Payton’s greatest season comes
to an end against Washington
Scoring magic eludes Grizzlies in supersectional loss
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO -- The magic of the Payton season came down to a singular truth.
The Grizzlies were loaded with problem-solvers.
Every time the team faced a difficult moment, or had to deliver in the clutch or find a way to extricate themselves out of a tough spot, Payton had the answers.
The moment was years in the making.
“When this senior class were freshmen, I coached the varsity and the JV in the same year,” Payton coach Paul Escobar said.
“That’s when I met all of these guys. I knew they were special from the tryouts. I knew once they grew into their bodies a little bit and matured, they were a next-level team.”
The wins and the accomplishments piled up to the point it became virtually impossible to track everything: 19 wins in a row; an undefeated record in the Premier Division North; the first city tournament championship in program history; and the first sectional title.
“We set our goals,” senior forward Bobby Cupps said after the sectional victory over Solorio.
“Some of the guys had city finals and state finals on their screen savers. All of us thought we were the best team in the state.”
The Grizzlies’ dream season ended with a code they couldn't crack. Premier Division South rival Washington prevailed with a 1-0 win in the Class AA supersectional at Brother Rice on Tuesday night.
Payton (22-2-3) beat the Patriots 3-1 in the city championship at Lane Stadium on October 14.
Senior forward Lucas Cozuc scored two goals that game.
The tense and excruciating divide between that glorious night and the rematch played out in the 75th minute on a sharp touch by Cozuc that was just high off frame.
“You have to give Washington credit,” Escobar said. “They came out and played well, and they took advantage of their opportunity.
“They’re a great team, and it’s never easy to beat a team twice in the same year.”
Christian Ramirez scored off a counter in the 16th minute, stunning the Grizzlies after a pass from Julian Martinez.
Ramirez finished off the left edge from about 12 yards.
“They shifted, and they found the open man,” Escobar said. “The last pass from my angle was tough to see, but he obviously finished it.”
Many Payton players, devastated and heartbroken, were too emotional to speak about the game afterward.
Payton generated a lot of activity, evidenced by the two corner kicks in the opening half-minute of play.
Kai Torres, who was accurate and precise in his placement, repeatedly served the ball into dangerous locations.
One of the best chances came in the 40th minute. It originated from his corner on the right edge.
The ball seemed almost stuck in time, loose on the ground with the Grizzlies unable to get that necessary final touch.
“It felt like there was a lid on the goal for us,” Escobar said.
“We had our opportunities, including that one in the middle at the end of the half. It just always felt like we were an inch or two off.”
The early goal permitted the Patriots the chance to play conservatively and flood the zone with defenders, making it difficult for the Grizzlies to create open windows or sufficient space.
The Patriots were 10-1-0 in their last 11 games. The city championship was their only defeat during that run.
They beat a solid Marist team 3-1 on the RedHawks home field Saturday.
Washington was highly disciplined, especially defensively. They were able to disrupt the Grizzlies attack and create pressure without fouling.
Washington (18-4-2) did not commit a single foul in their defensive final third, depriving the Grizzlies of dangerous set piece opportunities.
“They sat back, and they were hard to penetrate,” Escobar said. “They marked our guys, and it was hard for us to create chances.”
Cozuc had another dangerous moment in the 64th minute, utilizing his jet speed to get to the right edge.
He unleashed a ball from 16 yards that Patriots’ keeper Brayan Lozano made a quick and impressive stop on.
Just as he did against Solorio on Saturday, Payton keeper Alex Freehling was accomplished in his own right.
He made five saves, including a spectacular diving stop early in the second half.
He kept the Grizzlies close, ably relying on his quickness and keen anticipation in reading the game.
Freehling earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match distinction for his excellent play.
Payton refused to give in until the final seconds melted off the clock. Hope was alive until the final moments when the ball left Freehling deep in the Grizzlies own end.
“I always say the game is never over until the last whistle,” Escobar said. “Any time there’s time on the clock, I always feel like we had a chance to put one in.
“Obviously, the clock beat us, and so did Washington.”
Even against the backdrop of a crushing defeat, Payton had much to celebrate.
“I was telling the boys after the game heads up and chests out,” Escobar said.
“We made history for CPS (Chicago Public Schools), for our school, and we put our program on the map.”
The state tournament format disproportionately shapes how the season is defined.
The suddenness of how the season ended in no way tarnishes or undercuts the significance of a program’s achievements.
“Right now, it’s raw, and this is the climax,” said senior Grizzlies midfielder Theo Goldman.
“I a so happy to be with them, and experience this with them and be on the sidelines.”
Goldman provided context and comfort to a team reeling with sorrow and disappointment.
“This is like the best group of guys I have ever been with,” he said.
“I’ve been with most of them since freshman year when we all first walked in. I remember the day we had tryouts, and seeing how dominant so many of them were. It felt like a miracle all of these players were on the same team.”
Payton started eight seniors who formed the framework of the dominant run. Cupps said earlier many of the players had known each other since grammar school.
The Grizzlies flashed their promise during the abbreviated spring campaign, going 7-2-1 and averaging nearly four goals a game.
Cupps and Cozuc were the foundational talents, athletic and dynamic playmakers whose ability to create off movement and with the ball optimized the offensive attack.
The Grizzlies scored 112 goals on the season and conceded just 19.
That 93-goal differential was one of the best marks in the state.
“I loved that it was a whole team effort,” Escobar said. “If you don’t have guys around Bobby and Lucas who can get them the ball, you can have great players, but they can’t score.
“I was proud to coach all of them.”
Cupps and midfielders Oliver Bruce and David McLone were the team captains.
Escobar called two-way standout Blair Warren the unofficial “fourth captain.” His flair for dramatic sequences in the most important games was the other linking thread that allowed the disparate parts of the team to flourish.
Warren scored the game-winning goals against Lane in the city semifinals and Solorio on Saturday.
Senior Sam McIllrath was the other crucial piece who solidified the back with his heady and natural style.
“I’m going to remember a lot about this team, but especially the seniors and meeting them when they were young,” Escobar said.
“I remember talking with my dad, and some of the other coaches that when these guys get up to their junior and senior year, we are going to have a good team.”
This marked a pause, of sorts.
With three junior starters in midfielders Evan Rainville and Brit Rothstein and defender Carlos Pichardo, the program is likely to continue its ascent. Key reserve Marcel Kubik adds to the promise.
“The future is bright for us,” Escobar said. “The seniors set the standards, and now it’s up to the rest of us to keep it up there.”
Starting lineups
Washington
GK: Brayan Lozano
D: Christian Ramirez
D: Giovanni Rosas
D: Julian Martinez
D: Sebastian Ramirez
MF: Christopher Gomez
MF: Cesar Martinez
MF: Christian Aparicio
MF: Angelo Williams
F: Leonardo Solis
F: Angel Huerta
Payton
GK: Alex Freehling
D: David McLone
D: Sam McIllrath
D: Carlos Pichardo
D: Blair Warren
MF: Olivier Bruce
MF: Evan Rainville
MF: Brit Rothstein
MF: Kai Torres
F: Bobby Cupps
F: Lucas Cozuc
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Alex Freehling, sr., GK, Payton
Scoring summary
First half
Washington—Christian Ramirez (Julian Martinez), 16th minute
Second half
No scoring
to an end against Washington
Scoring magic eludes Grizzlies in supersectional loss
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO -- The magic of the Payton season came down to a singular truth.
The Grizzlies were loaded with problem-solvers.
Every time the team faced a difficult moment, or had to deliver in the clutch or find a way to extricate themselves out of a tough spot, Payton had the answers.
The moment was years in the making.
“When this senior class were freshmen, I coached the varsity and the JV in the same year,” Payton coach Paul Escobar said.
“That’s when I met all of these guys. I knew they were special from the tryouts. I knew once they grew into their bodies a little bit and matured, they were a next-level team.”
The wins and the accomplishments piled up to the point it became virtually impossible to track everything: 19 wins in a row; an undefeated record in the Premier Division North; the first city tournament championship in program history; and the first sectional title.
“We set our goals,” senior forward Bobby Cupps said after the sectional victory over Solorio.
“Some of the guys had city finals and state finals on their screen savers. All of us thought we were the best team in the state.”
The Grizzlies’ dream season ended with a code they couldn't crack. Premier Division South rival Washington prevailed with a 1-0 win in the Class AA supersectional at Brother Rice on Tuesday night.
Payton (22-2-3) beat the Patriots 3-1 in the city championship at Lane Stadium on October 14.
Senior forward Lucas Cozuc scored two goals that game.
The tense and excruciating divide between that glorious night and the rematch played out in the 75th minute on a sharp touch by Cozuc that was just high off frame.
“You have to give Washington credit,” Escobar said. “They came out and played well, and they took advantage of their opportunity.
“They’re a great team, and it’s never easy to beat a team twice in the same year.”
Christian Ramirez scored off a counter in the 16th minute, stunning the Grizzlies after a pass from Julian Martinez.
Ramirez finished off the left edge from about 12 yards.
“They shifted, and they found the open man,” Escobar said. “The last pass from my angle was tough to see, but he obviously finished it.”
Many Payton players, devastated and heartbroken, were too emotional to speak about the game afterward.
Payton generated a lot of activity, evidenced by the two corner kicks in the opening half-minute of play.
Kai Torres, who was accurate and precise in his placement, repeatedly served the ball into dangerous locations.
One of the best chances came in the 40th minute. It originated from his corner on the right edge.
The ball seemed almost stuck in time, loose on the ground with the Grizzlies unable to get that necessary final touch.
“It felt like there was a lid on the goal for us,” Escobar said.
“We had our opportunities, including that one in the middle at the end of the half. It just always felt like we were an inch or two off.”
The early goal permitted the Patriots the chance to play conservatively and flood the zone with defenders, making it difficult for the Grizzlies to create open windows or sufficient space.
The Patriots were 10-1-0 in their last 11 games. The city championship was their only defeat during that run.
They beat a solid Marist team 3-1 on the RedHawks home field Saturday.
Washington was highly disciplined, especially defensively. They were able to disrupt the Grizzlies attack and create pressure without fouling.
Washington (18-4-2) did not commit a single foul in their defensive final third, depriving the Grizzlies of dangerous set piece opportunities.
“They sat back, and they were hard to penetrate,” Escobar said. “They marked our guys, and it was hard for us to create chances.”
Cozuc had another dangerous moment in the 64th minute, utilizing his jet speed to get to the right edge.
He unleashed a ball from 16 yards that Patriots’ keeper Brayan Lozano made a quick and impressive stop on.
Just as he did against Solorio on Saturday, Payton keeper Alex Freehling was accomplished in his own right.
He made five saves, including a spectacular diving stop early in the second half.
He kept the Grizzlies close, ably relying on his quickness and keen anticipation in reading the game.
Freehling earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match distinction for his excellent play.
Payton refused to give in until the final seconds melted off the clock. Hope was alive until the final moments when the ball left Freehling deep in the Grizzlies own end.
“I always say the game is never over until the last whistle,” Escobar said. “Any time there’s time on the clock, I always feel like we had a chance to put one in.
“Obviously, the clock beat us, and so did Washington.”
Even against the backdrop of a crushing defeat, Payton had much to celebrate.
“I was telling the boys after the game heads up and chests out,” Escobar said.
“We made history for CPS (Chicago Public Schools), for our school, and we put our program on the map.”
The state tournament format disproportionately shapes how the season is defined.
The suddenness of how the season ended in no way tarnishes or undercuts the significance of a program’s achievements.
“Right now, it’s raw, and this is the climax,” said senior Grizzlies midfielder Theo Goldman.
“I a so happy to be with them, and experience this with them and be on the sidelines.”
Goldman provided context and comfort to a team reeling with sorrow and disappointment.
“This is like the best group of guys I have ever been with,” he said.
“I’ve been with most of them since freshman year when we all first walked in. I remember the day we had tryouts, and seeing how dominant so many of them were. It felt like a miracle all of these players were on the same team.”
Payton started eight seniors who formed the framework of the dominant run. Cupps said earlier many of the players had known each other since grammar school.
The Grizzlies flashed their promise during the abbreviated spring campaign, going 7-2-1 and averaging nearly four goals a game.
Cupps and Cozuc were the foundational talents, athletic and dynamic playmakers whose ability to create off movement and with the ball optimized the offensive attack.
The Grizzlies scored 112 goals on the season and conceded just 19.
That 93-goal differential was one of the best marks in the state.
“I loved that it was a whole team effort,” Escobar said. “If you don’t have guys around Bobby and Lucas who can get them the ball, you can have great players, but they can’t score.
“I was proud to coach all of them.”
Cupps and midfielders Oliver Bruce and David McLone were the team captains.
Escobar called two-way standout Blair Warren the unofficial “fourth captain.” His flair for dramatic sequences in the most important games was the other linking thread that allowed the disparate parts of the team to flourish.
Warren scored the game-winning goals against Lane in the city semifinals and Solorio on Saturday.
Senior Sam McIllrath was the other crucial piece who solidified the back with his heady and natural style.
“I’m going to remember a lot about this team, but especially the seniors and meeting them when they were young,” Escobar said.
“I remember talking with my dad, and some of the other coaches that when these guys get up to their junior and senior year, we are going to have a good team.”
This marked a pause, of sorts.
With three junior starters in midfielders Evan Rainville and Brit Rothstein and defender Carlos Pichardo, the program is likely to continue its ascent. Key reserve Marcel Kubik adds to the promise.
“The future is bright for us,” Escobar said. “The seniors set the standards, and now it’s up to the rest of us to keep it up there.”
Starting lineups
Washington
GK: Brayan Lozano
D: Christian Ramirez
D: Giovanni Rosas
D: Julian Martinez
D: Sebastian Ramirez
MF: Christopher Gomez
MF: Cesar Martinez
MF: Christian Aparicio
MF: Angelo Williams
F: Leonardo Solis
F: Angel Huerta
Payton
GK: Alex Freehling
D: David McLone
D: Sam McIllrath
D: Carlos Pichardo
D: Blair Warren
MF: Olivier Bruce
MF: Evan Rainville
MF: Brit Rothstein
MF: Kai Torres
F: Bobby Cupps
F: Lucas Cozuc
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Alex Freehling, sr., GK, Payton
Scoring summary
First half
Washington—Christian Ramirez (Julian Martinez), 16th minute
Second half
No scoring