Lane takes Premier title
Indians gain coveted prize in what may be shortened season
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO -- Part of the beauty of soccer is that the patterns that start a game almost never persist. Everything changes and the unexpected prevails.
Tactics reigned supreme in the opening three-fourths of the city clash involving Kelly and Lane -- Kelly played five defenders, looking to tighten spaces and create off the counter.
Kelly typically plays a more open and generous style. The visitors still had an outside chance of capturing the Premier title, the top division in the Chicago Public League. The Trojans threw out the wrinkles, hoping to entrap Lane.
“The whole game was tight, going back and forth, nothing really penetrating,” Lane junior midfielder Marcin Kieta said. Kelly sought a break, and Lane looked to throw down the gauntlet.
Then something curious happened. Kieta broke through and delivered a sharp ball that broke inside the near post in the 58th minute. Then a soccer game broke out, and it was majestic, with razor-sharp passing, compelling chances on both sides and a raucous crowd going off at the slightest possibility.
Kelly created an equalizer, but Lane, ranked 18th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, again relied on its reliable weapon in junior forward Alex Mezyk for the game-winner in the 73rd minute as the Indians captured the division title with the 2-1 victory at Lane Stadium.
Lane (10-1-2, 5-0-1) celebrated Senior Night in its final regular season home game. The mood was jubilant.
Kieta's goal altered the equation on both sides. The tactics were now secondary and the game became a clash of styles and wills and who could execute better in the final moments.
“Once that (first) goal went in, I think it got real,” said, who was named Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match for his game-altering goal. “We’re up 1-0, they’re down 1-0. The energy was rising and the fans to the occasion as well. I think mentally everybody started playing quicker and faster. It was a very entertaining game.”
The tally was Kieta's third goal in the last four games. He is the emotional center of the team, a high-energy, high-impact player who drives the team with his spirit. He is wired and intense, and his energy often ignites the team.
“It got crossed in and then headed out, and I took a touch, got past one defender and thought I might as well just take a try,” Kieta said.
Kelly starting keeper Juan Garcia lunged at the ball and partially deflected it though Kieta generated too much speed to stop it completely.
“Once they scored the first goal it put the intensity back to us,” Kelly coach Stanley Mietus said. “Once we tied it up they came back at us. You felt the energy. The crowd was into it, and the fans were great.”
Twice in the last four years Kelly and Lane played in the city title game. As a coveted open enrollment school, Lane takes in students throughout the city who qualify, including the southwest side near Kelly. That only deepens the rivalry.
“It is an honor to play for Kelly and against Lane,” junior midfielder Aldo Vazquez said. As a freshman two years ago he saw action in the city title game the Indians won 1-0 on a goal by Owen Finn. “Tonight was a great game from both ends,” he said.
Vazquez created the equalizer in the 63rd minute, moving deftly through the Lane interior and working toward the left edge.
“I was running down the center of the field, and I just called it,” Vazquez said. “I had another teammate there, but I called him off and told him to leave it alone. I popped it to my left, I didn’t think twice about it, I just shot it.
“I felt like in that moment the intensity just rose for us and kept rising.”
Lane was now the team under pressure to respond.
“It’s a credit to us that we are versatile enough to handle these different strategies,” Lane coach Andrew Ricks said. “Whatever the other team tries, we are still going to come at you with everything you’ve got. Once we scored they had to open up to equalize. There was no way they were going score (playing five defenders). They had to get out of their shell to equalize, and Kelly is good enough to do that.”
Interestingly, Kelly creating the equalizer also revealed their vulnerabilities. The Trojans (6-7-1, 3-2-1) manufactured some enticing chances involving Vazquez and sophomore forward Juan Pimentel. Lane’s backline was under high pressure.
Lane worked the situation to its advantage, using its superior size and ability off set-pieces to achieve the game-winner. Lane generated four corner-kicks in the last nine minutes. Junior midfielder Arnel Sinanagic took the ball from the right side.
The 6-foot-2 Mezyk continues to be a game-changer. His 12 goals are a team best. The parts all coalesced seamlessly as Sinanagic lofted a ball that defender Charlie Bauer reached with the first touch. Mietus changed his keeper down the stretch, inserting Fernando Castro into the match.
Castro reacted beautifully to the first ball, blocking the ball, but his body was now out of position, and Mezyk was there on the rebound.
“Arnel has been doing great on corners, lofting the ball up high and a couple of the corners found me,” Mezyk said. “The goalie blocked it, and the ball came back to me, and I slotted it into the goal.”
Mezyk agreed the tempo, intensity and level of play ratcheted up with the goal by Kieta.
“The game changed, and it changed for both teams because they scored on us,” Mezyk said. “We needed to chase back. We are at home. We are feeling like the best team in the city, feeling like one of the best teams in the state. We can’t get anything but a win at our home stadium.”
Kelly worked furiously to equalize. Vazquez had two balls from just outside the box narrowly push wide off frame. Junior midfielder Stiven Gonzalez also had a rocket ball from the right edge skip just off line.
“Most of the games we have been in this year have been like this,” Mietus said. “Most of our lineup are juniors. We graduated almost 20 seniors last year. There have been a lot of growing pains because we have guys developing the work ethic. Guys are learning how to play with each other. These young guys, the more playing time they get, the more they are going to jell.
“We are very proud of the effort. We lost to a great team today.”
Historically the conference regular season has been upstaged by the city tournament. With uncertainty and the very real possibility of a teacher strike, the future is unknowable. Lane is going to live in the moment.
“Coming into the season we didn’t really know what kind of season we were going to have,” Kieta said. “With Owen graduating, and (defender) Cesar (Garza), George (Ivanov) and Damian (Pikul), a lot of core guys from last year, we did not really know what our goals were.”
A talent infusion from new players and the growth of the underclassmen has struck it rich.
“This year has been great compared to last year,” Mezyk said. “Last year we were a point away from being relegated. Coming back and and not losing a game and tying just one in conference is a great feeling. We are looking forward to winning the city and seeing how the strike plays out.”
The ending underscored the team’s drive and will.
“The character of this team is we wanted to win,” Ricks said. “This year I have put more emphasis on the regular season. With the possibility of the strike, who knows if we are even going to have a city or state tournament. I wanted to end this thing and say we are the best team in the regular season, and we are.”
Starting lineups
Kelly
GK: Juan Garcia
D: Gilberto Munoz
D: Ben Weiss
D: Eric Stoll
D: Alex Alcantar
D: Daniel Romero
M: Daniel Cruz
M: Alex Negrette
M: Kevin Ramirez
F: Stiven Gonzalez
F: Aldi Vazquez
Lane
GK: Simon Jillson
D: Alfredo Guzman
D: Jonathan Bahena
D: Alex Rydberg
D: Charlie Bauer
M: Marcin Kieta
M: Kamil Piotrowski
M: Jose Terrazas
M: Patrick Fejkiel
F: Alex Mezyk
F: Seth Hultgren
Man of the match: Marcin Kieta, MF, Lane
Indians gain coveted prize in what may be shortened season
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO -- Part of the beauty of soccer is that the patterns that start a game almost never persist. Everything changes and the unexpected prevails.
Tactics reigned supreme in the opening three-fourths of the city clash involving Kelly and Lane -- Kelly played five defenders, looking to tighten spaces and create off the counter.
Kelly typically plays a more open and generous style. The visitors still had an outside chance of capturing the Premier title, the top division in the Chicago Public League. The Trojans threw out the wrinkles, hoping to entrap Lane.
“The whole game was tight, going back and forth, nothing really penetrating,” Lane junior midfielder Marcin Kieta said. Kelly sought a break, and Lane looked to throw down the gauntlet.
Then something curious happened. Kieta broke through and delivered a sharp ball that broke inside the near post in the 58th minute. Then a soccer game broke out, and it was majestic, with razor-sharp passing, compelling chances on both sides and a raucous crowd going off at the slightest possibility.
Kelly created an equalizer, but Lane, ranked 18th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, again relied on its reliable weapon in junior forward Alex Mezyk for the game-winner in the 73rd minute as the Indians captured the division title with the 2-1 victory at Lane Stadium.
Lane (10-1-2, 5-0-1) celebrated Senior Night in its final regular season home game. The mood was jubilant.
Kieta's goal altered the equation on both sides. The tactics were now secondary and the game became a clash of styles and wills and who could execute better in the final moments.
“Once that (first) goal went in, I think it got real,” said, who was named Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match for his game-altering goal. “We’re up 1-0, they’re down 1-0. The energy was rising and the fans to the occasion as well. I think mentally everybody started playing quicker and faster. It was a very entertaining game.”
The tally was Kieta's third goal in the last four games. He is the emotional center of the team, a high-energy, high-impact player who drives the team with his spirit. He is wired and intense, and his energy often ignites the team.
“It got crossed in and then headed out, and I took a touch, got past one defender and thought I might as well just take a try,” Kieta said.
Kelly starting keeper Juan Garcia lunged at the ball and partially deflected it though Kieta generated too much speed to stop it completely.
“Once they scored the first goal it put the intensity back to us,” Kelly coach Stanley Mietus said. “Once we tied it up they came back at us. You felt the energy. The crowd was into it, and the fans were great.”
Twice in the last four years Kelly and Lane played in the city title game. As a coveted open enrollment school, Lane takes in students throughout the city who qualify, including the southwest side near Kelly. That only deepens the rivalry.
“It is an honor to play for Kelly and against Lane,” junior midfielder Aldo Vazquez said. As a freshman two years ago he saw action in the city title game the Indians won 1-0 on a goal by Owen Finn. “Tonight was a great game from both ends,” he said.
Vazquez created the equalizer in the 63rd minute, moving deftly through the Lane interior and working toward the left edge.
“I was running down the center of the field, and I just called it,” Vazquez said. “I had another teammate there, but I called him off and told him to leave it alone. I popped it to my left, I didn’t think twice about it, I just shot it.
“I felt like in that moment the intensity just rose for us and kept rising.”
Lane was now the team under pressure to respond.
“It’s a credit to us that we are versatile enough to handle these different strategies,” Lane coach Andrew Ricks said. “Whatever the other team tries, we are still going to come at you with everything you’ve got. Once we scored they had to open up to equalize. There was no way they were going score (playing five defenders). They had to get out of their shell to equalize, and Kelly is good enough to do that.”
Interestingly, Kelly creating the equalizer also revealed their vulnerabilities. The Trojans (6-7-1, 3-2-1) manufactured some enticing chances involving Vazquez and sophomore forward Juan Pimentel. Lane’s backline was under high pressure.
Lane worked the situation to its advantage, using its superior size and ability off set-pieces to achieve the game-winner. Lane generated four corner-kicks in the last nine minutes. Junior midfielder Arnel Sinanagic took the ball from the right side.
The 6-foot-2 Mezyk continues to be a game-changer. His 12 goals are a team best. The parts all coalesced seamlessly as Sinanagic lofted a ball that defender Charlie Bauer reached with the first touch. Mietus changed his keeper down the stretch, inserting Fernando Castro into the match.
Castro reacted beautifully to the first ball, blocking the ball, but his body was now out of position, and Mezyk was there on the rebound.
“Arnel has been doing great on corners, lofting the ball up high and a couple of the corners found me,” Mezyk said. “The goalie blocked it, and the ball came back to me, and I slotted it into the goal.”
Mezyk agreed the tempo, intensity and level of play ratcheted up with the goal by Kieta.
“The game changed, and it changed for both teams because they scored on us,” Mezyk said. “We needed to chase back. We are at home. We are feeling like the best team in the city, feeling like one of the best teams in the state. We can’t get anything but a win at our home stadium.”
Kelly worked furiously to equalize. Vazquez had two balls from just outside the box narrowly push wide off frame. Junior midfielder Stiven Gonzalez also had a rocket ball from the right edge skip just off line.
“Most of the games we have been in this year have been like this,” Mietus said. “Most of our lineup are juniors. We graduated almost 20 seniors last year. There have been a lot of growing pains because we have guys developing the work ethic. Guys are learning how to play with each other. These young guys, the more playing time they get, the more they are going to jell.
“We are very proud of the effort. We lost to a great team today.”
Historically the conference regular season has been upstaged by the city tournament. With uncertainty and the very real possibility of a teacher strike, the future is unknowable. Lane is going to live in the moment.
“Coming into the season we didn’t really know what kind of season we were going to have,” Kieta said. “With Owen graduating, and (defender) Cesar (Garza), George (Ivanov) and Damian (Pikul), a lot of core guys from last year, we did not really know what our goals were.”
A talent infusion from new players and the growth of the underclassmen has struck it rich.
“This year has been great compared to last year,” Mezyk said. “Last year we were a point away from being relegated. Coming back and and not losing a game and tying just one in conference is a great feeling. We are looking forward to winning the city and seeing how the strike plays out.”
The ending underscored the team’s drive and will.
“The character of this team is we wanted to win,” Ricks said. “This year I have put more emphasis on the regular season. With the possibility of the strike, who knows if we are even going to have a city or state tournament. I wanted to end this thing and say we are the best team in the regular season, and we are.”
Starting lineups
Kelly
GK: Juan Garcia
D: Gilberto Munoz
D: Ben Weiss
D: Eric Stoll
D: Alex Alcantar
D: Daniel Romero
M: Daniel Cruz
M: Alex Negrette
M: Kevin Ramirez
F: Stiven Gonzalez
F: Aldi Vazquez
Lane
GK: Simon Jillson
D: Alfredo Guzman
D: Jonathan Bahena
D: Alex Rydberg
D: Charlie Bauer
M: Marcin Kieta
M: Kamil Piotrowski
M: Jose Terrazas
M: Patrick Fejkiel
F: Alex Mezyk
F: Seth Hultgren
Man of the match: Marcin Kieta, MF, Lane