Lyons Soccer Squeaks Past Downers Grove North to Pepsi Showdown Semifinals

The Lyons Township High School boys soccer team defeated Downers Grove North High School—currently ranked seventh nationally by ESPNrise.com—by a score of 1-0 in the quarterfinal round of the Pepsi Showdown on Sept. 16 at home, placing the Lions just one bracket rung away from the Showdown championship match, to be played at Toyota Park Sept. 25.

Senior midfielder Kyle Kurfirst scored the only goal of the match on a header following a cross that was misplayed by the Downers Grove North goalkeeper.

It was their second time defeating Downers Grove North this week: Lyons pulled off a tightly contested victory at home, handily overcoming the Downers side 2-0 in a West Suburban Conference away game on Sept. 14.

When asked about the significance of beating such a high quality side twice in three days, senior goal threat Horacio Sanchez said, "It meant a lot to our team and our program. We knew they were going to come after us even harder than they did on Tuesday, but we also exactly what we had to do today, which was to make them work twice as hard as they normally would."

While LT currently maintains the number one state rank according to the Chicago Tribune, ESPNrise.com interestingly puts the La Grange-based team 8th nationally, one spot behind Downers Grove North.

Though national statuses will undoubtedly shift by the week's end, the questionable rankings seem not to phase the Lions, as their play has been consistent throughout the year.

"I think this team has really come together well," Coach Paul Labbato said. "They've learned about team chemistry and learned that everyone on the team has a role to fulfill. We have guys that do great work for us each game."

One factor involved in the home side's victory was the immense crowd support. Hundreds of fans drenched in blue and gold filled the West Fields' bleachers to back the high-achieving Lions.

"It's safe to say we have the best fans in the state," Sanchez said. "People experienced first hand that [Downers players] were getting really frustrated and couldn't take it. The team appreciates it greatly."

Even Labbato agrees that the unprecedented fan support at each game has a resounding effect on the entire team.

"This is something new for us," Labbato said. "It's exciting to see full bleachers at these games, and the fans are here for the team win or lose. Our kids are feeding off of it and opposing players are falling apart because of it."

Labbato's reference to players "falling apart" as a result of the section's active support was plainly evident in Thursday's match: a Downers Grove player cursed out the student section for its active support, and before he was substituted by coach Brian Gervase moments later, he directed an obscene gesture towards the LT fans.

Such in-game intensity will surely be present in the Pepsi Showdown semifinal match on Sept. 18  between Lyons Township and Morton High School at 4:15 p.m. on LT's North Campus West Fields, 1301 W. Cossitt Ave., with the winner claiming a spot in the tournament's championship at Toyota Park, home of the Chicago Fire, against the winner of Larkin versus Libertyville. In 2009, the Lyons nearly clinched the championship, after a double overtime 2-1 loss to Neuqua Valley.