Lane looks to solidify league lead
By Dave Owen
The North Side of Chicago will be a center of athletic activity Wednesday night.
But while 40,000 fans flock to see the National League Central champion Cubs play host to the last place Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field, fans seeking a more even matchup and a game that won’t take three-plus hours to finish should head about 12 blocks west on Addison Street.
There, Lane will play host to defending Class 2A fourth place finisher Washington in a 6 p.m. battle of elite Chicago Public League soccer squads at Lane Stadium.
The Indians, ranked no. 21 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, are off to a great start. Lane (8-1-2) suffered its lone loss against no. 12 St. Charles North on penalty kicks. A 4-0 win Monday over Von Steuben gave the Indians a 3-0-1 record and top billing in the CPL Premier Division.
The shutout win provided the latest showcase both for Lane's balance and their high-scoring junior forward.
“The areas of play that have stood recently are our teamwork and depth,” coach Andrew Ricks said.
“Also, Alex Mezyk has provided consistent offense, especially in critical moments. He had two goals in our 2-2 tie with Curie (last week), and he had a hat-trick yesterday in our 4-0 win over Von Steuben.”
Mezyk has a team-high 11 goals.
Washington enters the match with a 6-3-0 record, but just 1-2-0 in Chicago Public League play. The Patriots’ league losses were 2-1 defeats against Solorio and Hubbard. Lane defeated Solorio 2-0 last week.
But recent history indicates Washington’s huge potential and knack for rising to the occasion in big games. Washington won the Class 2A state title in 2013, and made another run to finish fourth last season.
While Washington’s campus is at the southern edge of Chicago, the distance between the schools is much smaller when it comes to soccer prestige.
“A Lane-v.-Washington game is special,” Ricks said, “because we live in the same city but come from very different traditions.
“Also, respective to both school's demographics, the sport is in our blood and theirs.”
After a rare dip to a 5-10-4 record last year, winning is back pumping through the veins of Lane, which was the 2014 Public League champion.
The Class 3A Indians tied Washington 1-1 in their 2015 meeting. Now they hope their 2016 resurgence continues with a victory against their smaller but still formidable opponent.
“I believe the key to success for the game versus Washington is focus,” Ricks said. “If we work hard, we will win.”
But Ricks expects the road to victory will be a challenge.
“My main concern with their team is that they are experienced like us, having been in the Pepsi Showdown (this year),” Ricks said. “They will know how to compete.”
Washington coach Alvaro Perez anticipates a strong and welcome challenge from Lane.
I'm expecting Lane to be a little taller and faster,” Washington coach Alvaro Perez said. “We are planning on sticking to our game plan, maintaining possession and keeping the ball on the ground to neutralize their air game. If we manage to keep the ball on the ground and maintain possession, it should be a good game for us.”
While enjoying some early season success, the Patriots are focused on being at their best in mid-October and beyond.
“My freshmen and sophomores are getting really confident playing varsity with and next to our senior varsity boys,” Perez said. “Though I'm playing for the future, I do expect to be contenders through our sectional.”
Larger opponents like Lane aid in that goal.
“The best thing that can happen to us is playing multiple 3A schools during our season,” Perez said. “They give us the best preparation for when we switch back to our 2A competition for state.”
By Dave Owen
The North Side of Chicago will be a center of athletic activity Wednesday night.
But while 40,000 fans flock to see the National League Central champion Cubs play host to the last place Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field, fans seeking a more even matchup and a game that won’t take three-plus hours to finish should head about 12 blocks west on Addison Street.
There, Lane will play host to defending Class 2A fourth place finisher Washington in a 6 p.m. battle of elite Chicago Public League soccer squads at Lane Stadium.
The Indians, ranked no. 21 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, are off to a great start. Lane (8-1-2) suffered its lone loss against no. 12 St. Charles North on penalty kicks. A 4-0 win Monday over Von Steuben gave the Indians a 3-0-1 record and top billing in the CPL Premier Division.
The shutout win provided the latest showcase both for Lane's balance and their high-scoring junior forward.
“The areas of play that have stood recently are our teamwork and depth,” coach Andrew Ricks said.
“Also, Alex Mezyk has provided consistent offense, especially in critical moments. He had two goals in our 2-2 tie with Curie (last week), and he had a hat-trick yesterday in our 4-0 win over Von Steuben.”
Mezyk has a team-high 11 goals.
Washington enters the match with a 6-3-0 record, but just 1-2-0 in Chicago Public League play. The Patriots’ league losses were 2-1 defeats against Solorio and Hubbard. Lane defeated Solorio 2-0 last week.
But recent history indicates Washington’s huge potential and knack for rising to the occasion in big games. Washington won the Class 2A state title in 2013, and made another run to finish fourth last season.
While Washington’s campus is at the southern edge of Chicago, the distance between the schools is much smaller when it comes to soccer prestige.
“A Lane-v.-Washington game is special,” Ricks said, “because we live in the same city but come from very different traditions.
“Also, respective to both school's demographics, the sport is in our blood and theirs.”
After a rare dip to a 5-10-4 record last year, winning is back pumping through the veins of Lane, which was the 2014 Public League champion.
The Class 3A Indians tied Washington 1-1 in their 2015 meeting. Now they hope their 2016 resurgence continues with a victory against their smaller but still formidable opponent.
“I believe the key to success for the game versus Washington is focus,” Ricks said. “If we work hard, we will win.”
But Ricks expects the road to victory will be a challenge.
“My main concern with their team is that they are experienced like us, having been in the Pepsi Showdown (this year),” Ricks said. “They will know how to compete.”
Washington coach Alvaro Perez anticipates a strong and welcome challenge from Lane.
I'm expecting Lane to be a little taller and faster,” Washington coach Alvaro Perez said. “We are planning on sticking to our game plan, maintaining possession and keeping the ball on the ground to neutralize their air game. If we manage to keep the ball on the ground and maintain possession, it should be a good game for us.”
While enjoying some early season success, the Patriots are focused on being at their best in mid-October and beyond.
“My freshmen and sophomores are getting really confident playing varsity with and next to our senior varsity boys,” Perez said. “Though I'm playing for the future, I do expect to be contenders through our sectional.”
Larger opponents like Lane aid in that goal.
“The best thing that can happen to us is playing multiple 3A schools during our season,” Perez said. “They give us the best preparation for when we switch back to our 2A competition for state.”