LTHS Boys Soccer Campaign to Defend Title Off to Good Start

It's 2-0-1 so far for LT soccer—and the Lions are feeling pretty good about that, even, perhaps especially, the tie.

Lyons Township comprehensively beat Sandburg High School 3-0 in their opening game of the season as Elliot Borge's spectacular solo effort was followed by two header goals by senior Peter Gabrek.

The following day, Lyons defeated Hinsdale South High School 2-0 with goals from Horacio Sanchez and sophomore Brett Heimerdinger.

Then came the game that local high school soccer followers were waiting for: LT vs. Neuqua Valley on Aug. 27^th, a rematch of the 2009 Super-Sectional match in which the heavily favored Wildcats were sent home by a sensational Sanchez goal, the lone strike of the match.

Early on, though, prospects for Lyons looked bleak early as Neuqua scored twice in the first 19 minutes. A deflated LT side went into halftime needing three goals to claim victory.

They thought they had brought a goal back when a Kyle Kurfirst bicycle kick goal following a corner kick sent the home crowd into ecstasy.

After a long delay, however, the goal was disallowed due to a previously yellow carded Neuqua Valley player's absence on the field before the corner was taken—in high school soccer, a yellow card results in the guilty player leaving the field at least temporarily.

A quick response goal from LT after the officiating controversy—a trend throughout the second half—came off the head of sophomore Ben Larson. The Lions looked likely to score on several occasions thereafter and seemed to be on the brink of an equalizer before Kurfirst was shown a red card for a tackle on the opposing goalkeeper.

Reduced to 10 men, prospects looked bleak for Lyons until the final minute of the match, when Kralovec Kirchherr's deep throw-in was flicked on by Borge to junior Mark Pawula, who skillfully lofted a header into the top corner of the net.

2-2. Chaos in the stands, havoc on the field.

Though the Lions had only drawn even, it felt better, especially after the oft-fatal penalty. The score ended 2-2, but the home side believes their never-say-die strategy paid off in the second period.

"We came out with a different mentality," Borge said. "We never really let up, we wanted to stay high-pressure and once it started working we decided to stay with it."

Initial expectations for the team, who lost seven starters to graduation, were quite grounded. Yet, after three matches, the Lions have silenced any early critics by proving they can compete with some of the best teams around.

"Obviously because we won state last year, everybody wants to repeat," senior defender Peter Kralovec-Kirchherr said. "I think everyone on the team is willing to put in the work to get there. We have good experience and have the depth."

The Lions face St. Charles East High School and the class 2A state champs St. Viator on Sept. 1 and Sept. 3, respectively, at the North Campus West Fields.

Labbato considers the first handful of matches to be a way of training for the Pepsi Showdown, an annually prestigious tournament held statewide.

"We need to know: who are the best center backs, who are the best players at each position, what formation should we play?" coach Labbato said. "These first five non-conference games are preparation for the Pepsi Showdown."

Pepsi Challenge qualification for LTHS begins Sept. 7 against Oswego High School.