<div>FRANKLIN PARK – Three-straight second half goals delivered a 3-1 win and regional title for second-seeded Leyden against no. 7-seed Notre Dame on Friday afternoon in an intense, fiercely contested game that was clouded by three red cards.The otherwise well-played match saw the Dons (14-4-1) employ an offsides trap that stymied Leyden’s high-flying attack until a second half breakthrough dashed the hopes of manager Mike Smith’s visiting club advancing into the sectional round."Notre Dame played a great game despite not having their best player (Ante Basan)," began Leyden manager Mark Valintis. “They brought a lot of energy, physical play, and executed a high line that we practiced five ways to Sunday (for) to make sure we could beat the trap we expected."We hung in as a team when things got a little out of hand and finally put a couple in. That finally opened the game up for us."Basan tore an ACL in the Dons 2-1 victory Tuesday over Maine West in the regional semifinal round.The Notre Dame defense held through 47 minutes."We came out with a plan and did a great job with our (trap) and ability to win first- and second-balls. We limited their chances, because they are so dangerous," began Smith, whose club made history this season by becoming the first team in East Suburban Catholic Conference history to claim four-straight titles."We let our emotions get the best of us on a couple of calls we felt didn't go our way. When we went down a man, we put ourselves in a tough situation."We had a few half-chances here and there, and made them work hard throughout this game. In the end, it wasn't enough."The home side, which bagged eight goals in its regional opener Tuesday against Von Steuben, enjoyed all of the possession from the opening whistle.Making sure each and every player on the club had a touch, the Eagles (18-2-2) switched fields with ease and played several nice one-two combinations through their midfield as they built the attack against an organized opponent in its final third."We did so many things really well, but we didn't attack that high line they were playing like we should have," said talented senior midfielder Christian Esquivel."It was pretty physical right from the start, but I didn't think it bothered us much," continued the Eagles tri-captain."Even with us having trouble breaking their trap, I think if we had finished that first good chance we had, it might have really changed the game at that point."The opportunity Esquivel spoke of came in the 13th minute when a marvelous Stefano Andrino cross-field free kick found Jesus Ramos all alone at the back post.Ramos' header hit the inside of the far post and caromed back into the field of play to keep the game scoreless.Brandon Delgado went close shortly thereafter, as did Diego Esquivel, and Delgado once again while a half dozen offsides flags prevented additional Eagles attacks."Our backline played great, and our guys in the middle did a very good job as well by winning balls and tackles," said Smith.During the back half of the first half, referee Boris Vukovic took time out to caution the Notre Dame bench for its constant chatter on a number of calls. It only increased when he issued his first yellow card.Just after the intermission, consecutive reckless tackles within four minutes by the same player made the Dons see red and play the final 36 minutes a man down. It also led to a pair of yellow cards assessed to assistant coaches.Leyden soon took advantage of the situation.That's when Stefano Andrino sent Ramos free up the left side from his spot deep along the backline.Ramos did the rest in the 47th minute with a sublime finish for 17th goal of the season.The Ramos-Andrino combo doubled the Eagles advantage four minutes later. This time, Andrino finished a Ramos helper for his 12th tally of the year."I really felt we had a goal or two coming even without them going a man down," said Christian Esquivel. “It was good to finally get those two goals to kind of open up the game for us.”Notre Dame senior and all-state candidate Joey Sorce, who possesses a dangerous left foot, unloaded a wicked cracker in the 54th minute. Despite it going wide of keeper Daniel Llanos, the try still made the Eagles faithful nervous when it left his foot.Sorce finished the season with 15 goals and 10 assists this season, and 31 and 35 respectively during his magnificent high school career.Leyden senior Jakub Zujko made it 3-0 in the 55th minute with a quality finish of a Rogelio Herrera helper.Notre Dame keeper Trent Davis and a pair of his backline mates made a trio of brave blocks on point-blank attempts in the 59th minute to keep the Dons within three goals.As one might have guessed, play became chippy with several hard challenges and the associated chatter.A flare-up after one of those challenges saw a set of players, one from each club, receive a yellow card.Notre Dame senior Jack McNamara scored his club’s final tally of the season six minutes from time.A Dons assistant was sent off for dissent in the 77th minute. The third red was issued to a player in the 80th minute."We played hard until the very end," said Smith. “Those last 15 minutes we played with a lot of heart, passion and desire, never hanging our heads despite us chasing the game at that point."This has been a fabulous group of players, and a tremendous senior group that will leave a legacy like no other. They all know I am so very proud of them."Next up for Leyden will be fifth-seeded Maine South (14-6-3), which beat 2023 Class 3A state champion New Trier 1-0 at home to claim its first regional crown since 2014. The teams will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday (Oct. 30) at New Trier’s Northfield campus.Valintis thinks his boys, who are ranked third in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, will be ready after the tough regional final win."This game today is the type of game you expect in the postseason," said Valintis. “It was likely needed as a reminder that it isn't easy at this time of the year.”Scoring summaryFirst half No scoringSecond halfLeyden: Ramos (Andrino), 47'Leyden: Andrino (Ramos), 51'Leyden: Zujko (Herrera), 55'Notre Dame: McNamara (unassisted), 74'</div>

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Game report: Leyden 3, Notre Dame 1

FRANKLIN PARK – Three-straight second half goals delivered a 3-1 win and regional title for second-seeded Leyden against no. 7-seed Notre Dame on Friday afternoon in an intense, fiercely contested game that was clouded by three red cards. The otherwise well-played match saw the Dons (14-4-1) employ an offsides...