Lions rally past Red Devils to claim sectional championship

By Curt Herron

After seeing their season end the past two seasons in sectional play tot rival Hinsdale Central, members of Lyons Township's team faced the prospect that it might happen again.

That was especially the case after the Red Devils took a 2-1 lead with just over 30 minutes remaining in Saturday's Class 3A Hinsdale Sectional championship at Naperville North.

But after facing the reality of a one-goal deficit for nearly 14 minutes, the Lions tied things and then got a goal from Horacio Sanchez in the second overtime to capture a 3-2 win.

It was a case of sweet revenge for the senior-laden Lions (23-3), who won their first sectional since 2005 and kept the Red Devils (16-7-2) from winning their third straight title.

LT carries a 12-match winning streak into Tuesday's Benedictine University Super-Sectional in Lisle, where it will take on top-ranked Neuqua Valley (27-0-1) at 7 p.m.

The Lions have dropped their previous two meetings this season with the Wildcats, who won 2-1 on penalty kicks over Wheaton Warrenville South in the Naperville North Sectional finals.

Hinsdale lost 3-0 to LT in the teams' regular season matchup on September 29 but looked like it might avenge that defeat after it twice grabbed the advantage during the second half.

But coach Paul Labbato's Lions demonstrated great resiliency as they rallied back twice against Mike Wiggins' black-clad Red Devils, who had won nine straight since falling to to LT.

Hear Lyons coach Paul Labbato interview

After all of the regulation scoring took place during the second half, the frenzied pace continued into both of the overtime sessions.

In the opening overtime period, LT got shots from Chris Meingast and Brian Heimerdinger but keeper Red Devils Jack O'Donnell stopped both tries.

Taylor Cole had Hinsdale's best chance during the first overtime when he sent in a long free kick that was grabbed by Lions keeper Sully Fox.

In the second 10-minute overtime, Sanchez was stopped on a short shot try and Heimerdinger added a long free kick that also went to O'Donnell.

That set the table for the final score, which Sanchez converted on following a pass from Zach Pearsall with 2:02 left in that overtime period.

Hear Lyons Township's Horacio Sanchez interview

Following an opening half where both teams had chances but couldn't connect, things changed dramatically during the next 40 minutes.

Mitch Reavis got things started for the Red Devils during the first minute of the new half when he bounced a shot to Fox.

But Hinsdale's next attempt proved to be more effective as Mike Oleszkiewicz lined in a free kick from about 25 yards out with 35:47 left.

However, just as the Red Devils were beginning to enjoy their advantage, the Lions responded with a score to tie things up again.

Just 45 seconds after Oleszkiewicz' score, Elliot Borge found the net following a pass from Chris Meingast to create a 1-1 tie.

Hear Lyons Township's Chris Meingast interview

Things didn't remain tied up for long, though, as the Red Devils came right back and regained the lead with 30:20 remaining.

Mike Bucheleres sent in a short shot that was deflected by Fox and the ball looked like it might go into the net for a score.

Meingast did his best to try to prevent that from happening but it resulted in Eric Loebig putting in the rebound for a goal.

Shortly after that score, Sanchez and Meingast each sent shots toward the goal but they were both stopped by O'Donnell.

Just past the midpoint of the final half, Oleszkiewicz lined a shot toward the net which forced Fox to make a diving stop.

LT managed to put together a nice combination to even things back up with 16:30 remaining in regulation play.

Heimerdinger headed in a short attempt after taking a flick from Borge on a sequence that started with a throw in from Peter Kralovec-Kirchherr.

Hear Lyons Township's Brian Heimerdinger interview

Both squads had chances to score again during regulation play, with Lyons collecting the majority of those opportunities.

Just over three minutes after tying things up, LT threatened again when Sanchez was stopped by O'Donnell on a shot attempt.

With about nine minutes remaining, Heimerdinger's free kick was deflected by the Red Devils keeper and Borge's rebound try was wide.

Hinsdale's best chance down the stretch came with just under five minutes to go when Oleszkiewicz got free but Fox deflected a shot try away.

A scoreless opening half established a great foundation for the drama that would unfold during the remaining 58 minutes of play.

Pearsall started things off for the Lions by sending in a long free kick about seven minutes into the match.

The Red Devils' first good attempt came over 14 minutes in when Bucheleres and Fox collided, leaving a loose ball that was cleared by Billy McGuinness.

Shortly before the midway mark of the opening half, Oleszkiewicz bounced a shot to Fox and then LT's Luke Skertich sent in a header that was halted.

Just after those attempts, Cole bounced in a long shot try and Kralovec-Kirchherr responded with a liner that was deflected by O'Donnell.

With about 13 minutes remaining in the opening half, Oleszkiewicz fired in a line drive that Fox was able to grab.

Not much more happened during the rest of the initial half, other than a wide shot by Borge in an open net situation with about a minute left.

Lions starters vs. Red Devils

Red Devils starters vs. Lions

Lions 3, Red Devils 2 (2 OT)

Lions Schedule
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Postseason play