Fank turns the corner for
Wheaton Warrenville South
Tie-breaking goal lifts Tigers over Wheaton Academy
By Chris Walker
WHEATON – Anna Fank has often heard coach Guy Callipari yell the word “corners.”
“Coach is always saying ‘corners,’ so I was just thinking ‘corners’ and putting it in the back of the net,” the junior forward said. “I got a pretty good ball and turned it right away. I was very excited to give us the lead.”
Fank’s goal came with 26:59 left in the second half to break a 1-1 tie. The Tigers made sure it held up, earning a 2-1 victory in their first game of the season.
“I think especially for our team, we needed this first game to just get out and get a feel for how we all play together,” Fank said. “It took us a little time, but in the second half we picked it up, and I think we knew better how to play with each other.”
The Tigers benefitted from a deflection on the play that earned Fank her selection as Chicagoland Soccer’s MVP of the Match.
“It came down to two mistakes in the back, and on the second goal we had the ball at our feet and a chance to clear,” Wheaton Academy coach Dave Underwood said. “We kind of squibbed it, and it went right to (Fank), and you can’t make those mistakes against a team like Wheaton Warrenville South. They’ll make you pay.”
The unexpected snowstorm on Monday has wreaked havoc with outdoor high school sports all week, and while there wasn’t any snow on Red Grange Field on Wednesday, it didn’t feel anything like spring. A strong, cold wind made it feel much colder than 40 degrees. Still, the Tigers were excited to kick off their season, especially after being forced to practice indoors the past few days and for most of the last few weeks.
“We were nervous, and with how the weather has been, it kept us inside,” Tigers junior defender Ava Fickle said. “This is always a tough game for us against Wheaton Academy, and we’ve got four new players, so we weren’t sure how we’d play together.
"The first half was rough, but I thought we were a lot stronger in the second half and realized we just need to talk to each other more. We picked up on that in the second half.”
Wheaton Warrenville South (1-0-0) didn’t waste any time getting on the scoreboard, getting a goal from senior Tory Adomshick in the game’s opening minutes.
“The ball was going up field and got deflected by Anna (Fank). There was no one on me, so I kind of ran onto it,” Adomshick said. “I knew I had to get off a shot one time or they’d close in on me, so I was aiming for the corner and trying to get it on frame and with enough pace.”
The right-footer had to get creative to succeed.
“I had to hit it with my left foot,” Adomshick said. “It might have looked a little different but it went in, so that’s all that matters.”
The Tigers didn’t have long to celebrate. The Warriors answered with the equalizer minutes later to make it a 1-1 game when Jamie Netzley made the most of a rebound shot, pouncing on the loose ball and burying it.
“We had a good start and a great first half overall, but it didn’t continue in the second half,” Netzley said. “We were playing more kickball, didn’t possess and couldn’t get it up top.”
Wheaton Academy (2-1-0) outshot the Tigers 5-3 in the first half, and neither team had many scoring opportunities.
“In spite of giving up an easy goal, and they gave us a gift goal too, I think it was pretty evenly played,” Underwood said. “I thought in the first half that maybe we had an upper hand and more chances. We had a couple good ones and hit the crossbar once, but then in the second half, I think they exceeded our energy and intensity. We started to have a hard time hanging onto the ball. We’d string together two or three passes and then turn it over, and you can’t do that against disciplined teams.”
Wheaton Warrenville South coach Callipari subbed liberally, getting valuable minutes for his entire roster. He wanted to give everyone a chance to play, as well as ensure that the girls has something left for Thursday’s game against St. Francis.
“We hadn’t been outside in the past 48 hours, so we knew we had to play smart and everyone would have to play minutes,” he said. “I thought they were more comfortable and more confident in the second half, and we had a little bit better play.”
The Tigers had the disadvantage of taking the field for the first time, while the Warriors were playing for the third time.
“I think some of the girls know each other, having grown up together, so they wanted to get out of the gate and play,” Callipari said. “So there was that familiarity, but then it was obvious that we were discombobulated with our communication. I don’t know how many times we ran into other or it was ‘you go, I go.’”
Spending practice nuzzled in a field house for three weeks just isn’t the same to actually playing on a field outdoors.
“We needed to get a game under our belts, which is something we hadn’t done yet in three weeks,” Callipari said. “So now everyone is starting to understand their roles and the system we play, and you can’t do that in the field house. So it was nice to get out and I know the girls were excited about it.”
And they were excited to get that first win too.
“They all played, which was perfect since our theme is ‘All in,’ and we needed everyone to be in this evening,” he said. “Even though it’s secondary at this point, it was nice to pull out the victory.”
The Tigers expect big things this year, so wins like this one are going to be expected. They have a lot of players back from last year’s squad.
“We have a lot of experience, with four seniors who are in their fourth year and a bunch of juniors in their third year,” Adomshick said. “We had been a young team the last couple of years, but now we have a lot of experienced upperclassmen, so I think this can be a really good year.”
One area of concern has to be keeper. Junior Nell Rosenthal is an unknown commodity because Abby Fuster spent the previous four years in net. Rosenthal yielded the one goal early, but handled the few chances that came her way later in the match.
“Once Nell started getting comfortable, she was making good saves and looked more confident,” Adomshick said. “She was calling for the ball more as the game went on, and we need someone to talk to us and someone we can count on. I think she can help us have a great season.”
Wheaton Academy appears ready to have a fine season too.
“We walk away disappointed with the loss, but we’re also encouraged by the fact that we have a lot of growth and potential,” Underwood said. “We’re still 2A, and no disrespect to other 2A teams, but how many 2A teams will we face that are better than (Wheaton Warrenville South)? Not many. There may be a few, but not many overall, so we’re encouraged.”
The Warriors are also young, but they’re undoubtedly capable. Molly Thorson and Anna Lindus were their only senior starters, and Lindus was filling in for Emmerson Fuller, who was out with strep throat.
“We have to be encouraged to be playing at this caliber, this early,” Underwood said. “We’re very young and usually will only have one senior starter, and our girl in the goal (junior Liana Ledesma) has literally only been playing goalie since the first day of the season.”
The Warriors could only manage the one goal and only produced seven shots, but they’re likely going to be a fun team to watch offensively, especially with Netzler and freshman forward Erin Teevans.
“Last year we struggled offensively at times, but I don’t think we’re going to have that problem,” Netzley said. “With Erin (Teevans) and Gretchen (Pearson) out wide and Gabi (LaMantia) attacking mid, we’re hoping to get a lot of shots on goal. We’re working a lot on crosses and finishing. That’s an area we want to be great at.”
As for the weather? It’s still far from great, but as long as the girls have the green light to play, they’re going to take the field and play the sport they love.
“I wasn’t cold,” Netzley said. “I got UnderArmour on, so I was getting kind of sweaty.”
Starting lineups
Wheaton Academy
GK: Liana Ledesma
D: Anna Lindus
D: Izzy McNally
D: Molly Thorson
MF: Julia DellaTorre
MF: Holland Kosiek
MF: Gabi LaMantia
MF: Anna Joy Setran,
F: Jamie Netzly
F: Gretchen Pearson
F: Erin Teevans
Wheaton Warrenville South
GK: Nell Rosenthal
D: Ava Fickle
D: Allison Harvey
D: Julia Hildebrand
D: Nicole Molino
MF: Sarah Burns
MF: Emily Calloway
MF: A.J. Jakuszewski
MF: Tory Adomshick
F: Anna Fank
F: Erin Madigan
MVP of the Match: Anna Fank, Wheaton Warrenville South
Officials: Carl Matzelle, Justin O’Bryan, Sam Puglisi
Wheaton Warrenville South
Tie-breaking goal lifts Tigers over Wheaton Academy
By Chris Walker
WHEATON – Anna Fank has often heard coach Guy Callipari yell the word “corners.”
“Coach is always saying ‘corners,’ so I was just thinking ‘corners’ and putting it in the back of the net,” the junior forward said. “I got a pretty good ball and turned it right away. I was very excited to give us the lead.”
Fank’s goal came with 26:59 left in the second half to break a 1-1 tie. The Tigers made sure it held up, earning a 2-1 victory in their first game of the season.
“I think especially for our team, we needed this first game to just get out and get a feel for how we all play together,” Fank said. “It took us a little time, but in the second half we picked it up, and I think we knew better how to play with each other.”
The Tigers benefitted from a deflection on the play that earned Fank her selection as Chicagoland Soccer’s MVP of the Match.
“It came down to two mistakes in the back, and on the second goal we had the ball at our feet and a chance to clear,” Wheaton Academy coach Dave Underwood said. “We kind of squibbed it, and it went right to (Fank), and you can’t make those mistakes against a team like Wheaton Warrenville South. They’ll make you pay.”
The unexpected snowstorm on Monday has wreaked havoc with outdoor high school sports all week, and while there wasn’t any snow on Red Grange Field on Wednesday, it didn’t feel anything like spring. A strong, cold wind made it feel much colder than 40 degrees. Still, the Tigers were excited to kick off their season, especially after being forced to practice indoors the past few days and for most of the last few weeks.
“We were nervous, and with how the weather has been, it kept us inside,” Tigers junior defender Ava Fickle said. “This is always a tough game for us against Wheaton Academy, and we’ve got four new players, so we weren’t sure how we’d play together.
"The first half was rough, but I thought we were a lot stronger in the second half and realized we just need to talk to each other more. We picked up on that in the second half.”
Wheaton Warrenville South (1-0-0) didn’t waste any time getting on the scoreboard, getting a goal from senior Tory Adomshick in the game’s opening minutes.
“The ball was going up field and got deflected by Anna (Fank). There was no one on me, so I kind of ran onto it,” Adomshick said. “I knew I had to get off a shot one time or they’d close in on me, so I was aiming for the corner and trying to get it on frame and with enough pace.”
The right-footer had to get creative to succeed.
“I had to hit it with my left foot,” Adomshick said. “It might have looked a little different but it went in, so that’s all that matters.”
The Tigers didn’t have long to celebrate. The Warriors answered with the equalizer minutes later to make it a 1-1 game when Jamie Netzley made the most of a rebound shot, pouncing on the loose ball and burying it.
“We had a good start and a great first half overall, but it didn’t continue in the second half,” Netzley said. “We were playing more kickball, didn’t possess and couldn’t get it up top.”
Wheaton Academy (2-1-0) outshot the Tigers 5-3 in the first half, and neither team had many scoring opportunities.
“In spite of giving up an easy goal, and they gave us a gift goal too, I think it was pretty evenly played,” Underwood said. “I thought in the first half that maybe we had an upper hand and more chances. We had a couple good ones and hit the crossbar once, but then in the second half, I think they exceeded our energy and intensity. We started to have a hard time hanging onto the ball. We’d string together two or three passes and then turn it over, and you can’t do that against disciplined teams.”
Wheaton Warrenville South coach Callipari subbed liberally, getting valuable minutes for his entire roster. He wanted to give everyone a chance to play, as well as ensure that the girls has something left for Thursday’s game against St. Francis.
“We hadn’t been outside in the past 48 hours, so we knew we had to play smart and everyone would have to play minutes,” he said. “I thought they were more comfortable and more confident in the second half, and we had a little bit better play.”
The Tigers had the disadvantage of taking the field for the first time, while the Warriors were playing for the third time.
“I think some of the girls know each other, having grown up together, so they wanted to get out of the gate and play,” Callipari said. “So there was that familiarity, but then it was obvious that we were discombobulated with our communication. I don’t know how many times we ran into other or it was ‘you go, I go.’”
Spending practice nuzzled in a field house for three weeks just isn’t the same to actually playing on a field outdoors.
“We needed to get a game under our belts, which is something we hadn’t done yet in three weeks,” Callipari said. “So now everyone is starting to understand their roles and the system we play, and you can’t do that in the field house. So it was nice to get out and I know the girls were excited about it.”
And they were excited to get that first win too.
“They all played, which was perfect since our theme is ‘All in,’ and we needed everyone to be in this evening,” he said. “Even though it’s secondary at this point, it was nice to pull out the victory.”
The Tigers expect big things this year, so wins like this one are going to be expected. They have a lot of players back from last year’s squad.
“We have a lot of experience, with four seniors who are in their fourth year and a bunch of juniors in their third year,” Adomshick said. “We had been a young team the last couple of years, but now we have a lot of experienced upperclassmen, so I think this can be a really good year.”
One area of concern has to be keeper. Junior Nell Rosenthal is an unknown commodity because Abby Fuster spent the previous four years in net. Rosenthal yielded the one goal early, but handled the few chances that came her way later in the match.
“Once Nell started getting comfortable, she was making good saves and looked more confident,” Adomshick said. “She was calling for the ball more as the game went on, and we need someone to talk to us and someone we can count on. I think she can help us have a great season.”
Wheaton Academy appears ready to have a fine season too.
“We walk away disappointed with the loss, but we’re also encouraged by the fact that we have a lot of growth and potential,” Underwood said. “We’re still 2A, and no disrespect to other 2A teams, but how many 2A teams will we face that are better than (Wheaton Warrenville South)? Not many. There may be a few, but not many overall, so we’re encouraged.”
The Warriors are also young, but they’re undoubtedly capable. Molly Thorson and Anna Lindus were their only senior starters, and Lindus was filling in for Emmerson Fuller, who was out with strep throat.
“We have to be encouraged to be playing at this caliber, this early,” Underwood said. “We’re very young and usually will only have one senior starter, and our girl in the goal (junior Liana Ledesma) has literally only been playing goalie since the first day of the season.”
The Warriors could only manage the one goal and only produced seven shots, but they’re likely going to be a fun team to watch offensively, especially with Netzler and freshman forward Erin Teevans.
“Last year we struggled offensively at times, but I don’t think we’re going to have that problem,” Netzley said. “With Erin (Teevans) and Gretchen (Pearson) out wide and Gabi (LaMantia) attacking mid, we’re hoping to get a lot of shots on goal. We’re working a lot on crosses and finishing. That’s an area we want to be great at.”
As for the weather? It’s still far from great, but as long as the girls have the green light to play, they’re going to take the field and play the sport they love.
“I wasn’t cold,” Netzley said. “I got UnderArmour on, so I was getting kind of sweaty.”
Starting lineups
Wheaton Academy
GK: Liana Ledesma
D: Anna Lindus
D: Izzy McNally
D: Molly Thorson
MF: Julia DellaTorre
MF: Holland Kosiek
MF: Gabi LaMantia
MF: Anna Joy Setran,
F: Jamie Netzly
F: Gretchen Pearson
F: Erin Teevans
Wheaton Warrenville South
GK: Nell Rosenthal
D: Ava Fickle
D: Allison Harvey
D: Julia Hildebrand
D: Nicole Molino
MF: Sarah Burns
MF: Emily Calloway
MF: A.J. Jakuszewski
MF: Tory Adomshick
F: Anna Fank
F: Erin Madigan
MVP of the Match: Anna Fank, Wheaton Warrenville South
Officials: Carl Matzelle, Justin O’Bryan, Sam Puglisi