Metea Valley rallies to 3-3 tie with Batavia
Mustangs 1st team to score against Batavia this season
By Chris Walker
AURORA – Batavia knew it was inevitable.
As dominating as the Bulldogs have been in the midfield this spring, eventually a team was going to break through their backline and score.
It happened early during Monday’s rescheduled game against Metea Valley, but that goal wasn’t nearly as disappointing as the two goals Batavia surrendered after taking a 3-1 lead.
That pair made the visitors settle for a 3-3 tie.
“It’s better to get it out of the way now than later,” Batavia coach Mark Gianfrancesco said.
“You don’t want it during playoff time or conference time, so it was good to see how they reacted, to score three on them, but then we gave up two on free kicks, but you have to credit (Metea Valley) for doing a nice job of following.”
Metea Valley (2-1-3) got on the board in the 14th minute when sophomore Jade Eriksen-Russo converted.
“I had no idea (Batavia hadn’t allowed a goal yet), Eriksen-Russo said. “I just saw the opportunity there, and said I’d take it.”
She thought it would give her team momentum, and while it allowed the Mustangs to enjoy the 1-0 lead, it wouldn’t last much longer than 10 minutes.
“Momentum is a real important thing and I think after we got that goal we had a lot of confidence,” Eriksen-Russo said. “I think it really helped us, even after they went ahead, we still felt like we could come back.”
The sophomore is enjoying the extra attention she’s getting. Opponents know she’s the team’s top scorer with Jenna Kentgen (Iowa) and Nikki Hernandez (club) no longer a part of the program.
“It’s exciting to know that people are out there looking for me,” she said. “It feels good to know I’m a big help to my team, and they’re counting on me.”
Batavia (3-0-3) drew even at 1-1 when junior Megan McEachern scored in the 25th minute.
“I just had to finish far post,” McEachern said. “All the credit should go to Keegan (Maris). She had the ball in the middle and just chipped it to me on the side.”
A couple minutes later and McEachern struck again.
“I think we responded pretty well,” she said. “We knew this would be a tough game. We just needed to do a better job of pressuring the ball all over the field. We didn’t do that enough, but hopefully we’ve learned from that.”
Batavia looked to have the game in its complete control when Alexis Bryl converted a penalty kick in the 32nd minute to extend its lead to 3-1.
Metea Valley disagreed.
“Being down 3-1, the girls showed a lot of resilience and perseverance,” Metea Valley coach Chris Whaley said. “They battled back, and there probably was a point there where Batavia probably thought it was going to be an easy night, especially after the penalty kick.”
It might’ve played out that way if the Mustangs went into the intermission still trailing 3-1, but they got a very important goal from Alena Sidwell with just 2:26 left before the break to pull within a goal.
“I think it says a lot about how our team keeps fighting,” Sidwell said. “We got down, but we finished strong. We would’ve liked to win, but we still got a strong result. A lot of teams will give up once they’re down 3-1, but I’m glad we stuck with it.”
The Mustangs tied the game in much the same fashion as their second, on a free kick and by being able to win the ball among a crowd.
It was Eriksen-Russo who once again delivered, earning Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match accolades for doing so in the 65th minute.
“I just picked up the scraps,” she said. “It got blocked a bit, and I just did what I could.”
The teams exchanged a few scoring chances the rest of the way.
Batavia senior Karina Rosales had a couple of those shot attempts for the Bulldogs. Sara Severson had a free kick sail high in the final two minutes for the Mustangs.
None found a happy ending in the back of the net so the teams settled for a hard-fought tie and will now turn their attention over to a busy week of regularly scheduled games.
This game was originally scheduled for March 24 but the snow-covered field in Aurora just didn’t get enough sun to melt the white stuff.
“I told them on Saturday that they have to be ready to play and that was everybody,” Gianfrancesco said. “We have four games this week so in the whole scheme of things, we were able to get everybody in. Everyone got significant minutes and that will help us the rest of the week.”
The speed of the Mustangs offered a challenge that Batavia likely hadn’t seen yet.
“Their forwards are very fast, and they were physical in the midfield,” Gianfrancesco said. “Playing this is good for us going into conference play. You’re kind of amping up your level.”
Batavia has conference games with Streamwood and Elgin this week and a crossover with Bartlett.
Metea Valley hosts Glenbard East on Tuesday and Naperville North on Thursday before heading into the Pepsi Challenge on Saturday.
“We know we have a busy week so the girls knew they had to step up,” Whaley said. “Everyone is really buying into the style of game we’re playing and at one point we had three freshmen (Sophia Senese, Chesney Wargo, Maeve Riordan) on the field.”
Like Gianfrancesco noted, Whaley thought his team wasn’t accustomed to how physical the game proved to be.
“Our girls were possibly caught off guard a little with the physicality that Batavia played with,” Whaley said. “We didn’t back down though, and we kind of tried to disrupt what they were doing and trying to get ourselves forward.”
One major positive that the Mustangs can take from the tie was the fact that they were able to rally from a two-goal deficit, and did it against a team that remains unbeaten.
“We started out a little shaky, but I think we dominated in the second half,” Eriksen-Russo said. “So we finished strong, and that’s something we can take into our next game.”
Starting lineups
Batavia
GK: Jenny Scara
D: Alison Grimm
D: Alyssa Knutson
D: Rachel Reinecke
D: Kayla Stolfa
MF: Anna Lins
MF: Olivia Callipari
MF: Nina Ellman
F: Paige Renfus
F: Mackenzie Foster
F: Tori Renfus
Metea Valley
GK: Amy Aherna
D: Marisa Grassi
D: Megan Morris
D: Sara Severson
MF: Katie Kennedy
MF: Cailin LaRocque
MF: Abby Severson
MF: Alena Sidwell
MF: Miranda Williams
F: Jade Eriksen-Russo
F: Taylor Rohm
MVP of the Match: Jade Eriksen-Russo, F, Metea Valley
Officials: Victor Herrera, Dean Palmateer, Bret Richter
Mustangs 1st team to score against Batavia this season
By Chris Walker
AURORA – Batavia knew it was inevitable.
As dominating as the Bulldogs have been in the midfield this spring, eventually a team was going to break through their backline and score.
It happened early during Monday’s rescheduled game against Metea Valley, but that goal wasn’t nearly as disappointing as the two goals Batavia surrendered after taking a 3-1 lead.
That pair made the visitors settle for a 3-3 tie.
“It’s better to get it out of the way now than later,” Batavia coach Mark Gianfrancesco said.
“You don’t want it during playoff time or conference time, so it was good to see how they reacted, to score three on them, but then we gave up two on free kicks, but you have to credit (Metea Valley) for doing a nice job of following.”
Metea Valley (2-1-3) got on the board in the 14th minute when sophomore Jade Eriksen-Russo converted.
“I had no idea (Batavia hadn’t allowed a goal yet), Eriksen-Russo said. “I just saw the opportunity there, and said I’d take it.”
She thought it would give her team momentum, and while it allowed the Mustangs to enjoy the 1-0 lead, it wouldn’t last much longer than 10 minutes.
“Momentum is a real important thing and I think after we got that goal we had a lot of confidence,” Eriksen-Russo said. “I think it really helped us, even after they went ahead, we still felt like we could come back.”
The sophomore is enjoying the extra attention she’s getting. Opponents know she’s the team’s top scorer with Jenna Kentgen (Iowa) and Nikki Hernandez (club) no longer a part of the program.
“It’s exciting to know that people are out there looking for me,” she said. “It feels good to know I’m a big help to my team, and they’re counting on me.”
Batavia (3-0-3) drew even at 1-1 when junior Megan McEachern scored in the 25th minute.
“I just had to finish far post,” McEachern said. “All the credit should go to Keegan (Maris). She had the ball in the middle and just chipped it to me on the side.”
A couple minutes later and McEachern struck again.
“I think we responded pretty well,” she said. “We knew this would be a tough game. We just needed to do a better job of pressuring the ball all over the field. We didn’t do that enough, but hopefully we’ve learned from that.”
Batavia looked to have the game in its complete control when Alexis Bryl converted a penalty kick in the 32nd minute to extend its lead to 3-1.
Metea Valley disagreed.
“Being down 3-1, the girls showed a lot of resilience and perseverance,” Metea Valley coach Chris Whaley said. “They battled back, and there probably was a point there where Batavia probably thought it was going to be an easy night, especially after the penalty kick.”
It might’ve played out that way if the Mustangs went into the intermission still trailing 3-1, but they got a very important goal from Alena Sidwell with just 2:26 left before the break to pull within a goal.
“I think it says a lot about how our team keeps fighting,” Sidwell said. “We got down, but we finished strong. We would’ve liked to win, but we still got a strong result. A lot of teams will give up once they’re down 3-1, but I’m glad we stuck with it.”
The Mustangs tied the game in much the same fashion as their second, on a free kick and by being able to win the ball among a crowd.
It was Eriksen-Russo who once again delivered, earning Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match accolades for doing so in the 65th minute.
“I just picked up the scraps,” she said. “It got blocked a bit, and I just did what I could.”
The teams exchanged a few scoring chances the rest of the way.
Batavia senior Karina Rosales had a couple of those shot attempts for the Bulldogs. Sara Severson had a free kick sail high in the final two minutes for the Mustangs.
None found a happy ending in the back of the net so the teams settled for a hard-fought tie and will now turn their attention over to a busy week of regularly scheduled games.
This game was originally scheduled for March 24 but the snow-covered field in Aurora just didn’t get enough sun to melt the white stuff.
“I told them on Saturday that they have to be ready to play and that was everybody,” Gianfrancesco said. “We have four games this week so in the whole scheme of things, we were able to get everybody in. Everyone got significant minutes and that will help us the rest of the week.”
The speed of the Mustangs offered a challenge that Batavia likely hadn’t seen yet.
“Their forwards are very fast, and they were physical in the midfield,” Gianfrancesco said. “Playing this is good for us going into conference play. You’re kind of amping up your level.”
Batavia has conference games with Streamwood and Elgin this week and a crossover with Bartlett.
Metea Valley hosts Glenbard East on Tuesday and Naperville North on Thursday before heading into the Pepsi Challenge on Saturday.
“We know we have a busy week so the girls knew they had to step up,” Whaley said. “Everyone is really buying into the style of game we’re playing and at one point we had three freshmen (Sophia Senese, Chesney Wargo, Maeve Riordan) on the field.”
Like Gianfrancesco noted, Whaley thought his team wasn’t accustomed to how physical the game proved to be.
“Our girls were possibly caught off guard a little with the physicality that Batavia played with,” Whaley said. “We didn’t back down though, and we kind of tried to disrupt what they were doing and trying to get ourselves forward.”
One major positive that the Mustangs can take from the tie was the fact that they were able to rally from a two-goal deficit, and did it against a team that remains unbeaten.
“We started out a little shaky, but I think we dominated in the second half,” Eriksen-Russo said. “So we finished strong, and that’s something we can take into our next game.”
Starting lineups
Batavia
GK: Jenny Scara
D: Alison Grimm
D: Alyssa Knutson
D: Rachel Reinecke
D: Kayla Stolfa
MF: Anna Lins
MF: Olivia Callipari
MF: Nina Ellman
F: Paige Renfus
F: Mackenzie Foster
F: Tori Renfus
Metea Valley
GK: Amy Aherna
D: Marisa Grassi
D: Megan Morris
D: Sara Severson
MF: Katie Kennedy
MF: Cailin LaRocque
MF: Abby Severson
MF: Alena Sidwell
MF: Miranda Williams
F: Jade Eriksen-Russo
F: Taylor Rohm
MVP of the Match: Jade Eriksen-Russo, F, Metea Valley
Officials: Victor Herrera, Dean Palmateer, Bret Richter