the difference from a year ago. With his four senior classmates, he is working diligently to bring about a more open and sharing team camaraderie. “Last year we did not have the leadership,” he said. “The juniors make up a good part of our team, and they are doing an excellent job of keeping everything positive.”
The Mustangs’ backline has been exceptional. Only former no. 1 Naperville North has scored more than one goal in a game against the Mustangs. Sophomore keeper Gandhi Cruz exemplifies the skilled, gifted younger group of players who have infused energy and excitement for the Mustangs.
“The 19 that we have is a great group of guys,” Robinson said. “Everybody is playing; everybody is contributing. Different guys stepping up each game. Right now I am very proud of where we are compared to where we were a year ago. We just want to get some results.”
Lane enjoyed the greater possession and dangerous opportunities in the first 20 minutes of play, culminating in the Rivera goal. Senior midfielder Marcin Kieta is a foundational player for the Indians. He missed some early time because of a trip to Poland. He aggravated a hamstring injury, sat out against Sullivan and is trying to get back into game rhythm. Alex Mezyk, the Indians’ powerful forward, is the top scoring threat. Kieta is the one who steadies the attack.
“I am about 75 percent, and I still cannot make a full sprint without it giving out,” Kieta said. “Right now I am just trying to help the team as much as possible, monitor my health so that I am fully healthy by the time the city and state playoffs begin. It’s nice to get that goal early, but that is not the style we are trying to play. We are trying to get other scoring chances.
“I feel like we are the kind of team, once we score a goal, we can get one, two or three more after that.”
The clash between the two proud programs created conditions for a sharp and compelling game. Lane is trying to build off early pressure and early goals. Metea Valley is also looking to give its youthful roster a chance to grow and overcome mistakes.
“It took us a little while to get into the game,” Robinson said. “In the second half we started battling and winning the 50-50 balls. The majority of the game in the second half was (in their half). Credit the kid on their goal, he hit a bomb. We are working very hard. I am very proud of what we are doing. It’s just this one lapse that we are having and giving up a goal, and it has happened for a couple of games.
“We don’t have that cushion. We have not done enough to create that cushion. That is where it is frustrating. Mistakes are going to be made, but we have to ask, where is our cushion, and we are not doing enough to create that cushion.”
Lane withstood Metea Valley’s pressure. Despite the loss, the Mustangs showed encouraging play. On Thursday, Lane (5-2-1) plays no. 23 St. Ignatius and Metea Valley hosts Plainfield Central.
“It was a really good soccer game,” Ricks said. “The goal was a really good soccer goal. It could have gone either way. Both teams were trying to play soccer. It was a beautiful night. The referees were good. It was a great night for soccer. There was good play, and it broke down at times, as high school soccer will, but there were some good plays as well. They pressed a lot at the end.
“I think it was a pleasurable experience for Metea Valley.”
Starting lineups
Metea Valley
GK: Gandhi Cruz
D: Liam Duffy
D. Erik Severson
D: Ethan Ytterberg
D: Ethan Williams
MF: Ryan Barry
MF: Evan Lang
MF: Matthew Berry
F: Jaylen Brooks
F: James Lynch
F: Shareff Amor
Lane
GK: Fabian Venegas
D: Omar Divanovic
D: Arnel Sinanagic
D: Greg Golba
D: Zach Rogers
MF: David de la Fuente
MF: Cathal O’Connor
MF: Jack Erickson
MF: Michael McMahon
MF: Marcin Kieta
F: Alex Mezyk
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Brandon Rivera, sr., MF, Lane
Scoring summary
First half
Lane—Brandon Rivera (Alex Mezyk), 20th minute