Game recap: St. Charles East
versus Neuqua Valley
By Mike Garofola
BARRINGTON -- St. Charles East claimed a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Neuqua Valley at Barrington Community Field on Thursday. The score belied the effort the Fighting Saints required to take down coach Joe Moreau’s Wildcats, whose record does not reflect their quality.
An Ella Stehman double sandwiched around a Mia Raschke goal were enough to seal the win for the Saints (12-2-0) in the opening round of the Naperville Invitational. St. Charles East, which is ranked no. 10 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, clinched a quarterfinal slot with a 3-0 win over Hinsdale Central on Friday.
"Neuqua is so much better than their record indicates," began Saints manager Vince Dinuzzo. “Tactically they caused us some problems by interchanging their striker and almost playing a false no. 9 at times.
"They do well to have players behind the ball and reduce the space behind their backline. And, of course, they have Brooke Miller, who easily is the best player we've seen thus far."
Miller will play next fall Northwestern, where her pace, awareness, two-footed skill and high soccer IQ will translate perfectly to Division I soccer. She helped run the attack for the Wildcats (1-5-2).
"Brooke was the best player on the field tonight, just as she has been in every game we've played in thus far," said Moreau.
This entertaining match opened with great speed as the play went box-to-box with purpose. Neuqua Valley had the best early chance from Brianna Clasen in the 14th minute.
Miller was denied moments later when her snap-shot was turned away with a late save by Saints keeper Sidney Lazenby.
Stehman found the opener through Libby Thomas, who played a wonderful ball through the box to the back post where Stehman finished the helper.
Neuqua Valley took a pair of balls off the line following consecutive corners just after the half hour. Then before the intermission, Lazenby raced far off her line to deny a potential 1-v-1 opportunity for Clasen, who was sent through by Miller.
While Miller impressed both managers, the effort by Lazenby, particularly in the second half, brought plenty of well-deserved praise from all who watched her. The freshman worked to keep Neuqua Valley from getting back into the game with a trio of brilliant goal-saving stops.
"Sidney was great tonight," said DiNuzzo.
"She is starting to become more comfortable with playing more minutes, and her shot-stopping and ability to command the box is becoming a real strength for our team."
"Yes (their) keeper played great,” said Moreau. “I know she is just a freshman, but she was very mature and calm back there for them."
Neuqua Valley claimed six corners in the second half, three of which ended on frame. Miller’s free kick cracker from 30 yards was pushed up and over the bar by Lazenby.
That save in the 44th minute was followed by another marvelous effort by the young keeper off a corner initiated by Maya Stone that Miller directed at Lazenby.
The Wildcats may have enjoyed plenty of the play in the early stages of the second period, but it was the Saints who were successful in the final third.
Raschke took advantage of a poor clearing attempt to steer her 62nd-minute attempt into the back of the net.
Neuqua Valley nearly pulled one back three minutes later, but Lazenby stepped up once again to turn away Clasen.
Another enterprising run up the left side from Thomas led to St. Charles East’s third goal of the evening. The Saints captain delivered a near-perfect ball across the box and onto the foot of Stehman, whose sublime one-time finish seven minutes from time dashed the hopes of the Wildcats faithful.
Miller converted a spot-kick 60 seconds later to end the Saints bid for a seventh-consecutive clean-sheet.
"We played pretty flat in the first half,” Moreau said. “They kept us on our heels for the most part, but I really liked our fight after the break and the way that Keira Byrnes played tonight. She has not gotten a lot of minutes, but I thought she really helped us control the midfield in the second half.
DiNuzzo was happy with the response of his club in the second half and its desire to find the second goal.
"Anna (Champine) continues to impress with her ability to break up attacks and take command of the backline as our center back,” he said. “She is the backbone of our team.
“Mackenzie Loomis is developing into a great asset along the back as well.
"Mia (Raschke) is doing a good job of cleaning up crashing the goal and putting herself in positions to score. Ella (Stehman) is committing to getting more touches in the final third. Both of her goals came from her inverted runs from the weak side in order to get onto the end of crosses."
versus Neuqua Valley
By Mike Garofola
BARRINGTON -- St. Charles East claimed a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Neuqua Valley at Barrington Community Field on Thursday. The score belied the effort the Fighting Saints required to take down coach Joe Moreau’s Wildcats, whose record does not reflect their quality.
An Ella Stehman double sandwiched around a Mia Raschke goal were enough to seal the win for the Saints (12-2-0) in the opening round of the Naperville Invitational. St. Charles East, which is ranked no. 10 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, clinched a quarterfinal slot with a 3-0 win over Hinsdale Central on Friday.
"Neuqua is so much better than their record indicates," began Saints manager Vince Dinuzzo. “Tactically they caused us some problems by interchanging their striker and almost playing a false no. 9 at times.
"They do well to have players behind the ball and reduce the space behind their backline. And, of course, they have Brooke Miller, who easily is the best player we've seen thus far."
Miller will play next fall Northwestern, where her pace, awareness, two-footed skill and high soccer IQ will translate perfectly to Division I soccer. She helped run the attack for the Wildcats (1-5-2).
"Brooke was the best player on the field tonight, just as she has been in every game we've played in thus far," said Moreau.
This entertaining match opened with great speed as the play went box-to-box with purpose. Neuqua Valley had the best early chance from Brianna Clasen in the 14th minute.
Miller was denied moments later when her snap-shot was turned away with a late save by Saints keeper Sidney Lazenby.
Stehman found the opener through Libby Thomas, who played a wonderful ball through the box to the back post where Stehman finished the helper.
Neuqua Valley took a pair of balls off the line following consecutive corners just after the half hour. Then before the intermission, Lazenby raced far off her line to deny a potential 1-v-1 opportunity for Clasen, who was sent through by Miller.
While Miller impressed both managers, the effort by Lazenby, particularly in the second half, brought plenty of well-deserved praise from all who watched her. The freshman worked to keep Neuqua Valley from getting back into the game with a trio of brilliant goal-saving stops.
"Sidney was great tonight," said DiNuzzo.
"She is starting to become more comfortable with playing more minutes, and her shot-stopping and ability to command the box is becoming a real strength for our team."
"Yes (their) keeper played great,” said Moreau. “I know she is just a freshman, but she was very mature and calm back there for them."
Neuqua Valley claimed six corners in the second half, three of which ended on frame. Miller’s free kick cracker from 30 yards was pushed up and over the bar by Lazenby.
That save in the 44th minute was followed by another marvelous effort by the young keeper off a corner initiated by Maya Stone that Miller directed at Lazenby.
The Wildcats may have enjoyed plenty of the play in the early stages of the second period, but it was the Saints who were successful in the final third.
Raschke took advantage of a poor clearing attempt to steer her 62nd-minute attempt into the back of the net.
Neuqua Valley nearly pulled one back three minutes later, but Lazenby stepped up once again to turn away Clasen.
Another enterprising run up the left side from Thomas led to St. Charles East’s third goal of the evening. The Saints captain delivered a near-perfect ball across the box and onto the foot of Stehman, whose sublime one-time finish seven minutes from time dashed the hopes of the Wildcats faithful.
Miller converted a spot-kick 60 seconds later to end the Saints bid for a seventh-consecutive clean-sheet.
"We played pretty flat in the first half,” Moreau said. “They kept us on our heels for the most part, but I really liked our fight after the break and the way that Keira Byrnes played tonight. She has not gotten a lot of minutes, but I thought she really helped us control the midfield in the second half.
DiNuzzo was happy with the response of his club in the second half and its desire to find the second goal.
"Anna (Champine) continues to impress with her ability to break up attacks and take command of the backline as our center back,” he said. “She is the backbone of our team.
“Mackenzie Loomis is developing into a great asset along the back as well.
"Mia (Raschke) is doing a good job of cleaning up crashing the goal and putting herself in positions to score. Ella (Stehman) is committing to getting more touches in the final third. Both of her goals came from her inverted runs from the weak side in order to get onto the end of crosses."