Lane's gimmick defense can't stop Payton
Grizzlies advance to first Chicago Public League playoff title game
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO — Andrew Ricks had to think outside the box if he wanted to slow down and neutralize the big-play athleticism of Payton.
The Lane coach remembered the late September clash of the two Chicago Public League Premier Division North teams the Grizzlies won 3-0.
He knew in order to pull off the upset, the Indians had to factor out Payton’s prolific forward attack of Bobby Cupps and Lucas Cozuc.
“They scored in the first 90 seconds of the first half, and the first 45 seconds of the second half,” Ricks said.
“We approached it like an NBA game where we said we are not going to let LeBron beat us. We’re going to let the supporting cast beat us.
“They did.”
Blair Warren embodied the supporting cast.
Playing with a fractured finger, the senior outside back delivered a beautiful and mesmerizing half-volley off his own rebound in the 31st minute.
The Grizzlies, ranked 25th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, made program history with the 2-0 victory in the first semifinal of the Chicago Public League city championship Tuesday night at Lane.
Warren earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match distinction for his superb two-way play.
Payton (17-1-3) won its 14th-consecutive game. More importantly, the Grizzlies qualified for the city title appearance ever.
The Grizzlies advance to play Thursday at Lane against Washington, who defeated Young 3-0
Warren’s scoring sequence originated off a corner kick from the right side.
Midfielder Kai Torres hit the serve. After a ricochet ball was played back to Torres, he initiated another service that was punched outside to Warren.
Standing about 16 yards out on the right side, Warren played the first ball with his right foot.
It bounded back to him, and he alertly shifted his body and delivered a half-volley with his left leg from 15 yards that turned the game.
“The ball came back to me,” Warren said. “It was up in the air, and I just stuck my leg out. It took a favorable bounce, and all I had to do was take it off the short volley.”
Warren nearly scored a goal in the first minute off a corner. His shot feather dusted the top of the bar.
“We kind of had a feeling of how they were going to come out,” he said. “They tried to park the bus against us. They tried to play a really defensive formation.”
Ricks attempted something he had never tried before, a double man-mark of the Grizzlies potent forwards, Cupps and Cozuc.
“It was a super unorthodox formation,” Ricks said. “We have man-marked before, like against Alex Sanchez in the Solorio final two years ago.
“We have never man-marked two, because what do you do? We had to because they’re that good. We marked Bobby Cupps the first game, but not Lucas. The second game, we did, and I think we frustrated them.”
Lane (8-5-2) entered the game playing its best soccer. The Indians were riding a three-game winning streak with three shutouts they accumulated by a combined 15-0 score.
“We didn’t know our best formation until late,” Ricks said.
Senior forward Thurston Page has a basketball frame, agile and long. At nearly 6-foot-3, he presents an intriguing target at the top of the attack.
In the 21st minute, Page was loose on the right flank and delivered a laser shot from about 26 yards that just skipped over the top of the far post.
“I thought we created a lot more chances than I imagined possible against them,” Page said. “I am personally disappointed in myself, because I thought I could have scored a couple of goals.”
Payton’s Cupps, an agile and highly skilled scorer, staked his claim to being the city’s best player. He combines a silky touch with excellent separation and ball skills.
“Shout out to Simon Olson, who did a great job of marking me in the first half,” Cupps said. “I didn’t have many chances, or as many as usual.”
The Grizzlies started the year 3-0-2 before its only loss, a 2-0 decision against current no. 5 Evanston in the Wildkits’ tournament Sept. 4.
Cozuc missed several of those games. His speed is next level. With him fully healthy and Cupps creating his own rampaging, assaultive style, Payton has been virtually untouchable.
“When they have space behind the ball, they are lightning,” Ricks said. “They are electric.”
Payton extended its unbeaten streak to 15 games (14-0-1) with their semifinal win.
“We have a really great team dynamic,” Cupps said. “We don’t have any selfish players on this team.
“Everybody works for each other, and I think this season has brought us a lot of confidence that we are taking into the postseason.”
Lane created some compelling moments of its own. Midfielder Ben Dopp showed his own special blend of creativity and verve.
He found space in the Grizzlies’ interior, and worked hard to advance forward.
“I don’t think I’ve seen us play a complete game like we did tonight in a long time,” Dopp said. “We have a very young team. We only started three seniors.
“We will be back.”
The Warren goal marked the only scoring of the first half. Ricks felt Lane was in good stead.
“We liked our chances at 1-0,” he said. “We didn’t want to be down, but we still felt we were in the game. Then they got numbers behind the ball, like they did the first game.
“It became very challenging.”
Cupps got free in the 66th minute and delivered a fantastic goal. Midfielder Oliver Bruce played the ball down the right flank and slotted a quick ball to midfielder Brit Rothstein.
He played the ball quickly and decisively to Cupps, who was stationed on the left flank.
Cupps blasted the ball from about 14 yards to a spot nobody could have touched.
The goal was his 30th of the year.
“After the abbreviated spring season this was the time where we really thought we could show the city what we were,” Cupps said.
“Now this season has put us in an even better position to show what our group of guys can do out there.”
In city soccer culture, the lines between programs are pretty porous. The players are close and connected through their shared experiences, and many play on the same club teams.
“On both of their goals, it wasn’t an example of them breaking us down,” Dopp said. “It was them making good plays.
“That second goal, there wasn’t anything you could do about that.”
Ricks agreed.
“On those two goals, we were beaten,” he said. “We didn’t make silly mistakes. The referee didn’t make a bad call. There were no weather issues.
“The second goal was bam-bam-bam. The guy knew where he wanted to go. This is going to help them in the city final, and it is going to help them in the state tournament with how well they defend as a team. Their two top guys can really wreck you.”
Payton coach Paul Escobar directs both of the Grizzlies’ soccer programs. His girls team made the city final in the spring against Lane, a prelude to its run to a Class AA supersectional.
The girls have one city title, and three appearances.
The city title features the best team of the Premier Division North, Payton, against the best team of the Premier Division South, Washington.
“It is really an honor,” Warren said. “We felt like we could have done it last year, but we fell short in the quarterfinals.
“We have been playing together for four years, and this is our final run. We feel like we are finally meshing, playing for our coaches, Esco and Dylan Pender.
“They have nurtured us through the process.”
Starting lineups
Lane
GK: Jeremiah Higgins
D: Nicolas Wagner
D: Kyle Hollman
D: Simon Olson
MF: Mauro Ruiz
MF: Josue Villanueva
MF: Alan Zavala
MF: Ben Dopp
MF: Kamil Pluta
MF: Wilson Smiejek
F: Thurston Page
Payton
GK: Alex Freehling
D: Evan Rainville
D: Sam McIlrath
D: Carlos Pichardo
D: Blair Warren
MF: Olivier Bruce
MF: David McLone
MF: Brit Rothstein
MF: Kai Torres
F: Robert Cupps
F: Lucas Cozuc
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Blair Warren, sr., D, Payton
Scoring summary
First half
Payton—Blair Warren (unassisted), 31st minute
Second half
Payton—Robert Cupps (Brit Rothstein), 66th minute
Grizzlies advance to first Chicago Public League playoff title game
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO — Andrew Ricks had to think outside the box if he wanted to slow down and neutralize the big-play athleticism of Payton.
The Lane coach remembered the late September clash of the two Chicago Public League Premier Division North teams the Grizzlies won 3-0.
He knew in order to pull off the upset, the Indians had to factor out Payton’s prolific forward attack of Bobby Cupps and Lucas Cozuc.
“They scored in the first 90 seconds of the first half, and the first 45 seconds of the second half,” Ricks said.
“We approached it like an NBA game where we said we are not going to let LeBron beat us. We’re going to let the supporting cast beat us.
“They did.”
Blair Warren embodied the supporting cast.
Playing with a fractured finger, the senior outside back delivered a beautiful and mesmerizing half-volley off his own rebound in the 31st minute.
The Grizzlies, ranked 25th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, made program history with the 2-0 victory in the first semifinal of the Chicago Public League city championship Tuesday night at Lane.
Warren earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match distinction for his superb two-way play.
Payton (17-1-3) won its 14th-consecutive game. More importantly, the Grizzlies qualified for the city title appearance ever.
The Grizzlies advance to play Thursday at Lane against Washington, who defeated Young 3-0
Warren’s scoring sequence originated off a corner kick from the right side.
Midfielder Kai Torres hit the serve. After a ricochet ball was played back to Torres, he initiated another service that was punched outside to Warren.
Standing about 16 yards out on the right side, Warren played the first ball with his right foot.
It bounded back to him, and he alertly shifted his body and delivered a half-volley with his left leg from 15 yards that turned the game.
“The ball came back to me,” Warren said. “It was up in the air, and I just stuck my leg out. It took a favorable bounce, and all I had to do was take it off the short volley.”
Warren nearly scored a goal in the first minute off a corner. His shot feather dusted the top of the bar.
“We kind of had a feeling of how they were going to come out,” he said. “They tried to park the bus against us. They tried to play a really defensive formation.”
Ricks attempted something he had never tried before, a double man-mark of the Grizzlies potent forwards, Cupps and Cozuc.
“It was a super unorthodox formation,” Ricks said. “We have man-marked before, like against Alex Sanchez in the Solorio final two years ago.
“We have never man-marked two, because what do you do? We had to because they’re that good. We marked Bobby Cupps the first game, but not Lucas. The second game, we did, and I think we frustrated them.”
Lane (8-5-2) entered the game playing its best soccer. The Indians were riding a three-game winning streak with three shutouts they accumulated by a combined 15-0 score.
“We didn’t know our best formation until late,” Ricks said.
Senior forward Thurston Page has a basketball frame, agile and long. At nearly 6-foot-3, he presents an intriguing target at the top of the attack.
In the 21st minute, Page was loose on the right flank and delivered a laser shot from about 26 yards that just skipped over the top of the far post.
“I thought we created a lot more chances than I imagined possible against them,” Page said. “I am personally disappointed in myself, because I thought I could have scored a couple of goals.”
Payton’s Cupps, an agile and highly skilled scorer, staked his claim to being the city’s best player. He combines a silky touch with excellent separation and ball skills.
“Shout out to Simon Olson, who did a great job of marking me in the first half,” Cupps said. “I didn’t have many chances, or as many as usual.”
The Grizzlies started the year 3-0-2 before its only loss, a 2-0 decision against current no. 5 Evanston in the Wildkits’ tournament Sept. 4.
Cozuc missed several of those games. His speed is next level. With him fully healthy and Cupps creating his own rampaging, assaultive style, Payton has been virtually untouchable.
“When they have space behind the ball, they are lightning,” Ricks said. “They are electric.”
Payton extended its unbeaten streak to 15 games (14-0-1) with their semifinal win.
“We have a really great team dynamic,” Cupps said. “We don’t have any selfish players on this team.
“Everybody works for each other, and I think this season has brought us a lot of confidence that we are taking into the postseason.”
Lane created some compelling moments of its own. Midfielder Ben Dopp showed his own special blend of creativity and verve.
He found space in the Grizzlies’ interior, and worked hard to advance forward.
“I don’t think I’ve seen us play a complete game like we did tonight in a long time,” Dopp said. “We have a very young team. We only started three seniors.
“We will be back.”
The Warren goal marked the only scoring of the first half. Ricks felt Lane was in good stead.
“We liked our chances at 1-0,” he said. “We didn’t want to be down, but we still felt we were in the game. Then they got numbers behind the ball, like they did the first game.
“It became very challenging.”
Cupps got free in the 66th minute and delivered a fantastic goal. Midfielder Oliver Bruce played the ball down the right flank and slotted a quick ball to midfielder Brit Rothstein.
He played the ball quickly and decisively to Cupps, who was stationed on the left flank.
Cupps blasted the ball from about 14 yards to a spot nobody could have touched.
The goal was his 30th of the year.
“After the abbreviated spring season this was the time where we really thought we could show the city what we were,” Cupps said.
“Now this season has put us in an even better position to show what our group of guys can do out there.”
In city soccer culture, the lines between programs are pretty porous. The players are close and connected through their shared experiences, and many play on the same club teams.
“On both of their goals, it wasn’t an example of them breaking us down,” Dopp said. “It was them making good plays.
“That second goal, there wasn’t anything you could do about that.”
Ricks agreed.
“On those two goals, we were beaten,” he said. “We didn’t make silly mistakes. The referee didn’t make a bad call. There were no weather issues.
“The second goal was bam-bam-bam. The guy knew where he wanted to go. This is going to help them in the city final, and it is going to help them in the state tournament with how well they defend as a team. Their two top guys can really wreck you.”
Payton coach Paul Escobar directs both of the Grizzlies’ soccer programs. His girls team made the city final in the spring against Lane, a prelude to its run to a Class AA supersectional.
The girls have one city title, and three appearances.
The city title features the best team of the Premier Division North, Payton, against the best team of the Premier Division South, Washington.
“It is really an honor,” Warren said. “We felt like we could have done it last year, but we fell short in the quarterfinals.
“We have been playing together for four years, and this is our final run. We feel like we are finally meshing, playing for our coaches, Esco and Dylan Pender.
“They have nurtured us through the process.”
Starting lineups
Lane
GK: Jeremiah Higgins
D: Nicolas Wagner
D: Kyle Hollman
D: Simon Olson
MF: Mauro Ruiz
MF: Josue Villanueva
MF: Alan Zavala
MF: Ben Dopp
MF: Kamil Pluta
MF: Wilson Smiejek
F: Thurston Page
Payton
GK: Alex Freehling
D: Evan Rainville
D: Sam McIlrath
D: Carlos Pichardo
D: Blair Warren
MF: Olivier Bruce
MF: David McLone
MF: Brit Rothstein
MF: Kai Torres
F: Robert Cupps
F: Lucas Cozuc
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Blair Warren, sr., D, Payton
Scoring summary
First half
Payton—Blair Warren (unassisted), 31st minute
Second half
Payton—Robert Cupps (Brit Rothstein), 66th minute