Lyons edges Libertyville in Showdown finale

The fourth-seeded boys soccer team from Lyons proved to be 1 goal better than No. 6 seed Libertyville in a 2-1 double-overtime victory in the PepsiCo Showdown final at DePaul University's Wish Field on Sunday afternoon.

Lyons' Adrian Valadez scored the golden goal in the 89th minute with an assist from Charles Hall.

"I just saw the goalie coming at me," Valadez said. "I saw an empty goal and put the ball into the back of the net. I've scored many goals like that, but I was hoping not to miss."

Libertyville (8-3) hopes the experience of playing in such a high-profile matchup yields benefits over the final weeks of the regular season and into the playoffs.

"It was an exciting game, and (Lyons) got the last goal," Libertyville coach Andy Bitta said. "Great match, and another game that can go either way.

"This will get us ready for the state tournament. This was a mini-tournament right now, and that's why I like playing in it. That's why I want to be in this type of pressure - pressure games will make us able to win in October."

Wildcats midfielder Nate Edmunds said playing in the Showdown final was satisfying.

"This is unlike anything that we've experienced," Edmunds said. "For an athlete that has played the game my whole life, it's the most exciting game that I've played in. Having the whole school here watching is incredible."

Libertyville took a 1-0 advantage over Lyons (10-3-1) in the 64th minute. Edmunds fired a shot on goal, and it was deflected to the side by the Lions' keeper, Donald Darrus. But making a run on the back side was Ryan Wittenbrink, and he finished the chance to get his fourth goal of the season.

"It was a combination play," Wittenbrink said. "The goalie got a deflection on it, and I was there to get the rebound goal."

Lyons, as it has done many times this fall, came from behind.

The tying goal came after a free kick in the 68th minute. Off to the right of the penalty area, Camilo Drobny sent the ball in the box, right off the head of Nick Economou and into the goal.

"We've come back 1-0 in a bunch of games this year," Lyons coach Paul Labbato said. "We kind of get into focused in big games - we believe that we can win. Once we get into a groove, we're hard to stop."