Downers Grove North and South have each been blessed with strong midfield play this season.
In a huge turnaround season for the Trojans that has propelled them well over the .500 mark for the first time in several years, Justin Pickering and Ben Stein have shared the crucial role of center midfielder.
 “We play with two center mids on our team and actually have a nice rotation of players that play the position,” Trojans’ coach Brian Gervase said. “We usually start two seniors, Ben Stein and Justin Pickering and then rotate in a couple of nice juniors in Stuart Melton and Azmi Sharif. 
“(Pickering) is our strong man who plays a lot of the head balls and 50/50 balls while Ben is more of our finesse player who tries to pick up second touches and then distribute.
“We try to play them offensively and defensively,” Gervase added, “so they keep a ‘vertical’ stack on the field and not get too wide and leave our middle open.”
Across town, senior co-captain Matt LaLonde has been a major presence at center midfield for two seasons.
“He’s made a huge difference for us,” Downers South coach Jon Stapleton said. “He finds a way to settle us down when we’re at an erratic pace, play balls and relieve some of the pressure. He’s done that the last two years, and the big thing lately has been his dominance in the air. His presence in the air has improved dramatically in the last couple of games.”
Whether it’s Pickering, Stein, LaLonde or a future center midfielder, having a  quality player in that spot is literally central to any team’s success.
“Their importance is significant,” Gervase said, “especially in the high school game when not all players are capable of switching the field on their own. Pros can play balls from one sideline to the other with ease, but few high school players can, so it is up to the center mids to help keep the ball flowing from side to side.”
“I’m obviously biased,” LaLonde said, “but to me it’s one of the most if not the most important position on the field just because you’re playing defense, offense, playing outside mid at times and playing forward at times.
“I like the fact that I can set the tone for the game. If I want it slower, I can get the  ball, take a couple touches and get my team calmed down.”
The Mustangs’ key conference win over Morton last week showed the immeasurable roles that LaLonde and all good center midfielders fill, including motivation.
“It was a big game, everything riding on emotion,” LaLonde said, “so I felt I had to set the tone with a hard tackle, which I did. I got a quick yellow (card), but the team needs to see that we’re not going to back down. You really have to set the tone for the team, and that’s what I try to do.”

THOUGHTS ON CENTER MIDFIELD:

Matt LaLonde, Downers South, senior co-captain
 You have to have a good touch. You have to be able to take balls out of every situation in the air, or if someone knocks you a really hard pass you need to settle that. That’s to me the biggest part.

 You have to be aware of everything on the field. You have to be a leader, you have to tell your teammates where to go because you see the whole field basically. You have to manage the game.

Jon Stapleton, Downers South coach
The center mid is so important because they dictate the flow of the game. Not only that, but they’re responsible for putting balls in the air and orchestrating what happens on the field. Matt (LaLonde) does a good job of that.