Double OT win leaves Streamwood smiling Sabres squeak out tourney victory over Hinsdale South
By Chris Walker
SCHAUMBURG -- Alondra Blanco thought she missed.
She figured it was just another of the misses Streamwood failed to finish during Saturday’s PepsiCo tournament game against seventh-seeded Hinsdale South.
This time, though, Blanco didn’t miss, which proved to be enormous for her Sabres. The sophomore’s goal in the second overtime lifted Streamwood to a thrilling 2-1 victory in double overtime.
“I thought I missed it because it went pretty high,” said Blanco, Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match. “I’m pretty happy. I knew it could win the game. I’m pretty excited. I’m glad it went in because it’s a big rush right now.”
Freshman Kaila Ford instigated the game winner.
“I knew I had to get the ball up so I knew she had a chance,” Ford said. “I just tried to sneak a foot in. That’s all I could do, and Tawny (Carroll) crossed it.”
Ford found Carroll, who unselfishly found Blanco.
“In a tournament like this, I knew it would be tough to score,” Carroll said. “We we’re pumped up, though, and able to pull it together in the final 10 minutes.”
Courtney Cavilli put Hinsdale South on top 1-0 late in the first half, but Blanco netted the equalizer to even things up just before halftime.
“I was just trying to help the team,” Blanco said. “We’d had some chances and got one.”
Streamwood (2-5-0) ended a five-game losing streak. Getting a victory, especially in such dramatic fashion, could bode well for the young squad.
“They were a higher seed, and we’re a young and inexperienced team,” Streamwood coach Matt Polovin said. “For us to play 90 minutes like we did and get a big win in a tournament like this -- this is big.”
Polovin instructed his players to use their speed to take advantage of Hinsdale South, and it started to pay dividends in the second half. They took over the possession of play and threatened in the final third.
“The girls needed this win,” Polovin said.” It’s a nice confidence booster for the rest of the season and gives our team a nice start for the rest of the year.”
They were especially strong in the midfield, and when their back line was pressed, they stood strong.
“It can be hard there at times,” Streamwood freshman defender Esmeralda Navarro said. “Sometimes you want to get up and do something with the ball but you have to step back and do other things, helping out the team as much as you can.”
Carroll knows her team is capable of producing, but it needs to come together as a squad.
“Coming into the tournament, it’s been tough. But we showed that we can rally and put things together when we play as a team,” Carroll said. “Both teams had their share of chances, and we missed a few, but we got the one that we needed.”
Blanco has scored her fair share of goals but she can’t recall one as significant as Saturday’s game winner.
“It’s very cool because we’re Streamwood and a small school,” she said. “Maybe this will make a big name for us.”
Streamwood appeared to have the better run of play throughout regulation. But as stubborn as this game can be, it still found them deadlocked heading into overtime.
“We played hard all the way through, and that’s what we needed to do,” Carroll said. “It was a good game for us. We’re excited and we’ll see what we can when we play again.”
Starting lineups
Streamwood
GK: Nathalie Guindon
D: Alexandra Bonilla
D: Rose Miranda
D: Esmerlada Navarro
D: Alexsis Wilson
MF: Cassandri Adan
MF: Alondra Blanco
F: Shonali Pierce-Vasquez
F: Karina Nevarez
F: Kaila Ford
F: Tawny Carroll
Hinsdale South
GK: Jessica Park
D: Dakota Dapkus
D; Patricija Miskinyte
D: Nicole Kilrea
D: Madison Cebular
D: Emily Ofenloch
MF: Therese Sobul
MF: Erin Ajoki
MF: Sophia Jorgensen
F: Courtney Cavalli
F: Sara Cepeda
MVP of the Match: Alondra Blanco, MF, Streamwood
By Chris Walker
SCHAUMBURG -- Alondra Blanco thought she missed.
She figured it was just another of the misses Streamwood failed to finish during Saturday’s PepsiCo tournament game against seventh-seeded Hinsdale South.
This time, though, Blanco didn’t miss, which proved to be enormous for her Sabres. The sophomore’s goal in the second overtime lifted Streamwood to a thrilling 2-1 victory in double overtime.
“I thought I missed it because it went pretty high,” said Blanco, Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match. “I’m pretty happy. I knew it could win the game. I’m pretty excited. I’m glad it went in because it’s a big rush right now.”
Freshman Kaila Ford instigated the game winner.
“I knew I had to get the ball up so I knew she had a chance,” Ford said. “I just tried to sneak a foot in. That’s all I could do, and Tawny (Carroll) crossed it.”
Ford found Carroll, who unselfishly found Blanco.
“In a tournament like this, I knew it would be tough to score,” Carroll said. “We we’re pumped up, though, and able to pull it together in the final 10 minutes.”
Courtney Cavilli put Hinsdale South on top 1-0 late in the first half, but Blanco netted the equalizer to even things up just before halftime.
“I was just trying to help the team,” Blanco said. “We’d had some chances and got one.”
Streamwood (2-5-0) ended a five-game losing streak. Getting a victory, especially in such dramatic fashion, could bode well for the young squad.
“They were a higher seed, and we’re a young and inexperienced team,” Streamwood coach Matt Polovin said. “For us to play 90 minutes like we did and get a big win in a tournament like this -- this is big.”
Polovin instructed his players to use their speed to take advantage of Hinsdale South, and it started to pay dividends in the second half. They took over the possession of play and threatened in the final third.
“The girls needed this win,” Polovin said.” It’s a nice confidence booster for the rest of the season and gives our team a nice start for the rest of the year.”
They were especially strong in the midfield, and when their back line was pressed, they stood strong.
“It can be hard there at times,” Streamwood freshman defender Esmeralda Navarro said. “Sometimes you want to get up and do something with the ball but you have to step back and do other things, helping out the team as much as you can.”
Carroll knows her team is capable of producing, but it needs to come together as a squad.
“Coming into the tournament, it’s been tough. But we showed that we can rally and put things together when we play as a team,” Carroll said. “Both teams had their share of chances, and we missed a few, but we got the one that we needed.”
Blanco has scored her fair share of goals but she can’t recall one as significant as Saturday’s game winner.
“It’s very cool because we’re Streamwood and a small school,” she said. “Maybe this will make a big name for us.”
Streamwood appeared to have the better run of play throughout regulation. But as stubborn as this game can be, it still found them deadlocked heading into overtime.
“We played hard all the way through, and that’s what we needed to do,” Carroll said. “It was a good game for us. We’re excited and we’ll see what we can when we play again.”
Starting lineups
Streamwood
GK: Nathalie Guindon
D: Alexandra Bonilla
D: Rose Miranda
D: Esmerlada Navarro
D: Alexsis Wilson
MF: Cassandri Adan
MF: Alondra Blanco
F: Shonali Pierce-Vasquez
F: Karina Nevarez
F: Kaila Ford
F: Tawny Carroll
Hinsdale South
GK: Jessica Park
D: Dakota Dapkus
D; Patricija Miskinyte
D: Nicole Kilrea
D: Madison Cebular
D: Emily Ofenloch
MF: Therese Sobul
MF: Erin Ajoki
MF: Sophia Jorgensen
F: Courtney Cavalli
F: Sara Cepeda
MVP of the Match: Alondra Blanco, MF, Streamwood