Hinsdale Central, Lyons renew royal rivalry
By Dave Owen
Either by history or current standings standards, rivalries just may not get much better or closer than Lyons vs. Hinsdale Central.
Start by asking the two head coaches.
In his 22 years at Hinsdale Central, Mike Wiggins notes that the Red Devils’ record in the head-to-head series with the Lions is 11-11-0 – straight-up even.
If those numbers aren’t enough to sum up the competitive balance, ask Lyons mentor Paul Labbato about the rivalry.
The Lions, which returned to the top of the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 this week, have won 20 regional titles, eight sectionals, four supersectional championships and the 2009 state title. Their talent-deep Silver Division of the West Suburban Conference contains the likes of defending Class 3A state champion and third-ranked York, and no. 17 Oak Park and River Forest.
Labbato puts the importance of the league link with 12th-ranked Hinsdale Central into one sentence that makes all the feats and other opponents take a back seat.
“This game,” Labbato said, “is our entire year.”
High emotions set the table for the game at 6:30 pm. Tuesday at Hinsdale Central. The visiting Lions (8-1-3) and Red Devils (7-1-1) enter with 1-0-x divisional records and rising 2022 reputations that match the intensity of the rivalry.
Hinsdale Central has its own amazing postseason history: the Red Devils have the edge on the Lions in state titles with two (1975, 2014), and have nine regional crowns, four sectionals and two supersectional titles of their own.
As for this year, the Red Devils’ 2-0 win over perennial Wisconsin power Marquette High School set the tone for a fast start.
Only a season-opening tie with Oswego East and a 2-1 nonconference loss to no. 7 New Trier on Sept. 10 have slowed Hinsdale Central. The Red Devils bounced back from the defeat to top Oak Park and River Forest (3-2 Sept. 13) and Batavia (8-0 Sept. 15).
Lyons revved up for Tuesday’s battle in top form against top competition. The Lions posted weekend shutout wins over Libertyville (2-0 Sept. 16) and 2021 Class 3A state semifinalist Morton (1-0 Sept. 17) at the Morton Premier Invitational.
Click here to read the Lyons-Libertyville game story
Click here to read the Lyons-Morton game story
Patrick Kracker scored Lyons’ winning goal vs. Morton, and is one of many standouts in the first month of the season.
“Patrick Kracker has given us never-ending effort in the center midfield,” Labbato said. “(And) we’ve been happy with our defensive shape and our effort in the back. Goalkeeper Connor Schmitt, Collin Sullivan, Igor Chrobotowicz, Danny Svelnis, Jack Rempfer and Liam Carolan have had an outstanding season so far.”
The Lions have posted six shutouts so far this fall. Their lone loss was a 1-0 setback to eventual champion Conant in a BodyArmor bracket Sept. 11.
Their lone common head-to-head foe with the Red Devils is New Trier, which Lyons beat 2-1 on Sept. 3.
Hinsdale Central’s list of individual standouts begins with Luca Davies. The junior has nine goals and three assists this season, and has at least one point in each of his team’s nine games this fall.
Classmate Martin Montoya led the way in the win over Batavia with two goals and an assist. Hinsdale Central's Class of 2025 continues to impress.
“Our sophomores came up really big (vs. Batavia),” Wiggins said. “And looking to a game like Tuesday, (goalkeeper) Martin Contreras got the shutout (Thursday) as a sophomore.”
Sophomores Austen Szurgot and Enzo Cinque both netted their first varsity goals vs. Batavia, when the Red Devils turned a 1-0 halftime lead into a big win.
“Austen has been strong in midfield, and Enzo has been really versatile for us in back and up-top,” Wiggins said. “For us its exciting that the younger guys are in the environment (playing Lyons) for the first time. We're excited that they're going to be able to be a part of this.”
Speaking of the rivalry from Hinsdale Central's perspective, last year's showdown will be tough to beat.
The Red Devils overcame near impossible odds to win in penalty kicks.
“We had a pretty amazing result last year,” Wiggins said. “It's already tough enough to try to play Lyons, but last year to be the away team in front of a packed crowd, and go down a player (soft red) and down a goal and to survive that. We earned a PK that ties it, then survived two 10-minute overtime and went into PKs and won it.”
A repeat of that script seems implausible, but in this series never bet against plenty of unexpected twists and turns. And count on high levels of talent and intensity.
One element of the Red Devils’ high level of play seems of particular concern to the Lions.
“One key to success for Lyons is to be focused on restarts,” Labbato said. “We will have to defend set pieces from all over the field, and we can’t lose focus.”
There are few secrets between the two foes, and no shortage of respect.
“They’re always well prepared and well organized, with attention to detail,” Wiggins said of Lyons. “Paul and I talk all the time. I know he'll have them extremely well prepared.
“For our guys, they know how special the rivalry is,” Wiggins added. “They know how intense the game is. The way we look at it is, we're just fortunate to have a school like Lyons in our conference.”
The Lions have an overall 27-22-4 advantage in the 53 regular-season games played between the two schools.
Last year’s dramatic Red Devils win ended a run of five-straight Lyons victories in the series, but the last six games in the series have all been decided by one goal (two in overtime, along with the ‘21 PK outcome).
“It's special to have these games,” Wiggins said of the Lyons rivalry. “It's a fun game to be a part of.”
By Dave Owen
Either by history or current standings standards, rivalries just may not get much better or closer than Lyons vs. Hinsdale Central.
Start by asking the two head coaches.
In his 22 years at Hinsdale Central, Mike Wiggins notes that the Red Devils’ record in the head-to-head series with the Lions is 11-11-0 – straight-up even.
If those numbers aren’t enough to sum up the competitive balance, ask Lyons mentor Paul Labbato about the rivalry.
The Lions, which returned to the top of the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 this week, have won 20 regional titles, eight sectionals, four supersectional championships and the 2009 state title. Their talent-deep Silver Division of the West Suburban Conference contains the likes of defending Class 3A state champion and third-ranked York, and no. 17 Oak Park and River Forest.
Labbato puts the importance of the league link with 12th-ranked Hinsdale Central into one sentence that makes all the feats and other opponents take a back seat.
“This game,” Labbato said, “is our entire year.”
High emotions set the table for the game at 6:30 pm. Tuesday at Hinsdale Central. The visiting Lions (8-1-3) and Red Devils (7-1-1) enter with 1-0-x divisional records and rising 2022 reputations that match the intensity of the rivalry.
Hinsdale Central has its own amazing postseason history: the Red Devils have the edge on the Lions in state titles with two (1975, 2014), and have nine regional crowns, four sectionals and two supersectional titles of their own.
As for this year, the Red Devils’ 2-0 win over perennial Wisconsin power Marquette High School set the tone for a fast start.
Only a season-opening tie with Oswego East and a 2-1 nonconference loss to no. 7 New Trier on Sept. 10 have slowed Hinsdale Central. The Red Devils bounced back from the defeat to top Oak Park and River Forest (3-2 Sept. 13) and Batavia (8-0 Sept. 15).
Lyons revved up for Tuesday’s battle in top form against top competition. The Lions posted weekend shutout wins over Libertyville (2-0 Sept. 16) and 2021 Class 3A state semifinalist Morton (1-0 Sept. 17) at the Morton Premier Invitational.
Click here to read the Lyons-Libertyville game story
Click here to read the Lyons-Morton game story
Patrick Kracker scored Lyons’ winning goal vs. Morton, and is one of many standouts in the first month of the season.
“Patrick Kracker has given us never-ending effort in the center midfield,” Labbato said. “(And) we’ve been happy with our defensive shape and our effort in the back. Goalkeeper Connor Schmitt, Collin Sullivan, Igor Chrobotowicz, Danny Svelnis, Jack Rempfer and Liam Carolan have had an outstanding season so far.”
The Lions have posted six shutouts so far this fall. Their lone loss was a 1-0 setback to eventual champion Conant in a BodyArmor bracket Sept. 11.
Their lone common head-to-head foe with the Red Devils is New Trier, which Lyons beat 2-1 on Sept. 3.
Hinsdale Central’s list of individual standouts begins with Luca Davies. The junior has nine goals and three assists this season, and has at least one point in each of his team’s nine games this fall.
Classmate Martin Montoya led the way in the win over Batavia with two goals and an assist. Hinsdale Central's Class of 2025 continues to impress.
“Our sophomores came up really big (vs. Batavia),” Wiggins said. “And looking to a game like Tuesday, (goalkeeper) Martin Contreras got the shutout (Thursday) as a sophomore.”
Sophomores Austen Szurgot and Enzo Cinque both netted their first varsity goals vs. Batavia, when the Red Devils turned a 1-0 halftime lead into a big win.
“Austen has been strong in midfield, and Enzo has been really versatile for us in back and up-top,” Wiggins said. “For us its exciting that the younger guys are in the environment (playing Lyons) for the first time. We're excited that they're going to be able to be a part of this.”
Speaking of the rivalry from Hinsdale Central's perspective, last year's showdown will be tough to beat.
The Red Devils overcame near impossible odds to win in penalty kicks.
“We had a pretty amazing result last year,” Wiggins said. “It's already tough enough to try to play Lyons, but last year to be the away team in front of a packed crowd, and go down a player (soft red) and down a goal and to survive that. We earned a PK that ties it, then survived two 10-minute overtime and went into PKs and won it.”
A repeat of that script seems implausible, but in this series never bet against plenty of unexpected twists and turns. And count on high levels of talent and intensity.
One element of the Red Devils’ high level of play seems of particular concern to the Lions.
“One key to success for Lyons is to be focused on restarts,” Labbato said. “We will have to defend set pieces from all over the field, and we can’t lose focus.”
There are few secrets between the two foes, and no shortage of respect.
“They’re always well prepared and well organized, with attention to detail,” Wiggins said of Lyons. “Paul and I talk all the time. I know he'll have them extremely well prepared.
“For our guys, they know how special the rivalry is,” Wiggins added. “They know how intense the game is. The way we look at it is, we're just fortunate to have a school like Lyons in our conference.”
The Lions have an overall 27-22-4 advantage in the 53 regular-season games played between the two schools.
Last year’s dramatic Red Devils win ended a run of five-straight Lyons victories in the series, but the last six games in the series have all been decided by one goal (two in overtime, along with the ‘21 PK outcome).
“It's special to have these games,” Wiggins said of the Lyons rivalry. “It's a fun game to be a part of.”