Boys soccer: Lane Tech denies Schaumburg first state berth

Lane Tech is headed back to the Class 3A boys soccer state tournament for the second consecutive year after its 2-0 victory over Schaumburg to lift the New Trier supersectional trophy Monday night in Northfield.

The Saxons (15-6-3) would concede an early opener and then struggle to find their way for the next 20 minutes. They then took back control of the game the rest of the way until a second goal in the 70th minute ended their hopes of reaching the state tournament for the first time in program history.

"I wish we could have the first half back," said Saxons coach Matt Meyer.

"We came out flat, and maybe a little nervous, and (Lane) has some very talented players, who are athletic, hard working, and able to play a full 80 minutes of soccer," continued Meyer.

A mistake in the Saxons end allowed Alex Juarez-Magana to finish in the 11th minute. After that, the Chicago Public School soccer power would play near perfect soccer as they attacked with speed, numbers, purpose and quick touches to put the Saxons under pressure.

"(Schaumburg) was the No. 7 seed in our sectional, and so were we a year ago when we came out of this same sectional to finish second at state," said Lane keeper Evan Burgess.

"So we knew what they were thinking after going through (it) last year, and after having nearly all of the play in the first half, they really came after us in the second half to make a game of it."

The last six or seven minutes of the first half would belong to the Saxons, as they used quick touches, the width of the field at Robert Naughton Field, and some creative play to pry open the 3-5-2 formation that Lane (21-2-0) had deployed.

Jeremy Garcia, Joel Rosales, Max Salatino, Gabe Suruceanu, and the Saxons super center-back, Matt Mianowany, who joined the attack on several occasions, were all key figures in a brave second half fight back.

"We never really had a lot of time to train and prepare for their 3-5-2 because we played on Saturday, were obviously off on Sunday, and had just enough time to walk through (things) a little bit before coming over here," said Meyer.

"But this team showed so much of what they are made of with an amazing second half of play.

"It was one more final pass to put a shot on frame, or just being quite sharp enough in their final third that led to us not getting back level with enough time on the clock to maybe put another one in.“

Sebastian Wimmer would ensure a Lane victory when he steered his close range effort in that came on a helper by Bryan Gauto.

"We've come a long way from where we were a year ago, and with an incredible second half of soccer, all of the guys can leave the stadium with their heads held high," said Meyer.

“To be a player here back in the day, and now the head coach, I can’t tell you how proud it is to be a part of all of these young men, who have brought so much pride and success to the Saxons program this season."

Lane will face the winner of the Normal Community supersectional, either Naperville North (22-0-4) or the host Ironman (19-3-4), Friday at Garber Stadium on the campus of Hoffman Estates High School at 8 p.m. Friday.