Metea Valley counterattacks LWC,
grabs ticket to Class 3A finals
Tyra King plays role in both goals, leads Mustangs to 2-0 win
By Dave Owen
NAPERVILLE -- Momentum can turn on a dime, and good teams can be dangerous when least expected.
Whatever the cliché, Metea Valley (21-2-1) proved either concept to be powerfully true in Friday’s Class 3A state semifinal vs. Lincoln-Way Central (24-2-0).
In a span of 20 seconds early in the first half, a Knights corner kick at one end that had potential to give them an early lead dissolved in a counterattack and a finish into an open net for Metea Valley.
Riding that instant reversal of fortunes and then a second goal 12 minutes later, Metea Valley continued its longest postseason run into Saturday’s 3A title match vs. Barrington with a 2-0 win over the Knights.
“It’s amazing,” Mustangs forward Lucy Burk said. “No Metea team in soccer has ever gone this far before. So we’re kind of making history as we keep going.”
Speaking of going, Metea’s Jocelyn Grabow and Tyra King provided high speed and perfect execution 26:58 before halftime to turn a Mustangs defensive stand into a quick 1-0 lead.
On a play that started with a corner kick by Lincoln-Way Central’s Grace Grundhofer, Grabow won control of the corner send after it bounded across the box to the left side.
An upfield pass to King produced a strong counterattack that grew far stronger when King powered past two defenders up the left side and sent a cross to Grabow in front for an open net putaway and a 1-0 lead.
“The ball was pretty much hit to the top,” King said, “and I just knew I had to run onto the ball and try to make something out of it and work pretty quick.
“I just took a bigger touch, got past her (the Knights defender) and then kind of hit it with the outside of my foot (on a cross to the front). And my teammate Jocelyn got the goal.”
The incredible goal was actually nothing new for the Mustangs.
“In our supersectional game we scored in a similar way building out of the back,” Grabow said. “That's what we do best, building out of the back to the midfield and forwards.
“A lot of our goals come from a cross and getting a touch on it. And that's kind of what happened. I won it on defense and got it to Tyra, and she crossed it back on over to me. It was awesome.
“I knew Tyra was going to beat that girl and be able to cross it,” Grabow added. “I'm in the box, I know it's coming, and I just had to tap it in.”
There was just one downside after Grabow’s end-to-end dash from defending the corner kick to finish in the counterattack.
“I was trying to celebrate, but I was so out of breath,” she joked.
The goal pretty much took the air out of the Knights as well.
“After our first corner kick it was like 'We've got an opportunity,’ Knights coach Sean Fahey said. “And then...that's a heartbreaker.”
Before grabbing the 1-0 lead, Metea had generated good chances in the 7th minute (a Riley Strcic 20-yard shot wide left) and the 10th minute (a free kick that produced a Jordan Lange and Grabow threat before the Knights cleared the box).
Then after Grabow’s goal, an Addison Wargo 21-yard free kick (saved in the 15th minute) and a right-side Burk attack and shot (saved at the right post in the 16th minute) continued the Metea blitz.
Finally with 14:44 left in the first half, Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match Ms. King provided more heartbreak for the Knights’ bid to keep it a one-goal game.
Fielding a cross to the front from Burk, King powered a 15-yard shot that deflected off a Knights defender in front and into the lower right corner of the net to double the Metea lead to 2-0.
With a starting lineup that featured three freshmen and just two seniors, Lincoln-Way Central was in the state semifinals for the first time since 2007.
“As far as a learning experience goes,” Fahey said, “we have youth all over the place that have played well all year, but nothing is like being here on a stage playing for a chance to go to the state championship.
“So, I think if we could have held on to that zero (0-0 tie) a little longer and let those nerves settle a little bit, even though I feel we had a better run in the second half it would have been a lot different.”
Instead, Metea Valley took a two-goal lead into halftime and let its defense do the rest.
“Team defense always works for us,” said Grabow, whose side notched its 11th shutout of 2022 and fifth in the last six games. “Playing quick and simple, playing on the ground and playing our game and communicating. Then looking for the one-two touch passes. That's our game. That's how we win.”
Withstanding increased Lincoln-Way Central pressure in the second half also was an unspoken part of that winning equation.
Christine Erdman’s left-side drive with 37:40 left was denied on a lunging catch near the left post by Metea goalkeeper Julia Straub.
A Grundhofer 35-yard free kick with 24:15 to go would also be denied on a Straub catch at the right post.
The Knights would bid to match the first Mustangs goal with 11:50 left, when a clear of Addison Wargo’s corner kick ignited an Erdman counterattack.
But Metea defenders Kyleigh Jannisch and Kaylee Bannack combined to defend Erdman’s would-be send to the box and produce a harmless deflection to Straub
“It was nice to get the two first half goals, and kind of change the dynamic of the emotions and calm us down a little bit,” Metea Valley coach Chris Whaley said.
“It felt like we kind of struggled at times in the second half and could have put the game away, but I'm proud of the girls. They worked really hard to get to this point.”
The Mustangs certainly made it hard for a Lincoln-Way Central offense that had outscored foes 20-2 over their first five postseason games, including 6-2 in the three games before the finals.
“They really were pressing high,” said Grundhofer. “It was really hard to deal with. We still had to figure a way to get up, and we couldn't because they were pressing so hard. It was hard to get past them, and communication was slower than usual.”
A quality Metea Valley scoring chance with 9:15 to play produced a Burk low, line drive off a Jannisch pass, but it was blocked at the right post by Knights goalkeeper Alexa Hadley.
Then came Lincoln-Way Central’s best threat of the night with 7:15 left. Grundhofer’s corner kick to the scrum in front was headed just wide of the right post.
“We made it exciting,” Fahey said. “We had one header far post thar didn't miss by much, I think Abby Sudkamp. That finds the back of the net and look out, all of a sudden everyone's believing and flying.”
Instead, Metea Valley endured that threat and two smaller scares (Ella Johnson nicely clearing the box with 4:05 left, then a last second Knights 25-yard free kick wide right) to continue its flight to new heights.
After finishing 12-8-1 last year against their usual rugged schedule, the Mustangs put together the winningest season in school history in 2022.
Metea Valley had eight regional titles but never a sectional crown until a week ago. Now the Mustangs are a Saturday night victory over Barrington from a state title.
“We're all so close on and off the field,” Burk said. “We all built a relationship before the season even started, and we were all super close last year too.
“We didn't have that many seniors graduate last year, so we kind of had the same team and were all just super tight. I think that’s reflected on the team on the field.”
It’s certainly made an impression on opponents.
“They're well-coached, they're organized and super athletic,” Fahey said. “They're going to make it difficult for anybody to score on them. If they get a lead on anybody, it's going to be a tough task to get one back on them.”
Grundhofer has 22 assists this season with an arsenal that includes a handspring “flip” throw-in. But any and all tricks and scoring threats met a brick wall of resistance Friday.
“We fought as hard as we could and did everything we could,” she said. “We just couldn't find the back of the net.”
Metea Valley’s only two losses this spring have come against out-of-state competition (Lafayette and Nerinx Hall, of Missouri, April 15 and 16). Wins over Naperville North and Edwardsville preceded Friday’s victory.
“I think all the hard competition all year long helped us to get to here,” Whaley said. “We've been tried and tested.”
With a 12-game winning streak and a state title 80 minutes away, the Mustangs’ plan is simple.
“Just continue doing what we've been doing,” Grabow said. “Obviously it's been successful for us.
“We have talent all around the field, and we've known it this whole season. We just want to continue to come out and do the same thing, play to win as a team. Dive for the ball or do whatever we have to do for each other to win. That's brought us our success.”
While Metea Valley seeks a state title, Lincoln-Way Central also seeks an upbeat end to 2022 in the third place game vs. Evanston.
"Tomorrow is going to be about mentally shaking this (loss) off," Fahey said. "This is where leadership and experience kick in.
"We've only had a back-to-back (games in two days) experience one other time this year, and we bounced back after our only loss to this point and beat a good Hinsdale Central team. We'll give our best game tomorrow, and only two teams get to end on a win. We have a chance to be one."
Starting lineups
Metea Valley
GK Julia Straub
D Addison Wargo
D Justyce King
D Alyssa Parrilli
D Kaylee Bannack
M Olivia Hernandez
M Riley Strcic
M Jordan Lange
F Jocelyn Grabow
F Tyra King
F Lucy Burk
Lincoln-Way Central
GK Alexa Hadley
D Christine Erdman
D Abby Sudkamp
D Chloe Grundhofer
M Sarah Borsellino
M Madisyn Kenworthy
M Reagan Schultz
M Emma Vogler
M Jenni Andjelic
F Grace Grundhofer
F Madison Watt
Chicagoland soccer MVP of the Match: Tyra King, jr. F, Metea Valley
Scoring summary
First half
MV- Jocelyn Grabow (Tyra King assist), 14’
MV- King (Burk assist), 26’
Second half
No scoring
grabs ticket to Class 3A finals
Tyra King plays role in both goals, leads Mustangs to 2-0 win
By Dave Owen
NAPERVILLE -- Momentum can turn on a dime, and good teams can be dangerous when least expected.
Whatever the cliché, Metea Valley (21-2-1) proved either concept to be powerfully true in Friday’s Class 3A state semifinal vs. Lincoln-Way Central (24-2-0).
In a span of 20 seconds early in the first half, a Knights corner kick at one end that had potential to give them an early lead dissolved in a counterattack and a finish into an open net for Metea Valley.
Riding that instant reversal of fortunes and then a second goal 12 minutes later, Metea Valley continued its longest postseason run into Saturday’s 3A title match vs. Barrington with a 2-0 win over the Knights.
“It’s amazing,” Mustangs forward Lucy Burk said. “No Metea team in soccer has ever gone this far before. So we’re kind of making history as we keep going.”
Speaking of going, Metea’s Jocelyn Grabow and Tyra King provided high speed and perfect execution 26:58 before halftime to turn a Mustangs defensive stand into a quick 1-0 lead.
On a play that started with a corner kick by Lincoln-Way Central’s Grace Grundhofer, Grabow won control of the corner send after it bounded across the box to the left side.
An upfield pass to King produced a strong counterattack that grew far stronger when King powered past two defenders up the left side and sent a cross to Grabow in front for an open net putaway and a 1-0 lead.
“The ball was pretty much hit to the top,” King said, “and I just knew I had to run onto the ball and try to make something out of it and work pretty quick.
“I just took a bigger touch, got past her (the Knights defender) and then kind of hit it with the outside of my foot (on a cross to the front). And my teammate Jocelyn got the goal.”
The incredible goal was actually nothing new for the Mustangs.
“In our supersectional game we scored in a similar way building out of the back,” Grabow said. “That's what we do best, building out of the back to the midfield and forwards.
“A lot of our goals come from a cross and getting a touch on it. And that's kind of what happened. I won it on defense and got it to Tyra, and she crossed it back on over to me. It was awesome.
“I knew Tyra was going to beat that girl and be able to cross it,” Grabow added. “I'm in the box, I know it's coming, and I just had to tap it in.”
There was just one downside after Grabow’s end-to-end dash from defending the corner kick to finish in the counterattack.
“I was trying to celebrate, but I was so out of breath,” she joked.
The goal pretty much took the air out of the Knights as well.
“After our first corner kick it was like 'We've got an opportunity,’ Knights coach Sean Fahey said. “And then...that's a heartbreaker.”
Before grabbing the 1-0 lead, Metea had generated good chances in the 7th minute (a Riley Strcic 20-yard shot wide left) and the 10th minute (a free kick that produced a Jordan Lange and Grabow threat before the Knights cleared the box).
Then after Grabow’s goal, an Addison Wargo 21-yard free kick (saved in the 15th minute) and a right-side Burk attack and shot (saved at the right post in the 16th minute) continued the Metea blitz.
Finally with 14:44 left in the first half, Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match Ms. King provided more heartbreak for the Knights’ bid to keep it a one-goal game.
Fielding a cross to the front from Burk, King powered a 15-yard shot that deflected off a Knights defender in front and into the lower right corner of the net to double the Metea lead to 2-0.
With a starting lineup that featured three freshmen and just two seniors, Lincoln-Way Central was in the state semifinals for the first time since 2007.
“As far as a learning experience goes,” Fahey said, “we have youth all over the place that have played well all year, but nothing is like being here on a stage playing for a chance to go to the state championship.
“So, I think if we could have held on to that zero (0-0 tie) a little longer and let those nerves settle a little bit, even though I feel we had a better run in the second half it would have been a lot different.”
Instead, Metea Valley took a two-goal lead into halftime and let its defense do the rest.
“Team defense always works for us,” said Grabow, whose side notched its 11th shutout of 2022 and fifth in the last six games. “Playing quick and simple, playing on the ground and playing our game and communicating. Then looking for the one-two touch passes. That's our game. That's how we win.”
Withstanding increased Lincoln-Way Central pressure in the second half also was an unspoken part of that winning equation.
Christine Erdman’s left-side drive with 37:40 left was denied on a lunging catch near the left post by Metea goalkeeper Julia Straub.
A Grundhofer 35-yard free kick with 24:15 to go would also be denied on a Straub catch at the right post.
The Knights would bid to match the first Mustangs goal with 11:50 left, when a clear of Addison Wargo’s corner kick ignited an Erdman counterattack.
But Metea defenders Kyleigh Jannisch and Kaylee Bannack combined to defend Erdman’s would-be send to the box and produce a harmless deflection to Straub
“It was nice to get the two first half goals, and kind of change the dynamic of the emotions and calm us down a little bit,” Metea Valley coach Chris Whaley said.
“It felt like we kind of struggled at times in the second half and could have put the game away, but I'm proud of the girls. They worked really hard to get to this point.”
The Mustangs certainly made it hard for a Lincoln-Way Central offense that had outscored foes 20-2 over their first five postseason games, including 6-2 in the three games before the finals.
“They really were pressing high,” said Grundhofer. “It was really hard to deal with. We still had to figure a way to get up, and we couldn't because they were pressing so hard. It was hard to get past them, and communication was slower than usual.”
A quality Metea Valley scoring chance with 9:15 to play produced a Burk low, line drive off a Jannisch pass, but it was blocked at the right post by Knights goalkeeper Alexa Hadley.
Then came Lincoln-Way Central’s best threat of the night with 7:15 left. Grundhofer’s corner kick to the scrum in front was headed just wide of the right post.
“We made it exciting,” Fahey said. “We had one header far post thar didn't miss by much, I think Abby Sudkamp. That finds the back of the net and look out, all of a sudden everyone's believing and flying.”
Instead, Metea Valley endured that threat and two smaller scares (Ella Johnson nicely clearing the box with 4:05 left, then a last second Knights 25-yard free kick wide right) to continue its flight to new heights.
After finishing 12-8-1 last year against their usual rugged schedule, the Mustangs put together the winningest season in school history in 2022.
Metea Valley had eight regional titles but never a sectional crown until a week ago. Now the Mustangs are a Saturday night victory over Barrington from a state title.
“We're all so close on and off the field,” Burk said. “We all built a relationship before the season even started, and we were all super close last year too.
“We didn't have that many seniors graduate last year, so we kind of had the same team and were all just super tight. I think that’s reflected on the team on the field.”
It’s certainly made an impression on opponents.
“They're well-coached, they're organized and super athletic,” Fahey said. “They're going to make it difficult for anybody to score on them. If they get a lead on anybody, it's going to be a tough task to get one back on them.”
Grundhofer has 22 assists this season with an arsenal that includes a handspring “flip” throw-in. But any and all tricks and scoring threats met a brick wall of resistance Friday.
“We fought as hard as we could and did everything we could,” she said. “We just couldn't find the back of the net.”
Metea Valley’s only two losses this spring have come against out-of-state competition (Lafayette and Nerinx Hall, of Missouri, April 15 and 16). Wins over Naperville North and Edwardsville preceded Friday’s victory.
“I think all the hard competition all year long helped us to get to here,” Whaley said. “We've been tried and tested.”
With a 12-game winning streak and a state title 80 minutes away, the Mustangs’ plan is simple.
“Just continue doing what we've been doing,” Grabow said. “Obviously it's been successful for us.
“We have talent all around the field, and we've known it this whole season. We just want to continue to come out and do the same thing, play to win as a team. Dive for the ball or do whatever we have to do for each other to win. That's brought us our success.”
While Metea Valley seeks a state title, Lincoln-Way Central also seeks an upbeat end to 2022 in the third place game vs. Evanston.
"Tomorrow is going to be about mentally shaking this (loss) off," Fahey said. "This is where leadership and experience kick in.
"We've only had a back-to-back (games in two days) experience one other time this year, and we bounced back after our only loss to this point and beat a good Hinsdale Central team. We'll give our best game tomorrow, and only two teams get to end on a win. We have a chance to be one."
Starting lineups
Metea Valley
GK Julia Straub
D Addison Wargo
D Justyce King
D Alyssa Parrilli
D Kaylee Bannack
M Olivia Hernandez
M Riley Strcic
M Jordan Lange
F Jocelyn Grabow
F Tyra King
F Lucy Burk
Lincoln-Way Central
GK Alexa Hadley
D Christine Erdman
D Abby Sudkamp
D Chloe Grundhofer
M Sarah Borsellino
M Madisyn Kenworthy
M Reagan Schultz
M Emma Vogler
M Jenni Andjelic
F Grace Grundhofer
F Madison Watt
Chicagoland soccer MVP of the Match: Tyra King, jr. F, Metea Valley
Scoring summary
First half
MV- Jocelyn Grabow (Tyra King assist), 14’
MV- King (Burk assist), 26’
Second half
No scoring