Relentless Glenwood turns
away Notre Dame (Peoria)
Titans earn 3rd title berth in last 4 years
By Dave Owen
NAPERVILLE- When Glenwood and Notre Dame (Peoria) played to a 0-0 tie on April 11, it was not a Graves event for Glenwood.
That's because Kelly Graves did not play due to injury.
In Friday’s Class 2A semifinal rematch, the Titans' star was back at full strength and didn't miss on her chances to put a hurt on the Irish.
The senior’s two goals sparked a 4-1 win for Glenwood (18-4-3). Advancing to their third Class 2A title game in four years, Glenwood faces Carmel for the championship Saturday.
“We’re playing really well at the right time of the year,” Glenwood coach Jay Lipe said. “We have six seniors who since their freshman year have made a trip up here (to state).
“We tied (Notre Dame) early in the season but Kelly wasn’t on the field, and that’s obviously a big difference,” Lipe added. “Our kids were relaxed and we wanted to come out playing hard, and we felt if we could get that first goal it would put more pressure on them.”
That first goal came 15:33 before halftime, as the Virginia Commonwealth University-bound Graves (27 goals, 12 assists) first generated a direct kick and then executed on the restart with a great second effort play.
After a nice steal by Notre Dame’s Kiele Anderson, Graves returned the favor with her own steal and was fouled on her dribble drive just outside the box.
The Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match lined her initial 21-yard direct kick off the wall of Irish defenders, but she fielded the rebound and lofted an 18-yard second try just under the crossbar for a 1-0 lead.
The accuracy of both the direct kick and rebound made it look almost like a designed play.
“It wasn’t a strategy,” Graves said, “but you have to follow it up and see what happens. We got a nice chance in front of the box with a direct kick, and I tried to make the most of it.”
Glenwood had an early edge in chances, with two Maddie Klintworth corner kicks denied by the Irish defense. Notre Dame’s Elizabeth Mills sent a 25-yard shot wide off a Macy Martin pass 20:25 before halftime.
Irish goalkeeper Jenna Ashley made a nice save on Klintworth’s 15-yard shot 5:45 before halftime.
Ashley closed the half with a diving catch of a Klintworth 10-yard drive (off a Samantha Kessinger pass) with 1:05 left. Two minutes earlier, the Irish nearly tied the game.
Off a nice initial ball from Savanna Fleeman, Mills found Martin open inside the box. But her 15-yard try went just wide of the right post.
“If we finish that chance at the end of the first half and get the equalizer, it’s a different game,” Irish coach Matt Blackford said. “But we continue to chase the lead and it’s difficult, and then they get the second one.”
Glenwood came out racing in the second half, and went up 2-0 with 30:21 left.
After Ashley made big saves on Klintworth (diving block of a 10-yard shot with 37:50 left) and Graves (25-yard shot at 36:30) in the opening minutes, the Irish goalkeeper had to dive towards the post to deflect a Graves 26-yard laser wide.
On Cayne Randle’s ensuing corner kick, Graves corralled the ball off a scramble and sent it back to Randle. Her cross to the net found Klintworth, whose point-blank header inside the right post made it 2-0 with 30:21 left.
After Glenwood goalkeeper Mara Cunningham made the save on a Mills 28-yarder, the Titans turned defense into instant offense for a 3-0 lead with 28:35 to go.
Kessinger’s clearing pass of the zone found Graves at midfield. The senior dashed far upfield between two defenders and lined a 20-yard shot over a leaping Ashley’s hands and into the net for an unassisted goal.
Glenwood's impressive attack left an impression on Notre Dame.
“I thought they brought more to the table this time (than April 11),” Ashley said. “We weren’t really prepared for the game, and we weren’t mentally focused. I think that really got to us.”
Graves’ drives against the Irish defense had a lot to do with that.
“After we got the first goal, we kept the intensity and pace up and kept putting pressure on them until we got a comfortable lead,” Graves said.
Lipe said: “We came out strong in the second half -- that was key in the first 5-10 minutes there, to not let down and to get that second goal. We got a couple really quick, and that puts them on their heels and it’s obviously really hard to play from behind.”
Notre Dame's did more than her part with another big save with 15:05 left, diving to catch a Taylor Parriott 18-yard shot.
But with 9:39 to go, Katie Juhlin stole the ball to the right of the box and lined an 18-yarder into the lower left corner of the net for a 4-0 Glenwood lead.
That steal and score was part of a struggle for possession all day by the Irish.
“They didn’t let our center midfielders possess,” Blackford said, “and we didn’t do a nice job dealing with their physicality.”
A winning tradition and tough competition have Glenwood ready to answer the call in big situations.
“The amount of (career) playoff games we’ve played is around 20,” Graves said, “and we use all that to our advantage. And we play these teams from the Chicago area that other teams back home don’t get to play.”
Notre Dame (18-5-4) had the last highlight of the match, produced by the hard work of senior Kahla Walker. After she blocked a Glenwood clearing attempt in the Irish offensive zone, Walker battled for a loose ball in the box and rolled an eventual 10-yard try inside the right post to make the score 4-1 with 3:46 to go.
“We just had to keep it together and be more positive, be as a team and want to fight more,” Ashley said. “We didn’t quit.”
But state-savvy Glenwood was too much.
“We know the routine (of state),” Lipe said, “and that helps the kids relax a little more. Even though they’re going to be anxious, it helps them to play their game. That familiarity really helped us.”
Starting lineups
Notre Dame (Peoria)
GK: Jenna Ashley
D: Elizabeth Shealy
D: Emily Polonus
D: Kiele Anderson
D: Kenna Carew
M: Liz Frampton
M: Elizabeth Mills
M: Kristen Slomba
M: Bridget Schuler
F: Savanna Fleeman
F: Macy Martin
Glenwood
GK: Mara Cunningham
D: Blaire Marker
D: Alie Smith
D: Maggie Juhlin
D: Madison Volpert
M: Maddie Klintworth
M: Samantha Kessinger
M: Kennedy Sheedy
M: Cayne Randle
F: Kelly Graves
F: Taylor Parriott
MVP of the Match: Kelly Graves, F, Glenwood
Editor's note: Batavia, Fremd, Hinsdale Central, Neuqua Valley, Plainfield North, St. Charles East, Saint Viator and Wheaton Warrenville South high schools helped make Chicagoland Soccer's state finals coverage possible.
away Notre Dame (Peoria)
Titans earn 3rd title berth in last 4 years
By Dave Owen
NAPERVILLE- When Glenwood and Notre Dame (Peoria) played to a 0-0 tie on April 11, it was not a Graves event for Glenwood.
That's because Kelly Graves did not play due to injury.
In Friday’s Class 2A semifinal rematch, the Titans' star was back at full strength and didn't miss on her chances to put a hurt on the Irish.
The senior’s two goals sparked a 4-1 win for Glenwood (18-4-3). Advancing to their third Class 2A title game in four years, Glenwood faces Carmel for the championship Saturday.
“We’re playing really well at the right time of the year,” Glenwood coach Jay Lipe said. “We have six seniors who since their freshman year have made a trip up here (to state).
“We tied (Notre Dame) early in the season but Kelly wasn’t on the field, and that’s obviously a big difference,” Lipe added. “Our kids were relaxed and we wanted to come out playing hard, and we felt if we could get that first goal it would put more pressure on them.”
That first goal came 15:33 before halftime, as the Virginia Commonwealth University-bound Graves (27 goals, 12 assists) first generated a direct kick and then executed on the restart with a great second effort play.
After a nice steal by Notre Dame’s Kiele Anderson, Graves returned the favor with her own steal and was fouled on her dribble drive just outside the box.
The Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match lined her initial 21-yard direct kick off the wall of Irish defenders, but she fielded the rebound and lofted an 18-yard second try just under the crossbar for a 1-0 lead.
The accuracy of both the direct kick and rebound made it look almost like a designed play.
“It wasn’t a strategy,” Graves said, “but you have to follow it up and see what happens. We got a nice chance in front of the box with a direct kick, and I tried to make the most of it.”
Glenwood had an early edge in chances, with two Maddie Klintworth corner kicks denied by the Irish defense. Notre Dame’s Elizabeth Mills sent a 25-yard shot wide off a Macy Martin pass 20:25 before halftime.
Irish goalkeeper Jenna Ashley made a nice save on Klintworth’s 15-yard shot 5:45 before halftime.
Ashley closed the half with a diving catch of a Klintworth 10-yard drive (off a Samantha Kessinger pass) with 1:05 left. Two minutes earlier, the Irish nearly tied the game.
Off a nice initial ball from Savanna Fleeman, Mills found Martin open inside the box. But her 15-yard try went just wide of the right post.
“If we finish that chance at the end of the first half and get the equalizer, it’s a different game,” Irish coach Matt Blackford said. “But we continue to chase the lead and it’s difficult, and then they get the second one.”
Glenwood came out racing in the second half, and went up 2-0 with 30:21 left.
After Ashley made big saves on Klintworth (diving block of a 10-yard shot with 37:50 left) and Graves (25-yard shot at 36:30) in the opening minutes, the Irish goalkeeper had to dive towards the post to deflect a Graves 26-yard laser wide.
On Cayne Randle’s ensuing corner kick, Graves corralled the ball off a scramble and sent it back to Randle. Her cross to the net found Klintworth, whose point-blank header inside the right post made it 2-0 with 30:21 left.
After Glenwood goalkeeper Mara Cunningham made the save on a Mills 28-yarder, the Titans turned defense into instant offense for a 3-0 lead with 28:35 to go.
Kessinger’s clearing pass of the zone found Graves at midfield. The senior dashed far upfield between two defenders and lined a 20-yard shot over a leaping Ashley’s hands and into the net for an unassisted goal.
Glenwood's impressive attack left an impression on Notre Dame.
“I thought they brought more to the table this time (than April 11),” Ashley said. “We weren’t really prepared for the game, and we weren’t mentally focused. I think that really got to us.”
Graves’ drives against the Irish defense had a lot to do with that.
“After we got the first goal, we kept the intensity and pace up and kept putting pressure on them until we got a comfortable lead,” Graves said.
Lipe said: “We came out strong in the second half -- that was key in the first 5-10 minutes there, to not let down and to get that second goal. We got a couple really quick, and that puts them on their heels and it’s obviously really hard to play from behind.”
Notre Dame's did more than her part with another big save with 15:05 left, diving to catch a Taylor Parriott 18-yard shot.
But with 9:39 to go, Katie Juhlin stole the ball to the right of the box and lined an 18-yarder into the lower left corner of the net for a 4-0 Glenwood lead.
That steal and score was part of a struggle for possession all day by the Irish.
“They didn’t let our center midfielders possess,” Blackford said, “and we didn’t do a nice job dealing with their physicality.”
A winning tradition and tough competition have Glenwood ready to answer the call in big situations.
“The amount of (career) playoff games we’ve played is around 20,” Graves said, “and we use all that to our advantage. And we play these teams from the Chicago area that other teams back home don’t get to play.”
Notre Dame (18-5-4) had the last highlight of the match, produced by the hard work of senior Kahla Walker. After she blocked a Glenwood clearing attempt in the Irish offensive zone, Walker battled for a loose ball in the box and rolled an eventual 10-yard try inside the right post to make the score 4-1 with 3:46 to go.
“We just had to keep it together and be more positive, be as a team and want to fight more,” Ashley said. “We didn’t quit.”
But state-savvy Glenwood was too much.
“We know the routine (of state),” Lipe said, “and that helps the kids relax a little more. Even though they’re going to be anxious, it helps them to play their game. That familiarity really helped us.”
Starting lineups
Notre Dame (Peoria)
GK: Jenna Ashley
D: Elizabeth Shealy
D: Emily Polonus
D: Kiele Anderson
D: Kenna Carew
M: Liz Frampton
M: Elizabeth Mills
M: Kristen Slomba
M: Bridget Schuler
F: Savanna Fleeman
F: Macy Martin
Glenwood
GK: Mara Cunningham
D: Blaire Marker
D: Alie Smith
D: Maggie Juhlin
D: Madison Volpert
M: Maddie Klintworth
M: Samantha Kessinger
M: Kennedy Sheedy
M: Cayne Randle
F: Kelly Graves
F: Taylor Parriott
MVP of the Match: Kelly Graves, F, Glenwood
Editor's note: Batavia, Fremd, Hinsdale Central, Neuqua Valley, Plainfield North, St. Charles East, Saint Viator and Wheaton Warrenville South high schools helped make Chicagoland Soccer's state finals coverage possible.