Glenbard East knocks out Beecher
Rams score early and often to advance in tourney
By Matt Le Cren
LOMBARD – Beecher went from unbeaten to beaten up in the space of an hour Wednesday night.
The Bobcats came into the Windy City Ram Classic semifinals with a 3-0 record, same as host Glenbard East.
But the similarities ended there as the Glenbard East got two goals each from Brittany Paganucci and Heather Whipple and a goal and two assists from Holly Ward en route to a 7-0 victory.
The Rams (4-0), who have a nonconference match at Naperville North on Thursday, will face Lincoln-Way East in the Windy City title game at 5 p.m. Monday at Toyota Park. The Griffins beat Providence on penalty kicks in the other semifinal.
“We’ve got a big test (Thursday), but I thought this was a great culmination of our work that we’ve put in over this first three weeks,” Glenbard East coach Kent Overbey said. “In the last three games, I didn’t think we finished as well. We created chances but weren’t putting many balls away, so I thought today was a good show.”
The few fans who braved the cold weather had barely settled into their seats when Paganucci got the show started with a bang. The junior forward took a long lead pass from Ward up the left wing, sped around a defender and beat Beecher goalie Kristen Bonk with a short shot in the third minute.
Four minutes later, Paganucci struck again. This time Jordyn Fulton passed her the ball from the right side, and Paganucci quickly spun to her left and scored on a shot from the middle of the penalty area.
“Two right away,” Overbey said. “Brittany got loose on both of them, and she’s going to stretch every defense we play because she’s a playmaker.
“Later in that half you saw that she can pass the ball as well. Her and Holly Ward had it going up top, and then we’ve got Whipple in the mix ,and Jordyn Fulton and Dana Plotke did a really good job.
“Top to bottom we have better talent than we’ve ever had. We rotate our lineup and every one has been different. We haven’t dropped off at all. Everybody is playing well, our first touch is good and finally we’re finishing some shots.”
The Rams have outscored their opponents 12-0 and controlled play in every match. But they hadn’t scored more than two goals until Wednesday.
They eclipsed that mark with 2:15 left in the first half when Whipple took a lead pass from Ward on the right wing and scored on a one-timer to the far post for a 3-0 Glenbard East lead.
“We wanted to start strong right from the start, and that’s what we did,” Ward said. “We were a lot more confident. We came off of a win from Saturday, so we came out really confident and we wanted to get this.”
The Rams dominated throughout, allowing the ball to reach their end of the field just twice in the first half. Ward, Whipple, Megan Mrazek and Corrie Ewoldt dominated the midfield and dissected the Beecher defense with great passes. The dangerous Paganucci did the rest.
“We work together really well,” said Ward, who scored Glenbard East’s fourth goal off an assist from Paganucci. “We just work as a team the whole time, communicate and we just keep pushing and pushing. That’s what gets us there.”
This is the second-straight season the Rams have gotten to Toyota Park. They reached the final in 2014, losing to eventual state semifinalist Lincoln-Way North 1-0.
“We were confident coming in, and knowing that Toyota Park is one step closer really got us motivated,” said Paganucci, Chicagoland Soccer’s MVP of the Match. “Working together and communicating was a big key.”
The Rams have been steadily building their program over the past several seasons. In a sign that upward trend will continue, they have remained steady despite graduating some star players.
“It’s good,” Paganucci said. “It’s nice knowing that we have new girls but also the older girls. We know how to play with each other.”
One of the players the Rams have said goodbye to is Paganucci’s older sister Lindsay, who graduated in 2013 as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 47 goals. She now plays on the club team at Iowa.
But that record will probably fall soon, possibly as soon as this season, because Brittany Paganucci has five goals this season and 35 for her career. She is determined to outdo her big sister.
“Yeah, I told her and she’s like, ‘No, you’re not,’” Paganucci said. “I’m like, 'I’m coming.'”
The Rams kept coming at the Bobcats throughout the 60-minute match. Plotke, Whipple and Fulton found the back of the net. Two shots hit the post, several others just missed and seven shots were saved.
At the other end, Glenbard East goalkeeper Haley Lydon could have gotten most of her homework done. She touched the ball just once before intermission and faced only two shots in the second half, making one save.
Beecher’s bestl chance to avoid the shutout came four minutes into the second half when a 34-yard free kick went into the middle of the box and a shot beat Lydon but was blocked by a defender. In the resulting scrum, another shot was blocked off the line and the rebound hit the left post before Lydon covered it up.
While it hasn’t been tested often, the defense has pleased Overbey. Sophomore Paige Taylor and seniors Maria Berrum and Mary Kurtz were the standouts against Beecher.
“I thought defensively we did well trying to get prepared for a big test in (Naperville North star) Abbie Boswell,” Overbey said. “We’re still trying to solidify and fit the pieces in. Paige Taylor is a sophomore who has been playing incredible for us. We pulled her up halfway through last year, and she has really done a great job. I think she’s definitely the future of our team.”
Regardless of whether the Rams are still unbeaten heading into Monday, they will relish the chance to play for a championship on a professional field. The speedy Paganucci should thrive on the 75-yard wide field.
“I’m really excited,” Paganucci said. “It’s always a great thing knowing that you have people saying, ‘Oh, you’re going to Toyota Park, how cool.’ I think it’s a great high school experience playing in this tournament and making it that far.”
For Beecher it was a great run to the semifinals. The 367-student, Class A school will meet Providence in the third place match at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Toyota Park.
"We ran into a quality team tonight who took it to us," said Bobcats coach Dawn Compton. "We weren't ready for the speed of play we encountered today, and it showed.
"Daisy Barraza played a strong game, but it was not enough for us to overcome the more physical play of Glenbard East. Hats off to them for a well-played game."
Starting lineups
Beecher
GK: Kristen Bonk
D: Sarah Goers
D: Casey Cook
D: Abby Becker
D: Daisy Barraza
MF: Hannah Giroux
MF: Kristen Martinez
MF: Sarah Schuffert
MF: Eve Stolzenbach
F: Morgan Benson
F: Jordan Miner
Glenbard East
GK: Haley Lydon
D: Paige Taylor
D: Maria Berrum
D: Mary Kurtz
M: Megan Mrazek
M: Holly Ward
M: Corrie Ewoldt
M: Jessica Whipple
M: Amanda Chlebek
F: Jordyn Fulton
F: Brittany Paganucci
MVP of the Match: Brittany Paganucci, Glenbard East
Rams score early and often to advance in tourney
By Matt Le Cren
LOMBARD – Beecher went from unbeaten to beaten up in the space of an hour Wednesday night.
The Bobcats came into the Windy City Ram Classic semifinals with a 3-0 record, same as host Glenbard East.
But the similarities ended there as the Glenbard East got two goals each from Brittany Paganucci and Heather Whipple and a goal and two assists from Holly Ward en route to a 7-0 victory.
The Rams (4-0), who have a nonconference match at Naperville North on Thursday, will face Lincoln-Way East in the Windy City title game at 5 p.m. Monday at Toyota Park. The Griffins beat Providence on penalty kicks in the other semifinal.
“We’ve got a big test (Thursday), but I thought this was a great culmination of our work that we’ve put in over this first three weeks,” Glenbard East coach Kent Overbey said. “In the last three games, I didn’t think we finished as well. We created chances but weren’t putting many balls away, so I thought today was a good show.”
The few fans who braved the cold weather had barely settled into their seats when Paganucci got the show started with a bang. The junior forward took a long lead pass from Ward up the left wing, sped around a defender and beat Beecher goalie Kristen Bonk with a short shot in the third minute.
Four minutes later, Paganucci struck again. This time Jordyn Fulton passed her the ball from the right side, and Paganucci quickly spun to her left and scored on a shot from the middle of the penalty area.
“Two right away,” Overbey said. “Brittany got loose on both of them, and she’s going to stretch every defense we play because she’s a playmaker.
“Later in that half you saw that she can pass the ball as well. Her and Holly Ward had it going up top, and then we’ve got Whipple in the mix ,and Jordyn Fulton and Dana Plotke did a really good job.
“Top to bottom we have better talent than we’ve ever had. We rotate our lineup and every one has been different. We haven’t dropped off at all. Everybody is playing well, our first touch is good and finally we’re finishing some shots.”
The Rams have outscored their opponents 12-0 and controlled play in every match. But they hadn’t scored more than two goals until Wednesday.
They eclipsed that mark with 2:15 left in the first half when Whipple took a lead pass from Ward on the right wing and scored on a one-timer to the far post for a 3-0 Glenbard East lead.
“We wanted to start strong right from the start, and that’s what we did,” Ward said. “We were a lot more confident. We came off of a win from Saturday, so we came out really confident and we wanted to get this.”
The Rams dominated throughout, allowing the ball to reach their end of the field just twice in the first half. Ward, Whipple, Megan Mrazek and Corrie Ewoldt dominated the midfield and dissected the Beecher defense with great passes. The dangerous Paganucci did the rest.
“We work together really well,” said Ward, who scored Glenbard East’s fourth goal off an assist from Paganucci. “We just work as a team the whole time, communicate and we just keep pushing and pushing. That’s what gets us there.”
This is the second-straight season the Rams have gotten to Toyota Park. They reached the final in 2014, losing to eventual state semifinalist Lincoln-Way North 1-0.
“We were confident coming in, and knowing that Toyota Park is one step closer really got us motivated,” said Paganucci, Chicagoland Soccer’s MVP of the Match. “Working together and communicating was a big key.”
The Rams have been steadily building their program over the past several seasons. In a sign that upward trend will continue, they have remained steady despite graduating some star players.
“It’s good,” Paganucci said. “It’s nice knowing that we have new girls but also the older girls. We know how to play with each other.”
One of the players the Rams have said goodbye to is Paganucci’s older sister Lindsay, who graduated in 2013 as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 47 goals. She now plays on the club team at Iowa.
But that record will probably fall soon, possibly as soon as this season, because Brittany Paganucci has five goals this season and 35 for her career. She is determined to outdo her big sister.
“Yeah, I told her and she’s like, ‘No, you’re not,’” Paganucci said. “I’m like, 'I’m coming.'”
The Rams kept coming at the Bobcats throughout the 60-minute match. Plotke, Whipple and Fulton found the back of the net. Two shots hit the post, several others just missed and seven shots were saved.
At the other end, Glenbard East goalkeeper Haley Lydon could have gotten most of her homework done. She touched the ball just once before intermission and faced only two shots in the second half, making one save.
Beecher’s bestl chance to avoid the shutout came four minutes into the second half when a 34-yard free kick went into the middle of the box and a shot beat Lydon but was blocked by a defender. In the resulting scrum, another shot was blocked off the line and the rebound hit the left post before Lydon covered it up.
While it hasn’t been tested often, the defense has pleased Overbey. Sophomore Paige Taylor and seniors Maria Berrum and Mary Kurtz were the standouts against Beecher.
“I thought defensively we did well trying to get prepared for a big test in (Naperville North star) Abbie Boswell,” Overbey said. “We’re still trying to solidify and fit the pieces in. Paige Taylor is a sophomore who has been playing incredible for us. We pulled her up halfway through last year, and she has really done a great job. I think she’s definitely the future of our team.”
Regardless of whether the Rams are still unbeaten heading into Monday, they will relish the chance to play for a championship on a professional field. The speedy Paganucci should thrive on the 75-yard wide field.
“I’m really excited,” Paganucci said. “It’s always a great thing knowing that you have people saying, ‘Oh, you’re going to Toyota Park, how cool.’ I think it’s a great high school experience playing in this tournament and making it that far.”
For Beecher it was a great run to the semifinals. The 367-student, Class A school will meet Providence in the third place match at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Toyota Park.
"We ran into a quality team tonight who took it to us," said Bobcats coach Dawn Compton. "We weren't ready for the speed of play we encountered today, and it showed.
"Daisy Barraza played a strong game, but it was not enough for us to overcome the more physical play of Glenbard East. Hats off to them for a well-played game."
Starting lineups
Beecher
GK: Kristen Bonk
D: Sarah Goers
D: Casey Cook
D: Abby Becker
D: Daisy Barraza
MF: Hannah Giroux
MF: Kristen Martinez
MF: Sarah Schuffert
MF: Eve Stolzenbach
F: Morgan Benson
F: Jordan Miner
Glenbard East
GK: Haley Lydon
D: Paige Taylor
D: Maria Berrum
D: Mary Kurtz
M: Megan Mrazek
M: Holly Ward
M: Corrie Ewoldt
M: Jessica Whipple
M: Amanda Chlebek
F: Jordyn Fulton
F: Brittany Paganucci
MVP of the Match: Brittany Paganucci, Glenbard East