Addison Trail, Leyden rivalry game
big no matter the circumstances
By Patrick Z. McGavin
When it comes to the rivalry between Addison Trail and Leyden, the last thing anyone has to worry about is unlocking a mystery.
Everything is right out in the open.
“There is a lot of respect between the two programs,” Addison Trail coach Ryan Dini said. “Whenever we play it’s a one-goal game.”
Leyden coach Mark Valintis has a personal connection to the rivalry. He is a graduate of Addison Trail who played on arguably the greatest Blazers’ team in history, the 1992 squad that went 25-1-0 and reached the state quarterfinals.
“I think at one point in time, that kind of added to it,” Valintis said. “Over time through growing up and being so close to the West Leyden era, a lot of our guys and their guys know each other.
“This game is always about bragging rights for the kids.”
With the next iteration of the rivalry set to unfold Tuesday night in Franklin Park, the clashing narratives have only created a more dynamic and thrilling team portrait.
The Blazers (6-1-0, 1-0-0) are ranked 21st in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25. They are a savvy, experienced and senior-dominated side.
“We have 17 seniors out of our 23 players, so they have been through a lot of games together,” Dini said.
The Blazers have only conceded three goals in seven games.
The scoring has been spread out. Midfielder Alex Sandoval has a team-best four goals, and forward Peter Savinos has scored two goals. Midfielder Emilio Macias has also scored two goals.
Midfielder Nico Parenti has three assists, and defender Uriel Bibiano has two.
“We have a lot of guys with one goal or one assist,” Dini said. “This is what makes us so dangerous as a team to defend.
“We get contributions from starters, sub players and even defensive players.”
The Blazers have not only opened up and diversified the shot distribution chart on the team. Dini said the team has been very creative and dangerous on set pieces.
“We started off the season hot, scoring off set plays and doing all the little things,” he said. “The last couple of games, we have not been getting as much possession as we’d like.”
The Blazers’ five-game winning streak ended with a narrow 1-0 loss against Boylan at the PepsiCo Showdown. After that win and the Rockford team’s victory against Lyons last weekend, Boylan moved up to second in the Chicagoland Soccer Illinois 10 poll of the top programs outside of Chicago.
Addison Trail recovered with a strong 3-1 victory over a solid Metea Valley team.
Leyden defeated Addison Trail 4-1 when the teams played during the spring.
Now Valintis hopes the West Suburban Conference Gold Division game on Tuesday is a catalyst for his club.
The Eagles (2-6-0, 0-1-0) are off to an uncharacteristically slow start.
“I don’t want to make more of this game than what it is,” Valintis said. “We’ve been struggling a little bit. We have also been in every single game, had leads in games, sometimes twice in a game, and then we have shot ourselves in the foot, and we’ve lost.”
The Eagles have two cornerstone talents in forwards Pablo Mancha and Javier Solis.
Both are on Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List players who were serious all-state candidates for their play during the spring.
“Pablo is a four-year starter,” Valintis said. “He has been fantastic, just somebody who sees the game from different levels. He has been very helpful with getting our other players caught up.”
Solis is a creative and dynamic talent, either on or off the ball. In the attack, Valintis also spotlighted the play of forward Alvin Santos, midfielder Daniel Guevara and sophomores Oliver Salgado and Ariel Diaz.
With just one win in its last six games, Leyden is eager to reverse that stretch. Confidence goes a long way, according to Valintis.
“No matter who it’s against, just getting a win would help how we look at ourselves,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who we play. If we get that result, that is a good outcome.”
The rivalry almost certainly pushes the players on both sides to elevate their game. Records are not always a fair indicator.
“Mark graduated a lot, and he has a young team,” Dini said. “I’m hoping our experience, and how together this group is, will help us take care of the game.”
Valintis is excited to see how his team rises to the challenge. Their margin of error is very slim.
“We can’t make mistakes,” he said. “If you make it against them, they will punish you. We played them in the spring, and we are familiar with some of their players.
“They’re off to a great start. It’s going to be a good test for us. If we are capable of doing what we can do, we will definitely be in the game.”
big no matter the circumstances
By Patrick Z. McGavin
When it comes to the rivalry between Addison Trail and Leyden, the last thing anyone has to worry about is unlocking a mystery.
Everything is right out in the open.
“There is a lot of respect between the two programs,” Addison Trail coach Ryan Dini said. “Whenever we play it’s a one-goal game.”
Leyden coach Mark Valintis has a personal connection to the rivalry. He is a graduate of Addison Trail who played on arguably the greatest Blazers’ team in history, the 1992 squad that went 25-1-0 and reached the state quarterfinals.
“I think at one point in time, that kind of added to it,” Valintis said. “Over time through growing up and being so close to the West Leyden era, a lot of our guys and their guys know each other.
“This game is always about bragging rights for the kids.”
With the next iteration of the rivalry set to unfold Tuesday night in Franklin Park, the clashing narratives have only created a more dynamic and thrilling team portrait.
The Blazers (6-1-0, 1-0-0) are ranked 21st in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25. They are a savvy, experienced and senior-dominated side.
“We have 17 seniors out of our 23 players, so they have been through a lot of games together,” Dini said.
The Blazers have only conceded three goals in seven games.
The scoring has been spread out. Midfielder Alex Sandoval has a team-best four goals, and forward Peter Savinos has scored two goals. Midfielder Emilio Macias has also scored two goals.
Midfielder Nico Parenti has three assists, and defender Uriel Bibiano has two.
“We have a lot of guys with one goal or one assist,” Dini said. “This is what makes us so dangerous as a team to defend.
“We get contributions from starters, sub players and even defensive players.”
The Blazers have not only opened up and diversified the shot distribution chart on the team. Dini said the team has been very creative and dangerous on set pieces.
“We started off the season hot, scoring off set plays and doing all the little things,” he said. “The last couple of games, we have not been getting as much possession as we’d like.”
The Blazers’ five-game winning streak ended with a narrow 1-0 loss against Boylan at the PepsiCo Showdown. After that win and the Rockford team’s victory against Lyons last weekend, Boylan moved up to second in the Chicagoland Soccer Illinois 10 poll of the top programs outside of Chicago.
Addison Trail recovered with a strong 3-1 victory over a solid Metea Valley team.
Leyden defeated Addison Trail 4-1 when the teams played during the spring.
Now Valintis hopes the West Suburban Conference Gold Division game on Tuesday is a catalyst for his club.
The Eagles (2-6-0, 0-1-0) are off to an uncharacteristically slow start.
“I don’t want to make more of this game than what it is,” Valintis said. “We’ve been struggling a little bit. We have also been in every single game, had leads in games, sometimes twice in a game, and then we have shot ourselves in the foot, and we’ve lost.”
The Eagles have two cornerstone talents in forwards Pablo Mancha and Javier Solis.
Both are on Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List players who were serious all-state candidates for their play during the spring.
“Pablo is a four-year starter,” Valintis said. “He has been fantastic, just somebody who sees the game from different levels. He has been very helpful with getting our other players caught up.”
Solis is a creative and dynamic talent, either on or off the ball. In the attack, Valintis also spotlighted the play of forward Alvin Santos, midfielder Daniel Guevara and sophomores Oliver Salgado and Ariel Diaz.
With just one win in its last six games, Leyden is eager to reverse that stretch. Confidence goes a long way, according to Valintis.
“No matter who it’s against, just getting a win would help how we look at ourselves,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who we play. If we get that result, that is a good outcome.”
The rivalry almost certainly pushes the players on both sides to elevate their game. Records are not always a fair indicator.
“Mark graduated a lot, and he has a young team,” Dini said. “I’m hoping our experience, and how together this group is, will help us take care of the game.”
Valintis is excited to see how his team rises to the challenge. Their margin of error is very slim.
“We can’t make mistakes,” he said. “If you make it against them, they will punish you. We played them in the spring, and we are familiar with some of their players.
“They’re off to a great start. It’s going to be a good test for us. If we are capable of doing what we can do, we will definitely be in the game.”