Lyons meets York in battle of unbeatens
West Suburban matchup is 2014 regional title rematch
By Mike Garofola
If Mother Nature is a soccer fan, Lyons will meet York on Thursday in Elmhurst. It will be the first meeing between these two sides since last May, when Bill Lanspeary's club beat York 5-2 for a regional championship.
Lyons advanced to the supersectionals, where its bid to reach the last four ended in a 2-1 loss to Lincoln-Way North.
The Lions are fresh off a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Oak Park and River Forest on Tuesday in its West Suburban Conference home opener.
"I was pleased with the effort and result on Tuesday, but we could have finished a few more of our opportunities, as we left a couple out there we should have put into the back of the net," said Lyons manager Lanspeary.
The Lions have outscored their opponents 10-1, conceding its lone goal of the season to aforementioned Lincoln-Way North in a 1-1 tie, while keeping state power Waubonsie Valley out of the net during a 0-0 draw at the start of the 2015 campaign.
"We've been a little up and down thus far," admitted Lanspeary.
"At times we've played with great energy and effort. Other times our mindset hasn't been where it needs to be.
The Lions lost several veterans from its 19-4-0 sectional championship club, but returned a terrific quartet of seniors -- midfielders Liza Gabrek and Kristin Janicki, striker Margaret Lynch and keeper Lidia Breen, who had a hand in the four clean sheets the club has recorded.
"(Junior) Sheila (Murphy) has been very good for us in the back thus far, and (Margaret) Lynch has gotten off to a nice start as well," says Lanspeary.
Lynch, junior Keira Frese, and newcomer Mary Devine all have netted two goals to lead the club.
The Lions hope for more of that production against the Dukes.
"York returned a lot of very good players back from last year, so we expect them to be a tough opponent tonight," began Lanspeary.
"They are quick up front, have a quality playmaker in the middle, and are solid in the back. So we look for -- should the weather allow -- a very good match."
The Lions (3-0-2) hope to stay clean in advance of their first round game against Warren in the PepsiCo Showdown at 10 a.m. Saturday at Olympic Park in Schaumburg. The club was anointed the No. 2 seed behind reigning Class 3A state champion New Trier.
York (2-0-2) played state-ranked Benet to a 1-1 draw in late March, and has only played once since -- a conference opening victory over Proviso West.
Manager Don Vana returned his top scorer from a year ago. Alyssa Kovatchis netted 14 goals as a junior year, so the Dukes leader will look for senior Madison Navarro to target her classmate out of the midfield.
So far, the Dukes have overcome the loss of veteran defender Jamie Kovatchis, who tore her ACL near the end of basketball season.
Navarro (University of Chicago) is one of four on the Dukes roster who plan on going on to play at the collegiate level next fall: the backline pair of Emily Whitcomb (Belmont) and Annalisa Lappo (Lewis University); plus midfielder Cary Hund, who is off to Wayne State Univesity in Michigan.
York will also compete in the PepsiCo Showdown. The Dukes open against No. 9-seed Hersey at 1 p.m. Saturday.
West Suburban matchup is 2014 regional title rematch
By Mike Garofola
If Mother Nature is a soccer fan, Lyons will meet York on Thursday in Elmhurst. It will be the first meeing between these two sides since last May, when Bill Lanspeary's club beat York 5-2 for a regional championship.
Lyons advanced to the supersectionals, where its bid to reach the last four ended in a 2-1 loss to Lincoln-Way North.
The Lions are fresh off a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Oak Park and River Forest on Tuesday in its West Suburban Conference home opener.
"I was pleased with the effort and result on Tuesday, but we could have finished a few more of our opportunities, as we left a couple out there we should have put into the back of the net," said Lyons manager Lanspeary.
The Lions have outscored their opponents 10-1, conceding its lone goal of the season to aforementioned Lincoln-Way North in a 1-1 tie, while keeping state power Waubonsie Valley out of the net during a 0-0 draw at the start of the 2015 campaign.
"We've been a little up and down thus far," admitted Lanspeary.
"At times we've played with great energy and effort. Other times our mindset hasn't been where it needs to be.
The Lions lost several veterans from its 19-4-0 sectional championship club, but returned a terrific quartet of seniors -- midfielders Liza Gabrek and Kristin Janicki, striker Margaret Lynch and keeper Lidia Breen, who had a hand in the four clean sheets the club has recorded.
"(Junior) Sheila (Murphy) has been very good for us in the back thus far, and (Margaret) Lynch has gotten off to a nice start as well," says Lanspeary.
Lynch, junior Keira Frese, and newcomer Mary Devine all have netted two goals to lead the club.
The Lions hope for more of that production against the Dukes.
"York returned a lot of very good players back from last year, so we expect them to be a tough opponent tonight," began Lanspeary.
"They are quick up front, have a quality playmaker in the middle, and are solid in the back. So we look for -- should the weather allow -- a very good match."
The Lions (3-0-2) hope to stay clean in advance of their first round game against Warren in the PepsiCo Showdown at 10 a.m. Saturday at Olympic Park in Schaumburg. The club was anointed the No. 2 seed behind reigning Class 3A state champion New Trier.
York (2-0-2) played state-ranked Benet to a 1-1 draw in late March, and has only played once since -- a conference opening victory over Proviso West.
Manager Don Vana returned his top scorer from a year ago. Alyssa Kovatchis netted 14 goals as a junior year, so the Dukes leader will look for senior Madison Navarro to target her classmate out of the midfield.
So far, the Dukes have overcome the loss of veteran defender Jamie Kovatchis, who tore her ACL near the end of basketball season.
Navarro (University of Chicago) is one of four on the Dukes roster who plan on going on to play at the collegiate level next fall: the backline pair of Emily Whitcomb (Belmont) and Annalisa Lappo (Lewis University); plus midfielder Cary Hund, who is off to Wayne State Univesity in Michigan.
York will also compete in the PepsiCo Showdown. The Dukes open against No. 9-seed Hersey at 1 p.m. Saturday.