Loyola skein continues, Carmel latest victim
Ramblers win 5-1 behind red hot Brett-Ramsay combo
By Mike Garofola
GLENVIEW -- Stephanie Ramsay and Maggie Brett reaffirmed their status as one of the best dynamic attacking duo's in the area after their Loyola strike force proved too much for visiting Carmel on Tuesday at Loyola's Munz Athletic Complex.
The Ramblers, who rejoined the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 at no. 17 after a seven-week absence, rode the work of the pair. The duo had a hand in four of the five goals their club scored on Bert Dolan Field and helped extend the Ramblers' win streak to seven games.
"Those two are on fire right now," said Loyola manager Craig Snower of Ramsay and Brett, who have combined for 33 goals and 20 helpers on the season.
"We worked our way through the early stages when Carmel had most of the possession, but after Maggie got that first one for us, we really got ourselves into the game.
"It's interesting to note that before this year, we were scoring 100 goals a season, many of them on set piece or dead-ball opportunities; (but) this year almost all of our goals have come from the run of play - illustrated by the four we scored tonight that way."
The Corsairs (9-5-3), who entered the game off their East Suburban Catholic Conference-clinching win over Marian the night before, were a bundle of energy as soon as referee Vic Walker's whistle signaled the start of this nonconference affair.
"We came out real strong, none of us were tired from our game the day before," said senior Angela Salvi. "(We) possessed really well, moved the ball quickly, and did a good job of getting into their end right up until that first goal. Our problem this year has been in the final third, and that's were we let down the most in this game."
The Corsairs co-captain, along with Lily Sykes, Shanon Murphy and Riley Harmon, turned on their style to give the visitors the lively start, which saw Salvi's mates find her in the middle of the park whenever they needed. She, in turn, would spring Sykes free up the flank from her spot as an outside back for manager Ray Krawzak.
"It didn't feel like a 5-1 result in the end, we did a lot of positive things out there," he said. "And even when it was 3-0, I didn't think of (it) much - but on this night, Loyola was the better team."
Just after Loyola keeper Maggie Avery showed stick-em like gloves on a wicked ball whipped into the box from Salvi, Ramsay hit the gas pedal to give her space on the right side, which led her to the endline.
Once there, she played across to Brett, whose sublime side-footed attempt made it 1-0 in the 13th minute.
"We knew we had a tough opponent to play tonight, but Stephanie and Maggie were awesome tonight, and for them to get us that first goal was really important," said junior Cate Shellenback, whose performance in the midfield was that of industry and composure as she proved to be a key figure in the Loyola attack.
Avery showed to be a good decision-maker when she came quickly off her line to pull in a dangerous ball from Maddy Splitt, after the sophomore combined with Salvi and Grace Nolan to create a nervous moment for the Loyola faithful.
Shellenback doubled the advantage for the home side in the 24th minute, slotting past keeper Rachel Bierman on an exquisite diagonal ball played back against the grain from 12 yards.
Despite chasing two goals as the half hour approached, the Corsairs continued to attack with gusto and purpose, but their continued lack of sharpness in Loyola's final third cost them dearly.
A bit of bad luck soon make it 3-0 in Loyola's favor, when a foul inside the box saw the referee point to the spot just before intermission.
Emily Chrisman stepped up and steered in her spot kick at 40 minutes.
"Like I said, the 3-0 deficit didn't worry me because we were playing really well in our attack," Krawzak said. "At the break, I knew we still were in good shape mentally, but those two quick goals kind of caught up to us, and at that point, it looked as if our demanding schedule of late wore us out."
Carmel's Skyler Thomas made a creative and pacy run put her between a pair of Loyola defenders, and if not for a sharp tackle by Lauren Daffada, Thomas would have latched onto a superb ball from Murphy near the six-yard box.
When the Corsairs failed to pull one back, it was the home side that put another one in -- this coming from Brett who easily finished what Ramsay started with the help of Shellenback who was the architect of the 53rd minute goal.
"We've come a long way from that season-opening loss to St. Charles North," suggested Shellenback. ""Its taken all of us time to get a real good understanding of what we're supposed to do, and what's expected of us, but right now we're playing our best soccer of the season."
Ramsay earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor with her 21st goal of the season after she tricked her way past Bierman who came far off her line in an attempt to get to a superb ball sent in from Brett.
"Sometimes you cannot rehearse what opponents can do during your training sessions. But for us, we learned a few things tonight, and the great thing (is) we have time to fix a few things before our regional opener next week, and our last game of the year against Lake Zurich on Thursday," said Krawzak.
"We did a lot of things really well," said Sykes. "(We) played to feet, possessed and moved the ball with our attack, but we'll need to sort a few things out before regionals."
Krawzak encouraged his club to play the last 10 minutes as if it they were in the last 10 minutes of a postseason game, and they needed a goal. The no. 22 Corsairs, who made their 2017 debut in the top 25 this week, responded with a Thomas goal in the 80th minute.
Loyola (14-6-0) continues to build it's momentum.
"When you consider that we played New Trier to a 1-0 loss, and St. Charles East to a 2-1 loss, both state powers, then beat Waubonsie Valley, which recently beat Naperville North, I'd say this team has shown at lot of late, and is just about ready for the postseason," said a proud Snower.
Starting lineups
Carmel
GK- Rachel Bierman
D- Lily Sykes
D- Haley Miller
D- Ali Cepon
D- Ciara Thomas
M- Gianna Sarallo
M- Angela Salvi
M- Shanon Murphy
M- Grace Nolan
F- Riley Harmon
F- Emma Heinrich
Loyola
GK- Maggie Avery
D- Faith Craddock
D- Bella Broccolo
D- Emily Chrisman
D- Lauren Daffada
M- Megan Kurtz
M- Cate Shellenback
M- Vanessa Murray
M- Ally West
F- Stephanie Ramsay
F- Maggie Brett
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Stephanie Ramsay, jr., F, Loyola
Officials: Vic Walker (center); James Lifton; Woyciech Myrda
Ramblers win 5-1 behind red hot Brett-Ramsay combo
By Mike Garofola
GLENVIEW -- Stephanie Ramsay and Maggie Brett reaffirmed their status as one of the best dynamic attacking duo's in the area after their Loyola strike force proved too much for visiting Carmel on Tuesday at Loyola's Munz Athletic Complex.
The Ramblers, who rejoined the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 at no. 17 after a seven-week absence, rode the work of the pair. The duo had a hand in four of the five goals their club scored on Bert Dolan Field and helped extend the Ramblers' win streak to seven games.
"Those two are on fire right now," said Loyola manager Craig Snower of Ramsay and Brett, who have combined for 33 goals and 20 helpers on the season.
"We worked our way through the early stages when Carmel had most of the possession, but after Maggie got that first one for us, we really got ourselves into the game.
"It's interesting to note that before this year, we were scoring 100 goals a season, many of them on set piece or dead-ball opportunities; (but) this year almost all of our goals have come from the run of play - illustrated by the four we scored tonight that way."
The Corsairs (9-5-3), who entered the game off their East Suburban Catholic Conference-clinching win over Marian the night before, were a bundle of energy as soon as referee Vic Walker's whistle signaled the start of this nonconference affair.
"We came out real strong, none of us were tired from our game the day before," said senior Angela Salvi. "(We) possessed really well, moved the ball quickly, and did a good job of getting into their end right up until that first goal. Our problem this year has been in the final third, and that's were we let down the most in this game."
The Corsairs co-captain, along with Lily Sykes, Shanon Murphy and Riley Harmon, turned on their style to give the visitors the lively start, which saw Salvi's mates find her in the middle of the park whenever they needed. She, in turn, would spring Sykes free up the flank from her spot as an outside back for manager Ray Krawzak.
"It didn't feel like a 5-1 result in the end, we did a lot of positive things out there," he said. "And even when it was 3-0, I didn't think of (it) much - but on this night, Loyola was the better team."
Just after Loyola keeper Maggie Avery showed stick-em like gloves on a wicked ball whipped into the box from Salvi, Ramsay hit the gas pedal to give her space on the right side, which led her to the endline.
Once there, she played across to Brett, whose sublime side-footed attempt made it 1-0 in the 13th minute.
"We knew we had a tough opponent to play tonight, but Stephanie and Maggie were awesome tonight, and for them to get us that first goal was really important," said junior Cate Shellenback, whose performance in the midfield was that of industry and composure as she proved to be a key figure in the Loyola attack.
Avery showed to be a good decision-maker when she came quickly off her line to pull in a dangerous ball from Maddy Splitt, after the sophomore combined with Salvi and Grace Nolan to create a nervous moment for the Loyola faithful.
Shellenback doubled the advantage for the home side in the 24th minute, slotting past keeper Rachel Bierman on an exquisite diagonal ball played back against the grain from 12 yards.
Despite chasing two goals as the half hour approached, the Corsairs continued to attack with gusto and purpose, but their continued lack of sharpness in Loyola's final third cost them dearly.
A bit of bad luck soon make it 3-0 in Loyola's favor, when a foul inside the box saw the referee point to the spot just before intermission.
Emily Chrisman stepped up and steered in her spot kick at 40 minutes.
"Like I said, the 3-0 deficit didn't worry me because we were playing really well in our attack," Krawzak said. "At the break, I knew we still were in good shape mentally, but those two quick goals kind of caught up to us, and at that point, it looked as if our demanding schedule of late wore us out."
Carmel's Skyler Thomas made a creative and pacy run put her between a pair of Loyola defenders, and if not for a sharp tackle by Lauren Daffada, Thomas would have latched onto a superb ball from Murphy near the six-yard box.
When the Corsairs failed to pull one back, it was the home side that put another one in -- this coming from Brett who easily finished what Ramsay started with the help of Shellenback who was the architect of the 53rd minute goal.
"We've come a long way from that season-opening loss to St. Charles North," suggested Shellenback. ""Its taken all of us time to get a real good understanding of what we're supposed to do, and what's expected of us, but right now we're playing our best soccer of the season."
Ramsay earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor with her 21st goal of the season after she tricked her way past Bierman who came far off her line in an attempt to get to a superb ball sent in from Brett.
"Sometimes you cannot rehearse what opponents can do during your training sessions. But for us, we learned a few things tonight, and the great thing (is) we have time to fix a few things before our regional opener next week, and our last game of the year against Lake Zurich on Thursday," said Krawzak.
"We did a lot of things really well," said Sykes. "(We) played to feet, possessed and moved the ball with our attack, but we'll need to sort a few things out before regionals."
Krawzak encouraged his club to play the last 10 minutes as if it they were in the last 10 minutes of a postseason game, and they needed a goal. The no. 22 Corsairs, who made their 2017 debut in the top 25 this week, responded with a Thomas goal in the 80th minute.
Loyola (14-6-0) continues to build it's momentum.
"When you consider that we played New Trier to a 1-0 loss, and St. Charles East to a 2-1 loss, both state powers, then beat Waubonsie Valley, which recently beat Naperville North, I'd say this team has shown at lot of late, and is just about ready for the postseason," said a proud Snower.
Starting lineups
Carmel
GK- Rachel Bierman
D- Lily Sykes
D- Haley Miller
D- Ali Cepon
D- Ciara Thomas
M- Gianna Sarallo
M- Angela Salvi
M- Shanon Murphy
M- Grace Nolan
F- Riley Harmon
F- Emma Heinrich
Loyola
GK- Maggie Avery
D- Faith Craddock
D- Bella Broccolo
D- Emily Chrisman
D- Lauren Daffada
M- Megan Kurtz
M- Cate Shellenback
M- Vanessa Murray
M- Ally West
F- Stephanie Ramsay
F- Maggie Brett
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Stephanie Ramsay, jr., F, Loyola
Officials: Vic Walker (center); James Lifton; Woyciech Myrda