Lyons and Glenbard East ready
for quality pre-tournament prep
By Mike Garofola
Both Glenbard East and Lyons are better, more settled sides than they were back in mid March when the 2017 spring season officially began. They will use a 4 p.m. nonconference game at 4:30 Thursday at Lyons' West Field in the hopes of continuing that trend.
That should be no surprise given the quality of both clubs, and their managers, who have used the past two two months to work with their players, who have responded well to the challenge and the first-class schedule each has taken on.
"We had some good tests during a stretch that we went winless in four games, but those games were buliding blocks for our current form, and the form we'll need in the playoffs," said Glenbard East manager Kent Overbey, whose team is on a nine-game unbeaten streak.
The Rams man-in-charge was speaking to a question on what his thoughts were when his club lost to Batavia, Lake Forest, Downers Grove North and Maine South, the last three coming in play at the PepsiCo Showdown.
"It's why we play the schedule that we do, why we play Lyons" he said. "It's to play the best in order to be at our best."
Overbey in fact got his start at Lyons serving an apprentice of sorts under Bill Lanspeary and Andy Newcomb before taking over at East.
"I learned a lot from those two -- what it takes to run a top-tier program, plus how to carry yourself as a manager," Overbey said.
"I live near those guys. We've stayed friends over the years, and one of the very first things I did was to put Lyons on our schedule."
Should the two clubs lift regional trophies, they would meet again in a sectional semifinal at Downers Grove North on May 24.
"So, long story short, there's a lot to this game with them tonight," Overbey said. "We hope to put in a great effort, stay injury-free, then prepare for Curie in our regional opener."
Overbey has leaned on Elizabeth Toledo and Ali Liljestrand in the center of the park. Toledo (6 goals, 9 assists) has taken over for the injured Amy Chiero (broken wrist) who went down against Lincoln-Way East in a Windy City Ram Classic semifinal.
"She has done an incredible job of initiating our attack from the defensive third, while Ali, a two-year starter for us, is a rock in the middle," Overbey said.
Overby also had plenty of praise for his keeper, Faith Davies (9 shutouts) who doubles as a field player for the Rams when called upon.
"(Goalie) Faith (Davies) controls the box. With her size and athleticism, it's more like she controls the final third," he said.
The central facets of the Rams approach have been to count on the aforementioned trio, while turning to others who have surprised, particularly along the back.
Overbey praised Mattie Pusateri, Sam Johnson and Gen Severini, who have impressed in the Rams end. The meticulous way they organize and defend has been a key to the success of a unit that has conceded just 15 goals thus far.
"We've had a lot of pleasant surprises this season, but the biggest has been defensively, and these three have been outstanding," said Overbey.
Lyons' defensive numbers are not that far off from their opponents. The Lions have allowed 19, while recording seven clean sheets along the way.
"We've been pretty steady all year long, and it's been the play from Eileen Murphy and Erin Smothers in the middle that has helped us stay that way," said Lanspeary.
"Our entire defense has come around really well after our first couple of games, and we learned some important things about ourselves after a rough stretch that we went through."
Lanspeary speaks of three losses in four games to St. Charles North, Libertyville and Naperville North during the tail-end of the PepsiCo Showdown, and the start of the high profile Naperville Invitational.
"We learned that against top competition, you don't get nearly as many chances to score goals, and you have to make sure you finish the ones you get," Lanspeary said.
"If we compete hard for 80 minutes, then we can play with anyone. So there was a valuable lesson to be learned at that time."
Lanspeary has liked the way junior Maggie Gilchrist played. After coming through the Lions club program as a midfielder-forward, when the need was there, she moved smoothly into the role of an outside back.
The Lions enter this contest with a seven-game unbeaten streak. They've scored four goals on two occasions as their attack appears to be on its front foot.
"We have a lot of players that are dangerous in the attack, and we've gotten much bettter defending as a team at the same time" Lanspeary said. "And that's made us a better team."
for quality pre-tournament prep
By Mike Garofola
Both Glenbard East and Lyons are better, more settled sides than they were back in mid March when the 2017 spring season officially began. They will use a 4 p.m. nonconference game at 4:30 Thursday at Lyons' West Field in the hopes of continuing that trend.
That should be no surprise given the quality of both clubs, and their managers, who have used the past two two months to work with their players, who have responded well to the challenge and the first-class schedule each has taken on.
"We had some good tests during a stretch that we went winless in four games, but those games were buliding blocks for our current form, and the form we'll need in the playoffs," said Glenbard East manager Kent Overbey, whose team is on a nine-game unbeaten streak.
The Rams man-in-charge was speaking to a question on what his thoughts were when his club lost to Batavia, Lake Forest, Downers Grove North and Maine South, the last three coming in play at the PepsiCo Showdown.
"It's why we play the schedule that we do, why we play Lyons" he said. "It's to play the best in order to be at our best."
Overbey in fact got his start at Lyons serving an apprentice of sorts under Bill Lanspeary and Andy Newcomb before taking over at East.
"I learned a lot from those two -- what it takes to run a top-tier program, plus how to carry yourself as a manager," Overbey said.
"I live near those guys. We've stayed friends over the years, and one of the very first things I did was to put Lyons on our schedule."
Should the two clubs lift regional trophies, they would meet again in a sectional semifinal at Downers Grove North on May 24.
"So, long story short, there's a lot to this game with them tonight," Overbey said. "We hope to put in a great effort, stay injury-free, then prepare for Curie in our regional opener."
Overbey has leaned on Elizabeth Toledo and Ali Liljestrand in the center of the park. Toledo (6 goals, 9 assists) has taken over for the injured Amy Chiero (broken wrist) who went down against Lincoln-Way East in a Windy City Ram Classic semifinal.
"She has done an incredible job of initiating our attack from the defensive third, while Ali, a two-year starter for us, is a rock in the middle," Overbey said.
Overby also had plenty of praise for his keeper, Faith Davies (9 shutouts) who doubles as a field player for the Rams when called upon.
"(Goalie) Faith (Davies) controls the box. With her size and athleticism, it's more like she controls the final third," he said.
The central facets of the Rams approach have been to count on the aforementioned trio, while turning to others who have surprised, particularly along the back.
Overbey praised Mattie Pusateri, Sam Johnson and Gen Severini, who have impressed in the Rams end. The meticulous way they organize and defend has been a key to the success of a unit that has conceded just 15 goals thus far.
"We've had a lot of pleasant surprises this season, but the biggest has been defensively, and these three have been outstanding," said Overbey.
Lyons' defensive numbers are not that far off from their opponents. The Lions have allowed 19, while recording seven clean sheets along the way.
"We've been pretty steady all year long, and it's been the play from Eileen Murphy and Erin Smothers in the middle that has helped us stay that way," said Lanspeary.
"Our entire defense has come around really well after our first couple of games, and we learned some important things about ourselves after a rough stretch that we went through."
Lanspeary speaks of three losses in four games to St. Charles North, Libertyville and Naperville North during the tail-end of the PepsiCo Showdown, and the start of the high profile Naperville Invitational.
"We learned that against top competition, you don't get nearly as many chances to score goals, and you have to make sure you finish the ones you get," Lanspeary said.
"If we compete hard for 80 minutes, then we can play with anyone. So there was a valuable lesson to be learned at that time."
Lanspeary has liked the way junior Maggie Gilchrist played. After coming through the Lions club program as a midfielder-forward, when the need was there, she moved smoothly into the role of an outside back.
The Lions enter this contest with a seven-game unbeaten streak. They've scored four goals on two occasions as their attack appears to be on its front foot.
"We have a lot of players that are dangerous in the attack, and we've gotten much bettter defending as a team at the same time" Lanspeary said. "And that's made us a better team."