ELMHURST -- York junior Tito Barriga didn’t just step onto the field Tuesday when overtime began in a scoreless game against Lyons. He put on a coat of armor, mounted a white horse and led the charge to a Dukes’ victory.

The midfielder got onto the end of a free kick sent to the back post by teammate Carlos Banda-Berrones and collected the game’s lone goal four minutes into the first overtime period.

Banda-Berrones’ serve found the turf at the far post, and Barriga’s eyes got wide.

“Coach was telling me to go in, so I went in,” Barriga said. “I was the last one in the back. I just saw the ball coming in, and I went for it.”

York’s Oliver Connor earned the foul that set up the free kick, taken from 30 yards near the right touchline.

Barriga’s game-winning strike meant that York (7-6-3, 4-2-x) and Lyons (11-6-2, 4-2-x) were positioned to tie for the West Suburban Conference Silver Division title.

Unfortunately, those hopes were dashed nine miles away at Hinsdale Central. The Red Devils (10-7-1, 5-1-x) fought off Downers Grove North (3-17-2, 1-5-x) 1-0 for the outright crown.

In the end in Elmhurst, conference ramifications took a back seat to a high-quality soccer match.

“We would have liked a better result, but I thought it was a very good game,” Lyons coach Paul Labbato said. “It was a playoff-caliber game and what we’ll see in the playoffs.”

York tri-captain Aaron Jobi agreed.

“It was a hell of a game,” Jobi said. “We knew it would be a hard game. We knew they wanted the conference championship.

“We haven’t lost in (four) games, and that’s a good feeling. To know that we can win and win for a long time, that’s what you need for the state tournament.”

York has gone 3-0-1 in its last four games, including a 3-1 home win over Hinsdale Central.

Through Tuesday’s first 20 minutes, Lyons looked primed to hand York a home defeat. The Lions played fast and loose from the outset, hitting the crossbar at four minutes and applying steady attacking pressure.

“I felt like the minute the game started, we had more energy and effort than they did,” Lyons captain Fred Chen said. “We’re pretty good on turf, and we moved the ball well.

“I thought we played well, but their keeper (Diego Ochoa) is really good. He’s a great player, and you have to work extra hard to beat a special keeper like that.”

York’s Ochoa has been nothing short of spectacular this season. He made every save needed Tuesday, including a tremendous stop of a wicked Lyons strike in the second half.

Every interviewee after the game heaped praise on York’s senior keeper.

“He’s amazing,” Jobi said of Ochoa. “I think this year he’s been our best player. He has saved us so many times, and he made a crazy save in the second half. But he’s been doing that all year. He’s been a stud all year for us.”

In the opening half of the opening half, Lyons did everything a quality side should do, except score. The Lions played quick, one- and two-touch soccer. Mason Burda, Kellin Bourjaily and company were in high-level attack-mode.

“I thought we moved the ball really well and our defense again played really well,” Labbato said. “They were calm and composed, and good playing out of the back and making clearances when they needed to.”

“We got around the edges well on offense and created chances,” Labbato said. “We would have liked to see some quicker shots in certain situations. But as the play happens kids just make decisions, and the decision is the decision. But we played well.”

York fought back after Lyons’ fast start. The final 10 minutes of the first half saw the Dukes begin to apply a bit of steady pressure and find their front foot. That trend continued to start the second half.

“At halftime we talked about playing with passion,” Barriga said.

York pressured Lyons well for the first 15 minutes of the second half. 

“We came out flat, but the kids picked it up a little bit in the first half and knocked it around here and there,” York coach Jordan Stopka said. 

“When we play one-two touch and don’t play dribble, dribble, kickball, we play much better. We’ve slowly gotten our style of play together, playing quicker and just get yourself into space.”

Jobi, Banda-Berrones, and Carmie DeMiele all found space to create a handful of scoring chances, but Lyons keeper Matt Peterson and his backline met every challenge.

“(York) came out very tough in the second half,” Labbato said. “Our centerbacks, Devin Wong and Fred Chen, played well. We had a sophomore center-mid in Hayden McTigue play great. Mason Burda did a great job getting down the edge, and we had a lot of guys play good minutes. So, we played strong today.

“We’ve taken some losses this year but we’ve lost in overtimes and penalty kicks. But we’ve had a good week and some good conference wins. We would have liked to have a chance at the (Silver Division) championship, but that’s okay.”

Chen likes the way his squad is playing with the state playoffs looming.

“There hasn't been a single game that felt like we have not been in,” Chen said. “It’s just about staying concentrated and finishing our opportunities.”

York is also playing some of its best soccer at the end of the season.

“It’s our chemistry, a hundred percent,” Jobi said. “It’s a new team, and nobody knew each other’s weaknesses and strengths.

“We’ve worked with each other in figuring out the center-mid rotation. In the beginning of the season, we couldn’t possess the ball and couldn’t get it forward or keep it forward. Now we’re doing just that. 

“There are moments when it’s ugly, but that’s soccer. We’re not here to play like Barcelona, we’re here to win games. And anything can happen in the playoffs.”

Jobi likes the way assorted Dukes are stepping up when their moments arrive.

“Tito was there when we needed him,” Jobi said. “He’s been there a couple times for us this year against Glenbard North and OPRF. He was there cooking, and that’s what we love to see from players, stepping up like that. We’re not a team of superstars so if we’re going to win, everybody is going to have to step up.”

Stopka applauded the day’s work put in by Jobi, Ochoa and his backline in the face of Lyons’ attacking pressure. 

“Will Carter played really well at right back,” Stopka said. “I think he had his best game of the season. Whenever Will won it, we seemed to keep possession. I was appreciative of him winning the ball and then not losing it.”

For his effort Tuesday, Carter was named the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match, an honor Ochoa is in the running for in every game he plays.

“I’m pushing (Ochoa) for all-state this year,” Stopka said. “I don’t care about his goals-against average. That kid has made so many great saves for us, it’s unbelievable. He deserves it.”

Starting lineups

Lyons
GK: Matt Peterson
D: Fred Chen
D: Sean Dunne
D: Devin Wong
D: Johnny Rocha
MF: Kellin Bourjaily
MF: Mason Burda
MF: Chris Medina
MF: Hayden McTigue
MF: Filip Soldat
F: Ryland Avants

York
GK: Diego Ochoa
D: Jackson Bui
D: Daneil Miranda
D: Will Carter
D: Freddie Steen
MF: Graham Reedy
MF: Carlos Banda-Berrones
MF: Oliver Connor
MF: Aaron Jobi
MF: Quinn Stratton
F: Carmie DeMiele

Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Will Carter, sr., D, York

Scoring summary

First half
No scoring

Second half
No scoring

First overtime: Barriga (Banda-Berrones), 84’