Lang’s big night lifts MV past WV for title
4-goal outburst against surprise foe delivers tourney crown
By Matt Le Cren
AURORA – Metea Valley midfielder Evan Lang was on the bench when he saw Waubonsie Valley forward Anthony Yench fire a shot off the crossbar three minutes into the second half Saturday night.
What was inches away from being a stunning tying goal actually turned out to be a wake-up call for Lang and his teammates.
The junior came off the bench moments later and bagged three goals in less than four minutes. That gave the junior his first four-goal game, and the Mustangs knocked off the host school 4-0 in the championship game of the Warrior Invitational.
The result appeared to be a foregone conclusion before the match started -- Waubonsie Valley played a makeshift team after many varsity players chose to attend the Homecoming dance.
That didn’t make the win any less sweet for Metea Valley, which won for the eighth time in the last nine games. The Mustangs (13-7-1) broke the school record for wins earlier in the day by beating Plainfield East 5-4.
“We’re winning, guys are scoring goals, we’re doing some good things,” Metea Valley coach Josh Robinson said. “Probably giving up more goals than we want to give up right now but at the same thing we’re working on some things, trying things out.”
The Mustangs figured to have plenty of time to experiment against the ersatz Warriors, especially after Lang scored off an assist from Jaylen Brooks at the 33:49 mark of the first half.
But the expected Metea Valley barrage didn’t materialize as the Warriors put up a spirited fight.
Waubonsie Valley came close to getting the equalizer when Sebastian Nimalzo got free in the box and fired a 12-yard shot that goalkeeper Gandhi Cruz parried with a kick save 12 minutes and 15 seconds before halftime.
The Warriors almost put a number one on the scoreboard three minutes into the second half, but Yench’s drive drew iron and Bryan Yang’s rebound try sailed wide of the left post.
Nimalzo had no qualms about passing up the dance for a chance to play in the tournament championship game.
“I think we did amazing,” the senior said. “We came in and were making jokes, asking if the scoreboard could go into double digits, so being able to keep it to one goal in the first half was really amazing.
“Personally I had a couple shots in the beginning that were inches away and one that the keeper saved. The second half we almost tied it up right away and that was a really good feeling to be able to keep up with them for the most part.”
Junior backup goalkeeper Rohan Hindia and sophomore Brandon Garduno were the only varsity players to suit up for the Warriors, who cobbled together a roster of 13 with players from their lower-level teams. The fill-ins did an admirable job.
“(Getting to play) was actually a big surprise,” Nimalzo said. “It was really fun.
“We were just out here to have fun and playing with all these people from all these different levels is really a different experience.”
The JV players weren’t officially notified that they would play until earlier Saturday.
“I actually found out today, but a couple days ago they told us we all knew Homecoming was going to be today and most of the team is seniors and as it was their last Homecoming they wanted to go,” Nimalzo said. “They told us a couple days ago, but we weren’t taking it seriously until today after our JV game. And then they were like, ‘Yes, you guys are getting the call.’”
Metea Valley was even more surprised at who their opponent was. Waubonsie Valley kept the game tight for 50 minutes.
“We had to come out and play our game,” Lang said. “At halftime Gandhi told us it’s a final, we haven’t won a championship in a couple years. So (winning) it is something to look forward to going into the playoffs.”
Lang made it happen soon after checking back in following Waubonsie Valley’s near-miss.
“They did (play well),” Lang said. “I was on the bench at that time, and it was a little nerve-wracking. They put me back in, and I feel like we settled down and played our game after that.”
Of course, Lang made that easy with a stunning performance that saw him score on three-consecutive shots. The first goal came on a 20-yard right-footed shot inside the right post at the 33:44 mark, with Dominic Capezzuto assisting.
Lang then scored twice in 35 seconds, the first on a left-footed rebound and then second off a pass from sophomore Davis Quarles with exactly 30 minutes to go.
“(The team gets going) when he scores a goal,” Quarles said. “Our finish is usually great, but our start is a little shaky. But once we get that first goal, everyone starts working.”
In that regard, the Mustangs take their cue from Lang, who led the team in scoring last year with just four goals. He leads again this year, but his total is 14 to go with six assists.
“He does a great job of finishing,” Robinson said. “He’s the catalyst of what we do, and so we’re proud of how hard he’s been playing and where he’s grown.
“Today we were trying to do some new things. He came in and finished things out.”
Robinson also was pleased with the work rate of the Mustangs, who won five games in six days this week. They didn’t want to have a letdown against the undermanned Warriors.
“This whole tournament we’ve put in the work to get to the finals,” Quarles said. “Even against a JV team, we still had to win.”
Tha game was called with 10 minutes left because of unplayable field conditions due to the weather.
While the Mustangs didn’t face any ranked teams in the tournament, their recent success (10-2-0 in the last 12 games) is no fluke. They went 6-2-0 in DuPage Valley Conference play, assuring themselves no worse than a third-place finish, and could be a darkhorse in the postseason.
“I feel like we have a lot of confidence because we beat Waubonsie’s varsity team (3-2 in overtime on Sept. 26) and Neuqua, our rival (3-0 Sept. 5), and (Naperville) Central, too (4-1 Sept. 19).”
Lang concurred.
“I feel like we have a good chance,” Lang said. “Anything can happen.”
Robinson is excited to see what Metea Valley can do in the playoffs.
“It’s just been an enjoyable year,” Robinson said. “We love these boys; we enjoy what’s going on with them
“We’re just proud of where we’re at, and we’re trying to build for the next step. We always talk about building toward the end of the year. We’re building at a good time.”
Starting lineups
Metea Valley
GK Gandhi Cruz
D Anthony Sanchez
D Erik Severson
D Ethan Ytterberg
D Ethan Williams
M Matthew Berry
M Joey Donovan
M Evan Lang
F Jaylen Brooks
F James Lynch
F Shareef Amor
Waubonsie Valley
GK Rohan Hindia
D Bailey Bloedorn
D Alex Reinhard
D Ryan Shea
D Fabian Correa
M Sohan Bhawtauken
M Zachary Yench
M Anthony Yench
F Sebastian Nimalzo
F Bryan Yang
F Ivan Perez
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match – Evan Lang, jr., M, Metea Valley.
Scoring summary
1st Half
Metea Valley – Lang (Brooks) 33:49
2nd Half
Metea Valley – Lang (Capezzuto) 33:44
Metea Valley – Lang 30:35
Metea Valley – Lang (Quarles) 30:00
4-goal outburst against surprise foe delivers tourney crown
By Matt Le Cren
AURORA – Metea Valley midfielder Evan Lang was on the bench when he saw Waubonsie Valley forward Anthony Yench fire a shot off the crossbar three minutes into the second half Saturday night.
What was inches away from being a stunning tying goal actually turned out to be a wake-up call for Lang and his teammates.
The junior came off the bench moments later and bagged three goals in less than four minutes. That gave the junior his first four-goal game, and the Mustangs knocked off the host school 4-0 in the championship game of the Warrior Invitational.
The result appeared to be a foregone conclusion before the match started -- Waubonsie Valley played a makeshift team after many varsity players chose to attend the Homecoming dance.
That didn’t make the win any less sweet for Metea Valley, which won for the eighth time in the last nine games. The Mustangs (13-7-1) broke the school record for wins earlier in the day by beating Plainfield East 5-4.
“We’re winning, guys are scoring goals, we’re doing some good things,” Metea Valley coach Josh Robinson said. “Probably giving up more goals than we want to give up right now but at the same thing we’re working on some things, trying things out.”
The Mustangs figured to have plenty of time to experiment against the ersatz Warriors, especially after Lang scored off an assist from Jaylen Brooks at the 33:49 mark of the first half.
But the expected Metea Valley barrage didn’t materialize as the Warriors put up a spirited fight.
Waubonsie Valley came close to getting the equalizer when Sebastian Nimalzo got free in the box and fired a 12-yard shot that goalkeeper Gandhi Cruz parried with a kick save 12 minutes and 15 seconds before halftime.
The Warriors almost put a number one on the scoreboard three minutes into the second half, but Yench’s drive drew iron and Bryan Yang’s rebound try sailed wide of the left post.
Nimalzo had no qualms about passing up the dance for a chance to play in the tournament championship game.
“I think we did amazing,” the senior said. “We came in and were making jokes, asking if the scoreboard could go into double digits, so being able to keep it to one goal in the first half was really amazing.
“Personally I had a couple shots in the beginning that were inches away and one that the keeper saved. The second half we almost tied it up right away and that was a really good feeling to be able to keep up with them for the most part.”
Junior backup goalkeeper Rohan Hindia and sophomore Brandon Garduno were the only varsity players to suit up for the Warriors, who cobbled together a roster of 13 with players from their lower-level teams. The fill-ins did an admirable job.
“(Getting to play) was actually a big surprise,” Nimalzo said. “It was really fun.
“We were just out here to have fun and playing with all these people from all these different levels is really a different experience.”
The JV players weren’t officially notified that they would play until earlier Saturday.
“I actually found out today, but a couple days ago they told us we all knew Homecoming was going to be today and most of the team is seniors and as it was their last Homecoming they wanted to go,” Nimalzo said. “They told us a couple days ago, but we weren’t taking it seriously until today after our JV game. And then they were like, ‘Yes, you guys are getting the call.’”
Metea Valley was even more surprised at who their opponent was. Waubonsie Valley kept the game tight for 50 minutes.
“We had to come out and play our game,” Lang said. “At halftime Gandhi told us it’s a final, we haven’t won a championship in a couple years. So (winning) it is something to look forward to going into the playoffs.”
Lang made it happen soon after checking back in following Waubonsie Valley’s near-miss.
“They did (play well),” Lang said. “I was on the bench at that time, and it was a little nerve-wracking. They put me back in, and I feel like we settled down and played our game after that.”
Of course, Lang made that easy with a stunning performance that saw him score on three-consecutive shots. The first goal came on a 20-yard right-footed shot inside the right post at the 33:44 mark, with Dominic Capezzuto assisting.
Lang then scored twice in 35 seconds, the first on a left-footed rebound and then second off a pass from sophomore Davis Quarles with exactly 30 minutes to go.
“(The team gets going) when he scores a goal,” Quarles said. “Our finish is usually great, but our start is a little shaky. But once we get that first goal, everyone starts working.”
In that regard, the Mustangs take their cue from Lang, who led the team in scoring last year with just four goals. He leads again this year, but his total is 14 to go with six assists.
“He does a great job of finishing,” Robinson said. “He’s the catalyst of what we do, and so we’re proud of how hard he’s been playing and where he’s grown.
“Today we were trying to do some new things. He came in and finished things out.”
Robinson also was pleased with the work rate of the Mustangs, who won five games in six days this week. They didn’t want to have a letdown against the undermanned Warriors.
“This whole tournament we’ve put in the work to get to the finals,” Quarles said. “Even against a JV team, we still had to win.”
Tha game was called with 10 minutes left because of unplayable field conditions due to the weather.
While the Mustangs didn’t face any ranked teams in the tournament, their recent success (10-2-0 in the last 12 games) is no fluke. They went 6-2-0 in DuPage Valley Conference play, assuring themselves no worse than a third-place finish, and could be a darkhorse in the postseason.
“I feel like we have a lot of confidence because we beat Waubonsie’s varsity team (3-2 in overtime on Sept. 26) and Neuqua, our rival (3-0 Sept. 5), and (Naperville) Central, too (4-1 Sept. 19).”
Lang concurred.
“I feel like we have a good chance,” Lang said. “Anything can happen.”
Robinson is excited to see what Metea Valley can do in the playoffs.
“It’s just been an enjoyable year,” Robinson said. “We love these boys; we enjoy what’s going on with them
“We’re just proud of where we’re at, and we’re trying to build for the next step. We always talk about building toward the end of the year. We’re building at a good time.”
Starting lineups
Metea Valley
GK Gandhi Cruz
D Anthony Sanchez
D Erik Severson
D Ethan Ytterberg
D Ethan Williams
M Matthew Berry
M Joey Donovan
M Evan Lang
F Jaylen Brooks
F James Lynch
F Shareef Amor
Waubonsie Valley
GK Rohan Hindia
D Bailey Bloedorn
D Alex Reinhard
D Ryan Shea
D Fabian Correa
M Sohan Bhawtauken
M Zachary Yench
M Anthony Yench
F Sebastian Nimalzo
F Bryan Yang
F Ivan Perez
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match – Evan Lang, jr., M, Metea Valley.
Scoring summary
1st Half
Metea Valley – Lang (Brooks) 33:49
2nd Half
Metea Valley – Lang (Capezzuto) 33:44
Metea Valley – Lang 30:35
Metea Valley – Lang (Quarles) 30:00