Friendships on hold when Lane meets Young for city title
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The curtain on the most intense and historically significant rivalry in Chicago Public League soccer rises one more time, and the anticipation and atmosphere throbs with excitement and a depth of feeling.
The next act will be written at 4 p.m. today (Wednesday) at Lane Stadium.
In city girls soccer, Young and Lane are the gatekeepers. While other programs -- Payton, Northside, Jones -- are part of the conversation, Lane and Young are the constant presence. They have played in the championship of the city tournament three-consecutive years and six out of the last seven.
In 2009 Payton was the last team other than Young or Lane to capture the city title.
The reasons for their success are obvious: the continuity and stability of the coaching staffs; the pipeline to talent; and the fact their best players have grown up around the game and played year round in organized club programs.
“All the good girls in the city know each other,” Jones coach Derek Bylsma said.
The connective thread of the rivalry is, interestingly enough, friendship. That only elevates the stakes and the importance.
“Three of my best friends are on Whitney Young,” Lane junior defender/midfielder Izzy Oganovich said. “The Putrim sisters, (midfielder) Olivia and (forward) Sophie, and (midfielder) Jessica O’Donnell. They are my best friends. Right now, I am playing for Lane, and I am going to play my heart out. I am not going to take it easy just because they are my best friends. I am on a team, and I want to win. I am not going to slack off.”
The game is that personal.
Olivia Putrim played at Lane her freshman year. She transferred to Young but had to sit out the year. Sophie Putrim had a spectacular freshman debut for the Dolphins. She missed most of last year due to complications of a concussion.
“We finally have a full roster,” Young coach Spero Mandakas said. “Sophie has been getting some solid minutes and scored a goal in her first game back against Northside. We are playing at a pace we want to play at, and the girls are committed to training at a high level. They have really bought into what the coaches are asking.”
Under any circumstances, this game is loaded with meaning and significance. This year’s game touches everything.
Lane (10-2-3, 5-0-1) holds a one-point edge over the Dolphins (9-8-0, 5-1-0) in the Premier Division standings. A Lane victory or tie clinches the title.
Young, in sole possession of second place, has its destiny in its own hands, but the Dolphins must win to capture the Premier title.
Jones (4-1-1) plays Northside on Wednesday. The Eagles would take second place if they win and Young loses. In the case of a Jones win and Young tie, the Dolphins would take second by virtue of their 1-0 head-to-head win April 21.
Click here for updated Chicago Public League standings
The no. 14 Indians are playing their best soccer of the year. Since a 2-1 loss to no. 13 Nazareth on April 13, Lane has: won six in a row; not conceded a goal; and scored 33 goals in that span.
Lane dispatched fourth place Payton 5-0 on Monday.
“Our team chemistry is great,” Oganovich said. “Everyone on the team gets along very well. We include everyone in everything we do. Before the Payton game, all the players that have the same lunch period got together and went out to lunch, just to hang out and get ready for the game. We have been working very hard in practice.”
The Indians have depth, skill and talent at every position. Lena Price-Johnson, the team’s only senior, is electric up-top with sophomore Grace Dunaway. The middle attack featuring Jazzmin Jordan, Alana Coffman, Carlye Makuch and Johanna Bozic has been dynamic. Oganovich and Leah Finkielsztein solidify the back. Sophomore defender Sam Sorich is the team’s free kick specialist. Kinuko Mrozik has also been exceptional in the back.
Maggie Grossman and Brianna Love have shared time as keepers.
Oganovich personifies the team’s versatility. She typically starts in the back and moves to the midfield to energize the attack.
Lane beat Young twice last year -- 3-1 in division play and 1-0 in the city championship. The Dolphins have considerable motivation to return the favor.
Young showcased the city’s best individual talent last year in star midfielder Gaby Schwartz. The makeup is different for this iteration of this Dolphins’ team.
“We don’t have that one player we rely on to do different things for us,” Mandakas said. “We don’t have a double-digit goal scorer or a double-digit player in assists. Anybody can step up, anybody can come through for us in a big moment. It has been an interesting and fun year.”
The Dolphins’ recent spark has been freshman Mia Lisanti. She has scored in the Dolphins’ last three games. The forward scored the game-winner against Jones on Friday and earned Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors.
“She has created a lot of offensive chances for our team,” Mandakas said. “The first month or so of the season she was a little timid about doing things on her own. We kept giving her the green light in practice and told her to take chances in the games. Against Jones, she turned on a defender and put one away.”
Senior Gabrielle Cattan is the equivalent of Oganovich, a player capable of playing either in the middle or the back for the Dolphins. Sloane Kistinger is an athletic and rangy keeper. Cameron Herman and Kyra Sobel direct a solid defense.
The Putrim sisters, Cattan and the emergence of Lisanti have diversified the attack.
Each side is eager to write the next chapter.
“The girls are all connected, whether it is elementary school or club,” Mandakas said. “This is a rivalry, and the girls just want to get into that environment of fighting for those bragging rights.”
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The curtain on the most intense and historically significant rivalry in Chicago Public League soccer rises one more time, and the anticipation and atmosphere throbs with excitement and a depth of feeling.
The next act will be written at 4 p.m. today (Wednesday) at Lane Stadium.
In city girls soccer, Young and Lane are the gatekeepers. While other programs -- Payton, Northside, Jones -- are part of the conversation, Lane and Young are the constant presence. They have played in the championship of the city tournament three-consecutive years and six out of the last seven.
In 2009 Payton was the last team other than Young or Lane to capture the city title.
The reasons for their success are obvious: the continuity and stability of the coaching staffs; the pipeline to talent; and the fact their best players have grown up around the game and played year round in organized club programs.
“All the good girls in the city know each other,” Jones coach Derek Bylsma said.
The connective thread of the rivalry is, interestingly enough, friendship. That only elevates the stakes and the importance.
“Three of my best friends are on Whitney Young,” Lane junior defender/midfielder Izzy Oganovich said. “The Putrim sisters, (midfielder) Olivia and (forward) Sophie, and (midfielder) Jessica O’Donnell. They are my best friends. Right now, I am playing for Lane, and I am going to play my heart out. I am not going to take it easy just because they are my best friends. I am on a team, and I want to win. I am not going to slack off.”
The game is that personal.
Olivia Putrim played at Lane her freshman year. She transferred to Young but had to sit out the year. Sophie Putrim had a spectacular freshman debut for the Dolphins. She missed most of last year due to complications of a concussion.
“We finally have a full roster,” Young coach Spero Mandakas said. “Sophie has been getting some solid minutes and scored a goal in her first game back against Northside. We are playing at a pace we want to play at, and the girls are committed to training at a high level. They have really bought into what the coaches are asking.”
Under any circumstances, this game is loaded with meaning and significance. This year’s game touches everything.
Lane (10-2-3, 5-0-1) holds a one-point edge over the Dolphins (9-8-0, 5-1-0) in the Premier Division standings. A Lane victory or tie clinches the title.
Young, in sole possession of second place, has its destiny in its own hands, but the Dolphins must win to capture the Premier title.
Jones (4-1-1) plays Northside on Wednesday. The Eagles would take second place if they win and Young loses. In the case of a Jones win and Young tie, the Dolphins would take second by virtue of their 1-0 head-to-head win April 21.
Click here for updated Chicago Public League standings
The no. 14 Indians are playing their best soccer of the year. Since a 2-1 loss to no. 13 Nazareth on April 13, Lane has: won six in a row; not conceded a goal; and scored 33 goals in that span.
Lane dispatched fourth place Payton 5-0 on Monday.
“Our team chemistry is great,” Oganovich said. “Everyone on the team gets along very well. We include everyone in everything we do. Before the Payton game, all the players that have the same lunch period got together and went out to lunch, just to hang out and get ready for the game. We have been working very hard in practice.”
The Indians have depth, skill and talent at every position. Lena Price-Johnson, the team’s only senior, is electric up-top with sophomore Grace Dunaway. The middle attack featuring Jazzmin Jordan, Alana Coffman, Carlye Makuch and Johanna Bozic has been dynamic. Oganovich and Leah Finkielsztein solidify the back. Sophomore defender Sam Sorich is the team’s free kick specialist. Kinuko Mrozik has also been exceptional in the back.
Maggie Grossman and Brianna Love have shared time as keepers.
Oganovich personifies the team’s versatility. She typically starts in the back and moves to the midfield to energize the attack.
Lane beat Young twice last year -- 3-1 in division play and 1-0 in the city championship. The Dolphins have considerable motivation to return the favor.
Young showcased the city’s best individual talent last year in star midfielder Gaby Schwartz. The makeup is different for this iteration of this Dolphins’ team.
“We don’t have that one player we rely on to do different things for us,” Mandakas said. “We don’t have a double-digit goal scorer or a double-digit player in assists. Anybody can step up, anybody can come through for us in a big moment. It has been an interesting and fun year.”
The Dolphins’ recent spark has been freshman Mia Lisanti. She has scored in the Dolphins’ last three games. The forward scored the game-winner against Jones on Friday and earned Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors.
“She has created a lot of offensive chances for our team,” Mandakas said. “The first month or so of the season she was a little timid about doing things on her own. We kept giving her the green light in practice and told her to take chances in the games. Against Jones, she turned on a defender and put one away.”
Senior Gabrielle Cattan is the equivalent of Oganovich, a player capable of playing either in the middle or the back for the Dolphins. Sloane Kistinger is an athletic and rangy keeper. Cameron Herman and Kyra Sobel direct a solid defense.
The Putrim sisters, Cattan and the emergence of Lisanti have diversified the attack.
Each side is eager to write the next chapter.
“The girls are all connected, whether it is elementary school or club,” Mandakas said. “This is a rivalry, and the girls just want to get into that environment of fighting for those bragging rights.”