NB: Metea Valley-Lincoln-Way Central
By Michael Wojtychiw
NAPERVILLE -- The fourth and final semifinal Friday featured a team that had never made it to the final four in Metea Valley against a team, Lincoln-Way Central, which was making its first return since 2007, when it finished fourth.
The game pitted a talented, but young Lincoln-Way Central team against an experienced squad in Metea Valley. Half of the eight freshmen on the Lincoln-Way Central roster saw action in at least 20 games including Madison Watt, is the second-leading scorer on the team with 17 goals and 12 assists. The more-seasoned Mustangs are led by juniors Tyra King and Jordan Lange, who have 19 and 17 goals each.
Metea Valley’s strong opening statement
Despite having success in previous seasons, the Mustangs were never able to solve the sectional that always includes the Naperville schools.
Until this year that is.
Metea Valley not only won that Naperville-area sectional for the first time, it qualified for the state tournament for the first time as well. To do so, it knocked off upset-winner Neuqua Valley 2-0, Naperville North 1-0 and another upset-winner Edwardsville 2-0.
“We’re so close on and off the field, so we had a relationship before the season even started,” said sophomore forward Lucy Burk, the team’s third-leading scorer with 7 goals and16 assists. “We didn’t have that many seniors graduate from last year, so we were pretty tight, because we’d played together.”
With a squad that had never gotten this far, nerves would have been something that would be normal for most people.
Manager Chris Whaley disagreed with that statement.
“I don’t think this team gets nervous, to be honest,” he said. “We keep things pretty simple, do the little things and allow them to focus on the soccer. Things are working out, we’re not changing anything there.”
But at least some of his players disagreed with him.
Burk and Tyra King agreed they had butterflies.
“We just played and tried not to think too much about it,” King said. “Tune out the crowd, tune out everything else, play for each other.”
The Mustangs controlled play for a shot at Barrington in the final.
“We just had to do the little things, play as we’ve always played,” Burk said. “To get down here is amazing, no Metea team for soccer has made it this far. So we’re just making history as we’re going.”
Using the counter
Playing solid defense is a major way in slowing down your opponents’ scoring opportunities, but being able to push the ball downfield is the easiest way to turn the tables on your counterparts.
The Mustangs did that against the Knights in multiple instances Friday night, some of which helped lead to goals.
“The ball was hit to the top of their half, and I knew I just had to run up to make something happen. I took a bigger touch, went past her and hit it with the outside of my foot,” King said.
“I feel like I’ve gotten a lot of those this year. I’ve been pretty strong in countering the ball and attacking aggressively, getting to the ball.”
If the Mustangs are hoping to leave with their first state title in their inaugural state appearance, it’ll be the counterattack and how they can handle it that will help them get there.
Lincoln-Way Central youth served
Four of the the Knights eight freshmen have played in at least 20 games. Ruby Hillegass, Abby Sudkamp and Watt all playing in each of the team’s 25 games and playing big roles along the way. Watt’s 17 goals and 12 assists are second on the team in goals and third in assists.
For a team that hasn’t been to the finals in a long time, manager Sean Fahey felt like maybe the lights were too bright in the semifinal. But he expects them to fight for the third place prize.
“I’m super proud of these girls, I’d go to battle with them every day,” he said. “Trying to feel out the game and then they pop those goals in.
“It’s a first for all these kids, not to mention freshman forward, freshman back. We’ve got youth all over the place that has played well all year, but nothing is like playing on this stage.”
If the team is looking to bounce back, it’s going to be against another veteran squad in Evanston, which fell to Barrington in the night’s first Class 3A semifinal.
Bounce-back time
Metea Valley scored in the 14th minute when Jocelyn Grabow buried a shot into the net. That calmedthe Mustangs’ nerves while unsettling their opponents nerves.
Adding a second one 12 minutes later put a true panic into the Knights squad.
They were unable to break the ice against Metea Valley.
“We’re going to address the fact that, yes, we don’t get to play in a championship game, but tomorrow is going to be about who can shake off why they lost, who can make the least excuses like ‘Oh we’re banged up, we’re tired, we’re sore,’ all those things,” Fahey said. “Both teams played today, so it’s going to be a challenge.”
The Knights came into the game with only one loss on the year, a 2-0 loss to Warren April 9 in the BodyArmor Series.
Coincidentally, it is also the last time the team had such a quick turnaround with games on consecutive days. For Fahey, he’s hoping for a similar result to that April 10 win over Hinsdale Central squad when the Knights take on Evanston.
“It’s going to be a challenge but this is where leadership kicks in,” Fahey said. “We’ve only had one other back-to-back scenario this year and we bounced back after our only loss before tonight and beat a good Hinsdale Central team.
“We’ll talk about that, reminisce about getting up the next day and playing again. But we get to. It’s not a have to, we get to do it. We come out tomorrow, put our best effort forward and we still have a chance to win.”
By Michael Wojtychiw
NAPERVILLE -- The fourth and final semifinal Friday featured a team that had never made it to the final four in Metea Valley against a team, Lincoln-Way Central, which was making its first return since 2007, when it finished fourth.
The game pitted a talented, but young Lincoln-Way Central team against an experienced squad in Metea Valley. Half of the eight freshmen on the Lincoln-Way Central roster saw action in at least 20 games including Madison Watt, is the second-leading scorer on the team with 17 goals and 12 assists. The more-seasoned Mustangs are led by juniors Tyra King and Jordan Lange, who have 19 and 17 goals each.
Metea Valley’s strong opening statement
Despite having success in previous seasons, the Mustangs were never able to solve the sectional that always includes the Naperville schools.
Until this year that is.
Metea Valley not only won that Naperville-area sectional for the first time, it qualified for the state tournament for the first time as well. To do so, it knocked off upset-winner Neuqua Valley 2-0, Naperville North 1-0 and another upset-winner Edwardsville 2-0.
“We’re so close on and off the field, so we had a relationship before the season even started,” said sophomore forward Lucy Burk, the team’s third-leading scorer with 7 goals and16 assists. “We didn’t have that many seniors graduate from last year, so we were pretty tight, because we’d played together.”
With a squad that had never gotten this far, nerves would have been something that would be normal for most people.
Manager Chris Whaley disagreed with that statement.
“I don’t think this team gets nervous, to be honest,” he said. “We keep things pretty simple, do the little things and allow them to focus on the soccer. Things are working out, we’re not changing anything there.”
But at least some of his players disagreed with him.
Burk and Tyra King agreed they had butterflies.
“We just played and tried not to think too much about it,” King said. “Tune out the crowd, tune out everything else, play for each other.”
The Mustangs controlled play for a shot at Barrington in the final.
“We just had to do the little things, play as we’ve always played,” Burk said. “To get down here is amazing, no Metea team for soccer has made it this far. So we’re just making history as we’re going.”
Using the counter
Playing solid defense is a major way in slowing down your opponents’ scoring opportunities, but being able to push the ball downfield is the easiest way to turn the tables on your counterparts.
The Mustangs did that against the Knights in multiple instances Friday night, some of which helped lead to goals.
“The ball was hit to the top of their half, and I knew I just had to run up to make something happen. I took a bigger touch, went past her and hit it with the outside of my foot,” King said.
“I feel like I’ve gotten a lot of those this year. I’ve been pretty strong in countering the ball and attacking aggressively, getting to the ball.”
If the Mustangs are hoping to leave with their first state title in their inaugural state appearance, it’ll be the counterattack and how they can handle it that will help them get there.
Lincoln-Way Central youth served
Four of the the Knights eight freshmen have played in at least 20 games. Ruby Hillegass, Abby Sudkamp and Watt all playing in each of the team’s 25 games and playing big roles along the way. Watt’s 17 goals and 12 assists are second on the team in goals and third in assists.
For a team that hasn’t been to the finals in a long time, manager Sean Fahey felt like maybe the lights were too bright in the semifinal. But he expects them to fight for the third place prize.
“I’m super proud of these girls, I’d go to battle with them every day,” he said. “Trying to feel out the game and then they pop those goals in.
“It’s a first for all these kids, not to mention freshman forward, freshman back. We’ve got youth all over the place that has played well all year, but nothing is like playing on this stage.”
If the team is looking to bounce back, it’s going to be against another veteran squad in Evanston, which fell to Barrington in the night’s first Class 3A semifinal.
Bounce-back time
Metea Valley scored in the 14th minute when Jocelyn Grabow buried a shot into the net. That calmedthe Mustangs’ nerves while unsettling their opponents nerves.
Adding a second one 12 minutes later put a true panic into the Knights squad.
They were unable to break the ice against Metea Valley.
“We’re going to address the fact that, yes, we don’t get to play in a championship game, but tomorrow is going to be about who can shake off why they lost, who can make the least excuses like ‘Oh we’re banged up, we’re tired, we’re sore,’ all those things,” Fahey said. “Both teams played today, so it’s going to be a challenge.”
The Knights came into the game with only one loss on the year, a 2-0 loss to Warren April 9 in the BodyArmor Series.
Coincidentally, it is also the last time the team had such a quick turnaround with games on consecutive days. For Fahey, he’s hoping for a similar result to that April 10 win over Hinsdale Central squad when the Knights take on Evanston.
“It’s going to be a challenge but this is where leadership kicks in,” Fahey said. “We’ve only had one other back-to-back scenario this year and we bounced back after our only loss before tonight and beat a good Hinsdale Central team.
“We’ll talk about that, reminisce about getting up the next day and playing again. But we get to. It’s not a have to, we get to do it. We come out tomorrow, put our best effort forward and we still have a chance to win.”