Cary-Grove breaks into scoring
column in victory over Elk Grove
Trojans end scoring drought by controlling play
By Ken Keenan
ELK GROVE -- After failing to find the back of the net in its first
three matches this season, Cary-Grove tickled the twine in a 3-0 win over host Elk Grove in nonconference action Saturday.
The Trojans got the scoring monkey off their backs with 20:23
remaining in the first half. Freshman forward Frankie Frericks pounced
on a loose ball and booted it into a totally empty cage from about 20
yards out after Elk Grove junior goalkeeper Cassie Slattery vacated
the box in pursuit.
"Oh my gosh -- it was a big relief (to score)," said Cary-Grove
sophomore midfielder Katie Conner, who assisted on her team's second
goal and then tallied the third. "Once we got it, it was, 'OK, all
good.' "
Senior midfielder Jenni Phillips, who made it 2-0 on a header
following a nice corner kick by Conner in the 48th minute, said, "As
soon as we got one, we knew we could get more."
Conner concluded the scoring on a free kick from a deep angle to the
right of Grenadiers senior goalkeeper Abby Smola, who replaced
Slattery to start the second half. Smola could only watch as Conner's
rising shot soared into the top right corner of the net.
Phillips earned Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors. Whether
defending deep in her own zone, keeping Elk Grove at bay in the midfield or
pressing forward on the attack, Phillips more often than not was in
the right place at the right time.
"She left it all out there and worked her heart out," Conner said.
"It was all of us working together," Phillips said. "Everyone helped,
and none of us gave up."
The Grens didn't give up, either. But they never were able to possess
the ball with any regularity, as the Trojans controlled the play from
the outset.
"When you spend more time in your own third, it becomes a law of
averages," said Elk Grove head coach Dan Klaus, whose crew fell to
1-4-1 overall. "But we're young, and we're adjusting to the pace of
the varsity game. The girls are working -- they're trying -- but you
have to think the game as well as do it."
With Cary-Grove consistently pushing the pace, Elk Grove freshman
defender Emma Slattery was a busy bee, intercepting passes, blocking
shot attempts and clearing balls out of danger from start to finish.
"It is no fun to always be on our side," Slattery said. "It's
definitely tiring, but when we get the ball back up the field, it
helps. As defenders, we have to stay with it and get to our spot
again. We've got to keep trying. But I think we should pass to our
feet more and connect with each other more."
Trojans head coach Ray Krystal, whose squad improved to 1-3-1 overall
(including a 0-0 tie against Lake Park on April 2), said, "Give Elk
Grove a ton of credit. They continued to press, and weren't going to
allow us to kill the ball all over the park."
Cassie Slattery kept Cary-Grove off the board early on. In the fourth
minute, she tipped away a 20-yard shot by Phillips, and then grabbed a
long shot in midair by Cary-Grove junior midfielder Natalie Bethers 30
seconds later. With 31:30 to go in the first half, Elk Grove's starting
keeper saved a 30-yard shot from Conner.
Prior to the first goal, Slattery was successful in thwarting scoring
attempts while straying from the cage. She came way out to clear balls
out of danger in the 10th and 11th minutes, and then did it again in
the 15th and 16th minutes. But Slattery stumbled while doing so in the
21st minute, allowing Frericks an open look to net that elusive first
goal of the campaign.
"Sometimes soccer's a cruel sport," said Krystal. "You have to believe in each other and keep working. We're pleased with the win, and we're pleased with the team
keeping a positive attitude and believing in each other.
"Jenni (Phillips) put in a high work rate and contributed in all
aspects of the game -- and provided leadership -- and Katie (Connor)
really helped anchor our defense. She helped on offense, too, but the
Cary-Grove style is that every player on the field is responsible for
defending. The mentality is, you're not gonna quit -- and that's a
team mentality for us."
Conner commented, "It was a complete effort. All this confidence we got
(Saturday), it's uphill from here. We have to keep improving and keep
going."
Starting lineups
Cary-Grove
G: Miranda Milone
D: Candace Cunningham
D: Madelyn Osimowicz
D: Rosie Townsley
M: Kelly Stayart
M: Jenni Phillips
M: Katie Conner
M: Natalie Bethers
F: Frankie Frericks
F: Teagan Jones
F: Genna Sobieszczyk
Elk Grove
G: Cassie Slattery
D: Alexis Olague
D: Ally Czyzewski
D: Emma Slattery
D: Jackie Benitez
M: Bailey Murphy
M: Bailey Smola
M: Abby Smola
M: Emma Simmons
F: Kelly Walter
F: Liz McDaniel
MVP of the Match: Jenni Phillips, MF, Cary-Grove
Officials: Mike Valsamis, Janusz Kieca, Eli Sanchez
column in victory over Elk Grove
Trojans end scoring drought by controlling play
By Ken Keenan
ELK GROVE -- After failing to find the back of the net in its first
three matches this season, Cary-Grove tickled the twine in a 3-0 win over host Elk Grove in nonconference action Saturday.
The Trojans got the scoring monkey off their backs with 20:23
remaining in the first half. Freshman forward Frankie Frericks pounced
on a loose ball and booted it into a totally empty cage from about 20
yards out after Elk Grove junior goalkeeper Cassie Slattery vacated
the box in pursuit.
"Oh my gosh -- it was a big relief (to score)," said Cary-Grove
sophomore midfielder Katie Conner, who assisted on her team's second
goal and then tallied the third. "Once we got it, it was, 'OK, all
good.' "
Senior midfielder Jenni Phillips, who made it 2-0 on a header
following a nice corner kick by Conner in the 48th minute, said, "As
soon as we got one, we knew we could get more."
Conner concluded the scoring on a free kick from a deep angle to the
right of Grenadiers senior goalkeeper Abby Smola, who replaced
Slattery to start the second half. Smola could only watch as Conner's
rising shot soared into the top right corner of the net.
Phillips earned Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors. Whether
defending deep in her own zone, keeping Elk Grove at bay in the midfield or
pressing forward on the attack, Phillips more often than not was in
the right place at the right time.
"She left it all out there and worked her heart out," Conner said.
"It was all of us working together," Phillips said. "Everyone helped,
and none of us gave up."
The Grens didn't give up, either. But they never were able to possess
the ball with any regularity, as the Trojans controlled the play from
the outset.
"When you spend more time in your own third, it becomes a law of
averages," said Elk Grove head coach Dan Klaus, whose crew fell to
1-4-1 overall. "But we're young, and we're adjusting to the pace of
the varsity game. The girls are working -- they're trying -- but you
have to think the game as well as do it."
With Cary-Grove consistently pushing the pace, Elk Grove freshman
defender Emma Slattery was a busy bee, intercepting passes, blocking
shot attempts and clearing balls out of danger from start to finish.
"It is no fun to always be on our side," Slattery said. "It's
definitely tiring, but when we get the ball back up the field, it
helps. As defenders, we have to stay with it and get to our spot
again. We've got to keep trying. But I think we should pass to our
feet more and connect with each other more."
Trojans head coach Ray Krystal, whose squad improved to 1-3-1 overall
(including a 0-0 tie against Lake Park on April 2), said, "Give Elk
Grove a ton of credit. They continued to press, and weren't going to
allow us to kill the ball all over the park."
Cassie Slattery kept Cary-Grove off the board early on. In the fourth
minute, she tipped away a 20-yard shot by Phillips, and then grabbed a
long shot in midair by Cary-Grove junior midfielder Natalie Bethers 30
seconds later. With 31:30 to go in the first half, Elk Grove's starting
keeper saved a 30-yard shot from Conner.
Prior to the first goal, Slattery was successful in thwarting scoring
attempts while straying from the cage. She came way out to clear balls
out of danger in the 10th and 11th minutes, and then did it again in
the 15th and 16th minutes. But Slattery stumbled while doing so in the
21st minute, allowing Frericks an open look to net that elusive first
goal of the campaign.
"Sometimes soccer's a cruel sport," said Krystal. "You have to believe in each other and keep working. We're pleased with the win, and we're pleased with the team
keeping a positive attitude and believing in each other.
"Jenni (Phillips) put in a high work rate and contributed in all
aspects of the game -- and provided leadership -- and Katie (Connor)
really helped anchor our defense. She helped on offense, too, but the
Cary-Grove style is that every player on the field is responsible for
defending. The mentality is, you're not gonna quit -- and that's a
team mentality for us."
Conner commented, "It was a complete effort. All this confidence we got
(Saturday), it's uphill from here. We have to keep improving and keep
going."
Starting lineups
Cary-Grove
G: Miranda Milone
D: Candace Cunningham
D: Madelyn Osimowicz
D: Rosie Townsley
M: Kelly Stayart
M: Jenni Phillips
M: Katie Conner
M: Natalie Bethers
F: Frankie Frericks
F: Teagan Jones
F: Genna Sobieszczyk
Elk Grove
G: Cassie Slattery
D: Alexis Olague
D: Ally Czyzewski
D: Emma Slattery
D: Jackie Benitez
M: Bailey Murphy
M: Bailey Smola
M: Abby Smola
M: Emma Simmons
F: Kelly Walter
F: Liz McDaniel
MVP of the Match: Jenni Phillips, MF, Cary-Grove
Officials: Mike Valsamis, Janusz Kieca, Eli Sanchez