Musgrove's great shot
leads Lyons past Loyola
Undefeated Lions win Group 3 with 1-0 win, advance to semis
By Dave Owen
WESTERN SPRINGS -- A soccer future at the Air Force Academy in Colorado awaits Eleanor Musgrove this fall.
And the Lyons senior came through in the clutch Wednesday, fittingly through the air, to keep her team flying high.
In a hard-fought battle with 14th-ranked Loyola in their final Group C of the Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic, Musgrove’s great long-range accuracy was the difference in a 1-0 win for the undefeated no. 3 Lions (7-0-0).
After Loyola (8-3-1) had the first shot on goal (three minutes in) and corner kick (13th minute), the host Lions were the first in the column that matters most 24:23 before halftime.
Off an Ava Pike throw-in near midfield, Chandlar Lay flicked a header towards Musgrove 45 yards from goal. Musgrove did the rest, racing up the right sideline and looping a 28-yard shot into the upper left corner of the net to put Lyons up 1-0.
“I saw the goalie off her line, and I thought I could chip her,” Musgrove said. “So, that's what I did.”
Musgrove’s sixth goal of 2022 would be hard to top based on distance and importance to the score.
“She made a great play,” Lyons coach Bill Lanspeary said. “She got her head up, thought she had a chance to get that over the keeper’s head and hit it really well.”
On a day of heavy mid-afternoon rains and threatening forecasts throughout the game, the 1-0 lead was vital.
“We were actually talking about that (weather) before the game,” Musgrove said. “You never know if they call it off, and you have to end with a tie. So, we talked about that at the beginning in our little (pregame) huddle, that we need to get out there and score early and put them on their heels. I'm glad we did that.”
The rains never came, but neither did any more scoring as the two defenses put on a bend-but-don’t-break clinic.
Before Musgrove’s goal came a nice block and clear by Loyola’s Eva Pattison of a Katie O’Malley-Riley Wengerd attack. The Ramblers Kathryn Diblik deflected an Emily Pikarski corner kick just wide in an early battle of dueling chances.
Then with the score 1-0, the defenses really kicked in and locked down.
Izzi Wirtz nicely broke up a Loyola attack 20 yards out in the 18th minute.
Next came a great Lyons chance on a Kate Fulscher 24-yard free kick in the 20th minute -- and a big Loyola defensive play.
Fulscher’s initial drive deflected off the hands of Loyola goalkeeper Ellie Bradley. On a rebound try in front, Ramblers defender Ellianna Seeley saved the day with a blocked shot at the goal line.
Loyola later turned a Lyons offensive end throw-in into a counterattack. In the 27th minute, the University of Iowa-bound Pattison made a long clear upfield of the Lions toss to set up a threat that ended with Emma Shafer’s two-hop shot on goal.
“I feel like our backline, Emily Pikarski, Ellianna Seeley, Eva Pattison and Maria Nikas have really done a nice job of staying organized and winning the ball,” Loyola coach Shannon Hartinger said. “And I thought our midfield tonight did a nice job. Kaitlyn Kurtz in particular did a really nice job of winning a lot of 50/50 balls.
“Our emphasis has really been on our team defending and trying to press teams higher up the field, and I feel like we did a good job tonight of disrupting some of the things they like to do. They are a team like us that likes to keep possession and move the ball, and I think we disrupted that.”
Loyola goalkeeper Bennett denied quality Lions threats in the: 31st minute (an end line Caroline McKenna chip saved in a crowd); in the 32nd minute (a 35-yard Fulscher free kick saved): and 1:10 before halftime (Wirtz’s shot off a Musgrove corner kick stopped at the right post by the keeper).
The Ramblers’ best chance of the half came in the 24th minute when a Diblik shot angled just wide of diving Lyons goalkeeper Izzy Lee and the lower right corner of the net.
Defensive dominance has been a growing trend for the Lions: Wednesday marked their sixth shutout in a row.
“I think we're really good at communicating and managing,” senior defender Fulscher said. “When there's a fast break, everyone needs to know where they need to go. And also our wides are really good at cutting (attackers) off, stepping to the ball and trying to get it early instead of letting them get it across.”
That formula for defensive success continued to work in the second half, starting with Lee’s save on a Kaitlyn Kurtz 10-yard redirect of a Grace Ehlert cross 90 seconds in.
Loyola threatened again in-close with 35:50 left to go, when Diblik angled a 12-yard shot just wide of the right post.
But from there, the Lions shut down almost all shot opportunities in or even near the box.
One of the best later denials came when Fulscher and McKenna combined to block an Ehlert shot with 23:15 to play. The same two then were part of a great effort to win a series of 50/50 balls as a Pikarski 42-yard free kick sailed boxward with 17:40 left.
“I think it was just managing it,” Fulscher said, “not letting them get in front and have the space to shoot. We were just trying to shut them down early (in the possession).”
Lions’ defender/midfielder Rielly Chesna began the day signing her letter of intent to play this fall at Division I Long Island University.
And after playing a key role (three goals, five assists) on Lyons’ 2021 Class 3A state runnerup squad along with Musgrove (13 goals last spring), O’Malley (six goals), Josie Pochocki (three goals), Bella and Sarah Schierl (two goals each), goalkeeper Lee and defenders Fulscher and Pike, Chesna is seeing the success roll on.
“We have really good chemistry,” Chesna said. “Right off the bat we bonded really well. And playing in the back this year more along with Kate, I trust her a lot and trust our center backs and wide backs to know what to do and where to go when they need to.”
Lyons’ offense also is a handful, and threatened to add to the 1-0 lead with 33:50 to go when a Musgrove header off a Katie O’Malley corner kick cross went just wide.
A sequence of a consecutive Fulscher 48-yard free kick (setting up a Pochocki shot deflected wide) and Musgrove corner kick came with 10:45 left, but Loyola again stood tall.
“We were just playing our game,” defender Seeley said. “We’re really good at switching the ball from our backs. Especially Eva (Pattison). She has an amazing long ball. And using our wingers who are super fast on the outside, we’re able to get those crosses in (to the box offensively). That’s where we had our best chances.”
Those Loyola bids for an equalizing goal included with 12:30 left, when Lyons’ Lee made a save on Ehlert’s 12-yard header redirect off a 46-yard free kick. Lee later nabbed a Kurtz 25-yard shot attempt with 9:25 to play.
In the final six minutes, McKenna and Chesna dulled attacks by Loyola forwards with good 1-v-1 defense. Then with 2:10 to play, the Ramblers’ last chance ended with a 15-yard one-timer shot over the net off an Ehlert cross.
“They (Lyons) were a good team but we definitely kept up with them,” Seeley said. “It came down to the last minute, and I just think it was a little unlucky.”
Said Hartinger: “Overall I'm happy with our effort and performance, but we need to be better in the final third.”
The victors had plenty of praise for Loyola after surviving their sternest test thus far of the Deep Dish Classic.
“It was tough,” Musgrove said. “They're a super-competitive team. I think their physicality and speed really tested us, but we just stayed true to our strengths and made sure we marked our players. We had a super solid back four today, and we really came together for the win.”
Lanspeary expected a battle from Loyola, and the Ramblers delivered.
“I thought they were very good,” he said. “They were fast up-top and fast in the midfield; their defense was solid. They're a tough team, that's for sure. Our midfield had to work really hard tonight.
“But our backline is doing really well, and Izzy made the saves we needed her to make.”
Chesna sees one key in particular for the Lions’ success to continue in this tournament and beyond.
“Probably working on holding the ball a little more at the top against better teams like this,” Chesna said. “They were really physical, which I think surprised some of us. But I feel like we responded really well.”
Good responses to opponents has brought continued regular-season perfection.
The Lions entered last year’s 3A state finals with a 20-0-0 record before falling to O’Fallon 1-0. Now another streak is underway.
“(Last year) is definitely a lot of motivation,” Fulscher said. “We try not to let last year loom over our heads too much: it's a new season. But it definitely feels good that teams may be intimidated to play us.”
After a long, rush-hour bus ride down I-294, Loyola didn’t back down from the Lions’ test. And the Ramblers figure to be heard from much more this season.
“I definitely think if we just finish some opportunities in the final third,” Seeley said. “We get so many, and you can totally see that if we just finish a few of those, we’re good.”
Starting lineups
Loyola
GK Ellie Bradley
D Ellianna Seeley
D Emily Pikarski
D Eva Pattison
D Maria Nikas
M Emma Shaffer
M Grace Ehlert
M Kaitlyn Kurtz
M Ella Couri
F Kathryn Diblik
F Lauren Couri
Lyons
GK Izzy Lee
D Ava Pike
D Kate Fulscher
D Brennan Israel
D Rielly Chesna
M Riley Wengerd
M Izzi Wirtz
M Josie Pochocki
M Eleanor Musgrove
F Caroline Mortonson
F Katie O’Malley
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Eleanor Musgrove, sr., MF, Lyons
Scoring summary
First half
LT- Musgrove (Chandlar Lay), 16’
Second half
No scoring
leads Lyons past Loyola
Undefeated Lions win Group 3 with 1-0 win, advance to semis
By Dave Owen
WESTERN SPRINGS -- A soccer future at the Air Force Academy in Colorado awaits Eleanor Musgrove this fall.
And the Lyons senior came through in the clutch Wednesday, fittingly through the air, to keep her team flying high.
In a hard-fought battle with 14th-ranked Loyola in their final Group C of the Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic, Musgrove’s great long-range accuracy was the difference in a 1-0 win for the undefeated no. 3 Lions (7-0-0).
After Loyola (8-3-1) had the first shot on goal (three minutes in) and corner kick (13th minute), the host Lions were the first in the column that matters most 24:23 before halftime.
Off an Ava Pike throw-in near midfield, Chandlar Lay flicked a header towards Musgrove 45 yards from goal. Musgrove did the rest, racing up the right sideline and looping a 28-yard shot into the upper left corner of the net to put Lyons up 1-0.
“I saw the goalie off her line, and I thought I could chip her,” Musgrove said. “So, that's what I did.”
Musgrove’s sixth goal of 2022 would be hard to top based on distance and importance to the score.
“She made a great play,” Lyons coach Bill Lanspeary said. “She got her head up, thought she had a chance to get that over the keeper’s head and hit it really well.”
On a day of heavy mid-afternoon rains and threatening forecasts throughout the game, the 1-0 lead was vital.
“We were actually talking about that (weather) before the game,” Musgrove said. “You never know if they call it off, and you have to end with a tie. So, we talked about that at the beginning in our little (pregame) huddle, that we need to get out there and score early and put them on their heels. I'm glad we did that.”
The rains never came, but neither did any more scoring as the two defenses put on a bend-but-don’t-break clinic.
Before Musgrove’s goal came a nice block and clear by Loyola’s Eva Pattison of a Katie O’Malley-Riley Wengerd attack. The Ramblers Kathryn Diblik deflected an Emily Pikarski corner kick just wide in an early battle of dueling chances.
Then with the score 1-0, the defenses really kicked in and locked down.
Izzi Wirtz nicely broke up a Loyola attack 20 yards out in the 18th minute.
Next came a great Lyons chance on a Kate Fulscher 24-yard free kick in the 20th minute -- and a big Loyola defensive play.
Fulscher’s initial drive deflected off the hands of Loyola goalkeeper Ellie Bradley. On a rebound try in front, Ramblers defender Ellianna Seeley saved the day with a blocked shot at the goal line.
Loyola later turned a Lyons offensive end throw-in into a counterattack. In the 27th minute, the University of Iowa-bound Pattison made a long clear upfield of the Lions toss to set up a threat that ended with Emma Shafer’s two-hop shot on goal.
“I feel like our backline, Emily Pikarski, Ellianna Seeley, Eva Pattison and Maria Nikas have really done a nice job of staying organized and winning the ball,” Loyola coach Shannon Hartinger said. “And I thought our midfield tonight did a nice job. Kaitlyn Kurtz in particular did a really nice job of winning a lot of 50/50 balls.
“Our emphasis has really been on our team defending and trying to press teams higher up the field, and I feel like we did a good job tonight of disrupting some of the things they like to do. They are a team like us that likes to keep possession and move the ball, and I think we disrupted that.”
Loyola goalkeeper Bennett denied quality Lions threats in the: 31st minute (an end line Caroline McKenna chip saved in a crowd); in the 32nd minute (a 35-yard Fulscher free kick saved): and 1:10 before halftime (Wirtz’s shot off a Musgrove corner kick stopped at the right post by the keeper).
The Ramblers’ best chance of the half came in the 24th minute when a Diblik shot angled just wide of diving Lyons goalkeeper Izzy Lee and the lower right corner of the net.
Defensive dominance has been a growing trend for the Lions: Wednesday marked their sixth shutout in a row.
“I think we're really good at communicating and managing,” senior defender Fulscher said. “When there's a fast break, everyone needs to know where they need to go. And also our wides are really good at cutting (attackers) off, stepping to the ball and trying to get it early instead of letting them get it across.”
That formula for defensive success continued to work in the second half, starting with Lee’s save on a Kaitlyn Kurtz 10-yard redirect of a Grace Ehlert cross 90 seconds in.
Loyola threatened again in-close with 35:50 left to go, when Diblik angled a 12-yard shot just wide of the right post.
But from there, the Lions shut down almost all shot opportunities in or even near the box.
One of the best later denials came when Fulscher and McKenna combined to block an Ehlert shot with 23:15 to play. The same two then were part of a great effort to win a series of 50/50 balls as a Pikarski 42-yard free kick sailed boxward with 17:40 left.
“I think it was just managing it,” Fulscher said, “not letting them get in front and have the space to shoot. We were just trying to shut them down early (in the possession).”
Lions’ defender/midfielder Rielly Chesna began the day signing her letter of intent to play this fall at Division I Long Island University.
And after playing a key role (three goals, five assists) on Lyons’ 2021 Class 3A state runnerup squad along with Musgrove (13 goals last spring), O’Malley (six goals), Josie Pochocki (three goals), Bella and Sarah Schierl (two goals each), goalkeeper Lee and defenders Fulscher and Pike, Chesna is seeing the success roll on.
“We have really good chemistry,” Chesna said. “Right off the bat we bonded really well. And playing in the back this year more along with Kate, I trust her a lot and trust our center backs and wide backs to know what to do and where to go when they need to.”
Lyons’ offense also is a handful, and threatened to add to the 1-0 lead with 33:50 to go when a Musgrove header off a Katie O’Malley corner kick cross went just wide.
A sequence of a consecutive Fulscher 48-yard free kick (setting up a Pochocki shot deflected wide) and Musgrove corner kick came with 10:45 left, but Loyola again stood tall.
“We were just playing our game,” defender Seeley said. “We’re really good at switching the ball from our backs. Especially Eva (Pattison). She has an amazing long ball. And using our wingers who are super fast on the outside, we’re able to get those crosses in (to the box offensively). That’s where we had our best chances.”
Those Loyola bids for an equalizing goal included with 12:30 left, when Lyons’ Lee made a save on Ehlert’s 12-yard header redirect off a 46-yard free kick. Lee later nabbed a Kurtz 25-yard shot attempt with 9:25 to play.
In the final six minutes, McKenna and Chesna dulled attacks by Loyola forwards with good 1-v-1 defense. Then with 2:10 to play, the Ramblers’ last chance ended with a 15-yard one-timer shot over the net off an Ehlert cross.
“They (Lyons) were a good team but we definitely kept up with them,” Seeley said. “It came down to the last minute, and I just think it was a little unlucky.”
Said Hartinger: “Overall I'm happy with our effort and performance, but we need to be better in the final third.”
The victors had plenty of praise for Loyola after surviving their sternest test thus far of the Deep Dish Classic.
“It was tough,” Musgrove said. “They're a super-competitive team. I think their physicality and speed really tested us, but we just stayed true to our strengths and made sure we marked our players. We had a super solid back four today, and we really came together for the win.”
Lanspeary expected a battle from Loyola, and the Ramblers delivered.
“I thought they were very good,” he said. “They were fast up-top and fast in the midfield; their defense was solid. They're a tough team, that's for sure. Our midfield had to work really hard tonight.
“But our backline is doing really well, and Izzy made the saves we needed her to make.”
Chesna sees one key in particular for the Lions’ success to continue in this tournament and beyond.
“Probably working on holding the ball a little more at the top against better teams like this,” Chesna said. “They were really physical, which I think surprised some of us. But I feel like we responded really well.”
Good responses to opponents has brought continued regular-season perfection.
The Lions entered last year’s 3A state finals with a 20-0-0 record before falling to O’Fallon 1-0. Now another streak is underway.
“(Last year) is definitely a lot of motivation,” Fulscher said. “We try not to let last year loom over our heads too much: it's a new season. But it definitely feels good that teams may be intimidated to play us.”
After a long, rush-hour bus ride down I-294, Loyola didn’t back down from the Lions’ test. And the Ramblers figure to be heard from much more this season.
“I definitely think if we just finish some opportunities in the final third,” Seeley said. “We get so many, and you can totally see that if we just finish a few of those, we’re good.”
Starting lineups
Loyola
GK Ellie Bradley
D Ellianna Seeley
D Emily Pikarski
D Eva Pattison
D Maria Nikas
M Emma Shaffer
M Grace Ehlert
M Kaitlyn Kurtz
M Ella Couri
F Kathryn Diblik
F Lauren Couri
Lyons
GK Izzy Lee
D Ava Pike
D Kate Fulscher
D Brennan Israel
D Rielly Chesna
M Riley Wengerd
M Izzi Wirtz
M Josie Pochocki
M Eleanor Musgrove
F Caroline Mortonson
F Katie O’Malley
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Eleanor Musgrove, sr., MF, Lyons
Scoring summary
First half
LT- Musgrove (Chandlar Lay), 16’
Second half
No scoring