The Byki Red Team maintained their strong form when they blanked second-place Lemont FC 3:0 last Sunday at Conkey Forest Preserve in Crestwood. Ivan Torossian scored twice, as the Byki knocked Lemont off of their pedestal as the last undefeated team in the NSL’s 1st Division. After losing their first two matches of the season, the Byki have not lost since and they can legitimately set their sights on securing a spot in the Championship Section.

The Byki and Lemont have developed an intense rivalry since the days when the Byki B Team battled them in the 2nd Division. Both sides got promoted in 2007 and things remain no less intense than they were previously. On Sunday, some Byki were still talking about their agonizing 2:1 extra-time defeat to Lemont in the 2006 2nd Division title match.

Lemont started out this season in strong fashion, jumping out to a 5-3-0 mark. “When they played the Blue Team back in the spring, Lemont’s level of improvement was impressive,” said Byki President George Gorecki. “I thought that they might be the team to beat in the 1st Division. After this game, I’m not so sure anymore.”

Coach Joe Gambino has used the mid-season break to continue to bring in new recruits to keep the squad strong and to send a message to players whose commitment is not at the top level. Three players made their debut on Sunday and midfielder Francisc Boghicev really made his mark, as he was always in the middle of many scoring situations.

Lemont began the match with just ten players and didn’t have their full complement until about 20 minutes into the contest. They held their own during that period, as the Byki could create just one clear scoring chance, which came in the 15th minute. Newcomer Brandon Huell made a long pass from midfield that split the Lemont defense. Striker Maciek Kekus sprinted in alone on the keeper, but the netminder made a miraculous save to keep things level.

Things began to heat up late in the first half. In the 39th minute, Lemont broke behind the Byki defense on the left side, thanks to an insightful pass from midfield. As the Lemont striker bore down on the Byki goal, Erik Tice came hard off of his line to smother the shot.

The Byki drew first blood just before the break. Boghicev collected a long pass and sprinted to the goal with a defender in tow. When he reached the penalty area, he looked for a passing option and dropped the ball back to Torossian. The midfielder fired a hard shot that the keeper blocked. Torossian alertly got to the rebound and knocked the ball home. The Byki nearly got a second a minute later, but the Lemont keeper forced Abrahan Ruiz to shoot wide from close range.

The Byki carried their newly found momentum into the second half and went 2:0 up within seven minutes. Luis Arredondo won a ball in the air and headed a pass to Boghicev, who then shed his marker by flicking a soft header over the Lemont player, right into the path of Torossian. After dribbling past two defenders in the area, Torossian found the far post with a delicate and accurate strike.

The score swelled to 3:0 in the 65th minute. Arredondo sent a corner kick towards the near post. Ruiz backed his defender away from the ball and redirected it into the goal with a deft touch. Ruiz later admitted that his hand helped the ball over the line, but he wasn’t ready to give the goal back.

The Byki kept up the pressure on the Lemont goal. In the 67th minute, Arredondo found Kekus free on the right side with a floated pass over the defense. Kekus saw the keeper coming fast and tried to loft a shot over him, but sent the ball high.

Three minutes later, Chad Daniel, Boghicev and Kekus worked a slick series of one-touch passes, sending Kekus in alone on the keeper, who had yet one more miracle up his sleeve, as he made a desperate block. Even Byki defenders were getting in on the act. Paul Mansur raced in with a breakaway on the left side in the 82nd minute, but the goalkeeper read the play perfectly, denying the young fullback his chance at glory.

The Byki showed plenty of fighting spirit and teamwork. They can advance far up the table with this type of effort.

BYKI LINEUP
(4-4-2): Tice – Black, Mansur, P Jr, Rose, Casey (c) –Domek, Dziekiewicz, Boghicev, Torossian – Daniel, Kekus. Bench: Arredondo, Huell, Onaissi, Ruiz, Towsey.

BYKI SCORING SUMMARY
Torossian 1; 44th; 1:0. Torossian 2 (Boghicev); 52nd; 2:0. Ruiz 2 (Arredondo); 65th; 3:0.