In a history that began deeply one-sided before it slowly and steadily evened out, Jones appeared to finally have the decisive upper hand against rival Young.

The two city programs began tracking at distinctly opposite poles. The first year that Jones coach Derek Bylsma played against the Dolphins, he was on the wrong side of a 13-0 game.

That was then. This is now.

Over time, competitive score lines between the two teams emerged. Last year the Eagles achieved the unprecedented feat of beating Young twice in the same season.

Jones topped Young 2-1 in Chicago Public League Premier Division South play on April 19, 2023. More dramatically, they pulled out the victory (0-0, 4-3) May 8 in the semifinals of the league postseason tournament.

Jones finished runnerup to Lane in the city. The loss did not allow the Eagles to fully savor their double triumph over Young.

Then the Dolphins had the final say with a 2-0 victory in the Class 3A regional semifinals a week later.

“It was definitely bittersweet for them to end our season that way,” Bylsma said.

On Thursday afternoon, the two teams return to that same location of the last game in their rivalry, Young’s gorgeous field framed by the skyline in the background, for the next battle.

“Jones is a strong team so we know we have to be prepared,” junior forward Moira Koleno said.

The teams have undergone similar trajectories. Both started the season 0-3-0 playing against strong suburban programs in the City-Suburban Connect Invitational.

Jones went through a foundational shift with the graduation of two signature talents – Chicagoland Soccer all-staters midfielder Carolina Rondelli and defender Patricia Felder.

“We knew it was going to take some time at the start, because we lost Patricia in the back and our primary scorers in the attack,” Bylsma said. “We’ve started to find ourselves.”

Jones (5-3-0, 2-0-0 Premier South) has won five-straight matches and scored 32 goals during the streak.

Sophomore forward Aiyana Wright is the bridge of the last two seasons. She earned Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List recognition last spring after scoring 20 goals and distributing 13 assists.

Wright has confirmed her reputation as an athletic marvel with great burst, speed and the ability to get to the goal. She delivered 10 goals and created six assists during the five-game winning streak.

The top newcomer is freshman forward Alyssa Ramos, who has scored 10 goals and created eight assists. Bylsma said the third key offensive talent is junior Kaelyn Perez, who toggles between the midfield and playing up-top.

Perez has scored four goals and added two assists. Junior midfielder Audrey Dziedzic has registered a team-best seven assists and scored a goal.

The defense has coalesced around sophomore keeper Ruby Miller, and the backline of junior Karina Teliz, senior co-captain Ellie Ceraso and freshman Morgan Theilke.

Young (3-5-0, 1-0-0) is undergoing changes from top to bottom including new coach Zoe Saphir.

Koleno is one of the mainstays.

“We knew there would be an adjustment with an entirely new coaching staff,” Koleno said. “We believe in our coach and our team. We expect to continue to get better as we learn from each other.”

The team began the season with a trio of one-goal defeats against top competition: then-ranked Oswego East, current no. 20 Stevenson and Downers Grove North.

The Dolphins also faced top-ranked Lyons. Even if the results were not satisfying, the consequences were profound.

“Having a competitive start to the season definitely prepared us well for these upcoming games,” Koleno said. “We were able to get comfortable playing together, and building chemistry.

“I think we played really great in those games, and it showed our growth.”

Koleno is the Dolphins’ leading scorer with eight goals. Young’s three-game winning streak was snapped in a 4-2 nonconference loss to DeLaSalle on Monday night.

Two-way standout senior Lauren Roche is the other centerpiece of the team with Koleno. She has the ability to play in the back or push up into the middle. She is the team’s set piece specialist with her free kicks.

“I think having such an intense beginning to our season really showed us the level we need to be and where we are capable of competing at,” Roche said. “We had some frustrating results, but I was super proud of how everyone played.”

The Dolphins feature an athletic back with veteran junior Ainsley Christiensen and senior Kate Sweitzer. Roche, sophomore Danielle Lam and senior Sonia Liew stabilize the middle of the attack.

Koleno and freshman Evelyn Vaughn are developing a strong rapport at the top of the attack.

The past is always present in these games. Young, Jones, Lane and Payton have been the top programs in the city for more than a decade.

Each game marks another chapter, and the story is interesting, complex and always fun to experience.

“Last year was not really a reflection of where our programs stand,” Roche said. “I think beating us last year was a lot bigger for Jones.”