Goose eggs start to roll Young's way
Dolphins post shutout win at Glenbard South
By Bill Stone
GLEN ELLYN -- Senior goalie Sloane Kistinger and her Young teammates are beginning to like shutouts again.
After the 2016 season ended with a pair of tough 1-0 losses, each of the Dolphins 10 games this season has been a shutout. They started this season being blanked in five of their first seven games – three of them by a 1-0 tally.
On Tuesday, the Dolphins continued to turn the tables with their third-straight shutout victory and their first victorious 1-0 verdict of 2017 with the win against host Glenbard South.
“We had a little run there where we experienced some 1-0 losses, and I think that kind of woke us up,” Kistinger said.
“After our 1-0 loss to Payton (March 29), seeing how they lost to Jones and then Jones and Lane tied, we’re like, ‘This doesn’t mean were down (in the Chicago Public League Premier Division race).’”
This one wasn’t easy. Young (5-5-0) didn’t get the game-winner until just 3:24 remained.
Junior forward Sara Woods just beat Glenbard South senior goalie Allie Jordan to the ball and scored in the crease after senior Gabby Cattan‘s cross following a corner kick.
For the game, the Dolphins controlled most of the play, especially in the second half, yet the Raiders (2-5-0) actually had more of the dangerous scoring chances.
With two huge saves in the first half, Kistinger earned Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors. She continues to prove herself after taking over the no. 1 goalie role this season.
“It’s awesome. I feel a lot safer with her back there,” said Cattan, a defensive center midfielder. “We’ve had some other alternate goalies switched around so she can have more field time, because she is a good forward and helps us score as well. With her behind, I feel a lot safer. I’m used to having her right there.”
Cattan and junior Jessica O’Donnell, who had several long second half carries in the midfield, turned quick-touch corner kicks into late threats and eventually the game-winner.
“We do a little short corner, and they kept sending just one girl out to defend so we just kept doing it. I’ll touch inside and try to get a cross or shot off,” Cattan said.
With about four minutes left, O’Donnell’s cross into the crease went off the knee of a Glenbard South defender and barely over the net.
“I think we kind of saw their almost mistake, and we’re like, ‘OK. We have another corner. Let’s use this opportunity to maybe capitalize.’ And then we did,” Woods said.
On the ensuing corner kick, Cattan carried along to the right of the goal before a shot to the near post that Jordan deflected for yet another attempt.
This time, Woods struck.
“(The ball) just kind of fumbled around in there, and the goalie was kind of bouncing around with it,” Woods said. “I was just able to get my foot in there and put it over her head. We were both just kind of going for it.”
Woods’ goal went without recognition from the conscientious announcer. Rather than her usual no. 10 on the roster, she was wearing the no. 37 jersey for the Dolphins' orange kit.
“We have two other jerseys and someone lost the no. 10 jersey for this (color),” Woods explained.
Perhaps the Dolphins were a bit tapped offensively after dominating Lincoln Park 6-0 at home Monday -- – their fourth victory with at least five goals. The winning streak began by blanking Washington 2-0 Saturday.
They dominated early Tuesday but when they couldn’t take a lead, the young Raiders seemed to gain confidence.
Glenbard South was coming off its second-straight victory, a 4-0 over visiting Aurora Central Catholic in its Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division opener Monday, after the Raiders topped Ridgewood 2-1 Saturday.
While the Dolphins started four seniors and five juniors, the Raiders started just two seniors and three juniors with three players each from the sophomore and freshman classes.
“We definitely kind of controlled that with our possession,” Young coach Spero Mandakas said. “It’s just kind of what we did in that final third where we weren’t being assertive enough to find a few better options, where we kind of settled.
“I was happy with the way we possessed it. It would have been nice to get one of the goals early. We had some solid chances the first 10, 12 minutes but after that it was just kind of going back and forth where they had some solid ones and Sloane made some good saves.”
Kistinger made arguably the play of the game in the 19th minute.
Glenbard South freshman forward Erin Haslett broke free just to the right of the goal and then maneuvered around a Young defender for a one-on-one chance.
Opting not to shoot on the charging Kistinger, Haslett tried to cut left around her to pay dirt. The diving Kistinger managed to jar the ball loose with her foot.
“I guess that was just an in-the-moment, adrenaline rush, oh no (save),” Kistinger said.
“That was all skill,” responded a laughing Cattan.
Glenbard South coach Kevin Berner certainly took notice.
“We just couldn’t get a ball to go our way. Very strong keeper,” Berner said. “(Kistinger) made a great save in the first half (on Haslett). I thought we were going to score, and she made a legit save. That was a great move. I’m like, ‘All right. They’ve got a keeper.’”
Kistinger’s versatility also may have made the difference in the 27th minute.
Sophomore Sam Schutte, the Raiders’ other starting forward, broke down left wing toward the goal line. Suddenly she stopped, cut back and delivered a cross-corner shot that required a diving save.
“I knew she was going to go opposite post so I shifted over a little bit, and I had that save,” Kistinger said. “Last year I played in the field mostly, but switching back to goalie, I have a lot more of a forward mindset. I’m able to kind of know what they’re going to do, and I think that really helped me with that shot.”
In 2016, Kistinger played only about 25 percent of the dolphins goalie minutes behind then-junior Kyra Sadovi and contributed five goals and four assists in the field. When Sadovi did not return this season, Kistinger assumed the starting job.
Kistinger still has played “one and a half” games in the field, recording one assist. Sophomore goalie Mia Engelmann occasionally has been brought up from the junior varsity and Mandakas said she probably also will be on the roster for upcoming Pepsi Showdown games to help Young expand its options. Another factor was the recent loss of sophomore forward Audrey Howaniec to a broken collarbone.
Also hoping to return to the lineup is junior forward Sophie Putrim, who led the team in scoring as a freshman with 19 goals but missed most of 2016 campaign recovering from a concussion. Olivia Putrim, Sophie’s twin sister, is a starting midfielder in her debut season for the Dolphins after sitting out 2016 following her transfer from Lane.
“Once we finally get healthy, we’ll have a nice attack,” Mandakas said. “Against some of the better teams, Glenbrook North and Maine South, we did a lot of defending.”
The Dolphins boast experience defensively. Besides Cattan in the middle, fellow senior tri-captains Mariah Helm and Cameron Herman are at center and outside back, respectively, with sophomore Addie Schlensker also inside and junior Kyra Sobel at right outside.
The March 18 Glenbrook North game was a 6-0 loss. After losing to Maine South 3-0 March 27 with all of the goals allowed in the first half, the Dolphins have only allowed one goal versus Payton.
By Tuesday’s second half, Kistinger had it relatively easy due to a sporatic South attack. She needed only two saves, but Young dodged a potential threat with 34 minutes left. Freshman Abby Showalter’s free kick from 50-plus yards landed to the right of the goal, and Haslett crossed the ball into an unmarked crease. No Raider was there.
Glenbard South has been shut out in all five of its losses.
“Since (Maine South), we’ve done pretty well where it’s been one or a shutout,” Mandakas said. “We have a solid defense. We try to focus 11 behind the ball. We all defend, and we all attack as well.”
Such is the case with Cattan. She shares the team lead of four goals with Woods and junior Sarah Heise. Senior Sandra Delgado hat a hat trick Saturday. Owning a team-best three assists is freshman outside midfielder Mia Lisanti, who made several nice runs and crosses Tuesday, particularly along right wing.
The key Tuesday was the Dolphins never let frustration get the better of them.
“(We were) a little bit because we were controlling it most of the time but then other times we’d just make an awful pass or pass to the other team,” Cattan said.
“There’s always moments where we’re controlling it and moments when we we’re not. We just happened to control it more than them.”
Given how crazy the early Chicago Public League Premier Division results have been, the Dolphins pretty much still control their own destiny. They lost the 2016 city championship 1-0 to Lane and then lost their Class 3A regional opener 1-0 to eventual regional champion Fenwick.
“Anything’s possible,” Woods said. “No one’s a clear title holder right now in our league. I feel like it’s a really even matchup this year with a lot of teams.”
Young currently sits atop the Premier Division standings with a 3-1-0 record and nine points. Late season matchups with Lane (1-0-1) and Jones (2-0-1) later month will likely decide the Dolphins league fate.
Glenbard South also is excited about what lies ahead. Berner said he’s a little disappointed that the Raiders’ biggest conference game is Thursday with Wheaton Academy because his team continues to grow each outing.
“I thought we looked really tough tonight,” Berner said.
“That’s a good team (Young). I know that program. I know their coach really well, and I was excited that they agreed to this game. This is one of the games I sought out (adding this season). And our girls responded really well.”
Senior midfielder and captain A.J. Rose is a huge contributor and once again can be used to her fullest potential as the lineup matures and heals. Starting freshman central defender Molly Moutvic has been working her way back from a hip injury.
Glenbard South's Class AA regional championship lineup last season started five seniors but also one sophomore and three freshmen. The Raiders lost their sectional semifinal at home 9-0 to St. Francis, which went on to finish fourth in state.
“We are really young. Freshmen and sophomores carry the bulk of our minutes. But they’re skilled. They’ve got talent,” Berner said.
“They’re good students. They’re listening to our instruction well, and we’ll get there. (Young is) older and bigger, but look how we responded physically to this game. I tell them just because you’re freshmen, don’t play like it.”
Starting lineups
Whitney Young
G – Sloane Kistinger
D – Kyra Sobel
D – Addie Schlensker
D – Mariah Helm
D – Cameron Herman
M – Mia Lisanti
M – Jessica O’Donnell
M – Gabby Cattan
M – Olivia Putrim
F – Keila Vega
F – Sara Woods
Glenbard South
G – Allie Jordan
D – Ema Eismann
D – Molly Moutvic
D – Danielle Palmieri
D – Sydney Hazelrigg
M – Emma Johnson
M – A.J. Rose
M – Abby Showalter
M – Clare Willis
F – Erin Haslett
F – Sam Schutte
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Sloane Kistinger, sr. GK, Whitney Young
Dolphins post shutout win at Glenbard South
By Bill Stone
GLEN ELLYN -- Senior goalie Sloane Kistinger and her Young teammates are beginning to like shutouts again.
After the 2016 season ended with a pair of tough 1-0 losses, each of the Dolphins 10 games this season has been a shutout. They started this season being blanked in five of their first seven games – three of them by a 1-0 tally.
On Tuesday, the Dolphins continued to turn the tables with their third-straight shutout victory and their first victorious 1-0 verdict of 2017 with the win against host Glenbard South.
“We had a little run there where we experienced some 1-0 losses, and I think that kind of woke us up,” Kistinger said.
“After our 1-0 loss to Payton (March 29), seeing how they lost to Jones and then Jones and Lane tied, we’re like, ‘This doesn’t mean were down (in the Chicago Public League Premier Division race).’”
This one wasn’t easy. Young (5-5-0) didn’t get the game-winner until just 3:24 remained.
Junior forward Sara Woods just beat Glenbard South senior goalie Allie Jordan to the ball and scored in the crease after senior Gabby Cattan‘s cross following a corner kick.
For the game, the Dolphins controlled most of the play, especially in the second half, yet the Raiders (2-5-0) actually had more of the dangerous scoring chances.
With two huge saves in the first half, Kistinger earned Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors. She continues to prove herself after taking over the no. 1 goalie role this season.
“It’s awesome. I feel a lot safer with her back there,” said Cattan, a defensive center midfielder. “We’ve had some other alternate goalies switched around so she can have more field time, because she is a good forward and helps us score as well. With her behind, I feel a lot safer. I’m used to having her right there.”
Cattan and junior Jessica O’Donnell, who had several long second half carries in the midfield, turned quick-touch corner kicks into late threats and eventually the game-winner.
“We do a little short corner, and they kept sending just one girl out to defend so we just kept doing it. I’ll touch inside and try to get a cross or shot off,” Cattan said.
With about four minutes left, O’Donnell’s cross into the crease went off the knee of a Glenbard South defender and barely over the net.
“I think we kind of saw their almost mistake, and we’re like, ‘OK. We have another corner. Let’s use this opportunity to maybe capitalize.’ And then we did,” Woods said.
On the ensuing corner kick, Cattan carried along to the right of the goal before a shot to the near post that Jordan deflected for yet another attempt.
This time, Woods struck.
“(The ball) just kind of fumbled around in there, and the goalie was kind of bouncing around with it,” Woods said. “I was just able to get my foot in there and put it over her head. We were both just kind of going for it.”
Woods’ goal went without recognition from the conscientious announcer. Rather than her usual no. 10 on the roster, she was wearing the no. 37 jersey for the Dolphins' orange kit.
“We have two other jerseys and someone lost the no. 10 jersey for this (color),” Woods explained.
Perhaps the Dolphins were a bit tapped offensively after dominating Lincoln Park 6-0 at home Monday -- – their fourth victory with at least five goals. The winning streak began by blanking Washington 2-0 Saturday.
They dominated early Tuesday but when they couldn’t take a lead, the young Raiders seemed to gain confidence.
Glenbard South was coming off its second-straight victory, a 4-0 over visiting Aurora Central Catholic in its Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division opener Monday, after the Raiders topped Ridgewood 2-1 Saturday.
While the Dolphins started four seniors and five juniors, the Raiders started just two seniors and three juniors with three players each from the sophomore and freshman classes.
“We definitely kind of controlled that with our possession,” Young coach Spero Mandakas said. “It’s just kind of what we did in that final third where we weren’t being assertive enough to find a few better options, where we kind of settled.
“I was happy with the way we possessed it. It would have been nice to get one of the goals early. We had some solid chances the first 10, 12 minutes but after that it was just kind of going back and forth where they had some solid ones and Sloane made some good saves.”
Kistinger made arguably the play of the game in the 19th minute.
Glenbard South freshman forward Erin Haslett broke free just to the right of the goal and then maneuvered around a Young defender for a one-on-one chance.
Opting not to shoot on the charging Kistinger, Haslett tried to cut left around her to pay dirt. The diving Kistinger managed to jar the ball loose with her foot.
“I guess that was just an in-the-moment, adrenaline rush, oh no (save),” Kistinger said.
“That was all skill,” responded a laughing Cattan.
Glenbard South coach Kevin Berner certainly took notice.
“We just couldn’t get a ball to go our way. Very strong keeper,” Berner said. “(Kistinger) made a great save in the first half (on Haslett). I thought we were going to score, and she made a legit save. That was a great move. I’m like, ‘All right. They’ve got a keeper.’”
Kistinger’s versatility also may have made the difference in the 27th minute.
Sophomore Sam Schutte, the Raiders’ other starting forward, broke down left wing toward the goal line. Suddenly she stopped, cut back and delivered a cross-corner shot that required a diving save.
“I knew she was going to go opposite post so I shifted over a little bit, and I had that save,” Kistinger said. “Last year I played in the field mostly, but switching back to goalie, I have a lot more of a forward mindset. I’m able to kind of know what they’re going to do, and I think that really helped me with that shot.”
In 2016, Kistinger played only about 25 percent of the dolphins goalie minutes behind then-junior Kyra Sadovi and contributed five goals and four assists in the field. When Sadovi did not return this season, Kistinger assumed the starting job.
Kistinger still has played “one and a half” games in the field, recording one assist. Sophomore goalie Mia Engelmann occasionally has been brought up from the junior varsity and Mandakas said she probably also will be on the roster for upcoming Pepsi Showdown games to help Young expand its options. Another factor was the recent loss of sophomore forward Audrey Howaniec to a broken collarbone.
Also hoping to return to the lineup is junior forward Sophie Putrim, who led the team in scoring as a freshman with 19 goals but missed most of 2016 campaign recovering from a concussion. Olivia Putrim, Sophie’s twin sister, is a starting midfielder in her debut season for the Dolphins after sitting out 2016 following her transfer from Lane.
“Once we finally get healthy, we’ll have a nice attack,” Mandakas said. “Against some of the better teams, Glenbrook North and Maine South, we did a lot of defending.”
The Dolphins boast experience defensively. Besides Cattan in the middle, fellow senior tri-captains Mariah Helm and Cameron Herman are at center and outside back, respectively, with sophomore Addie Schlensker also inside and junior Kyra Sobel at right outside.
The March 18 Glenbrook North game was a 6-0 loss. After losing to Maine South 3-0 March 27 with all of the goals allowed in the first half, the Dolphins have only allowed one goal versus Payton.
By Tuesday’s second half, Kistinger had it relatively easy due to a sporatic South attack. She needed only two saves, but Young dodged a potential threat with 34 minutes left. Freshman Abby Showalter’s free kick from 50-plus yards landed to the right of the goal, and Haslett crossed the ball into an unmarked crease. No Raider was there.
Glenbard South has been shut out in all five of its losses.
“Since (Maine South), we’ve done pretty well where it’s been one or a shutout,” Mandakas said. “We have a solid defense. We try to focus 11 behind the ball. We all defend, and we all attack as well.”
Such is the case with Cattan. She shares the team lead of four goals with Woods and junior Sarah Heise. Senior Sandra Delgado hat a hat trick Saturday. Owning a team-best three assists is freshman outside midfielder Mia Lisanti, who made several nice runs and crosses Tuesday, particularly along right wing.
The key Tuesday was the Dolphins never let frustration get the better of them.
“(We were) a little bit because we were controlling it most of the time but then other times we’d just make an awful pass or pass to the other team,” Cattan said.
“There’s always moments where we’re controlling it and moments when we we’re not. We just happened to control it more than them.”
Given how crazy the early Chicago Public League Premier Division results have been, the Dolphins pretty much still control their own destiny. They lost the 2016 city championship 1-0 to Lane and then lost their Class 3A regional opener 1-0 to eventual regional champion Fenwick.
“Anything’s possible,” Woods said. “No one’s a clear title holder right now in our league. I feel like it’s a really even matchup this year with a lot of teams.”
Young currently sits atop the Premier Division standings with a 3-1-0 record and nine points. Late season matchups with Lane (1-0-1) and Jones (2-0-1) later month will likely decide the Dolphins league fate.
Glenbard South also is excited about what lies ahead. Berner said he’s a little disappointed that the Raiders’ biggest conference game is Thursday with Wheaton Academy because his team continues to grow each outing.
“I thought we looked really tough tonight,” Berner said.
“That’s a good team (Young). I know that program. I know their coach really well, and I was excited that they agreed to this game. This is one of the games I sought out (adding this season). And our girls responded really well.”
Senior midfielder and captain A.J. Rose is a huge contributor and once again can be used to her fullest potential as the lineup matures and heals. Starting freshman central defender Molly Moutvic has been working her way back from a hip injury.
Glenbard South's Class AA regional championship lineup last season started five seniors but also one sophomore and three freshmen. The Raiders lost their sectional semifinal at home 9-0 to St. Francis, which went on to finish fourth in state.
“We are really young. Freshmen and sophomores carry the bulk of our minutes. But they’re skilled. They’ve got talent,” Berner said.
“They’re good students. They’re listening to our instruction well, and we’ll get there. (Young is) older and bigger, but look how we responded physically to this game. I tell them just because you’re freshmen, don’t play like it.”
Starting lineups
Whitney Young
G – Sloane Kistinger
D – Kyra Sobel
D – Addie Schlensker
D – Mariah Helm
D – Cameron Herman
M – Mia Lisanti
M – Jessica O’Donnell
M – Gabby Cattan
M – Olivia Putrim
F – Keila Vega
F – Sara Woods
Glenbard South
G – Allie Jordan
D – Ema Eismann
D – Molly Moutvic
D – Danielle Palmieri
D – Sydney Hazelrigg
M – Emma Johnson
M – A.J. Rose
M – Abby Showalter
M – Clare Willis
F – Erin Haslett
F – Sam Schutte
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Sloane Kistinger, sr. GK, Whitney Young