Notebook: Lyons, York
By Bobby Narang
ELMHURST – York senior midfielder Joe Hernandez remembered it as a wake-up call.
On Oct. 7, 2021, the Dukes suffered their second loss in 17 games in a decisive 3-0 defeat to Lyons 12 days before the start of the Class 3A playoffs.
The Dukes took their medicine, recovered, and won their final eight games to take the program’s first state championship by beating Fremd 4-0 Nov. 6.
Hernandez said the loss to the Lions was a turning point.
“We were definitely upset last year,” Hernandez said. “We call that the ‘Miracle game.’ It humbled us going into the playoffs, which helped us in everything. Then everything came out as planned, and we won state. So, we were grateful to learn from that loss.”
Senior forward Jose Herrera made sure the Lions didn’t duplicate the feat, scoring the only goal in the 19th minute to lead York to a 1-0 victory in the West Suburban Conference Silver Division match Thursday night.
Herrera agreed with Hernandez’s take on last season’s defeat to the Lions.
“Last year we were missing some players, so it was frustrating losing 3-0,” he said. “That loss showed us that we’re beatable, and we have to learn from that game, from each game.”
York coach Jordan Stopka said the eye-opening loss motivated his team to take their effort to another level. The Dukes gave up just four goals in their final eight games last season.
“The kids were really disappointed, because we knew we had a chance in that game,” Stopka recalled. “We had a couple of mental lapses in the first half, were down 2-0. They just took care of business in the second half. We never really recovered in that game, but we rallied the next day in practice.
“We had a nice talk before we even touched the ball. We focused our boys, and told them that’s the last time they can throw a dud. They need to hunker down and take care of business.”
Lyons senior defender Jackson Rempfer has not forgotten the game.
“Last year it was our night,” Rempfer said. “We put every ball in the back of the net. We played hard.”
A tough two-step
Lyons always plays a tough schedule filled with the perennially quality opponents in their conference to go along with numerous fine nonconference and tournament opponents.
Sometimes that can work against a team. The schedule-maker didn’t do the Lions any favors this week. The team hosted conference foe Oak Park and-River Forest on Tuesday and then traveled to York on Thursday night.
The Lions fell victim to the Huskies and darkness Tuesday. A 1-1 tie after regulation led the teams to agree to forego the customary two overtimes and go straight to PKs while they still had enough natural light at the unlighted Lyons Soccer Complex. The Huskies pulled out a 5-4 edge in six shootout rounds for the win.
“This was a tough week having Oak Park and River Forest on Tuesday and this game, but we’re really proud and excited about the playoffs,” Lyons coach Paul Labbato said. “But we’re not excited to play probably a lot of the same teams.”
“Cardiac kids”
Standing behind a goal post Thursday night after the stadium lights were suddenly turned off, York’s coach seemed amazed at his team’s ability to stave off defeat. The Dukes (13-0-3, 4-0-x) have lost just two games since the start of the 2021 season, and have not lost in 364 days.
“Not at all did I expect this, especially with the way we were playing at the beginning of this season,” he said. “I totally expected us to lose. We could’ve lost twice already this season.
“Two of our ties came when we tied it up in the last 45 seconds, so we’ve been there. The Cardiac Kids have finally come back to win or tie the game. They just don’t quit.
“If you have that mentality, anything can happen in the playoffs. We like to be up going toward the final whistle, but we know if we’re down one, we can find that last bit of energy to tie the game up.”
By Bobby Narang
ELMHURST – York senior midfielder Joe Hernandez remembered it as a wake-up call.
On Oct. 7, 2021, the Dukes suffered their second loss in 17 games in a decisive 3-0 defeat to Lyons 12 days before the start of the Class 3A playoffs.
The Dukes took their medicine, recovered, and won their final eight games to take the program’s first state championship by beating Fremd 4-0 Nov. 6.
Hernandez said the loss to the Lions was a turning point.
“We were definitely upset last year,” Hernandez said. “We call that the ‘Miracle game.’ It humbled us going into the playoffs, which helped us in everything. Then everything came out as planned, and we won state. So, we were grateful to learn from that loss.”
Senior forward Jose Herrera made sure the Lions didn’t duplicate the feat, scoring the only goal in the 19th minute to lead York to a 1-0 victory in the West Suburban Conference Silver Division match Thursday night.
Herrera agreed with Hernandez’s take on last season’s defeat to the Lions.
“Last year we were missing some players, so it was frustrating losing 3-0,” he said. “That loss showed us that we’re beatable, and we have to learn from that game, from each game.”
York coach Jordan Stopka said the eye-opening loss motivated his team to take their effort to another level. The Dukes gave up just four goals in their final eight games last season.
“The kids were really disappointed, because we knew we had a chance in that game,” Stopka recalled. “We had a couple of mental lapses in the first half, were down 2-0. They just took care of business in the second half. We never really recovered in that game, but we rallied the next day in practice.
“We had a nice talk before we even touched the ball. We focused our boys, and told them that’s the last time they can throw a dud. They need to hunker down and take care of business.”
Lyons senior defender Jackson Rempfer has not forgotten the game.
“Last year it was our night,” Rempfer said. “We put every ball in the back of the net. We played hard.”
A tough two-step
Lyons always plays a tough schedule filled with the perennially quality opponents in their conference to go along with numerous fine nonconference and tournament opponents.
Sometimes that can work against a team. The schedule-maker didn’t do the Lions any favors this week. The team hosted conference foe Oak Park and-River Forest on Tuesday and then traveled to York on Thursday night.
The Lions fell victim to the Huskies and darkness Tuesday. A 1-1 tie after regulation led the teams to agree to forego the customary two overtimes and go straight to PKs while they still had enough natural light at the unlighted Lyons Soccer Complex. The Huskies pulled out a 5-4 edge in six shootout rounds for the win.
“This was a tough week having Oak Park and River Forest on Tuesday and this game, but we’re really proud and excited about the playoffs,” Lyons coach Paul Labbato said. “But we’re not excited to play probably a lot of the same teams.”
“Cardiac kids”
Standing behind a goal post Thursday night after the stadium lights were suddenly turned off, York’s coach seemed amazed at his team’s ability to stave off defeat. The Dukes (13-0-3, 4-0-x) have lost just two games since the start of the 2021 season, and have not lost in 364 days.
“Not at all did I expect this, especially with the way we were playing at the beginning of this season,” he said. “I totally expected us to lose. We could’ve lost twice already this season.
“Two of our ties came when we tied it up in the last 45 seconds, so we’ve been there. The Cardiac Kids have finally come back to win or tie the game. They just don’t quit.
“If you have that mentality, anything can happen in the playoffs. We like to be up going toward the final whistle, but we know if we’re down one, we can find that last bit of energy to tie the game up.”