McConnell, Saint Ignatius
can't fend off Payton
GK makes 9 saves against city champion Grizzlies in 3-1 loss
By Patrick Z. McGavin
BURBANK -- By all rights, Saint Ignatius had little chance against Chicago Public League regular-season and tournament champion Payton.
The Grizzlies entered the sectional round hitting on all cylinders and riding a 17-game winning streak, while Saint Ignatius had attacking midfielder Isaac Rice, the best pure offensive talent on the team, on the sidelines.
A nettlesome stress fracture in his foot limited the senior to just six games. A state-caliber sprinter, his speed, athleticism and size made him a top player on the Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List.
The Wolfpack posted quality wins this season, most recently a regional championship score over 2019 Class A state champion University (Chicago).
“Our coach told us before the game to come out (of the game) with nothing left,” junior keeper Liam McConnell said. “We took that to heart. I took that personally, and I just wanted to put my body on the line.”
McConnell personified the toughness, resilience and pride of a team that played with purpose, intelligence and skill, even during moments when the game and its narratives worked against them.
McConnell’s spectacular play elevated the Wolfpack and helped unnerve the Grizzlies.
“We got rattled that first half,” Payton defender Blair Warren said. “They were winning all the 50/50 balls, the headers and the tackles.”
Payton seized control with two goals in the opening four minutes of the second half and went on to a 3-1 victory in a Class AA sectional semifinal at St. Laurence before a crowd of about 500 Wednesday night.
Payton (21-1-3) advances to play city rival Solorio, who defeated the host Vikings 2-1 in the second semifinal. Payton will play for the first sectional title in program history Saturday morning.
Saint Ignatius (7-7-5) fought with heart, hustle and a belief they were the equal of the Grizzlies.
That manifested itself in multiple ways: the tightness and cohesion in the back; the elevated play of McConnell and players like Oscar Quinn-Pasin; and superb efforts from Charlie Kennedy, Dillion Kraft and Christian Carr.
The Wolfpack showed grace and style under pressure. They gave their all.
“The whole season, we definitely faced a majority of obstacles,” McConnell said. “We had Isaac out for most of the season. We had a lot of guys miss games here and there.
“We really fought through it and made ourselves and our coaches proud.”
Despite the unfavorable conditions, Saint Ignatius played the Grizzlies even in the first half.
Payton features a lethal two-man attack at the top of the formation with Bobby Cupps and Lucas Cozuc.
Cupps scored in the 16th minute by finishing two feet away off a corner kick served by Kai Torres from the left edge.
Otherwise, McConnell was airtight throughout the first half, demonstrating range, great timing and the perfect anticipatory sense of knowing where the Grizzlies’ shooters were inclined to go with the ball.
He made a spectacular kick save off a Cupps short ball that appeared a certain goal in the 36th minute.
“I was just into it,” McConnell said. “It was the playoffs, and the energy was really high. I
just really wanted it.”
Saint Ignatius created the equalizer in the 24th minute after midfielder Brody Hanlon attacked, created a loose ball and got control.
The Payton players appeared to freeze, thinking a foul was going to be called.
Play continued and Hanlon slotted a ball to Quinn-Pasin at the top of the box where he blasted home his team-best 13th goal.
“Brody did a great job of pressing, and he won the ball,” Quinn-Pasin said. “I think everybody thought it was going to be called a foul, and it wasn’t.
“I was very proud of this team. I think we went into this season, and this game is a very good way.”
Quinn-Pasin’s emergence as one the state’s top sophomores has been a significant story for the Wolfpack. He is creative and explosive with the ball. He plays with great balance and shows great vision.
The absence of Rice did more than bolster his offensive profile. It urged him to step up and play with confidence and verve. He never turned back from the challenge.
“I think I came into this game thinking about how I could change the game, or find a way to impact the game,” he said.
In the end, Payton’s arsenal and its ability to create chances from multiple angles proved too much for the Wolfpack to overcome.
The Grizzlies shocked the Wolfpack by scoring 15 seconds into the start of the second half.
Midfielder Oliver Bruce got the edge off the kick off and hammered home a ball from the deep, right corner that caught inside the far post from about 14 yards.
“They caught us a little cold,” coach Matt Miller said. “At the halftime talk, we were focusing on how to break them down. We talked about pride, and keeping our effort high up there.
“I think we just had a lackadaisical moment.”
Payton broke the game open moments later.
Pressure by Cupps yielded a deep turnover. He dropped the ball for Cozuc, who wheeled with his back to the goal from about 15 yards and fired into a left-footed ball.
Cozuc scored a nearly identical goal against Washington in the city championship game.
“That third goal was a bit of a killer blow,” Miller said. “Yet the drive was still there for us to win the game.
“That’s been the story of our season playing against the likes of some very big 3A schools and getting some victories.”
The Wolfpack's efforts were hampered when Kennedy, Hanlon and midfielder David Jacobo left the game with injuries.
Saint Ignatius persevered and mounted several dynamic plays of their own. It did not change the outcome of the game.
They wrote their own story and made their own statement.
“I just told the guys how proud we were,” Miller said. “They left it all on the field. Only one team can win, and I think we might have lost to the best team in the state.”
The postgame moment was emotional and reflective.
“We made the school proud,” said McConnell, who earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match distinction for his nine-save performance.
The team had plenty of high moments to celebrate this season, most significantly a win over Mount Carmel and playing Jesuit rival Loyola to a tie.
The players' time together proved special.
“I think the fight to play to the very end shows our spirit and relentless style,” Miller said. “We have a lot to be proud of.”
Starting lineups
Saint Ignatius
GK: Liam McConnell
D: Nathan Schneider
D: Lucas Hanna
D: Billy Thompson
D: Christian Rodriguez
MF: Tyler Masseur
MF: Charlie Kennedy
MF: Jack Lowe
MF: Brody Hanlon
MF: Dillion Kraft
F: Christian Carr
Payton
GK: Alex Freehling
D: Evan Rainville
D: Sam McIllrath
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: Liam McConnell, jr., GK, Saint Ignatius
Scoring summary
First half
Payton—Bobby Cupps (Kai Torres), 16th minute
Saint Ignatius—Oscar Quinn-Pasin (Jaxson Hanlon), 24th minute
Second half
Payton—Oliver Bruce (Evan Rainvillle), 41st minute
Payton—Lucas Cozuc (Cupps), 44th minute
can't fend off Payton
GK makes 9 saves against city champion Grizzlies in 3-1 loss
By Patrick Z. McGavin
BURBANK -- By all rights, Saint Ignatius had little chance against Chicago Public League regular-season and tournament champion Payton.
The Grizzlies entered the sectional round hitting on all cylinders and riding a 17-game winning streak, while Saint Ignatius had attacking midfielder Isaac Rice, the best pure offensive talent on the team, on the sidelines.
A nettlesome stress fracture in his foot limited the senior to just six games. A state-caliber sprinter, his speed, athleticism and size made him a top player on the Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List.
The Wolfpack posted quality wins this season, most recently a regional championship score over 2019 Class A state champion University (Chicago).
“Our coach told us before the game to come out (of the game) with nothing left,” junior keeper Liam McConnell said. “We took that to heart. I took that personally, and I just wanted to put my body on the line.”
McConnell personified the toughness, resilience and pride of a team that played with purpose, intelligence and skill, even during moments when the game and its narratives worked against them.
McConnell’s spectacular play elevated the Wolfpack and helped unnerve the Grizzlies.
“We got rattled that first half,” Payton defender Blair Warren said. “They were winning all the 50/50 balls, the headers and the tackles.”
Payton seized control with two goals in the opening four minutes of the second half and went on to a 3-1 victory in a Class AA sectional semifinal at St. Laurence before a crowd of about 500 Wednesday night.
Payton (21-1-3) advances to play city rival Solorio, who defeated the host Vikings 2-1 in the second semifinal. Payton will play for the first sectional title in program history Saturday morning.
Saint Ignatius (7-7-5) fought with heart, hustle and a belief they were the equal of the Grizzlies.
That manifested itself in multiple ways: the tightness and cohesion in the back; the elevated play of McConnell and players like Oscar Quinn-Pasin; and superb efforts from Charlie Kennedy, Dillion Kraft and Christian Carr.
The Wolfpack showed grace and style under pressure. They gave their all.
“The whole season, we definitely faced a majority of obstacles,” McConnell said. “We had Isaac out for most of the season. We had a lot of guys miss games here and there.
“We really fought through it and made ourselves and our coaches proud.”
Despite the unfavorable conditions, Saint Ignatius played the Grizzlies even in the first half.
Payton features a lethal two-man attack at the top of the formation with Bobby Cupps and Lucas Cozuc.
Cupps scored in the 16th minute by finishing two feet away off a corner kick served by Kai Torres from the left edge.
Otherwise, McConnell was airtight throughout the first half, demonstrating range, great timing and the perfect anticipatory sense of knowing where the Grizzlies’ shooters were inclined to go with the ball.
He made a spectacular kick save off a Cupps short ball that appeared a certain goal in the 36th minute.
“I was just into it,” McConnell said. “It was the playoffs, and the energy was really high. I
just really wanted it.”
Saint Ignatius created the equalizer in the 24th minute after midfielder Brody Hanlon attacked, created a loose ball and got control.
The Payton players appeared to freeze, thinking a foul was going to be called.
Play continued and Hanlon slotted a ball to Quinn-Pasin at the top of the box where he blasted home his team-best 13th goal.
“Brody did a great job of pressing, and he won the ball,” Quinn-Pasin said. “I think everybody thought it was going to be called a foul, and it wasn’t.
“I was very proud of this team. I think we went into this season, and this game is a very good way.”
Quinn-Pasin’s emergence as one the state’s top sophomores has been a significant story for the Wolfpack. He is creative and explosive with the ball. He plays with great balance and shows great vision.
The absence of Rice did more than bolster his offensive profile. It urged him to step up and play with confidence and verve. He never turned back from the challenge.
“I think I came into this game thinking about how I could change the game, or find a way to impact the game,” he said.
In the end, Payton’s arsenal and its ability to create chances from multiple angles proved too much for the Wolfpack to overcome.
The Grizzlies shocked the Wolfpack by scoring 15 seconds into the start of the second half.
Midfielder Oliver Bruce got the edge off the kick off and hammered home a ball from the deep, right corner that caught inside the far post from about 14 yards.
“They caught us a little cold,” coach Matt Miller said. “At the halftime talk, we were focusing on how to break them down. We talked about pride, and keeping our effort high up there.
“I think we just had a lackadaisical moment.”
Payton broke the game open moments later.
Pressure by Cupps yielded a deep turnover. He dropped the ball for Cozuc, who wheeled with his back to the goal from about 15 yards and fired into a left-footed ball.
Cozuc scored a nearly identical goal against Washington in the city championship game.
“That third goal was a bit of a killer blow,” Miller said. “Yet the drive was still there for us to win the game.
“That’s been the story of our season playing against the likes of some very big 3A schools and getting some victories.”
The Wolfpack's efforts were hampered when Kennedy, Hanlon and midfielder David Jacobo left the game with injuries.
Saint Ignatius persevered and mounted several dynamic plays of their own. It did not change the outcome of the game.
They wrote their own story and made their own statement.
“I just told the guys how proud we were,” Miller said. “They left it all on the field. Only one team can win, and I think we might have lost to the best team in the state.”
The postgame moment was emotional and reflective.
“We made the school proud,” said McConnell, who earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match distinction for his nine-save performance.
The team had plenty of high moments to celebrate this season, most significantly a win over Mount Carmel and playing Jesuit rival Loyola to a tie.
The players' time together proved special.
“I think the fight to play to the very end shows our spirit and relentless style,” Miller said. “We have a lot to be proud of.”
Starting lineups
Saint Ignatius
GK: Liam McConnell
D: Nathan Schneider
D: Lucas Hanna
D: Billy Thompson
D: Christian Rodriguez
MF: Tyler Masseur
MF: Charlie Kennedy
MF: Jack Lowe
MF: Brody Hanlon
MF: Dillion Kraft
F: Christian Carr
Payton
GK: Alex Freehling
D: Evan Rainville
D: Sam McIllrath
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: Liam McConnell, jr., GK, Saint Ignatius
Scoring summary
First half
Payton—Bobby Cupps (Kai Torres), 16th minute
Saint Ignatius—Oscar Quinn-Pasin (Jaxson Hanlon), 24th minute
Second half
Payton—Oliver Bruce (Evan Rainvillle), 41st minute
Payton—Lucas Cozuc (Cupps), 44th minute