Reavis looks to storm the gates vs. Lemont
By Dave Owen
Defending Class AA third place state finisher Lemont, ranked 22nd in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, nears the pivotal month of May in strong shape again.
With a perfect 6-0-0 record in the South Suburban Conference Blue Division, the Indians (13-4-1) are in the drivers seat for the league title.
But two major roadblocks remain on the championship highway: Argo (6-1-1 in conference) on May 7, and more immediately, red-hot Reavis (11-5-2, 4-1-2) at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Lemont.
“Reavis has consistently been one of the more competitive teams in the SSC,” Lemont coach Rick Prangen said. “They are well-coached, well-organized and always have a good team spirit about them.”
Spirits have been soaring of late for the Rams, who have outscored opponents 20-3 over the course of a current three-game winning streak.
In the month of April, Reavis has an 8-2-2 record.
“We really hope to deny them time and space on the ball,” Prangen said. “Because they are well-organized, we will have to figure out ways to unlock them offensively.
“Defensively we will have to make sure that we stay aware of two or three players that we have identified as offensive threats,” Prangen added. “Lastly, like any game, if you win the midfield you have a good chance at winning the game.”
Lemont has been the beast of the conference for years, and handed Reavis a surprising 10-3 setback early last season.
The Rams now have a chance to avenge that defeat, and draw into a tie in the loss column for the South Suburban Conference Blue Divison lead.
“This is a big game for us and the girls know that,” Reavis coach Jeff Grider said. “They know that conference is on the line, and that they are playing a quality opponent. These girls are competitors and will get up for the game.
“We tend to play better against tougher opponents,” Grider added. “We won’t be fazed from the first whistle. But we tend to struggle later in the game with the mental side of the game. We have to bend and not break at the first sign of struggle to survive and win this game.”
Senior striker Litzy Corona has been a top scorer and veteran leader for a young and explosive Reavis nucleus.
“Litzy Corona is playing really well,” Grider said. “She has 33 goals so far this season.
“Cami Valdez (six goals, seven assists) is playing the best soccer of her career. She has surprised me and herself with her offensive production this season.
“Alyssa Froylan is a force to be reckoned with in the middle of the pitch,” Grider added. “She is our center defensive mid that does all the dirty work for us: wins 50/50s, headballs, and controls the middle of the field.”
“And Andy Flores, our athletic center back, is playing really well back there. She saves us time and time again from being scored on.”
Lemont finished with a 2-1-0 record and third place bracket finish in the Adidas Tournament of Champions in Burlington, Iowa over the weekend.
A 1-0 semifinal loss to Granite City was the squad’s lone setback; the Indians rebounded to beat Normal West 1-0 in the third place match.
“We played three quality opponents,” Prangen said, “and I was pleased with our play for the most part.”
With six state trophies since 2009, Lemont has high standards to strive for. Scoring three goals over the three games in Iowa (including one in two games on Saturday) was one relative concern.
“Right now our biggest focus is to convert our offensive chances at a higher rate,” Prangen said. “We need to be more efficient in the final third of the field.”
Lemont has a 7-1-1 record since an April 13 loss to talented Class 3A side Neuqua Valley, and had a six-game unbeaten streak before the Granite City setback.
“We have had a couple of players that continue to perform well,” Prangen said. “Junior forward Erin Crispo, senior midfielder Michaela Egan, and junior defender Danielle Irwin have been our most consistent players.”
Outside of frustrating early-season ties with Bremen and Shepard and a narrow 1-0 loss at archrival Argo on April 18, Reavis has been rolling in the South Suburban Blue, and against most foes for that matter.
“I think we're playing our best ball as of late,” Grider said. “We’re defending well and scoring timely goals. Our biggest issue (early in the year) was learning what it means to be a true competitor.”
The competitive juices will definitely need to be flowing fast on Tuesday, and beyond.
“These last five games (coming up) are without a doubt our toughest stretch of opponents,” Grider said. “We haven’t played much competition lately, which is worrisome. And we are playing some quality opponents that are finding their stride as well.
“I don’t think these games will be decided by skill, (but) by the most organized and intense team.”
Grider had two words to sum up what he sees as the key to Tuesday’s game -- and how his side hopes to unlock the historically big challenge most teams face when playing Lemont.
“High intensity from whistle to whistle,” Grider said. “I am a firm believer that hard work can beat talent if talent fails to work hard.
“Lemont is very skilled team, so we need to outhustle and outwork them. We will want to play physical from the get go and make them earn this victory.”
By Dave Owen
Defending Class AA third place state finisher Lemont, ranked 22nd in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, nears the pivotal month of May in strong shape again.
With a perfect 6-0-0 record in the South Suburban Conference Blue Division, the Indians (13-4-1) are in the drivers seat for the league title.
But two major roadblocks remain on the championship highway: Argo (6-1-1 in conference) on May 7, and more immediately, red-hot Reavis (11-5-2, 4-1-2) at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Lemont.
“Reavis has consistently been one of the more competitive teams in the SSC,” Lemont coach Rick Prangen said. “They are well-coached, well-organized and always have a good team spirit about them.”
Spirits have been soaring of late for the Rams, who have outscored opponents 20-3 over the course of a current three-game winning streak.
In the month of April, Reavis has an 8-2-2 record.
“We really hope to deny them time and space on the ball,” Prangen said. “Because they are well-organized, we will have to figure out ways to unlock them offensively.
“Defensively we will have to make sure that we stay aware of two or three players that we have identified as offensive threats,” Prangen added. “Lastly, like any game, if you win the midfield you have a good chance at winning the game.”
Lemont has been the beast of the conference for years, and handed Reavis a surprising 10-3 setback early last season.
The Rams now have a chance to avenge that defeat, and draw into a tie in the loss column for the South Suburban Conference Blue Divison lead.
“This is a big game for us and the girls know that,” Reavis coach Jeff Grider said. “They know that conference is on the line, and that they are playing a quality opponent. These girls are competitors and will get up for the game.
“We tend to play better against tougher opponents,” Grider added. “We won’t be fazed from the first whistle. But we tend to struggle later in the game with the mental side of the game. We have to bend and not break at the first sign of struggle to survive and win this game.”
Senior striker Litzy Corona has been a top scorer and veteran leader for a young and explosive Reavis nucleus.
“Litzy Corona is playing really well,” Grider said. “She has 33 goals so far this season.
“Cami Valdez (six goals, seven assists) is playing the best soccer of her career. She has surprised me and herself with her offensive production this season.
“Alyssa Froylan is a force to be reckoned with in the middle of the pitch,” Grider added. “She is our center defensive mid that does all the dirty work for us: wins 50/50s, headballs, and controls the middle of the field.”
“And Andy Flores, our athletic center back, is playing really well back there. She saves us time and time again from being scored on.”
Lemont finished with a 2-1-0 record and third place bracket finish in the Adidas Tournament of Champions in Burlington, Iowa over the weekend.
A 1-0 semifinal loss to Granite City was the squad’s lone setback; the Indians rebounded to beat Normal West 1-0 in the third place match.
“We played three quality opponents,” Prangen said, “and I was pleased with our play for the most part.”
With six state trophies since 2009, Lemont has high standards to strive for. Scoring three goals over the three games in Iowa (including one in two games on Saturday) was one relative concern.
“Right now our biggest focus is to convert our offensive chances at a higher rate,” Prangen said. “We need to be more efficient in the final third of the field.”
Lemont has a 7-1-1 record since an April 13 loss to talented Class 3A side Neuqua Valley, and had a six-game unbeaten streak before the Granite City setback.
“We have had a couple of players that continue to perform well,” Prangen said. “Junior forward Erin Crispo, senior midfielder Michaela Egan, and junior defender Danielle Irwin have been our most consistent players.”
Outside of frustrating early-season ties with Bremen and Shepard and a narrow 1-0 loss at archrival Argo on April 18, Reavis has been rolling in the South Suburban Blue, and against most foes for that matter.
“I think we're playing our best ball as of late,” Grider said. “We’re defending well and scoring timely goals. Our biggest issue (early in the year) was learning what it means to be a true competitor.”
The competitive juices will definitely need to be flowing fast on Tuesday, and beyond.
“These last five games (coming up) are without a doubt our toughest stretch of opponents,” Grider said. “We haven’t played much competition lately, which is worrisome. And we are playing some quality opponents that are finding their stride as well.
“I don’t think these games will be decided by skill, (but) by the most organized and intense team.”
Grider had two words to sum up what he sees as the key to Tuesday’s game -- and how his side hopes to unlock the historically big challenge most teams face when playing Lemont.
“High intensity from whistle to whistle,” Grider said. “I am a firm believer that hard work can beat talent if talent fails to work hard.
“Lemont is very skilled team, so we need to outhustle and outwork them. We will want to play physical from the get go and make them earn this victory.”