Young, Loyola meeting
in regional final seems premature
By Patrick Z. McGavin
A lot more than a Class 3A Leyden Regional championship is at stake at 4 p.m. Friday in Franklin Park in the showdown of powers Loyola and Young.
The matchup is fitting and vital given the recent history between the two schools. Their overlapping narratives have fascinating shared connections.
The pairing comes in the New Trier Sectional, which is the deepest in the Class 3A field.
Friday night's game is not a typical of a matchup between third and sixth seeds: Loyola is ranked no. 11 in the final Chicagoland Soccer Top 25; Young is 16th.
The game also offers a very particular circular structure to the season, with a clear beginning and end.
The two teams played to a 1-1 tie at Young on March 17 in the second game of the year. Young had a late lead until Loyola midfielder Grace Ehlert converted a penalty kick in the 79th minute.
“It was a good game, a close game,” Ehlert said. “It feels like a while ago, but also the season has gone by in the blink of an eye.
“I think both teams have grown tremendously, and we have definitely improved since the first game.”
The teams’ leading goal-scorers will be college teammates.
Both Chicagoland Soccer all-state players Ehlert and Young senior Ella Koleno are set to play next year at Washington University in St. Louis.
Ehlert has scored 17 goals and created nine assists for the Ramblers (15-4-1). Ella Koleno has scored 23 goals and posted 12 assists for the Dolphins (13-7-3).
Each player is a four-year varsity performer whose high school career began with a first-year coach.
On the Ramblers’ side, Shannon Hartinger took over the program in 2019 with gifted freshmen, including Ehlert, Molly Sipe and Kaitlyn Kurtz.
“Definitely emotional and definitely bittersweet,” Ehlert said. “We started our freshmen year with a new coach and six new freshmen. We were rebuilding, but also creating our own story and our own culture.
“Definitely the last hurrah, and we have stayed composed under pressure, and just try to do our best.”
With its regional semifinal victory over Leyden on Tuesday, Loyola has won five-straight games.
The Ramblers have a stunning 78-8 goal differential on the year.
Junior keeper Ellie Bradley has posted 13 shutouts and posted a 0.48 goals against average.
Senior forward Kathryn Diblik is explosive at the top. She has 12 goals and seven assists. Kurtz, who is highly skilled and technical, has five goals and three assists.
The defensive play is all the more impressive given Sipe suffered a season-ending knee injury against Lane on March 26.
Junior Emily Pikarski, who is also a skilled corner and free kick specialist, has moved to center back.
“We are in a really good spot right now, really close and coming together,” Ehlert said. “We are super excited and looking forward to winning another regional championship, like we did last year.”
Like her future teammate Ehlert, Koleno is going out in style.
In the first season of coach Ross LaBauex in 2019, Koleno, her twin sister Sydney and best friend Alexis Sassower came of age with a great state tournament run.
After losing to rival Lane in the city championship, the Dolphins ripped off three state victories and lost a tight and contested 2-1 sectional final against eventual state finalist Lyons.
“I think that was so much fun the first year when we got to the sectional final,” LaBauex said. “We were pretty close to being one of the last four teams. It’s a pride thing. I think the girls do enjoy the time they have together.
“I tell them all the time, it’s a quick season, and you have to relish every practice and every game. You will blink, and it will be over.”
Ella and Sydney Koleno are now joined by their precocious younger sister Moira, who has started at midfield since the first game of the year against Lyons.
Young's most significant newcomer has been senior and Butler recruit Daphne Murray, who is playing her first year of high school soccer. She has nine goals and nine assists.
The only somber note for the team is the absence of Sassower, another all-state talent who has been on the emotional ride with the Koleno twins since the start.
The Case Western Reserve recruit suffered a torn MCL in the second half last week in the city championship against Lane.
She was the orchestrator of the attack with 18 assists. She also had 10 goals.
“Can’t catch a break,” LaBauex lamented. “Clearly we needed her in the last 20 minutes of the city championship. These things happen.
“I’m bummed for her. She’s in good spirits. We’d love to have her in these games.”
Young played sharp and spirited in their 3-0 semifinal win over Maine West on Tuesday, after the heartbreaking 2-1 loss against Lane in the city championship May 12.
“I was really proud of the group,” LaBauex said. “When you go out there and play hard, as a coach, that’s all you can ask for. A crossbar there, a little luck on your side, and maybe that result goes our way.
“I think the girls handled it pretty well. They felt bad for a little bit, but you just have to keep moving. As much as I want to win the city, I’d rather win a regional against a good Loyola team. That, for mem would be great.
“We’re going to see how far we can go.”
Whatever the result Friday, the remarkable careers of one of these strong senior groups is going to end.
in regional final seems premature
By Patrick Z. McGavin
A lot more than a Class 3A Leyden Regional championship is at stake at 4 p.m. Friday in Franklin Park in the showdown of powers Loyola and Young.
The matchup is fitting and vital given the recent history between the two schools. Their overlapping narratives have fascinating shared connections.
The pairing comes in the New Trier Sectional, which is the deepest in the Class 3A field.
Friday night's game is not a typical of a matchup between third and sixth seeds: Loyola is ranked no. 11 in the final Chicagoland Soccer Top 25; Young is 16th.
The game also offers a very particular circular structure to the season, with a clear beginning and end.
The two teams played to a 1-1 tie at Young on March 17 in the second game of the year. Young had a late lead until Loyola midfielder Grace Ehlert converted a penalty kick in the 79th minute.
“It was a good game, a close game,” Ehlert said. “It feels like a while ago, but also the season has gone by in the blink of an eye.
“I think both teams have grown tremendously, and we have definitely improved since the first game.”
The teams’ leading goal-scorers will be college teammates.
Both Chicagoland Soccer all-state players Ehlert and Young senior Ella Koleno are set to play next year at Washington University in St. Louis.
Ehlert has scored 17 goals and created nine assists for the Ramblers (15-4-1). Ella Koleno has scored 23 goals and posted 12 assists for the Dolphins (13-7-3).
Each player is a four-year varsity performer whose high school career began with a first-year coach.
On the Ramblers’ side, Shannon Hartinger took over the program in 2019 with gifted freshmen, including Ehlert, Molly Sipe and Kaitlyn Kurtz.
“Definitely emotional and definitely bittersweet,” Ehlert said. “We started our freshmen year with a new coach and six new freshmen. We were rebuilding, but also creating our own story and our own culture.
“Definitely the last hurrah, and we have stayed composed under pressure, and just try to do our best.”
With its regional semifinal victory over Leyden on Tuesday, Loyola has won five-straight games.
The Ramblers have a stunning 78-8 goal differential on the year.
Junior keeper Ellie Bradley has posted 13 shutouts and posted a 0.48 goals against average.
Senior forward Kathryn Diblik is explosive at the top. She has 12 goals and seven assists. Kurtz, who is highly skilled and technical, has five goals and three assists.
The defensive play is all the more impressive given Sipe suffered a season-ending knee injury against Lane on March 26.
Junior Emily Pikarski, who is also a skilled corner and free kick specialist, has moved to center back.
“We are in a really good spot right now, really close and coming together,” Ehlert said. “We are super excited and looking forward to winning another regional championship, like we did last year.”
Like her future teammate Ehlert, Koleno is going out in style.
In the first season of coach Ross LaBauex in 2019, Koleno, her twin sister Sydney and best friend Alexis Sassower came of age with a great state tournament run.
After losing to rival Lane in the city championship, the Dolphins ripped off three state victories and lost a tight and contested 2-1 sectional final against eventual state finalist Lyons.
“I think that was so much fun the first year when we got to the sectional final,” LaBauex said. “We were pretty close to being one of the last four teams. It’s a pride thing. I think the girls do enjoy the time they have together.
“I tell them all the time, it’s a quick season, and you have to relish every practice and every game. You will blink, and it will be over.”
Ella and Sydney Koleno are now joined by their precocious younger sister Moira, who has started at midfield since the first game of the year against Lyons.
Young's most significant newcomer has been senior and Butler recruit Daphne Murray, who is playing her first year of high school soccer. She has nine goals and nine assists.
The only somber note for the team is the absence of Sassower, another all-state talent who has been on the emotional ride with the Koleno twins since the start.
The Case Western Reserve recruit suffered a torn MCL in the second half last week in the city championship against Lane.
She was the orchestrator of the attack with 18 assists. She also had 10 goals.
“Can’t catch a break,” LaBauex lamented. “Clearly we needed her in the last 20 minutes of the city championship. These things happen.
“I’m bummed for her. She’s in good spirits. We’d love to have her in these games.”
Young played sharp and spirited in their 3-0 semifinal win over Maine West on Tuesday, after the heartbreaking 2-1 loss against Lane in the city championship May 12.
“I was really proud of the group,” LaBauex said. “When you go out there and play hard, as a coach, that’s all you can ask for. A crossbar there, a little luck on your side, and maybe that result goes our way.
“I think the girls handled it pretty well. They felt bad for a little bit, but you just have to keep moving. As much as I want to win the city, I’d rather win a regional against a good Loyola team. That, for mem would be great.
“We’re going to see how far we can go.”
Whatever the result Friday, the remarkable careers of one of these strong senior groups is going to end.