Griffins Scratch Back from 2 down, win 3-2

A 10:00 am start on a Saturday morning can create all kinds of challenges for high school soccer coaches. Players arrive late for the early bus time, players come out flat, or they simply lack the fire necessary to win.

Lyons' coach Bill Lanspeary and Lincoln-Way East's Mike Murphy did not have any of those problems as players on both sides went hard to the ball and played with fire through to the end of the game.

Lyons' Claire Parkhill was the first one to the ball on a corner kick, and she put it in the back of the net.

Lyons Township's Claire Parkhill (18) controls the ball as the Lions play Lincoln-Way East, Willow Springs, Illinois. | Allen Cunningham FiveStarFrames.com

A short while later Caroline Mortonson found the back of the net with a strong left-footed shot.

Lyons Township's Caroline Mortonson (7) drives a left-footed shot into the back of the net against Lincoln-Way East, Willow Springs, Illinois. | Allen Cunningham FiveStarFrames.com

Down two, the Griffins never lost their focus, and they had a number of quality scoring opportunities in the first half.

Lincoln-Way East's Ava Feigl (19) heads a cross on goal only to have Lyons' Carolina Capizzi (8) get a foot on it to keep it from crossing the goal line, Willow Springs, Illinois. | Allen Cunningham FiveStarFrames.com

Ava Feigl's (19) header was on frame, but Lyons' Carolina Capizzi (8) who was playing the near post got a foot on the shot just before it crossed the goal line.

Later in the half, Adelyn Thomas found herself behind the defense just outside the six, but her shot sailed over the crossbar.