Metea V. at its best against Hinsdale S.
Mustangs score 4 unanswered 2nd half goals in 5-1 win
By Matt Le Cren
AURORA – Only a couple dozen fans showed up to watch Metea Valley host Hinsdale South on the final day of Waubonsie Valley's Warrior Invitational.
That’s a shame because those who didn’t show up missed their squad’s best game of the season.
Sophomore Evan Lang had his first two-goal game, sophomore Liam Duffy bagged his first varsity goal and Shareef Amor and Lucas Francisco also scored as Metea won 5-1.
It was a season-high output for the Mustangs (4-10-3), who have scored at least two goals in three-consecutive matches.
“The past two games we’ve had at least two goals, so it’s been a nice week,” senior midfielder Connor Lang said. “It feels pretty good, especially on Homecoming. It’s a big day.”
That’s especially true for the Lang brothers, who are playing their first and only season together.
Evan Lang, who was elevated to varsity early in the season, earned Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors by scoring the Mustangs’ first two goals, one in each half.
The first goal came on Metea’s first shot of the game -- a 15-yard try inside the left post at the 31:45 mark. Lang bagged his second goal, breaking a 1-1 tie, on
Metea’s second shot of the second half just 89 seconds after intermission on a rebound.
“The first was on a free-kick into the box,” the varsity rookie said. “I took a touch and put it on frame, see what I could do. It wasn’t the best strike, but it went in the back of the net.”
The Mustangs, of course, have struggled mightily to score goals in each of the past three seasons. They have been shut out six times this fall.
Thus, any production is welcome and an event to be celebrated. Ironically, Connor Lang had to watch his younger brother produce more with two shots than he has in his career.
“He’s scored more goals in one game than I’ve scored in two years, so I don’t know, I liked it,” Connor Lang said. “I’ve always found myself yelling at him a little more because it’s easier, and I’m more comfortable with him, obviously.
“He knows I’m not just picking on him. He knows I’m trying to make him better.”
Indeed, there is no sibling rivalry now that the brothers are on the same level. Playing with a younger brother has the potential to be problematic, especially for someone in a leadership role like Connor Lang, but they’re comfortable with the situation.
“It’s fun (playing on the same team),” Connor Lang said. “I really like it. I thought I wouldn’t like it, but it’s better than I expected.”
The pint-sized Evan Lang had two good chances for a hat trick, but he volleyed a cross from Connor Lang wide left with 35:35 to go and had another shot saved.
It is all part of the learning experience for a young player.
“We pulled Evan up real early, and he started well and then got frustrated,” Metea Valley coach Josh Robinson said. “It was a little tough for him going through some growing pains and then we got Liam (up on varsity).
“He hasn’t gotten a lot of time, but he gets in today and gets a finish. It’s nice to see those guys get the ball in now.”
What Evan Lang lacks now in size he makes up for with other assets and is gaining confidence. The interesting thing is his strengths are different than those of his brother.
“It’s his speed, and he thinks more than, and I’m kind of the opposite,” Connor Lang said. “I just run around, and he think it through a little more than I do.”
Ethan Lang is grateful for the chance to join his Connor.
“It’s been nice,” Ethan Lang said. “It was one of my goals going into the year.
“He tells me to stay positive. It’s not going to be as fun next year without him.”
Fun was an elusive feeling for the Mustangs as they won just two of their first 14 games.
But this week proved to be a revelation. It started with a narrow 2-1 loss to 14-win St. Charles East and continued with a 3-2 upset of Wheaton Warrenville South and a 2-2 tie with West Chicago.
“We had a strong week,” Robinson said. “This is the week we should have had all year.
“We battle St. Charles East to 2-1, we do well against a Wheaton South team that’s done well in conference and battled a West Chicago team that is dangerous, and we probably should have finished that game.
“Today we got guys going that we’ve been hoping to get going all year. To go 2-1-1, we feel really good about that.”
The Mustangs still have things to shore up. Hinsdale South (5-12-1) tied the game thanks to a defensive blunder that led to an unearned corner-kick.
Ryan Kuhlman headed home Mahmood Shah’s corner to tie the game with 7:53 left in the first half.
But the Mustangs came out charging in the second half. Lang’s second strike proved to be the game-winner, while Amor, Duffy and Francisco all scored in an eight-minute span to boost the lead to 5-1 with 12:21 remaining.
“The hope is that we feel comfortable, that we’re putting the ball in the net and we feel good about it,” Robinson said. “That’s a positive for us.”
What led to the sudden turnaround? Maybe desperation.
“You’re a 14 (sectional) seed,” Robinson said. “You’ve got nothing to lose. You’ve had a couple games of that, now kids are feeling a little bit more confident in what they’re doing to finish.
“Some of the kids that we’ve been asking to step up all year are now starting to step up. That’s the biggest thing.”
But it wasn’t easy.
“Its’ been tough but we’re just trying to overcome it as a team and see what we can do heading into the playoffs,” Evan Lang said.
The past week has shown the players they have the capability to make an impact.
“We found that we could score,” Connor Lang said. “Two weeks ago we were kicking ourselves saying, ‘What’s next? Are we ever going to win? Are we ever going to score?’
“Some games we’d battle but we wouldn’t even take shots. Now that we’re taking shots, we’re scoring, so that’s what is working for us.
“Going into playoffs, we know what to do. It’s working now.”
Starting lineups
Hinsdale South
GK Christopher Meyers
D Harley Segal
D Christian Lopez
D Dimitriy Ehlers
D Nana Awere
D Benny Metzger
M #15
M Karel Ondra
M Bartosz Majerczyk
F Ryan Wooten
F Ryan Kuhlman
Metea Valley
GK Kevin Branch
D Ethan Ytterberg
D Michael Lothridge
D Tony Sanchez
D Ethan Williams
M Ryan Barry
M Connor Lang
M Aayush Kaul
F Shareef Amor
F Alfonso Castillo
F Dominic Duffy
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match – Evan Lang, MF, Metea Valley
Mustangs score 4 unanswered 2nd half goals in 5-1 win
By Matt Le Cren
AURORA – Only a couple dozen fans showed up to watch Metea Valley host Hinsdale South on the final day of Waubonsie Valley's Warrior Invitational.
That’s a shame because those who didn’t show up missed their squad’s best game of the season.
Sophomore Evan Lang had his first two-goal game, sophomore Liam Duffy bagged his first varsity goal and Shareef Amor and Lucas Francisco also scored as Metea won 5-1.
It was a season-high output for the Mustangs (4-10-3), who have scored at least two goals in three-consecutive matches.
“The past two games we’ve had at least two goals, so it’s been a nice week,” senior midfielder Connor Lang said. “It feels pretty good, especially on Homecoming. It’s a big day.”
That’s especially true for the Lang brothers, who are playing their first and only season together.
Evan Lang, who was elevated to varsity early in the season, earned Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors by scoring the Mustangs’ first two goals, one in each half.
The first goal came on Metea’s first shot of the game -- a 15-yard try inside the left post at the 31:45 mark. Lang bagged his second goal, breaking a 1-1 tie, on
Metea’s second shot of the second half just 89 seconds after intermission on a rebound.
“The first was on a free-kick into the box,” the varsity rookie said. “I took a touch and put it on frame, see what I could do. It wasn’t the best strike, but it went in the back of the net.”
The Mustangs, of course, have struggled mightily to score goals in each of the past three seasons. They have been shut out six times this fall.
Thus, any production is welcome and an event to be celebrated. Ironically, Connor Lang had to watch his younger brother produce more with two shots than he has in his career.
“He’s scored more goals in one game than I’ve scored in two years, so I don’t know, I liked it,” Connor Lang said. “I’ve always found myself yelling at him a little more because it’s easier, and I’m more comfortable with him, obviously.
“He knows I’m not just picking on him. He knows I’m trying to make him better.”
Indeed, there is no sibling rivalry now that the brothers are on the same level. Playing with a younger brother has the potential to be problematic, especially for someone in a leadership role like Connor Lang, but they’re comfortable with the situation.
“It’s fun (playing on the same team),” Connor Lang said. “I really like it. I thought I wouldn’t like it, but it’s better than I expected.”
The pint-sized Evan Lang had two good chances for a hat trick, but he volleyed a cross from Connor Lang wide left with 35:35 to go and had another shot saved.
It is all part of the learning experience for a young player.
“We pulled Evan up real early, and he started well and then got frustrated,” Metea Valley coach Josh Robinson said. “It was a little tough for him going through some growing pains and then we got Liam (up on varsity).
“He hasn’t gotten a lot of time, but he gets in today and gets a finish. It’s nice to see those guys get the ball in now.”
What Evan Lang lacks now in size he makes up for with other assets and is gaining confidence. The interesting thing is his strengths are different than those of his brother.
“It’s his speed, and he thinks more than, and I’m kind of the opposite,” Connor Lang said. “I just run around, and he think it through a little more than I do.”
Ethan Lang is grateful for the chance to join his Connor.
“It’s been nice,” Ethan Lang said. “It was one of my goals going into the year.
“He tells me to stay positive. It’s not going to be as fun next year without him.”
Fun was an elusive feeling for the Mustangs as they won just two of their first 14 games.
But this week proved to be a revelation. It started with a narrow 2-1 loss to 14-win St. Charles East and continued with a 3-2 upset of Wheaton Warrenville South and a 2-2 tie with West Chicago.
“We had a strong week,” Robinson said. “This is the week we should have had all year.
“We battle St. Charles East to 2-1, we do well against a Wheaton South team that’s done well in conference and battled a West Chicago team that is dangerous, and we probably should have finished that game.
“Today we got guys going that we’ve been hoping to get going all year. To go 2-1-1, we feel really good about that.”
The Mustangs still have things to shore up. Hinsdale South (5-12-1) tied the game thanks to a defensive blunder that led to an unearned corner-kick.
Ryan Kuhlman headed home Mahmood Shah’s corner to tie the game with 7:53 left in the first half.
But the Mustangs came out charging in the second half. Lang’s second strike proved to be the game-winner, while Amor, Duffy and Francisco all scored in an eight-minute span to boost the lead to 5-1 with 12:21 remaining.
“The hope is that we feel comfortable, that we’re putting the ball in the net and we feel good about it,” Robinson said. “That’s a positive for us.”
What led to the sudden turnaround? Maybe desperation.
“You’re a 14 (sectional) seed,” Robinson said. “You’ve got nothing to lose. You’ve had a couple games of that, now kids are feeling a little bit more confident in what they’re doing to finish.
“Some of the kids that we’ve been asking to step up all year are now starting to step up. That’s the biggest thing.”
But it wasn’t easy.
“Its’ been tough but we’re just trying to overcome it as a team and see what we can do heading into the playoffs,” Evan Lang said.
The past week has shown the players they have the capability to make an impact.
“We found that we could score,” Connor Lang said. “Two weeks ago we were kicking ourselves saying, ‘What’s next? Are we ever going to win? Are we ever going to score?’
“Some games we’d battle but we wouldn’t even take shots. Now that we’re taking shots, we’re scoring, so that’s what is working for us.
“Going into playoffs, we know what to do. It’s working now.”
Starting lineups
Hinsdale South
GK Christopher Meyers
D Harley Segal
D Christian Lopez
D Dimitriy Ehlers
D Nana Awere
D Benny Metzger
M #15
M Karel Ondra
M Bartosz Majerczyk
F Ryan Wooten
F Ryan Kuhlman
Metea Valley
GK Kevin Branch
D Ethan Ytterberg
D Michael Lothridge
D Tony Sanchez
D Ethan Williams
M Ryan Barry
M Connor Lang
M Aayush Kaul
F Shareef Amor
F Alfonso Castillo
F Dominic Duffy
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match – Evan Lang, MF, Metea Valley
