Wheaton A. flashes into form, beats Fenton
Warriors score 3 goals in 3 minutes en route to 6-0 Metro Blue win
By Dave Owen
BENSENVILLE -- Locked in an unexpected close battle nearly 30 minutes into Thursday’s match at Fenton, Wheaton Academy changed the tone in a virtual blink of an eye.
Within a three-minute span, an athletic finish on the run by Gretchen Pearson (the first of her three goals in the match) and two goals off corner kicks by defender Emmerson Fuller powered the Warriors to a 4-0 lead with 7:42 left in the first half.
Wheaton Academy (11-3-0, 6-0-0 in the Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division) rolled from there to a 6-0 win, its sixth victory in a row since consecutive 1-0 losses to Class 3A squads Huntley and Glenbard West.
“I think we were kind of flat (most of the first half),” said Fuller, the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match. “We weren’t really driving to the net like we should have been, so I think we were kind of frustrated.
“(Up 1-0) we just needed one more goal to propel us. To get the six that we had, I think it was more focusing and getting some energy starting from the backline to get us going again.”
The Warriors started fast, jumping ahead 1-0 in the fifth minute. Off a touch pass up the middle from Maggie Liechty, Sophie Lindquist got behind the defense (which hesitated expecting an offsides call) and punched home a breakaway strike for a 1-0 lead.
But that early Warriors putaway was followed by a long drought.
Quality chances by Gretchen Pearson (just wide from 20 yards off a Lindquist offensive-end steal), Fuller (deflection on goal of a Erin Teevans corner kick) and Rebecca Smith (shot off a Lindquist pass) in the next 15 minutes of the half went for naught.
“I don’t think we were really prepared for the physicality they were going to bring,” Pearson said. “We were a little shocked at first, but I think we just had to regroup and work on playing one- and two-touch.
“We were turning it over to them a lot, so we had to work on finding feet and looking for players.”
Wheaton Academy looked for Pearson with 10:24 left in the half, and she delivered.
Izzy McNally’s 40-yard send bounced to the left post. Racing into the box, Pearson’s running kick at the high bouncing ball from 6 yards out landed just under the crossbar for a 2-0 lead.
It took just 62 seconds to strike again. After a Morgan Finnegan-to-Smith right side attack set up a corner kick, Teevans’ send was nicely redirected by Anah Southard towards the net. Fuller was there to beat two defenders to the ball and flick home a 6-yarder.
“We work on set pieces all the time in practice,” Fuller said. “It’s something we’re very good at. We try to finish at least a few of the opportunities a game we have on corner kicks or free kicks.”
Fuller was on the spot again on an A.C. Hardy corner kick with 7:42 left in the half. Hardy’s high send sailed over the reach of Fenton goalkeeper Patricia Acosta to the back post, where Fuller was there for her eighth goal of 2017.
“I play center back, so it’s my one time (on corner kicks) to get into the box,” Fuller said. “I’m usually pretty excited when I can finish those.
“He (Warriors coach Jeff Brooke) really just tells us to get anything you can on it and put those (set piece chances) away, because in big games like tomorrow against Wheaton North, we’re going to need to put those away.”
Fuller has been part of a core of consistent standouts for Wheaton Academy.
“Emmerson’s been great – so solid in the back. And then she scores goals and does a great job,” Brooke said. “Gretchen’s piled up a good amount of goals (15), Erin Teevans has had a nice year, and Sophie Lindquist. Those are four (players) that jump out.”
For Fenton (4-6-0, 1-5-0 in the MSC Blue), the Wheaton Academy rapid fire strikes spoiled a solid first half.
“We started really strong, and then we kind of turned our heads down (during the three-goal stretch),” Bison coach Victor Ruiz said. “But I thought we came back and played another good 30 minutes. The girls played a heck of a game against them. We made them work and play hard.
“We told the girls, ‘This (Wheaton Academy) team is one of the best. They were seeded no. 1 (in their sectional), so let’s just try to do our best.’ And they did.”
Wheaton Academy's offensive attack resumed in the second half. Teevans’ end line shot with 35:40 left was denied point blank by Acosta, McNally shot just wide from 30 yards with 31:30 to go, and Acosta came up big 50 seconds later with a diving deflection of Lindquist’s low 20-yard drive.
The Warriors' pressure paid off in unlikely fashion for a 5-0 lead with 25:45 left. Pearson’s cross to the crease from the right side slipped off Acosta’s hands and barely across the goal line, an improbable reward after waves of chances.
Lindquist again had a great shot denied with 21:10 left, a 10-yard drive off a Teegans corner kick that Acosta dove to stop.
Then with 20:16 to go, Pearson wrapped up her hat trick by taking a nice feed from Liechty and tucking an 8-yarder inside the post to cap the 6-0 win.
“We’ve done a nice job of continuing to build through our possession style,” Brooke said, “and now it’s continuing to be crisp and sharp in the final third. I think that’s what a lot of teams are trying to do, and that’s our goal right now to try to finish our great chances so we’re not driving home wishing we had scored a few more.
“We’re improving. The girls have done a great job and stuck with it. They haven’t overthought it. A few (goals) came right in a row there in the first half and kind of opened up the game for us.”
Reserve Sarah Brcka helped generate two nice late chances against Fenton, including a cross that Liechty shot just over the net with 10:20 left.
Subbing in for starter Chrislyn Herring, Wheaton Academy goalkeeper Marta Oster then sealed the shutout with a nice save on a 22-yard shot by Fenton’s Mia Clavelli with 4:30 to go. That marked the fifth shutout in six games for the Warriors.
“We’ve been playing together for awhile,” Fuller said of the defensive unit, “so I think we have a lot of trust in each other. And we know pressure, cover, and we really have each others’ backs. That’s what makes our foundation really good on the backline.”
The Warriors’ two-consecutive shutout losses to big-school foes earlier this month were a learning experience.
“I think we learned that we really need to trust in how we play and not try to change anything,” Fuller said. “Those were both tough losses, but I think we’ve bounced back well, and we’re ready to take on Benet and Wheaton North this week.”
Pearson hopes the Warriors can be more opportunistic in close games, as happened late in Thursday’s first half.
“I think we’re doing a lot better,” Pearson said. “We had a hard time scoring at the beginning, but we’ve had a couple of 10-0 wins. Now we’re trying to work on winning those 1-0, 2-0 games because we’ve had a hard time in some close games.
“Playing Wheaton North (Friday), we’re hoping to get some goals there.”
The ultimate goal is a repeat of last year’s state title, this time up in Class 2A.
“I think it gives us a confidence from experiencing winning state,” Pearson said. “That’s obviously something all of us want to experience again, especially us seniors because it would be so cool to finish off with that.
“Knowing what that feels like gives us the energy and the confidence, because we moved up a division (to Class 2A). It’s going to be a little harder, but having that taste in our mouths will really help us.”
Brooke sees the fire to repeat in his senior-dominated squad.
“The girls have embraced the challenge,” he said. “We have a great group that was on the team last year, and they view this as kind of the next challenge.
“They did the job when we went down to 1A, and they’re anxious to make a run at the 2A tournament. We’re trying to prepare well.”
Starting lineups
Wheaton Academy
GK- Chrislyn Herring
D- Holland Kosick
D- Anah Southard
D- Emmerson Fuller
D- Izzy McNally
M- Anna Joy Setran
M- Maggie Liechty
M- Sophie Lindquist
M- Gretchen Pearson
F- A.C. Hardy
F- Erin Teevans
Fenton
GK- Patricia Acosta
D- Lizbeth Reyes
D- Leslie Aguirre
D- Yesenia Cruz
D- Andrea Acuna
M- Makayla Garcia
M- Maria Lara
M- Summer Garcia
M- Natalie Diaz
F- Mia Clavelli
F- Giselle Vargas
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Emmerson Fuller, sr. D, Wheaton Academy
Warriors score 3 goals in 3 minutes en route to 6-0 Metro Blue win
By Dave Owen
BENSENVILLE -- Locked in an unexpected close battle nearly 30 minutes into Thursday’s match at Fenton, Wheaton Academy changed the tone in a virtual blink of an eye.
Within a three-minute span, an athletic finish on the run by Gretchen Pearson (the first of her three goals in the match) and two goals off corner kicks by defender Emmerson Fuller powered the Warriors to a 4-0 lead with 7:42 left in the first half.
Wheaton Academy (11-3-0, 6-0-0 in the Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division) rolled from there to a 6-0 win, its sixth victory in a row since consecutive 1-0 losses to Class 3A squads Huntley and Glenbard West.
“I think we were kind of flat (most of the first half),” said Fuller, the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match. “We weren’t really driving to the net like we should have been, so I think we were kind of frustrated.
“(Up 1-0) we just needed one more goal to propel us. To get the six that we had, I think it was more focusing and getting some energy starting from the backline to get us going again.”
The Warriors started fast, jumping ahead 1-0 in the fifth minute. Off a touch pass up the middle from Maggie Liechty, Sophie Lindquist got behind the defense (which hesitated expecting an offsides call) and punched home a breakaway strike for a 1-0 lead.
But that early Warriors putaway was followed by a long drought.
Quality chances by Gretchen Pearson (just wide from 20 yards off a Lindquist offensive-end steal), Fuller (deflection on goal of a Erin Teevans corner kick) and Rebecca Smith (shot off a Lindquist pass) in the next 15 minutes of the half went for naught.
“I don’t think we were really prepared for the physicality they were going to bring,” Pearson said. “We were a little shocked at first, but I think we just had to regroup and work on playing one- and two-touch.
“We were turning it over to them a lot, so we had to work on finding feet and looking for players.”
Wheaton Academy looked for Pearson with 10:24 left in the half, and she delivered.
Izzy McNally’s 40-yard send bounced to the left post. Racing into the box, Pearson’s running kick at the high bouncing ball from 6 yards out landed just under the crossbar for a 2-0 lead.
It took just 62 seconds to strike again. After a Morgan Finnegan-to-Smith right side attack set up a corner kick, Teevans’ send was nicely redirected by Anah Southard towards the net. Fuller was there to beat two defenders to the ball and flick home a 6-yarder.
“We work on set pieces all the time in practice,” Fuller said. “It’s something we’re very good at. We try to finish at least a few of the opportunities a game we have on corner kicks or free kicks.”
Fuller was on the spot again on an A.C. Hardy corner kick with 7:42 left in the half. Hardy’s high send sailed over the reach of Fenton goalkeeper Patricia Acosta to the back post, where Fuller was there for her eighth goal of 2017.
“I play center back, so it’s my one time (on corner kicks) to get into the box,” Fuller said. “I’m usually pretty excited when I can finish those.
“He (Warriors coach Jeff Brooke) really just tells us to get anything you can on it and put those (set piece chances) away, because in big games like tomorrow against Wheaton North, we’re going to need to put those away.”
Fuller has been part of a core of consistent standouts for Wheaton Academy.
“Emmerson’s been great – so solid in the back. And then she scores goals and does a great job,” Brooke said. “Gretchen’s piled up a good amount of goals (15), Erin Teevans has had a nice year, and Sophie Lindquist. Those are four (players) that jump out.”
For Fenton (4-6-0, 1-5-0 in the MSC Blue), the Wheaton Academy rapid fire strikes spoiled a solid first half.
“We started really strong, and then we kind of turned our heads down (during the three-goal stretch),” Bison coach Victor Ruiz said. “But I thought we came back and played another good 30 minutes. The girls played a heck of a game against them. We made them work and play hard.
“We told the girls, ‘This (Wheaton Academy) team is one of the best. They were seeded no. 1 (in their sectional), so let’s just try to do our best.’ And they did.”
Wheaton Academy's offensive attack resumed in the second half. Teevans’ end line shot with 35:40 left was denied point blank by Acosta, McNally shot just wide from 30 yards with 31:30 to go, and Acosta came up big 50 seconds later with a diving deflection of Lindquist’s low 20-yard drive.
The Warriors' pressure paid off in unlikely fashion for a 5-0 lead with 25:45 left. Pearson’s cross to the crease from the right side slipped off Acosta’s hands and barely across the goal line, an improbable reward after waves of chances.
Lindquist again had a great shot denied with 21:10 left, a 10-yard drive off a Teegans corner kick that Acosta dove to stop.
Then with 20:16 to go, Pearson wrapped up her hat trick by taking a nice feed from Liechty and tucking an 8-yarder inside the post to cap the 6-0 win.
“We’ve done a nice job of continuing to build through our possession style,” Brooke said, “and now it’s continuing to be crisp and sharp in the final third. I think that’s what a lot of teams are trying to do, and that’s our goal right now to try to finish our great chances so we’re not driving home wishing we had scored a few more.
“We’re improving. The girls have done a great job and stuck with it. They haven’t overthought it. A few (goals) came right in a row there in the first half and kind of opened up the game for us.”
Reserve Sarah Brcka helped generate two nice late chances against Fenton, including a cross that Liechty shot just over the net with 10:20 left.
Subbing in for starter Chrislyn Herring, Wheaton Academy goalkeeper Marta Oster then sealed the shutout with a nice save on a 22-yard shot by Fenton’s Mia Clavelli with 4:30 to go. That marked the fifth shutout in six games for the Warriors.
“We’ve been playing together for awhile,” Fuller said of the defensive unit, “so I think we have a lot of trust in each other. And we know pressure, cover, and we really have each others’ backs. That’s what makes our foundation really good on the backline.”
The Warriors’ two-consecutive shutout losses to big-school foes earlier this month were a learning experience.
“I think we learned that we really need to trust in how we play and not try to change anything,” Fuller said. “Those were both tough losses, but I think we’ve bounced back well, and we’re ready to take on Benet and Wheaton North this week.”
Pearson hopes the Warriors can be more opportunistic in close games, as happened late in Thursday’s first half.
“I think we’re doing a lot better,” Pearson said. “We had a hard time scoring at the beginning, but we’ve had a couple of 10-0 wins. Now we’re trying to work on winning those 1-0, 2-0 games because we’ve had a hard time in some close games.
“Playing Wheaton North (Friday), we’re hoping to get some goals there.”
The ultimate goal is a repeat of last year’s state title, this time up in Class 2A.
“I think it gives us a confidence from experiencing winning state,” Pearson said. “That’s obviously something all of us want to experience again, especially us seniors because it would be so cool to finish off with that.
“Knowing what that feels like gives us the energy and the confidence, because we moved up a division (to Class 2A). It’s going to be a little harder, but having that taste in our mouths will really help us.”
Brooke sees the fire to repeat in his senior-dominated squad.
“The girls have embraced the challenge,” he said. “We have a great group that was on the team last year, and they view this as kind of the next challenge.
“They did the job when we went down to 1A, and they’re anxious to make a run at the 2A tournament. We’re trying to prepare well.”
Starting lineups
Wheaton Academy
GK- Chrislyn Herring
D- Holland Kosick
D- Anah Southard
D- Emmerson Fuller
D- Izzy McNally
M- Anna Joy Setran
M- Maggie Liechty
M- Sophie Lindquist
M- Gretchen Pearson
F- A.C. Hardy
F- Erin Teevans
Fenton
GK- Patricia Acosta
D- Lizbeth Reyes
D- Leslie Aguirre
D- Yesenia Cruz
D- Andrea Acuna
M- Makayla Garcia
M- Maria Lara
M- Summer Garcia
M- Natalie Diaz
F- Mia Clavelli
F- Giselle Vargas
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Emmerson Fuller, sr. D, Wheaton Academy