The Bell remains elusive for Hinsdale South
By Matt Le Cren

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Since Downers Grove South and Hinsdale South began playing for the Southern Bell in 1976, the annual rivalry game has featured plenty of exciting moments.

But though both schools have enjoyed stretches of dominance, neither side had ever won the trophy five consecutive times.

Until Tuesday night. Host Downers South scored one goal early and two late to knock off the Hornets 3-0 and retain possession of the Bell, which has resided in Downers Grove since 2008. The Mustangs lead the series 18-14-5 but have won nine of the last 10 and 14 of the last 17 meetings since 1996.

But it was the number 5 that had the most significance to the victors.

“I’ve been on three of those five teams,” Downers South co-captain Sam LaLonde said. “I’ve been on varsity since I was a sophomore, so it’s nice to see some of their players cycle through without ever seeing it, [and I mean that] in the nicest way possible.

“But to keep it here means a lot because neither our school nor their school have won five straight years, except for this year. This is the first time that’s happened so it’s kind of a big deal.

“We know it means a lot to our coach [Jon Stapleton]. He was part of the rivalry when he went to Downers South, so we know this means a lot to him so we try to come out and show our best for him.”

Stapleton was appreciative of the effort, which was needed to fend off a stiff challenge from a Hinsdale South side that played much better than its record indicated.

“That was part of our challenge tonight,” Stapleton said of the streak. “It was an opportunity to do something that no other group has been able to do. The kids bought into it and played hard. I think overall they deserved to win, not taking anything away from Hinsdale South.”

The Mustangs, who improved to 9-5 overall and 2-1 in the West Suburban Conference Gold Division, had to take the game away from Hinsdale South, which didn’t go without a fight.

The match was a tense struggle until the 67th minute, when sophomore Eric Diaz scored on a great lean-in header off a LaLonde cross to give the Mustangs a 2-0 lead with 12:36 remaining. It was the fifth goal of the season for Diaz, who along with Andrew Grabavoy was open on the far side of the box when LaLonde sent his offering in from the right wing.

“Sam got the ball and took a player on and he centered it to me,” Diaz said. “I was wide-open. I had an open net. I just dove for it and it went in.

“Obviously, Grabavoy was right next to me but I knew that I had a better position, so I had to finish. It feels great.”

The goal provided one of those interesting codas often found in rivalry games, as LaLonde explained.

“It’s funny because the defender that I served it over [Kenny Ida] is a good friend of mine,” LaLonde said. “We used to play soccer together. He’s a good defender and I knew my chances of beating him down the baseline weren’t very good, so I decided my best bet was to put it in because I heard Eric’s little voice on the other end.

“I’m thinking if Eric’s in the box, I better put this in the box. He held up his end of the deal. It was a very good goal.”

And one that broke open the game as the Mustangs found a new reserve of energy. Just 1:20 later, Scott Holakovsky was tripped in the box and LaLonde converted the ensuing penalty kick to finish the scoring.

Soon after, the Mustangs were ringing the bell while celebrating with their fans, while the Hornets (3-10, 1-4) were left to walk away empty-handed yet again in the quest for a grail that means a lot to them.

“These guys really, really wanted to ring that bell,” Hinsdale South coach James Van Denburgh said. “It’s been quite a few years since we’ve rung that bell in victory, so we’ll stay hungry and tip our hats to DGS. This is always a great game with a lot of energy and rivalry so I’m happy with how we played. It was a good night for soccer.”

While Hinsdale South’s seniors Jordan Wood, Jeremy Leganski, Evan Goeke, Grant Morford, John Kotsiantos, Geroge Carioscia and Ida never got to take the Bell back to Darien, players like freshman Marko Ristic have gained added motivation because of that drought.

“[The Bell] means a lot to the team,” Ristic said. “It’s been going on for a long time. The [seniors] wanted it really bad. Me, as a freshman, I wanted it. I haven’t been here for so long, but the seniors, seeing their faces after the game just makes me want to win this for them next year.”

Ristic did his best to help in this one. He missed a couple of shots in the box in the first half and in the second half was one of several Hornets, including Leganski, Carioscia and sophomore Nathaniel Michaelis, who put sustained pressure on the Mustangs for a nearly 20-minute stretch.

“We played our best,” Ristic said. “We played really hard but just came out on the wrong side and kind of put our heads down toward the end of the game and they scored a couple goals.”

Hinsdale South’s effort drew praise from Stapleton, who knows the score doesn’t indicate how close the game was.

“James does a great job over there,” Stapleton said. “His kids play really hard; they’re organized. They definitely make you work for it, especially in this kind of rivalry match.

“That second half they gained some momentum. There was never really a feeling that things were in hand until maybe that second goal.”

But it was the first goal, and the manner and time in which it was scored, that set the tone.

That goal could easily have been scored by the Hornets, who 35 seconds into the contest had perhaps their best chance of the night. Junior Dean Serritella sent a through ball into the box that missed the foot of Kotsiantos inside the six and rolled a couple feet wide of the left post.

Downers South immediately went to work off goalie Nick Tannenbaum’s goal kick and took a 1-0 lead with 1:04 gone. Grabavoy’s bullet from 25 yards out was tipped into the crossbar by Morford [seven saves], but Downers South’s Jordan Pawlicki was there to bury the rebound.

“It definitely helped that we scored first and started out fast like that,” Stapleton said. “Every match has those little moments that could make something different, so that was good for us. Good follow by Jordan, great shot on frame by Andrew.”

“I would say they had the better first half,” Van Denburgh said. “The first 10 minutes, they really brought a lot of energy to start off and that’s how they got the goal.”

But what if the Hornets had capitalized on the chance right before that?

“It would have been a completely different game, absolutely,” Van Denburgh said. “We need one break. We’ve been working on some things to get the most opportunities and I think DGS played a great game tonight, so my hat’s off to them.”

While it will be small consolation to the Hornets, LaLonde said the challenge the Mustangs received will help them down the road.

“They’re out to get us with the whole rivalry and the Southern Bell,” LaLonde said. “It’s always nice to have a game like that during the season to prepare you for the playoff atmosphere. It was a good test for us.”