Lyons Township High School girls soccer players Catie Brejcha and Sofia D’Antonio have elevated their games on and off the field this season.
Not only are the two important as seniors. The four-year program members and second-year varsity players also are among several new starters after the graduation of most of the 2024 lineup, often playing most of the 80 minutes.
“Definitely the conditioning part (has helped me) and when you step on the field, you have to be responsible and lead the younger players. I think that’s an important part,” Brejcha said.
“Compared to last year, how the majority, the whole team, was basically seniors, from playing little time and now this year, it’s a big difference.”
The quickly improving Lions beat Nazareth 2-0 Saturday in their 16th annual Pink Out game in La Grange for their third straight win and fifth in their last six.
The event supported the Karen Dove Cabral Foundation game and also served as Senior Day for Brejcha, D’Antonio, Avery Egan, Grace Lanspeary, four-year starter Caroline Mortonson and Claire Parkhill after four earlier games for the freshman and three junior varsity teams.
“One of my favorite things about (LTHS girls soccer) is just the team, just the friendships on the team,” D’Antonio said.
“The program does a really good job of just making sure everybody’s really connected and we build this community together, no matter what (level) you’re on. That’s why I think Pink Out is one of my favorite things. I always look forward to it because it’s fun to see other teams that support everyone. And the support we get from friends and family is just really great.”
The Lions (8-8-1, 3-2 in West Suburban Conference Silver Division) won Saturday as freshman Emma Thimm scored on a cross and Mortonson scored with junior Estelle Giustini assisting.
Mortonson now has a team-best 12 goals with five assists. Junior Carolina Capizzi, injured for Saturday’s game, has six goals and a team-best nine assists.
“A lot of the younger players are stepping up and filling the footsteps that people left last year,” Mortonson said. “It’s really fun to see them grow throughout the season. Everyone supports each other.”
It’s one of the smaller senior classes for LTHS coach Bill Lanspeary but as distinctive as previous ones. Outside defender Grace Lanspeary is his youngest child.
“Not only coaching here, but I’ve known all of these other kids for so many years. When they were younger, I coached them (in youth soccer) so it’s special,” Bill Lanspeary said.
“(The seniors) have been around the program a little bit and kind of seen how the older seniors treated the other kids and picked up on it and made it their own, doing their own thing. It’s a great group.”
Brejcha usually plays center forward or an attacking wing. D’Antonio plays center back or stopper for another strong defense.
“The team dynamic has definitely changed (this season). Now we have a lot more variety, which is really great to see younger players plays because we all can learn from each other,” D’Antonio said.
“I love how so many girls come from so many different clubs and how we can play together as a team in a matter of weeks,” Brejcha said. “I just love the team and how bonded we are.”
The victory follows beating Oak Park and River Forest 3-1 Friday and Benet 1-0 May 2 and St. Charles East May 1. Four of the Lions’ losses are by one goal.
“Even through those close losses, we knew we were losing to really good teams. We just kept saying this is going to make us better, as long as we stay positive and keep working, and I think it has,” Lanspeary said.
“To their credit, they’ve been able to do that, which is not always easy.”
The Lions and Riverside Brookfield (5-13-1, 2-4 in Upstate Eight Conference Red Division) are the No. 5 and 10 seeds in the Class 3A Downers Grove South Sectional.
RBHS opens May 20 with No. 7 Morton, which has beaten the Bulldogs 5-0 and 2-0 this season.
LTHS plays No. 11 Reavis Tuesday with hopes of a Reavis Regional final most likely against No. 4 Fenwick May 23.
The Bulldogs tied Rolling Meadows 1-1 Monday as Jocelyn Jaimes scored assisted by Abigail Jurkovic. They beat Ridgewood 6-0 May 1 for their second straight UEC Red victory behind Abby Caputo (3 goals, assist), Jurkovic (goal, assist), Charlotte Pinnick and Aylin Romero (goal each) and Michelle Panduro, Abby Ford, Audrey Raymond and Ruby Boyle (assist each).