DVC champ Neuqua V. vanquishes WWS
Wildcats celebrate Senior Night with 5-1 win
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – The strategy sounds simple.
Get the ball out wide, dribble into the corner and cross the ball into the middle to someone who knocks an open shot into the goal.
Most teams try to score this way, but it isn’t as easy as you would think because the defense gets a vote in the matter.
Yet Neuqua Valley did it again and again with surprising ease Thursday.
The host Wildcats, who are ranked eighth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, scored five times that way and waltzed to a 5-1 DuPage Valley Conference win over Wheaton Warrenville South.
Senior Allie Fullriede and junior Alyssa Bombacino scored twice in the Senior Night victory. Senior Haley Singer added a goal and an assist, and junior Schylar Kingsley dished out three assists as the Wildcats (10-3-4, 7-0-1) wrapped up the regular season as the undefeated DuPage Valley Conference champions and with a four-game winning streak that saw them outscore their opponents 27-1.
“We do this a lot in practice,” Fullriede said. “We practice the crosses in and finishing. That’s been our big focus, and so it’s nice to see it translate into games.”
Wheaton Warrenville South (8-9-1, 3-5-0) lost its fourth-straight game but held off the Neuqua Valley barrage for 22 minutes until crumbling.
Bombacino opened the scoring at the 17:31 mark by knocking in a cross from Singer. One minute later, Kingsley began an impressive run of instigation as she notched the first of her three assists, which came in a 14-minute span.
The first two helpers set up Fullriede’s goals, a volley to the far post and a short finish from inside the 6, the latter of which made it 3-0 with 8:25 to go in the first half.
It was the first two-goal game of Fullriede’s career and came in her final home game.
“It was awesome to have it on Senior Night, with all my teammates and everyone there,” Fullriede said. “It was fun.”
There was plenty of enjoyment to go around for the Wildcats, whose offense has kicked into high gear on the eve of the postseason.
The prolific finishing continued when Bombacino converted a Kingsley cross 2:20 before the break. Singer extended the lead to 5-0 with 23:58 remaining in the second half, again on a cross. Senior Ryan Gareis set up that strike.
The Wildcats, who had clinched their first DVC championship two days earlier in an 8-0 rout of Glenbard North, finished off an impressive unbeaten run through the league.
“I think we finally have found our momentum in these past couple games,” Fullriede said. “I know we wanted to win the DVC.
“Once we realized it was in our hands I think we took it to heart and wanted to go out finish off the season right for going into the playoffs.”
As if the star-studded Wildcats needed any affirmation, the way they finished the regular season boosted their sense of self-worth.
“Winning the DVC gives us a lot of confidence,” Singer said. “It’s a really big thing for us.
“We’re all super excited about it because it builds our momentum up for the playoffs, which is what we’re really looking forward to.”
The Tigers also have success to look forward to, though it likely won’t come until next year or 2019. A team that started as many as 10 sophomores at times was overwhelmed by the likes of league foes Naperville North and Neuqua Valley, veteran sides stocked with Division I-bound seniors and juniors.
That mismatch showed in the first half Thursday as the Wildcats exploited every breakdown.
“They’ve got great numbers around the park,” Wheaton Warrenville South coach Guy Callipari said. “They’re not hiding anybody. They played very controlled.
“We didn’t do a great job ourselves in the first half regarding tracking people. We were wondering why our backs were under so much pressure. Well, people weren’t coming back and (the Wildcats) saw the opportunity to fill spaces.”
But the Tigers did regroup after intermission and played better in the second half. Junior forward Morgan Schwerin notched her third goal of the season when she got under a long feed from sophomore Paige Miller and beat Neuqua goalie Yanel Ortiz with 3:53 remaining.
“I’m really pleased with the effort in the second half,” Callipari said. “I’m not sure all the powers-to-be were on the field for them, but for us it was a nice way to move into Saturday’s game (against Glenbard West).
“We stood the test of time and we have to look in the mirror and decide who we are. Most of (the Tigers) are pretty young and then wearing the badge meant something.”
Indeed, the first half shellacking caused the Tigers to regain a sense of pride.
“We were losing so much at the end of the half, we realized our attitude was really bringing us down and we weren’t being positive,” Schwerin said.
“And I think that’s what has been getting at us in these last few games. In the second half we really worked as a group together and encouraged each other and brought everyone up to do their best, and I think that’s what brought us together more.”
Despite the four-game losing streak, the Tigers shouldn't be overlooked in the playoffs. They’ve faced tough competition throughout the season and have given up three or more goals only three times.
“I think we’ve come really far because basically our whole team is sophomores,” Schwerin said. “We’ve learned to work together really well, especially this game. This game was a big experience for us.”
The seventh-seeded Tigers open the playoffs Tuesday at regional host and 10th-seed DeKalb in a favorable-looking matchup. If they win, unbeaten, second-ranked and no. 1 seed St. Charles North should await them in the regional final.
“(We've) played some really good teams this year and have been competitive in each match,” Callipari said. “We’ve lost our way a couple times, but we always seem to find it again.
“We’re just going to have to hope that on that day and in that moment, we’re on.”
If Neuqua Valley stays on, they are going to be a tough-out despite playing in the Class 3A Lockport Sectional -- the state’s toughest.
The Wildcats are the no. 2 seed and have beaten no. 3 Metea Valley, no. 4 Naperville Central and no. 5 Waubonsie Valley. Neuqua Valley tied top-seeded Naperville North as well as the aforementioned St. Charles North.
But they are hungry for more.
“I think (winning the DVC) is a big confidence-booster, but I definitely don’t think it’s where we’re going to stop this season,” Fullriede said. “All right, we’ve got great games behind us, but now we have all this momentum going forward in the playoffs. This is not the end of the season.”
Starting lineups
Wheaton Warrenville South
GK Abbie Brennan
D Maria Dohse
D Molly Fank
D Maddie Monaco
M Allie Anderson
M Evelyn Demsher
M Ellery Fahey
M Emily Calloway
F Morgan Schwerin
F Paige Miller
F Audrey Siebert
Neuqua Valley
GK Yanel Ortiz
D Veda Tappin
D Jenna Lafferty
D Emma Morgan
D Nicole Mondi
M Hailey Furio
M Erin Sweda
M Alyssa Bombacino
F Ryan Gareis
F Allie Fullriede
F Haley Singer
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match – Allie Fullriede, sr., F, Neuqua Valley
Wildcats celebrate Senior Night with 5-1 win
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – The strategy sounds simple.
Get the ball out wide, dribble into the corner and cross the ball into the middle to someone who knocks an open shot into the goal.
Most teams try to score this way, but it isn’t as easy as you would think because the defense gets a vote in the matter.
Yet Neuqua Valley did it again and again with surprising ease Thursday.
The host Wildcats, who are ranked eighth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, scored five times that way and waltzed to a 5-1 DuPage Valley Conference win over Wheaton Warrenville South.
Senior Allie Fullriede and junior Alyssa Bombacino scored twice in the Senior Night victory. Senior Haley Singer added a goal and an assist, and junior Schylar Kingsley dished out three assists as the Wildcats (10-3-4, 7-0-1) wrapped up the regular season as the undefeated DuPage Valley Conference champions and with a four-game winning streak that saw them outscore their opponents 27-1.
“We do this a lot in practice,” Fullriede said. “We practice the crosses in and finishing. That’s been our big focus, and so it’s nice to see it translate into games.”
Wheaton Warrenville South (8-9-1, 3-5-0) lost its fourth-straight game but held off the Neuqua Valley barrage for 22 minutes until crumbling.
Bombacino opened the scoring at the 17:31 mark by knocking in a cross from Singer. One minute later, Kingsley began an impressive run of instigation as she notched the first of her three assists, which came in a 14-minute span.
The first two helpers set up Fullriede’s goals, a volley to the far post and a short finish from inside the 6, the latter of which made it 3-0 with 8:25 to go in the first half.
It was the first two-goal game of Fullriede’s career and came in her final home game.
“It was awesome to have it on Senior Night, with all my teammates and everyone there,” Fullriede said. “It was fun.”
There was plenty of enjoyment to go around for the Wildcats, whose offense has kicked into high gear on the eve of the postseason.
The prolific finishing continued when Bombacino converted a Kingsley cross 2:20 before the break. Singer extended the lead to 5-0 with 23:58 remaining in the second half, again on a cross. Senior Ryan Gareis set up that strike.
The Wildcats, who had clinched their first DVC championship two days earlier in an 8-0 rout of Glenbard North, finished off an impressive unbeaten run through the league.
“I think we finally have found our momentum in these past couple games,” Fullriede said. “I know we wanted to win the DVC.
“Once we realized it was in our hands I think we took it to heart and wanted to go out finish off the season right for going into the playoffs.”
As if the star-studded Wildcats needed any affirmation, the way they finished the regular season boosted their sense of self-worth.
“Winning the DVC gives us a lot of confidence,” Singer said. “It’s a really big thing for us.
“We’re all super excited about it because it builds our momentum up for the playoffs, which is what we’re really looking forward to.”
The Tigers also have success to look forward to, though it likely won’t come until next year or 2019. A team that started as many as 10 sophomores at times was overwhelmed by the likes of league foes Naperville North and Neuqua Valley, veteran sides stocked with Division I-bound seniors and juniors.
That mismatch showed in the first half Thursday as the Wildcats exploited every breakdown.
“They’ve got great numbers around the park,” Wheaton Warrenville South coach Guy Callipari said. “They’re not hiding anybody. They played very controlled.
“We didn’t do a great job ourselves in the first half regarding tracking people. We were wondering why our backs were under so much pressure. Well, people weren’t coming back and (the Wildcats) saw the opportunity to fill spaces.”
But the Tigers did regroup after intermission and played better in the second half. Junior forward Morgan Schwerin notched her third goal of the season when she got under a long feed from sophomore Paige Miller and beat Neuqua goalie Yanel Ortiz with 3:53 remaining.
“I’m really pleased with the effort in the second half,” Callipari said. “I’m not sure all the powers-to-be were on the field for them, but for us it was a nice way to move into Saturday’s game (against Glenbard West).
“We stood the test of time and we have to look in the mirror and decide who we are. Most of (the Tigers) are pretty young and then wearing the badge meant something.”
Indeed, the first half shellacking caused the Tigers to regain a sense of pride.
“We were losing so much at the end of the half, we realized our attitude was really bringing us down and we weren’t being positive,” Schwerin said.
“And I think that’s what has been getting at us in these last few games. In the second half we really worked as a group together and encouraged each other and brought everyone up to do their best, and I think that’s what brought us together more.”
Despite the four-game losing streak, the Tigers shouldn't be overlooked in the playoffs. They’ve faced tough competition throughout the season and have given up three or more goals only three times.
“I think we’ve come really far because basically our whole team is sophomores,” Schwerin said. “We’ve learned to work together really well, especially this game. This game was a big experience for us.”
The seventh-seeded Tigers open the playoffs Tuesday at regional host and 10th-seed DeKalb in a favorable-looking matchup. If they win, unbeaten, second-ranked and no. 1 seed St. Charles North should await them in the regional final.
“(We've) played some really good teams this year and have been competitive in each match,” Callipari said. “We’ve lost our way a couple times, but we always seem to find it again.
“We’re just going to have to hope that on that day and in that moment, we’re on.”
If Neuqua Valley stays on, they are going to be a tough-out despite playing in the Class 3A Lockport Sectional -- the state’s toughest.
The Wildcats are the no. 2 seed and have beaten no. 3 Metea Valley, no. 4 Naperville Central and no. 5 Waubonsie Valley. Neuqua Valley tied top-seeded Naperville North as well as the aforementioned St. Charles North.
But they are hungry for more.
“I think (winning the DVC) is a big confidence-booster, but I definitely don’t think it’s where we’re going to stop this season,” Fullriede said. “All right, we’ve got great games behind us, but now we have all this momentum going forward in the playoffs. This is not the end of the season.”
Starting lineups
Wheaton Warrenville South
GK Abbie Brennan
D Maria Dohse
D Molly Fank
D Maddie Monaco
M Allie Anderson
M Evelyn Demsher
M Ellery Fahey
M Emily Calloway
F Morgan Schwerin
F Paige Miller
F Audrey Siebert
Neuqua Valley
GK Yanel Ortiz
D Veda Tappin
D Jenna Lafferty
D Emma Morgan
D Nicole Mondi
M Hailey Furio
M Erin Sweda
M Alyssa Bombacino
F Ryan Gareis
F Allie Fullriede
F Haley Singer
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match – Allie Fullriede, sr., F, Neuqua Valley