St. Viator takes it to Buffalo Grove
Aggressive start sparks Lions in 2-1 victory
By Dave Owen
BUFFALO GROVE -- Brinley McVeigh didn’t take long to make an impression.
The Saint Viator freshman scored a goal just 5:40 into her high school career. Two Lions goals in the first 8:20 of Tuesday’s season opener at Buffalo Grove held up for a 2-1 win.
Set up by combination passes by Delia Douglas and Maggie Leazer, McVeigh took a Leazer pass to the right wing, drove in and lined a 12-yarder inside the left post.
“As a freshman, I have to haul my own weight up top,” McVeigh said. “It just came out and I hit it to the back post. It was really exciting.”
Viator’s excitement continued with 31:40 left in the half. Off an Emma Henry corner kick, a Buffalo Grove attempt to clear the ball from the front of the net deflected to senior Michelle Trovato, who was open in front. Her six-yard liner under the crossbar made the score 2-0.
“I was back post for our corner,” said Trovato, Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match. "You never give up on the ball and make sure that even if you’re not the target player, you’re there supporting your teammates. Sometimes it pops out, and you have to be there ready for it.”
The early blitz put Buffalo Grove on its heels.
“We came out and had no pressure on Saint Viator at all, and they took advantage,” Bison coach Pat Dudle said. “They were the aggressor for the first 10-15 minutes of the game.
“We dug ourselves a hole, but I was proud of the girls that they came back and fought. I think we learned a lesson, but unfortunately some lessons are learned quicker with a loss.”
The fast start was a far cry from the two teams’ matchup in the 2014 opener, a 5-1 Bison win.
“We haven’t beat BG in at least a couple of years in our first game, so it’s a really good way to start the season,” Trovato said. “It’s a good momentum and confidence builder. I think we’re all really excited.”
The Lions' defense did its part from there. Maureen McGrath nicely blocked a Sarah O’Connor point blank shot with 6:25 left in the half to preserve the 2-0 margin at the half.
Buffalo Grove broke through on a nice Sara Busse finish with 10:18 left in the match. Off a Jessica Kovach corner kick, Busse’s header from the crease cut the difference to 2-1.
“In the second half we played a lot better in general,” Busse said. “In the first half we came out nervous and flat. In the second half we really picked it up. We knew we had to get some goals back, and we knew if we fought hard enough we could do it. Sure enough, we got one.”
The goal was especially sweet for Busse, who has missed much of the last two seasons with injuries.
“It’s awesome,” Busse said. “From having three knee surgeries and then coming out in my first game as a senior, it’s really nice. A header goal, a perfect way to start it."
Saint Viator threatened with 8:15 left, but Bison goalkeeper Cassie Berman dove on a cross from the end line by Douglas. Kayne Stanley headed a Henry corner kick wide a minute later.
Buffalo Grove’s final-minute bid to tie included a long shot on goal, followed by strong combination defense by Henry and Stanley to deny Hannah Cole’s sideline drive as time ran out.
“I thought the defensive line stayed strong the whole game and shut down a lot of players,” McVeigh said. “When they broke through, we came back as a team and stayed positive the whole game.”
The mix of early offense and late composure kept the Lions on top.
“We just wanted to come out strong,” Stanley said. “First game of the year you obviously want to make it a good one and start the season off right. We all played pretty well and came out with a win, so we’re happy about it.
“The key was having composure and taking your time when you get the ball. We wanted to make sure we made the right passes, relaxed and didn’t rush, so that kind of helped move it from the back to the front. We finished a few up top, so that was nice.”
Good chances early in the second half by each team included Buffalo Grove midfielder Sabrina Guercio’s 15-yard shot over the net off a nice Busse cross with 39:10 left.
Bison goalkeeper Cassie Berman blocked a Leazer header near the post off a corner kick with 36 minutes to go, and Trovato’s frequent attacks on the net included an 18-yard shot just wide of the right post with 25:30 left.
The Lions rely heavily on three freshmen and three sophomores, but looked like a veteran unit from the start on Tuesday.
“We’ve worked a lot on passing and connecting,” Saint Viator coach Mike Taylor said. “We have a lot of girls back from last year and four new ones, and we’re trying to gel them.
“If the individual stuff comes first there’s no cohesiveness, so this year I thought, 'Let’s concentrate on passing and keeping our shape.' They did really well in the first half, but we’re young with only a few seniors, and in the second half it showed. They pressured us and didn’t realize they had to play the ball quicker to get through the first line of pressure. They still did a great job of working it out.”
And a young lineup figures to get better.
“The goalkeeper’s only a freshman (Johnston) and she’s very, very good,” Taylor said. “Brinley did a nice job in the midfield, and Felicia (Moncada) and (freshman) Meagan (Vicens), the other two kids, did a nice job.
“Overall we played pretty well. The second half got a little raggedy, but part of that is not being in game shape. Once you get tired, you make mental mistakes. And that’s a nice team. They lost a lot (to graduation), but he (Dudle) always has a nice team.”
Better days clearly are ahead for the Bison as well. The second half fight was a good sign of that.
“Maria Hamilton stepped up and was a great senior leader for us tonight,” Dudle said. “She set the tone and had us playing a little more aggressive.”
Eastern Kentucky-bound O’Connor has moved from goalkeeper to forward and adds punch, at least figuratively, since her hand is in a cast.
“Sarah signed with Eastern Kentucky as a field player,” Dudle said. “She helped us out the last couple of years between the pipes.
“We had big losses from graduation, but just like any other team, players have to change their roles and connect with each other. Hopefully we’ll get better next game. We have to improve our shape defensively and make connections.”
After the rough first 10 minutes, Busse was pleased by her team’s play.
“The start of the game, we were flat and they countered and played well,” Busse said. “But I thought once we started fighting back we were right there.
“We just want to go up from here. We lost our first game, but I don’t think that defines us. I think we can do a lot better.”
Starting lineups
Saint Viator
GK-Anna Johnston
D-Emma Henry
D-Maureen McGrath
D-Kayne Stanley
D-Molly Murphy
M-Maggie Leazer
M-Brinley McVeigh
M-Felicia Moncada
M-Susie Moynihan
F-Michelle Trovato
F-Delia Douglas
Buffalo Grove
GK-Cassie Berman
D-Sarah Cain
D-Danielle Allaire
D-Dani Bleichman
D-Maria Hamilton
M-Sabrina Guercio
M-Georgette Topalis
M-Jessica Kovach
M-Hannah Cole
F-Sara Busse
F-Sarah O’Connor
MVP: Michelle Trovato, Saint Viator
Aggressive start sparks Lions in 2-1 victory
By Dave Owen
BUFFALO GROVE -- Brinley McVeigh didn’t take long to make an impression.
The Saint Viator freshman scored a goal just 5:40 into her high school career. Two Lions goals in the first 8:20 of Tuesday’s season opener at Buffalo Grove held up for a 2-1 win.
Set up by combination passes by Delia Douglas and Maggie Leazer, McVeigh took a Leazer pass to the right wing, drove in and lined a 12-yarder inside the left post.
“As a freshman, I have to haul my own weight up top,” McVeigh said. “It just came out and I hit it to the back post. It was really exciting.”
Viator’s excitement continued with 31:40 left in the half. Off an Emma Henry corner kick, a Buffalo Grove attempt to clear the ball from the front of the net deflected to senior Michelle Trovato, who was open in front. Her six-yard liner under the crossbar made the score 2-0.
“I was back post for our corner,” said Trovato, Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match. "You never give up on the ball and make sure that even if you’re not the target player, you’re there supporting your teammates. Sometimes it pops out, and you have to be there ready for it.”
The early blitz put Buffalo Grove on its heels.
“We came out and had no pressure on Saint Viator at all, and they took advantage,” Bison coach Pat Dudle said. “They were the aggressor for the first 10-15 minutes of the game.
“We dug ourselves a hole, but I was proud of the girls that they came back and fought. I think we learned a lesson, but unfortunately some lessons are learned quicker with a loss.”
The fast start was a far cry from the two teams’ matchup in the 2014 opener, a 5-1 Bison win.
“We haven’t beat BG in at least a couple of years in our first game, so it’s a really good way to start the season,” Trovato said. “It’s a good momentum and confidence builder. I think we’re all really excited.”
The Lions' defense did its part from there. Maureen McGrath nicely blocked a Sarah O’Connor point blank shot with 6:25 left in the half to preserve the 2-0 margin at the half.
Buffalo Grove broke through on a nice Sara Busse finish with 10:18 left in the match. Off a Jessica Kovach corner kick, Busse’s header from the crease cut the difference to 2-1.
“In the second half we played a lot better in general,” Busse said. “In the first half we came out nervous and flat. In the second half we really picked it up. We knew we had to get some goals back, and we knew if we fought hard enough we could do it. Sure enough, we got one.”
The goal was especially sweet for Busse, who has missed much of the last two seasons with injuries.
“It’s awesome,” Busse said. “From having three knee surgeries and then coming out in my first game as a senior, it’s really nice. A header goal, a perfect way to start it."
Saint Viator threatened with 8:15 left, but Bison goalkeeper Cassie Berman dove on a cross from the end line by Douglas. Kayne Stanley headed a Henry corner kick wide a minute later.
Buffalo Grove’s final-minute bid to tie included a long shot on goal, followed by strong combination defense by Henry and Stanley to deny Hannah Cole’s sideline drive as time ran out.
“I thought the defensive line stayed strong the whole game and shut down a lot of players,” McVeigh said. “When they broke through, we came back as a team and stayed positive the whole game.”
The mix of early offense and late composure kept the Lions on top.
“We just wanted to come out strong,” Stanley said. “First game of the year you obviously want to make it a good one and start the season off right. We all played pretty well and came out with a win, so we’re happy about it.
“The key was having composure and taking your time when you get the ball. We wanted to make sure we made the right passes, relaxed and didn’t rush, so that kind of helped move it from the back to the front. We finished a few up top, so that was nice.”
Good chances early in the second half by each team included Buffalo Grove midfielder Sabrina Guercio’s 15-yard shot over the net off a nice Busse cross with 39:10 left.
Bison goalkeeper Cassie Berman blocked a Leazer header near the post off a corner kick with 36 minutes to go, and Trovato’s frequent attacks on the net included an 18-yard shot just wide of the right post with 25:30 left.
The Lions rely heavily on three freshmen and three sophomores, but looked like a veteran unit from the start on Tuesday.
“We’ve worked a lot on passing and connecting,” Saint Viator coach Mike Taylor said. “We have a lot of girls back from last year and four new ones, and we’re trying to gel them.
“If the individual stuff comes first there’s no cohesiveness, so this year I thought, 'Let’s concentrate on passing and keeping our shape.' They did really well in the first half, but we’re young with only a few seniors, and in the second half it showed. They pressured us and didn’t realize they had to play the ball quicker to get through the first line of pressure. They still did a great job of working it out.”
And a young lineup figures to get better.
“The goalkeeper’s only a freshman (Johnston) and she’s very, very good,” Taylor said. “Brinley did a nice job in the midfield, and Felicia (Moncada) and (freshman) Meagan (Vicens), the other two kids, did a nice job.
“Overall we played pretty well. The second half got a little raggedy, but part of that is not being in game shape. Once you get tired, you make mental mistakes. And that’s a nice team. They lost a lot (to graduation), but he (Dudle) always has a nice team.”
Better days clearly are ahead for the Bison as well. The second half fight was a good sign of that.
“Maria Hamilton stepped up and was a great senior leader for us tonight,” Dudle said. “She set the tone and had us playing a little more aggressive.”
Eastern Kentucky-bound O’Connor has moved from goalkeeper to forward and adds punch, at least figuratively, since her hand is in a cast.
“Sarah signed with Eastern Kentucky as a field player,” Dudle said. “She helped us out the last couple of years between the pipes.
“We had big losses from graduation, but just like any other team, players have to change their roles and connect with each other. Hopefully we’ll get better next game. We have to improve our shape defensively and make connections.”
After the rough first 10 minutes, Busse was pleased by her team’s play.
“The start of the game, we were flat and they countered and played well,” Busse said. “But I thought once we started fighting back we were right there.
“We just want to go up from here. We lost our first game, but I don’t think that defines us. I think we can do a lot better.”
Starting lineups
Saint Viator
GK-Anna Johnston
D-Emma Henry
D-Maureen McGrath
D-Kayne Stanley
D-Molly Murphy
M-Maggie Leazer
M-Brinley McVeigh
M-Felicia Moncada
M-Susie Moynihan
F-Michelle Trovato
F-Delia Douglas
Buffalo Grove
GK-Cassie Berman
D-Sarah Cain
D-Danielle Allaire
D-Dani Bleichman
D-Maria Hamilton
M-Sabrina Guercio
M-Georgette Topalis
M-Jessica Kovach
M-Hannah Cole
F-Sara Busse
F-Sarah O’Connor
MVP: Michelle Trovato, Saint Viator