Tough back-to-back
league games will test Leyden
By Dave Owen
Leyden’s West Suburban Conference Gold Division fate will be determined in a high-pressure 18-hour time span.
The Eagles (9-4-2 overall, 2-1 in conference) travel to meet unbeaten league leader and defending champion Morton on Friday night. Then with little rest from that big challenge, Leyden hosts emerging Willowbrook (10-4, 2-2) at noon Saturday in Northlake.
“While we’d rather have a day off in between games, this will still be a fun couple of days which will test our depth,” Leyden coach Mark Valintis said.
“Morton is always good, and I think a Friday night game for our two programs highlights two good programs at a time when many fans can get to the game. Hopefully the atmosphere is exciting.”
The prime time matchup at 7 p.m. Friday in Berwyn is the main event of the weekend. But it's hardly the only challenge for the Eagles.
Willowbrook comes off a 2-1 loss to Morton on Tuesday. Its grueling three-game losing streak after a 10-1 start also includes a 3-1 setback last Saturday at defending state champion and current Chicagoland Soccer no. 1-ranked Hinsdale Central.
“Willowbrook has had a good season so far,” Valintis said, “and (Coach) Peter (Ginter) has done a masterful job rebuilding that program.
“The test for us will be to see what type of energy and focus we come out with after a physically and emotionally draining Friday night. No matter the result Friday, I'm thinking the Saturday game will be more about how our team responds to the challenges Willowbrook presents and us not being 100%.”
The two big impending WSC Gold tests each went to overtime last year: Leyden lost 1-0 to Morton, then went extra time to edge Willowbrook 2-1 a week later.
After a three-game losing streak that included an excellently played overtime loss at Downers Grove South, Leyden has rebounded to tie Palatine 1-1 and top much-improved Addison Trail 3-2 on Tuesday. The Blazers had edged Willowbrook in overtime five days earlier.
“We're 1-1-1 in the last three, but have played well enough to be 3-0,” Valintis said. “Guys have responded to that two-week stretch quite well, and I really like where we are at mentally.
“And there’s no one guy I can single out, as the whole team has stepped up their games recently.”
Even with high stakes games in rapid order and high energy likely to be needed, Valintis is trying to low key the importance of the marathon weekend.
“I'm not going to put too much emphasis one way or another into this weekend,” he said. “But if results go our way, it will be a huge boost for us as we get ready for postseason.”
Willowbrook’s latest signs of improvement came early against Morton and Hinsdale Central.
“In both games against Hinsdale Central and Morton we took a 1-0 lead,” Ginter said. “We had opportunities to extend that lead, more so with Morton, and failed to do so.
“We then fell into short periods of lack of focus, and lost the game during those crucial minutes where these quality teams know how to seize opportunities and win.”
But the lessons came with more progress.
“Although we’re disappointed with the results of losing both games,” Ginter said, “we learned that Willowbrook soccer is nearing the quality of play necessary to win against these excellent soccer programs. We are not quite there yet.”
The next step comes on the natural grass field at Leyden.
“Leyden will be a very good opponent and tough to beat on their home field,” Ginter said. “The pace and ball control quality of our last two contests will serve us well for this game.
“We definitely have to play our best to beat Leyden. I expect another well played game. I feel our team is ready.”
league games will test Leyden
By Dave Owen
Leyden’s West Suburban Conference Gold Division fate will be determined in a high-pressure 18-hour time span.
The Eagles (9-4-2 overall, 2-1 in conference) travel to meet unbeaten league leader and defending champion Morton on Friday night. Then with little rest from that big challenge, Leyden hosts emerging Willowbrook (10-4, 2-2) at noon Saturday in Northlake.
“While we’d rather have a day off in between games, this will still be a fun couple of days which will test our depth,” Leyden coach Mark Valintis said.
“Morton is always good, and I think a Friday night game for our two programs highlights two good programs at a time when many fans can get to the game. Hopefully the atmosphere is exciting.”
The prime time matchup at 7 p.m. Friday in Berwyn is the main event of the weekend. But it's hardly the only challenge for the Eagles.
Willowbrook comes off a 2-1 loss to Morton on Tuesday. Its grueling three-game losing streak after a 10-1 start also includes a 3-1 setback last Saturday at defending state champion and current Chicagoland Soccer no. 1-ranked Hinsdale Central.
“Willowbrook has had a good season so far,” Valintis said, “and (Coach) Peter (Ginter) has done a masterful job rebuilding that program.
“The test for us will be to see what type of energy and focus we come out with after a physically and emotionally draining Friday night. No matter the result Friday, I'm thinking the Saturday game will be more about how our team responds to the challenges Willowbrook presents and us not being 100%.”
The two big impending WSC Gold tests each went to overtime last year: Leyden lost 1-0 to Morton, then went extra time to edge Willowbrook 2-1 a week later.
After a three-game losing streak that included an excellently played overtime loss at Downers Grove South, Leyden has rebounded to tie Palatine 1-1 and top much-improved Addison Trail 3-2 on Tuesday. The Blazers had edged Willowbrook in overtime five days earlier.
“We're 1-1-1 in the last three, but have played well enough to be 3-0,” Valintis said. “Guys have responded to that two-week stretch quite well, and I really like where we are at mentally.
“And there’s no one guy I can single out, as the whole team has stepped up their games recently.”
Even with high stakes games in rapid order and high energy likely to be needed, Valintis is trying to low key the importance of the marathon weekend.
“I'm not going to put too much emphasis one way or another into this weekend,” he said. “But if results go our way, it will be a huge boost for us as we get ready for postseason.”
Willowbrook’s latest signs of improvement came early against Morton and Hinsdale Central.
“In both games against Hinsdale Central and Morton we took a 1-0 lead,” Ginter said. “We had opportunities to extend that lead, more so with Morton, and failed to do so.
“We then fell into short periods of lack of focus, and lost the game during those crucial minutes where these quality teams know how to seize opportunities and win.”
But the lessons came with more progress.
“Although we’re disappointed with the results of losing both games,” Ginter said, “we learned that Willowbrook soccer is nearing the quality of play necessary to win against these excellent soccer programs. We are not quite there yet.”
The next step comes on the natural grass field at Leyden.
“Leyden will be a very good opponent and tough to beat on their home field,” Ginter said. “The pace and ball control quality of our last two contests will serve us well for this game.
“We definitely have to play our best to beat Leyden. I expect another well played game. I feel our team is ready.”