Blair Warren projectile
lifts Payton past Solorio
Grizzlies dream season continues with 1st section title
By Patrick Z. McGavin
BURBANK -- Blair Warren has the special gift of bringing shape and form to the most ethereal of moments.
Soccer is like that.
For all the unpredictable and random actions, Warren is a connective thread for a Payton team that continues to scale new heights.
“My goal was like jumping out of a boat and hitting the water,” he said.
Being there is an inherent talent.
Warren blasted home a goal in the 71st minute that propelled the Grizzlies past city rival Solorio 2-0 in the championship of the Class AA St. Laurence Sectional on Saturday.
The Grizzlies (22-1-3) captured their 19th-consecutive game.
Payton moves to the supersectional at Brother Rice against Washington, who beat host Marist 3-1.
The Tuesday game is a rematch of the city title game the Grizzlies won 3-1.
Payton also achieved an impressive double: the first city and sectional titles in program history.
Coach Paul Escobar, who has directed the boys program since 2013 and the girls team since 2015, has now qualified both programs in a supersectional in the same calendar year.
The girls’ team also reached the supersectional, the second time in his tenure, during the spring season.
“I’m just fortunate to have some nice teams and some kids who want to play,” Escobar said. “We have some quality players, and it makes coaching fun.”
The senior defender earned his nickname of “Big Shot Blair.”
“Blair’s the type of player where you don’t see him for a little bit, and he is pumping in those goals,” Escobar said. “He did in the city semifinals against Lane, and now today.
“I count on him.”
Solorio keeper Yahir Hernandez posted seven saves. He made a great stop in the first half off a free kick by Oliver Bruce.
Like in their sectional semifinal win over Saint Ignatius, the Grizzlies proved far more effective in creating dangerous moments than capitalizing on them.
The mounting frustration was palpable.
“We knew we’d get our chances,” Warren said. “It was just about putting them away.
“We struggled with putting away chances the last game, and we struggled with that during this game. Their defense played phenomenal, and they were very strong.”
The key sequence played out in the closing stretch. Despite being outplayed, Solorio (16-5-2) appeared to gain the upper hand in the 68th minute with a counter action resulted in a foul on the right frame of the box.
Solorio forward Yamir Gallegos was put in a virtually identical location where his free kick goal beat St. Laurence in the 78th minute of the semifinal Wednesday.
Payton created a formidable wall, and Gallegos punched his shot from about 16 yards over the top of the bar.
“It was set up for them,” Escobar said. “I thought they were going to put one in, because I saw that kid do that against St. Laurence, pretty much just the same situation.
“We dodged a bullet, and the guys went back to work.”
Payton made its decisive move moments later. Forward Lucas Cozuc, the team’s quickest and most athletic talent, broke free down the left side.
He gained control with a high-stepping action and got to the edge.
Bobby Cupps appeared the target of his cross, but the ball took a peculiar bounce, eluded a defender and found Warren about 12 yards out.
He smashed the ball home for the game-winner.
“I was on the right side for most of the game, and I switched to the left side for a little bit,” Cozuc said. “I took an outside line, and I found a little bit of weakness.
“I got through a couple of people.”
Warren felt a particular shock of surprise.
“I didn’t think he’d get by all the players,” he said. “He played it through, and I thought Bobby was going to get it. I didn’t think it would go cleanly through the defender.
“All I had to do was hit it on frame.”
Blair Warren also earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match distinction for his standout two-way play.
In the aftermath of the goal, Payton felt liberated, an electric jolt radiating from the team in all directions.
“I felt like 100 pounds were lifted off my back,” Escobar said.
While the Grizzlies’ explosive attack, responsible for 112 goals, has dominated the team narrative, the defense has also been elite.
Keeper Alex Freehling posted his 12th shutout. He made aggressive actions at two crucial junctures, near the end of the first half and following the goal, that helped save the game.
Both times he came hard off his line to take away favorable angles by the Sun Warriors’ best player, midfielder Raul Mariscal.
His alert play neutralized two prime scoring chances.
“I did very well to read both of those plays,” he said. “If I were a little bit slower, I think he has just enough angle to get the touch there.”
In the 73rd minute, Solorio mounted its best final chance. Mariscal had another free kick on the opposite side of the earlier ball by Gallegos.
He was about 15 yards out on the left edge.
“With both of those free kicks, I was just making sure my wall was exactly where I wanted,” Freehling said. “Even little inches can change two or three degrees of the angle.”
Like the Gallegos kick, Mariscal punched it high. Payton preserved its lead.
“We wanted to deny that opportunity to put in in the far post,” Freehling said. “There’s not much of a window. If they hit it, they hit it on those free kicks.”
Cupps put the game away in the 79th minute.
Off a goal kick, Solorio was looking to hurry up and get a quick action. Cupps interceded between Hernandez and the Solorio defender.
He created the turnover and blasted in a ball from about nine yards for his team-best 35th goal.
“We talked throughout the first half and at halftime that every goal kick they made was an opportunity for us to press them,” Cupps said.
“I felt like we should have capitalized in the first half on those. I am just glad we were able to create that pressure and force a mistake out of the quick play, which they did quite well with in the first half.”
If the usual names—Warren, Cozuc, Cupps—directly influenced the result, Payton also had key contributions from its complementary players.
David McLone, Carlos Pichardo and Warren kept the Sun Warriors’ quick, fluid attack at a standstill. Bruce, Marcel Kubik and Kai Torres helped establish a consistent tempo and rhythm in the midfield.
“Both this game and the last game, we were a little bit frantic in the first half,” Cupps said. “We talked about togetherness, and how we could play as a team and play much prettier soccer, which I think we did today and against Ignatius as well.”
The pieces have coalesced. The process was years in the making.
“Some of these guys I have been playing with since I was six or seven,” Cupps said. “Way longer than high school, and I think that definitely helps us.”
Now the Grizzlies train their sights to the next stage. They look to join Solorio, Washington and Mather as city schools that reached the Class AA final.
“I feel like we know our potential, and what we are capable of if we put our mind to it. We can beat any team,” Cozuc said.
The team’s unusual blend of the unflappable and the determined have been an ideal mix.
“When we are in the huddle, we talk about just worrying about us and let our play do the talking,” Escobar said. “We treat every game like a championship game.
“We are just driving, keep going and checking boxes.”
Starting lineups
Solorio
GK: Yahir Hernandez
D: Sebastian Gonzalez
D: Ivan Lopez
D: Jesus Flores
MF: Raul Mariscal
MF: Emilio Madrigal
MF: Justino Saucedo
MF: Alexander Marron
MF: Orlando Ojeda
F: Yamir Gallegos
F: Alejandro Pérez
Payton
GK: Alex Freehling
D: Evan Rainville
D: Sam McIllrath
D: Carlos Pichardo
D: Blair Warren
MF: Olivier Bruce
MF: David McLone
MF: Marcel Kubik
MF: Kai Torres
F: Bobby Cupps
F: Lucas Cozuc
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Blair Warren, sr., D, Payton
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Payton—Blair Warren (Lucas Cozuc), 71st minute
Payton—Bobby Cupps (unassisted), 79th minute
lifts Payton past Solorio
Grizzlies dream season continues with 1st section title
By Patrick Z. McGavin
BURBANK -- Blair Warren has the special gift of bringing shape and form to the most ethereal of moments.
Soccer is like that.
For all the unpredictable and random actions, Warren is a connective thread for a Payton team that continues to scale new heights.
“My goal was like jumping out of a boat and hitting the water,” he said.
Being there is an inherent talent.
Warren blasted home a goal in the 71st minute that propelled the Grizzlies past city rival Solorio 2-0 in the championship of the Class AA St. Laurence Sectional on Saturday.
The Grizzlies (22-1-3) captured their 19th-consecutive game.
Payton moves to the supersectional at Brother Rice against Washington, who beat host Marist 3-1.
The Tuesday game is a rematch of the city title game the Grizzlies won 3-1.
Payton also achieved an impressive double: the first city and sectional titles in program history.
Coach Paul Escobar, who has directed the boys program since 2013 and the girls team since 2015, has now qualified both programs in a supersectional in the same calendar year.
The girls’ team also reached the supersectional, the second time in his tenure, during the spring season.
“I’m just fortunate to have some nice teams and some kids who want to play,” Escobar said. “We have some quality players, and it makes coaching fun.”
The senior defender earned his nickname of “Big Shot Blair.”
“Blair’s the type of player where you don’t see him for a little bit, and he is pumping in those goals,” Escobar said. “He did in the city semifinals against Lane, and now today.
“I count on him.”
Solorio keeper Yahir Hernandez posted seven saves. He made a great stop in the first half off a free kick by Oliver Bruce.
Like in their sectional semifinal win over Saint Ignatius, the Grizzlies proved far more effective in creating dangerous moments than capitalizing on them.
The mounting frustration was palpable.
“We knew we’d get our chances,” Warren said. “It was just about putting them away.
“We struggled with putting away chances the last game, and we struggled with that during this game. Their defense played phenomenal, and they were very strong.”
The key sequence played out in the closing stretch. Despite being outplayed, Solorio (16-5-2) appeared to gain the upper hand in the 68th minute with a counter action resulted in a foul on the right frame of the box.
Solorio forward Yamir Gallegos was put in a virtually identical location where his free kick goal beat St. Laurence in the 78th minute of the semifinal Wednesday.
Payton created a formidable wall, and Gallegos punched his shot from about 16 yards over the top of the bar.
“It was set up for them,” Escobar said. “I thought they were going to put one in, because I saw that kid do that against St. Laurence, pretty much just the same situation.
“We dodged a bullet, and the guys went back to work.”
Payton made its decisive move moments later. Forward Lucas Cozuc, the team’s quickest and most athletic talent, broke free down the left side.
He gained control with a high-stepping action and got to the edge.
Bobby Cupps appeared the target of his cross, but the ball took a peculiar bounce, eluded a defender and found Warren about 12 yards out.
He smashed the ball home for the game-winner.
“I was on the right side for most of the game, and I switched to the left side for a little bit,” Cozuc said. “I took an outside line, and I found a little bit of weakness.
“I got through a couple of people.”
Warren felt a particular shock of surprise.
“I didn’t think he’d get by all the players,” he said. “He played it through, and I thought Bobby was going to get it. I didn’t think it would go cleanly through the defender.
“All I had to do was hit it on frame.”
Blair Warren also earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match distinction for his standout two-way play.
In the aftermath of the goal, Payton felt liberated, an electric jolt radiating from the team in all directions.
“I felt like 100 pounds were lifted off my back,” Escobar said.
While the Grizzlies’ explosive attack, responsible for 112 goals, has dominated the team narrative, the defense has also been elite.
Keeper Alex Freehling posted his 12th shutout. He made aggressive actions at two crucial junctures, near the end of the first half and following the goal, that helped save the game.
Both times he came hard off his line to take away favorable angles by the Sun Warriors’ best player, midfielder Raul Mariscal.
His alert play neutralized two prime scoring chances.
“I did very well to read both of those plays,” he said. “If I were a little bit slower, I think he has just enough angle to get the touch there.”
In the 73rd minute, Solorio mounted its best final chance. Mariscal had another free kick on the opposite side of the earlier ball by Gallegos.
He was about 15 yards out on the left edge.
“With both of those free kicks, I was just making sure my wall was exactly where I wanted,” Freehling said. “Even little inches can change two or three degrees of the angle.”
Like the Gallegos kick, Mariscal punched it high. Payton preserved its lead.
“We wanted to deny that opportunity to put in in the far post,” Freehling said. “There’s not much of a window. If they hit it, they hit it on those free kicks.”
Cupps put the game away in the 79th minute.
Off a goal kick, Solorio was looking to hurry up and get a quick action. Cupps interceded between Hernandez and the Solorio defender.
He created the turnover and blasted in a ball from about nine yards for his team-best 35th goal.
“We talked throughout the first half and at halftime that every goal kick they made was an opportunity for us to press them,” Cupps said.
“I felt like we should have capitalized in the first half on those. I am just glad we were able to create that pressure and force a mistake out of the quick play, which they did quite well with in the first half.”
If the usual names—Warren, Cozuc, Cupps—directly influenced the result, Payton also had key contributions from its complementary players.
David McLone, Carlos Pichardo and Warren kept the Sun Warriors’ quick, fluid attack at a standstill. Bruce, Marcel Kubik and Kai Torres helped establish a consistent tempo and rhythm in the midfield.
“Both this game and the last game, we were a little bit frantic in the first half,” Cupps said. “We talked about togetherness, and how we could play as a team and play much prettier soccer, which I think we did today and against Ignatius as well.”
The pieces have coalesced. The process was years in the making.
“Some of these guys I have been playing with since I was six or seven,” Cupps said. “Way longer than high school, and I think that definitely helps us.”
Now the Grizzlies train their sights to the next stage. They look to join Solorio, Washington and Mather as city schools that reached the Class AA final.
“I feel like we know our potential, and what we are capable of if we put our mind to it. We can beat any team,” Cozuc said.
The team’s unusual blend of the unflappable and the determined have been an ideal mix.
“When we are in the huddle, we talk about just worrying about us and let our play do the talking,” Escobar said. “We treat every game like a championship game.
“We are just driving, keep going and checking boxes.”
Starting lineups
Solorio
GK: Yahir Hernandez
D: Sebastian Gonzalez
D: Ivan Lopez
D: Jesus Flores
MF: Raul Mariscal
MF: Emilio Madrigal
MF: Justino Saucedo
MF: Alexander Marron
MF: Orlando Ojeda
F: Yamir Gallegos
F: Alejandro Pérez
Payton
GK: Alex Freehling
D: Evan Rainville
D: Sam McIllrath
D: Carlos Pichardo
D: Blair Warren
MF: Olivier Bruce
MF: David McLone
MF: Marcel Kubik
MF: Kai Torres
F: Bobby Cupps
F: Lucas Cozuc
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Blair Warren, sr., D, Payton
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Payton—Blair Warren (Lucas Cozuc), 71st minute
Payton—Bobby Cupps (unassisted), 79th minute