York nips Downers Grove S.
in regular season finale
Kovatchis goal tips action-packed affair Dukes' way
By Ken Keenan
ELMHURST -- For a 1-0 game, and with nothing major on the line,
Thursday night's regular season finale between victorious host York
and Downers Grove South sure packed plenty of action.
The visitors entered the match with the West Suburban Conference Gold
title already in tow on the strength of a 6-0-0 league mark, while
their injury plagued WSC Silver counterparts finished conference play in third place
at 3-3-0.
In the end, the records and standing didn't matter. A second-half goal by Dukes senior forward Alyssa Kovatchis -- Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match -- proved to be the
difference.
York, which improved to 11-5-2 overall heading into its IHSA Class 3A
first-round match against Trinity -- in the Trinity Regional -- at
6:30 p.m. May 19, played without four key players, each of whom
previously suffered season-ending injuries. Watching from the bench
were senior forward and co-captain Jessica Bianchi, junior defenders
Kaylin Kenny and Ffyon Hund, and senior defender Jamie Kovatchis.
"Winning is always good, and to win the match on Senior Night was
nice," said York coach Don Vana. "But we're trying to re-establish
ourselves with the postseason coming ... looking to get chemistry
going with so many players out. We brought up a couple of JV players
(senior midfielder Annie Viola and junior defender Abby Horn), and
they've done a tremendous job for us."
Kovatchis tallied the lone goal on a tremendous blast, firing in a
zooming rocket with her left foot from about 45 yards out, with 18:07
remaining in the game. Taking a short pass from senior
midfielder/co-captain Emily Whitcomb, Kovatchis's laser beam smacked off the right hand of leaping Mustangs senior goalkeeper Megan
Diddia.
"I saw the keeper was off the line, so I took a hard shot, and it went
in," said Kovatchis, who displayed blazing speed and quick feet to
create numerous chances throughout the match. "We had a lot of
opportunities. But (the Mustangs) had some plays that kept us on our
toes -- and on our side, the same thing. There were a lot of close
calls."
Dukes coach Don Vana said of his goal scorer, "(Kovatchis) is a just a tremendous soccer player. She stays calm under pressure, and has a huge field presence."
First-year Downers Grove South coach Chris Hernandez, whose squad
takes a 12-7-1 overall mark into the Glenbard East Regional for a
first-round game against Curie at 4:30 p.m. May 19, said, "There was a
lot of action. We talked to the girls about making it a playoff
atmosphere -- make it competitive, playoff-like -- and I was pleased
with our effort and focus. And, like York, we're not fully healthy."
Dukes senior midfielder Juliana Salzano said, "It was both teams
putting out a lot of effort ... a pretty even match. We had a nice
goal, and they had a lot of good chances, too."
The Mustangs wasted little time in recording the game's first shot on
goal, as junior forward Meghan Riordan finished a long run down the
left side with an attempt that bounced into the arms of York junior
goalkeeper Ellen Foley just 55 seconds into the match. Foley then made
a diving save in the 12th minute, spoiling a 30-yard shot by Downers
Grove South senior midfielder Avaliese Porlier.
Kovatchis' first chance was denied with 25:15 before the break, when Diddia
stopped her shot from the right side. Just over two minutes later, a
wide-angle try by Mustangs junior forward Autumn Rasmussen was denied
by Foley.
Back and forth the offenses went. In the 23rd minute, Kovatchis sent a
curving shot from the left side off the crossbar; a minute later,
Salzano took a nice cross from Kovatchis and tipped the ball just wide
of the far post.
With 14:05 showing on the first-half clock, Mustangs junior middie
Natalia Pinto unleashed a 40-yarder that Foley handled, and Kovatchis
followed 40 seconds later with a nifty, turnaround shot from 35 yards
that was answered by Diddia. Only two minutes elapsed before Pinto
sent a corner kick that Porter headed wide on the doorstep.
South had another good chance in the 34th minute, when Rasmussen
completed a long run with a cross to senior midfielder Miyax Leon,
whose tap-in attempt rolled inches wide. Seconds before the first half
ended, Mustangs junior defender Sara Foernssler fired wide of the York cage as well.
"It was definitely quick out there," Pinto said. "It was good soccer
-- good opportunities for both sides."
The second half featured more of the same, until the match was halted
with 25:02 to go when Porlier hit the turf before being helped off the
field with a leg injury. Everyone left the field when the stadium
lights went dark, with 12:14 left in the game, causing a delay lasting
20 minutes.
After play resumed, the Mustangs had a chance to even the score on a
header by Foernssler, which sailed over the crossbar with 2:25 to go.
"Both teams played at a good level -- lots of intensity," said
Mustangs junior defender Hannah Rossi, whose all-out hustle thwarted
more than a handful of York opportunities. "We worked hard, and so did
they."
Rossi promised the Mustangs will keep up the hard work once the
playoffs begin, as the team has dedicated its 2015 season to the
memory of Kailee Miller, a teammate who passed away earlier this
spring.
"We've all tried to play with the same intensity as she did," Rossi said.
"We're trying to get to state for her," added Pinto. "We have
something big to play for."
On the York side, Kovatchis said the Dukes hope to extend their season
in honor of the team's nine seniors.
"Everybody stepped up (Thursday night), and we'll keep playing hard
for each other," she said.
"The more we play like this, the better we'll be," concluded Vana.
Starting lineups
Downers Grove South
GK: Megan Diddia
D: Sara Foernssler
D: Hannah Rossi
D: Sydney Clements
M: Miyax Leon
M: Natalia Pinto
M: Marcela Calderon
M: Avaliese Porlier
F: Meghan Riordan
F: Alexa Dimovski
F: Autumn Rasmussen
York
GK: Ellen Foley
D: Annalisa Lappo
D: Emily Mueller
D: Jenna Dvorak
M: Juliana Salzano
M: Carys Hund
M: Annie Viola
M: Emily Whitcomb
M: Madison Navarro
F: Madison Casey
F: Alyssa Kovatchis
MVP of the Match: Alyssa Kovatchis, F, York
Officials: Bret Richter, Carl Matzelle, Vince McGrath
in regular season finale
Kovatchis goal tips action-packed affair Dukes' way
By Ken Keenan
ELMHURST -- For a 1-0 game, and with nothing major on the line,
Thursday night's regular season finale between victorious host York
and Downers Grove South sure packed plenty of action.
The visitors entered the match with the West Suburban Conference Gold
title already in tow on the strength of a 6-0-0 league mark, while
their injury plagued WSC Silver counterparts finished conference play in third place
at 3-3-0.
In the end, the records and standing didn't matter. A second-half goal by Dukes senior forward Alyssa Kovatchis -- Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match -- proved to be the
difference.
York, which improved to 11-5-2 overall heading into its IHSA Class 3A
first-round match against Trinity -- in the Trinity Regional -- at
6:30 p.m. May 19, played without four key players, each of whom
previously suffered season-ending injuries. Watching from the bench
were senior forward and co-captain Jessica Bianchi, junior defenders
Kaylin Kenny and Ffyon Hund, and senior defender Jamie Kovatchis.
"Winning is always good, and to win the match on Senior Night was
nice," said York coach Don Vana. "But we're trying to re-establish
ourselves with the postseason coming ... looking to get chemistry
going with so many players out. We brought up a couple of JV players
(senior midfielder Annie Viola and junior defender Abby Horn), and
they've done a tremendous job for us."
Kovatchis tallied the lone goal on a tremendous blast, firing in a
zooming rocket with her left foot from about 45 yards out, with 18:07
remaining in the game. Taking a short pass from senior
midfielder/co-captain Emily Whitcomb, Kovatchis's laser beam smacked off the right hand of leaping Mustangs senior goalkeeper Megan
Diddia.
"I saw the keeper was off the line, so I took a hard shot, and it went
in," said Kovatchis, who displayed blazing speed and quick feet to
create numerous chances throughout the match. "We had a lot of
opportunities. But (the Mustangs) had some plays that kept us on our
toes -- and on our side, the same thing. There were a lot of close
calls."
Dukes coach Don Vana said of his goal scorer, "(Kovatchis) is a just a tremendous soccer player. She stays calm under pressure, and has a huge field presence."
First-year Downers Grove South coach Chris Hernandez, whose squad
takes a 12-7-1 overall mark into the Glenbard East Regional for a
first-round game against Curie at 4:30 p.m. May 19, said, "There was a
lot of action. We talked to the girls about making it a playoff
atmosphere -- make it competitive, playoff-like -- and I was pleased
with our effort and focus. And, like York, we're not fully healthy."
Dukes senior midfielder Juliana Salzano said, "It was both teams
putting out a lot of effort ... a pretty even match. We had a nice
goal, and they had a lot of good chances, too."
The Mustangs wasted little time in recording the game's first shot on
goal, as junior forward Meghan Riordan finished a long run down the
left side with an attempt that bounced into the arms of York junior
goalkeeper Ellen Foley just 55 seconds into the match. Foley then made
a diving save in the 12th minute, spoiling a 30-yard shot by Downers
Grove South senior midfielder Avaliese Porlier.
Kovatchis' first chance was denied with 25:15 before the break, when Diddia
stopped her shot from the right side. Just over two minutes later, a
wide-angle try by Mustangs junior forward Autumn Rasmussen was denied
by Foley.
Back and forth the offenses went. In the 23rd minute, Kovatchis sent a
curving shot from the left side off the crossbar; a minute later,
Salzano took a nice cross from Kovatchis and tipped the ball just wide
of the far post.
With 14:05 showing on the first-half clock, Mustangs junior middie
Natalia Pinto unleashed a 40-yarder that Foley handled, and Kovatchis
followed 40 seconds later with a nifty, turnaround shot from 35 yards
that was answered by Diddia. Only two minutes elapsed before Pinto
sent a corner kick that Porter headed wide on the doorstep.
South had another good chance in the 34th minute, when Rasmussen
completed a long run with a cross to senior midfielder Miyax Leon,
whose tap-in attempt rolled inches wide. Seconds before the first half
ended, Mustangs junior defender Sara Foernssler fired wide of the York cage as well.
"It was definitely quick out there," Pinto said. "It was good soccer
-- good opportunities for both sides."
The second half featured more of the same, until the match was halted
with 25:02 to go when Porlier hit the turf before being helped off the
field with a leg injury. Everyone left the field when the stadium
lights went dark, with 12:14 left in the game, causing a delay lasting
20 minutes.
After play resumed, the Mustangs had a chance to even the score on a
header by Foernssler, which sailed over the crossbar with 2:25 to go.
"Both teams played at a good level -- lots of intensity," said
Mustangs junior defender Hannah Rossi, whose all-out hustle thwarted
more than a handful of York opportunities. "We worked hard, and so did
they."
Rossi promised the Mustangs will keep up the hard work once the
playoffs begin, as the team has dedicated its 2015 season to the
memory of Kailee Miller, a teammate who passed away earlier this
spring.
"We've all tried to play with the same intensity as she did," Rossi said.
"We're trying to get to state for her," added Pinto. "We have
something big to play for."
On the York side, Kovatchis said the Dukes hope to extend their season
in honor of the team's nine seniors.
"Everybody stepped up (Thursday night), and we'll keep playing hard
for each other," she said.
"The more we play like this, the better we'll be," concluded Vana.
Starting lineups
Downers Grove South
GK: Megan Diddia
D: Sara Foernssler
D: Hannah Rossi
D: Sydney Clements
M: Miyax Leon
M: Natalia Pinto
M: Marcela Calderon
M: Avaliese Porlier
F: Meghan Riordan
F: Alexa Dimovski
F: Autumn Rasmussen
York
GK: Ellen Foley
D: Annalisa Lappo
D: Emily Mueller
D: Jenna Dvorak
M: Juliana Salzano
M: Carys Hund
M: Annie Viola
M: Emily Whitcomb
M: Madison Navarro
F: Madison Casey
F: Alyssa Kovatchis
MVP of the Match: Alyssa Kovatchis, F, York
Officials: Bret Richter, Carl Matzelle, Vince McGrath