Gloss, Alvarez lift Larkin to Pepsi title

A little anticipation doesn't hurt, especially if it's a dream come true.

Fernando Alvarez created a royal blue sign reading "Champions Banner" for a special occasion.

The second-seeded Larkin boys soccer team got the chance to parade it around the field right after winning the Pepsi Showdown championship 1-0 over No. 8 Loyola Academy at Toyota Park in Bridgeview on Sunday morning.

Another dream for Larkin (13-1), Mike Gloss scored the game-winning goal, his first of the season, in the 11th minute - set up by Alvarez.

"I'm so excited to get it," Gloss said. "All season, I've had so many chances. On this day to finish one, it felt so good.

"I was able to get a shot and the goalie (Neal Manahan) should've saved it. But he wasn't expecting it, it went in and it counts. The ball was skipping, it was wet and it happened to go in."

Royals keeper Raziel Somarriba made 6 saves to blank Loyola (10-3-1), with help from a formidable defensive wall of Nester Almanza, Misael Hernandez and Alvarez.

"We've got an all-area defense and all-state," Somarriba said. "I've got a lot of confidence in front of me and they help my back in every other play. I'm just out there trying to do my best."

The Royals have emerged as one of the top teams in the state.

"This tournament is a wonderful one to be in," said Larkin coach Ken Hall. "We kind of use it to shadow or emulate the state tournament. The school is behind us and we've had a good team the last three years. We had a great crowd here and it's homecoming week. It's a wonderful thing for the school, and it's great for recognition."

The Ramblers applied pressure the final 40 minutes trying to tie, but the Royals held them off.

"On another day we might win the game," said Loyola coach Rob Etheridge. "Larkin won the game and scored the 1 goal. You always believe you can get the tying goal. We had the chances, we just couldn't get the right opportunity or the right look. Give credit to their defense, they played well defensively. We threw everything at them including the kitchen sink."