Season recap: Lyons
By Mike Garofola
Aside from the result from the final 80 minutes of football played, the 2021 campaign was a resounding success for Lyons and manager Bill Lanspeary.
The Lions won their fourth-consecutive West Suburban Conference Silver Division title on their way to a second-consecutive state appearance. The program has qualified for the state finals nine times (all since 1997); this was the third trip in Lanspeary’s 14-year reign.
"This was a unique year," began Lanspeary, who lost most of his first 11 from Lyons 2019 fourth place state team that included current Illinois star Eileen Murphy.
"We were not allowed to play regular-season games outside of our conference, so we really did not really know how good we were.
"We had a great senior class on that 2019 team, but I cannot say enough great things about this current group.
"They were fantastic players on the field, but it was their chemistry off the field that made them so special.
"The senior leadership was outstanding. They created a very inclusive culture where every player was valued and supported."
One of the seniors Lanspeary spoke of is Jordan Lee-Caracci, who had little doubt Lyons would find itself playing on the final weekend of the season despite massive graduation losses.
"I knew from that very first day of tryouts that great things were going to come our way," Lee-Caracci said.
"Just like 2019, we had a great group of seniors this season who took on the role of being strong leaders and mentors to the younger players.
"(Many) of us had been playing together for a long time. We were ready to go out, be great leaders, and show what we could do right from the very start of the season."
Lee-Caracci, who bagged the game-winner in Lyon’s heart-pounding 2-1 state semifinal victory over Barrington, was set to play at Wisconsin-Platteville when minutes into a visit to Butler, she had a quick change of heart about her college address.
"I knew right away Butler was the place for me," said Lee-Caracci, who hopes a degree in either critical or strategic communications will lead to a job in the FBI one day.
"Wisconsin-Platteville had a spot for me next season, and I wasn't sure if I was going to play at Butler,” continued Lee-Caracci. "But after being away from my teammates, and the sport just a few days after the state tournament, I knew then how much I missed playing. I've been in contact with the coaches at Butler to see if I can walk-on this fall."
Lee-Caracci was one of five who Lanspeary invited to train with his 2019 club throughout the postseason. The experience gained went a long way to prepare that quintet when their chance came around this season.
"To be a part of the 2019 team with their training, travel, and being there on the bench during the state playoffs was a great environment for all of us,” said junior Eleanor Musgrove.
"It helped us understand the mindset of playing at that level and set the bar high when we began to prepare for this season."
Musgrove (13 goals) played the 10-position in Lyons’ 4-3-3 formation. With seniors, Avery Livingston and Lily Mattern alongside her, the midfield trio formed a deadly strike-force partnership with Lee-Caracci, who lead the team with 14 tallies. Lee-Caracci bagged three-consecutive game-winners in the postseason against Benet (sectional final), Sandburg (supersectional) and Barrington.
"Avery, Lily and I trusted each other on both sides of the ball, and our three forwards Ava (Dallavo), Reese (Komsthoeft) and Jordan, were so good at creating chances for everyone, and could score big goals when we needed them," said Musgrove.
Komsthoeft, who scored the opener against Barrington, will play at Grinnell College in Iowa, Mattern plans to walk-on at Gonzaga, while Livingston chose to play at Mount Holyoke (Massachusetts) over Syracuse and Vermont.
"We were in a 4-3-3 from the start, and Lily, Eleanor and I really clicked as a unit," began Livingston.
"All of us understood of what was expected of us and what we needed to do in our pressure-cover defense. With both Eleanor and Lily attack-minded players, my role as the six was something I enjoyed. I played a little deeper to defend when they both went forward."
Of Lyons' front seven, only Musgrove will return. She will likely will be asked to run the show in the middle of the park.
"My role this season was to attack, create, score some goals and help control things in the middle, which was made so much easier with Lily and Avery alongside,” she said. “But it was also important to be a leader and set a good example for the younger players as well."
Musgrove seems best suited to play the 10 in today’s modern era of soccer. She combines pace, quick thinking, a keen eye in distribution, danger in the final third, tactical awareness and the ability to pick up space in between the lines when needed.
The Division I prospect has several I.D. camps on her travel list this summer. They begin at the Air Force Academy, followed by stops at Wisconsin, Marquette, and Dartmouth among others.
While Lee-Caracci’s and Musgrove’s goals and assists contributed to 40 of the 85 scored this season, Dallavo and Sullivan provided plenty of firepower themselves with nine goals apiece.
Dallavo was a key figure on the 2019 team, scoring nine as a sophomore.
Defender Elli Kosanovich ended her brilliant career for Lyons by earning well-deserved all-state honors from the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association.
Kosanovich was a big part of what led the Lions to the summit of state soccer.
It all began in the back where Kostanovich and her backline mates were near perfect in front of keeper Izzy Lee.
Kosanovich, Lee and company did not concede a goal in the first 15 games. That streak ties the Lions with four teams in second place in the state record book.
Lyons kept things clean for more than 1,200 minutes before letting up its first goal of the season in a 4-1 regional win over Jones. They then shut out previously undefeated teams Downers Grove South and top-seeded Benet in sectional play.
"We defended well as a team all season, but my backline was so solid, " said keeper Lee. "We worked well together. There was great communication and trust among all of us. Teams just could not get behind them, and I liked how they would take a few risks when defending or getting forward."
Lee, who will join Musgrove at the Dartmouth I.D. camp this month, is also a terrific varsity basketball player. She proved the old soccer adage that a keeper will be called upon twice to make big saves in a game.
With Barrington throwing numbers forward in bunches in search of striking the equalizer in the final 20 minutes in the semifinals, Lee made a trio of astonishing YouTube-worthy reaction saves in full extension to insure the victory and a spot in the finals against O'Fallon
"We didn't really know what we had with Izzy, " said Lanspeary. "She looked quite good in training, but with our tremendous defense in front of her, we didn't know how good she was.
"She made some really big saves during the regular-season to keep our scoreless streak alive and was absolutely outstanding in our most important playoff games, especially in that semifinal with Barrington."
"Coach did a really good job leading our team,” Lee said. "He kept things fun and let us play the game. He would always remind us of how fortunate we were to be playing, how important it was for us to stay safe, stay socially distant, and to always stay masked up so we wouldn't lose any games or the season."
For the record, the Lions allowed just four goals this season.
Lee heaped plenty of praise on her senior central defenders Maddie McPartlin and Kosanovich, and outside backs Kate Fulscher and Ava Pike.
Added Lanspeary: "Elli and Maddie were instrumental in organizing our backline and shutting down our opponents attack. Their styles of play complimented each other nicely, and they played off of each other extremely well.
"Outside backs can often get overlooked. Both Kate and Ava were fantastic helping shut down the opposing teams top scoring threats all season long."
Both Fulscher and Pike return next spring.
Lyons just missed lifting its first state championship trophy. Beside the normal motivations of a title chase, both Lee-Caracci and Livingston mentioned something else that drove the Lions.
"There was some talk going around on social media that we were not as good as our record indicated because we playing in such a weak soccer conference," recounted Lee-Caracci.
"Seeing that motivated all of us 10 times over."
"We came into the playoffs as the no. 2 seed behind Benet," said Livingston. "They deserved the no. 1, but the social media stuff really pushed us even more to go out and prove ourselves. Once we beat Benet in the sectional final (1-0), we all knew we could play with anyone."
While the 1-0 loss to O'Fallon in the state final was obviously a heartbreaker, it by no means defined what this group accomplished.
"Although we just missed out on being state champs, just being around this team and my friends meant so much to me. We were like family," said Lee-Caracci.
"We were always there for each other. We had a great support system among all of us. (Lanspeary) was such a key part of it; he was just a great coach," offered Livingston.
"We were mostly upset for our seniors after the state final loss, " said Musgrove. "We all cried a little, then ran to our fans to say thanks for your support, and celebrate getting to state and the amazing season we just finished. It was just a great team to be a part of."
Lanspeary will return a solid core of experienced players in 2022 and said Lyons’ lower levels enjoyed outstanding seasons as well.
"This was a great team to be around. The group of seniors were wonderful role models for the entire program and for our future players, not only in the field, but in the classroom, and in the community as well. We are going to miss them tremendously."
By Mike Garofola
Aside from the result from the final 80 minutes of football played, the 2021 campaign was a resounding success for Lyons and manager Bill Lanspeary.
The Lions won their fourth-consecutive West Suburban Conference Silver Division title on their way to a second-consecutive state appearance. The program has qualified for the state finals nine times (all since 1997); this was the third trip in Lanspeary’s 14-year reign.
"This was a unique year," began Lanspeary, who lost most of his first 11 from Lyons 2019 fourth place state team that included current Illinois star Eileen Murphy.
"We were not allowed to play regular-season games outside of our conference, so we really did not really know how good we were.
"We had a great senior class on that 2019 team, but I cannot say enough great things about this current group.
"They were fantastic players on the field, but it was their chemistry off the field that made them so special.
"The senior leadership was outstanding. They created a very inclusive culture where every player was valued and supported."
One of the seniors Lanspeary spoke of is Jordan Lee-Caracci, who had little doubt Lyons would find itself playing on the final weekend of the season despite massive graduation losses.
"I knew from that very first day of tryouts that great things were going to come our way," Lee-Caracci said.
"Just like 2019, we had a great group of seniors this season who took on the role of being strong leaders and mentors to the younger players.
"(Many) of us had been playing together for a long time. We were ready to go out, be great leaders, and show what we could do right from the very start of the season."
Lee-Caracci, who bagged the game-winner in Lyon’s heart-pounding 2-1 state semifinal victory over Barrington, was set to play at Wisconsin-Platteville when minutes into a visit to Butler, she had a quick change of heart about her college address.
"I knew right away Butler was the place for me," said Lee-Caracci, who hopes a degree in either critical or strategic communications will lead to a job in the FBI one day.
"Wisconsin-Platteville had a spot for me next season, and I wasn't sure if I was going to play at Butler,” continued Lee-Caracci. "But after being away from my teammates, and the sport just a few days after the state tournament, I knew then how much I missed playing. I've been in contact with the coaches at Butler to see if I can walk-on this fall."
Lee-Caracci was one of five who Lanspeary invited to train with his 2019 club throughout the postseason. The experience gained went a long way to prepare that quintet when their chance came around this season.
"To be a part of the 2019 team with their training, travel, and being there on the bench during the state playoffs was a great environment for all of us,” said junior Eleanor Musgrove.
"It helped us understand the mindset of playing at that level and set the bar high when we began to prepare for this season."
Musgrove (13 goals) played the 10-position in Lyons’ 4-3-3 formation. With seniors, Avery Livingston and Lily Mattern alongside her, the midfield trio formed a deadly strike-force partnership with Lee-Caracci, who lead the team with 14 tallies. Lee-Caracci bagged three-consecutive game-winners in the postseason against Benet (sectional final), Sandburg (supersectional) and Barrington.
"Avery, Lily and I trusted each other on both sides of the ball, and our three forwards Ava (Dallavo), Reese (Komsthoeft) and Jordan, were so good at creating chances for everyone, and could score big goals when we needed them," said Musgrove.
Komsthoeft, who scored the opener against Barrington, will play at Grinnell College in Iowa, Mattern plans to walk-on at Gonzaga, while Livingston chose to play at Mount Holyoke (Massachusetts) over Syracuse and Vermont.
"We were in a 4-3-3 from the start, and Lily, Eleanor and I really clicked as a unit," began Livingston.
"All of us understood of what was expected of us and what we needed to do in our pressure-cover defense. With both Eleanor and Lily attack-minded players, my role as the six was something I enjoyed. I played a little deeper to defend when they both went forward."
Of Lyons' front seven, only Musgrove will return. She will likely will be asked to run the show in the middle of the park.
"My role this season was to attack, create, score some goals and help control things in the middle, which was made so much easier with Lily and Avery alongside,” she said. “But it was also important to be a leader and set a good example for the younger players as well."
Musgrove seems best suited to play the 10 in today’s modern era of soccer. She combines pace, quick thinking, a keen eye in distribution, danger in the final third, tactical awareness and the ability to pick up space in between the lines when needed.
The Division I prospect has several I.D. camps on her travel list this summer. They begin at the Air Force Academy, followed by stops at Wisconsin, Marquette, and Dartmouth among others.
While Lee-Caracci’s and Musgrove’s goals and assists contributed to 40 of the 85 scored this season, Dallavo and Sullivan provided plenty of firepower themselves with nine goals apiece.
Dallavo was a key figure on the 2019 team, scoring nine as a sophomore.
Defender Elli Kosanovich ended her brilliant career for Lyons by earning well-deserved all-state honors from the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association.
Kosanovich was a big part of what led the Lions to the summit of state soccer.
It all began in the back where Kostanovich and her backline mates were near perfect in front of keeper Izzy Lee.
Kosanovich, Lee and company did not concede a goal in the first 15 games. That streak ties the Lions with four teams in second place in the state record book.
Lyons kept things clean for more than 1,200 minutes before letting up its first goal of the season in a 4-1 regional win over Jones. They then shut out previously undefeated teams Downers Grove South and top-seeded Benet in sectional play.
"We defended well as a team all season, but my backline was so solid, " said keeper Lee. "We worked well together. There was great communication and trust among all of us. Teams just could not get behind them, and I liked how they would take a few risks when defending or getting forward."
Lee, who will join Musgrove at the Dartmouth I.D. camp this month, is also a terrific varsity basketball player. She proved the old soccer adage that a keeper will be called upon twice to make big saves in a game.
With Barrington throwing numbers forward in bunches in search of striking the equalizer in the final 20 minutes in the semifinals, Lee made a trio of astonishing YouTube-worthy reaction saves in full extension to insure the victory and a spot in the finals against O'Fallon
"We didn't really know what we had with Izzy, " said Lanspeary. "She looked quite good in training, but with our tremendous defense in front of her, we didn't know how good she was.
"She made some really big saves during the regular-season to keep our scoreless streak alive and was absolutely outstanding in our most important playoff games, especially in that semifinal with Barrington."
"Coach did a really good job leading our team,” Lee said. "He kept things fun and let us play the game. He would always remind us of how fortunate we were to be playing, how important it was for us to stay safe, stay socially distant, and to always stay masked up so we wouldn't lose any games or the season."
For the record, the Lions allowed just four goals this season.
Lee heaped plenty of praise on her senior central defenders Maddie McPartlin and Kosanovich, and outside backs Kate Fulscher and Ava Pike.
Added Lanspeary: "Elli and Maddie were instrumental in organizing our backline and shutting down our opponents attack. Their styles of play complimented each other nicely, and they played off of each other extremely well.
"Outside backs can often get overlooked. Both Kate and Ava were fantastic helping shut down the opposing teams top scoring threats all season long."
Both Fulscher and Pike return next spring.
Lyons just missed lifting its first state championship trophy. Beside the normal motivations of a title chase, both Lee-Caracci and Livingston mentioned something else that drove the Lions.
"There was some talk going around on social media that we were not as good as our record indicated because we playing in such a weak soccer conference," recounted Lee-Caracci.
"Seeing that motivated all of us 10 times over."
"We came into the playoffs as the no. 2 seed behind Benet," said Livingston. "They deserved the no. 1, but the social media stuff really pushed us even more to go out and prove ourselves. Once we beat Benet in the sectional final (1-0), we all knew we could play with anyone."
While the 1-0 loss to O'Fallon in the state final was obviously a heartbreaker, it by no means defined what this group accomplished.
"Although we just missed out on being state champs, just being around this team and my friends meant so much to me. We were like family," said Lee-Caracci.
"We were always there for each other. We had a great support system among all of us. (Lanspeary) was such a key part of it; he was just a great coach," offered Livingston.
"We were mostly upset for our seniors after the state final loss, " said Musgrove. "We all cried a little, then ran to our fans to say thanks for your support, and celebrate getting to state and the amazing season we just finished. It was just a great team to be a part of."
Lanspeary will return a solid core of experienced players in 2022 and said Lyons’ lower levels enjoyed outstanding seasons as well.
"This was a great team to be around. The group of seniors were wonderful role models for the entire program and for our future players, not only in the field, but in the classroom, and in the community as well. We are going to miss them tremendously."