Washington upstages Young’s control
Solis goal beats Dolphins 1-0 for city finals berth
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO -- Coaches are naturally protective of their own team. They are also realistic enough to admit what is plainly evident. By any appreciable metric, Young had the better play against Washington. The Dolphins had four or five clear scoring opportunities. Every time the ball had other ideas.
“It was one of those games where the opponent deserved to win the game,” Washington coach Alvaro Perez said. “Again, it comes down to who scores the goal.”
Young had the superior control, possession time and quality of play though finally the Patriots’ senior midfielder Albert Solis had the only moment that mattered. His beautiful shot from just outside the top of the box in the 62nd minute punched Washington’s ticket to the city title game with a 1-0 victory over Young in the second semifinal Tuesday night at Lane.
The Patriots (13-4-3) advanced to the city title against defending city champion Lane (12-4-2) at noon Saturday at Brooks High School. Washington administered the Indians’ only loss in Premier Division play, a 2-0 home victory September 20.
Washington is seeking its first city title in program history. The Patriots, who won the Class AA state title in 2013, lost to Kelly in the 2010 city final.
After Patriots' forward Angel Arismendiz delivered a sharp cross to set up for the scoring sequence, Solis registered his 10th goal of the year as Washington countered off a Young push to catch the Dolphins off guard.
Solis received the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor for his game-changing strike.
“We were defending, and it was a big attack against us,” Solis said. “Our center backs hit it out and we developed it on the right flank. (Arismendiz) passed it to me, and I just made a little cut, and I shot it. The difference there was we also played the ball on the floor more, because I think until then we were trying to play in the air more. From the defense to the middle to the forward, we got the ball on the floor more and that resulted in the goal.”
Washington uses its speed to offset its lack of size.
“Our team is full of speed, and once we get that touch it is just magical,” Arismendiz said. “We got the ball from the center backs and then I got the ball. I just knew when he got the shot, the ball was going to go in.”
It was a stunning reversal for the Dolphins (12-5-4), who played Washington to a 2-2 draw in Premier play. Young dominated the second half as forward Evan Wimberly, who was spectacular in the city tournament, hit the post in the 42nd minute. Young applied considerable pressure -- Washington keeper Jesus Lozano had six saves, four in the second half.
He also made a diving stop against a left-footed blast by Young star midfielder Josue Espinoza. On three different occasions in the second half, Young players overplayed or put too much force on balls in front of an exposed or open Washington goal.
“The pressure of the moment, the conditions being what they were,” Young coach Ian McCarthy said. “It was a sloppy game, and sometimes I think we just tried to overpower the ball when we probably just had to get a little (touch) on it. It was not the prettiest game for either team. We had some good chances, but you have to put shots on goal. They were able to put one on.
“We were able to deflect it a little bit, but a beautiful shot, it went upper 90.”
Young overcame a slow start to become one of the best and most dangerous teams in the city. The Dolphins closed out the regular season on a 12-2-3 tear. McCarthy switched the formation to utilize Wimberly’s speed and quickness in space. He scored both goals in Young's 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Lincoln Park.
The Dolphins reached the city semifinals for the fifth time in program history, and the first since 2014. Young had Washington repeatedly on the ropes. The team’s strong tournament run symbolized the growth that manifested itself game to game and sometimes half to half. Young was a different team after the intermission..
“I think the guys learned to trust each other this season,” McCarthy said. “We know we can play pretty well. I think we sat back a little too much in the first half. Maybe our nerves were acting up. At halftime we just said, let’s go out there and aggressive. We had chance after chance.”
The loss was a disappointing one. It does not detract from the Dolphins’ breakout season, a year after they were relegated and forced to win the First Division in order to return to Premier play.
“I think once get to the Final Four, you realize you are one of the better teams,” McCarthy said. “The city is a little different, where you have this high stakes, glory kind of tournament before an even bigger (state) tournament. Hopefully we can get a regional title. Ultimately we know we can win a couple of (state tournament) games. We will give them some time off, we will watch the city final and get our spirits back up and the seniors have to realize this is our last chance to win something.”
Washington held off Young just enough.
“(Solis) has been doing that for us the whole season,” Perez said. “We know that opponents are going to try and play against us in the air. We are a small team for the most part. When we get the ball on the ground that is when we are at our best. We did not get to shoot a lot, but again, we got the shot that we needed, and we won.”
The city title appearance also makes up for the Patriots’ disappointing final Premier Division game. Washington held a one-point lead over Lane and Young before getting stunned by Sullivan 3-2 that deprived the Patriots of the regular-season title.
“We beat (Lane) during the regular season,” Solis said. “It was a good game, and that gives us some confidence.”
By reaching the final Lane, forced tournament officials to move the title game to a neutral site.
“A neutral location is the best,” Perez said. “Lane is a beautiful stadium, but they get a real advantage when they get to play here for the city title. Now it’s going to be 50-50, us or them. Hopefully it will be us.”
Starting lineups
Young
GK: Dixon O’Banion
D: Esme McCarthy
D: Alex Espino
D: Jonathan Perez
D: Jake Davidson
MF: Leo Daley
MF: Josue Espinoza
MF: Francisco Rojas
MF: Jake Gerenraich
F: Evan Wimberly
F: Aidan Chapman
Washington
GK: Jesus Lozano
D: Kevin Delgadillo
D: Leonardo Carillo
D: Guierllmo Gudino
D: Jose Valadez
MF: Felipe Ramirez
MF: Adrian Yanez
MF: Martin Mendoza
MF: Alberto Solis
MF: Juan Antonio Garibay
F: Angel Arismendiz
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Alberto Solis, sr., MF, Washington
Scoring summary
Second half
Washington—Albert Solis (Angel Arismendiz), 62nd minute
Solis goal beats Dolphins 1-0 for city finals berth
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO -- Coaches are naturally protective of their own team. They are also realistic enough to admit what is plainly evident. By any appreciable metric, Young had the better play against Washington. The Dolphins had four or five clear scoring opportunities. Every time the ball had other ideas.
“It was one of those games where the opponent deserved to win the game,” Washington coach Alvaro Perez said. “Again, it comes down to who scores the goal.”
Young had the superior control, possession time and quality of play though finally the Patriots’ senior midfielder Albert Solis had the only moment that mattered. His beautiful shot from just outside the top of the box in the 62nd minute punched Washington’s ticket to the city title game with a 1-0 victory over Young in the second semifinal Tuesday night at Lane.
The Patriots (13-4-3) advanced to the city title against defending city champion Lane (12-4-2) at noon Saturday at Brooks High School. Washington administered the Indians’ only loss in Premier Division play, a 2-0 home victory September 20.
Washington is seeking its first city title in program history. The Patriots, who won the Class AA state title in 2013, lost to Kelly in the 2010 city final.
After Patriots' forward Angel Arismendiz delivered a sharp cross to set up for the scoring sequence, Solis registered his 10th goal of the year as Washington countered off a Young push to catch the Dolphins off guard.
Solis received the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honor for his game-changing strike.
“We were defending, and it was a big attack against us,” Solis said. “Our center backs hit it out and we developed it on the right flank. (Arismendiz) passed it to me, and I just made a little cut, and I shot it. The difference there was we also played the ball on the floor more, because I think until then we were trying to play in the air more. From the defense to the middle to the forward, we got the ball on the floor more and that resulted in the goal.”
Washington uses its speed to offset its lack of size.
“Our team is full of speed, and once we get that touch it is just magical,” Arismendiz said. “We got the ball from the center backs and then I got the ball. I just knew when he got the shot, the ball was going to go in.”
It was a stunning reversal for the Dolphins (12-5-4), who played Washington to a 2-2 draw in Premier play. Young dominated the second half as forward Evan Wimberly, who was spectacular in the city tournament, hit the post in the 42nd minute. Young applied considerable pressure -- Washington keeper Jesus Lozano had six saves, four in the second half.
He also made a diving stop against a left-footed blast by Young star midfielder Josue Espinoza. On three different occasions in the second half, Young players overplayed or put too much force on balls in front of an exposed or open Washington goal.
“The pressure of the moment, the conditions being what they were,” Young coach Ian McCarthy said. “It was a sloppy game, and sometimes I think we just tried to overpower the ball when we probably just had to get a little (touch) on it. It was not the prettiest game for either team. We had some good chances, but you have to put shots on goal. They were able to put one on.
“We were able to deflect it a little bit, but a beautiful shot, it went upper 90.”
Young overcame a slow start to become one of the best and most dangerous teams in the city. The Dolphins closed out the regular season on a 12-2-3 tear. McCarthy switched the formation to utilize Wimberly’s speed and quickness in space. He scored both goals in Young's 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Lincoln Park.
The Dolphins reached the city semifinals for the fifth time in program history, and the first since 2014. Young had Washington repeatedly on the ropes. The team’s strong tournament run symbolized the growth that manifested itself game to game and sometimes half to half. Young was a different team after the intermission..
“I think the guys learned to trust each other this season,” McCarthy said. “We know we can play pretty well. I think we sat back a little too much in the first half. Maybe our nerves were acting up. At halftime we just said, let’s go out there and aggressive. We had chance after chance.”
The loss was a disappointing one. It does not detract from the Dolphins’ breakout season, a year after they were relegated and forced to win the First Division in order to return to Premier play.
“I think once get to the Final Four, you realize you are one of the better teams,” McCarthy said. “The city is a little different, where you have this high stakes, glory kind of tournament before an even bigger (state) tournament. Hopefully we can get a regional title. Ultimately we know we can win a couple of (state tournament) games. We will give them some time off, we will watch the city final and get our spirits back up and the seniors have to realize this is our last chance to win something.”
Washington held off Young just enough.
“(Solis) has been doing that for us the whole season,” Perez said. “We know that opponents are going to try and play against us in the air. We are a small team for the most part. When we get the ball on the ground that is when we are at our best. We did not get to shoot a lot, but again, we got the shot that we needed, and we won.”
The city title appearance also makes up for the Patriots’ disappointing final Premier Division game. Washington held a one-point lead over Lane and Young before getting stunned by Sullivan 3-2 that deprived the Patriots of the regular-season title.
“We beat (Lane) during the regular season,” Solis said. “It was a good game, and that gives us some confidence.”
By reaching the final Lane, forced tournament officials to move the title game to a neutral site.
“A neutral location is the best,” Perez said. “Lane is a beautiful stadium, but they get a real advantage when they get to play here for the city title. Now it’s going to be 50-50, us or them. Hopefully it will be us.”
Starting lineups
Young
GK: Dixon O’Banion
D: Esme McCarthy
D: Alex Espino
D: Jonathan Perez
D: Jake Davidson
MF: Leo Daley
MF: Josue Espinoza
MF: Francisco Rojas
MF: Jake Gerenraich
F: Evan Wimberly
F: Aidan Chapman
Washington
GK: Jesus Lozano
D: Kevin Delgadillo
D: Leonardo Carillo
D: Guierllmo Gudino
D: Jose Valadez
MF: Felipe Ramirez
MF: Adrian Yanez
MF: Martin Mendoza
MF: Alberto Solis
MF: Juan Antonio Garibay
F: Angel Arismendiz
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Alberto Solis, sr., MF, Washington
Scoring summary
Second half
Washington—Albert Solis (Angel Arismendiz), 62nd minute