After second-place finishes in the Pepsi Showdown and Class 3A state tournament in 2010, Libertyville entered 2011 determined to make it a season full of firsts.
Prior to the Wildcats’ match against Lyons in the title game of the Pepsi Showdown on Sunday, a song played at Toyota Park.
“Boys, you hear that?” Libertyville coach Andy Bitta screamed to his team. “‘Eye of the Tiger.’ They’re playing that for you.”
No. 2 Libertyville went on to accomplish its first major goal of the season with a 2-1 overtime victory over Lyons to win the Pepsi Showdown title that eluded the Wildcats last fall.
“This was a game we really wanted,” said Bitta, whose team lost to Morton in a shootout in the 2010 Pepsi Showdown title game.
Bitta stated in the postgame press conference that he believes his team has an edge over its opponents because of the experience gained playing in the single-elimination showcase.
“This is a great tournament, and it prepares us for the state tournament,” Bitta said.
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Click here to see the entire press conference on prepsplus.com.
Future home of IHSA finals? Many area coaches are hopeful the Illinois High School Association and the Chicago Fire can work together so the state finals can be held at Toyota Park in coming years.
A big question was answered Sunday when the turf at Toyota Park held up very well in the rain for the Pepsi Showdown tripleheader.
“Our game against Metea Valley was truly a game I will never forget,” said Oak Park’s Steve Golz, who scored two goals to help the Huskies capture a 2-1 victory on Sunday. “The first thing I did once I got on the field was examine the smooth, short grass. I had never played on such a perfect field in my life, and I knew the game would be amazing.”
This fall, Lincoln-Way North replaces North Central College as the host of the Class 2A and 3A state finals.
Soccer market: Here are a few highs and lows from the fourth week of the boys soccer season.
Team gains with impressive play: After getting off to a slow start, Larkin has been coming on of late. Last week, it tied St. Charles North and beat St. Viator. Junior forward Erik Rodriguez has eight goals and five assists in his last five games.
Team drops: Metea Valley suffered two heart-breaking losses last week. The first came to Lyons in overtime in a Pepsi Showdown semifinal Saturday. Then on Sunday, Oak Park scored two goals in last three minutes to rally for a 2-1 victory at Toyota Park.
Individual increase: Proviso East’s Alexis Monteon continues to impress opposing area coaches. Morton coach Mike Caruso said last week that the sophomore forward is one of the best players he has seen at the high school level.
Individual decrease: St. Viator played without starters Troy Wheeler, Kevin Patzke, Michael Decker and Mateo Leudo last week due to different injuries.
This week’s best bet: Mather will travel to Lane for a Public League showdown at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Email Joe Trost at [email protected].