Feisty DGN can't overcome Collinsville
Trojans fall 4-2, return home with 1st state soccer trophy
By Mike Garofola
NAPERVILLE -- It's said every spring the third place match is one that neither side wants to be a part of after suffering the disappointment of falling short of the championship match the day before.
But there was no fallout from the results on Friday for either Collinsville or Downers Grove North during a steamy late afternoon at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium on the North Central College campus. Each club turned in a high-energy, high-effort 80-minute performance in its quest for a winning finish to its season.
In the end, it was two goals on either side of the intermission from Collinsville (20-7-1) that did the trick. Alynnah O'Leary scored twice in the first half and led the southern Illinois power to a 4-2 win to earn its third state trophy in as many years.
"I'm very proud of my girls after this weekend, and for the season as well," said Kahoks head coach Clay Smith, who watched his club stretch New Trier on Friday in a rematch of last year's final (a 4-0 Trevians win for their third-consecutive title).
"That was a tough one for us to get over (last night against New Trier), but we came out and played hard to at least get a third place trophy," said Kahoks senior Andrea Frerker, who was recently named to the IHSSCA All-State team.
With only pride at stake after its 1-0 defeat at the hands of eventual state champion Barrington the day before, Brian Papa's Downers Grove North club started on a positive note when it found the opener.
"You're always concerned about how your team will come out after a heart-breaking loss the night before, but I am so proud of the way the girls came out and played in the heat, and with their minds still on the 'could have, would have' from that game with Barrington," said the Trojans manager, who came over from Lincoln-Way East to make an immediate impact on a program that lost its regional final a year ago to Glenbard East.
A good old-fashioned pizza party picked the team out of the semifinal loss doldrums.
"The mood after our game on Friday was somber, (we) had lost our chance to play for a state title," said senior Emily Redpath, who will attend St. Louis University next fall to study in its highly respected physical therapy program. "(But) we all got together for pizza afterward, and our morale picked up by the time we went back home. I saw the energy of our team right back at the top when we came out for warm-ups today."
The Trojans (20-4-2) started brightly enough when an early ball from Carissa Mysliwiec nearly put Haley Reynolds in. As Chloe Nowka inspired the North attack from out of the back on the right side, it was teammates Simone Gardner and Mysliwiec who created a finish in the 13th minute.
Nowka, who was superb during the Barrington defeat, roared up the flank and beat two defenders before linking with up with Gardner.
The senior put a wonderful ball onto the foot of her teammate Mysliwiec, who drove in her 8th goal of the season.
Five minutes later, up stepped Kahoks keeper Morgan Lerch, who stopped freshman forward Alexis Parker with a fearless save in a 1-v.-1 situation after Parker and Abby Swanson parlayed a lovely 1-2 combination to break the Collinsville defense wide open.
"I thought we created a lot of chances, (more) than Collinsville, but they put their chances into the back of the net, and we didn't," said a disappointed Papa.
The close call awakened the Kahoks attack. At 25 minutes, O'Leary would find the equalizer with a cool and sublime finish of a Frerker helper.
Both clubs had a couple of half-chances after Collinsville drew level. North came close when a long ball out of the back from Elizabeth Hodonicky required Lerch to win a 50-50 ball at the edge. Collinsville was unable to clear a dangerous free kick from Chicagland Soccer MVP of the Match Dayle McEwen but escaped unscathed at 33 minutes.
The Kahoks center back was superb throughout. McEwen kept her backline organized, while winning 95 percent of her challenges -- either in the air or on the steamy North Central turf. She played with the proper edge to ensure her keeper was as safe as could be.
Downers Grove North cleared a ball off the line in the 40th minute, but O'Leary came up with a steal and followed with a beautiful finish inside the near post to send Collinsville into the break with a one-goal advantage.
A sequence of quality possession from Collinsville open the second period, followed by a bit of chippy play from each side as the heat, and two-goal difference caused both clubs to increase the intensity.
The Kahoks added their third goal, this one from Bianca Cortez at 45 minutes, and suddenly North was chasing the game.
"We got caught a little on those last two goals, but the girls kept fighting right until the final whistle," Papa said.
Abby Swanson had a half-chance saved by Lerch in the 65th minute, and moments later, the Trojans talented sophomore put Parker through - which resulted in the freshmen finding the bar with her attempt.
Oliva Bull went over the bar with a free kick in the 74th minute just before Mississippi recruit Emily Holten finished from 25 yards after help from Destiny Johnson to put the game out of reach.
Redpath finished the scoring four minutes from time when she swooped in and put in the rebound after Swanson's penalty kick to the left side was stopped by Lerch.
"Nobody expected Downers Grove North soccer to go this far, (except) maybe my teammates and I," began Redpath, who wore the captain's armband proudly, along with Maggie Nevrly and Hononicky, for the Trojans.
"We defied the odds to get here ahead of teams like Naperville North and others from the area, and in doing so, earned the respect of everyone at our school, who (all) rallied around us during the last couple of weeks of the season.
"We were all thrilled to have so many of our classmates and friends at that Barrington game on Friday. It made all of us feel really good."
Said Papa in closing: "This was a special group of players and young women, who all bought into what we were selling, and never stopped working to get better.
"I am a very luck man to be around such a great bunch of kids."
Starting lineups
Collinsville
GK- Morgan Lerch
D- Danielle Knutson
D- Dayle McEwen
D- Kaylee McSpadden
D- Faith Liljegren
M- Alynna O'Leary
M- Emma Knoebel
M- Andrea Frerker
F- Courtney Marten
F- Taylor Devine
F- Emily Holten
Downers Grove North
GK- Grace Stevenson
D- Chloe Nowka
D- Elizabeth Hodonicky
D- Francesca Marconi
D- Olivia Bull
M- Carissa Mysliwiec
M- Abby Swanson
M- Simone Gardner
F- Carli Nehls
F- Haley Reynolds
F- Delaney Forst
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Dayle McEwen, sr., D, Collinsville
Officials: Mark Kenar; Bret Richter; Mike Wilson; 4th, Chris Kerwood
Trojans fall 4-2, return home with 1st state soccer trophy
By Mike Garofola
NAPERVILLE -- It's said every spring the third place match is one that neither side wants to be a part of after suffering the disappointment of falling short of the championship match the day before.
But there was no fallout from the results on Friday for either Collinsville or Downers Grove North during a steamy late afternoon at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium on the North Central College campus. Each club turned in a high-energy, high-effort 80-minute performance in its quest for a winning finish to its season.
In the end, it was two goals on either side of the intermission from Collinsville (20-7-1) that did the trick. Alynnah O'Leary scored twice in the first half and led the southern Illinois power to a 4-2 win to earn its third state trophy in as many years.
"I'm very proud of my girls after this weekend, and for the season as well," said Kahoks head coach Clay Smith, who watched his club stretch New Trier on Friday in a rematch of last year's final (a 4-0 Trevians win for their third-consecutive title).
"That was a tough one for us to get over (last night against New Trier), but we came out and played hard to at least get a third place trophy," said Kahoks senior Andrea Frerker, who was recently named to the IHSSCA All-State team.
With only pride at stake after its 1-0 defeat at the hands of eventual state champion Barrington the day before, Brian Papa's Downers Grove North club started on a positive note when it found the opener.
"You're always concerned about how your team will come out after a heart-breaking loss the night before, but I am so proud of the way the girls came out and played in the heat, and with their minds still on the 'could have, would have' from that game with Barrington," said the Trojans manager, who came over from Lincoln-Way East to make an immediate impact on a program that lost its regional final a year ago to Glenbard East.
A good old-fashioned pizza party picked the team out of the semifinal loss doldrums.
"The mood after our game on Friday was somber, (we) had lost our chance to play for a state title," said senior Emily Redpath, who will attend St. Louis University next fall to study in its highly respected physical therapy program. "(But) we all got together for pizza afterward, and our morale picked up by the time we went back home. I saw the energy of our team right back at the top when we came out for warm-ups today."
The Trojans (20-4-2) started brightly enough when an early ball from Carissa Mysliwiec nearly put Haley Reynolds in. As Chloe Nowka inspired the North attack from out of the back on the right side, it was teammates Simone Gardner and Mysliwiec who created a finish in the 13th minute.
Nowka, who was superb during the Barrington defeat, roared up the flank and beat two defenders before linking with up with Gardner.
The senior put a wonderful ball onto the foot of her teammate Mysliwiec, who drove in her 8th goal of the season.
Five minutes later, up stepped Kahoks keeper Morgan Lerch, who stopped freshman forward Alexis Parker with a fearless save in a 1-v.-1 situation after Parker and Abby Swanson parlayed a lovely 1-2 combination to break the Collinsville defense wide open.
"I thought we created a lot of chances, (more) than Collinsville, but they put their chances into the back of the net, and we didn't," said a disappointed Papa.
The close call awakened the Kahoks attack. At 25 minutes, O'Leary would find the equalizer with a cool and sublime finish of a Frerker helper.
Both clubs had a couple of half-chances after Collinsville drew level. North came close when a long ball out of the back from Elizabeth Hodonicky required Lerch to win a 50-50 ball at the edge. Collinsville was unable to clear a dangerous free kick from Chicagland Soccer MVP of the Match Dayle McEwen but escaped unscathed at 33 minutes.
The Kahoks center back was superb throughout. McEwen kept her backline organized, while winning 95 percent of her challenges -- either in the air or on the steamy North Central turf. She played with the proper edge to ensure her keeper was as safe as could be.
Downers Grove North cleared a ball off the line in the 40th minute, but O'Leary came up with a steal and followed with a beautiful finish inside the near post to send Collinsville into the break with a one-goal advantage.
A sequence of quality possession from Collinsville open the second period, followed by a bit of chippy play from each side as the heat, and two-goal difference caused both clubs to increase the intensity.
The Kahoks added their third goal, this one from Bianca Cortez at 45 minutes, and suddenly North was chasing the game.
"We got caught a little on those last two goals, but the girls kept fighting right until the final whistle," Papa said.
Abby Swanson had a half-chance saved by Lerch in the 65th minute, and moments later, the Trojans talented sophomore put Parker through - which resulted in the freshmen finding the bar with her attempt.
Oliva Bull went over the bar with a free kick in the 74th minute just before Mississippi recruit Emily Holten finished from 25 yards after help from Destiny Johnson to put the game out of reach.
Redpath finished the scoring four minutes from time when she swooped in and put in the rebound after Swanson's penalty kick to the left side was stopped by Lerch.
"Nobody expected Downers Grove North soccer to go this far, (except) maybe my teammates and I," began Redpath, who wore the captain's armband proudly, along with Maggie Nevrly and Hononicky, for the Trojans.
"We defied the odds to get here ahead of teams like Naperville North and others from the area, and in doing so, earned the respect of everyone at our school, who (all) rallied around us during the last couple of weeks of the season.
"We were all thrilled to have so many of our classmates and friends at that Barrington game on Friday. It made all of us feel really good."
Said Papa in closing: "This was a special group of players and young women, who all bought into what we were selling, and never stopped working to get better.
"I am a very luck man to be around such a great bunch of kids."
Starting lineups
Collinsville
GK- Morgan Lerch
D- Danielle Knutson
D- Dayle McEwen
D- Kaylee McSpadden
D- Faith Liljegren
M- Alynna O'Leary
M- Emma Knoebel
M- Andrea Frerker
F- Courtney Marten
F- Taylor Devine
F- Emily Holten
Downers Grove North
GK- Grace Stevenson
D- Chloe Nowka
D- Elizabeth Hodonicky
D- Francesca Marconi
D- Olivia Bull
M- Carissa Mysliwiec
M- Abby Swanson
M- Simone Gardner
F- Carli Nehls
F- Haley Reynolds
F- Delaney Forst
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Dayle McEwen, sr., D, Collinsville
Officials: Mark Kenar; Bret Richter; Mike Wilson; 4th, Chris Kerwood