Jones visit to Lane has title ramifications
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The city equivalent of the clash of the soccer titans plays out Monday night on the North Side as unbeaten Jones, which broke into the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 at no. 23 this week, confronts its biggest challenge of the year so far -- no. 25 Lane, which has been the benchmark of Public League excellence.
Lane has won the top division, the Premier, in consecutive years and six out of the past seven. Jones hopes to put a damper on the Indians repeat hopes and fuel its own title aspirations at 4:30 p.m. today (Monday) at Lane Stadium.
“Lane is obviously the team that everybody knows has been the best in the city,” Jones coach Derek Bylsma said. “We have not played them in two years. In years past they beat us very soundly. The good news is that we are a much different team than any team they have ever played.”
The Eagles (6-0-0, 2-0-0 Premier) have posted four shutouts and outscored the opposition by a margin of 24-2. Jones has elevated its game since its historic state tournament run last year. The Eagles advanced to a Class 2A sectional final against Latin.
This is a team just two years removed from being relegated from the Premier.
“I think we have a lot more bite than we had in the past,” Bylsma said. “We have everybody who works extremely hard on defense. We have given up just two goals in six games. I think defensively we do a very good job of putting pressure on the ball and then cycling back if somebody does get beat. We have played very aggressive defense and while doing that are still able to contain and not diving in.”
Jones also has a foundational player in Zoe Wright, a long and lithe athletic midfielder. Last year she became the first Jones player ever named all-state, when she recorded 18 goals and registered 19 assists.
Wright has already amassed nine goals and five assists. Her beautiful score was the difference in the Eagles’ 1-0 victory over a strong Payton team Friday. In making the transition from forward to attacking midfielder, Wright has become ever more dangerous.
“In years past people have been able to focus solely on her,” Bylsma said. “As they start to play us, we have been able to very quickly distribute the ball around the field a little more and use some of our players, like Rachel Sohn and Dani Schulgasser and even Janai (Cedeno) coming out of the back, because we do have more weapons moving forward. It is too hard to lock down just on Zoe.
“In the past teams would clamp down on her, take one player to mark her and have another player help out. Teams have tried to do that. But when they do we just try to get the ball to the other side until that is becoming too dangerous, and they have to switch away from that.”
In addition to her athletic prowess, Wright is a cerebral and heady player who is equally dangerous as a shooter or facilitator.
Midfielders Schulgasser, Cedeno and Sohn play off her brilliantly. Forwards Avery Kaplan and Gillian Miller are also dangerous. In the back, Gabrielle Baxtrom and Izzy Kamba solidify the back. Devin Barry, a precocious, learned sophomore, has started every game at keeper since her freshman year.
Lane (3-1-2, 1-0-0) represents by far the most significant challenge the Eagles have faced this year. The Indians are playing outstanding soccer, having recorded five-consecutive shutouts since opening the year with a 2-1 road loss against no. 18 Plainfield North.
The Indians are young though very skilled and exceptionally difficult to handle at home. Lena Price-Johnson, a quick and explosive forward, is the team’s only senior. She is the team’s emotional leader, a fiery and natural talent who leads by example.
“I mean all of these freshmen, sophomores and juniors, they are all positive kids,” Price-Johnson said. “What I love about this team is how we are always there for each other. It is a very energetic team, always there and always passionate about the game. I have been having a lot of fun.”
Grace Dunaway has emerged as another skilled option with a sharp ability to take advantage of her opportunities. She has four goals, three in the last two games. She scored the game-winner in the 50th minute against Hinsdale Central on Friday.
During its five-game unbeaten streak, Lane has demonstrated a strong forward attack. Jazzmin Jordan and Ayser Guvener have also excelled as speedy creators who are very explosive in space. Kayla Dutton, another sophomore midfielder, has a powerful shot. She brings another dimension to the team. Midfielders Caryle Makuch and Alana Coffman have also excelled.
“We have been working on possession in practice a lot, and I think it is showing out there,” Dunaway said.
Junior Izzy Oganovich embodies the versatility and ambidextrous aspect of the team’s attack. A natural defender, she also played in the midfield against Hinsdale Central, brilliantly using her size and range to shape the attack and deny the Red Devils many opportunities to build an attack of their own. Junior Leah Finkielsztein is an elite defender.
“Our start to this season has really been awesome,” Oganovich said. “We are really connecting well as a team.”
Sophomore Maggie Grossman and junior Brianna Love have split duties at keeper, conceding just the two goals in six games.
With two teams playing high level soccer, the Monday night game is certain to impact the top of the Premier standings.
“In the past, going into any Lane game, I don’t think our team had a whole lot of confidence,” Bylsma said. “I think our girls are very confident going into this game. They are very excited about the challenge. Now they are looking forward to it rather than dreading it.”
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The city equivalent of the clash of the soccer titans plays out Monday night on the North Side as unbeaten Jones, which broke into the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 at no. 23 this week, confronts its biggest challenge of the year so far -- no. 25 Lane, which has been the benchmark of Public League excellence.
Lane has won the top division, the Premier, in consecutive years and six out of the past seven. Jones hopes to put a damper on the Indians repeat hopes and fuel its own title aspirations at 4:30 p.m. today (Monday) at Lane Stadium.
“Lane is obviously the team that everybody knows has been the best in the city,” Jones coach Derek Bylsma said. “We have not played them in two years. In years past they beat us very soundly. The good news is that we are a much different team than any team they have ever played.”
The Eagles (6-0-0, 2-0-0 Premier) have posted four shutouts and outscored the opposition by a margin of 24-2. Jones has elevated its game since its historic state tournament run last year. The Eagles advanced to a Class 2A sectional final against Latin.
This is a team just two years removed from being relegated from the Premier.
“I think we have a lot more bite than we had in the past,” Bylsma said. “We have everybody who works extremely hard on defense. We have given up just two goals in six games. I think defensively we do a very good job of putting pressure on the ball and then cycling back if somebody does get beat. We have played very aggressive defense and while doing that are still able to contain and not diving in.”
Jones also has a foundational player in Zoe Wright, a long and lithe athletic midfielder. Last year she became the first Jones player ever named all-state, when she recorded 18 goals and registered 19 assists.
Wright has already amassed nine goals and five assists. Her beautiful score was the difference in the Eagles’ 1-0 victory over a strong Payton team Friday. In making the transition from forward to attacking midfielder, Wright has become ever more dangerous.
“In years past people have been able to focus solely on her,” Bylsma said. “As they start to play us, we have been able to very quickly distribute the ball around the field a little more and use some of our players, like Rachel Sohn and Dani Schulgasser and even Janai (Cedeno) coming out of the back, because we do have more weapons moving forward. It is too hard to lock down just on Zoe.
“In the past teams would clamp down on her, take one player to mark her and have another player help out. Teams have tried to do that. But when they do we just try to get the ball to the other side until that is becoming too dangerous, and they have to switch away from that.”
In addition to her athletic prowess, Wright is a cerebral and heady player who is equally dangerous as a shooter or facilitator.
Midfielders Schulgasser, Cedeno and Sohn play off her brilliantly. Forwards Avery Kaplan and Gillian Miller are also dangerous. In the back, Gabrielle Baxtrom and Izzy Kamba solidify the back. Devin Barry, a precocious, learned sophomore, has started every game at keeper since her freshman year.
Lane (3-1-2, 1-0-0) represents by far the most significant challenge the Eagles have faced this year. The Indians are playing outstanding soccer, having recorded five-consecutive shutouts since opening the year with a 2-1 road loss against no. 18 Plainfield North.
The Indians are young though very skilled and exceptionally difficult to handle at home. Lena Price-Johnson, a quick and explosive forward, is the team’s only senior. She is the team’s emotional leader, a fiery and natural talent who leads by example.
“I mean all of these freshmen, sophomores and juniors, they are all positive kids,” Price-Johnson said. “What I love about this team is how we are always there for each other. It is a very energetic team, always there and always passionate about the game. I have been having a lot of fun.”
Grace Dunaway has emerged as another skilled option with a sharp ability to take advantage of her opportunities. She has four goals, three in the last two games. She scored the game-winner in the 50th minute against Hinsdale Central on Friday.
During its five-game unbeaten streak, Lane has demonstrated a strong forward attack. Jazzmin Jordan and Ayser Guvener have also excelled as speedy creators who are very explosive in space. Kayla Dutton, another sophomore midfielder, has a powerful shot. She brings another dimension to the team. Midfielders Caryle Makuch and Alana Coffman have also excelled.
“We have been working on possession in practice a lot, and I think it is showing out there,” Dunaway said.
Junior Izzy Oganovich embodies the versatility and ambidextrous aspect of the team’s attack. A natural defender, she also played in the midfield against Hinsdale Central, brilliantly using her size and range to shape the attack and deny the Red Devils many opportunities to build an attack of their own. Junior Leah Finkielsztein is an elite defender.
“Our start to this season has really been awesome,” Oganovich said. “We are really connecting well as a team.”
Sophomore Maggie Grossman and junior Brianna Love have split duties at keeper, conceding just the two goals in six games.
With two teams playing high level soccer, the Monday night game is certain to impact the top of the Premier standings.
“In the past, going into any Lane game, I don’t think our team had a whole lot of confidence,” Bylsma said. “I think our girls are very confident going into this game. They are very excited about the challenge. Now they are looking forward to it rather than dreading it.”