High-scoring Tumilty leads
Willowbrook past Addison Trail
Warriors star on a roll, scores hat-trick in 3-1 victory
By Patrick Z. McGavin
VILLA PARK — What’s in a name, you ask?
Grace Tumilty personifies a manner of play that befits her name. She has style and flair, and is seemingly always in command wherever she steps on the field.
“I think of myself as more of an aggressive player rather than a technical player,” she said. “I think I am more scrappy with my touches, I guess you could say.
“I like to beat the defender one-on-one, pass through them or run onto the ball.”
Trying to stay in front of her is a particular challenge for the opposition. She is a force of nature. At the start of the new season, Tumilty has taken her game to another level.
“Grace is a once-in-a-long-time kind of athlete,” Willowbrook coach Julio Del Real said. “We don’t get many like her.
“It’s been over 30 years that I have been coaching high school soccer. As far as I am concerned, she is the best player I have ever coached.”
Tumilty dominated every facet of the game with three goals as the Warriors defeated Addison Trail 5-1 in West Suburban Conference Gold Division play Thursday night.
Willowbrook (2-0-0, 2-0-0) has started the year on fire. They posted an identical 5-1 margin against Leyden in their season-opener Monday.
Tumilty has a stunning seven goals in two games.
Her older brother Sam Tumilty was a three-sport star who was the Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year in football in the fall of 2019 and the Daily Herald’s DuPage County male athlete of the year for 2019-2020.
She has the same blend of skill, passion and savvy about the game. She has been unleashed.
“It’s been so exciting,” she said. “We’ve been waiting so long to play and finally getting on the field has been amazing. Not even the outcomes of our games, just playing with your teammates and your friends has been great.”
Tumilty has a special connection with junior forward Erin Fitzgibbon. She assisted both of her goals in the run of play.
Her ability to play outside and allow Tumilty to find open spaces has been crucial to the attack. Despite the time away from the game, the Warriors were crisp and fluid in their combinations.
In the 10th minute, Tumilty took control with a terrific quick touch from the ball played by Fitzgibbon for the opening goal.
“I think the reason we have been so explosive is just the connection we have as a team,” Tumilty said. “Starting from the back—not even the finishing—just the movement we have up the field.
“We’ve been playing for a while together, and we have connected really well. We have learned how to play off of each other’s strengths, and weaknesses and that’s how we have been able to score all of these goals.”
Tumilty has also helped the striking promise of junior midfielder Brooke Vandergrift, who scored the Warriors’ other two goals.
Vandergrift scored a goal in each half, balancing Tumility’s interior prowess with her creativity and finishing power on the wings.
“Grace really drives the play towards her, and that opens up lines, or she could take it one-on-one,” Vandergrift said. “But it really opens it up for me to play it wide side and then cross it in, and we have other girls that can finish it.”
Vandergrift is the team’s free kick specialist. She is long and agile. In the 20th minute, she expanded the lead to 2-0 by beautifully curving a corner inside the far post for her first goal of the season.
“The minute Brooke puts her shots together, she is going to be the complete player we have been looking for,” Del Real said.
“She has gotten so much better since the last time we had her. She is winning balls and getting those great crosses. She is also one of the better players we have who is good with both feet. It doesn’t matter which side she is on for the corner kicks, she gives us great scoring chances.”
Playing their first game, Addison Trail (0-1-0) was jolted at the start. The Blazers settled in following the second goal, and showed sharp play of their own.
Willowbrook scored the first two first half goals. Visiting keeper Hailey Chiovino was under considerable duress throughout the first half, and she performed well to keep the Blazers within reach.
“As a coaching staff, we were proud of the girls’ efforts,” Addison Trial coach Angel Vega said. “We were definitely able to compete in that first half.
“We had a couple of opportunities to score, and we just missed our target.”
The Blazers’ best player, forward Stephanie Mondragon, got free in the 25th minute, using her own burst to create some separation and slot the ball to Natalie Lupo for the Blazers’ goal.
Vega was optimistic by the goal the Blazers could contend in the second half.
“In the second half, Willowbrook took over and just overpowered us,” he said.
Tumilty continued to assault the final third as the Warriors flooded the box. That constant pressure resulted in a foul that Tumilty converted on a penalty kick in the 44th minute.
“I am mostly encouraged by our movement off the ball,” Tumilty said. “As a team we are connecting. It seems as though we’re really syncing well in moving from our offense to defense.
“We are also incorporating the younger players who have not played varsity until this year.”
Del Real was astonished at what he saw as he completed the boys season and began his first really concentrated work with his new generation talent.
“I think the biggest question I had because of the time off is where are we going to be when we finally come back onto the field,” he said. “I wondered how much are the girls going to be missing, how are they going to lose, all of those things we were concerned with.
“I know for a fact that a lot of the girls were active. We know they were playing club. Seeing how much better they are doing than expected because of the long layoff is a very pleasant experience. It shows the girls have put in the time.”
Tumilty put the game out of reach with her third goal in the 55th minute—another beautiful collaboration with Fitzgibbon.
“We have been playing for so long, and we know how to use each other,” Tumilty said. “What we have done so far has been very positive. Obviously there are some things we need to work on back in practice.
“Overall it looks very promising and exciting after two games.”
Vandergrift completed the scoring in the 75th minute off a ball from junior midfielder Mackenzie Parente. Sophomore keeper Maddie Aderholt also excelled with five saves.
“I’ve been waiting a long time, and I know the other girls have been waiting a long time,” Vandergrift said. “When we finally had our first game on Monday, we were really looking forward to it, and our energy was really in that game and also tonight.”
Soccer is back, and the Warriors are locked in.
“The coaches have been really motivating,” Vandergrift said. “The fact we haven’t played in such a long time, we are really picking each other up, even if we make mistakes on the field, which is bound to happen.
“I think it’s really good momentum for us because even if we had lost or tied these first two games, we’d have been really positive about how we are playing.”
Starting lineups
Addison Trail
GK: Hailey Chiovino
D: Giada Alessi
D: Ingrid Balbuena
D: Julisa Diaz
D: Mia Sandoval
MF: Sharon Barbosa
MF: Luz Hernandez
MF: Yaquelin Hernandez
MF: Monserrat Reveles
F: Stephanie Mondragon
F: Natalie Lupo
Willowbrook
GK: Maddie Aderholt
D: Abbey Spada
D: Layla Elgamal
D: Izzy Manning
D: Ali Vittorio
MF: Brooke Vandergrift
MF: Mackenzie Parente
MF: Grace Tumilty
MF: Rachel Klamecki
MF: Molly Brennan
F: Erin Fitzgibbon
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Grace Tumilty, sr., MF, Willowbrook
Scoring summary
First half
Willowbrook—Grace Tumilty (Erin Fitzgibbon), 10th minute
Willowbrook—Brooke Vandergrift (unassisted), 20th minute
Addison Trail—Natalie Lopo (Stephanie Mondragon), 25th minute
Second half
Willowbrook—Tumilty (penalty kick), 44th minute
Willowbrook—Tumilty (Fitzgibbon), 55th minute
Willowbrook—Vandergrift (Mackenzie Parente), 75th minute
Willowbrook past Addison Trail
Warriors star on a roll, scores hat-trick in 3-1 victory
By Patrick Z. McGavin
VILLA PARK — What’s in a name, you ask?
Grace Tumilty personifies a manner of play that befits her name. She has style and flair, and is seemingly always in command wherever she steps on the field.
“I think of myself as more of an aggressive player rather than a technical player,” she said. “I think I am more scrappy with my touches, I guess you could say.
“I like to beat the defender one-on-one, pass through them or run onto the ball.”
Trying to stay in front of her is a particular challenge for the opposition. She is a force of nature. At the start of the new season, Tumilty has taken her game to another level.
“Grace is a once-in-a-long-time kind of athlete,” Willowbrook coach Julio Del Real said. “We don’t get many like her.
“It’s been over 30 years that I have been coaching high school soccer. As far as I am concerned, she is the best player I have ever coached.”
Tumilty dominated every facet of the game with three goals as the Warriors defeated Addison Trail 5-1 in West Suburban Conference Gold Division play Thursday night.
Willowbrook (2-0-0, 2-0-0) has started the year on fire. They posted an identical 5-1 margin against Leyden in their season-opener Monday.
Tumilty has a stunning seven goals in two games.
Her older brother Sam Tumilty was a three-sport star who was the Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year in football in the fall of 2019 and the Daily Herald’s DuPage County male athlete of the year for 2019-2020.
She has the same blend of skill, passion and savvy about the game. She has been unleashed.
“It’s been so exciting,” she said. “We’ve been waiting so long to play and finally getting on the field has been amazing. Not even the outcomes of our games, just playing with your teammates and your friends has been great.”
Tumilty has a special connection with junior forward Erin Fitzgibbon. She assisted both of her goals in the run of play.
Her ability to play outside and allow Tumilty to find open spaces has been crucial to the attack. Despite the time away from the game, the Warriors were crisp and fluid in their combinations.
In the 10th minute, Tumilty took control with a terrific quick touch from the ball played by Fitzgibbon for the opening goal.
“I think the reason we have been so explosive is just the connection we have as a team,” Tumilty said. “Starting from the back—not even the finishing—just the movement we have up the field.
“We’ve been playing for a while together, and we have connected really well. We have learned how to play off of each other’s strengths, and weaknesses and that’s how we have been able to score all of these goals.”
Tumilty has also helped the striking promise of junior midfielder Brooke Vandergrift, who scored the Warriors’ other two goals.
Vandergrift scored a goal in each half, balancing Tumility’s interior prowess with her creativity and finishing power on the wings.
“Grace really drives the play towards her, and that opens up lines, or she could take it one-on-one,” Vandergrift said. “But it really opens it up for me to play it wide side and then cross it in, and we have other girls that can finish it.”
Vandergrift is the team’s free kick specialist. She is long and agile. In the 20th minute, she expanded the lead to 2-0 by beautifully curving a corner inside the far post for her first goal of the season.
“The minute Brooke puts her shots together, she is going to be the complete player we have been looking for,” Del Real said.
“She has gotten so much better since the last time we had her. She is winning balls and getting those great crosses. She is also one of the better players we have who is good with both feet. It doesn’t matter which side she is on for the corner kicks, she gives us great scoring chances.”
Playing their first game, Addison Trail (0-1-0) was jolted at the start. The Blazers settled in following the second goal, and showed sharp play of their own.
Willowbrook scored the first two first half goals. Visiting keeper Hailey Chiovino was under considerable duress throughout the first half, and she performed well to keep the Blazers within reach.
“As a coaching staff, we were proud of the girls’ efforts,” Addison Trial coach Angel Vega said. “We were definitely able to compete in that first half.
“We had a couple of opportunities to score, and we just missed our target.”
The Blazers’ best player, forward Stephanie Mondragon, got free in the 25th minute, using her own burst to create some separation and slot the ball to Natalie Lupo for the Blazers’ goal.
Vega was optimistic by the goal the Blazers could contend in the second half.
“In the second half, Willowbrook took over and just overpowered us,” he said.
Tumilty continued to assault the final third as the Warriors flooded the box. That constant pressure resulted in a foul that Tumilty converted on a penalty kick in the 44th minute.
“I am mostly encouraged by our movement off the ball,” Tumilty said. “As a team we are connecting. It seems as though we’re really syncing well in moving from our offense to defense.
“We are also incorporating the younger players who have not played varsity until this year.”
Del Real was astonished at what he saw as he completed the boys season and began his first really concentrated work with his new generation talent.
“I think the biggest question I had because of the time off is where are we going to be when we finally come back onto the field,” he said. “I wondered how much are the girls going to be missing, how are they going to lose, all of those things we were concerned with.
“I know for a fact that a lot of the girls were active. We know they were playing club. Seeing how much better they are doing than expected because of the long layoff is a very pleasant experience. It shows the girls have put in the time.”
Tumilty put the game out of reach with her third goal in the 55th minute—another beautiful collaboration with Fitzgibbon.
“We have been playing for so long, and we know how to use each other,” Tumilty said. “What we have done so far has been very positive. Obviously there are some things we need to work on back in practice.
“Overall it looks very promising and exciting after two games.”
Vandergrift completed the scoring in the 75th minute off a ball from junior midfielder Mackenzie Parente. Sophomore keeper Maddie Aderholt also excelled with five saves.
“I’ve been waiting a long time, and I know the other girls have been waiting a long time,” Vandergrift said. “When we finally had our first game on Monday, we were really looking forward to it, and our energy was really in that game and also tonight.”
Soccer is back, and the Warriors are locked in.
“The coaches have been really motivating,” Vandergrift said. “The fact we haven’t played in such a long time, we are really picking each other up, even if we make mistakes on the field, which is bound to happen.
“I think it’s really good momentum for us because even if we had lost or tied these first two games, we’d have been really positive about how we are playing.”
Starting lineups
Addison Trail
GK: Hailey Chiovino
D: Giada Alessi
D: Ingrid Balbuena
D: Julisa Diaz
D: Mia Sandoval
MF: Sharon Barbosa
MF: Luz Hernandez
MF: Yaquelin Hernandez
MF: Monserrat Reveles
F: Stephanie Mondragon
F: Natalie Lupo
Willowbrook
GK: Maddie Aderholt
D: Abbey Spada
D: Layla Elgamal
D: Izzy Manning
D: Ali Vittorio
MF: Brooke Vandergrift
MF: Mackenzie Parente
MF: Grace Tumilty
MF: Rachel Klamecki
MF: Molly Brennan
F: Erin Fitzgibbon
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Grace Tumilty, sr., MF, Willowbrook
Scoring summary
First half
Willowbrook—Grace Tumilty (Erin Fitzgibbon), 10th minute
Willowbrook—Brooke Vandergrift (unassisted), 20th minute
Addison Trail—Natalie Lopo (Stephanie Mondragon), 25th minute
Second half
Willowbrook—Tumilty (penalty kick), 44th minute
Willowbrook—Tumilty (Fitzgibbon), 55th minute
Willowbrook—Vandergrift (Mackenzie Parente), 75th minute