Lake Forest, New Trier, end like they started
Draw between top 10 teams a good tuneup as playoffs near
By Mike Garofola
LAKE FOREST -- It's not often New Trier plays 80 minutes without a goal. But that's what Lake Forest accomplished against the state power in an entertaining draw Saturday in the teams' annual nonconference affair.
In a game of mostly half-chances and just a few of quality between two top 10 teams, Emma Weaver's first half goal-bound effort that went for naught for New Trier was as close as either of the two sides came to finding a breakthrough on this blustery day at the Lake Forest West Campus stadium.
"We're a little frustrated with the draw. We probably played well enough to get the win, but there's a lot of things we could have done better today as well," said the freshman Weaver, who was named Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match after her all-action play in the Trevians attack.
"We had most of the play in the first half (because) of the wind at our backs and our ability to play over the top. And with some good play through our midfielders, but we had a little trouble in their final third."
"I would agree," began Trevians senior, Hannah Arment, when asked what she thought about her teammates comments about the game.
"We played a very strong first half of soccer, and I have a feeling if we could have put one into the back of the net, maybe another one or two more might have come."
It wasn't for a lack of effort on behalf of the visitors, who are ranked at no. 3 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25. Once they found their form, the Trevians used several ways to unlock the Scouts (9-4-1) in their own end -- albeit with a little help from a roaring wind at their backs. It made balls sent over the top much more meaningful, while making it tough for Gwen Walker and her mates along the Scouts backline, who had to work harder than they would have liked to.
"Playing into that wind was tough (and) if we didn't keep the ball down on the ground, it would almost impossible to connect with our midfield, or just clear balls out of the back," said the senior, who will play next fall at DePaul University, where her sister Adrian also plays.
"We were under a lot of pressure at times in that first half, but did what we could to keep them out of our net, and after we regrouped at the half, I thought we came out and played really well in the second half."
The 10th-ranked home side opened the game brighter than the Trevians. But New Trier (16-2-1) got itself into the game soon after, and there was plenty of one-way traffic going for manager Jim Burnside's club.
"We started a little slow, but I was real pleased with the way we attacked, targeted our girls up-top, created plenty of free kicks and deep throw-ins. And with the way we put balls in behind their defense, I know if we could have scored that first one, another one or two might have followed," Burnside said.
Caroline Iserloth, whom Burnside praised afterwards for her all-around effort in the Trevians backline, had a go at the 12th minute, as did Sam Urban's whose 40-yard free kick rocket was saved with confidence by Scouts keeper Sophia DiVagno, who put in overtime work during a busy first half between the sticks.
The aforementioned Weaver used an extra burst of speed to get an extra step or two on her marks on the outside before unloading a wicked low drive that stayed on the floor, and would have snuck just inside the near post if not for the sure hands of DiVagno.
Having been ragged to this point, the Scouts prepared to weather the storm during the final 10 minutes ahead of the intermission. It was Walker, Ella Marquart, Maggie Mick and Nicole Doucette who kept their collective composure and shape in order to keep DiVagno out of harm's way.
"We're a really young team, and were a little nervous at the start playing against one of the best teams in the state," said the Scouts leading goal-scorer Delaney Williams. "But (we) showed we could stay with them, which will help all of us heading into the playoffs.
Williams watched her teammates withstand three well-aimed free kicks sent into the box by Urban, some nice combination work by Nicole Kaspi and Hoban that earned a corner for New Trier, a stop on Weaver's near-post shot, and a Sydney Parker shot go wide -- all within the final minutes of the first half.
"We did everything but score in the first half," said Arment.
With the and its back, and now brimming with confidence after holding the Trevians scoreless in the first half, Lake Forest went about showing what its attack looked like.
Williams and her running mate up-top, Mary Gregg, were both in the thick of it, as were Julia Loeger and Alyssa Marquis, who were winning balls, and distributing with purpose and creative skill in the middle of the park.
"Ty (Stuckslager, Lake Forest' manager) told us after the game we went hard into the tackle and in our challenges, and he felt that made a big difference in the second half, and it allowed us to be a much better team, both offensively and defensively," said Williams.
"We were playing more of our style of play in the second half, and we did much better at putting New Trier under pressure, just like they did in that first half," added Walker.
Williams and Gregg went in-close near the hour. Just afterwards play got a little chippy with both sides realizing one goal might be the difference-maker.
On defense, Walker parried a quality ball sent into the box by Arment from the endline, while a long free kick from Urban to Arment forced DiVagno into action.
Williams and Weaver forced the issue just before time for their respective sides, but with each defensive backfield mindful of keeping things scoreless, it would have taken a brilliant, superhuman effort to break through each sturdy back four.
"This was a terrific tune-up game for us in advance of our CSL (title) game with Glenbrook North next week, and our season finale with Fremd," said Burnside in closing before sending his club on its way early for those who will be attending the school prom. "So we got what we wanted from here today, except for a result we're always after. But all-in-all, it was a good day of soccer."
Starting lineups
New Trier
GK- Katy Symanietz
D- Sydney Parker
D- Sam Urban
D- Caroline Iserloth
M- Avery Schuldt
M- Lily Conley
M- Hope Baisley
M- Megan Murdoch
F- Nicole Kaspi
F- Emma Weaver
F- Hannah Arment
Lake Forest
GK- Sophia DiVagno
D- Ella Marquart
D- Gwen Walker
D- Maggie Mick
D- Nicole Doucette
M- Ingrid Falls
M- Julia Loeger
M- Hannah Bell
M- Alyssa Marquis
F- Delaney Williams
F- Mary Gregg
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Emma Weaver, fr., MF/F, New Trier
Referee: John Anderson
Draw between top 10 teams a good tuneup as playoffs near
By Mike Garofola
LAKE FOREST -- It's not often New Trier plays 80 minutes without a goal. But that's what Lake Forest accomplished against the state power in an entertaining draw Saturday in the teams' annual nonconference affair.
In a game of mostly half-chances and just a few of quality between two top 10 teams, Emma Weaver's first half goal-bound effort that went for naught for New Trier was as close as either of the two sides came to finding a breakthrough on this blustery day at the Lake Forest West Campus stadium.
"We're a little frustrated with the draw. We probably played well enough to get the win, but there's a lot of things we could have done better today as well," said the freshman Weaver, who was named Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match after her all-action play in the Trevians attack.
"We had most of the play in the first half (because) of the wind at our backs and our ability to play over the top. And with some good play through our midfielders, but we had a little trouble in their final third."
"I would agree," began Trevians senior, Hannah Arment, when asked what she thought about her teammates comments about the game.
"We played a very strong first half of soccer, and I have a feeling if we could have put one into the back of the net, maybe another one or two more might have come."
It wasn't for a lack of effort on behalf of the visitors, who are ranked at no. 3 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25. Once they found their form, the Trevians used several ways to unlock the Scouts (9-4-1) in their own end -- albeit with a little help from a roaring wind at their backs. It made balls sent over the top much more meaningful, while making it tough for Gwen Walker and her mates along the Scouts backline, who had to work harder than they would have liked to.
"Playing into that wind was tough (and) if we didn't keep the ball down on the ground, it would almost impossible to connect with our midfield, or just clear balls out of the back," said the senior, who will play next fall at DePaul University, where her sister Adrian also plays.
"We were under a lot of pressure at times in that first half, but did what we could to keep them out of our net, and after we regrouped at the half, I thought we came out and played really well in the second half."
The 10th-ranked home side opened the game brighter than the Trevians. But New Trier (16-2-1) got itself into the game soon after, and there was plenty of one-way traffic going for manager Jim Burnside's club.
"We started a little slow, but I was real pleased with the way we attacked, targeted our girls up-top, created plenty of free kicks and deep throw-ins. And with the way we put balls in behind their defense, I know if we could have scored that first one, another one or two might have followed," Burnside said.
Caroline Iserloth, whom Burnside praised afterwards for her all-around effort in the Trevians backline, had a go at the 12th minute, as did Sam Urban's whose 40-yard free kick rocket was saved with confidence by Scouts keeper Sophia DiVagno, who put in overtime work during a busy first half between the sticks.
The aforementioned Weaver used an extra burst of speed to get an extra step or two on her marks on the outside before unloading a wicked low drive that stayed on the floor, and would have snuck just inside the near post if not for the sure hands of DiVagno.
Having been ragged to this point, the Scouts prepared to weather the storm during the final 10 minutes ahead of the intermission. It was Walker, Ella Marquart, Maggie Mick and Nicole Doucette who kept their collective composure and shape in order to keep DiVagno out of harm's way.
"We're a really young team, and were a little nervous at the start playing against one of the best teams in the state," said the Scouts leading goal-scorer Delaney Williams. "But (we) showed we could stay with them, which will help all of us heading into the playoffs.
Williams watched her teammates withstand three well-aimed free kicks sent into the box by Urban, some nice combination work by Nicole Kaspi and Hoban that earned a corner for New Trier, a stop on Weaver's near-post shot, and a Sydney Parker shot go wide -- all within the final minutes of the first half.
"We did everything but score in the first half," said Arment.
With the and its back, and now brimming with confidence after holding the Trevians scoreless in the first half, Lake Forest went about showing what its attack looked like.
Williams and her running mate up-top, Mary Gregg, were both in the thick of it, as were Julia Loeger and Alyssa Marquis, who were winning balls, and distributing with purpose and creative skill in the middle of the park.
"Ty (Stuckslager, Lake Forest' manager) told us after the game we went hard into the tackle and in our challenges, and he felt that made a big difference in the second half, and it allowed us to be a much better team, both offensively and defensively," said Williams.
"We were playing more of our style of play in the second half, and we did much better at putting New Trier under pressure, just like they did in that first half," added Walker.
Williams and Gregg went in-close near the hour. Just afterwards play got a little chippy with both sides realizing one goal might be the difference-maker.
On defense, Walker parried a quality ball sent into the box by Arment from the endline, while a long free kick from Urban to Arment forced DiVagno into action.
Williams and Weaver forced the issue just before time for their respective sides, but with each defensive backfield mindful of keeping things scoreless, it would have taken a brilliant, superhuman effort to break through each sturdy back four.
"This was a terrific tune-up game for us in advance of our CSL (title) game with Glenbrook North next week, and our season finale with Fremd," said Burnside in closing before sending his club on its way early for those who will be attending the school prom. "So we got what we wanted from here today, except for a result we're always after. But all-in-all, it was a good day of soccer."
Starting lineups
New Trier
GK- Katy Symanietz
D- Sydney Parker
D- Sam Urban
D- Caroline Iserloth
M- Avery Schuldt
M- Lily Conley
M- Hope Baisley
M- Megan Murdoch
F- Nicole Kaspi
F- Emma Weaver
F- Hannah Arment
Lake Forest
GK- Sophia DiVagno
D- Ella Marquart
D- Gwen Walker
D- Maggie Mick
D- Nicole Doucette
M- Ingrid Falls
M- Julia Loeger
M- Hannah Bell
M- Alyssa Marquis
F- Delaney Williams
F- Mary Gregg
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Emma Weaver, fr., MF/F, New Trier
Referee: John Anderson