Pepsi Showdown

[mortonsoccer007]

Morton Mustangs Soccer are finalist again in the showdown!! Winning in the semi-final game by a score of 2 to 0 against Larkin.  They are facing Lyons in the final in Toyota park.

Don't know how Lyons is doing in their season but mustangs are undefeated so far ......should be a good game at soldier field!!!

[The Jackal]

People should really go out and watch this team play, suppprt these boys. They're a FANTASTIC high school team. They have a Division 1 propsect who has already signed with UIC, plus an absolutely loaded junior class. Berwyn-Cicero has a state championship caliber team right in its own backyard, and one that brought home trophy last year as well. I've had the pleasure of refereeing many of these kids in the youth and ethnic amateur leagues of Chicago, and they really are top flight.

The Pepsi Showdown is a 32 team tourney featuring most of the top teams in the Chicagoland area. Its as prestigious a high school tourney as one can find in the US. Morton won it two years ago, I believe made the semis or final last year, and finds itself in the final again. I had the pleassure of officiatng one of the earlier round games and all I can say is there are some fantastic teams involved.

I belueve the match is at 1 pm today.

[The Jackal]

Actually, the match is this coming Sunday.

I had the pleasure of refereeing Morton against Proviso West today. Morton won 4-1 in a game shortened by inclement weather. That's one heck of team Morton puts out there. Surprised they don't attract more fans. IMO, its a top 5 team in the area.

[berwyn man]

 :)do you know what time?

[The Jackal]

Not sure what time but you can go to www.pepsishowdown.com and check. They're playing IN the stadium, on the same field the Fire does. Great honor. Excellent team. Not sure why more people aren't getting behind these boys. I believe they're undefeated so far this year and have won three straight ganes at the Pepsi Showdown, no small feat considering the level of competition. If nothing else, you'll be entertained by the skill level of some of these kids.

[mortonsoccer007]

Its not at soldier field my mistake... the game is at toyota park this sunday at 12:15pm .... tickets will be 8 dollars i believe and parking is free....

[The Jackal]

LT 1 Morton 0.

Looks like Morton had the better of play but LT scored on a deflection off of a free kick about midway through the match and that was all she wrote.

[The Jackal]

Just as an aside, I refereed the Rolling Meadows v Wheeling boys varsity match tonight and one of the assistants from Rolling Meadows is a former player of mine from the Berwyn Blazers and a former standout for the Morton Mustangs. Very nice young (well, not so young anymore) man from a good family. Good to see many of the former Berwynite Morton Mustangs doing well!

[Robert Pauly]

Morton presently ranked 13th in the nation according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America - Naperville Central ranked 6th.

[The Jackal]

That's basically the same Naperville squad that Morton beat in the state final. I have a feeling that if Morton would have won the Pepsi Showdown, they would have cracked the top 5.

In any event, come on out to Hoffman Field and watch the Mustangs take on Kennedy @ 4:30 pm today. I have the whistle for this one. Should be a nice match.

[The Jackal]

Morton 4 Kennedy 1

On Senior Night in the football stadium.

[Robert Pauly]

Keep us informed as the play-offs proceed.  Where are the finals this year?

[The Jackal]

Not sure where the state playoffs are this year. I don't work the state playoffs as I haven't submitted my name for consideration.

Morton has a hell of a team. Last night they played 65 minutes or so with only ten men.....and managed to score four goals with one less player. Not entirely certain but I can't remember Kennedy having more than 2 or 3 shots on goal the entire match. Even with Morton packing it in in the second half and putting 10 men behind the ball. Kennedy's lone goal came off of a set piece just outside Morton's penalty area after I had sent off the Mustangs center back.

I don't know what regional/sectional/super sectional Morton will be placed in, but I would imagine they would be one of the favorites. On the flip side, they usually get placed in a west suburban regional/sectional with the likes of Lyons Township, Oak Park, Leyeden, Hinsdale Central, Downers Grove South/North, etc....one of the tougher draws in the state.  And then they're usually in the same super sectional that the Naperville schools feed into. Not a cakewalk, by any means. 

[Robert Pauly]

#5 this week.