NORTHFIELD — The story of Matt Peterson’s performance in the Northside College Showcase championship match was wild, unpredictable and almost impossible to summarize -- it felt like something somebody made up.

In the most improbable of scenarios, he kept doing the same thing over and over, only to be told to do it again.

Peterson must have felt like he was stuck in a goalkeeper’s “Groundhog Day,” destined to live the same thing over and over.

But like Bill Murray’s character, Peterson broke free.

“I was so confident in myself, and I knew I was going to save one, or force one wide,” he said.

“I knew we were going to win that.”

Peterson stayed intense as Grayslake Central’s seventh shooter eventually pushed his penalty shot wide left. It secured the championship of the Northside College Showcase for Lyons on Saturday at New Trier.

The Lions, who are ranked 25th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, officially won the shootout 6-5 in seven rounds against the sixth-ranked Rams (3-1-1) 

Unofficially, Grayslake Central took 10 shots.

Lyons (3-2-1) captured the prestigious tournament for the second time in the last three years.

Peterson’s involvement touched on the surreal, on many fronts. 

He sat on the sidelines for the first 90 minutes of play, and was not summoned until starter Joe Ratcliffe had a collision with a Grayslake Central player at the start of the second overtime.

Ratcliffe never returned, and Peterson showed up.

“It can be really hard sitting on the bench for 80 or 90 minutes, so I just had to really focus in, and not let my team down,” Peterson said.

“We felt confident in each other, and we knew we were capable of winning.”

After 100 minutes of soccer yielded no consequential offense, the final stage shootout was thrilling, dramatic and almost hallucinatory.

The first four Lions’ shooters connected and saw their actions mirrored by their opponent.

Grayslake Central keeper Michael Taradys made a crucial block of the Lions’ fifth shooter, opening the door for the Rams.

But the potentially final shooter sailed his attempt high over the bar, triggering the sudden death addendum.

Midfielder Hayden McTigue, who led off the sixth round, put in his bid to be the offensive hero by smashing home his shot.

Peterson blocked the subsequent shot of the Rams’ defender Uriel Alonso. The Lions’ bench erupted … until it didn’t.

The assistant reference ruled Peterson moved too quickly off his line. Alonso got a second chance, and he delivered in the right corner.

Lyons forward Ryan Siegel gave the Lions another lead with his perfect placement in the right corner.

Not to be outdone in the drama department, Peterson stopped Grayslake Central’s shooter -- not once but twice – and neither counted.

After both saves, the flag of the assistant referee quickly followed. The repeated call was Peterson had left his line too early.

“The official said I came off early, but I wasn’t sure,” Peterson said. “I just commit to a side, and go.

“That’s what I did.”

On the third attempt, the Rams’ shot went wide left.

In the hierarchy of the Lions’ system, Peterson is a clear no. 2 keeper to Ratcliffe.

“We’ve split time in some games, but for the most part he’s the starter,” Peterson said.

Burda said Peterson gave a glimpse of what he was capable of.

“Yesterday in practice, he saved a lot of penalties, so I knew he was up for the job,” Burda said.

Matt Peterson earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match for his dramatic plays.

On the offense, Burda oscillates between the middle and top of the attack. He had five goals and four assists for last year’s state Class 3A runnerup.

He is somewhat of a rarity, the only returning player from a surprise team that got hot in the playoffs and bulled its way to the state championship game last year.

“The things we’ve been doing so far have been remarkable,” Burda said. “Every year at Lyons, we always have really good soccer players, just quality guys who know how to play.

“We’re not a super big team like last year, when we had two 6-foot-5 guys in the box. We’re growing, and we know how to play soccer and take advantage of our skills.”

Burda and defender Sean Dunne had the two best scoring threats for the Lions. 

Off a corner at the start of the second half and a free kick in the 100th minute, Burda served balls that Dunne punched over the top of the bar and pushed just wide.

Better than anyone else on Lyons, Burda knew the need to play well in the Showcase.

“Last year we had a tough time in the tournament,” he said. “We lost two games, and we tied one.

“I’m really happy we made a comeback.”

The moment proved especially bittersweet for Grayslake Central, the only Class AA program in the eight-team field.

In the space of a week, the Rams took on the two defending Class 3A state finalists, ending the Trevians’ 18-game unbeaten streak (17-0-1) last Saturday in group play, and taking the Lions to the brink.

”Being the only AA team in the tournament and making the final for the first time in school history was really big,” Ivan Sereno said.

Shootouts are unpredictable and rando.

What deepened the disappointment for the Rams was their inability to capitalize with a man advantage. The Lions played with 10 men for the final 29 minutes of play after defender Devin Wong was issued his second yellow card.

“We talked about how they were down a man, and we should have moved the ball better,” Ivan Sereno said.

“We gave them a chance. We couldn’t find a way to score. They just held us back with the pressure.”

Grayslake Central captured Group A with a 2-0-1 mark, defeating Loyola and the no.10 Trevians, and tying seventh-ranked Libertyville.

Lyons advanced out of group play with decisive wins over Waukegan and Round Lake, the nine-goal differential was the qualifying difference with Buffalo Grove, who matched their 2-0-1 mark.

Lyons and Buffalo Grove played to a scoreless draw Wednesday. Grayslake Central and Libertyville generated the same result Thursday.

The championship game was tactical and strategic. Each side was seemingly bound together, waiting to pounce on a mistake or vulnerability.

“These last two games, we’ve struggled a bit in the final third,” Ivan Sereno said. 

“We have to be a bit more precise and finish our chances.”

Evan Swiderski and Jack Lapidus have created movement at the top of the formation, allowing the overlapping runs of Damian and Ivan Sereno, and midfielder Jaziel Alonso.

The Rams play a fluid and generous game. Physical and versatile Lyons was able to disrupt their natural flow.

The potential consequences are hard to miss.

Grayslake Central figures to be a force in Class AA.

“I’m really proud of this team,” Jaziel Alonso said. “We’ve accomplished so much. We’ve grown a lot since last year, and this group is really special.

“This tournament is good preparation for the rest of our season. It’s very important that we stay focused and keep working hard.”

Starting lineups

Lyons
GK: Joe Ratcliffe
D: Sean Dunne
D: Fred Chen
D: Devin Wong
D: Johnny Rocha
M: Rylan Avants
M: Kellin Bourjaily
MF: Filip Soldat
MF: Chris Medina
F: Cormac Moran
F: Mason Burda

Grayslake Central
GK: Michael Taradys
D: Cory Hayson
D: Josh Clement
D: Anderson Chevrier
D: Uriel Alonso
MF: Damian Sereno
MF: Jaziel Alonso
MF: Ivan Sereno
MF: Jake Clement
F: Evan Swiderski
F: Jack Lapidus

Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Matt Peterson, sr., GK, Lyons

Scoring summary

First half
No scoring

Second half
No scoring

First overtime
No scoring

Second overtime
No scoring

Shootout

Lyons—Mason Burda (make), Fred Chen (make), Chris Medina (make), Filip Soldat (make), Sean Dunne (blocked), Hayden McTigue (make), Ryan Siegel (make)
Grayslake Central—Ivan Sereno (make), Anderson Chevrier (make), Damian Sereno (make), Jaziel Alonso (make), Jake Clement (missed), Uriel Alonso (make), Jordan Perez (missed)