Lyons Township High School senior Ari Chen had a great soccer mentor in older brother Fred. Now attending the University of Illinois, Fred also was part of a strong defensive backline.
“He’s meant so much to me. His junior year they went downstate and then I got to play with him my sophomore year,” Ari Chen said. “Playing with him in the backyard, all sports and making me better. Everything that I am is really him because coming out here training, he always pushed me. He was always that standard above.”
One of Ari’s great memories was watching Fred play at the 2023 Class 3A state finals as part of the Lions’ second-place state finisher. After an undefeated regular season and a national and No. 1 area ranking, the Lions seemed destined to return to state for the first time since then.
On their home field Monday, the season instead ended in frustrating fashion with a 2-1 loss in penalty kicks to Lockport (6-5 in 8 rounds) in the 3A Lyons Township Super-Sectional after dominating most of the 80 regulation minutes and two 10-minute overtime periods. Lockport (15-5-2) admirably overcame playing one man down most of the match after a red card.
“Obviously a tough way to go out. It’s just such a great group of guys. To see it end this way was tough,” Chen said. “Everyone on this team is a bunch of fighters. We came up a little short but every day we came out and proved it. We were never really satisfied and that’s what made this team special.”
The Lions’ 21-1-1 final record is the best in program history. The 2009 3A state championship team also coached by Paul Labbato was 26-3. The 2023 team finished 20-7-2.
“Great season by us. It’s one for the memories and just disappointing how it ended. We’re going to let them know one loss doesn’t diminish what they did all year,” Labbato said. “(It’s hard) when it comes down to penalty kicks. They did a great job defending a man down for as long as they did. We just couldn’t figure out a way to get something in the goal. The goalkeeper played amazing.”
Lockport won by sudden death in the eighth round of penalty kicks after the teams were tied 4-4 following the required five.
The Porters shot first each round. In the eighth round, Lockport converted and then junior goalie Benjamin Szudy made his second save of the shootout. In the seventh round, LTHS junior goalie Wolfie Ketterling made the save, but the Lions’ attempt missed the goal. Joao Piretti, Cormac Moran, Max Sklaryk, Hayden McTigue and Hayden Rout converted penalty kicks for the Lions.
Lyons’ Wolfgang Ketterling (1) grabs a hold of the ball against Lockport during the Class 3A Lyons Supersectional championship game Monday, Nov. 2, 2026 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Lyons’ Rocco King (12) receives a hug from Hayden Rout (21) after losing to Lockport on penalty kicks during the Class 3A Lyons Supersectional championship game Monday, Nov. 2, 2026 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Lyons’ Joao Piretti (15) gets a shot off on goal against Lockport during the Class 3A Lyons Supersectional championship game Monday, Nov. 2, 2026 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Lyons’ Rocco King (12) gets the ball away from Lockport’s Aleko Kolliniatis (11) during the Class 3A Lyons Supersectional championship game Monday, Nov. 2, 2026 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark)
The Lions led 27-8 in shots (11-4 on goal) and 13-4 in corner kicks. They also had numerous threatening balls in the crease thanks to throw-ins from defenders Harrison Kittridge and Owen Kachmarik. Still, the Lions showed mettle coming from behind for just the third time this season. Kittridge’s goal 4:35 before halftime following Hayden McTigue’s corner kick gave them momentum, especially considering they had the wind at their backs for the second half.
“I don’t think this is anything to be sad about. You look back and enjoy the journey that got you here,” McTigue said. “That would have been nice if we could have scored a goal. But it is what it is. We tried our best. Should we have won? Probably but fair play to them. At the end of the day I’m not looking back. I had fun. I enjoyed it.”
The Lions won the Reavis Sectional by beating rival Morton 3-1 Friday on goals from Moran, Julian Avdiu and Rienis Velkme with respective assists from McTigue, Rocco King and Kachmarik. LTHS beat Lockport 6-2 in the sectional semifinals, Oct. 27, with two goals from Sklaryk and ones from Piretti, Avdiu, McTigue and Brendan Sullivan.
RBHS boys soccer
Even with about one minute left in the Riverside Brookfield High School boys soccer season, senior Liam Wallace stood firmly along the left post of the goal to prevent another goal.
“I did head a ball off the line, but I was just doing my job,” Wallace said. “As a senior, I wanted to keep playing hard until the very end, regardless of the score. I wanted to win every little battle I could, and making a play like that header was exactly what I was looking for.”
The Bulldogs’ great postseason run came to an end with a 4-0 loss to Juarez in the Class 2A Glenbard South Sectional semifinals but not before a lot of great memories. That included their first regional title since 2019 on their home field as a No. 12 sectional seed with 1-0 wins over No. 5 Solorio and No. 13 Kelly.
“(That) regional run was incredible. It is definitely my favorite memory from my 13 years of playing soccer. Winning regionals was my goal for the season, so to actually accomplish that meant a lot to me,” Wallace said. “As a senior class, I think we were able to help establish the culture of the team and create a positive atmosphere. Hopefully, the example we set is something the younger players can carry forward.”
The Bulldogs played a scoreless first half with No. 1-sectional seed Juarez (15-7) but the Eagles began taking control after converting a penalty kick just 40 seconds into the second half. Juarez lost to No. 7 Glenbard South 3-1 in Friday’s sectional final. Juarez defeated No. 17 Nazareth Academy 4-0 in the Argo Regional semifinals.
“(The penalty kick call) didn’t help. That was a good team, quality side, moved the ball really well,” RBHS coach Ivek Halic said. “(The score) doesn’t take away from the effort, the way the boys played, continued to play throughout. They were a really resilient group. Regardless of the adversity of the games, they fought through it. I commend them for that.”
Senior Luiz Alvarez and junior Michael Panduro were all-sectional. Other sectional awards went to seniors Owen Wilson (Sportsmanship) and Max Kaplan (Academic). Junior Aaron Acevedo was named to the All-Upstate Eight Conference East Division team.
“It was a great (postseason run). They accepted the pressure and fought through it. Gutsy performances against two quality sides,” Halic said. “Any time we’re able to win and perform, especially in front of a home crowd, it’s exciting.”