Prospect earns title
berth in own invitational
Knights battle, but fall to Lake Zurich
By Ken Keenan
MOUNT PROSPECT -- Things are looking up for Prospect.
After notching its first victory of the 2015 campaign with a 4-0 thumping of Wheeling
on April 20, coach Tom Froats' squad dropped a 4-1 decision to Mid-Suburban League East Division leader Hersey two days later before winning two-straight matches in its own Knights Invitational to reach Saturday afternoon's championship tilt.
But the Knights ran into a buzzsaw in the title game and fell by a 6-1 count to Lake Zurich, which rattled off five unanswered goals to break an early 1-1 deadlock and claim the 19th annual Knights Invitational crown.
"I like what we did this weekend," said Froats, whose crew shut out McHenry 3-0 Friday night and returned with 2-1 win over University (Normal) Saturday morning to reach the final. "There's been improvement -- we're getting better every week. Success breeds a
little more confidence, and with hard work and effort, anything can happen. Three games in two days is a challenge, but for how our season has gone (3-9-1 overall, 1-6-0 in Mid-Suburban League play), it was great to get to the final with a good win over University High."
Lake Zurich (12-3-1) was impressive in the title match. The Bears wore down the Knights with an aggressive attack that featured textbook ball control based on pinpoint passing, superb spacing and a never-let-up approach. After several minutes of
back-and-forth play to begin the game, the Bears drew first blood with 23:19 remaining in the first half on a goal by freshman midfielder Alexa Juarez, who tapped in a rebound at the goal line following a shot by senior forward Nicole Rasiarmos.
Prospect answered six minutes later, tying the score at 1-1 when junior forward Martina Kowalczuk buried a short shot from the right side after taking a pass from senior midfielder Marika Maggos and putting a smooth move on a Bears defender. Previously, Kowalczuk nearly scored in the 10th minute, rolling a chip shot just wide of the
far post following a long run down the right side; an ensuing corner kick resulted in a floater by Knights senior midfielder Maggie Sullivan that nipped the crossbar.
But the Bears woke up after the equalizer. A 35-yard free kick by senior defender Maggie Tuckey found junior midfielder Madeline Blasko, whose turnaround shot was stopped by Knights sophomore goalkeeper Paige Thiel in the 26th minute. Two minutes passed before sophomore midfielder Erin Neeson -- Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match -- made it 2-1 when her 30-yard shot hit Prospect senior defender in the
head and deflected past Thiel.
"I thought we were battling really well to get that equalizer," Froats said. "But unfortunately it was an own goal on the second one, and then 3-1 started to take the focus out of our sails."
Leading by the same 2-1 count at halftime, Lake Zurich came out flying in the second 40 minutes. Knights senior defender Jenna Leane spoiled a pair of charges with solid clears, but the Bears kept coming. Junior midfielder Madeline Blasko shot wide after a nice passing sequence in the 51st minute, and then banged a short rocket off the crossbar less than two minutes later. With 24:42 to go in regulation, sophomore
forward Rebecca Kubin tracked down a long pass from senior forward Danielle Ufheil and scored from 15 yards out for a 3-1 lead.
"After they got the third goal, Lake Zurich had the energy from there," said Prospect junior forward Kathryn Szukalla. "We weren't overwhelmed -- we were more exhausted -- and they never slowed down."'
In the 62nd minute, sharp passing between freshman midfielder Alexa Suarez, Neeson, senior forward Carolyn Radecki and sophomore defender Tam Frank resulted in a shot on goal, and three minutes later junior forward Jasmine Mirabelli was stopped by Thiel on a 10-yard blast.
Lake Zurich wasn't content to lay back.
The Bears upped the margin to 4-1 with 11:06 to go, as Radecki finished from the right side to complete a passing play started by Neeson, with Mirabelli gaining the assist.
Lake Zurich made it 5-1 with 4:57 left on Radecki's second goal of the match (assisted by Rasiarmos), and completed the rout in the final minute on a tap-in by Mirabelli (from senior defender Meagan Bens).
"Our goal was to win this tourney, and we played well," said Lake Zurich skipper Mike Castronova, whose team reached the final with a 7-0 pasting of Elgin on Friday and a 6-0 blowout of Champaign Central on Saturday morning. "(Against Prospect), we had a lot of movement off the ball, and tough defense in the back -- a lot of communication in
the back, all the girls. We worked hard, and it showed.
"It was nice for the girls to get the trophy, but credit Prospect for making the final. They're a well-coached team, and it was 2-1 for a long time. But we settled down in the second half. It was a team effort. Everyone did well when they had the opportunity."
Neeson acknowledged that the tying goal by Prospect did serve as a wake-up call.
"After that, we came together because we all wanted (the invite title) so badly," she said. "Our best games are when we're cohesive with one another. We definitely stepped it up (vs. Prospect) and all worked together to create that mentality to score -- and win -- and that's what we did."
Added Radecki: "In the beginning, we weren't really talking much -- not keeping our marks up. We had a halftime talk and then started working like a team, as we normally do. We came here to win, so it's very rewarding to our team to get the trophy."
Froats said, "We competed with them well, but if you give them time and space, they're dangerous."
Szukalla believes the Knights, who also lost their season-opener to Lake Zurich, are on the verge of becoming a dangerous opponent as well.
"Every game, we keep getting better and learning how each other plays," she said. "That's helped us overall, and we've gotten closer as a team. You can see it in practice, too."
Starting lineups
Lake Zurich
GK: Eleanor Daleske
D: Lexi Miranda
D: Maggie Tuckey
D: Natalie Young
D: Meagan Bens
M: Madeline Blasko
M: Alexa Juarez
M: Erin Neeson
F: Danielle Uhheil
F: Rebecca Kubin
F: Nicole Rasiarmos
Prospect
GK: Paige Thiel
D: Natalie Marfilius
D: Jenny Leet
D: Grace Johannesen
D: Jenna Leane
M: Maggie Sullivan
M: Amy Novak
M: Lauren Rendino
F: Kathryn Szukalla
F: Ally Kobler
F: Martina Kowalczuk
MVP of the Match: Erin Neeson, MF, Lake Zurich
berth in own invitational
Knights battle, but fall to Lake Zurich
By Ken Keenan
MOUNT PROSPECT -- Things are looking up for Prospect.
After notching its first victory of the 2015 campaign with a 4-0 thumping of Wheeling
on April 20, coach Tom Froats' squad dropped a 4-1 decision to Mid-Suburban League East Division leader Hersey two days later before winning two-straight matches in its own Knights Invitational to reach Saturday afternoon's championship tilt.
But the Knights ran into a buzzsaw in the title game and fell by a 6-1 count to Lake Zurich, which rattled off five unanswered goals to break an early 1-1 deadlock and claim the 19th annual Knights Invitational crown.
"I like what we did this weekend," said Froats, whose crew shut out McHenry 3-0 Friday night and returned with 2-1 win over University (Normal) Saturday morning to reach the final. "There's been improvement -- we're getting better every week. Success breeds a
little more confidence, and with hard work and effort, anything can happen. Three games in two days is a challenge, but for how our season has gone (3-9-1 overall, 1-6-0 in Mid-Suburban League play), it was great to get to the final with a good win over University High."
Lake Zurich (12-3-1) was impressive in the title match. The Bears wore down the Knights with an aggressive attack that featured textbook ball control based on pinpoint passing, superb spacing and a never-let-up approach. After several minutes of
back-and-forth play to begin the game, the Bears drew first blood with 23:19 remaining in the first half on a goal by freshman midfielder Alexa Juarez, who tapped in a rebound at the goal line following a shot by senior forward Nicole Rasiarmos.
Prospect answered six minutes later, tying the score at 1-1 when junior forward Martina Kowalczuk buried a short shot from the right side after taking a pass from senior midfielder Marika Maggos and putting a smooth move on a Bears defender. Previously, Kowalczuk nearly scored in the 10th minute, rolling a chip shot just wide of the
far post following a long run down the right side; an ensuing corner kick resulted in a floater by Knights senior midfielder Maggie Sullivan that nipped the crossbar.
But the Bears woke up after the equalizer. A 35-yard free kick by senior defender Maggie Tuckey found junior midfielder Madeline Blasko, whose turnaround shot was stopped by Knights sophomore goalkeeper Paige Thiel in the 26th minute. Two minutes passed before sophomore midfielder Erin Neeson -- Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match -- made it 2-1 when her 30-yard shot hit Prospect senior defender in the
head and deflected past Thiel.
"I thought we were battling really well to get that equalizer," Froats said. "But unfortunately it was an own goal on the second one, and then 3-1 started to take the focus out of our sails."
Leading by the same 2-1 count at halftime, Lake Zurich came out flying in the second 40 minutes. Knights senior defender Jenna Leane spoiled a pair of charges with solid clears, but the Bears kept coming. Junior midfielder Madeline Blasko shot wide after a nice passing sequence in the 51st minute, and then banged a short rocket off the crossbar less than two minutes later. With 24:42 to go in regulation, sophomore
forward Rebecca Kubin tracked down a long pass from senior forward Danielle Ufheil and scored from 15 yards out for a 3-1 lead.
"After they got the third goal, Lake Zurich had the energy from there," said Prospect junior forward Kathryn Szukalla. "We weren't overwhelmed -- we were more exhausted -- and they never slowed down."'
In the 62nd minute, sharp passing between freshman midfielder Alexa Suarez, Neeson, senior forward Carolyn Radecki and sophomore defender Tam Frank resulted in a shot on goal, and three minutes later junior forward Jasmine Mirabelli was stopped by Thiel on a 10-yard blast.
Lake Zurich wasn't content to lay back.
The Bears upped the margin to 4-1 with 11:06 to go, as Radecki finished from the right side to complete a passing play started by Neeson, with Mirabelli gaining the assist.
Lake Zurich made it 5-1 with 4:57 left on Radecki's second goal of the match (assisted by Rasiarmos), and completed the rout in the final minute on a tap-in by Mirabelli (from senior defender Meagan Bens).
"Our goal was to win this tourney, and we played well," said Lake Zurich skipper Mike Castronova, whose team reached the final with a 7-0 pasting of Elgin on Friday and a 6-0 blowout of Champaign Central on Saturday morning. "(Against Prospect), we had a lot of movement off the ball, and tough defense in the back -- a lot of communication in
the back, all the girls. We worked hard, and it showed.
"It was nice for the girls to get the trophy, but credit Prospect for making the final. They're a well-coached team, and it was 2-1 for a long time. But we settled down in the second half. It was a team effort. Everyone did well when they had the opportunity."
Neeson acknowledged that the tying goal by Prospect did serve as a wake-up call.
"After that, we came together because we all wanted (the invite title) so badly," she said. "Our best games are when we're cohesive with one another. We definitely stepped it up (vs. Prospect) and all worked together to create that mentality to score -- and win -- and that's what we did."
Added Radecki: "In the beginning, we weren't really talking much -- not keeping our marks up. We had a halftime talk and then started working like a team, as we normally do. We came here to win, so it's very rewarding to our team to get the trophy."
Froats said, "We competed with them well, but if you give them time and space, they're dangerous."
Szukalla believes the Knights, who also lost their season-opener to Lake Zurich, are on the verge of becoming a dangerous opponent as well.
"Every game, we keep getting better and learning how each other plays," she said. "That's helped us overall, and we've gotten closer as a team. You can see it in practice, too."
Starting lineups
Lake Zurich
GK: Eleanor Daleske
D: Lexi Miranda
D: Maggie Tuckey
D: Natalie Young
D: Meagan Bens
M: Madeline Blasko
M: Alexa Juarez
M: Erin Neeson
F: Danielle Uhheil
F: Rebecca Kubin
F: Nicole Rasiarmos
Prospect
GK: Paige Thiel
D: Natalie Marfilius
D: Jenny Leet
D: Grace Johannesen
D: Jenna Leane
M: Maggie Sullivan
M: Amy Novak
M: Lauren Rendino
F: Kathryn Szukalla
F: Ally Kobler
F: Martina Kowalczuk
MVP of the Match: Erin Neeson, MF, Lake Zurich