Surging West Chicago blanks Streamwood
Casteallanos and Navejas each record brace in 5-0 win
By Bill Stone
WEST CHICAGO -- Although West Chicago has endured numerous injuries and absences this season, two important physical traits remain a constant.
“We’re playing with heart and head. We have not lost our head, and we have not lost our passion to play,” West Chicago coach J. Cesar Gomez said. “I think that is the basis of our success this year. Every game, we’ve been in it. I’d say we’ve played one bad game.”
Tuesday saw another excellent one. The Wildcats continued their recent surge by defeating Streamwood 5-0 in an Upstate Valley Conference cross-over.
Sophomore Barbie Castellanos, the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match, and freshman Giselle Navejas each scored twice, and senior Grace Pointner added her first career goal in three varsity seasons. Navejas also had two assists and junior Kayla Schwarz, freshman Ruby Romero and Odalis Martinez one each.
The Wildcats improved to 8-11-2 and have gone 4-2-1 in their last seven games, including a 1-1 tie with league co-champion Bartlett in the UEC River Division. This victory also equaled their largest of the season, a 5-0 win over Rockford East April 22 in the Larkin Tournament.
“This really helps boost up our confidence. Every time we win a game, it’s like we want to play harder,” Castellanos said.
“You win one game, you want to win the next one. You want to keep going. We’re just kind of sick of losing, because we started out with a pretty bad season (0-4 start). We’ve had a lot of injured players, but we’ve been handling it pretty well.”
Castellanos and Navejas both came out for more than 10 minutes after their second goals within the first eight minutes of the second half created a comfortable lead.
Earlier this season, that wouldn’t have happened. It couldn’t have.
“It was kind of fun having five girls on the bench (as substitutes). We haven’t had five. We haven’t had two,” Gomez said. “We played seven or eight games with 11 – no subs – and brought a couple of JV players.
“Finally, the last three of four practices, we’ve had 17 girls.”
At times, the Wildcats appeared to have 17 on the field against Streamwood (4-10-0). They had several long periods of possession and passing connections as they dominated 22-4 in shots and 6-0 in corner kicks.
Castellanos now has 15 goals and Navejas five.
“I think the more somebody ends up scoring, the more that someone else wants to score,” Castellanos said. “I remember in the middle of the game (junior midfielder Genesis Garcia) was like, ‘Where’s my goal? It’s my turn to score.’ I think that’s great once you see a player score, you want to keep playing and scoring.”
The Wildcats’ first goal was pure luck -- and hustle -- by Navejas with 24:07 left in the first half.
When Schwarz made a lead pass toward the upper right corner of the box, Streamwood goalie Yasmine Resendiz and then-stopper Brianna Yi converged on the ball.
Neither took possession. Navejas stepped in between and punched the ball into the undefended goal.
“I felt as if they were going to tackle me, but luckily I just tapped my foot, and it went right in there -- smoothly,” Navejas said. “It was a pretty good
night. We were able to pass the ball a lot and move more.”
The Wildcats’ passing then shone through. Castellanos scored from the left side of the box 10:08 before halftime to complete the passing connections among senior Jasmine Mendoza, Garcia and Romero.
Castellanos plays a forward-minded center midfielder who often trails forward Navejas but then becomes an option in the attacking third.
“Our target is Barbie eventually. At some point, she will get loose,” Gomez said.
“Several of the scores and opportunities that we had were set specifically for that. It’s not like it just happened. I don’t think I’ve ever had an athletic team, but we know how to play soccer. We emphasize that, possession and short passes.”
“I think I get that (approach) a lot from Cesar,” agreed Castellanos. “In the beginning, he was yelling at me because I’d tend to just run with the ball instead of possessing. I think it finally stuck to me where it’s like, ‘OK, you’ve got to stop the ball and pass.’ He’s always telling me it’s going to be easier once you do that, no more running. It has been easier. But it’s always me trying to run everywhere.”
The first goal felt like a good omen for the Wildcats. In their 21 games, there are only five in which both teams have scored.
West Chicago has been shut out 10 times, mostly by Chicagoland Soccer-ranked opponents, and won six games by shutout. Their last four victories are clean sheets.
“We had a lot of injuries kind of in the middle of the season. Right now we’re all getting better,” Pointner said. “We have a lot of heart on the team, and we just have a ton of fun together. As the season goes on, we all get even closer.”
The Wildcats opened the second half with a scoring run. Just 66 seconds after the break, Pointner scored along the left post.
Castellanos passed along the right side to Navejas, who initially had her shot stopped by Resendiz. Navejas tried to score on the rebound, and the ball rolled through the crease.
“That was my first goal,” Pointner said with a smile. “I am always playing defense so there’s not a lot of opportunities to score when you play defense. It’s still fun.”
Pointner began the game starting at outside left defender. After just a few minutes, she switched positions with freshman outside left midfielder Alex Alcantar and added to the offensive domination.
Pointner said the position switch only happens occasionally.
“It depends on the team that we’re playing. If we’re going to win, then I usually get to move up,” Pointner said.
The scoring floodgates opened. With 35:53 left, Castellanos scored off a Navejas pass and Navejas scored with 33:57 left off a free kick by sweeper Martinez following a Streamwood yellow card.
“I thought we played really good because everyone tried their hardest,” Garcia said. “The whole 80 minutes, no one was giving up and that makes me want to play more, makes me want to score more.”
The Sabres had one shot on goal and just four more at goal.
Streamwood has lost four straight and was shut out for the eighth time this season and sixth by at least five goals. The visitors came off a 5-3 loss to Dundee-Crown, their highest scoring output in a defeat.
This loss truly was painful. Streamwood coach Kristin Duffy said three players were injured during the game. She is hopeful all of them will be able to return for Wednesday’s home and Senior Night game against Illinois Math and Science Academy.
“I think they’ll do well. Hopefully they’ll ice up and be good,” said Duffy, who started two seniors. “Close to the end, we had only one sub. We had a lot of new girls that were playing.”
The Sabres nearly scored in the 60th minute when sophomore forward Leslie Ortiz put a shot off the upper right part of the post. With 11 minutes left, West Chicago sophomore goalie Haley Rich thwarted Ortiz’s cross to junior Elise Rodriguez.
The Wildcats didn’t completely elude absences. Usually a field player, Rich played in place of senior Emma Gaggioli, who has been sick the past two days.
Martinez helped to keep things in the back at ease. She moved from stopper to sweeper when Pointner was sidelined for seven-to-eight games with a toe injury. In Tuesday’s waning moments, Pointner returned to sweeper with Martinez getting a stint at midfield.
“(Martinez) has speed, and she just has that read of the field and game and can intercept or cut off anything that’s going on from the other team,” Gomez said.
Garcia is playing with an impossible-tp-miss air cast over her left arm. She broke her wrist when she was kicked while trying to head the ball April 25 against Glenbard East.
“That’s why I have to use it. But it’s so huge,” Garcia said.
Starting lineups
West Chicago
G – Haley Rich
D – Maribel Gonzalez
D – Grace Pointner
D – Odalis Martinez
D – Vanesa Montenegro
M – Kayla Schwarz
M – Genesis Garcia
M – Jasmine Mendoza
M – Alex Alcantar
M – Barbie Castellanos
F – Giselle Navejas
Streamwood
G – Yasmine Resendiz
D – Alex Meza
D – Brianna Yi
D – Michaela Gundersen
D – Kaila Ford
M – Paulette Carranza
M – Melanie Ramirez
M – Lesley Jimenez
M – Leslie Ortiz
F – Elise Rodriguez
F – Ariana Cortes
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Barbie Castellanos, so. MF, West Chicago
Casteallanos and Navejas each record brace in 5-0 win
By Bill Stone
WEST CHICAGO -- Although West Chicago has endured numerous injuries and absences this season, two important physical traits remain a constant.
“We’re playing with heart and head. We have not lost our head, and we have not lost our passion to play,” West Chicago coach J. Cesar Gomez said. “I think that is the basis of our success this year. Every game, we’ve been in it. I’d say we’ve played one bad game.”
Tuesday saw another excellent one. The Wildcats continued their recent surge by defeating Streamwood 5-0 in an Upstate Valley Conference cross-over.
Sophomore Barbie Castellanos, the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match, and freshman Giselle Navejas each scored twice, and senior Grace Pointner added her first career goal in three varsity seasons. Navejas also had two assists and junior Kayla Schwarz, freshman Ruby Romero and Odalis Martinez one each.
The Wildcats improved to 8-11-2 and have gone 4-2-1 in their last seven games, including a 1-1 tie with league co-champion Bartlett in the UEC River Division. This victory also equaled their largest of the season, a 5-0 win over Rockford East April 22 in the Larkin Tournament.
“This really helps boost up our confidence. Every time we win a game, it’s like we want to play harder,” Castellanos said.
“You win one game, you want to win the next one. You want to keep going. We’re just kind of sick of losing, because we started out with a pretty bad season (0-4 start). We’ve had a lot of injured players, but we’ve been handling it pretty well.”
Castellanos and Navejas both came out for more than 10 minutes after their second goals within the first eight minutes of the second half created a comfortable lead.
Earlier this season, that wouldn’t have happened. It couldn’t have.
“It was kind of fun having five girls on the bench (as substitutes). We haven’t had five. We haven’t had two,” Gomez said. “We played seven or eight games with 11 – no subs – and brought a couple of JV players.
“Finally, the last three of four practices, we’ve had 17 girls.”
At times, the Wildcats appeared to have 17 on the field against Streamwood (4-10-0). They had several long periods of possession and passing connections as they dominated 22-4 in shots and 6-0 in corner kicks.
Castellanos now has 15 goals and Navejas five.
“I think the more somebody ends up scoring, the more that someone else wants to score,” Castellanos said. “I remember in the middle of the game (junior midfielder Genesis Garcia) was like, ‘Where’s my goal? It’s my turn to score.’ I think that’s great once you see a player score, you want to keep playing and scoring.”
The Wildcats’ first goal was pure luck -- and hustle -- by Navejas with 24:07 left in the first half.
When Schwarz made a lead pass toward the upper right corner of the box, Streamwood goalie Yasmine Resendiz and then-stopper Brianna Yi converged on the ball.
Neither took possession. Navejas stepped in between and punched the ball into the undefended goal.
“I felt as if they were going to tackle me, but luckily I just tapped my foot, and it went right in there -- smoothly,” Navejas said. “It was a pretty good
night. We were able to pass the ball a lot and move more.”
The Wildcats’ passing then shone through. Castellanos scored from the left side of the box 10:08 before halftime to complete the passing connections among senior Jasmine Mendoza, Garcia and Romero.
Castellanos plays a forward-minded center midfielder who often trails forward Navejas but then becomes an option in the attacking third.
“Our target is Barbie eventually. At some point, she will get loose,” Gomez said.
“Several of the scores and opportunities that we had were set specifically for that. It’s not like it just happened. I don’t think I’ve ever had an athletic team, but we know how to play soccer. We emphasize that, possession and short passes.”
“I think I get that (approach) a lot from Cesar,” agreed Castellanos. “In the beginning, he was yelling at me because I’d tend to just run with the ball instead of possessing. I think it finally stuck to me where it’s like, ‘OK, you’ve got to stop the ball and pass.’ He’s always telling me it’s going to be easier once you do that, no more running. It has been easier. But it’s always me trying to run everywhere.”
The first goal felt like a good omen for the Wildcats. In their 21 games, there are only five in which both teams have scored.
West Chicago has been shut out 10 times, mostly by Chicagoland Soccer-ranked opponents, and won six games by shutout. Their last four victories are clean sheets.
“We had a lot of injuries kind of in the middle of the season. Right now we’re all getting better,” Pointner said. “We have a lot of heart on the team, and we just have a ton of fun together. As the season goes on, we all get even closer.”
The Wildcats opened the second half with a scoring run. Just 66 seconds after the break, Pointner scored along the left post.
Castellanos passed along the right side to Navejas, who initially had her shot stopped by Resendiz. Navejas tried to score on the rebound, and the ball rolled through the crease.
“That was my first goal,” Pointner said with a smile. “I am always playing defense so there’s not a lot of opportunities to score when you play defense. It’s still fun.”
Pointner began the game starting at outside left defender. After just a few minutes, she switched positions with freshman outside left midfielder Alex Alcantar and added to the offensive domination.
Pointner said the position switch only happens occasionally.
“It depends on the team that we’re playing. If we’re going to win, then I usually get to move up,” Pointner said.
The scoring floodgates opened. With 35:53 left, Castellanos scored off a Navejas pass and Navejas scored with 33:57 left off a free kick by sweeper Martinez following a Streamwood yellow card.
“I thought we played really good because everyone tried their hardest,” Garcia said. “The whole 80 minutes, no one was giving up and that makes me want to play more, makes me want to score more.”
The Sabres had one shot on goal and just four more at goal.
Streamwood has lost four straight and was shut out for the eighth time this season and sixth by at least five goals. The visitors came off a 5-3 loss to Dundee-Crown, their highest scoring output in a defeat.
This loss truly was painful. Streamwood coach Kristin Duffy said three players were injured during the game. She is hopeful all of them will be able to return for Wednesday’s home and Senior Night game against Illinois Math and Science Academy.
“I think they’ll do well. Hopefully they’ll ice up and be good,” said Duffy, who started two seniors. “Close to the end, we had only one sub. We had a lot of new girls that were playing.”
The Sabres nearly scored in the 60th minute when sophomore forward Leslie Ortiz put a shot off the upper right part of the post. With 11 minutes left, West Chicago sophomore goalie Haley Rich thwarted Ortiz’s cross to junior Elise Rodriguez.
The Wildcats didn’t completely elude absences. Usually a field player, Rich played in place of senior Emma Gaggioli, who has been sick the past two days.
Martinez helped to keep things in the back at ease. She moved from stopper to sweeper when Pointner was sidelined for seven-to-eight games with a toe injury. In Tuesday’s waning moments, Pointner returned to sweeper with Martinez getting a stint at midfield.
“(Martinez) has speed, and she just has that read of the field and game and can intercept or cut off anything that’s going on from the other team,” Gomez said.
Garcia is playing with an impossible-tp-miss air cast over her left arm. She broke her wrist when she was kicked while trying to head the ball April 25 against Glenbard East.
“That’s why I have to use it. But it’s so huge,” Garcia said.
Starting lineups
West Chicago
G – Haley Rich
D – Maribel Gonzalez
D – Grace Pointner
D – Odalis Martinez
D – Vanesa Montenegro
M – Kayla Schwarz
M – Genesis Garcia
M – Jasmine Mendoza
M – Alex Alcantar
M – Barbie Castellanos
F – Giselle Navejas
Streamwood
G – Yasmine Resendiz
D – Alex Meza
D – Brianna Yi
D – Michaela Gundersen
D – Kaila Ford
M – Paulette Carranza
M – Melanie Ramirez
M – Lesley Jimenez
M – Leslie Ortiz
F – Elise Rodriguez
F – Ariana Cortes
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Barbie Castellanos, so. MF, West Chicago