By Michael Wojtychiw
In previous years, once a team lost in the city playoffs, that meant its regular season was done until it was time for the state playoffs. In some cases, that could be one or even two weeks without playing a game.
However, in the Chicago Public League in recent years, teams that lost in the first and second rounds are now able to enter a bracket that could continue their city season.
The championship of the Windy City Cup tournament, the bracket that featured the teams which lost in the second round of the city playoffs, was held prior to the city title game Wednesday afternoon at Lane. And it happened to feature two North Side schools that have a long-standing rivalry: Senn and Von Steuben.
“It was amazing to have this opportunity, it was like a second chance for us,” Senn midfielder Joseph Gonzalez said. “I know we could definitely compete against these teams, so it was just another chance for us to do something good for the team.”
“The fact we lost in the second round made us motivated to win even more.”
“It’s a tournament at the end of the day, it’s like a second playoffs,” Senn manager Steven Brewer said. “With that mindset and the preparation for state playoffs, we tell the kids that at end of the day we’re trying to bring a trophy home, trying to build a cup, so they might as well try and win it.”
“It’s definitely awesome, the kid really enjoyed it. And CPS did a good job of putting it together and treating it like a true city championship with the trophies, the medals, the announcing of the game, they made it a really good job to make this special for the kids.”
Senn came into the game playing really well, having won six of its previous seven games, already having won more games in any season since 2015, when it won 14 games, according to MaxPreps.
The Bulldogs equaled that total Wednesday after taking down the Panthers 1-0 in a hard-fought battle.
“It took us a while to get going,” Brewer said. “In the first five or 10 minutes, I don’t know if it was nerves or what it was. But our strength is in our midfield and building up from the back, and after 10, 15 minutes, we started to play our game, which is possessing, quick-touching.
“We had a few chances offensively and the team finds a way.”
After a relatively quiet first 28 minutes of the match, the Senn put in the game’s only goal on a beauty from Gonzalez.
“Honestly, the right side of the goal was empty and I just had to give it a little tap,” he said. “It went middle right and went in. It reminded me of a goal I scored a couple days ago.”
After halftime, the action picked up for both teams.
The two squads combined to hit the crossbar three times, coming oh so close to making the game a high-scoring one.
But it was the Bulldogs’ defense that held strong each and every time Von Steuben made an attack toward the goal.
“Last year we had the same back four and it was three sophomores and a junior,” Brewer said. “Now this year it’s three juniors and a senior, so some experience sets in and I trust those defenders with everything. You could tell the way [Von Steuben] were trying to play was with their pace and their counterattack, athleticism. When it happened, our defenders were quick to pounce on it.
“Our defenders have been confident all year, aggressive. When they’re on, they’re fun to watch.”
With the regular season complete, both teams prepare for the state tournament. Senn earned the sixth seed in its Class 2A sectional and faces another North Side rival, Schurz, in the regional semifinal Tuesday at Schurz. A win would most likely set the Bulldogs up with a regional-final date with Fenwick. That game would be Friday at Schurz as well.
“This is my seventh year coaching and when we started, we struggled,” Brewer said. “So we’ve been building this and are really looking forward to the playoffs. At the beginning of the year, our goal is always to bring a plaque home and that’s at least a regional championship. I think we’re in a really nice spot.
“We’re confident, excited and ready to bring home a plaque.”
Von Steuben earned the 17th seed in the Class 3A Glenbrook South Sectional and faces Niles West Saturday. If it beats the Wolves, the team would face top-seeded New Trier in the regional semifinal Tuesday.
