Hernandez has no shortage of talent
Senior scores game-winner in 2-1 victory over Streamwood
By Patrick Z. McGavin
SCHAUMBURG — Alexis Hernandez was much more direct in her actions than trying to recount it all after the fact. The spontaneity of the moment occupied her time, and she delivered when her best chance played out in dramatic fashion.
The Lockport senior midfielder intuitively redirected her own blocked shot and blasted a short volley from about eight yards out in the 70th minute as the Porters clipped Streamwood 2-1 in a PepsiCo Showdown consolation game Saturday morning at Olympic Park.
The goal marked the first of the year for the 5-foot-2 Hernandez. She deftly outmaneuvered two Sabre defenders in finishing the ball. The ChicagoLand Soccer MVP of the Match, Hernandez had the composure and presence of mind to finish what she started.
"I just passed it to [Stephanie] Quigley, she ran forward and she passed it back, and I kind of dove at it," Hernandez said. "Originally I went for the slide tackle and then [Allyson] Fischer came in from behind me, the ball bounced off of her, the goalie hit the first shot, and then I finished it from there."
Interestingly, Lockport played into the heavy crosswind for the second half. Coach Todd Elkei saw that as an unorthodox intangible in his team's favor. "We thought it would be better for us going against the wind offensively because sometimes we have a hard time judging the pace of the ball," he said.
"When you have the wind like that, you're concerned with putting the right texture on the ball, keeping the ball on the ground and building some sequences," Elkei said. He was particularly gratified at the fight and git of his team, holding off a Sabres team that is better than their record. Streamwood enjoyed the better opportunities through much of the much.
"We knew our chances would come," Elkei said.
Senior midfielder Taylor Stortz staked the Porters to the 1-0 advantage in the 10th minute by drilling a beautiful ball from the top of the box. The score was also her first of the season. "But not my last," she asserted. "I just leaned into it, and I hit it as hard and as far as I could."
Streamwood's star senior forward Tawny Carroll, a Drake recruit, created the equalizer in the 19th minute on a beautiful set piece as she bent a corner kick that slid past the grasp of the Porters' keeper Cassidy Henson.
The goal returned everything to the beginning.
"We were definitely frustrated because a goal like that is hard to let go," Stortz said. "At halftime the coaches did a great job of keeping our heads in the game. We knew about the wind, and it was definitely weird at times, but not too bad, and you have to learn how to play in different conditions all the time."
The game was a heartbreaker for the Sabres (3-7), who generated greater scoring chances and produced more set pieces. Carroll is dynamic, and she often had the Porters on their heels defensively.
"She's probably the best player we've come across individually the whole year," Elki said. "She's a tremendous player."
Carroll had a free kick from about 25 yards out late in the first half smash off the crossbar.
"I was really upset about that," she said. "I think we started off well with a high tempo, and then we let up a little after that."
Streamwood coach Matt Polovin lamented the missed opportunities and failure to capitalize on the chances the Sabres had.
"In the second half alone we had eight or nine set pieces from about 25 yards out, and we didn't connect on one of them," he said. "We had four or five corner kicks, and also we also didn't connect there. At this point in the season we have to put at least one or two of those away.
"We had the run of play, I thought."
Freshman Streamwood forward Kaila Ford had two shots inside the box, the first speared by Porters' keeper Henson and the follow-up a left-footed one-touch that Henson went to the ground in order to deny.
Lockport generated fewer chances though demonstrated a better closing burst. Sophomore defender Brooke Janeczek was particularly effective on her free kicks. It did not lead to a goal but helped Lockport form its attack.
"After they scored, I think it pushed us a little more, because we really wanted to win," Hernandez said. "We had a better burst to the ball, and we were able to put some passes together."
On the game-winner, freshman forward Allyson Fischer helped set up Hernandez by punching her the ball. The sequence also illustrated a central truth, that skill often trumps size at crucial moments as the team's two shortest starters, Hernandez and Fischer, collaborated on the decisive play.
"We've been working on finishing a lot in practice," Elkei said.
From the perspective of Polovin, the play was further evidence of not completing through the play.
"They had a girl right there to tap it in, and it was an unfortunate part of the game," Polovin said. "In a situation like that, somebody needs to jam their foot, their leg, their body, whatever it takes to get the ball up the field and nobody was able to do that."
Starting lineups
Lockport
GK: Cassidy Henson
D: Allison Polinski
D: Jamie Hansen
D: Brooke Janeczek
D: Madisyn Hannion
M: Taylor Stortz
M: Allison Polinski
M: Stephanie Quigley
M: Alexis Hernandez
F: Allyson Fischer
F: Karlee Stortz
F: Lauren Pikulski
Streamwood
GK: Yasmine Resendiz
D: Alexsis Wilson
D: Stephanie Corona
D: Esmeralda Navarro
D: Rosa Miranda
M: Cassandra Adan
M: Kaila Ford
M: Vanessa Campos
F: Shonali Pierce-Vazquez
F: Tawny Carroll
F: Alondra Blanco
MVP of the Match: Alexis Hernandez, MF, Lockport
Officials: Manuel Montiel (center); Marco Marban; Rudy Barragan
Senior scores game-winner in 2-1 victory over Streamwood
By Patrick Z. McGavin
SCHAUMBURG — Alexis Hernandez was much more direct in her actions than trying to recount it all after the fact. The spontaneity of the moment occupied her time, and she delivered when her best chance played out in dramatic fashion.
The Lockport senior midfielder intuitively redirected her own blocked shot and blasted a short volley from about eight yards out in the 70th minute as the Porters clipped Streamwood 2-1 in a PepsiCo Showdown consolation game Saturday morning at Olympic Park.
The goal marked the first of the year for the 5-foot-2 Hernandez. She deftly outmaneuvered two Sabre defenders in finishing the ball. The ChicagoLand Soccer MVP of the Match, Hernandez had the composure and presence of mind to finish what she started.
"I just passed it to [Stephanie] Quigley, she ran forward and she passed it back, and I kind of dove at it," Hernandez said. "Originally I went for the slide tackle and then [Allyson] Fischer came in from behind me, the ball bounced off of her, the goalie hit the first shot, and then I finished it from there."
Interestingly, Lockport played into the heavy crosswind for the second half. Coach Todd Elkei saw that as an unorthodox intangible in his team's favor. "We thought it would be better for us going against the wind offensively because sometimes we have a hard time judging the pace of the ball," he said.
"When you have the wind like that, you're concerned with putting the right texture on the ball, keeping the ball on the ground and building some sequences," Elkei said. He was particularly gratified at the fight and git of his team, holding off a Sabres team that is better than their record. Streamwood enjoyed the better opportunities through much of the much.
"We knew our chances would come," Elkei said.
Senior midfielder Taylor Stortz staked the Porters to the 1-0 advantage in the 10th minute by drilling a beautiful ball from the top of the box. The score was also her first of the season. "But not my last," she asserted. "I just leaned into it, and I hit it as hard and as far as I could."
Streamwood's star senior forward Tawny Carroll, a Drake recruit, created the equalizer in the 19th minute on a beautiful set piece as she bent a corner kick that slid past the grasp of the Porters' keeper Cassidy Henson.
The goal returned everything to the beginning.
"We were definitely frustrated because a goal like that is hard to let go," Stortz said. "At halftime the coaches did a great job of keeping our heads in the game. We knew about the wind, and it was definitely weird at times, but not too bad, and you have to learn how to play in different conditions all the time."
The game was a heartbreaker for the Sabres (3-7), who generated greater scoring chances and produced more set pieces. Carroll is dynamic, and she often had the Porters on their heels defensively.
"She's probably the best player we've come across individually the whole year," Elki said. "She's a tremendous player."
Carroll had a free kick from about 25 yards out late in the first half smash off the crossbar.
"I was really upset about that," she said. "I think we started off well with a high tempo, and then we let up a little after that."
Streamwood coach Matt Polovin lamented the missed opportunities and failure to capitalize on the chances the Sabres had.
"In the second half alone we had eight or nine set pieces from about 25 yards out, and we didn't connect on one of them," he said. "We had four or five corner kicks, and also we also didn't connect there. At this point in the season we have to put at least one or two of those away.
"We had the run of play, I thought."
Freshman Streamwood forward Kaila Ford had two shots inside the box, the first speared by Porters' keeper Henson and the follow-up a left-footed one-touch that Henson went to the ground in order to deny.
Lockport generated fewer chances though demonstrated a better closing burst. Sophomore defender Brooke Janeczek was particularly effective on her free kicks. It did not lead to a goal but helped Lockport form its attack.
"After they scored, I think it pushed us a little more, because we really wanted to win," Hernandez said. "We had a better burst to the ball, and we were able to put some passes together."
On the game-winner, freshman forward Allyson Fischer helped set up Hernandez by punching her the ball. The sequence also illustrated a central truth, that skill often trumps size at crucial moments as the team's two shortest starters, Hernandez and Fischer, collaborated on the decisive play.
"We've been working on finishing a lot in practice," Elkei said.
From the perspective of Polovin, the play was further evidence of not completing through the play.
"They had a girl right there to tap it in, and it was an unfortunate part of the game," Polovin said. "In a situation like that, somebody needs to jam their foot, their leg, their body, whatever it takes to get the ball up the field and nobody was able to do that."
Starting lineups
Lockport
GK: Cassidy Henson
D: Allison Polinski
D: Jamie Hansen
D: Brooke Janeczek
D: Madisyn Hannion
M: Taylor Stortz
M: Allison Polinski
M: Stephanie Quigley
M: Alexis Hernandez
F: Allyson Fischer
F: Karlee Stortz
F: Lauren Pikulski
Streamwood
GK: Yasmine Resendiz
D: Alexsis Wilson
D: Stephanie Corona
D: Esmeralda Navarro
D: Rosa Miranda
M: Cassandra Adan
M: Kaila Ford
M: Vanessa Campos
F: Shonali Pierce-Vazquez
F: Tawny Carroll
F: Alondra Blanco
MVP of the Match: Alexis Hernandez, MF, Lockport
Officials: Manuel Montiel (center); Marco Marban; Rudy Barragan