Lyons fired up for Silver Brick rivalry game
By Matt Le Cren
There is a universal feeling that most teams have toward their rival.
Regardless of how a season is going, a win in the rivalry game will give it a measure of success.
So it is with Lyons and Hinsdale Central, who will meet at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Bennett Field in Western Springs.
Both teams, to no one’s surprise, are doing well. They both started 8-4-1, though records don’t really matter. You can flip those marks and still expect to see a hard-fought game.
“Hinsdale always comes out ready to play,” Lyons coach Paul Labbato said. “I don’t care if they lose 15 games, they come out and they are dangerous against us, and it does not matter.
“And I hope that it’s the same for us, that if we’re down and out, that that game is a turning game and everyone is talking about it.”
There will be little doubt the game will be one of the most talked-about of the season. Traditionally, the match has decided who will go on to win the West Suburban Conference Silver Division.
Lyons and Hinsdale Central have combined to win at least a share of the last nine league championships and 15 of the past 16. The recent streak is in jeopardy from Hinsdale Central's end -- the Red Devils started the league season with losses to York (5-1) and Glenbard West (3-2). Lyons has its work cut out for it after a 4-2 loss at Oak Park and River Forest this week. A win is a must for both teams.
“They’re pretty good this year,” Lyons senior goalkeeper Matt Vear said. “I know they’ve got a good backline and a good offense, so we’ve just got to be smart. We can’t make dumb errors, because they play the ball in from long every time.
“We’ve got to be smart in the air and clear it away.”
Senior forward Charlie Clarke said another key will be staying true to their plan.
“We also have to dictate the game and not change our style of play to fit theirs,” Clarke said.
The Lions have done well sticking to that strategy, especially when they are at full strength. The defense, which welcomed back center backs Tate Riordan and Sam DeBoer against Reavis after both missed time with minor injuries, hasn’t given up more than one goal in each of its last four games and five of its past seven.
Only one team has scored three goals on Lyons, which edged Lake Park on penalty kicks Saturday for its third win in as many days and fourth in five days.
Now comes the second-consecutive Friday night home game for the Lions, and this one could draw a massive crowd.
In addition to the conference title and sectional seeding implications, the Lions and Red Devils are battling for possession of the Silver Brick, a trophy established in 2008 by Labbato and Hinsdale Central coach Mike Wiggins.
The Lions currently are in possession of the brick following last year’s 3-2 win. The Red Devils had won it the previous four years.
The rivalry has always been close. Lyons leads the series 23-21-4, while Hinsdale Central is 5-4 since the Silver Brick came into existence.
“The atmosphere (is great) with the fun of the rivalry and the Silver Brick is a great trophy, and it’s worth winning." said Labbato. "We bought a new stand for it so the brick sits in the stand with all the scores on it.”
Speaking of scores, Charlie Clarke is likely to account for some of the Lions’ goals. The senior forward tallied nine in his first 11 games this year, including two in the win over Reavis.
“I love the Central game,” Clarke said. “(The Reavis game) was good practice with fans screaming the entire game, which doesn’t really happen that often in soccer.”
Indeed, the student body reserves much of its fervor for the football team, so how do the soccer players whip up a frenzy for their sport?
“Tweet out to people, tell our friends, try to get kids in school interested,” Vear said. “We’re looking forward to the Central game.”
By Matt Le Cren
There is a universal feeling that most teams have toward their rival.
Regardless of how a season is going, a win in the rivalry game will give it a measure of success.
So it is with Lyons and Hinsdale Central, who will meet at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Bennett Field in Western Springs.
Both teams, to no one’s surprise, are doing well. They both started 8-4-1, though records don’t really matter. You can flip those marks and still expect to see a hard-fought game.
“Hinsdale always comes out ready to play,” Lyons coach Paul Labbato said. “I don’t care if they lose 15 games, they come out and they are dangerous against us, and it does not matter.
“And I hope that it’s the same for us, that if we’re down and out, that that game is a turning game and everyone is talking about it.”
There will be little doubt the game will be one of the most talked-about of the season. Traditionally, the match has decided who will go on to win the West Suburban Conference Silver Division.
Lyons and Hinsdale Central have combined to win at least a share of the last nine league championships and 15 of the past 16. The recent streak is in jeopardy from Hinsdale Central's end -- the Red Devils started the league season with losses to York (5-1) and Glenbard West (3-2). Lyons has its work cut out for it after a 4-2 loss at Oak Park and River Forest this week. A win is a must for both teams.
“They’re pretty good this year,” Lyons senior goalkeeper Matt Vear said. “I know they’ve got a good backline and a good offense, so we’ve just got to be smart. We can’t make dumb errors, because they play the ball in from long every time.
“We’ve got to be smart in the air and clear it away.”
Senior forward Charlie Clarke said another key will be staying true to their plan.
“We also have to dictate the game and not change our style of play to fit theirs,” Clarke said.
The Lions have done well sticking to that strategy, especially when they are at full strength. The defense, which welcomed back center backs Tate Riordan and Sam DeBoer against Reavis after both missed time with minor injuries, hasn’t given up more than one goal in each of its last four games and five of its past seven.
Only one team has scored three goals on Lyons, which edged Lake Park on penalty kicks Saturday for its third win in as many days and fourth in five days.
Now comes the second-consecutive Friday night home game for the Lions, and this one could draw a massive crowd.
In addition to the conference title and sectional seeding implications, the Lions and Red Devils are battling for possession of the Silver Brick, a trophy established in 2008 by Labbato and Hinsdale Central coach Mike Wiggins.
The Lions currently are in possession of the brick following last year’s 3-2 win. The Red Devils had won it the previous four years.
The rivalry has always been close. Lyons leads the series 23-21-4, while Hinsdale Central is 5-4 since the Silver Brick came into existence.
“The atmosphere (is great) with the fun of the rivalry and the Silver Brick is a great trophy, and it’s worth winning." said Labbato. "We bought a new stand for it so the brick sits in the stand with all the scores on it.”
Speaking of scores, Charlie Clarke is likely to account for some of the Lions’ goals. The senior forward tallied nine in his first 11 games this year, including two in the win over Reavis.
“I love the Central game,” Clarke said. “(The Reavis game) was good practice with fans screaming the entire game, which doesn’t really happen that often in soccer.”
Indeed, the student body reserves much of its fervor for the football team, so how do the soccer players whip up a frenzy for their sport?
“Tweet out to people, tell our friends, try to get kids in school interested,” Vear said. “We’re looking forward to the Central game.”