Game recap: Stevenson at Warren
By MIke Garofola
GURNEE -- From the eyes of a spectator, the no. 10 Stevenson-no. 18 Warren match Tuesday night provided all a fan could have wanted -- except a winner, that is. The two North Suburban Conference powerhouse clubs left the field locked up after an 80-minute goal-less draw.
Both managers arrived at the O'Plaine Campus looking to further enhance their title credentials. Along with Libertyville, the three teams shared the league crown a year ago; they may be headed in that same direction this spring.
"It was a fair result," said Warren manager Ryan McCabe, whose club is now 7-2-3 overall and 3-0-1 in league play. “Both teams had a couple of chances, and I felt that each side took turns having the run of play. Really was a very good game, and one that I thought we played some quality soccer.”
"I really liked the way we played tonight," began senior Ella Skelton, the Blue Devils ultra-talented and effervescent forward. Her darting runs from out of nowhere and quick, sharp play up-top gave her club that extra something.
Warren also got top performances from Reese Mertens, Addison Stanciak and her co-captain, Kylie Mahoney, whose work rate in the middle of the park was key in squeezing the attacking space of the Patriots (10-1-1, 2-0-1).
After taking a long look at Gonzaga, Skelton decided to play next fall at Loyola, where she will study fashion merchandising and journalism (perhaps she will become a future contributor to Chicagoland Soccer).
"Stevenson will end up being one of our toughest opponents this season, and I thought we gave them a good effort. It's something we can take forward with us," said Skelton.
The match resembled a high-speed chess match with tactics and technical style all in play. All 10 field players from each club were engaged in constant movement, spatial awareness, use of width and a defensive posture that kept chances to just a few throughout the chilly night.
"It was great fun to watch two teams come out and just play the game of soccer," said appreciative Stevenson coach PepeJon Chavez.
"Two teams with similar styles, who enjoy playing the game the way it should be, was what we expected it to be. The result was a fair one to me as well," continued the Patriots manager.
Stevenson created six deep throws in the first half, all of which were defended smartly. The first real chance in the opening period came from Warren via Stanciak, whose close-range effort was blocked on the way in by Bri Welter.
Chavez coached without his two marvelous center backs, Lily Mahdavian and Hailey Livesay. That made for the obvious move to drop junior, Mimi VanZanten into one of those spots paired alongside Haylie Popkey.
"One of the strengths of this team is our depth,” said Belle Chavez. “When you can move an amazing player like Mimi into our backline and others can step right in to keep things going smooth in the midfield, that says a lot about our team."
Patriots freshman Gabi Poretto went over the bar with a good look on frame just after the intermission. Bella Chavez sent another attempt onto the roof, before Ellie Egeland helped set up Chavez in-close. Warren’s keeper Trish Georgiou stopped the shot.
This sequence was the start of 10 minutes of mostly one-way traffic for the visitors.
Warren stopped the streak when Mahoney forced Stevenson keeper Mandy Meliker into action just after the hour.
There were far more counters as the last 10 minutes of regulation became more wide-open as each club went in search of the potential game-winner.
Egeland skimmed the bar from 25 yards. Then Georgiou stopped VanZanten and then Poretto near the end. In between the plays, an assistant referee on the near side dashed the hopes of a 1-v-1 between Skelton and Meliker on an offsides call with a razor-thin margin.
"Trish did a great job tonight in goal for Warren,: said Chavez. “Both sides played some great soccer. Hopefully we'll see them again at the end of the year."
"I was proud of our overall effort tonight,” said McCabe. “Our backline in particular performed at a high level, plus our possession and passing were solid all night. The only thing missing was a goal."
Warren fell for a third-straight game in a 3-1 Naperville Invitational consolation loss to Loyola. The Blue Devils will close tourney play against Bartlett at 11 a.m. Saturday at Naperville North.
By MIke Garofola
GURNEE -- From the eyes of a spectator, the no. 10 Stevenson-no. 18 Warren match Tuesday night provided all a fan could have wanted -- except a winner, that is. The two North Suburban Conference powerhouse clubs left the field locked up after an 80-minute goal-less draw.
Both managers arrived at the O'Plaine Campus looking to further enhance their title credentials. Along with Libertyville, the three teams shared the league crown a year ago; they may be headed in that same direction this spring.
"It was a fair result," said Warren manager Ryan McCabe, whose club is now 7-2-3 overall and 3-0-1 in league play. “Both teams had a couple of chances, and I felt that each side took turns having the run of play. Really was a very good game, and one that I thought we played some quality soccer.”
"I really liked the way we played tonight," began senior Ella Skelton, the Blue Devils ultra-talented and effervescent forward. Her darting runs from out of nowhere and quick, sharp play up-top gave her club that extra something.
Warren also got top performances from Reese Mertens, Addison Stanciak and her co-captain, Kylie Mahoney, whose work rate in the middle of the park was key in squeezing the attacking space of the Patriots (10-1-1, 2-0-1).
After taking a long look at Gonzaga, Skelton decided to play next fall at Loyola, where she will study fashion merchandising and journalism (perhaps she will become a future contributor to Chicagoland Soccer).
"Stevenson will end up being one of our toughest opponents this season, and I thought we gave them a good effort. It's something we can take forward with us," said Skelton.
The match resembled a high-speed chess match with tactics and technical style all in play. All 10 field players from each club were engaged in constant movement, spatial awareness, use of width and a defensive posture that kept chances to just a few throughout the chilly night.
"It was great fun to watch two teams come out and just play the game of soccer," said appreciative Stevenson coach PepeJon Chavez.
"Two teams with similar styles, who enjoy playing the game the way it should be, was what we expected it to be. The result was a fair one to me as well," continued the Patriots manager.
Stevenson created six deep throws in the first half, all of which were defended smartly. The first real chance in the opening period came from Warren via Stanciak, whose close-range effort was blocked on the way in by Bri Welter.
Chavez coached without his two marvelous center backs, Lily Mahdavian and Hailey Livesay. That made for the obvious move to drop junior, Mimi VanZanten into one of those spots paired alongside Haylie Popkey.
"One of the strengths of this team is our depth,” said Belle Chavez. “When you can move an amazing player like Mimi into our backline and others can step right in to keep things going smooth in the midfield, that says a lot about our team."
Patriots freshman Gabi Poretto went over the bar with a good look on frame just after the intermission. Bella Chavez sent another attempt onto the roof, before Ellie Egeland helped set up Chavez in-close. Warren’s keeper Trish Georgiou stopped the shot.
This sequence was the start of 10 minutes of mostly one-way traffic for the visitors.
Warren stopped the streak when Mahoney forced Stevenson keeper Mandy Meliker into action just after the hour.
There were far more counters as the last 10 minutes of regulation became more wide-open as each club went in search of the potential game-winner.
Egeland skimmed the bar from 25 yards. Then Georgiou stopped VanZanten and then Poretto near the end. In between the plays, an assistant referee on the near side dashed the hopes of a 1-v-1 between Skelton and Meliker on an offsides call with a razor-thin margin.
"Trish did a great job tonight in goal for Warren,: said Chavez. “Both sides played some great soccer. Hopefully we'll see them again at the end of the year."
"I was proud of our overall effort tonight,” said McCabe. “Our backline in particular performed at a high level, plus our possession and passing were solid all night. The only thing missing was a goal."
Warren fell for a third-straight game in a 3-1 Naperville Invitational consolation loss to Loyola. The Blue Devils will close tourney play against Bartlett at 11 a.m. Saturday at Naperville North.