State preview: Lyons
By Curt Herron
Lyons faced its first deficit of the season in Monday's supersectional against Sandburg. It responded to the challenge and claimed a 2-1 win over the Eagles to earn another berth in the Class 3A semifinals, which it competed in two years ago
Now the 19-0-0 Lions hope that they can use their stellar defense to help them accomplish something that the program has not done since 1997, advance to the championship match. If they can do that, then the focus will be on claiming their first state title in the sport.
Coach Bill Lanspeary's Lions face 17-1-2 Barrington on Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Hoffman Estates High School. The winner advances to Saturday's 6:30 p.m. championship at the same site against either 17-1-0 Libertyville or 18-2-0 O'Fallon.
"There was no panic at halftime when we were talking," Lanspeary said of his team's lone deficit of the season. "Everybody kind of stayed calm and focused, and we talked about what we needed to do. Then the players kind of picked up the energy a bit and managed to get the job done.
"I think it will be a great game," Lanspeary said of the semifinal match. "They're awfully tough, and they're well-organized and well-coached. They're very talented and have a lot of experience, too. But I think that our kids are excited for the opportunity.
"Libertyville is the only team that's beaten Barrington and then O'Fallon knocks off Naperville North. At this stage, you know that everybody is good. It comes down to little plays here and there and winning 50/50 balls and having a good touch and finishing your chances. Hopefully it will be a great Final Four."
If the Lions can win both of their matches this weekend, they'll become the first school in the largest class to complete an unbeaten and untied season since New Trier pulled off that accomplishment in 2004.
Lyons was very dominant in the regular season, winning all 14 of its matches without allowing a goal while scoring 62 times. As a result, the team only played in three matches during that stretch that were decided by one goal.
The team's defense features seniors Ellie Kosanovich (4 goals, 5 assists) and Maddie McPartlin and juniors Kate Fulscher (4 assists) and Ava Pike. The quartet has admirably protected junior goalkeeper Izzy Lee, who only had to make 92 saves during the season.
After recording 15-consecutive shutouts, the Lions finally allowed a goal in a 4-1 regional final victory over Jones. But they followed up on that unblemished streak by recording a pair of shutouts in the Morton Sectional against two unbeaten teams in Downers Grove South and Benet.
Jordan Lee-Caracci has come up big in the playoffs, scoring match-winning goals against both Benet and Sandburg. The senior forward, who also has four assists, is tied for the team lead in goals with 13 along with junior midfielder Eleanor Musgrove, who also has a team-high eight assists.
Other top scorers for the Lions are senior forwards Ava Dallavo (9 goals, 4 assists) and Reese Komsthoeft (5, 2), junior forward Keira Sullivan (9, 3), sophomore forward Katie O'Malley (6, 5) and senior midfielders Avery Livingston (4 goals) and Lily Mattern (4, 5).
Two years ago, Lyons got back to state for the first time since 2007 and earned its first trophy since 2006. The Lions fell 2-1 to eventual champion Naperville North in the semifinals and then lost 2-0 to New Trier in the third place game. Only three players who are on this season's roster competed with that team: Dallavo, Kosanovich and Mattern.
But in a sign of just how much depth the Lions have, the stat sheet shows that 15 players on the roster have played in either 18 or 19 matches during the season.
And that could be very important in a matchup of two strong defensive squads who have yielded a combined six goals throughout the season.
By Curt Herron
Lyons faced its first deficit of the season in Monday's supersectional against Sandburg. It responded to the challenge and claimed a 2-1 win over the Eagles to earn another berth in the Class 3A semifinals, which it competed in two years ago
Now the 19-0-0 Lions hope that they can use their stellar defense to help them accomplish something that the program has not done since 1997, advance to the championship match. If they can do that, then the focus will be on claiming their first state title in the sport.
Coach Bill Lanspeary's Lions face 17-1-2 Barrington on Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Hoffman Estates High School. The winner advances to Saturday's 6:30 p.m. championship at the same site against either 17-1-0 Libertyville or 18-2-0 O'Fallon.
"There was no panic at halftime when we were talking," Lanspeary said of his team's lone deficit of the season. "Everybody kind of stayed calm and focused, and we talked about what we needed to do. Then the players kind of picked up the energy a bit and managed to get the job done.
"I think it will be a great game," Lanspeary said of the semifinal match. "They're awfully tough, and they're well-organized and well-coached. They're very talented and have a lot of experience, too. But I think that our kids are excited for the opportunity.
"Libertyville is the only team that's beaten Barrington and then O'Fallon knocks off Naperville North. At this stage, you know that everybody is good. It comes down to little plays here and there and winning 50/50 balls and having a good touch and finishing your chances. Hopefully it will be a great Final Four."
If the Lions can win both of their matches this weekend, they'll become the first school in the largest class to complete an unbeaten and untied season since New Trier pulled off that accomplishment in 2004.
Lyons was very dominant in the regular season, winning all 14 of its matches without allowing a goal while scoring 62 times. As a result, the team only played in three matches during that stretch that were decided by one goal.
The team's defense features seniors Ellie Kosanovich (4 goals, 5 assists) and Maddie McPartlin and juniors Kate Fulscher (4 assists) and Ava Pike. The quartet has admirably protected junior goalkeeper Izzy Lee, who only had to make 92 saves during the season.
After recording 15-consecutive shutouts, the Lions finally allowed a goal in a 4-1 regional final victory over Jones. But they followed up on that unblemished streak by recording a pair of shutouts in the Morton Sectional against two unbeaten teams in Downers Grove South and Benet.
Jordan Lee-Caracci has come up big in the playoffs, scoring match-winning goals against both Benet and Sandburg. The senior forward, who also has four assists, is tied for the team lead in goals with 13 along with junior midfielder Eleanor Musgrove, who also has a team-high eight assists.
Other top scorers for the Lions are senior forwards Ava Dallavo (9 goals, 4 assists) and Reese Komsthoeft (5, 2), junior forward Keira Sullivan (9, 3), sophomore forward Katie O'Malley (6, 5) and senior midfielders Avery Livingston (4 goals) and Lily Mattern (4, 5).
Two years ago, Lyons got back to state for the first time since 2007 and earned its first trophy since 2006. The Lions fell 2-1 to eventual champion Naperville North in the semifinals and then lost 2-0 to New Trier in the third place game. Only three players who are on this season's roster competed with that team: Dallavo, Kosanovich and Mattern.
But in a sign of just how much depth the Lions have, the stat sheet shows that 15 players on the roster have played in either 18 or 19 matches during the season.
And that could be very important in a matchup of two strong defensive squads who have yielded a combined six goals throughout the season.