DGN defeats weary Plainfield South
Trojans stay hot with 6-1 win; Cougars suffer post-prom blues
By Dave Owen
DOWNERS GROVE – Plainfield South has officially proven that the ideal follow-up to prom night doesn’t involve playing soccer on a 40-degree day in the driving rain on a no. 1 sectional seed's home field.
That plethora of stormy conditions converged on the Cougars (15-5-0) on Saturday, with the biggest factor of all being explosive Downers Grove North (11-1-2), which extended its unbeaten string to seven games.
Defying the downpour and a strong first half wind in their faces, the Trojans, ranked 16th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, struck for three goals in the opening 40 minutes to solve a Cougars defense that had posted shutouts in seven of its last eight games.
With the second half wind in its favor, Downers Grove North went on to a 6-1 win to head into its key West Suburban Conference Silver Division match Tuesday against Lyons with maximum momentum.
So how did the Trojans dodge the lake-sized puddles and strong defenders to put up big numbers?
“Just moving the ball and keeping it on the turf,” said Trojans senior Delaney Forst, who led a balanced attack with two goals. “It was skipping a lot, so we just had to keep moving it around and create chances to shoot.”
Abby Swanson provided solid midfield play, and had a goal of her own in the monsoon conditions.
“It was a little crazy,” Swanson said of the weather. “It changes the game a lot, but as Delaney was saying you keep (the ball) on the ground, just try to play your game and work it around.
“The running helps you stay warm too, moving off the ball and trying to keep playing the way we do.
“It kind of helped with the ball being wet that it skipped,” Swanson added. “But it was hard to play (into the wind). Sometimes the rain hurt it was coming so hard.”
Forst opened the scoring with 28:12 left in the first half, finding space up the middle and lining a 25-yard shot inside the left post.
Then a nice combination play added to the Trojans’ lead in the 23rd minute. Maggie Nevrly’s pass found Chloe Nowka on the right side. The cross to the crease was tucked away by Alexis Parker for a 2-0 lead.
Nevrly and Nowka later added goals of their own.
As for no. 21 Plainfield South, playing the talented Trojans Saturday couldn’t have come at a tougher time.
“It’s a tough loss,” Plainfield South senior Marissa Harkness said. “We had prom last night. Not that it’s an excuse or anything, but we knew coming into this game that it would be difficult waking up and playing after a long night.”
The Cougars also understand that one nonconference game doesn’t change what has been a great spring for the team.
“We’re a good team, and we’ve developed a lot this year,” Harkness said. “We’re breaking our school record (for wins). But this is probably our toughest game of the year so far.”
Proving the adage, ‘When it rains, it pours,’ the Cougars also had to deal with the absences of midfield standout Shelby Bishop and goalkeeper Nicole Trenholm due to injuries.
Yet even dealing with the weather, fatigue and depth conditions, and with the Trojans in command of chances and possession, the Cougars showed fight.
With 10:32 left in the half, Madison Ourada was fouled to set up a Plainfield South free kick.
Miranda Nirchi’s 38-yard send/shot was punched out by DGN goalkeeper Grace Stevenson, but Harkness pounced on the rebound left of the net for an 8-yard rebound putaway inside the near post that made the score 2-1.
“One of my teammates Miranda Nirchi got a shot off (on the free kick),” Harkness said, “and then it rebounded off the goalie, and I followed it into the corner (of the net).”
Back in the game, the Cougars nearly escaped the half down just 2-1. With 3:05 left in the half, the hosts' Carli Nehls’ made a great pass from the right side that found Alyssa Gunderson alone in front 10 yards out. But her shot in slippery conditions went inches wide of the right post.
Then just 1:20 before the break, a similar play had a better finish for the hosts.
Another perfect pass from Nehls from the right side hit Nevrly in the box. She nicely sidestepped a defender and drove a 12-yard shot inside the right post for a 3-1 lead.
“Downers North is a really good team,” Plainfield South coach Alfonso Lopez said. “They had possession most of the time, and a lot of near-misses.
“We knew they were good coming in. The condition of having prom – that’s not an excuse. We still have to come out and play. They (the Trojans) are out here playing.”
Downers North found a new gear playing with the wind in the second half.
Good clears of the box by Plainfield South’s Karis Mele and Ciara Coneset denied two early chances. Then a header by DGN’s Simone Gardner went just wide off a nicely sent Olivia Bull corner kick six minutes in.
But with 33:57 left, Forst took a Gardner pass and lined home a 15-yarder for her second goal and a finally safe 4-1 margin.
“Our forwards are starting to show a lot,” Downers North coach Brian Papa said. “Delaney has been playing great. Haley (Reynolds))had one of her better games, and this Parker kid no. 10 (a freshman) is coming off the bench now because Carli (Nehls) got healthy.”
The Cougars answered in the next six minutes with a good chance (a Giana Derka shot wide off a Coneset pass) and nice defense (Samantha Harkness’ block of a Forst shot).
But the Trojans struck twice in quick succession to complete their lead. First, a weather-related bounce – Kelly Doro’s high chip towards the net took a weird hop on the wet turf, bouncing free of goalkeeper Jami Maloney for a Swanson goal with 28:36 left.
Then at 27:13, Nowka had perfect touch on a 35-yard shot that went just under the crossbar for the final 6-1 DGN advantage.
After dealing with that unstoppable shot, Maloney shut the door the rest of the way with several nice saves for the Cougars.
She smothered a low-skipping Gardner shot at the right post with 18:50 left, then made a diving deflection wide of a Julie Kramper shot with 16:05 to go.
“Jami did a nice job today – she made a lot of nice saves,” said Lopez, in his first year as head coach.
“Nirchi’s always giving great effort. And (defenders Madison) Ourada and (Lindsey) Bond – they always give everything they have. Overall none of the girls ever quit. And it’s been a great year for us.
“But we’re dealing with some injuries still,” Lopez said. “I couldn’t sub kids out much in the second half because of injuries, so they were tired.”
To senior Marissa Harkness, chemistry is key for the Cougars.
“We just get along really well, we know how to communicate with each other and we don’t get upset with each other if something goes wrong,” she said. “We’re able to tell each other what to work on and how to improve as a team. We have really good teamwork.”
Downers North returned much of its roster from a 14-win team last year. The Trojans then added Papa, who had a Hall of Fame coaching run at Lincoln-Way and later Lincoln-Way East (where he retired last year).
“I think this year we all just want it,” Swanson said. “We’re working hard, and we have Papa this year who’s been helping to bring it out of us a little bit.”
Said Forst: “ He’s helped us so much. At the beginning of the year we were doing shape movement, with (formations) as we come out, how we play. You watch the tapes and our shape is good, and that really helps.”
The presence of longtime assistant Christine Tomek (who coached the Trojans boys to multiple state tournament appearances) has made for a smooth transition and an elite staff. And then there’s the talent on the field.
“The girls have been fantastic,” Papa said. “I can’t say enough about the work ethic and what I’m asking them to do. I’m competitive but also fair – I hope that comes across. The one big thing is, I’m making them accountable. As long as they’re accountable, I have no problem.
“It’s basically a big change because I coach different than some, and for a guy who didn’t know the kids – the best way to explain it, we played a lot of kids today, and they’re all doing the same thing. I was so proud of them because, yeah (maybe) they didn’t connect a pass or whatever, but it was the right choice.
“What we’re doing in practice, everybody is buying in,” Papa added. “Everybody is doing the same thing. And the kids are great. What we’re doing on the field, I’m really proud of them.”
Plainfield South has had its own breakout year. And just as the Trojans face a big test Tuesday against Lyons, the Cougars face their own key conference stretch.
“A tough week coming up with Plainfield North and Oswego coming in,” Lopez said, “and we still have Minooka. So three tough matchups. Hopefully we’ll be at 100 percent – we should have Bishop back for one of those, but I don’t think we’ll have Trenholm.”
For Downers North, not even buckets of rain Saturday can douse their enthusiasm.
“I have balance up and down,” Papa said. “And the best thing is, we’re coming back (next year) with eight of them who are either starting or playing a lot.”
Said Forst: “We all get along and we’re all friends, and that shows on the field how we all work together. It’s a great team. I’m glad to be a part of it.”
Starting lineups
Plainfield South
GK- Jami Maloney
D- Madison Ourada
D- Lindsey Bond
D- Ciara Coneset
D- Christina Schade
M- Miranda Nirchi
M- Emily DeVivo
M- Gianna Dodaro
M- Phoebe Hillery
F- Taylor Metcalf
F- Giana Derka
Downers Grove North
GK- Grace Stevenson
D- Elizabeth Hodonicky
D- Chloe Nowka
D- Olivia Bull
D- Carissa Mysliwiec
M- Simone Gardner
M- Abby Swanson
M- Francesca Marconi
M- Carli Nehls
F- Haley Reynolds
F- Delaney Forst
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Delaney Forst, sr. F, DGN
Trojans stay hot with 6-1 win; Cougars suffer post-prom blues
By Dave Owen
DOWNERS GROVE – Plainfield South has officially proven that the ideal follow-up to prom night doesn’t involve playing soccer on a 40-degree day in the driving rain on a no. 1 sectional seed's home field.
That plethora of stormy conditions converged on the Cougars (15-5-0) on Saturday, with the biggest factor of all being explosive Downers Grove North (11-1-2), which extended its unbeaten string to seven games.
Defying the downpour and a strong first half wind in their faces, the Trojans, ranked 16th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, struck for three goals in the opening 40 minutes to solve a Cougars defense that had posted shutouts in seven of its last eight games.
With the second half wind in its favor, Downers Grove North went on to a 6-1 win to head into its key West Suburban Conference Silver Division match Tuesday against Lyons with maximum momentum.
So how did the Trojans dodge the lake-sized puddles and strong defenders to put up big numbers?
“Just moving the ball and keeping it on the turf,” said Trojans senior Delaney Forst, who led a balanced attack with two goals. “It was skipping a lot, so we just had to keep moving it around and create chances to shoot.”
Abby Swanson provided solid midfield play, and had a goal of her own in the monsoon conditions.
“It was a little crazy,” Swanson said of the weather. “It changes the game a lot, but as Delaney was saying you keep (the ball) on the ground, just try to play your game and work it around.
“The running helps you stay warm too, moving off the ball and trying to keep playing the way we do.
“It kind of helped with the ball being wet that it skipped,” Swanson added. “But it was hard to play (into the wind). Sometimes the rain hurt it was coming so hard.”
Forst opened the scoring with 28:12 left in the first half, finding space up the middle and lining a 25-yard shot inside the left post.
Then a nice combination play added to the Trojans’ lead in the 23rd minute. Maggie Nevrly’s pass found Chloe Nowka on the right side. The cross to the crease was tucked away by Alexis Parker for a 2-0 lead.
Nevrly and Nowka later added goals of their own.
As for no. 21 Plainfield South, playing the talented Trojans Saturday couldn’t have come at a tougher time.
“It’s a tough loss,” Plainfield South senior Marissa Harkness said. “We had prom last night. Not that it’s an excuse or anything, but we knew coming into this game that it would be difficult waking up and playing after a long night.”
The Cougars also understand that one nonconference game doesn’t change what has been a great spring for the team.
“We’re a good team, and we’ve developed a lot this year,” Harkness said. “We’re breaking our school record (for wins). But this is probably our toughest game of the year so far.”
Proving the adage, ‘When it rains, it pours,’ the Cougars also had to deal with the absences of midfield standout Shelby Bishop and goalkeeper Nicole Trenholm due to injuries.
Yet even dealing with the weather, fatigue and depth conditions, and with the Trojans in command of chances and possession, the Cougars showed fight.
With 10:32 left in the half, Madison Ourada was fouled to set up a Plainfield South free kick.
Miranda Nirchi’s 38-yard send/shot was punched out by DGN goalkeeper Grace Stevenson, but Harkness pounced on the rebound left of the net for an 8-yard rebound putaway inside the near post that made the score 2-1.
“One of my teammates Miranda Nirchi got a shot off (on the free kick),” Harkness said, “and then it rebounded off the goalie, and I followed it into the corner (of the net).”
Back in the game, the Cougars nearly escaped the half down just 2-1. With 3:05 left in the half, the hosts' Carli Nehls’ made a great pass from the right side that found Alyssa Gunderson alone in front 10 yards out. But her shot in slippery conditions went inches wide of the right post.
Then just 1:20 before the break, a similar play had a better finish for the hosts.
Another perfect pass from Nehls from the right side hit Nevrly in the box. She nicely sidestepped a defender and drove a 12-yard shot inside the right post for a 3-1 lead.
“Downers North is a really good team,” Plainfield South coach Alfonso Lopez said. “They had possession most of the time, and a lot of near-misses.
“We knew they were good coming in. The condition of having prom – that’s not an excuse. We still have to come out and play. They (the Trojans) are out here playing.”
Downers North found a new gear playing with the wind in the second half.
Good clears of the box by Plainfield South’s Karis Mele and Ciara Coneset denied two early chances. Then a header by DGN’s Simone Gardner went just wide off a nicely sent Olivia Bull corner kick six minutes in.
But with 33:57 left, Forst took a Gardner pass and lined home a 15-yarder for her second goal and a finally safe 4-1 margin.
“Our forwards are starting to show a lot,” Downers North coach Brian Papa said. “Delaney has been playing great. Haley (Reynolds))had one of her better games, and this Parker kid no. 10 (a freshman) is coming off the bench now because Carli (Nehls) got healthy.”
The Cougars answered in the next six minutes with a good chance (a Giana Derka shot wide off a Coneset pass) and nice defense (Samantha Harkness’ block of a Forst shot).
But the Trojans struck twice in quick succession to complete their lead. First, a weather-related bounce – Kelly Doro’s high chip towards the net took a weird hop on the wet turf, bouncing free of goalkeeper Jami Maloney for a Swanson goal with 28:36 left.
Then at 27:13, Nowka had perfect touch on a 35-yard shot that went just under the crossbar for the final 6-1 DGN advantage.
After dealing with that unstoppable shot, Maloney shut the door the rest of the way with several nice saves for the Cougars.
She smothered a low-skipping Gardner shot at the right post with 18:50 left, then made a diving deflection wide of a Julie Kramper shot with 16:05 to go.
“Jami did a nice job today – she made a lot of nice saves,” said Lopez, in his first year as head coach.
“Nirchi’s always giving great effort. And (defenders Madison) Ourada and (Lindsey) Bond – they always give everything they have. Overall none of the girls ever quit. And it’s been a great year for us.
“But we’re dealing with some injuries still,” Lopez said. “I couldn’t sub kids out much in the second half because of injuries, so they were tired.”
To senior Marissa Harkness, chemistry is key for the Cougars.
“We just get along really well, we know how to communicate with each other and we don’t get upset with each other if something goes wrong,” she said. “We’re able to tell each other what to work on and how to improve as a team. We have really good teamwork.”
Downers North returned much of its roster from a 14-win team last year. The Trojans then added Papa, who had a Hall of Fame coaching run at Lincoln-Way and later Lincoln-Way East (where he retired last year).
“I think this year we all just want it,” Swanson said. “We’re working hard, and we have Papa this year who’s been helping to bring it out of us a little bit.”
Said Forst: “ He’s helped us so much. At the beginning of the year we were doing shape movement, with (formations) as we come out, how we play. You watch the tapes and our shape is good, and that really helps.”
The presence of longtime assistant Christine Tomek (who coached the Trojans boys to multiple state tournament appearances) has made for a smooth transition and an elite staff. And then there’s the talent on the field.
“The girls have been fantastic,” Papa said. “I can’t say enough about the work ethic and what I’m asking them to do. I’m competitive but also fair – I hope that comes across. The one big thing is, I’m making them accountable. As long as they’re accountable, I have no problem.
“It’s basically a big change because I coach different than some, and for a guy who didn’t know the kids – the best way to explain it, we played a lot of kids today, and they’re all doing the same thing. I was so proud of them because, yeah (maybe) they didn’t connect a pass or whatever, but it was the right choice.
“What we’re doing in practice, everybody is buying in,” Papa added. “Everybody is doing the same thing. And the kids are great. What we’re doing on the field, I’m really proud of them.”
Plainfield South has had its own breakout year. And just as the Trojans face a big test Tuesday against Lyons, the Cougars face their own key conference stretch.
“A tough week coming up with Plainfield North and Oswego coming in,” Lopez said, “and we still have Minooka. So three tough matchups. Hopefully we’ll be at 100 percent – we should have Bishop back for one of those, but I don’t think we’ll have Trenholm.”
For Downers North, not even buckets of rain Saturday can douse their enthusiasm.
“I have balance up and down,” Papa said. “And the best thing is, we’re coming back (next year) with eight of them who are either starting or playing a lot.”
Said Forst: “We all get along and we’re all friends, and that shows on the field how we all work together. It’s a great team. I’m glad to be a part of it.”
Starting lineups
Plainfield South
GK- Jami Maloney
D- Madison Ourada
D- Lindsey Bond
D- Ciara Coneset
D- Christina Schade
M- Miranda Nirchi
M- Emily DeVivo
M- Gianna Dodaro
M- Phoebe Hillery
F- Taylor Metcalf
F- Giana Derka
Downers Grove North
GK- Grace Stevenson
D- Elizabeth Hodonicky
D- Chloe Nowka
D- Olivia Bull
D- Carissa Mysliwiec
M- Simone Gardner
M- Abby Swanson
M- Francesca Marconi
M- Carli Nehls
F- Haley Reynolds
F- Delaney Forst
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Delaney Forst, sr. F, DGN