Depleted York upbeat after tie with Benet
Lady Dukes stand up to powerful Redwings
By Dave Owen
ELMHURST -- Whether it’s a wave of injuries or an elite opponent, York has handled every challenge thrown its way early in the season.
Undefeated defending sectional finalist Benet provided a big test Tuesday in the second round of the York Tournament. And thanks to junior goalkeeper Ellen Foley’s ability to defy the odds, the Lady Dukes emerged with a confidence-building 1-1 tie.
With the game tied 1-1 and 15:22 to play, Benet’s Jacqueline Kaufman was fouled in the box to set up a penalty kick. And with red-hot Redwings striker Kerry Abello (nine goals in three games) taking the shot, the odds were heavily in Benet’s favor.
But Foley rose to the huge challenge by stopping Abello’s drive to her left, then dove on the rebound to preserve the ultimate draw.
“I knew she was left-footed,” Foley said, “and at the last second I saw her hips turn and that she was going to my left. I just went for it, and luckily she hit it high so I could get at it.
“On the rebound I saw her coming at me and thought, ‘Man, I’ve got to get it.’ I couldn’t let her score on the rebound after I made that save.”
Symbolic of the whole day, Foley, Chicagoland Soccer's co-MVP of the Match, also rode encouragement from her York teammates.
“(Midfielder) Madison Navarro told me, ‘You so got this, Ellen,’ ” Foley said. “It was all my teammates saying, ‘You got it,’ and I really needed that.”
Adversity before the game meant York (1-0-1) would need to dig deep to match Benet (3-0-1).
With three-year starter Jamie Kovatchis already out for the season with a knee injury, the Lady Dukes’ problems compounded with starters Jess Bianchi and Carys Hund also sidelined Tuesday.
“If Jamie plays, she’s a high-level player for us,” York coach Dan Vana said. “That was a huge loss.
“Jess Bianchi is one of our leading goal scorers from last year – she and Alyssa (Kovatchis) tied with 14,” Vana said. “She got hurt in yesterday’s game (a 6-0 win over Joliet West) and didn’t play. And Carys Hund isn’t here with us today, and Carys is a dynamic outside midfielder.
“We were a little short today, so it was a good result. We had a few things we have to work out yet, and they (Benet) are a little more seasoned now. I’m not discouraged with the result.”
In a physical, hard-fought game, both teams traded figurative punches early on.
York struck first 30:14 before halftime. An Alyssa Kovatchis corner kick eluded a Benet defender in front, and York’s Emily Whitcomb pounced on the loose ball to line a shot high inside the right post for a 1-0 lead.
“Considering this is only our second game, I thought we did really good keeping up with them,” said Whitcomb, who has signed to play at Belmont University next year. “They’ve had a lot more games than us, and last year we went down by one. We’re going to keep going forward from here, I think.”
Benet didn’t reel backward for long. Just three minutes later on a corner kick by Benet’s Loretta Elder, goalkeeper Foley appeared to make an initial catch but had the ball come loose. On a scramble for the ball in the crease, Benet’s Rachel Bernicky sent it just inside the left post to tie the game 1-1.
“It just kind of went off the goalie’s hands,” said Bernicky, the other co-MVP of the Match. “Me and Maggie (Johnson) were both fighting there, and I managed to get a toe and poke it in the goal. It was a lucky shot, but I’m glad it went in.”
Three-year starting defender Bernicky wasn’t done being in the right spot at key times.
With 18:20 left in the half, another Alyssa Kovatchis corner kick connected with York’s Juliana Salzano. Her apparent sure goal toward an open corner of the net was blocked by a sliding Bernicky.
“It looked like a goal, definitely,” Bernicky said. “I got a few scratches, but that was OK.”
Benet’s Sophia Elbchiri produced a near-duplicate effort with 26:15 left in the second half to maintain the 1-1 tie.
Benet keeper Emma Hlavin made a great diving save on Kovatchis’ initial 18-yard drive, and Elbchiri dove in to block Madison Casey’s rebound attempt.
Benet’s vocal leader, four-year starter Hlavin, excelled on many occasions Tuesday.
Hlavin raced off her line to smother Shannon Hansen’s dribble in on net 7:20 before halftime and made a nice save early in the second half on a Navarro 18-yard shot (off a Jenna Lundgren corner kick).
“My first two years on varsity I was more quiet, Hlavin said, “but the coaches talked to me and said, ‘You need to be vocal and organize your defense.’ It’s my senior year, the last year to get things done, so I try to help the defense know where they are and know their surroundings. Hopefully it gets the job done.”
Foley matched her counterpart with big saves even before the amazing penalty kick denial of Abello. She stopped Kate Hennessy’s 10-yard shot off a nice Hannah Pfeiffer pass 9:20 before halftime. Then Foley made a great diving save on Pfeiffer’s 18-yard try just over a minute later.
Usually initiated by Abello, Benet routinely made runs up left wing – but York defenders answered the challenge virtually every time.
“We knew coming in that she (Abello) was going to be a big deal for us,” Whitcomb said, “so we had one of our outside defenders, Annalisa Lappo, stay on her. And she did a great job.
“(Abello) had zero goals. That was one of the main things we were going for at the beginning of the game. The fact that we shut her out was really good for us.”
Besides the PK, Benet had the majority of chances in the last 20 minutes. Foley stopped one Abello shot, and Ellie Bumpus and Elbchiri sent shots wide.
Benet coach Bob Gros noted that Abello was playing through illness, but it hardly showed in the Redwings’ array of chances.
“There must have been eight attacks that they mounted and they were very dangerous,” Gros said. “It’s just a shame we couldn’t get one of them to go in.
“I thought it was a good, hard-fought game. In the first half they had a little better of the attack, but in the second half we pretty much took over and the opportunities were there.
“Other than that (goal), they created a little problem once in a while, but we were pretty comfortable in the back. We did a much better job of clearing the ball today, and we had confidence in the midfield to set up some real good stuff. So overall I’m not displeased with what transpired today.”
York’s battling style made an impact on the eventual 1-1 outcome.
“We were playing really physical the whole game, which we really needed to do,” Foley said. “We caught some tough breaks, but we played hard through the whole game and never gave up, which I thought was really awesome.”
Benet would have preferred to limit ties to the school dress code, but Tuesday’s draw had some positives.
“Emma did really well, and I think we all played well,” Bernicky said. “But it’s definitely disappointing to tie them. I don’t think we showed how good we truly are.
“Kerry’s definitely been doing well for us, and our defense is working well together. We just have to get the passes and play to feet – I think that’s our biggest struggle right now.”
Benet’s experienced squad has been at the top of its game by May in the past, and the Redwings expect that again this spring.
“I think we have really good potential,” Hlavin said. “Last year we made it to sectional finals and lost to (Lyons), and this year we’ve added a few great new players, namely Kerry Abello. She’s going to help us on the left a lot. We have a really good chance this year.”
York was coming off a 6-0 win over Joliet West in its opener, which featured two goals by Alyssa Kovatchis and one each by Whitcomb, Lundgren, Navarro and Bianchi.
Tuesday’s tie against an elite foe only adds to their confidence.
“I think it was really good for us that we were able to keep up with (Benet),” Whitcomb said. “We’re going to keep going forward from here.”
York Tournament play continues Wednesday. The Lady Dukes face Lemont and Benet meets Joliet West.
Starting lineups
Benet
GK- Emma Hlavin
D- Rachel Bernicky
D- Elena McCarthy
D- Sophia Elbchiri
D- Maggie Johnson
MF- Loretta Elder
MF- Erin Flynn
MF- Ellie Bumpus
MF- Katherine Gesior
F- Kerry Abello
F- Jacqueline Kaufman
York
GK- Ellen Foley
D- Annalisa Lappo
D- Emily Mueller
D- Jenna Dvorak
D- Kaylin Kenny
MF- Jenna Lundgren
MF- Shannon Hansen
MF- Emily Whitcomb
MF- Madison Navarro
F- Alyssa Kovatchis
F- Madison Casey
MVPs of the Match
Rachel Bernicky, D, Benet
Ellen Foley, GK, York
Lady Dukes stand up to powerful Redwings
By Dave Owen
ELMHURST -- Whether it’s a wave of injuries or an elite opponent, York has handled every challenge thrown its way early in the season.
Undefeated defending sectional finalist Benet provided a big test Tuesday in the second round of the York Tournament. And thanks to junior goalkeeper Ellen Foley’s ability to defy the odds, the Lady Dukes emerged with a confidence-building 1-1 tie.
With the game tied 1-1 and 15:22 to play, Benet’s Jacqueline Kaufman was fouled in the box to set up a penalty kick. And with red-hot Redwings striker Kerry Abello (nine goals in three games) taking the shot, the odds were heavily in Benet’s favor.
But Foley rose to the huge challenge by stopping Abello’s drive to her left, then dove on the rebound to preserve the ultimate draw.
“I knew she was left-footed,” Foley said, “and at the last second I saw her hips turn and that she was going to my left. I just went for it, and luckily she hit it high so I could get at it.
“On the rebound I saw her coming at me and thought, ‘Man, I’ve got to get it.’ I couldn’t let her score on the rebound after I made that save.”
Symbolic of the whole day, Foley, Chicagoland Soccer's co-MVP of the Match, also rode encouragement from her York teammates.
“(Midfielder) Madison Navarro told me, ‘You so got this, Ellen,’ ” Foley said. “It was all my teammates saying, ‘You got it,’ and I really needed that.”
Adversity before the game meant York (1-0-1) would need to dig deep to match Benet (3-0-1).
With three-year starter Jamie Kovatchis already out for the season with a knee injury, the Lady Dukes’ problems compounded with starters Jess Bianchi and Carys Hund also sidelined Tuesday.
“If Jamie plays, she’s a high-level player for us,” York coach Dan Vana said. “That was a huge loss.
“Jess Bianchi is one of our leading goal scorers from last year – she and Alyssa (Kovatchis) tied with 14,” Vana said. “She got hurt in yesterday’s game (a 6-0 win over Joliet West) and didn’t play. And Carys Hund isn’t here with us today, and Carys is a dynamic outside midfielder.
“We were a little short today, so it was a good result. We had a few things we have to work out yet, and they (Benet) are a little more seasoned now. I’m not discouraged with the result.”
In a physical, hard-fought game, both teams traded figurative punches early on.
York struck first 30:14 before halftime. An Alyssa Kovatchis corner kick eluded a Benet defender in front, and York’s Emily Whitcomb pounced on the loose ball to line a shot high inside the right post for a 1-0 lead.
“Considering this is only our second game, I thought we did really good keeping up with them,” said Whitcomb, who has signed to play at Belmont University next year. “They’ve had a lot more games than us, and last year we went down by one. We’re going to keep going forward from here, I think.”
Benet didn’t reel backward for long. Just three minutes later on a corner kick by Benet’s Loretta Elder, goalkeeper Foley appeared to make an initial catch but had the ball come loose. On a scramble for the ball in the crease, Benet’s Rachel Bernicky sent it just inside the left post to tie the game 1-1.
“It just kind of went off the goalie’s hands,” said Bernicky, the other co-MVP of the Match. “Me and Maggie (Johnson) were both fighting there, and I managed to get a toe and poke it in the goal. It was a lucky shot, but I’m glad it went in.”
Three-year starting defender Bernicky wasn’t done being in the right spot at key times.
With 18:20 left in the half, another Alyssa Kovatchis corner kick connected with York’s Juliana Salzano. Her apparent sure goal toward an open corner of the net was blocked by a sliding Bernicky.
“It looked like a goal, definitely,” Bernicky said. “I got a few scratches, but that was OK.”
Benet’s Sophia Elbchiri produced a near-duplicate effort with 26:15 left in the second half to maintain the 1-1 tie.
Benet keeper Emma Hlavin made a great diving save on Kovatchis’ initial 18-yard drive, and Elbchiri dove in to block Madison Casey’s rebound attempt.
Benet’s vocal leader, four-year starter Hlavin, excelled on many occasions Tuesday.
Hlavin raced off her line to smother Shannon Hansen’s dribble in on net 7:20 before halftime and made a nice save early in the second half on a Navarro 18-yard shot (off a Jenna Lundgren corner kick).
“My first two years on varsity I was more quiet, Hlavin said, “but the coaches talked to me and said, ‘You need to be vocal and organize your defense.’ It’s my senior year, the last year to get things done, so I try to help the defense know where they are and know their surroundings. Hopefully it gets the job done.”
Foley matched her counterpart with big saves even before the amazing penalty kick denial of Abello. She stopped Kate Hennessy’s 10-yard shot off a nice Hannah Pfeiffer pass 9:20 before halftime. Then Foley made a great diving save on Pfeiffer’s 18-yard try just over a minute later.
Usually initiated by Abello, Benet routinely made runs up left wing – but York defenders answered the challenge virtually every time.
“We knew coming in that she (Abello) was going to be a big deal for us,” Whitcomb said, “so we had one of our outside defenders, Annalisa Lappo, stay on her. And she did a great job.
“(Abello) had zero goals. That was one of the main things we were going for at the beginning of the game. The fact that we shut her out was really good for us.”
Besides the PK, Benet had the majority of chances in the last 20 minutes. Foley stopped one Abello shot, and Ellie Bumpus and Elbchiri sent shots wide.
Benet coach Bob Gros noted that Abello was playing through illness, but it hardly showed in the Redwings’ array of chances.
“There must have been eight attacks that they mounted and they were very dangerous,” Gros said. “It’s just a shame we couldn’t get one of them to go in.
“I thought it was a good, hard-fought game. In the first half they had a little better of the attack, but in the second half we pretty much took over and the opportunities were there.
“Other than that (goal), they created a little problem once in a while, but we were pretty comfortable in the back. We did a much better job of clearing the ball today, and we had confidence in the midfield to set up some real good stuff. So overall I’m not displeased with what transpired today.”
York’s battling style made an impact on the eventual 1-1 outcome.
“We were playing really physical the whole game, which we really needed to do,” Foley said. “We caught some tough breaks, but we played hard through the whole game and never gave up, which I thought was really awesome.”
Benet would have preferred to limit ties to the school dress code, but Tuesday’s draw had some positives.
“Emma did really well, and I think we all played well,” Bernicky said. “But it’s definitely disappointing to tie them. I don’t think we showed how good we truly are.
“Kerry’s definitely been doing well for us, and our defense is working well together. We just have to get the passes and play to feet – I think that’s our biggest struggle right now.”
Benet’s experienced squad has been at the top of its game by May in the past, and the Redwings expect that again this spring.
“I think we have really good potential,” Hlavin said. “Last year we made it to sectional finals and lost to (Lyons), and this year we’ve added a few great new players, namely Kerry Abello. She’s going to help us on the left a lot. We have a really good chance this year.”
York was coming off a 6-0 win over Joliet West in its opener, which featured two goals by Alyssa Kovatchis and one each by Whitcomb, Lundgren, Navarro and Bianchi.
Tuesday’s tie against an elite foe only adds to their confidence.
“I think it was really good for us that we were able to keep up with (Benet),” Whitcomb said. “We’re going to keep going forward from here.”
York Tournament play continues Wednesday. The Lady Dukes face Lemont and Benet meets Joliet West.
Starting lineups
Benet
GK- Emma Hlavin
D- Rachel Bernicky
D- Elena McCarthy
D- Sophia Elbchiri
D- Maggie Johnson
MF- Loretta Elder
MF- Erin Flynn
MF- Ellie Bumpus
MF- Katherine Gesior
F- Kerry Abello
F- Jacqueline Kaufman
York
GK- Ellen Foley
D- Annalisa Lappo
D- Emily Mueller
D- Jenna Dvorak
D- Kaylin Kenny
MF- Jenna Lundgren
MF- Shannon Hansen
MF- Emily Whitcomb
MF- Madison Navarro
F- Alyssa Kovatchis
F- Madison Casey
MVPs of the Match
Rachel Bernicky, D, Benet
Ellen Foley, GK, York