Young gets its chance to derail
Lane's city tourney title run
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO — On May 15, 2014, Young defeated Lane in a penalty shootout to capture the Chicago Public League Tournament.
It was the Dolphins’ third title during a six-year run.
Now that date marks something else entirely. It was the last time a team other than Lane won the city title.
Lane is the conquering hero in city girls soccer. The program’s current streak is an unprecedented six titles in a row.
On Thursday night at Lane, the city’s two best programs once again square off.
The no. 20 Dolphins (12-6-3) look to wrest control of the city banner from no. 21 Lane (12-4-1).
History, drama, and revenge jam together in forming a thrilling and intoxicating backdrop.
Young defeated Lane 3-0 during Premier Division regular-season play -- the first time since the 2014 title game Lane lost to a Public League school.
Young won eight out of its last nine games—the only loss a narrow 1-0 defeat against no. 11 Deerfield.
“I think the run we have been on of late is a by-product of the work that we have put in since the beginning of the season,” Young coach Ross LaBauex said.
“The competition that we have played throughout the season has gotten us prepared for the later part of the season.”
Lane has won seven in a row, with six of those victories coming by shutout. The team has posted a 48-1 scoring differential during that streak.
One of those team streaks is going to come to a crashing end.
“This means so much for us,” Young senior Ella Koleno said. “This is our favorite part of the year.
“This is our favorite week of the year to finally finish off four years.”
Lane has defeated Young four times during its current six-year run.
In 2019, Lane defeated Young 2-0 in the conference match and 4-0 in the city title match.
That was LaBauex’s first season at Young.
The Dolphins worked off those disappointing results to reach a Class 3A sectional final where it lost 2-1 to Lyons.
Ella Koleno, her twin sister Sydney Koleno and midfielder Alexis Sassower started on that Dolphins’ team.
Ella Koleno and Sassower are Chicagoland Soccer all-state players. Sydney Koleno is a three-time watch list player.
Ella Koleno, Sydney Koleno and Sassower each scored a goal in the Dolphins’ 3-1 semifinal victory over Jones on May 7.
Ella Koleno has scored 63 goals in her superb career, including a career-best 22 this year.
Lane counters with the savvy play of two-way star Jocelyn Ramirez and breathtaking offensive talent Scout Murray.
Murray scored two goals in Lane’s 7-0 semifinal victory over Payton on May 7.
The Chicagoland Soccer all-stater -- an Ohio recruit -- has a team-best 17 goals on the year
She is at her best on the biggest stage, as evidenced by her back-to-back hat-tricks against Jones and Payton in last year’s city title run.
“The championship game is where we wanted to be,” Murray said. “We knew we had to focus on Payton first.
“I think we have grown a lot since the start of the year.”
Forward Mary Rau also scored two goals in the semifinal victory.
“It’s really nice to see the consistency of this program,” Rau said. “A huge part of this program is just maintaining a certain level. I have never seen that level go down.
“We’ve seen so many good players go to great colleges. It has never once brought our level down. We have always maintained the ability to work as a team, and just score.”
As a freshman in 2019, Ramirez scored a goal in the 4-0 Lane victory.
She earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match distinction against Payton by assisting Lane’s first two goals.
She is also Lane’s best defender, a nervy and gifted talent who has a knack for disrupting and taking away what the opposition does best.
Lane has not conceded a goal during the city championship series.
“Our defense has definitely gotten a lot better,” Ramirez said. “With Olivia Schmit, Olive Tinucci and Maya Warkentin, we all play together.
“I feel as though from the city games to the suburban games and now back to the city games, we have learned a lot together. How we play just goes to show that we communicate together beautifully.”
Murray generates the most attention from opposition defenses. Ramirez stabilizes the back, and helps create the beguiling combination play with her deft passing.
Midfielder Gabriela Pop had two assists against Payton. Her passing game and footwork is another invaluable weapon.
Lane coach Michelle Vale pointed out the unintended benefits that followed the loss to Young.
Lane jumped directly from that game to the Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic.
The tournament overlapped with spring break. With four rotation players out and two others missing due to illness, Lane had to adjust on the run.
Players like junior midfielder Sofia Aviles stepped into the void. She has become a vital weapon in the attack with nine goals.
“I think that Young loss taught us about ourselves,” Vale said.
“Right after that, in the Malnati’s tournament, we had to make adjustments. It was a blessing in disguise. It allowed us to experiment with different people, in certain positions, and I think it has really been coming together for us.”
Young did to Lane what no other city team has done in more than a decade. The current Lane players had no frame of reference.
“It was a huge wake-up call,” Ramirez said. “We weren’t in the right mentality that game.
“We learned our lesson. I think that game just showed everything is crazy. Soccer games are never 100 percent sure. It’s always 50/50.”
Sophomore midfielder Lauren Roche scored two goals in the Premier victory for Young.
The Koleno sisters -- Ella, Sydney and precocious freshman Moira -- are the driving force for the Dolphins.
Ella and Sydney are four-year starters. Moira is the heir apparent.
“The pressure is kind of nerve wracking, but is also makes me feel very good about myself,” Moira Koleno said.
“Just being able to play with them makes it so much fun. They’re always open on the field, and we can run some combinations.”
The closeness and familiarity of the sisters is matched with Sassower, another all-state midfielder.
Sassower is often called the “fourth sister,” due to her close bond with Ella and Sydney, close friends since the first grade.
The wild card, and a new presence in the city title series, is Young midfielder Daphne Murray (no relation to Scout Murray).
The Butler recruit is another vital weapon in the Dolphins’ attack.
Something has to give: Lane’s streak, or the dominance of Young’s regular-season victory.
“Any time you are playing for trophies or titles, that is good,” LaBauex said.
“This is a team that has slowly matured, grown and learned throughout the season. Now they have put us in a position to win a championship.”
Which past is going to predict the future?
“We are in a good balance,” LaBauex said. “We’re not too high, and we’re not too low. We are trending in the right direction.
“We are going to do the same things that we did when we played in the regular season.”
Lane's city tourney title run
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO — On May 15, 2014, Young defeated Lane in a penalty shootout to capture the Chicago Public League Tournament.
It was the Dolphins’ third title during a six-year run.
Now that date marks something else entirely. It was the last time a team other than Lane won the city title.
Lane is the conquering hero in city girls soccer. The program’s current streak is an unprecedented six titles in a row.
On Thursday night at Lane, the city’s two best programs once again square off.
The no. 20 Dolphins (12-6-3) look to wrest control of the city banner from no. 21 Lane (12-4-1).
History, drama, and revenge jam together in forming a thrilling and intoxicating backdrop.
Young defeated Lane 3-0 during Premier Division regular-season play -- the first time since the 2014 title game Lane lost to a Public League school.
Young won eight out of its last nine games—the only loss a narrow 1-0 defeat against no. 11 Deerfield.
“I think the run we have been on of late is a by-product of the work that we have put in since the beginning of the season,” Young coach Ross LaBauex said.
“The competition that we have played throughout the season has gotten us prepared for the later part of the season.”
Lane has won seven in a row, with six of those victories coming by shutout. The team has posted a 48-1 scoring differential during that streak.
One of those team streaks is going to come to a crashing end.
“This means so much for us,” Young senior Ella Koleno said. “This is our favorite part of the year.
“This is our favorite week of the year to finally finish off four years.”
Lane has defeated Young four times during its current six-year run.
In 2019, Lane defeated Young 2-0 in the conference match and 4-0 in the city title match.
That was LaBauex’s first season at Young.
The Dolphins worked off those disappointing results to reach a Class 3A sectional final where it lost 2-1 to Lyons.
Ella Koleno, her twin sister Sydney Koleno and midfielder Alexis Sassower started on that Dolphins’ team.
Ella Koleno and Sassower are Chicagoland Soccer all-state players. Sydney Koleno is a three-time watch list player.
Ella Koleno, Sydney Koleno and Sassower each scored a goal in the Dolphins’ 3-1 semifinal victory over Jones on May 7.
Ella Koleno has scored 63 goals in her superb career, including a career-best 22 this year.
Lane counters with the savvy play of two-way star Jocelyn Ramirez and breathtaking offensive talent Scout Murray.
Murray scored two goals in Lane’s 7-0 semifinal victory over Payton on May 7.
The Chicagoland Soccer all-stater -- an Ohio recruit -- has a team-best 17 goals on the year
She is at her best on the biggest stage, as evidenced by her back-to-back hat-tricks against Jones and Payton in last year’s city title run.
“The championship game is where we wanted to be,” Murray said. “We knew we had to focus on Payton first.
“I think we have grown a lot since the start of the year.”
Forward Mary Rau also scored two goals in the semifinal victory.
“It’s really nice to see the consistency of this program,” Rau said. “A huge part of this program is just maintaining a certain level. I have never seen that level go down.
“We’ve seen so many good players go to great colleges. It has never once brought our level down. We have always maintained the ability to work as a team, and just score.”
As a freshman in 2019, Ramirez scored a goal in the 4-0 Lane victory.
She earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match distinction against Payton by assisting Lane’s first two goals.
She is also Lane’s best defender, a nervy and gifted talent who has a knack for disrupting and taking away what the opposition does best.
Lane has not conceded a goal during the city championship series.
“Our defense has definitely gotten a lot better,” Ramirez said. “With Olivia Schmit, Olive Tinucci and Maya Warkentin, we all play together.
“I feel as though from the city games to the suburban games and now back to the city games, we have learned a lot together. How we play just goes to show that we communicate together beautifully.”
Murray generates the most attention from opposition defenses. Ramirez stabilizes the back, and helps create the beguiling combination play with her deft passing.
Midfielder Gabriela Pop had two assists against Payton. Her passing game and footwork is another invaluable weapon.
Lane coach Michelle Vale pointed out the unintended benefits that followed the loss to Young.
Lane jumped directly from that game to the Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic.
The tournament overlapped with spring break. With four rotation players out and two others missing due to illness, Lane had to adjust on the run.
Players like junior midfielder Sofia Aviles stepped into the void. She has become a vital weapon in the attack with nine goals.
“I think that Young loss taught us about ourselves,” Vale said.
“Right after that, in the Malnati’s tournament, we had to make adjustments. It was a blessing in disguise. It allowed us to experiment with different people, in certain positions, and I think it has really been coming together for us.”
Young did to Lane what no other city team has done in more than a decade. The current Lane players had no frame of reference.
“It was a huge wake-up call,” Ramirez said. “We weren’t in the right mentality that game.
“We learned our lesson. I think that game just showed everything is crazy. Soccer games are never 100 percent sure. It’s always 50/50.”
Sophomore midfielder Lauren Roche scored two goals in the Premier victory for Young.
The Koleno sisters -- Ella, Sydney and precocious freshman Moira -- are the driving force for the Dolphins.
Ella and Sydney are four-year starters. Moira is the heir apparent.
“The pressure is kind of nerve wracking, but is also makes me feel very good about myself,” Moira Koleno said.
“Just being able to play with them makes it so much fun. They’re always open on the field, and we can run some combinations.”
The closeness and familiarity of the sisters is matched with Sassower, another all-state midfielder.
Sassower is often called the “fourth sister,” due to her close bond with Ella and Sydney, close friends since the first grade.
The wild card, and a new presence in the city title series, is Young midfielder Daphne Murray (no relation to Scout Murray).
The Butler recruit is another vital weapon in the Dolphins’ attack.
Something has to give: Lane’s streak, or the dominance of Young’s regular-season victory.
“Any time you are playing for trophies or titles, that is good,” LaBauex said.
“This is a team that has slowly matured, grown and learned throughout the season. Now they have put us in a position to win a championship.”
Which past is going to predict the future?
“We are in a good balance,” LaBauex said. “We’re not too high, and we’re not too low. We are trending in the right direction.
“We are going to do the same things that we did when we played in the regular season.”