Jones, Lincoln Park meet
with city playoff seeds on the line
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO -- City soccer is at its purest moment of truth.
The Chicago Public League enters the final week of conference play eager to sort out division standings and the seeding meetings for the crucial city tournament that starts next week. The implications are clear. Every game is magnified, tinged with meaning and significance.
On Monday afternoon, Jones squares off with Lincoln Park in a Premier Division match at Near North Field. The game features all manner of interest, conference maneuvering and personal backdrop. Jones is in historically uncharted territory and looking to make the most of its opportunities.
The Eagles (11-2-1, 3-1-1) are locked in a four-way battle for the top two seeds in the city tournament. Lane (9-2-3, 4-0-1) remains in the driver’s seat. Jones played Lane to a 2-2 draw but lurks lurks outside the top spot with Payton and Young. Jones beat Payton and lost to Young. Lane plays Payton and Young this week.
The Eagles finish their lead schedule with the Lions, and Northside on Wednesday.
“Our focus this week is to win out and be in really good shape for the city tournament,” Jones coach Derek Bylsma said. “The highest we have ever been is an eight-seed. We still have an outside chance of winning (Premier), or having at worst, a second- or third-seed. That gives us a realistic chance of winning city.”
Despite his team’s 1-0 loss against the Dolphins on Friday, Byslma saw encouraging indications of his team’s resurgence. The city schools calendar had a negative impact. The late spring break, from April 7th to April 16th, threw the Eagles decidedly off-rhythm. Jones had only three starters available during a second-round PepsiCo Showdown game against West Aurora. The team was badly beaten and had its confidence shaken.
“The timing of the spring break really hurt us,” Bylsma said. “We were playing really well before that. The first 20 minutes against Young, we played the way we were before our break. In the second half, we got back to playing as hard as we did before. We had the effort that we needed. I am hoping between playing well and playing hard in the last 40 minutes of the Young game, we have a better understanding.”
The other significant development surrounds the health of star senior midfielder Zoe Wright, the team’s best player. Wright played limited minutes against Kennedy and then was pulled in the Young game.
“She has been knocked up a bit, and that has hurt us,” Bylsma said. “The advantage we have now is that we are not quite as one-dimensional. A couple of years ago that would have really hurt us. We are not as reliant on her as before. We have other players we can move around.”
If Wright is limited, the Eagles are bound to shift their focus to other offensive talent like forwards Avery Kaplan and Gillian Miller. Midfielders Dani Schulgasser and Rachel Sohn are also going to be thrust into a more prominent offensive role. Jones’ defense remains a cornerstone, with experienced defender Gabriela Baxtrom and and rangy and athletic sophomore keeper Devin Barry.
The dynamic for Lincoln Park is a different one. The Lions (4-6-0, 1-4-0) have been decimated by injuries and academic eligibility issues surrounding several crucial players. Jones constitutes another serious test to the team’s available resources.
“We are so depleted, we can’t prepare for Jones,” Lincoln Park coach Geoffrey Ruttenberg said. “Rather we just need to focus on our area of concerns.”
The soul of the program, star senior forward Jordan Roderick-Fried, is the lynchpin of the Lions’ attack. The powerful and electric Roderick-Fried is a known entity to most of the Jones’ players. She and Wright play club together and are close friends. Despite the travails of the Lions’ season, she is the leading scorer in the Premier Division.
Under any circumstances she is a formidable talent who is going to occupy the attention of the Eagles’ back. “All the good city girls know each other,” Bylsma said.
Chicago soccer is a tight network.
“That just makes the girls more excited for the match,” Ruttenberg said. “They enjoy competing against their friends.”
Lincoln Park is coming off a disappointing performance in a defeat against Parker. The Lions have also shown subtle signs of improvement, and are coming off a shutout victory over Kennedy.
Lincoln Park has been able to get invaluable experience to its young talent, and players like freshman midfielder Nikki Erenberg have shown significant promise. Midfielders Anisa Ciaciura and Francesca Milito have also shown toughness, creativity and shotmaking abilities.
The personal connections of players and communities have never changed the competitive calculus. Regardless of records, this week is too important to give anything less than the best.
with city playoff seeds on the line
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO -- City soccer is at its purest moment of truth.
The Chicago Public League enters the final week of conference play eager to sort out division standings and the seeding meetings for the crucial city tournament that starts next week. The implications are clear. Every game is magnified, tinged with meaning and significance.
On Monday afternoon, Jones squares off with Lincoln Park in a Premier Division match at Near North Field. The game features all manner of interest, conference maneuvering and personal backdrop. Jones is in historically uncharted territory and looking to make the most of its opportunities.
The Eagles (11-2-1, 3-1-1) are locked in a four-way battle for the top two seeds in the city tournament. Lane (9-2-3, 4-0-1) remains in the driver’s seat. Jones played Lane to a 2-2 draw but lurks lurks outside the top spot with Payton and Young. Jones beat Payton and lost to Young. Lane plays Payton and Young this week.
The Eagles finish their lead schedule with the Lions, and Northside on Wednesday.
“Our focus this week is to win out and be in really good shape for the city tournament,” Jones coach Derek Bylsma said. “The highest we have ever been is an eight-seed. We still have an outside chance of winning (Premier), or having at worst, a second- or third-seed. That gives us a realistic chance of winning city.”
Despite his team’s 1-0 loss against the Dolphins on Friday, Byslma saw encouraging indications of his team’s resurgence. The city schools calendar had a negative impact. The late spring break, from April 7th to April 16th, threw the Eagles decidedly off-rhythm. Jones had only three starters available during a second-round PepsiCo Showdown game against West Aurora. The team was badly beaten and had its confidence shaken.
“The timing of the spring break really hurt us,” Bylsma said. “We were playing really well before that. The first 20 minutes against Young, we played the way we were before our break. In the second half, we got back to playing as hard as we did before. We had the effort that we needed. I am hoping between playing well and playing hard in the last 40 minutes of the Young game, we have a better understanding.”
The other significant development surrounds the health of star senior midfielder Zoe Wright, the team’s best player. Wright played limited minutes against Kennedy and then was pulled in the Young game.
“She has been knocked up a bit, and that has hurt us,” Bylsma said. “The advantage we have now is that we are not quite as one-dimensional. A couple of years ago that would have really hurt us. We are not as reliant on her as before. We have other players we can move around.”
If Wright is limited, the Eagles are bound to shift their focus to other offensive talent like forwards Avery Kaplan and Gillian Miller. Midfielders Dani Schulgasser and Rachel Sohn are also going to be thrust into a more prominent offensive role. Jones’ defense remains a cornerstone, with experienced defender Gabriela Baxtrom and and rangy and athletic sophomore keeper Devin Barry.
The dynamic for Lincoln Park is a different one. The Lions (4-6-0, 1-4-0) have been decimated by injuries and academic eligibility issues surrounding several crucial players. Jones constitutes another serious test to the team’s available resources.
“We are so depleted, we can’t prepare for Jones,” Lincoln Park coach Geoffrey Ruttenberg said. “Rather we just need to focus on our area of concerns.”
The soul of the program, star senior forward Jordan Roderick-Fried, is the lynchpin of the Lions’ attack. The powerful and electric Roderick-Fried is a known entity to most of the Jones’ players. She and Wright play club together and are close friends. Despite the travails of the Lions’ season, she is the leading scorer in the Premier Division.
Under any circumstances she is a formidable talent who is going to occupy the attention of the Eagles’ back. “All the good city girls know each other,” Bylsma said.
Chicago soccer is a tight network.
“That just makes the girls more excited for the match,” Ruttenberg said. “They enjoy competing against their friends.”
Lincoln Park is coming off a disappointing performance in a defeat against Parker. The Lions have also shown subtle signs of improvement, and are coming off a shutout victory over Kennedy.
Lincoln Park has been able to get invaluable experience to its young talent, and players like freshman midfielder Nikki Erenberg have shown significant promise. Midfielders Anisa Ciaciura and Francesca Milito have also shown toughness, creativity and shotmaking abilities.
The personal connections of players and communities have never changed the competitive calculus. Regardless of records, this week is too important to give anything less than the best.