Bartlett holds on in Hoffman Estates
Visitors make 1st half goal hold up in shutout win
By Mike Garofola
HOFFMAN ESTATES -- Serena Salvato's first half strike kept the unbeaten start of Bartlett alive Friday night at Garber Stadium in Hoffman Estates.
The sophomore scored the lone goal of an entertaining nonconference contest in the 22th minute to help Vince Revak's club earn a hard-fought 1-0 victory over host Hoffman Estates to move its spring record to 2-0-2.
"We've come a long way since that our 0-0 draw with Schaumburg on that brutally cold night (March 11), but for all the good things we've done since then, it didn't translate very well in this one, especially in the second half of play," admitted the Hawks manager.
"I thought we dominated a lot of the play up until 30 minutes (then) that play in the box that nearly gave them a PK (turned) things around for them."
The sequence in which the hopes of the Hoffman Estates (3-2-0) faithful rose came at 33 minutes at the tail end of a nice flurry by the home side. It culminated with a deep throw from Gabby Anderson into the Bartlett mixer.
"It looked like Alysa (Dupart) was tripped up in their box. As I told the girls at the break, the referee made the call," said Hoffman Estates manager Jeff Bird.
"Even though it didn't go our way, we live with it and just go on.
"I'm not absolutely sure if it warranted a PK. What I do know is that play seemed to motivate the girls. From that point on they played very well on both sides of the ball and really put a lot of pressure on them in the second half."
Bartlett, fresh off 1-1 draw at home with Jacobs, looked the part of the side ready to spoil the start of the Hoffman Estates spring break when the shrill of the referee's whistle opened this soccer match.
Tessa Evans and Mikayla Brown were too pacey for the homeside, while the goal-scoring hero Salvato was just as active in the Hoffman Estates end.
Add the non-stop work by midfielder Maddie Donnelly and a stingy backline led by co-captain Paige Bednarke, and it was possible the visitors might be on their way to an easy victory.
"Our defense has played with a lot of confidence from the first game, and even tonight when (they) kept us under a lot in the second half," offered Bednarke.
"We all had each other's back when it got a little tough for us."
"(It) has been our one constant," added Revak of his defensive unit.
"I've counted on them right from the start of the season, and they have all worked hard to get better, which has made the job of Caitlin Yurkovich much easier."
Revak heaped plenty of praise upon his freshman keeper Yrukovich, who now has recorded a trio of clean-sheets in her first four matches with the big club.
"Caitlin does not play like a freshman," Revak said. "She handles herself very well in and around the box, works really well with our backline and is quite capable of making a big save when we need her too. You saw one of those tonight."
The strong Bartlett backline consists of Bednarke, her middle mate Sabrina Fowler, and outside backs Madison Neer and Abigail Hawes.
This group had an easy time of it in the first 20 minutes as they watched their attack get forward with speed, purpose and quick touches which all came together for a high percentage of passing completions.
Jocelyn Carlos provided energy and pace when Revak brought the senior on at eight minutes, but it was one of a handful of well-driven long balls from Bednarke out of the back that led to the lone goal of the night.
Evans ran onto the Bednarke serve and used her speed and guile to earn a corner for Bartlett.
A short, clearing ball out of the corner found the aforementioned Donnelly beat a pair of defenders to the ball and then connnected with Salvato.
With a rush of power, and surge past both, Salvato drove her low attempt past keeper Paige Schneider, who came far off her line to challenge.
"That goal was all Maddie," said a humble Salvato, who made light of her terrific individual effort to shed defenders, and then have the wherewithall to stay composed before delivering her strike.
"Without the hard work of Maddie to get the ball, then connect with me, I am not sure we score that goal," continued Salvato.
"We've been connnecting a lot more of our passes with each game, which is one of the things we have gotten better at since that Schaumburg game. It showed tonight."
Donnelly and Evans produced a half-chance for Brown moments after the opener at 22 minutes. That was followed by a mazy, enterprising run through the Hoffman defense by Brown once again that ended with an attempt on frame.
But a free kick missile unloaded from the host's Christina Salerno stung the gloves of Yurkovich and nearly went over the line at 31 minutes. The play seemed to be the spark the homeside was looking for.
"I said that near-PK was the thing that got us going, but Christina's free kick and the save might have really been what did it for us," said Bird.
The Hoffman Estates bench thought for a minute that the Yurkovich's retrieval mission to collect the Salerno blast before it went over the end line failed, but Bird complimented the assistant referee on the near side for his hustle to be right on the line to view the proceedings.
Fowler sent a deep throw out of the area just afterwards, Salerno went wide twice on a pair of free kicks and Avery Panek had a go at Yurkovich, all within a nervous last 10 minutes of the first period for Bartlett.
"(Hoffman) really put us on our heels towards the end of the half," said Revak. "We were chasing the ball and their players way too much."
It was a trend that continued after the intermission.
A sharp tackle by Fowler ended a run into the box from Panek, Yurkovich saved an attempt from Payton Badziong, and the duo of Salerno and Mia Eberman, both back from club this spring, kept the attack of the homeside running at full speed.
"We're fortunate to have both of those players with us, and for Christina, she's such a special player, who spends so much time during and after the season to get better," began Bird.
"She's smart and technical, and makes everyone around her so much better. In my opinion, when she's a senior she will be a strong all-state candidate."
Bartlett's Brown nearly stunned the homeside with a snap-shot in the 48th minute that required Schneider to elevate late to push the 20-yard smash, up and over the bar.
However, that was all Bartlett could send on frame for the next 10 minutes while Salerno and others led the charge for a Hoffman Estates equalizer.
Salvato's professional foul at the midline on Katie Krogstad at 53 minutes might have stopped a potential 1-v.-1.
Salerno, Eberman and Panek continued to be at the heart of a very confident Hoffman Estates side, but when possession in the Bartlett end was prolonged, Bednarke and her mates came to the rescue.
"Hoffman was so scrappy in the second half, and they really came after us," said Bednarke. "We take a lot of pride in our defending, and tonight we had to be together as a group to stop them."
Evans' well-executed interception allowed the freshman to send Salvato through, but Schneider's decision to come quickly off her line to meet the advancing attacker dashed the hopes of a quality chance.
Bednarke headed a clearing attempt after a free kick in the 75th minute, before an 80th minute Summer Voeller strike was easily pulled in by Yurkovich.
"Credit Hoffman for their effort tonight, especially after the break, where they really made us work for everything we got," began Revak.
"It wasn't the prettiest of wins, but it was a win nonetheless. And it came, in part, because our seniors really did a great job of keeping us calm when the pressure increased.
"Our team defense, and Yurkovich were the main stories tonight, and that's how you win these close ones."
Next up for Bartlett is a home match versus Glenbard South in an Upstate Eight Conference match on March 30. Hoffman Estates enjoys a 10-day break before going to Arlington Heights to play Mid-Suburban League rival Hersey.
"We have a terrific freshmen-sophomore group of players, who work hard, take care of each other out there, and in my opinion will get better as the season goes on," said Bird.
"I told the girls afterwards the effort tonight was very good, and there was no reason to hang there heads despite the loss. They played well enough to win the game."
Starting lineups
Bartlett (4-5-1)
G- Caitlyn Yurkovich
D- Madison Neer
D- Paige Bednarke
D- Sabrina Fowler
D- Abigail Hawes
M- Jasmine Mendez
M- Mikayla Brown
M- Tessa Evans
M- Maddie Donnelly
M- Christina Mondelli
F- Serena Salvato
Hoffman Estates (4-4-2)
G- Paige Schneider
D- Christina Salerno
D- Payton Badziong
D- Josie Roberts
D- Cassidy Ryan
M- Dalanie Slingerland
M- Kati Krogstad
M- Sherlin Pimentel Ramirez
M- Summer Voeller
F- Avery Panek
F- Alysa Dupart
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match: Paige Bednarke, sr., D, Bartlett
Christina Salerno, so., D, Hoffman Estates
Referee: Matt Scimeca
Scoring summary
First half
Bartlett: Salvato (Donnelly) 22'
Second half
No scoring
Visitors make 1st half goal hold up in shutout win
By Mike Garofola
HOFFMAN ESTATES -- Serena Salvato's first half strike kept the unbeaten start of Bartlett alive Friday night at Garber Stadium in Hoffman Estates.
The sophomore scored the lone goal of an entertaining nonconference contest in the 22th minute to help Vince Revak's club earn a hard-fought 1-0 victory over host Hoffman Estates to move its spring record to 2-0-2.
"We've come a long way since that our 0-0 draw with Schaumburg on that brutally cold night (March 11), but for all the good things we've done since then, it didn't translate very well in this one, especially in the second half of play," admitted the Hawks manager.
"I thought we dominated a lot of the play up until 30 minutes (then) that play in the box that nearly gave them a PK (turned) things around for them."
The sequence in which the hopes of the Hoffman Estates (3-2-0) faithful rose came at 33 minutes at the tail end of a nice flurry by the home side. It culminated with a deep throw from Gabby Anderson into the Bartlett mixer.
"It looked like Alysa (Dupart) was tripped up in their box. As I told the girls at the break, the referee made the call," said Hoffman Estates manager Jeff Bird.
"Even though it didn't go our way, we live with it and just go on.
"I'm not absolutely sure if it warranted a PK. What I do know is that play seemed to motivate the girls. From that point on they played very well on both sides of the ball and really put a lot of pressure on them in the second half."
Bartlett, fresh off 1-1 draw at home with Jacobs, looked the part of the side ready to spoil the start of the Hoffman Estates spring break when the shrill of the referee's whistle opened this soccer match.
Tessa Evans and Mikayla Brown were too pacey for the homeside, while the goal-scoring hero Salvato was just as active in the Hoffman Estates end.
Add the non-stop work by midfielder Maddie Donnelly and a stingy backline led by co-captain Paige Bednarke, and it was possible the visitors might be on their way to an easy victory.
"Our defense has played with a lot of confidence from the first game, and even tonight when (they) kept us under a lot in the second half," offered Bednarke.
"We all had each other's back when it got a little tough for us."
"(It) has been our one constant," added Revak of his defensive unit.
"I've counted on them right from the start of the season, and they have all worked hard to get better, which has made the job of Caitlin Yurkovich much easier."
Revak heaped plenty of praise upon his freshman keeper Yrukovich, who now has recorded a trio of clean-sheets in her first four matches with the big club.
"Caitlin does not play like a freshman," Revak said. "She handles herself very well in and around the box, works really well with our backline and is quite capable of making a big save when we need her too. You saw one of those tonight."
The strong Bartlett backline consists of Bednarke, her middle mate Sabrina Fowler, and outside backs Madison Neer and Abigail Hawes.
This group had an easy time of it in the first 20 minutes as they watched their attack get forward with speed, purpose and quick touches which all came together for a high percentage of passing completions.
Jocelyn Carlos provided energy and pace when Revak brought the senior on at eight minutes, but it was one of a handful of well-driven long balls from Bednarke out of the back that led to the lone goal of the night.
Evans ran onto the Bednarke serve and used her speed and guile to earn a corner for Bartlett.
A short, clearing ball out of the corner found the aforementioned Donnelly beat a pair of defenders to the ball and then connnected with Salvato.
With a rush of power, and surge past both, Salvato drove her low attempt past keeper Paige Schneider, who came far off her line to challenge.
"That goal was all Maddie," said a humble Salvato, who made light of her terrific individual effort to shed defenders, and then have the wherewithall to stay composed before delivering her strike.
"Without the hard work of Maddie to get the ball, then connect with me, I am not sure we score that goal," continued Salvato.
"We've been connnecting a lot more of our passes with each game, which is one of the things we have gotten better at since that Schaumburg game. It showed tonight."
Donnelly and Evans produced a half-chance for Brown moments after the opener at 22 minutes. That was followed by a mazy, enterprising run through the Hoffman defense by Brown once again that ended with an attempt on frame.
But a free kick missile unloaded from the host's Christina Salerno stung the gloves of Yurkovich and nearly went over the line at 31 minutes. The play seemed to be the spark the homeside was looking for.
"I said that near-PK was the thing that got us going, but Christina's free kick and the save might have really been what did it for us," said Bird.
The Hoffman Estates bench thought for a minute that the Yurkovich's retrieval mission to collect the Salerno blast before it went over the end line failed, but Bird complimented the assistant referee on the near side for his hustle to be right on the line to view the proceedings.
Fowler sent a deep throw out of the area just afterwards, Salerno went wide twice on a pair of free kicks and Avery Panek had a go at Yurkovich, all within a nervous last 10 minutes of the first period for Bartlett.
"(Hoffman) really put us on our heels towards the end of the half," said Revak. "We were chasing the ball and their players way too much."
It was a trend that continued after the intermission.
A sharp tackle by Fowler ended a run into the box from Panek, Yurkovich saved an attempt from Payton Badziong, and the duo of Salerno and Mia Eberman, both back from club this spring, kept the attack of the homeside running at full speed.
"We're fortunate to have both of those players with us, and for Christina, she's such a special player, who spends so much time during and after the season to get better," began Bird.
"She's smart and technical, and makes everyone around her so much better. In my opinion, when she's a senior she will be a strong all-state candidate."
Bartlett's Brown nearly stunned the homeside with a snap-shot in the 48th minute that required Schneider to elevate late to push the 20-yard smash, up and over the bar.
However, that was all Bartlett could send on frame for the next 10 minutes while Salerno and others led the charge for a Hoffman Estates equalizer.
Salvato's professional foul at the midline on Katie Krogstad at 53 minutes might have stopped a potential 1-v.-1.
Salerno, Eberman and Panek continued to be at the heart of a very confident Hoffman Estates side, but when possession in the Bartlett end was prolonged, Bednarke and her mates came to the rescue.
"Hoffman was so scrappy in the second half, and they really came after us," said Bednarke. "We take a lot of pride in our defending, and tonight we had to be together as a group to stop them."
Evans' well-executed interception allowed the freshman to send Salvato through, but Schneider's decision to come quickly off her line to meet the advancing attacker dashed the hopes of a quality chance.
Bednarke headed a clearing attempt after a free kick in the 75th minute, before an 80th minute Summer Voeller strike was easily pulled in by Yurkovich.
"Credit Hoffman for their effort tonight, especially after the break, where they really made us work for everything we got," began Revak.
"It wasn't the prettiest of wins, but it was a win nonetheless. And it came, in part, because our seniors really did a great job of keeping us calm when the pressure increased.
"Our team defense, and Yurkovich were the main stories tonight, and that's how you win these close ones."
Next up for Bartlett is a home match versus Glenbard South in an Upstate Eight Conference match on March 30. Hoffman Estates enjoys a 10-day break before going to Arlington Heights to play Mid-Suburban League rival Hersey.
"We have a terrific freshmen-sophomore group of players, who work hard, take care of each other out there, and in my opinion will get better as the season goes on," said Bird.
"I told the girls afterwards the effort tonight was very good, and there was no reason to hang there heads despite the loss. They played well enough to win the game."
Starting lineups
Bartlett (4-5-1)
G- Caitlyn Yurkovich
D- Madison Neer
D- Paige Bednarke
D- Sabrina Fowler
D- Abigail Hawes
M- Jasmine Mendez
M- Mikayla Brown
M- Tessa Evans
M- Maddie Donnelly
M- Christina Mondelli
F- Serena Salvato
Hoffman Estates (4-4-2)
G- Paige Schneider
D- Christina Salerno
D- Payton Badziong
D- Josie Roberts
D- Cassidy Ryan
M- Dalanie Slingerland
M- Kati Krogstad
M- Sherlin Pimentel Ramirez
M- Summer Voeller
F- Avery Panek
F- Alysa Dupart
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match: Paige Bednarke, sr., D, Bartlett
Christina Salerno, so., D, Hoffman Estates
Referee: Matt Scimeca
Scoring summary
First half
Bartlett: Salvato (Donnelly) 22'
Second half
No scoring