LA GRANGE — In the tide of games, moments are snapshots from a season that offer surprise and optimism to ride out the rough patches of the schedule.

After starting the season losing seven of their first nine games, Lake Park wanted a reset, and to find new possibilities and experiment with other ideas.

“There have been a lot of ups and downs to our season, but this tournament felt nice to start off with a couple of wins,” midfielder Francesca Cali said. “Even if we didn’t come out on top, we are glad that we got to experience this competition and that we could at least win some games at the beginning.”

The Lancers’ quest to win a bracket championship at the BodyArmor tournament came up short in a 2-0 loss against Zion-Benton Sunday at the Lyons Soccer Complex.

The tournament offered a mini season within the season, a chance for Lake Park to break free of the gauntlet of the DuKane Conference and play against like programs.

Lake Park (4-10-0) won its first two games in the series, defeating Bloom 3-1 on April 13, and securing a spot in the championship round with an exciting penalty kick victory at Sycamore on April 15.

The Sycamore game also marked the Lancers’ third shutout of the season.

“We prepared for those penalty kicks for weeks coming into that Sycamore game, so we were really looking forward to the chance to actually do it in a game,” Cali said.

“It was dramatic, and our goal today was obviously to win. It’s disappointing, because we had a lot of good shots. They had some nice goals, but it’s not as if they really outplayed us.”

The scoring started off a corner kick in the 12th minute. Zion-Benton forward Angelina Diaz won the ball in a scramble and after fighting through a tangle of feet and legs punched the ball in from two yards.

“We worked a lot on that play in practice,” Diaz said. “I talked with my midfielder, Yatzi Martinez, about going front and back, because that’s the combination that we build up, and just crash the box.

“The keeper [Vanessa Boafo] almost got it, but I got there first. It felt really good to have that first goal. Last year we made it to the finals, but we didn’t win. Today felt a lot better, because I thought that goal brought up the energy. We have 11 seniors on this team, so today meant a lot.”

Angelina Diaz earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor for her play.

The Lancers responded to the early Zee-Bees goal with some strong play of their own.

Lake Park had the wind at their back in the opening half. The Lancers passed the ball well and played some of its best soccer in developing overlapping runs and creating chances.

Two defenders, Gabriella Glodz and Ruth Dellaria, helped develop the attack out of the back, finding runners and pushing the ball into the middle. Cali was creative there, pursuing opportunities on the edge with Cora Riter. 

Freshman midfielder Mizzia Vavalle, who has emerged as a dynamic playmaker and shot-creator, fired a free kick from about 26 yards on the left edge just over the top of the bar.

The touch and movement of the ball is clearly different on the natural grass surface compared with the faster run and bounce off the ball on the Lancers’ home turf.

The details all mattered.

“We had to learn how to adjust to the playing on the grass,” Vavalle said. “It’s frustrating because we definitely had a lot of opportunities in the first half.

“We also showed what we could do, not just today, but the whole three games of the tournament. We won twice here, and I think that is going to boost our confidence.”

Zion-Benton (7-6-3) had a make-or-break defensive style with a high line. The Lancers repeatedly got behind it and put pressure on Zee-Bees keeper Annette Guadarrama.

She made two sliding saves, one off a shot from the right corner by Riter, and another on an 18-yard blast from forward Kira Holliday.

The game is often about mitigating failure, and learning how to play through mistakes or shots that fail.

“We were getting a lot of shots in that first half, and we just couldn’t get one into the back of the net,” Cali said. “I think what we have to do there is just remember to always keep our composure when up there, around the box or by the goal.

“Their keeper did a good job of saving some of our shots.  You have to give her credit.”

The three-game series offered visions of a brighter promise, even for the older players like Holliday. 

She repeatedly got to the goal during the first half action, only to be stymied by Guadarrama, who finished with seven saves.

The Lancers fought and battled, which was consistent with their effort throughout the tournament. That accounts for something.

“I just felt like in these games, especially the last one we won on PKs, it was just wonderful to really feel those wins,” Holliday said. “We came here today, and it just felt like we were going to win.

“We played hard. We didn’t have the outcome we wanted, but I think as a whole, we had everyone’s back today. What these games have shown is that we have really started to get connected.”

Lake Park was caught on a counter in the 64th minute as Martinez finished a ball from about 12 yards on a sharp pass from midfielder Lilliana Cruz for the final goal.

The Lancers were not able to generate the same level of offensive production during the second half, and were forced to react more to Zion-Benton’s pace and style.

Boafo stood tall, and registered six saves for Lake Park.

With veteran leadership in Cali and Holliday, and the promise of young talent like Vavalle and sophomore forward Adrianna Skruch, the Lancers are looking for a competitive end to the campaign.

“The season is coming to a close, and we’d like to get some more wins,” Cali said.

Placed in the context of the entire tournament, Lake Park achieved a significant measure of personal satisfaction with its earlier wins.

“Just the experience of winning these games and getting here is definitely going to be beneficial,” Holliday said. “I feel like we can look back on this as another challenge to our season, and we are going to feel good about ourselves and the way we played.

“It’s going to definitely improve our confidence.”

Starting lineups

Lake Park
GK: Vanessa Boafo
D: Maya Zur
D: Gabriella Glodz
D: Amelia Szamatowicz
D: Ruth Dellaria
MF: Cora Riter
MF: Ava Garcia
MF: Mizzia Vavalle
MF: Francesca Cali
F: Giovanni Mirandola 
F: Kira Holliday

Zion-Benton
GK: Annette Guadarrama
D: Areli Juarez
D: Mia Carias
D: Abby Bahena
D: Abbi McLaughlin
MF: Amarica Zavala
MF: Davia Gonzalez
MF: Lilliana Cruz
MF: Yatzi Martinez
MF: Maryjane Diaz
F: Angelina Diaz

Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Angelina Diaz, sr., F, Zion-Benton

Scoring summary

First half
Zion-Benton—Angelina Diaz (unassisted), 12’

Second half
Zion-Benton—Yatzi Martinez (Lilliana Cruz), 64’