With each passing day, the anticipation for the Second Annual Pepsi Showdown grows for Lyons Township boys soccer coach Alex Hernandez.
“It’s really exciting just to think about,” Hernandez said. “We’re going to have 32 premier programs playing right here, and it’s truly an honor to have this type of opportunity.”
Lyons will host the 32-team seeded tournament, which is the largest of its kind in the Midwest and third largest in the country. The five-day, two-week event kicks off on Tuesday, and all 32 teams will play at Lyons on Sept. 10 and Sept. 17.
“This is a tournament that will showcase some of the best high school talent in both the greater Chicagoland area and the Midwest,” Lyons principal Dave Franson said.
Lyons was awarded the No. 5 seed, and will host Bradley on Tuesday. Fenwick will travel to Libertyville and take on the 16th-seeded Wildcats.
Wheaton-Warrenville South is the top seed, followed by New Trier, Oswego and Wheaton Academy. The tournament was seeded by the participating coaches back in January.
“We have been working diligently for this incredible event,” Hernandez said. “The support from the school administration down to our freshman levels have helped ensure that this tournament will be a great success at our facility.”
A year ago, the Lions posted a 3-1-1 record in the Showdown.
“This particular tournament will become a prestigious competition as it is the only one of its kind where all teams are seeded as opposed to schools being placed into pools for their matches,” Hernandez said. “As this tourney moves forward, it will be a stellar event for the 32 schools selected to play in it each year.”
The 2005 field combined has won 107 sectional titles and advanced to the State finals 52 times. Nine of those programs have won a State title, while 16 others have finished second since the State tournament began in 1972.
The 80-game tourney will feature more than 600 players from 24 public schools and eight private schools, while more than 90 communities will be represented.
Additional information may be obtained by visiting the tournament web site at pepsishowdown.us.