York, Lyons yet another
elite battle in WSC Silver
By Dave Owen
The ocean-deep West Suburban Conference Silver Division is a sea of quality matchups.
Thursday’s 6:30 p.m. tussle at Lyons South Campus will be the latest, as visiting York (15-1-0, 3-1-x) looks to move into a three-way tie for the WSC Silver lead against the Lions (12-5-1, 2-2-x).
If league form holds, it won’t be easy.
Lyons had its hopes for a league title dented Tuesday in a 1-0 loss at Oak Park and River Forest. York also fell 1-0 to the Huskies earlier this fall.
In a season full of one-goal differences between foes, there were five teams with a single loss in the league race last week.
“Our conference is so good in normal years,” Lyons coach Paul Labbato said, “but this year everyone is playing great and getting noticed for what they are doing.
“There’s so much player talent and excellent coaching on both sides of the conference (WSC Silver and Gold divisions).”
Four Silver Division teams are ranked in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25: York at no. 4; Lyons at no. 9; Oak Park and River Forest at no. 10; and Hinsdale Central at no. 22. If you add the Gold Division's second-ranked Morton and honorable mention team Addison Trail, and don't forget resurgent Downers Grove South with six-straight wins, you have one tough conference.
Thursday’s combatants in Western Springs fit that description. And with a shade better luck in a penalty kick setback to Hinsdale Central (which currently shares the Silver lead with OPRF at 4-1), the Lions would be playing Thursday for their piece of the first place pie.
“Lyons is always a quality program, one of the best in Chicagoland perennially,” York coach Jordan Stopka said. “They move the ball well and have an excellent work-rate.”
“Coach Labbato is also a really good coach who can sense weakness in an opponent and knows how to exploit it. We need to be solid in all facets.”
York has been rock solid this fall, outscoring foes a staggering 61-7 and winning 10 in a row since that narrow Sept. 7 home loss to Oak Park and River Forest.
“The OPRF game was a great lesson. We had been on a roll before that game (5-0-0 with wins over St. Patrick and Wheaton North),” Stopka said. “It grounded us and came at a great time. I just wish it wasn't conference.
“Even though we played well (in the loss), it showed a vulnerability that the boys hadn't felt prior. We have used it as a springboard to work hard and come prepared no matter who we play. It also taught us that chances don't come by the bunches against quality opponents. We need to finish what we get.”
Message received: the Dukes have netted three or more goals in every game of their 10-win streak except one, that a 1-0 overtime win at Hinsdale Central.
With victories at Lyons and Downers Grove North on Tuesday, the Dukes will at least share the Silver Division crown.
“The boys are excited about the conference race and know that all we (have to) do is win out,” Stopka said. “They are focused and ready to do what they can to get that title.”
York players have had two-goal games in the squad’s last three contests: Kevin Gliatis at Addison Trail (a 5-0 win), Sam Musial on Saturday at Wheaton-Warrenville South (a 3-1 Dukes win) and Kevin O’Connor in a 5-0 Senior Night win over Proviso West on Tuesday.
Seniors Kacper Janowski, Erik Barishman and Nate Sedlacek also scored goals in the Tuesday win.
But if form holds, goals won’t come easy against a Lions defense led by senior defenders Jackson Sullivan and Dom Panopoulos.
Outscoring foes 42-8 this season, Lyons’ only losses have been razor close: three by 1-0 scores, and two others on penalty kicks. Impressive wins include a 2-0 decision over Naperville North.
Labbato expects a quick bounce back after the tough loss Tuesday.
“Our team plays difficult games all season,” Labbato said, “so we understand what it takes to get up for a big match. Our senior leadership will be leaned on again.”
One of those seniors is Sullivan, whose thoughts last week on this key stretch of the season and impending playoffs will certainly apply Thursday.
“We just have to go in with the best mindset of the year,” Sullivan said. “We’re starting to work better and better with each day together. I feel if we show up and we’re playing together well and having each other’s back, we can be successful. We just have to be efficient.”
Each coach sees York’s offensive efficiency as a major factor in the outcome.
“Two keys to the match will be establishing our playing style and scoring first as quickly as possible,” Stopka said. “We have had tremendous success when we couple those two together.”
Said Labbato: “They (York) are extremely talented and play great attacking soccer. We will need to defend at a top level and make some game-changing plays.”
Besides York vs. Lyons, another key Thursday game in the WSC Silver Division race is Oak Park and River Forest’s league finale in the afternoon at Glenbard West.
Conference play wraps up Oct. 12 with York at Downers Grove North, Lyons at Glenbard West and Hinsdale Central vs. Proviso West.
elite battle in WSC Silver
By Dave Owen
The ocean-deep West Suburban Conference Silver Division is a sea of quality matchups.
Thursday’s 6:30 p.m. tussle at Lyons South Campus will be the latest, as visiting York (15-1-0, 3-1-x) looks to move into a three-way tie for the WSC Silver lead against the Lions (12-5-1, 2-2-x).
If league form holds, it won’t be easy.
Lyons had its hopes for a league title dented Tuesday in a 1-0 loss at Oak Park and River Forest. York also fell 1-0 to the Huskies earlier this fall.
In a season full of one-goal differences between foes, there were five teams with a single loss in the league race last week.
“Our conference is so good in normal years,” Lyons coach Paul Labbato said, “but this year everyone is playing great and getting noticed for what they are doing.
“There’s so much player talent and excellent coaching on both sides of the conference (WSC Silver and Gold divisions).”
Four Silver Division teams are ranked in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25: York at no. 4; Lyons at no. 9; Oak Park and River Forest at no. 10; and Hinsdale Central at no. 22. If you add the Gold Division's second-ranked Morton and honorable mention team Addison Trail, and don't forget resurgent Downers Grove South with six-straight wins, you have one tough conference.
Thursday’s combatants in Western Springs fit that description. And with a shade better luck in a penalty kick setback to Hinsdale Central (which currently shares the Silver lead with OPRF at 4-1), the Lions would be playing Thursday for their piece of the first place pie.
“Lyons is always a quality program, one of the best in Chicagoland perennially,” York coach Jordan Stopka said. “They move the ball well and have an excellent work-rate.”
“Coach Labbato is also a really good coach who can sense weakness in an opponent and knows how to exploit it. We need to be solid in all facets.”
York has been rock solid this fall, outscoring foes a staggering 61-7 and winning 10 in a row since that narrow Sept. 7 home loss to Oak Park and River Forest.
“The OPRF game was a great lesson. We had been on a roll before that game (5-0-0 with wins over St. Patrick and Wheaton North),” Stopka said. “It grounded us and came at a great time. I just wish it wasn't conference.
“Even though we played well (in the loss), it showed a vulnerability that the boys hadn't felt prior. We have used it as a springboard to work hard and come prepared no matter who we play. It also taught us that chances don't come by the bunches against quality opponents. We need to finish what we get.”
Message received: the Dukes have netted three or more goals in every game of their 10-win streak except one, that a 1-0 overtime win at Hinsdale Central.
With victories at Lyons and Downers Grove North on Tuesday, the Dukes will at least share the Silver Division crown.
“The boys are excited about the conference race and know that all we (have to) do is win out,” Stopka said. “They are focused and ready to do what they can to get that title.”
York players have had two-goal games in the squad’s last three contests: Kevin Gliatis at Addison Trail (a 5-0 win), Sam Musial on Saturday at Wheaton-Warrenville South (a 3-1 Dukes win) and Kevin O’Connor in a 5-0 Senior Night win over Proviso West on Tuesday.
Seniors Kacper Janowski, Erik Barishman and Nate Sedlacek also scored goals in the Tuesday win.
But if form holds, goals won’t come easy against a Lions defense led by senior defenders Jackson Sullivan and Dom Panopoulos.
Outscoring foes 42-8 this season, Lyons’ only losses have been razor close: three by 1-0 scores, and two others on penalty kicks. Impressive wins include a 2-0 decision over Naperville North.
Labbato expects a quick bounce back after the tough loss Tuesday.
“Our team plays difficult games all season,” Labbato said, “so we understand what it takes to get up for a big match. Our senior leadership will be leaned on again.”
One of those seniors is Sullivan, whose thoughts last week on this key stretch of the season and impending playoffs will certainly apply Thursday.
“We just have to go in with the best mindset of the year,” Sullivan said. “We’re starting to work better and better with each day together. I feel if we show up and we’re playing together well and having each other’s back, we can be successful. We just have to be efficient.”
Each coach sees York’s offensive efficiency as a major factor in the outcome.
“Two keys to the match will be establishing our playing style and scoring first as quickly as possible,” Stopka said. “We have had tremendous success when we couple those two together.”
Said Labbato: “They (York) are extremely talented and play great attacking soccer. We will need to defend at a top level and make some game-changing plays.”
Besides York vs. Lyons, another key Thursday game in the WSC Silver Division race is Oak Park and River Forest’s league finale in the afternoon at Glenbard West.
Conference play wraps up Oct. 12 with York at Downers Grove North, Lyons at Glenbard West and Hinsdale Central vs. Proviso West.