Wheaton North enjoys win with a view
Falcons top St. Ignatius 2-0, have high hopes for playoffs
By Dave Owen
CHICAGO -- With the Windy City's skyline as a backdrop, Wheaton North completed a regular season of towering accomplishments Saturday.
Hannah Atkinson and Lexi Pelafas scored goals as the Falcons (No. 5 in the Chicagoland Soccer poll) geared up for Tuesday’s regional opener with a 2-0 win over St. Ignatius (9-8-2).
“We had two main goals today,” Wheaton North coach Tim McEvilly said. “We wanted to maintain the momentum we’ve developed throughout the entirety of the year, and I think we did that with our play. And we wanted to stay healthy. We were able to get everybody a chance at significant minutes today, and they all made differences out there and kept us where we’ve been. We feel good going forward Tuesday.”
The Falcons (14-2-3) provided numerous big challenges to standout St. Ignatius goalkeeper Michelle Loyo, the GCAC Player of the Year who will play at Loras College next year.
The first to bear fruit came in the 14th minute. A nice combination play began from Kailee Sowers to Pelafas. Sowers took a return pass at the top of the box and touched the ball to Atkinson, who was open on the left side. The junior forward lined a 12-yarder just under the crossbar for a 1-0 lead.
That excellent finish was followed by great chances for Pelafas that yielded greater frustration. Her rush and tough 6-yard diagonal shot 12:30 before halftime was denied on a great diving stop by Loyo. Then 25 seconds later off a Margaret Hupp pass, Pelafas sent a shot off the crossbar.
“They (the Wolfpack defense) kept dropping pretty far back,” Hupp said of the Falcons’ offensive success, “so we filled the space in the center more and checked quicker to the other side of the field. A lot of us like to take it to the side and cross it from there because we have a lot of good shooters on the team.”
Loyo again denied Pelafas 4:45 before halftime, when Pelafas’ sliding 10-yard attempt off a 28-yard Becca Kouwe free kick was stopped.
“It’s hard when you don’t finish,” Pelafas said, “but you have to keep going and keep trying. I just kept shooting, and it finally went in there.”
The insurance goal came with 27:20 left in the match.
On a play initiated by a long punt from Wheaton North freshman goalkeeper Zoe Welsh, Pelafas raced in on the left side and buried a 15-yard shot inside the upper right post to finish the scoring. It was the 20th goal of the season for MVP of the Match Pelafas.
Wheaton North impressed the home team's coach.
“They’re fantastic,” St. Ignatius coach Rob Stassen said. “I walked out there after seeing what they did to other teams like Loyola, and I expected a routing. To play with them and lose by two was exceptional.”
Being without two injured starters and another top reserve made the Wolfpack effort even more impressive.
“To be playing in this heat with three subs, I can’t complain,” Stassen said. “I’m so proud of all of them. It’s prom tonight so the seniors came out flying. Our big thing was we can’t win air balls, and today we did that pretty well against a phenomenal team.
“Our goalkeeper is probably one of the best in the state. She still makes our jaws drop on some of those saves - I don’t know how she gets there. But again, it shows the caliber of team you’re playing when they can put two amazing shots past her. They (the Falcons) work the angles fantastically.”
Wheaton North goalkeeper Welsh is also rapidly earning elite status in the net as a freshman. With the score 1-0, she made a nice diving save of a 12-yard drive by St. Ignatius’ Tara Andrews with 33:30 left. Welsh again stopped Andrews’ low short hop 20-yard liner one minute later, and later showed good speed and instincts in just beating Wolfpack forward Lexi Tiemann to a loose ball in the box.
Wheaton North defender Niamh Kane also continued her season-long excellence. Her steady play stopping Wolfpack chances included a strong sequence with 12:10 left, when she first headed away a St. Ignatius cross into the box and then booted the ball upfield and completely away from danger.
“Niamh Kane as a center back has done a great job,” McEvilly said. “She’s a little undercelebrated, but you don’t hear about her because we don’t give up many goals.
“Zoe Welsh, our goalie, has had a great year also. Those two in combination with a lot of people on the back line give us a chance to be successful, and Lexi and Kailee and Hannah up top have been really good.”
The Falcons’ defense has allowed more than one goal in a game just once all season -- a 2-0 loss to New Trier. Wins over Naperville North, Hinsdale Central, Loyola and Plainfied North have been among the huge feats accomplished by a squad that has posted eight shutouts.
"Our communication is the key,” Kane said. “We all talk to each other a lot, and have gotten to know each other a lot over the season and bonded a lot. The more we talk, the better it is.
“I think it went well today. It was kind of a test before playoffs, and we got the shutout which is kind of our goal every time. The more we communicate, the better it is for all of us.”
Morghin Klein, Jaden Trometer, Janelle Blackwell, Gina Leone, Bailey Gates, Maggie Liechty, Gwyneth Phillips, Cara Maxwell and Lauren Haley also excelled at defender or midfield spots to deny chances.
Wheaton North’s offensive pressure continued throughout. Hupp deflected a Pelafas cross just wide at the right post with 6:55 left, and Claire Kocher created multiple chances in the final third.
The Falcons were denied another score by double tough luck.
With 2:45 left, Hupp lined a 25-yard shot that leaping Wolfpack goalkeeper Loyo tipped off the crossbar. Sowers then had a great rebound chance that also hit the crossbar.
“I hit the crossbar and Kailee almost got it in on the rebound, but we still won,” Hupp said. “It was a good game. It was really hot so it was difficult to run back and forth. Coach wanted to substitute in and out quickly.”
The city trip was a winner: a shutout victory, no serious injuries and numerous memorable team pictures with the nearby Willis Tower in the background.
“We came out here three years ago for the first time, and I told Rob (Stassen) that we’ll come every year,” McEvilly said. “My kids don’t get into the city very often, and it’s a great experience to play here.”
The Falcons now look to build on their soaring status as a No. 2 sectional seed.
“It’s been an incredible season,” Pelafas said. “We’ve played really well this year, the best we have played in the four years I’ve been here. There’s not one girl bringing the team up, it’s everyone. Everyone works their hardest in every game and practice.”
As one of seven freshmen or sophomores on varsity, Hupp has seen a rapid change.
“Last year I was on varsity as well, and we weren’t even close to where we are this year,” Hupp said. “We’ve played the best teams in the area, and we’ve done so well on and off the field. As a team we’re so connected and so close. It’s been a great season. And we have a really young team. We only have five seniors.”
The results have been very good. A May 7 overtime win over then-unbeaten Naperville North was the highlight, but wasn’t the only clutch effort.
“We’ve also beaten Loyola, Hinsdale Central, Plainfield North: lots of very good teams this year,” McEvilly said. “Nothing has been a fluke. New Trier’s the only team that’s beaten us in regulation. It’s hard to have a better season.
“We just told them that this is one of the best regular seasons we've had as a program, but Tuesday starts (regionals) and it’s one half at a time, anything can happen. So celebrate the success we’ve had, but there’s more we’d like to accomplish.”
History offers a lesson in that challenge.
“We’re confident,” McEvilly said, “but the year we took third at state (2006) it took a double overtime win against West Chicago to kind of wake us up. We won that game in PK’s.
“Every game is a coin toss in 3A. You don’t get a day off - every game you have to be ready and you can’t take anybody for granted or you’re going home early. There’s a lot of competition, so we have to play at our top performance.”
Players like Kane echo the excitement over the regular season, plus the need for intense postseason focus.
“I knew we were going to be good this year, but I didn’t think it would be this good,” she said. “Beating Naperville North was the highlight of the season. They’re one of the top teams in the state, so we feel confident and really strong going into the state tournament.
“Every game’s a battle now (in the playoffs),” Kane added. “Don’t underestimate the other team, and be in the right mental state. That’s what we need to focus on, because if you don’t come in ready, it can flip in a second. We have to be mentally prepared and go in with everything we have against every team.”
The Falcons have gone 9-1-1 since an April 16 loss on PK’s to Plainfield North. Wheaton North avenged that loss with a 1-0 win over the Tigers on May 2, and now looks to continue the postseason portion of the month in style.
“Just working hard and never giving up is the key to us,” Pelafas said. “Even when we play the best teams we fight and we feel we’re just as good as any team in the state. If we keep playing hard, we’ll go far.”
Starting lineups
Wheaton North
GK: Zoe Welsh
D: Niamh Kane
D: Morghin Klein
D: Jaden Trometer
D: Janelle Blackwell
M: Lauren Haley
M: Gwyneth Phillips
M: Bailey Gates
M: Kailee Sowers
F: Lexi Pelafas
F: Hannah Atkinson
St. Ignatius
GK: Michelle Loyo
D: Caroline O’Grady
D: Laura Tonino
D: Sam Ritter
M: Lauren Franklin
M: Tara Andrews
M: Jill Porretta
M: Loraina Lopez
M: Dara Durdic
F: Lexi Tiemann
F: Molly Murphy
MVP of the Match: Lexi Pelafas, F, Wheaton North
Falcons top St. Ignatius 2-0, have high hopes for playoffs
By Dave Owen
CHICAGO -- With the Windy City's skyline as a backdrop, Wheaton North completed a regular season of towering accomplishments Saturday.
Hannah Atkinson and Lexi Pelafas scored goals as the Falcons (No. 5 in the Chicagoland Soccer poll) geared up for Tuesday’s regional opener with a 2-0 win over St. Ignatius (9-8-2).
“We had two main goals today,” Wheaton North coach Tim McEvilly said. “We wanted to maintain the momentum we’ve developed throughout the entirety of the year, and I think we did that with our play. And we wanted to stay healthy. We were able to get everybody a chance at significant minutes today, and they all made differences out there and kept us where we’ve been. We feel good going forward Tuesday.”
The Falcons (14-2-3) provided numerous big challenges to standout St. Ignatius goalkeeper Michelle Loyo, the GCAC Player of the Year who will play at Loras College next year.
The first to bear fruit came in the 14th minute. A nice combination play began from Kailee Sowers to Pelafas. Sowers took a return pass at the top of the box and touched the ball to Atkinson, who was open on the left side. The junior forward lined a 12-yarder just under the crossbar for a 1-0 lead.
That excellent finish was followed by great chances for Pelafas that yielded greater frustration. Her rush and tough 6-yard diagonal shot 12:30 before halftime was denied on a great diving stop by Loyo. Then 25 seconds later off a Margaret Hupp pass, Pelafas sent a shot off the crossbar.
“They (the Wolfpack defense) kept dropping pretty far back,” Hupp said of the Falcons’ offensive success, “so we filled the space in the center more and checked quicker to the other side of the field. A lot of us like to take it to the side and cross it from there because we have a lot of good shooters on the team.”
Loyo again denied Pelafas 4:45 before halftime, when Pelafas’ sliding 10-yard attempt off a 28-yard Becca Kouwe free kick was stopped.
“It’s hard when you don’t finish,” Pelafas said, “but you have to keep going and keep trying. I just kept shooting, and it finally went in there.”
The insurance goal came with 27:20 left in the match.
On a play initiated by a long punt from Wheaton North freshman goalkeeper Zoe Welsh, Pelafas raced in on the left side and buried a 15-yard shot inside the upper right post to finish the scoring. It was the 20th goal of the season for MVP of the Match Pelafas.
Wheaton North impressed the home team's coach.
“They’re fantastic,” St. Ignatius coach Rob Stassen said. “I walked out there after seeing what they did to other teams like Loyola, and I expected a routing. To play with them and lose by two was exceptional.”
Being without two injured starters and another top reserve made the Wolfpack effort even more impressive.
“To be playing in this heat with three subs, I can’t complain,” Stassen said. “I’m so proud of all of them. It’s prom tonight so the seniors came out flying. Our big thing was we can’t win air balls, and today we did that pretty well against a phenomenal team.
“Our goalkeeper is probably one of the best in the state. She still makes our jaws drop on some of those saves - I don’t know how she gets there. But again, it shows the caliber of team you’re playing when they can put two amazing shots past her. They (the Falcons) work the angles fantastically.”
Wheaton North goalkeeper Welsh is also rapidly earning elite status in the net as a freshman. With the score 1-0, she made a nice diving save of a 12-yard drive by St. Ignatius’ Tara Andrews with 33:30 left. Welsh again stopped Andrews’ low short hop 20-yard liner one minute later, and later showed good speed and instincts in just beating Wolfpack forward Lexi Tiemann to a loose ball in the box.
Wheaton North defender Niamh Kane also continued her season-long excellence. Her steady play stopping Wolfpack chances included a strong sequence with 12:10 left, when she first headed away a St. Ignatius cross into the box and then booted the ball upfield and completely away from danger.
“Niamh Kane as a center back has done a great job,” McEvilly said. “She’s a little undercelebrated, but you don’t hear about her because we don’t give up many goals.
“Zoe Welsh, our goalie, has had a great year also. Those two in combination with a lot of people on the back line give us a chance to be successful, and Lexi and Kailee and Hannah up top have been really good.”
The Falcons’ defense has allowed more than one goal in a game just once all season -- a 2-0 loss to New Trier. Wins over Naperville North, Hinsdale Central, Loyola and Plainfied North have been among the huge feats accomplished by a squad that has posted eight shutouts.
"Our communication is the key,” Kane said. “We all talk to each other a lot, and have gotten to know each other a lot over the season and bonded a lot. The more we talk, the better it is.
“I think it went well today. It was kind of a test before playoffs, and we got the shutout which is kind of our goal every time. The more we communicate, the better it is for all of us.”
Morghin Klein, Jaden Trometer, Janelle Blackwell, Gina Leone, Bailey Gates, Maggie Liechty, Gwyneth Phillips, Cara Maxwell and Lauren Haley also excelled at defender or midfield spots to deny chances.
Wheaton North’s offensive pressure continued throughout. Hupp deflected a Pelafas cross just wide at the right post with 6:55 left, and Claire Kocher created multiple chances in the final third.
The Falcons were denied another score by double tough luck.
With 2:45 left, Hupp lined a 25-yard shot that leaping Wolfpack goalkeeper Loyo tipped off the crossbar. Sowers then had a great rebound chance that also hit the crossbar.
“I hit the crossbar and Kailee almost got it in on the rebound, but we still won,” Hupp said. “It was a good game. It was really hot so it was difficult to run back and forth. Coach wanted to substitute in and out quickly.”
The city trip was a winner: a shutout victory, no serious injuries and numerous memorable team pictures with the nearby Willis Tower in the background.
“We came out here three years ago for the first time, and I told Rob (Stassen) that we’ll come every year,” McEvilly said. “My kids don’t get into the city very often, and it’s a great experience to play here.”
The Falcons now look to build on their soaring status as a No. 2 sectional seed.
“It’s been an incredible season,” Pelafas said. “We’ve played really well this year, the best we have played in the four years I’ve been here. There’s not one girl bringing the team up, it’s everyone. Everyone works their hardest in every game and practice.”
As one of seven freshmen or sophomores on varsity, Hupp has seen a rapid change.
“Last year I was on varsity as well, and we weren’t even close to where we are this year,” Hupp said. “We’ve played the best teams in the area, and we’ve done so well on and off the field. As a team we’re so connected and so close. It’s been a great season. And we have a really young team. We only have five seniors.”
The results have been very good. A May 7 overtime win over then-unbeaten Naperville North was the highlight, but wasn’t the only clutch effort.
“We’ve also beaten Loyola, Hinsdale Central, Plainfield North: lots of very good teams this year,” McEvilly said. “Nothing has been a fluke. New Trier’s the only team that’s beaten us in regulation. It’s hard to have a better season.
“We just told them that this is one of the best regular seasons we've had as a program, but Tuesday starts (regionals) and it’s one half at a time, anything can happen. So celebrate the success we’ve had, but there’s more we’d like to accomplish.”
History offers a lesson in that challenge.
“We’re confident,” McEvilly said, “but the year we took third at state (2006) it took a double overtime win against West Chicago to kind of wake us up. We won that game in PK’s.
“Every game is a coin toss in 3A. You don’t get a day off - every game you have to be ready and you can’t take anybody for granted or you’re going home early. There’s a lot of competition, so we have to play at our top performance.”
Players like Kane echo the excitement over the regular season, plus the need for intense postseason focus.
“I knew we were going to be good this year, but I didn’t think it would be this good,” she said. “Beating Naperville North was the highlight of the season. They’re one of the top teams in the state, so we feel confident and really strong going into the state tournament.
“Every game’s a battle now (in the playoffs),” Kane added. “Don’t underestimate the other team, and be in the right mental state. That’s what we need to focus on, because if you don’t come in ready, it can flip in a second. We have to be mentally prepared and go in with everything we have against every team.”
The Falcons have gone 9-1-1 since an April 16 loss on PK’s to Plainfield North. Wheaton North avenged that loss with a 1-0 win over the Tigers on May 2, and now looks to continue the postseason portion of the month in style.
“Just working hard and never giving up is the key to us,” Pelafas said. “Even when we play the best teams we fight and we feel we’re just as good as any team in the state. If we keep playing hard, we’ll go far.”
Starting lineups
Wheaton North
GK: Zoe Welsh
D: Niamh Kane
D: Morghin Klein
D: Jaden Trometer
D: Janelle Blackwell
M: Lauren Haley
M: Gwyneth Phillips
M: Bailey Gates
M: Kailee Sowers
F: Lexi Pelafas
F: Hannah Atkinson
St. Ignatius
GK: Michelle Loyo
D: Caroline O’Grady
D: Laura Tonino
D: Sam Ritter
M: Lauren Franklin
M: Tara Andrews
M: Jill Porretta
M: Loraina Lopez
M: Dara Durdic
F: Lexi Tiemann
F: Molly Murphy
MVP of the Match: Lexi Pelafas, F, Wheaton North