Young Hinsdale C. falls short
in North Shore Invitational opener
Red Devils continue on upward track in loss to Glenbrook S.
By Mike Garofola
WILMETTE -- In an entertaining and hard-fought contest, manager Michael Smith's young club from Hinsdale Central held its own nicely with Glenbrook South until the Titans broke a 0-0 stalemate late in the first half, then added another just after the break to earn a 2-0 win at Hoerster Field.
The Saturday afternoon contest signaled the pool play opener for both sides in the inaugural North Shore Invitational. It set up a challenging week of soccer for Central which meets state power Barrington, ranked no. 2 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, and tourney co-host Loyola this week.
"With such a young and inexperienced team, it would be easy to play a schedule where we can go out and win 5-0 or 6-0 (instead) of being part of a tourney filled with first class teams like this one," began Smith, who starred at Stevenson High School back in his prep days before going on to play at Bradley Univeristy.
"But we want to be better, and get better, and we see this tournament as a way to do just that. Today we fought hard, created a few chances, and we were up to the challenge of playing a team bigger, stronger and better than us."
The Red Devils (0-5-1) at times frustrated the undefeated and 12th-ranked Titans and their long-time manager Seong Ha with a high work rate and desire to go into the tackle hard, while keeping fairly good control in the middle of the park for most of this sunny afternoon.
"Michael does a great job of teaching and coaching, and you can see it (even) with such a young roster," began Ha.
"Their no. 10 (Erin Otto) was very good in the midfield, and she and her teammates made us work for everything we got today. I know the future is bright for Hinsdale Central."
The Red Devils are putting in the effort to grow quickly.
"We're a work in progress," said Otto, who admits before the season that she didn't realize she was the lone senior on a team which has eight freshmen and nine sophomores.
"It was a little overwhelming," admitted Otto. The Red Devils listed 11 seniors on their regional championship team roster from a year ago.
"There's a lot of great potential on this team, and all of these young players bring a lot of energy and great heart and desire, so for me, it's fun to be around a team like this during my senior year."
Otto will play at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis., next fall, and double major in accouting and sports management. She earned Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match honor for her work rate and field leadership.
The opening quarter of the game produced little in the way of possession, much less quality soccer as both sides struggled with a strong wind, which resulted in the ball sailing over the touchline on several occasions and dozens of throw-ins.
Glenbrook South (7-0-0) had a little more of the play thanks to the wind at their backs. With it they were able to earn themselves a couple of corners which produced balls over the top that flashed through the box, one of which Central keeper Fiona Fitzsimmons came off her line quickly to pull from danger.
Later Firzsimmons made a brilliant save to keep the Titans off the scoreboard in what would be a quality 40-minute performance between the sticks for the freshman.
The Red Devils slowly worked back into the game, thanks in part to Alyssa Moncrief, Jane Bibby, Otto, and Haley Arnold, whose work in the middle of the park drew attention.
The quartet did its best to try and play purposeful soccer with some good combination work, quick touches, and unselfish play as they and their mates went in search of the first goal of the opening period.
"We're getting better each time out, but for all of us freshmen there's been a lot to adjust to: speed of play; and especially the physical side of the game. In most cases, the teams we're playing are just bigger and stronger then we are," said the frosh Arnold.
Fitzsimmons came off her line in timely fashion to win a nicely played early ball from Grace Evans in the 32nd minute to stop any potential trouble - but the Red Devils keeper could do nothing about a long, looping wind-aided ball which sailed over and into the net just two minutes before intermission.
"Sometimes all you need is a little luck in this game in addition to skill, but you take it when it comes your way," admitted Ha.
Five minutes after the break, new keeper Sarah Berg rose up to make a brilliant reaction save on a wicked close-range attempt from Lily Sands. It was Sands, and her mate alongside her up-top Makayla Stadler, who proved to be trouble for the Red Devils right up to the point when the Titans doubled their advantage.
The Glenbrook South forwards showed far too much pace for the Red Devils in the opening quarter hour of the second period. If it wasn't one, it was the other who took turns putting their teammate through as Central struggled to possess the ball during this time.
The Red Devils Elle Jenkins had a good look on frame in the 52nd minute, but the sophomore just missed with her 25-yard cracker.
Just afterwards Glenbrook South doubled its lead when Sam Langenbach finished a Stadler helper and forced the Red Devils to chase two goals during the final 25 minutes of play.
Berg maintained the 2-0 deficit with another superb save on Stadler when she turned around an attempt from inside the box, before her teammate along the back, Olivia Rayis parried a ball from near the spot.
"We had a little spell when we were defending more than we would have liked, but the girls did well," said Smith. "It's all about learning from these situations against stronger competition, and that's what we're seeing from this group all of the time."
An early ball from Maddie Lynch created a corner for Hinsdale Central in the 62nd minute, and a well-played short corner between Arnold and Greta Kumskis spilled back to Arnold who swung her cross to the back post where Titans keeper Libby Vanderveen elevated to bring the ball out of harm's way.
Otto's half-chance was easily saved by Vanderveen, but a stunning 40-yard free kick from the Red Devils captain rattled the woodwork one minute from time to nearly end the Titans clean-sheet streak.
"We've gone now 560 minutes without conceding a goal, but Hinsdale Central gave us a very good game," began Glebrook South manager Ha.
"I think that streak may be in jeopardy this coming week when we take on Loyola then Barrington, but I'm happy that we were able to get this win against a fast-rising team like Hinsdale, which is really going to be something during the next 2-3 years."
"That's the plan," Smith said in response to the comments from his counterpart.
"You know we're educators first, so it's our job to teach and instruct. With a team so young and new to this level, it's important that we do just that, slow things down a little bit in order to define and teach a few of the finer points."
"This is a terrific group to be around, and I know I've seen each training session, and game get a little better. There's no doubt we'll be a much different-looking team during the last half of this season."
Arnold added: "I really like the energy around this team.
"We went from 11-12 seniors down to one. But for me, it's been a great experience so far, and it has helped me build my leadership skills, which now, and later, will go a long way towards making me a better person."
Starting lineups
Hinsdale Central
GK- Fiona Fitzsimmons
D- Sophie Simmons
D- Alyssa Moncrief
D- Rachel Dannhausen-Brun
D- Olivia Rayis
M- Elle Jenkins
M- Erin Otto
M- Haley Arnold
M- Jane Bibby
F- Maddie Lynch
F- Brittany Doneske
Glenbrook South
GK- Maude Tarbox
D- Cassidy Price
D- Katie Sullivan
D- Caroline Hensing
D- Katie Gates
M- Callie Pekosh
M- Lily Sands
M- Lydia Martin
M- Kelly Krug
F- Megan Dillon
F- Hailey Kraabel
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Erin Otto, sr., MF, Hinsdale Central
Officials: Mike Valsamis (center); Dorin Babolea; Benyamin Rommer
in North Shore Invitational opener
Red Devils continue on upward track in loss to Glenbrook S.
By Mike Garofola
WILMETTE -- In an entertaining and hard-fought contest, manager Michael Smith's young club from Hinsdale Central held its own nicely with Glenbrook South until the Titans broke a 0-0 stalemate late in the first half, then added another just after the break to earn a 2-0 win at Hoerster Field.
The Saturday afternoon contest signaled the pool play opener for both sides in the inaugural North Shore Invitational. It set up a challenging week of soccer for Central which meets state power Barrington, ranked no. 2 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, and tourney co-host Loyola this week.
"With such a young and inexperienced team, it would be easy to play a schedule where we can go out and win 5-0 or 6-0 (instead) of being part of a tourney filled with first class teams like this one," began Smith, who starred at Stevenson High School back in his prep days before going on to play at Bradley Univeristy.
"But we want to be better, and get better, and we see this tournament as a way to do just that. Today we fought hard, created a few chances, and we were up to the challenge of playing a team bigger, stronger and better than us."
The Red Devils (0-5-1) at times frustrated the undefeated and 12th-ranked Titans and their long-time manager Seong Ha with a high work rate and desire to go into the tackle hard, while keeping fairly good control in the middle of the park for most of this sunny afternoon.
"Michael does a great job of teaching and coaching, and you can see it (even) with such a young roster," began Ha.
"Their no. 10 (Erin Otto) was very good in the midfield, and she and her teammates made us work for everything we got today. I know the future is bright for Hinsdale Central."
The Red Devils are putting in the effort to grow quickly.
"We're a work in progress," said Otto, who admits before the season that she didn't realize she was the lone senior on a team which has eight freshmen and nine sophomores.
"It was a little overwhelming," admitted Otto. The Red Devils listed 11 seniors on their regional championship team roster from a year ago.
"There's a lot of great potential on this team, and all of these young players bring a lot of energy and great heart and desire, so for me, it's fun to be around a team like this during my senior year."
Otto will play at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis., next fall, and double major in accouting and sports management. She earned Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match honor for her work rate and field leadership.
The opening quarter of the game produced little in the way of possession, much less quality soccer as both sides struggled with a strong wind, which resulted in the ball sailing over the touchline on several occasions and dozens of throw-ins.
Glenbrook South (7-0-0) had a little more of the play thanks to the wind at their backs. With it they were able to earn themselves a couple of corners which produced balls over the top that flashed through the box, one of which Central keeper Fiona Fitzsimmons came off her line quickly to pull from danger.
Later Firzsimmons made a brilliant save to keep the Titans off the scoreboard in what would be a quality 40-minute performance between the sticks for the freshman.
The Red Devils slowly worked back into the game, thanks in part to Alyssa Moncrief, Jane Bibby, Otto, and Haley Arnold, whose work in the middle of the park drew attention.
The quartet did its best to try and play purposeful soccer with some good combination work, quick touches, and unselfish play as they and their mates went in search of the first goal of the opening period.
"We're getting better each time out, but for all of us freshmen there's been a lot to adjust to: speed of play; and especially the physical side of the game. In most cases, the teams we're playing are just bigger and stronger then we are," said the frosh Arnold.
Fitzsimmons came off her line in timely fashion to win a nicely played early ball from Grace Evans in the 32nd minute to stop any potential trouble - but the Red Devils keeper could do nothing about a long, looping wind-aided ball which sailed over and into the net just two minutes before intermission.
"Sometimes all you need is a little luck in this game in addition to skill, but you take it when it comes your way," admitted Ha.
Five minutes after the break, new keeper Sarah Berg rose up to make a brilliant reaction save on a wicked close-range attempt from Lily Sands. It was Sands, and her mate alongside her up-top Makayla Stadler, who proved to be trouble for the Red Devils right up to the point when the Titans doubled their advantage.
The Glenbrook South forwards showed far too much pace for the Red Devils in the opening quarter hour of the second period. If it wasn't one, it was the other who took turns putting their teammate through as Central struggled to possess the ball during this time.
The Red Devils Elle Jenkins had a good look on frame in the 52nd minute, but the sophomore just missed with her 25-yard cracker.
Just afterwards Glenbrook South doubled its lead when Sam Langenbach finished a Stadler helper and forced the Red Devils to chase two goals during the final 25 minutes of play.
Berg maintained the 2-0 deficit with another superb save on Stadler when she turned around an attempt from inside the box, before her teammate along the back, Olivia Rayis parried a ball from near the spot.
"We had a little spell when we were defending more than we would have liked, but the girls did well," said Smith. "It's all about learning from these situations against stronger competition, and that's what we're seeing from this group all of the time."
An early ball from Maddie Lynch created a corner for Hinsdale Central in the 62nd minute, and a well-played short corner between Arnold and Greta Kumskis spilled back to Arnold who swung her cross to the back post where Titans keeper Libby Vanderveen elevated to bring the ball out of harm's way.
Otto's half-chance was easily saved by Vanderveen, but a stunning 40-yard free kick from the Red Devils captain rattled the woodwork one minute from time to nearly end the Titans clean-sheet streak.
"We've gone now 560 minutes without conceding a goal, but Hinsdale Central gave us a very good game," began Glebrook South manager Ha.
"I think that streak may be in jeopardy this coming week when we take on Loyola then Barrington, but I'm happy that we were able to get this win against a fast-rising team like Hinsdale, which is really going to be something during the next 2-3 years."
"That's the plan," Smith said in response to the comments from his counterpart.
"You know we're educators first, so it's our job to teach and instruct. With a team so young and new to this level, it's important that we do just that, slow things down a little bit in order to define and teach a few of the finer points."
"This is a terrific group to be around, and I know I've seen each training session, and game get a little better. There's no doubt we'll be a much different-looking team during the last half of this season."
Arnold added: "I really like the energy around this team.
"We went from 11-12 seniors down to one. But for me, it's been a great experience so far, and it has helped me build my leadership skills, which now, and later, will go a long way towards making me a better person."
Starting lineups
Hinsdale Central
GK- Fiona Fitzsimmons
D- Sophie Simmons
D- Alyssa Moncrief
D- Rachel Dannhausen-Brun
D- Olivia Rayis
M- Elle Jenkins
M- Erin Otto
M- Haley Arnold
M- Jane Bibby
F- Maddie Lynch
F- Brittany Doneske
Glenbrook South
GK- Maude Tarbox
D- Cassidy Price
D- Katie Sullivan
D- Caroline Hensing
D- Katie Gates
M- Callie Pekosh
M- Lily Sands
M- Lydia Martin
M- Kelly Krug
F- Megan Dillon
F- Hailey Kraabel
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Erin Otto, sr., MF, Hinsdale Central
Officials: Mike Valsamis (center); Dorin Babolea; Benyamin Rommer