Griffin gives Hinsdale Central the
finishing touch over Downers North
Former club player sparks Red Devils' 2-0 triumph
By Dave Owen
HINSDALE -- Hinsdale Central’s already-strong girls soccer program has gotten even stronger with the addition of senior Sydney Griffin.
Thursday against Downers Grove North in the WSC Silver conference opener, it was Griffin’s fortunate bounce that made a big difference in the Red Devils’ eventual 2-0 win.
Dribbling in on left wing after a pass from Reagan Wright, Griffin sent a high 18-yard shot that glanced off the crossbar and upper left post, then bounced straight down for a moment before spinning backward into the net for a 1-0 lead with 17:01 left in the first half.
“That was unbelievable,” said Griffin, Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match. “I don’t even know how that went in. It hit the side post, the top post and then ... that was crazy. I can’t even take credit for that.”
It was the fourth goal in four games this young season for Griffin, who had focused on club soccer her first three years at Hinsdale Central.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Griffin said of playing for the Red Devils. “It’s a little different from club, but I enjoy playing soccer with the people I go to school with, since I never did that with club before. It’s a different environment, and you get to know a lot of new people, so it’s fun.”
Hinsdale Central (3-1) has the potential for a lot more fun this spring, with its mix of skilled finishers and standouts all over the field.
Goalkeeper Katy Coseglia and the Red Devils’ defense earned their third shutout of the early season Thursday.
Coseglia came up big twice in the first half. With 33:30 left in the first half, she saved a header attempt by Downers North’s Jessica Ridderhoff (off a corner kick by the Trojans’ Arlinda Osmani). Her best save came 13:30 before the half, as she caught a point-blank header by Ellena Metros off a 30-yard Osmani direct kick.
“Our goalkeeper has been playing well and with a lot of confidence,” Hinsdale Central assistant coach Brian Drelicharz said. “She’s a huge asset to the team, and she also has a lot of girls in front of her who keep things organized so she’s not facing too many opportunities.”
Seniors Maeve McLaughlin and Erin Smith each made multiple nice defensive plays or steals to deny potential chances for Downers North (1-2). But it was a strong effort by all the Red Devils.
“We’ve been experimenting with a couple different lineups, so it’s a level of consistency that all the girls bring,” Drelicharz said. “I don’t think there’s one girl who stands out, but I think they work very well as a unit.
“One thing we emphasize is team shape and team movement, working together and being in the right spot. I think the girls are still figuring out how to play with each other, but I think today we proved that we’re pretty solid when it comes to that.”
One change after the 2-0 loss to Naperville North last Saturday paid off Thursday.
“We started a new system playing with three up top,” Griffin said. “Before we just had two (forwards), but I feel having three up top really helped us spread the field out more.
“And because we only had three in the back we had to be really tight in the middle. We tried to make sure we had a lot of pressure. I felt like we pressured a lot, and thought that really helped us with how we finished.”
Speaking of finishes, senior midfielder Jenny Saviski matched Griffin with her own high-skill goal to ice the win.
Gathering a loose ball 35 yards out with eight minutes left to play, Saviski perfectly placed a straight on laser just under the crossbar for a 2-0 lead.
“They had two very good finishes, one near post top corner and one right under the crossbar,” Downers North coach Robert Calder said. “You have two finishes like that and you have to tip your hat, great shots.”
The Trojans deserve praise as well for their play Thursday.
Elizabeth Hodonicky played strong one-on-one defense to deny a shot on Emma-Danhausen Brun’s drive in on the net 10 minutes in.
Then on a nicely placed corner kick by Hinsdale Central’s Lauren Cangelosi with 33:50 left in the game, freshman Camille Lubic’s header attempt from the crease was blocked at the open far post by Trojan defender Casey Ford.
Two other Trojan players upfield also earned high praise.
“I liked Jessica Ridderhoff’s work up front,” Calder said, “and I was really impressed with Ellie Metros in the middle of the field. She’s a returning senior. She owned the middle of the field for us.
“She (Metros) won a ton of 50-50 balls and I thought really calmed us down and controlled us. She got back, she stopped their attack, she started our attack -- she made a lot of things happen.”
Metros scored the winning goal in Downers North’s 1-0 victory over Trinity, which was sandwiched between competitive losses to defending Class 2A state quarterfinalist Lemont (2-1) and the powerful Red Devils.
“We never really played much together as a team because there’s a lot of young players on the team,” senior forward Ridderhoff said. “But I think it was a really great effort (against Hinsdale Central).
“We were nonstop going to the ball, pressuring every single opportunity, and we just fought really hard. That’s the hardest we’ve played this season.”
And with two freshmen and two sophomores in the starting lineup, the Trojans should have good times ahead.
“We definitely have a lot of potential for the season,” Ridderhoff said, “and we’re only going to continue to grow just because there’s so many new people. I think we’re just going to get more chemistry as the year goes on. We’re going to connect those plays as we get higher up to the top and start putting them away. I think the season’s promising.”
Calder has similar optimism based on the Trojans’ effort Thursday.
“Obvously the box is where games are decided, but at the same time if you just watch the middle of the field it looked like a pretty even game,” Calder said. “We got it in their half and we played them pretty well.
“We have a lot of new players and we’re just starting to gel and trying to get things going. We didn’t have the continuity and flow we’ll have later in the season, so we’re looking forward to that.”
Keeping an eye on the future also helped the Red Devils after the loss to Naperville North four days earlier.
“I don’t think we want to get too down on ourselves based off one single game,” Drelicharz said. “We know it’s early in the season and we have a lot to build on, and last weekend exposed different things that we can continue to work on.
“That’s always great. We know Naperville North is going to be a very competitive side and is a well-coached program. We’re happy we have them on our schedule, and they always help us become a better team too. But that was last weekend and now we’re looking ahead.”
The Red Devils have areas of focus to get better.
“Mostly just keep up the pressure, keep possession of the ball and keep going forward,” Griffin said. “There are a lot of times when we have the ball and we’re more passive than aggressive. We definitely have all the talent to do wonderful things going forward if we keep working on it.”
Having endured the 38-degree temperatures and a tough conference opponent on Thursday, the Red Devils have growing confidence.
“We didn’t create a whole lot of chances today, but I think the girls played well,” Drelicharz said. “We still have a lot of work on, but we always know we’re going to get a quality opponent in Downers North. It’s a big conference win and a great way for us to have a launching pad early in the season.”
Starting lineups
Downers Grove North
GK- Grace Stevenson
D- Elizabeth Hodonicky
D- Alyse Dutcher
D- Kacey Ford
D- Arlinda Osmani
M- Maggie Nevrly
M- Maria Derrig
M- Ellena Metros
M- Francesca Marconi
F- Jessica Ridderhoff
F- Alexandria Cittadine
Hinsdale Central
GK- Katy Coseglia
D- Katie Murphy
D- Erin Smith
D- Maeve McLaughlin
M- Lauren Cangelosi
M- Cathryn Quinlivan
M- Jenny Saviski
M- Kaitlyn Livingston
F- Sydney Griffin
F- Melanie Sims
F- Emma Dannhausen-Brun
MVP of the Match: Sydney Griffin, Hinsdale Central
finishing touch over Downers North
Former club player sparks Red Devils' 2-0 triumph
By Dave Owen
HINSDALE -- Hinsdale Central’s already-strong girls soccer program has gotten even stronger with the addition of senior Sydney Griffin.
Thursday against Downers Grove North in the WSC Silver conference opener, it was Griffin’s fortunate bounce that made a big difference in the Red Devils’ eventual 2-0 win.
Dribbling in on left wing after a pass from Reagan Wright, Griffin sent a high 18-yard shot that glanced off the crossbar and upper left post, then bounced straight down for a moment before spinning backward into the net for a 1-0 lead with 17:01 left in the first half.
“That was unbelievable,” said Griffin, Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match. “I don’t even know how that went in. It hit the side post, the top post and then ... that was crazy. I can’t even take credit for that.”
It was the fourth goal in four games this young season for Griffin, who had focused on club soccer her first three years at Hinsdale Central.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Griffin said of playing for the Red Devils. “It’s a little different from club, but I enjoy playing soccer with the people I go to school with, since I never did that with club before. It’s a different environment, and you get to know a lot of new people, so it’s fun.”
Hinsdale Central (3-1) has the potential for a lot more fun this spring, with its mix of skilled finishers and standouts all over the field.
Goalkeeper Katy Coseglia and the Red Devils’ defense earned their third shutout of the early season Thursday.
Coseglia came up big twice in the first half. With 33:30 left in the first half, she saved a header attempt by Downers North’s Jessica Ridderhoff (off a corner kick by the Trojans’ Arlinda Osmani). Her best save came 13:30 before the half, as she caught a point-blank header by Ellena Metros off a 30-yard Osmani direct kick.
“Our goalkeeper has been playing well and with a lot of confidence,” Hinsdale Central assistant coach Brian Drelicharz said. “She’s a huge asset to the team, and she also has a lot of girls in front of her who keep things organized so she’s not facing too many opportunities.”
Seniors Maeve McLaughlin and Erin Smith each made multiple nice defensive plays or steals to deny potential chances for Downers North (1-2). But it was a strong effort by all the Red Devils.
“We’ve been experimenting with a couple different lineups, so it’s a level of consistency that all the girls bring,” Drelicharz said. “I don’t think there’s one girl who stands out, but I think they work very well as a unit.
“One thing we emphasize is team shape and team movement, working together and being in the right spot. I think the girls are still figuring out how to play with each other, but I think today we proved that we’re pretty solid when it comes to that.”
One change after the 2-0 loss to Naperville North last Saturday paid off Thursday.
“We started a new system playing with three up top,” Griffin said. “Before we just had two (forwards), but I feel having three up top really helped us spread the field out more.
“And because we only had three in the back we had to be really tight in the middle. We tried to make sure we had a lot of pressure. I felt like we pressured a lot, and thought that really helped us with how we finished.”
Speaking of finishes, senior midfielder Jenny Saviski matched Griffin with her own high-skill goal to ice the win.
Gathering a loose ball 35 yards out with eight minutes left to play, Saviski perfectly placed a straight on laser just under the crossbar for a 2-0 lead.
“They had two very good finishes, one near post top corner and one right under the crossbar,” Downers North coach Robert Calder said. “You have two finishes like that and you have to tip your hat, great shots.”
The Trojans deserve praise as well for their play Thursday.
Elizabeth Hodonicky played strong one-on-one defense to deny a shot on Emma-Danhausen Brun’s drive in on the net 10 minutes in.
Then on a nicely placed corner kick by Hinsdale Central’s Lauren Cangelosi with 33:50 left in the game, freshman Camille Lubic’s header attempt from the crease was blocked at the open far post by Trojan defender Casey Ford.
Two other Trojan players upfield also earned high praise.
“I liked Jessica Ridderhoff’s work up front,” Calder said, “and I was really impressed with Ellie Metros in the middle of the field. She’s a returning senior. She owned the middle of the field for us.
“She (Metros) won a ton of 50-50 balls and I thought really calmed us down and controlled us. She got back, she stopped their attack, she started our attack -- she made a lot of things happen.”
Metros scored the winning goal in Downers North’s 1-0 victory over Trinity, which was sandwiched between competitive losses to defending Class 2A state quarterfinalist Lemont (2-1) and the powerful Red Devils.
“We never really played much together as a team because there’s a lot of young players on the team,” senior forward Ridderhoff said. “But I think it was a really great effort (against Hinsdale Central).
“We were nonstop going to the ball, pressuring every single opportunity, and we just fought really hard. That’s the hardest we’ve played this season.”
And with two freshmen and two sophomores in the starting lineup, the Trojans should have good times ahead.
“We definitely have a lot of potential for the season,” Ridderhoff said, “and we’re only going to continue to grow just because there’s so many new people. I think we’re just going to get more chemistry as the year goes on. We’re going to connect those plays as we get higher up to the top and start putting them away. I think the season’s promising.”
Calder has similar optimism based on the Trojans’ effort Thursday.
“Obvously the box is where games are decided, but at the same time if you just watch the middle of the field it looked like a pretty even game,” Calder said. “We got it in their half and we played them pretty well.
“We have a lot of new players and we’re just starting to gel and trying to get things going. We didn’t have the continuity and flow we’ll have later in the season, so we’re looking forward to that.”
Keeping an eye on the future also helped the Red Devils after the loss to Naperville North four days earlier.
“I don’t think we want to get too down on ourselves based off one single game,” Drelicharz said. “We know it’s early in the season and we have a lot to build on, and last weekend exposed different things that we can continue to work on.
“That’s always great. We know Naperville North is going to be a very competitive side and is a well-coached program. We’re happy we have them on our schedule, and they always help us become a better team too. But that was last weekend and now we’re looking ahead.”
The Red Devils have areas of focus to get better.
“Mostly just keep up the pressure, keep possession of the ball and keep going forward,” Griffin said. “There are a lot of times when we have the ball and we’re more passive than aggressive. We definitely have all the talent to do wonderful things going forward if we keep working on it.”
Having endured the 38-degree temperatures and a tough conference opponent on Thursday, the Red Devils have growing confidence.
“We didn’t create a whole lot of chances today, but I think the girls played well,” Drelicharz said. “We still have a lot of work on, but we always know we’re going to get a quality opponent in Downers North. It’s a big conference win and a great way for us to have a launching pad early in the season.”
Starting lineups
Downers Grove North
GK- Grace Stevenson
D- Elizabeth Hodonicky
D- Alyse Dutcher
D- Kacey Ford
D- Arlinda Osmani
M- Maggie Nevrly
M- Maria Derrig
M- Ellena Metros
M- Francesca Marconi
F- Jessica Ridderhoff
F- Alexandria Cittadine
Hinsdale Central
GK- Katy Coseglia
D- Katie Murphy
D- Erin Smith
D- Maeve McLaughlin
M- Lauren Cangelosi
M- Cathryn Quinlivan
M- Jenny Saviski
M- Kaitlyn Livingston
F- Sydney Griffin
F- Melanie Sims
F- Emma Dannhausen-Brun
MVP of the Match: Sydney Griffin, Hinsdale Central