Soccer: Hinsdale Central Beats Lyons Township for First Time Since '08

Hinsdale Central scored three first-half goals Saturday and weathered the storm defensively in the second half of a 3-2 home win over Lyons Township, the Red Devils' first Silver Brick victory over the Lions in four years.

Hinsdale Central (8-3-2) went up 1-0 on LT in the 12th minute, when a Lions corner kick was turned around by the Red Devils defense, and senior midfielder Phillip Gutman hit junior forward Christian Meyer with a long through-pass across midfield. Meyer caught up to the ball behind the Lions defense and put an uncontested shot past junior LT keeper Peter Nolan.

The Lions quickly tied the game in the 13th minute on senior forward Jack Thomas' goal, but the Red Devils scored two goals in the final 18 minutes of the first half to go up 3-1.

"We hung together," said Meyer, who also scored Hinsdale Central's second goal on a header converted from a long throw-in. "It was probably our best display of the season."

Senior forward Mike Krohn scored the Red Devils' third goal, which proved to be the winner after junior defender Spiros Kass converted a corner kick in the 12th minute of the second half for the Lions (10-3-1) to make the score 3-2.

LT put three quality shots on junior Hinsdale Central keeper Mitchell Meyer down the stretch, but none got through and the Red Devils were able to hoist the Silver Brick for the first time since 2008. 

Lions head coach Paul Labbato gave credit to Hinsdale Central for starting fast and imposing themselves on the visiting team.

"They were dangerous on their breaks," Labbato said, singling out the turned-around Lions corner kick as a prime example. "It is what it is and we'll try to work past it."

The game had a memorable feel to it from the start, Hinsdale Central head coach Mike Wiggins said.

"You can't say that it's just another game, because it's not," he said. 

After a fast-paced first half, Wiggins said his team was able to do what it does best in the second half.

"Individual, one-on-one defending, we did a good job," he said. 

LT has a quick turnaround, with a Sunday game against Morton at Toyota Park in Bridgeview. Next up for Hinsdale Central is a home game against Oak Park River Forest on Tuesday.

The Hinsdale Central-Lyons Township soccer rivalry dates back to 1975. After Saturday's game, LT leads the all-time series with 22 wins. Hinsdale Central has won 18, and there have been four draws.

LT beat Hinsdale Central, 1-0, in the 2011 Silver Brick Match.

The Silver Brick was introduced as the rivalry's trophy in 2008, and youth players from AYSO Region 300, which feeds into both high school programs, have since been invited to take part in the festivities each year.