Lane ends Payton conference title hopes
Murray scores twice, leads Lane to 4-1 win
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO -- The free kick off the foot of Lane defender Olivia Schmit took an improbable turn in the stiff breeze.
Payton keeper Chloe Guzik was ready.
The ball took a wicked push toward her goal, and she stretched her arms high, flew and landed on her back as she cradled the ball.
For long stretches of the Grizzlies’ showdown with the six-time defending city champions, Guzik was the ultimate problem-solver.
She demonstrated a burst of speed off the line, and a poise inside the box. She was, always, cool under pressure.
“I like to play toward my line and get set a lot,” Guzik said.
“I want to make sure I can see the shot before it comes and try not to get beat toward the 18, so I don’t put unnecessary pressure on my defenders.”
In a rematch of last year’s city championship game, Payton returned to the same field with greater resolve and purpose.
Lane had recent history on its side.
Payton had something worth fighting for, a shot at ownership of the regular-season Chicago Public League Premier Division title.
“We were talking about this in the locker room, but this was one of the few times we have gone into a game against Lane actually feeling like we could win” defender Madeleine Spark said.
“We had a lot of optimism coming into the game, and part of that was we had been playing very well against other teams, like Whitney Young.”
Guzik posted 12 saves and kept the Grizzlies in the game for more than 60 minutes until the Lane attack wore out Payton.
Payton’s quest for a shared conference title with Young ended with a 4-1 loss against no. 24 Lane on Monday.
The game marked the conclusion of regular-season play for the teams.
Click here to see the CPL Premier Division final standings
Lane (8-4-1, 6-1-0) celebrated its Senior Day with its third-consecutive victory.
Payton (8-4-2, 5-1-1) watched its 10-game unbeaten streak come to a close.
All-state talent Scout Murray continued to bedevil the Grizzlies.
The senior scored two goals and put constant pressure on the Payton back, creating a forward momentum that typically had the Grizzlies responding and reacting rather than dictating the nature of play.
Only the brilliant and fantastic play of Guzik kept the Grizzlies close.
Murray scored three goals in Lane’s city title victory over Payton last year.
Payton’s players saw a bright underside.
“We used this game today as a learning opportunity, and come back and know how other teams are going to attack, what their skills are, and what we need to do going forward,” Payton forward Thalia Witkovsky said.
“We want to surprise everybody.”
A year ago, Payton was the fourth-seed who stunned regular-season champion Young in overtime in the city semifinals.
Despite the loss, the Grizzlies are ready for the start of city tournament action, this time as the no. 3 seed.
“We have put 100 percent effort into every game, but the city playoffs and now the state playoffs are going to be higher stakes,” Witkovsky said.
Young (6-0-1, 19 points) earned the regular-season championship. Lane (6-1-0, 18 points) is second.
Payton (5-1-1, 16 points) gave Young its toughest league challenge when the teams played to a scoreless tie.
The Grizzlies are also still scrambling in the wake of the foot injury suffered by elite sophomore Felicity Cole, a watch list player.
Soccer is the most cooperative of games, with teams built on chemistry and the ability to play together and play through injuries.
The team is hopeful of Cole’s return for the end of the city playoffs or the state tournament.
Witkovsky saw her chance to breathe some new life into the attack. She had two shots in the first half.
“I want to have more of an impact at my position,” she said. “It is easier with two forwards, and we can overlap, and Felicity and I really work well together.
“I am definitely trying to play for her and show the team I can score up-top.”
Buoyed by six shutouts during its recent streak, Payton was 8-0-2 before the Lane loss.
The Grizzlies experienced a harsh opening with three tough losses against teams currently ranked in the top 10: no. 4 Glenbrook North; no. 5 Evanston; and no. 9 Loyola.
“I think after having those three really tough games to start the year, we wanted to have more shutouts, get the ball together, and actually show who we are as a team,” Guzik said.
“Having those three early losses gave us a drive, and really put a fire under us, and we started doing better.”
Guzik missed out on the strong Payton run to the city title game when she suffered a broken thumb late in the regular season.
She is back, fully recovered now and a testament to the resolve, discipline and toughness at Payton.
“I think I am doing pretty well,” Guzik said.
Guzik denied Murray twice in the early going, establishing a classic confrontation of elite scorer and disruptive stopper.
In the 24th minute, Lane and Murray finally broke through.
After entering the game, high-energy midfielder Briyanna Bellis created possession on the left wing and slotted a beautiful through-ball down the right side.
The explosively fast Murray outran the Payton defender to get the necessary first touch from about eight yards for the 1-0 Lane advantage.
“I thought we were playing well, but just not finishing our opportunities,” Murray said.
“Instead of getting frustrated, I just kept playing calm. When that first goal came, I think the whole team just got hyped from it.”
Payton regrouped after the goal.
Lola Feurer, who came in with goals in three-straight games, pushed up from the back and created some solid chances in the middle and on the edge.
However Lane, a team of many moving and skilled parts, presented unique challenges.
The Grizzlies did their best to slow them down.
Several of the Grizzlies’ most gifted offensive threats, like Shea Vandermeid and Tess Scrivner, moved to the back to provide a physical and dynamic presence.
The fluctuation of the lineup showed the Grizzlies’ transition game and the ability to switch sides on a dime.
“We’re a really close team, because a lot of us have played together, well, for a while now,” Spark said
“Defensively, we are comfortable talking with each other, or even yelling at each other to get back.”
Lane had the edge in possession time. Payton found creases and opportunities.
Kate Feurer got free a couple of times, typically in concert with midfielders Isabella Chitarro or Norah Duritsa.
Near the close of the first half, Payton midfielder Kate Cupps served a beautiful ball from the right edge at the far post.
The goal was available. The ball just squeezed past the outstretched foot of Witkovsky.
“That was one of our best opportunities,” Witkovsky said. “It was a lucky ball, and I was running onto it, and I stuck my foot out.
“I felt it glide right past me.”
Lane withstood the Payton chances.
With Jocelyn Ramirez as its glue and connective thread, Lane proved too elusive and tricky to get the necessary final movement.
“Our backline was ready for any 50/50 ball that came their way,” Ramirez said.
“We worked together as a team, making sure we always covered one another.”
Scrambling to equalize, the Grizzlies could not quite unlock Lane’s defense.
“We worked really hard on shutting down the play before they had a chance to take shots on goal,” Ramirez said.
Lane delivered the backbreaking actions late.
In the 62nd minute, midfielder Mary Rau controlled a ball at the top of the box and flashed a ball to the right edge.
Rapidly improving midfielder Sofia Avila smashed home a beautiful ball from 16 yards that clipped the underside of the bar and deflected into the goal.
Murray followed with her second goal in the 73rd minute. She forced Guzik to come out of the box, and she made a deft move around her for the open score.
In scoring her 11th and 12th goals of the season, Scout Murray earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor.
Gabriela Pop closed out the Lane scoring moments later with a beautiful finish inside the box in the 75th minute.
Lola Feurer needed less than a minute to respond for Payton. She continued her remarkable offensive play of late with another goal, her fifth in the last four games, that avoided a shutout.
Witkovsky said the team was disappointed by the result but not heartbroken or devastated.
Payton has lost before, and come back better than ever. That is the mentality as the focus turns to the start of group play.
“We are going to keep our heads up, and we are going to return even stronger,” Witkovsky said.
Starting lineups
Payton
GK: Chloe Guzik
D: Kate Feurer
D: Shea Vandermeid
D: Madeleine Spark
D: Norah Denehan
D: Tess Scrivner
MF: Isabella Chitarro
MF: Norah Duritsa
MF: Kate Cupps
F: Lola Feurer
F: Thalia Witkovsky
Lane
GK: Petra Oganovich
D: Jocelyn Ramirez
D: Olive Tinucci
D: Olivia Schmit
D: Maya Warkentin
MF: Dale Sink
MF: Mary Rau
MF: Maya Martinez-Bates
MF: Scout Murray
F: Gabriella Mann
F: Gabriela Pop
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Scout Murray, sr., MF, Lane
Scoring summary
First half
Lane—Scout Murray (Briyanna Bellis), 24th minute
Second half
Lane—Sofia Avila (Mary Rau), 62nd minute
Lane—Murray (Dale Sink), 73rd minute
Lane—Gabriela Pop (unassisted), 75th minute
Payton—Lola Feurer (Isabella Chitarro), 75th minute
Murray scores twice, leads Lane to 4-1 win
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO -- The free kick off the foot of Lane defender Olivia Schmit took an improbable turn in the stiff breeze.
Payton keeper Chloe Guzik was ready.
The ball took a wicked push toward her goal, and she stretched her arms high, flew and landed on her back as she cradled the ball.
For long stretches of the Grizzlies’ showdown with the six-time defending city champions, Guzik was the ultimate problem-solver.
She demonstrated a burst of speed off the line, and a poise inside the box. She was, always, cool under pressure.
“I like to play toward my line and get set a lot,” Guzik said.
“I want to make sure I can see the shot before it comes and try not to get beat toward the 18, so I don’t put unnecessary pressure on my defenders.”
In a rematch of last year’s city championship game, Payton returned to the same field with greater resolve and purpose.
Lane had recent history on its side.
Payton had something worth fighting for, a shot at ownership of the regular-season Chicago Public League Premier Division title.
“We were talking about this in the locker room, but this was one of the few times we have gone into a game against Lane actually feeling like we could win” defender Madeleine Spark said.
“We had a lot of optimism coming into the game, and part of that was we had been playing very well against other teams, like Whitney Young.”
Guzik posted 12 saves and kept the Grizzlies in the game for more than 60 minutes until the Lane attack wore out Payton.
Payton’s quest for a shared conference title with Young ended with a 4-1 loss against no. 24 Lane on Monday.
The game marked the conclusion of regular-season play for the teams.
Click here to see the CPL Premier Division final standings
Lane (8-4-1, 6-1-0) celebrated its Senior Day with its third-consecutive victory.
Payton (8-4-2, 5-1-1) watched its 10-game unbeaten streak come to a close.
All-state talent Scout Murray continued to bedevil the Grizzlies.
The senior scored two goals and put constant pressure on the Payton back, creating a forward momentum that typically had the Grizzlies responding and reacting rather than dictating the nature of play.
Only the brilliant and fantastic play of Guzik kept the Grizzlies close.
Murray scored three goals in Lane’s city title victory over Payton last year.
Payton’s players saw a bright underside.
“We used this game today as a learning opportunity, and come back and know how other teams are going to attack, what their skills are, and what we need to do going forward,” Payton forward Thalia Witkovsky said.
“We want to surprise everybody.”
A year ago, Payton was the fourth-seed who stunned regular-season champion Young in overtime in the city semifinals.
Despite the loss, the Grizzlies are ready for the start of city tournament action, this time as the no. 3 seed.
“We have put 100 percent effort into every game, but the city playoffs and now the state playoffs are going to be higher stakes,” Witkovsky said.
Young (6-0-1, 19 points) earned the regular-season championship. Lane (6-1-0, 18 points) is second.
Payton (5-1-1, 16 points) gave Young its toughest league challenge when the teams played to a scoreless tie.
The Grizzlies are also still scrambling in the wake of the foot injury suffered by elite sophomore Felicity Cole, a watch list player.
Soccer is the most cooperative of games, with teams built on chemistry and the ability to play together and play through injuries.
The team is hopeful of Cole’s return for the end of the city playoffs or the state tournament.
Witkovsky saw her chance to breathe some new life into the attack. She had two shots in the first half.
“I want to have more of an impact at my position,” she said. “It is easier with two forwards, and we can overlap, and Felicity and I really work well together.
“I am definitely trying to play for her and show the team I can score up-top.”
Buoyed by six shutouts during its recent streak, Payton was 8-0-2 before the Lane loss.
The Grizzlies experienced a harsh opening with three tough losses against teams currently ranked in the top 10: no. 4 Glenbrook North; no. 5 Evanston; and no. 9 Loyola.
“I think after having those three really tough games to start the year, we wanted to have more shutouts, get the ball together, and actually show who we are as a team,” Guzik said.
“Having those three early losses gave us a drive, and really put a fire under us, and we started doing better.”
Guzik missed out on the strong Payton run to the city title game when she suffered a broken thumb late in the regular season.
She is back, fully recovered now and a testament to the resolve, discipline and toughness at Payton.
“I think I am doing pretty well,” Guzik said.
Guzik denied Murray twice in the early going, establishing a classic confrontation of elite scorer and disruptive stopper.
In the 24th minute, Lane and Murray finally broke through.
After entering the game, high-energy midfielder Briyanna Bellis created possession on the left wing and slotted a beautiful through-ball down the right side.
The explosively fast Murray outran the Payton defender to get the necessary first touch from about eight yards for the 1-0 Lane advantage.
“I thought we were playing well, but just not finishing our opportunities,” Murray said.
“Instead of getting frustrated, I just kept playing calm. When that first goal came, I think the whole team just got hyped from it.”
Payton regrouped after the goal.
Lola Feurer, who came in with goals in three-straight games, pushed up from the back and created some solid chances in the middle and on the edge.
However Lane, a team of many moving and skilled parts, presented unique challenges.
The Grizzlies did their best to slow them down.
Several of the Grizzlies’ most gifted offensive threats, like Shea Vandermeid and Tess Scrivner, moved to the back to provide a physical and dynamic presence.
The fluctuation of the lineup showed the Grizzlies’ transition game and the ability to switch sides on a dime.
“We’re a really close team, because a lot of us have played together, well, for a while now,” Spark said
“Defensively, we are comfortable talking with each other, or even yelling at each other to get back.”
Lane had the edge in possession time. Payton found creases and opportunities.
Kate Feurer got free a couple of times, typically in concert with midfielders Isabella Chitarro or Norah Duritsa.
Near the close of the first half, Payton midfielder Kate Cupps served a beautiful ball from the right edge at the far post.
The goal was available. The ball just squeezed past the outstretched foot of Witkovsky.
“That was one of our best opportunities,” Witkovsky said. “It was a lucky ball, and I was running onto it, and I stuck my foot out.
“I felt it glide right past me.”
Lane withstood the Payton chances.
With Jocelyn Ramirez as its glue and connective thread, Lane proved too elusive and tricky to get the necessary final movement.
“Our backline was ready for any 50/50 ball that came their way,” Ramirez said.
“We worked together as a team, making sure we always covered one another.”
Scrambling to equalize, the Grizzlies could not quite unlock Lane’s defense.
“We worked really hard on shutting down the play before they had a chance to take shots on goal,” Ramirez said.
Lane delivered the backbreaking actions late.
In the 62nd minute, midfielder Mary Rau controlled a ball at the top of the box and flashed a ball to the right edge.
Rapidly improving midfielder Sofia Avila smashed home a beautiful ball from 16 yards that clipped the underside of the bar and deflected into the goal.
Murray followed with her second goal in the 73rd minute. She forced Guzik to come out of the box, and she made a deft move around her for the open score.
In scoring her 11th and 12th goals of the season, Scout Murray earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor.
Gabriela Pop closed out the Lane scoring moments later with a beautiful finish inside the box in the 75th minute.
Lola Feurer needed less than a minute to respond for Payton. She continued her remarkable offensive play of late with another goal, her fifth in the last four games, that avoided a shutout.
Witkovsky said the team was disappointed by the result but not heartbroken or devastated.
Payton has lost before, and come back better than ever. That is the mentality as the focus turns to the start of group play.
“We are going to keep our heads up, and we are going to return even stronger,” Witkovsky said.
Starting lineups
Payton
GK: Chloe Guzik
D: Kate Feurer
D: Shea Vandermeid
D: Madeleine Spark
D: Norah Denehan
D: Tess Scrivner
MF: Isabella Chitarro
MF: Norah Duritsa
MF: Kate Cupps
F: Lola Feurer
F: Thalia Witkovsky
Lane
GK: Petra Oganovich
D: Jocelyn Ramirez
D: Olive Tinucci
D: Olivia Schmit
D: Maya Warkentin
MF: Dale Sink
MF: Mary Rau
MF: Maya Martinez-Bates
MF: Scout Murray
F: Gabriella Mann
F: Gabriela Pop
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Scout Murray, sr., MF, Lane
Scoring summary
First half
Lane—Scout Murray (Briyanna Bellis), 24th minute
Second half
Lane—Sofia Avila (Mary Rau), 62nd minute
Lane—Murray (Dale Sink), 73rd minute
Lane—Gabriela Pop (unassisted), 75th minute
Payton—Lola Feurer (Isabella Chitarro), 75th minute