Benet sophomore's OT
strike stuns Saint Viator
Heroics by unflappable Keefe are vital in 2-1 victory
By Mike Garofola
SCHAUMBURG -- With ice water running through her veins, Betsy Keefe drove in her 83rd minute game winner to give Benet an important 2-1 early season victory over longtime rival Saint Viator on Saturday at Olympic Park.
The sophomore buried her first chance of this key East Suburban Catholic Conference match after running onto a superb helper by Ellie Bumpus, who put her teammate through. Then the composed Keefe clinically finished under a diving Saint Viator goalkeeper Anna Johnston, who had no chance on this close-range shot.
"It was a great game, but two defensive mistakes (and) it's Benet who comes from here with the win," said Saint Viator manager Mike Taylor, who for the sixth consecutive time has watched his club either lose or draw to Bob Gros' squad. Gros took this exciting victory in stride after a brief meeting with his side.
"Obviously any time you beat Saint Viator soccer, and a great coach like Mike, it's a very good thing. But it's just one game in a very long season, and in a highly competitive soccer conference that has a very long way to go before anybody is calling themselves champions," said Gros, who basically said these same words earlier in the week in advance of this much-anticipated ESCC contest.
Senior Jacquie Kaufman commented, "After getting that 1-1 draw last year with (Viator) that made us co-champs with them, there's always a little something you're feeling leading up to a game like this.
"But I think (that) and the fact that we have a lot of new players on our roster this season may have led to a shaky first-half start, and one that was filled with some nervous play."
Kaufman wore the captain's armband along with Kate Hennessy, filling in for Rachel Bernicky, who wasn't with the club. Neither was scoring leader Kerry Abello, who was away training with the national team.
"Kerry wasn't with us the other day when we beat Plainfield, so it helped us adjust to us not having her up top playing for us. That made things a lot easier today against Ssint. Viator," Keefe said.
It's likely the appearance of Abello in the Redwings' (6-0-1, 2-0-0) first 11 would have changed the opening half hour of play, which was dominated by the home side. Saint Viator opened on the front foot and never let up on the gas pedal during most of the first 40 minutes.
"We did just about everything really well except finish, and that's what got us in the end," said Kayne Stanley, who along her backline mates Maggie Leazer, Emma Henry and Maureen McGrath kept things under control. Their freshmen keeper Johnston played the part of spectator until Hannah Pfeiffer forced her to save a short drive from the left side in the 19th minute.
"The girls along the back are playing well as a unit that wasn't a problem today. But we just have to find someone who will strike some fear into the opposition in that final third -- and, most importantly, score," Taylor stated.
Benet would have its own troubles in its attack, rarely connecting with target players Kaufman and Loretta Elder up top and any other combination Gros would bring on to give his club some fresh legs on the warm day.
Redwings keeper Emma Hlavin stopped a close-range attempt from Meagan Vicens when the freshmen was put through by Michelle Trovato in the 19th minute. A few minutes later, Hlavin stepped up to save Susie Moynihan's strike. Some wonderful possession and buildup by the Lions, especially Lauren Kohn and Vicens, gave their teammate a chance on frame.
With the visitors soaking up so much pressure in the first half, it was vital the back line, led by senior Sophia Elbchiri, would stay organized. For the most part, this unit did so, keeping a vibrant and confident Saint Viator attack from getting too many good looks on frame.
"We didn't really play very well at all in that first half," Kaufman said. "Most of the play was in our end. But we finally settled down just before the half, then came out and play so much better afterward."
Just minutes after the referee whistled the start of the second period, a nice-looking one-two combination by Elena McCarthy and Kaufman ended with a sharp tackle from Stanley to stop Kaufman from getting in on the Saint Viator keeper.
This early opportunity seemed to give the Redwings the lift they needed to get off to a flying start, and with its midfield now winning its fair share of 50-50 balls, it was clear the momentum had shifted toward Benet.
Kaufman kept the momentum on the upswing when her lung-busting run ended with a finish past Johnston. Kate Hennessy assisted on the 53rd-minute goal.
"You see it all the time when a team dominates, but doesn't put one in the back of the net -- and your opponent (does) on its first quality chance," Taylor said. "Fortunately we came back right away to get back even."
Saint Viator (5-1-0, 2-1-0) found the equalizer 10 minutes later when Henry sent a bending corner to the back post. Benet struggled to clear out of the area. An ever-present and opportunistic Delia Douglas steered her shot past a helpless Hlavin, who was surrounded by several players from both sides, to bring the score back level at 1-1 with 17 minutes remaining in regulation.
The Douglas goal immediately increased the urgency and intensity in the park, with both sides looking to gain the upper hand in order to avoid sudden-death overtime.
Elder launched a left-footed cracker that went wide at 67 minutes. Maddie Becker created a free kick from 22 yards out. Bumpus drove her low attempt into a well-stationed Saint Viator wall to end that stressful moment for the Lions' faithful.
With a chance for some late heroics of her own, Kohn sent her right-footer over the bar at 79 minutes.
Keefe stamped her mark on this exciting conference match just minutes into overtime to send the Redwings bench into a frenzy.
"We did a good job of adjusting to playing with Kerry the other day, and without her today. It just gave a few other players a chance to step up," Keefe said with a big smile.
"It's tough losing to Benet today, especially when we came out and played so well in that first half," Stanley said long after the park was cleared. "That first-half break seemed to take the bite out of our game, and then all of sudden we had to chase them. We'll be fine. It's a long season, and we can't dwell on just one game and one loss. There's so much still ahead of us."
Starting lineups
Benet
GK: Emma Hlavin
D- Sophia Elbchiri
D- Erin Flynn
D- Maggie Johnson
D- Elena McCarthy
MF- Hannah Pfeiffer
MF- Ellie Bumpus
MF- Kate Hennessy
MF- Katie Gesior
F- Jacquie Kaufman
F- Loretta Elder
Saint Viator
GK- Anna Johnston
D- Emma Henry
D- Kayne Stanley
D- Maggie Leazer
D- Maureen McGrath
MF-Felicia Moncada
MF- Lauren Kohn
MF- Brinley McVeigh
MF- Molly Murphy
MF- Caroline Cooney
F- Delia Douglas
Officials: Ricky Geati, Chris Blankshain and Doran Babolea
MVP of the Match: Jacquie Kaufman, F, Benet
Kayne Stanley, D, Saint Viator
strike stuns Saint Viator
Heroics by unflappable Keefe are vital in 2-1 victory
By Mike Garofola
SCHAUMBURG -- With ice water running through her veins, Betsy Keefe drove in her 83rd minute game winner to give Benet an important 2-1 early season victory over longtime rival Saint Viator on Saturday at Olympic Park.
The sophomore buried her first chance of this key East Suburban Catholic Conference match after running onto a superb helper by Ellie Bumpus, who put her teammate through. Then the composed Keefe clinically finished under a diving Saint Viator goalkeeper Anna Johnston, who had no chance on this close-range shot.
"It was a great game, but two defensive mistakes (and) it's Benet who comes from here with the win," said Saint Viator manager Mike Taylor, who for the sixth consecutive time has watched his club either lose or draw to Bob Gros' squad. Gros took this exciting victory in stride after a brief meeting with his side.
"Obviously any time you beat Saint Viator soccer, and a great coach like Mike, it's a very good thing. But it's just one game in a very long season, and in a highly competitive soccer conference that has a very long way to go before anybody is calling themselves champions," said Gros, who basically said these same words earlier in the week in advance of this much-anticipated ESCC contest.
Senior Jacquie Kaufman commented, "After getting that 1-1 draw last year with (Viator) that made us co-champs with them, there's always a little something you're feeling leading up to a game like this.
"But I think (that) and the fact that we have a lot of new players on our roster this season may have led to a shaky first-half start, and one that was filled with some nervous play."
Kaufman wore the captain's armband along with Kate Hennessy, filling in for Rachel Bernicky, who wasn't with the club. Neither was scoring leader Kerry Abello, who was away training with the national team.
"Kerry wasn't with us the other day when we beat Plainfield, so it helped us adjust to us not having her up top playing for us. That made things a lot easier today against Ssint. Viator," Keefe said.
It's likely the appearance of Abello in the Redwings' (6-0-1, 2-0-0) first 11 would have changed the opening half hour of play, which was dominated by the home side. Saint Viator opened on the front foot and never let up on the gas pedal during most of the first 40 minutes.
"We did just about everything really well except finish, and that's what got us in the end," said Kayne Stanley, who along her backline mates Maggie Leazer, Emma Henry and Maureen McGrath kept things under control. Their freshmen keeper Johnston played the part of spectator until Hannah Pfeiffer forced her to save a short drive from the left side in the 19th minute.
"The girls along the back are playing well as a unit that wasn't a problem today. But we just have to find someone who will strike some fear into the opposition in that final third -- and, most importantly, score," Taylor stated.
Benet would have its own troubles in its attack, rarely connecting with target players Kaufman and Loretta Elder up top and any other combination Gros would bring on to give his club some fresh legs on the warm day.
Redwings keeper Emma Hlavin stopped a close-range attempt from Meagan Vicens when the freshmen was put through by Michelle Trovato in the 19th minute. A few minutes later, Hlavin stepped up to save Susie Moynihan's strike. Some wonderful possession and buildup by the Lions, especially Lauren Kohn and Vicens, gave their teammate a chance on frame.
With the visitors soaking up so much pressure in the first half, it was vital the back line, led by senior Sophia Elbchiri, would stay organized. For the most part, this unit did so, keeping a vibrant and confident Saint Viator attack from getting too many good looks on frame.
"We didn't really play very well at all in that first half," Kaufman said. "Most of the play was in our end. But we finally settled down just before the half, then came out and play so much better afterward."
Just minutes after the referee whistled the start of the second period, a nice-looking one-two combination by Elena McCarthy and Kaufman ended with a sharp tackle from Stanley to stop Kaufman from getting in on the Saint Viator keeper.
This early opportunity seemed to give the Redwings the lift they needed to get off to a flying start, and with its midfield now winning its fair share of 50-50 balls, it was clear the momentum had shifted toward Benet.
Kaufman kept the momentum on the upswing when her lung-busting run ended with a finish past Johnston. Kate Hennessy assisted on the 53rd-minute goal.
"You see it all the time when a team dominates, but doesn't put one in the back of the net -- and your opponent (does) on its first quality chance," Taylor said. "Fortunately we came back right away to get back even."
Saint Viator (5-1-0, 2-1-0) found the equalizer 10 minutes later when Henry sent a bending corner to the back post. Benet struggled to clear out of the area. An ever-present and opportunistic Delia Douglas steered her shot past a helpless Hlavin, who was surrounded by several players from both sides, to bring the score back level at 1-1 with 17 minutes remaining in regulation.
The Douglas goal immediately increased the urgency and intensity in the park, with both sides looking to gain the upper hand in order to avoid sudden-death overtime.
Elder launched a left-footed cracker that went wide at 67 minutes. Maddie Becker created a free kick from 22 yards out. Bumpus drove her low attempt into a well-stationed Saint Viator wall to end that stressful moment for the Lions' faithful.
With a chance for some late heroics of her own, Kohn sent her right-footer over the bar at 79 minutes.
Keefe stamped her mark on this exciting conference match just minutes into overtime to send the Redwings bench into a frenzy.
"We did a good job of adjusting to playing with Kerry the other day, and without her today. It just gave a few other players a chance to step up," Keefe said with a big smile.
"It's tough losing to Benet today, especially when we came out and played so well in that first half," Stanley said long after the park was cleared. "That first-half break seemed to take the bite out of our game, and then all of sudden we had to chase them. We'll be fine. It's a long season, and we can't dwell on just one game and one loss. There's so much still ahead of us."
Starting lineups
Benet
GK: Emma Hlavin
D- Sophia Elbchiri
D- Erin Flynn
D- Maggie Johnson
D- Elena McCarthy
MF- Hannah Pfeiffer
MF- Ellie Bumpus
MF- Kate Hennessy
MF- Katie Gesior
F- Jacquie Kaufman
F- Loretta Elder
Saint Viator
GK- Anna Johnston
D- Emma Henry
D- Kayne Stanley
D- Maggie Leazer
D- Maureen McGrath
MF-Felicia Moncada
MF- Lauren Kohn
MF- Brinley McVeigh
MF- Molly Murphy
MF- Caroline Cooney
F- Delia Douglas
Officials: Ricky Geati, Chris Blankshain and Doran Babolea
MVP of the Match: Jacquie Kaufman, F, Benet
Kayne Stanley, D, Saint Viator