Lions can't hold off resilient York in sectional final

 

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By Dave Owen

York's girls soccer team made history with the first sectional championship in program history on Friday, but the result was also a major case of deja vu.

After coming from behind to beat Lyons Township (20-5-1) in the teams' last two regular season meetings (including a 3-2, double overtime win on May 10), York (21-4-1) both repeated and made history in the sectional final on its home field Friday. Two York goals in the second half erased a 1-0 deficit and advanced the Dukes to Tuesday's Benedictine supersectional against Naperville North with a 2-1 win.

"York's come back on us three games in a row, last year too," Lions' senior Kelsey Holbert said. "We know that they come back, and that was one of our goals to not let up. It looks bad to lose with them coming back three times, but I don't think that we ever gave up. We're all proud of that."

Lions' pride was on display just eight minutes into the game, Holbert sent a 30-yard blast off the crossbar, and senior teammate Coco Corrigan pounded the rebound into an open left side of the net to put LT up 1-0.

But York would soon answer the challenge. The Dukes' eventual second half scoring surge was foreshadowed when LT goalkeeper Maggie Orlowski needed to make three saves in the last 5:05 of the first half. The best York threat came with 1:45 to go before the break, when Danielle Vujovic's 25-yard blast was denied by Orlowski's nice diving save to her left.

"To be playing against a team like Lyons that had a tremendous season, we knew our opponent was a very talented team to play against and we had to match their ability," York coach Krzysztof Halupka said. "I think going down 1-0 was obviously unfortunate for us, but the way we reacted in the sense of how we set our tone in the game by winning the midfield going forward and trying to put a lot of pressure on their lines ended up turning the tide."

"After the first half we all had a talk and decided that we weren't playing as a team," York sophomore Ellie Ordonez said. "We needed to pull together. We were just kicking it, and all of a sudden we just pulled it together and got the win. We deserved it."

The sudden turn was sparked by Ordonez and her high-scoring superstar junior sister Christina. Springing free with the ball at the left of the net, Christina drew the attention of the LT defense and sent a nice cross to Ellie open in front of the net, whose goal tied the score at 1-1 with 32:55 left in the game.

"I love playing with her," Ellie Ordonez said. "She always gets goals and stuff and is so amazing up there. She's my idol on the field and I just want to play like her. I know wherever I pass the ball I know she'll be there to get it. It felt amazing to score on her cross out of anybody because she's my sister."

The family ties in a magical York season have been just as nice for Christina.

"We used to play together when we were little," Christina said, "but then we went our own ways and played on different teams. It feels awesome to be on the field with her again. We have really good chemistry together."

But York's chemistry and talent extends well beyond the Ordonez sisters.

Captain Mary Kate Cicinelli is one of five senior starters for the Dukes (along with Vujovic, Megan LeDonne, Sam Luke and Taylor Navarro), and provided inspiration Friday with both her words and actions.

"Being captain of the team," she said, "at halftime I always give that pump up speech and make sure everyone's focused, that we don't ever have a big head or too small of one and that we have the right amount of confidence."

The Ordonez sisters' play early in the half sent York's confidence on the rise, then Cicinelli was on the spot with 7:27 left to finish the job.

Ellie Ordonez began that deciding play by sending her corner kick away from the crowd in the box to Abbey Wilkins outside. Wilkins used her open look to launch a 25-yard shot that hit the right post, and Cicinelli scored off the rebound to complete York's latest and greatest comeback in its series with LT.

"Abbey was practicing on that shot for awhile," Cicinelli said. "She pulled through, nailed the post and I just finished it. I saw it and knew exactly where I wanted to place the ball. I went for it without any hesitation."

The deciding goal was set up by another great scoring threat, when LT's Elise Gordon nicely blocked a point-blank blast by York's Vujovic that deflected across the end line for the Ellie Ordonez corner kick.

Despite York's domination of the scoreboard in the second half, the Lions produced plenty of high pressure chances of their own. Several of those came during a 10-minute stretch with the score 1-1. With 23:15 left, senior Lauren Moberg sent a 20-yard shot just over the net off a nice pass from Holbert. Then the best chance came with 13:30 left, when Holbert curled a 30-yard direct kick off the crossbar. York's Whitcomb was able to repel a rebound attempt with a steal and clearing pass downfield.

LT battled to the end with three more chances in the last 2:55 of play. York's Navarro nicely cleared two Holbert scoring threats early in that surge, then York goalkeeper Anna Bell Landsdowne caught a 25-yard line shot from LT freshman Emily Lange with 40 seconds left to deny the Lions' last threat.

"We had some chances, hit the post the couple times and had some opportunities we missed," Holbert said. "And they (York) finished them."

LT coach Bill Lanspeary had a similar take on his team's strong start and continued battle, despite York's answer to the challenge.

"I thought we came out really strong (up 1-0)," Lanspeary said, "and what seemed to happen was as soon as we got one that lit a fire under them and they had the better of the play for a while and we were lucky to get out of that half.

"But then to start the second half I thought it was fairly back and forth. Our kids played unbelievably hard. Just a couple breakdowns they capitalized on. We had some chances and just didn't quite get it done today."

LT sophomore Ari Kowalski was a defensive notable for her work marking Christina Ordonez, whose only great chance besides her assist came on a laser from the top of the box with 26:30 left in the game on which Orlowski made a nice diving save at the left post.

All in all, dropping an evenly matched battle between two teams with nearly identical records did nothing to dim LT's spring of success.

"We had a heck of a season, something they should certainly be proud of," Lanspeary said. "And even though this hurts right now, when the sting wears off of this and we look back they'll realize everything they accomplished this year. It's really been a great year with a great group of kids."

While seven underclassmen started for the Lions, LT's senior class included key starters Corrigan, Holbert, Gordon and Moberg.

"Every year you can never say enough, and this year we have a special group of seniors again," Lanspeary said. "They've been leaders for us that everyone has stepped up for, and they're going to be missed big time. They're great kids."

Holbert had a bittersweet take on the season finale.

"We're all pretty bummed," she said. "We had high hopes for the playoffs, but we had a great season. I'm always going to remember it. I had a great time playing with each and every one of these girls, and I think that's what we're most upset about, not being able to play with these girls anymore. It's sad to see the end of such a fun time and such a good team.

There's nothing like playing for your high school team, with all the fans and the atmosphere of playing with your friends and for your friends and peers. It's just been great. The coaches are great, really good people. It's been fun, and we did a lot better than a lot of people expected."

For York, the sectional title breakthrough Friday means a shot at more milestone success on Tuesday.

"It's just really amazing," Ellie Ordonez said of the sectional win. "We worked so hard for this all season, and this was one of the hardest games we've had yet. We worked so hard and we deserved it. It feels so good."

"Relieving I guess is the word," Cicinelli said. "We were losing in the first (half) and came back strong again, and this is why I love my team. We never give up. It's a great feeling."

That team chemistry has been a key element to the longest postseason run in York history.

"We're so blessed to have everyone on this team," Cicinelli said. "With one person missing we wouldn't have won. We had everyone's heart and everyone's passion so we pulled through."

"I think in the big picture whoever stepped on the field for us put their heart and soul into it," Halupka said of Friday's win. "They sacrificed for each other, ran and chased and fought, and because of that we're going home winners as sectional champions."