Lake Park makes history
against Naperville Central
Senior Night upset is Lancers 1st DuPage Valley win
By Ken Keenan
ROSELLE -- As the ball harmlessly rolled into the Naperville Central
zone after a clearing kick by Lake Park freshman defender Brianna
McAloon in the final seconds of Wednesday night's match, a collective
roar erupted from the Lancers' bench, and a celebratory dance party
soon was underway.
That's what happens when you make history, as Lake Park did in earning
its first-ever DuPage Valley Conference win with a thrilling 2-1
Senior Night victory over visiting Naperville Central.
"Oh, my goodness -- what a fun, exciting game," said Lake Park coach
Chris Fruehling, whose team was winless during last year's debut in
DVC play. "We were talking about leaving a legacy for our five
seniors, and I'm so proud it came true. Everyone fought for it -- the
girls played as hard as they could."
It looked like things would go the Redhawks' way at the start.
Naperville Central dominated the first half, spacing the field with
excellent movement off the ball to create a boatload of chances. But
the Lancers held the fort, and the match remained scoreless at
halftime.
Lake Park then broke the ice with 31:59 to go in regulation. An
ill-fated boot by Central sophomore goalkeeper Kinzly Dressler landed
at the feet of Lancers junior forward Jacey Kent, who carefully
measured a 20-yard shot into an empty cage as Dressler charged out of
the box in pursuit.
"Once I saw the goalie had kicked it to me, first I looked for the
defense and then I hit it in the goal," said Kent, Chicagoland
Soccer's MVP of the Match.
"Jacey created that with tremendous tenacity and will to get the ball,
hold the ball, and finish," Fruehling said. "I'm so proud of her."
The opportunistic Kent then tallied the game-winner on a free kick,
unleashing a 30-yard rocket from the right side inside the far post
during the 72nd minute to snap a 1-1 tie.
"On the free kick, it was the second one I had, and I remembered the
keeper didn't move on the first one, so I went far post," she said.
"Give (Kent) a lot of credit," Fruehling said. "Not only the thought
process to be strategic, but also to have the composure to finish."
Naperville Central knotted the score on a dazzling goal by speedy
junior forward Kayla Burke with 14:34 to go in the second half. After
a long run of nearly 40 yards, Burke slashed through the Lake Park
defense and fired a left-footed shot past Lancers sophomore keeper
Gabby Yates.
"I thought, 'Why didn't I dive for the ball?' But I had faith in my
team and shook it off," Yates said. "My energy came back after our
second goal, and I was ready the rest of the way."
Yates was on her toes in the first half, as the Redhawks attacked in
waves. Naperville Central senior forward Mackenzie Sisko sent a ball
over the crossbar in the fourth minute, and Yates stopped senior
midfielder Alison Kincaide in close with 15:25 left before the break;
four minutes later, Kincaide ripped a 20-yarder just wide of the far
post.
With 8:10 to go, Yates made a save to spoil a nice give-and-go between
sophomore forward Meridith Hannan and Burke, which resulted in a solid
left-footed shot by the latter. Just 2:10 remained in the half when
Redhawks senior defender Taylor Stenmark cranked a blast off the
crossbar.
"The first half was nerve-wracking," Yates said.
"It was tough," added senior midfielder Casey Harris, who helped the
Lancers steer clear of trouble with aggressive marking and booming
goal kicks. "They kept pressuring us and pressuring us. At halftime, I
was, like, 'We've got to turn it on.' Then we scored, and they scored.
But we scored again to get the 'W.' It was a team victory for us, and
it feels awesome."
Kent said, "At halftime, our coach said that if we get one goal, the
whole game will change. Then we scored, and we fought more with
urgency and no letdowns."
After watching his crew weather the first-half storm, Fruehling used
the break to address a number of issues.
"We wanted to have more balance on the field -- we were giving up too
much time and too much space," he said. "We needed to win more 50-50
balls, be first to the ball, defend as a unit and attack more. We also
said we have to create more opportunities and get more shots off.
"We were fighting as hard as we could in the second half. After it was
1-1, we had to keep our composure and keep fighting -- and we did.
That second goal lifted our spirits, and adrenaline."
In desperation mode, Naperville Central poured it on down the stretch.
Stenmark shot wide with 5:50 to go, and junior midfielder Kristen
Dorgan did the same three minutes later. Burke also missed wide with
2:25 showing.
Kent said, "It feels so good -- topping (Naperville Central) now is
awesome. We won that game like it was a state regional."
Lake Park improved to 10-6-3 overall with the win, and 1-3-0 in
conference play. The Redhawks dropped to 9-8-1, 1-3-0.
"The Lancers outplayed us -- that's all I have to say," said
Naperville Central coach Ed Watson as his troops hurried to the
team bus.
Meanwhile, Fruehling and Co. sang a happy tune.
"This is validation for the momentum we've had," Fruehling said
regarding Lake Park's 7-1-2 mark in its last 10 games. "We tell the
girls, 'Keep striving, keep the momentum going, and good things will
happen.' And this team has been very good at responding to keep
striving and get better."
And along they way they made a little history as well.
Starting lineups
Naperville Central
GK: Kinzly Dressler
D: Amanda Murphy
D: Kayla Rowan
D: Taylor Stenmark
D: Caitlin Reice
M: Alison Kincaide
M: Meredith Tunney
M: Kristen Dorgan
F: Meridith Hannan
F: Mackenzie Sisko
F: Kayla Burke
Lake Park
GK: Gabby Yates
D: Stephanie Zachemski
D: Brianna McAloon
D: Sarah Cillick
D: Elizabeth Guenther
M: Caitlyn Ryba
M: Erin Uribe
M: Carson Vance
M: Casey Harris
F: Jacey Kent
F: Lexi Ruffolo
MVP of the Match: Jacey Kent, F, Lake Park
Officials: Kenneth Newman, Jay Cummins, Paul Enzinger
against Naperville Central
Senior Night upset is Lancers 1st DuPage Valley win
By Ken Keenan
ROSELLE -- As the ball harmlessly rolled into the Naperville Central
zone after a clearing kick by Lake Park freshman defender Brianna
McAloon in the final seconds of Wednesday night's match, a collective
roar erupted from the Lancers' bench, and a celebratory dance party
soon was underway.
That's what happens when you make history, as Lake Park did in earning
its first-ever DuPage Valley Conference win with a thrilling 2-1
Senior Night victory over visiting Naperville Central.
"Oh, my goodness -- what a fun, exciting game," said Lake Park coach
Chris Fruehling, whose team was winless during last year's debut in
DVC play. "We were talking about leaving a legacy for our five
seniors, and I'm so proud it came true. Everyone fought for it -- the
girls played as hard as they could."
It looked like things would go the Redhawks' way at the start.
Naperville Central dominated the first half, spacing the field with
excellent movement off the ball to create a boatload of chances. But
the Lancers held the fort, and the match remained scoreless at
halftime.
Lake Park then broke the ice with 31:59 to go in regulation. An
ill-fated boot by Central sophomore goalkeeper Kinzly Dressler landed
at the feet of Lancers junior forward Jacey Kent, who carefully
measured a 20-yard shot into an empty cage as Dressler charged out of
the box in pursuit.
"Once I saw the goalie had kicked it to me, first I looked for the
defense and then I hit it in the goal," said Kent, Chicagoland
Soccer's MVP of the Match.
"Jacey created that with tremendous tenacity and will to get the ball,
hold the ball, and finish," Fruehling said. "I'm so proud of her."
The opportunistic Kent then tallied the game-winner on a free kick,
unleashing a 30-yard rocket from the right side inside the far post
during the 72nd minute to snap a 1-1 tie.
"On the free kick, it was the second one I had, and I remembered the
keeper didn't move on the first one, so I went far post," she said.
"Give (Kent) a lot of credit," Fruehling said. "Not only the thought
process to be strategic, but also to have the composure to finish."
Naperville Central knotted the score on a dazzling goal by speedy
junior forward Kayla Burke with 14:34 to go in the second half. After
a long run of nearly 40 yards, Burke slashed through the Lake Park
defense and fired a left-footed shot past Lancers sophomore keeper
Gabby Yates.
"I thought, 'Why didn't I dive for the ball?' But I had faith in my
team and shook it off," Yates said. "My energy came back after our
second goal, and I was ready the rest of the way."
Yates was on her toes in the first half, as the Redhawks attacked in
waves. Naperville Central senior forward Mackenzie Sisko sent a ball
over the crossbar in the fourth minute, and Yates stopped senior
midfielder Alison Kincaide in close with 15:25 left before the break;
four minutes later, Kincaide ripped a 20-yarder just wide of the far
post.
With 8:10 to go, Yates made a save to spoil a nice give-and-go between
sophomore forward Meridith Hannan and Burke, which resulted in a solid
left-footed shot by the latter. Just 2:10 remained in the half when
Redhawks senior defender Taylor Stenmark cranked a blast off the
crossbar.
"The first half was nerve-wracking," Yates said.
"It was tough," added senior midfielder Casey Harris, who helped the
Lancers steer clear of trouble with aggressive marking and booming
goal kicks. "They kept pressuring us and pressuring us. At halftime, I
was, like, 'We've got to turn it on.' Then we scored, and they scored.
But we scored again to get the 'W.' It was a team victory for us, and
it feels awesome."
Kent said, "At halftime, our coach said that if we get one goal, the
whole game will change. Then we scored, and we fought more with
urgency and no letdowns."
After watching his crew weather the first-half storm, Fruehling used
the break to address a number of issues.
"We wanted to have more balance on the field -- we were giving up too
much time and too much space," he said. "We needed to win more 50-50
balls, be first to the ball, defend as a unit and attack more. We also
said we have to create more opportunities and get more shots off.
"We were fighting as hard as we could in the second half. After it was
1-1, we had to keep our composure and keep fighting -- and we did.
That second goal lifted our spirits, and adrenaline."
In desperation mode, Naperville Central poured it on down the stretch.
Stenmark shot wide with 5:50 to go, and junior midfielder Kristen
Dorgan did the same three minutes later. Burke also missed wide with
2:25 showing.
Kent said, "It feels so good -- topping (Naperville Central) now is
awesome. We won that game like it was a state regional."
Lake Park improved to 10-6-3 overall with the win, and 1-3-0 in
conference play. The Redhawks dropped to 9-8-1, 1-3-0.
"The Lancers outplayed us -- that's all I have to say," said
Naperville Central coach Ed Watson as his troops hurried to the
team bus.
Meanwhile, Fruehling and Co. sang a happy tune.
"This is validation for the momentum we've had," Fruehling said
regarding Lake Park's 7-1-2 mark in its last 10 games. "We tell the
girls, 'Keep striving, keep the momentum going, and good things will
happen.' And this team has been very good at responding to keep
striving and get better."
And along they way they made a little history as well.
Starting lineups
Naperville Central
GK: Kinzly Dressler
D: Amanda Murphy
D: Kayla Rowan
D: Taylor Stenmark
D: Caitlin Reice
M: Alison Kincaide
M: Meredith Tunney
M: Kristen Dorgan
F: Meridith Hannan
F: Mackenzie Sisko
F: Kayla Burke
Lake Park
GK: Gabby Yates
D: Stephanie Zachemski
D: Brianna McAloon
D: Sarah Cillick
D: Elizabeth Guenther
M: Caitlyn Ryba
M: Erin Uribe
M: Carson Vance
M: Casey Harris
F: Jacey Kent
F: Lexi Ruffolo
MVP of the Match: Jacey Kent, F, Lake Park
Officials: Kenneth Newman, Jay Cummins, Paul Enzinger