Economos brace leads
Wheaton Warrenville South past Batavia
Tigers' 2-0 victory halts Batavia's 7-game unbeaten streak
By Curt Herron
WHEATON -- As Wheaton Warrenville South headed into a rough six-day stretch where it would host a hot foe tied for the DuKane Conference lead, play a bracket title match in the BodyArmor tournament and then welcome a league and district rival who won a tournament title last week, the Tigers hoped to start the run by climbing out of a little rut when they hosted Batavia on Thursday at Red Grange Field.
Although things didn't start off so well for the home team with a 1-0 at halftime deficit, Wheaton Warrenville South benefitted from two goals from senior Meghan Economos, the last one coming in the 76th minute, to pull out an exciting 2-1 victory.
Coach Guy Callipari's Tigers hadn't scored in their last three matches: losses to DuKane co-leader St. Charles East, and nonconference foe Metea Valley; and a scoreless nonconference draw against Hinsdale Central.
Meanwhile Batavia, which is ranked 19th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, had won four in a row by a 17-1 combined margin and gone 6-0-1 in its last seven matches.
After Wheaton Warrenville South scored the equalizer in the 58th minute following an assist from freshman Ashlyn Adams, Economos collected the match-winner 18 minutes later thanks to an assist from another freshman, Lily Petrie. It was obviously a big night for the senior forward, who had scored just one goal prior to Thursday.
"I think this is a weight lifted off of our shoulders," Economos said. "We've been playing really good teams, so to finally get the result, I feel like it was coming for us.
“And to get it today, especially going into the weekend with the championship (Sunday) and North on Tuesday, we really needed this win.
“In the first half we came out a little slow, but when (coach) Cal talked to us at half, he really just instilled in us that we had to play to our standards. I think that we did exactly that in the second half, and we walked away with the victory.
"We're really young. But now that we're adjusted to everyone, I have to say hats off to our defense; they've done a superb job.
“I also think that we've been creating opportunities really well, and they haven't fallen. But we keep saying that if we keep getting the opportunities, that they'll fall.
“We've known that we're good, but it hasn't been showing in the results, and our goal in every game is to come out and surprise them. They aren't expecting our intensity from our record, but I think we know that we can give it to them."
Having an equal number of seniors and freshmen this season at eight per class, 2012 IHSSCA Hall of Fame coach Callipari knew that there might be some growing pains this season.
After zero goals in the previous three matches against quality sides, the veteran coach hoped that his team's most recent victory can be a catalyst to add to their total of four matches with multiple goals. They hope to string together a late-season win streak.
"What's really nice is that they seem like very seasoned players for their age, but a lot of that is due to the fact that we probably have one of the toughest starts of any team after playing four or five Top 25 teams already early on," Callipari said. "We felt that we were competitive in each match, but didn't get the results that we were looking for.
“This was a good testament that they continue to work in the way that they have and play our brand of soccer, even though we didn't do such a great job of that in the first half.
“I thought Batavia did a nice job of playing through the seams and collectively getting numbers forward and taking care of the dead ball environments. I think that is what they've had some success at all along this season.
"But in the second half, we managed that piece a lot better and felt that we were balanced enough and technical enough to keep the ball and get numbers forward to create more opportunities. It's unfortunate their two in the back got criss-crossed a little bit and that allowed Meghan to get in on her own, but that's hard work and perseverance.
“They knew she was lurking and has the ability to get in behind and finish gracefully as a senior should, and she did. I'm really pleased with her performance. She needed a breakout game.
“It was a good game.”
Callipari was also impressed that his club has surrendered either one or no goals for the eighth time in 10 matches.
"Credit to our defense, for all of the frustration that we've had in the offensive third, we've been in every match because of the work that we're doing in the defensive third with help from our middle people," Callipari said. "Oddly enough, I would have thought on paper that it would have been the other way around, that our offense would be high-powered and keep us in games. … I wasn't sure what the defense would look like.
“They've done a stellar job of communicating, taking away gaps, winning balls in the air and playing simple and getting us into transition, which is another piece to the puzzle."
The Tigers came out strong at the start of the second half as Adams and Economos both had early opportunities that were thwarted by Batavia senior goalie Aubrey Hahn. Shortly after Tigers senior Elie Farrell sent in a long free kick that glanced off the post, Bulldogs senior Johanna Shubert was turned away by Wheaton Warrenville South senior keeper Caroline Spayth.
A bit later, Farrell got off a close attempt that was deflected by Batavia senior defender Mia Anzalone. But in the ensuing moments, Adams connected with Economos, who finished from close range to even the squads at 1-1 in the 58th minute.
After Hahn moved well upfield to fire in a pair of threatening free kicks, Batavia senior Ryan Gianfrancesco sent a pass into Shubert, whose subsequent header was hauled in by the Tigers goalie. Batavia threatened again a short time later when senior Bella Lins’ attempt from the side was denied by Spayth.
Just as it looked as if the sides might end up even in scoring through regulation, Economos took a pass from Petrie and then got free to fire from about 20 yards for the match-winner in the 76th minute. After Farrell tried to add to the Tigers' lead, Hahn gave Batavia one final hope when she sent in another dangerous, long free kick shortly before the final whistle.
"I really loved how we didn't give up after that first goal. We bounced back and answered with two more," Tigers senior Olivia Vassios said. "Something that we've kind of talked about and focused on the whole season has been just taking things one step at a time.
“When we were down 1-0, our first goal was to just get one in and equalize the game. And then once that happened, our next step was to just get one more. If we just take things step by step, then we'll see the results.
"I'm really proud of how well the defense has been working together. We've just been really solid. Consistently throughout the season, we've done a really good job of just keeping our cool and playing our game in the back. I love just how well we've been working together and everyone gets along so well.
“We've spent a lot of time at team dinners, and we have team shoes that we all wear. It's just the small things that unify us all together. I think that really translates onto the field when we play and just how well we connect together."
The first score of the match came in the 15th minute when Batavia senior forward Gianfrancesco sent in a corner kick that eluded Spayth and found the net to give the visitors the early advantage.
Wheaton Warrenville South looked to respond a bit later when junior Lauren Barnett was denied on a header and a subsequent attempt by Economos deflected off of the crossbar. After Batavia senior Carlin King was turned away on a long free kick, Tigers senior Mia Taullahu had a shot try halted by Hahn.
There was plenty of activity during the final 10 minutes of the first half as Taullahu was stopped on a close-range shot, and Tigers junior Ella McClatchy and Economos were also thwarted by the Bulldogs goalie.
"We have to keep improving in areas, and obviously when you play a good team you've got to be mentally and physically ready to play," Bulldogs coach Mark Gianfrancesco said. "We kind of lost some luster as we came into today and weren't really playing the way that we needed to play. That was a testament to them but also just mental preparation for us as well.
"We have a lot of girls who are playing somewhat well, and they're coming together as a team. We just want to keep improving as the season progresses. It's only halfway through the season, and we have a lot of games left."
Wheaton Warrenville South (4-4-2, 1-2-0) plays Highland Park on Sunday in a BodyArmor bracket final at the Lyons Soccer Complex in LaGrange. Then the Tigers entertain Community Unit School District 200 rival Wheaton North on Tuesday.
Batavia (8-2-2, 3-1-0) travels to no. 12 Metea Valley on Saturday and plays at conference rival and 22nd-ranked Geneva on Tuesday.
Starting lineups
Batavia
G Aubrey Hahn
D Jaden Collins
D Carlin King
D Caitlin Callahan
D Mia Anzalone
M Kailey Hansen
M Sarah Koziol
M Riley DiBiase
F Johanna Schubert
F Laila Figueras
F Ryan Gianfrancesco
Wheaton Warrenville South
G Caroline Spayth
D Mallory Cadagin
D Elie Farrell
D Olivia Vassios
D Ella McClatchy
M Lily Petrie
M Kate Grunland
M Carrie Harvey
F Ashlyn Adams
F Meghan Economos
F Lauren Barnett
Chicagoland Soccer Player of the Match
Meghan Economos, sr., F, Wheaton Warrenville South
Scoring summary
First half
B: Ryan Gianfrancesco, 15th
Second half
WWS: Meghan Economos (Ashlyn Adams), 58th
WWS: Economos (Lily Petrie), 76th
Wheaton Warrenville South past Batavia
Tigers' 2-0 victory halts Batavia's 7-game unbeaten streak
By Curt Herron
WHEATON -- As Wheaton Warrenville South headed into a rough six-day stretch where it would host a hot foe tied for the DuKane Conference lead, play a bracket title match in the BodyArmor tournament and then welcome a league and district rival who won a tournament title last week, the Tigers hoped to start the run by climbing out of a little rut when they hosted Batavia on Thursday at Red Grange Field.
Although things didn't start off so well for the home team with a 1-0 at halftime deficit, Wheaton Warrenville South benefitted from two goals from senior Meghan Economos, the last one coming in the 76th minute, to pull out an exciting 2-1 victory.
Coach Guy Callipari's Tigers hadn't scored in their last three matches: losses to DuKane co-leader St. Charles East, and nonconference foe Metea Valley; and a scoreless nonconference draw against Hinsdale Central.
Meanwhile Batavia, which is ranked 19th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, had won four in a row by a 17-1 combined margin and gone 6-0-1 in its last seven matches.
After Wheaton Warrenville South scored the equalizer in the 58th minute following an assist from freshman Ashlyn Adams, Economos collected the match-winner 18 minutes later thanks to an assist from another freshman, Lily Petrie. It was obviously a big night for the senior forward, who had scored just one goal prior to Thursday.
"I think this is a weight lifted off of our shoulders," Economos said. "We've been playing really good teams, so to finally get the result, I feel like it was coming for us.
“And to get it today, especially going into the weekend with the championship (Sunday) and North on Tuesday, we really needed this win.
“In the first half we came out a little slow, but when (coach) Cal talked to us at half, he really just instilled in us that we had to play to our standards. I think that we did exactly that in the second half, and we walked away with the victory.
"We're really young. But now that we're adjusted to everyone, I have to say hats off to our defense; they've done a superb job.
“I also think that we've been creating opportunities really well, and they haven't fallen. But we keep saying that if we keep getting the opportunities, that they'll fall.
“We've known that we're good, but it hasn't been showing in the results, and our goal in every game is to come out and surprise them. They aren't expecting our intensity from our record, but I think we know that we can give it to them."
Having an equal number of seniors and freshmen this season at eight per class, 2012 IHSSCA Hall of Fame coach Callipari knew that there might be some growing pains this season.
After zero goals in the previous three matches against quality sides, the veteran coach hoped that his team's most recent victory can be a catalyst to add to their total of four matches with multiple goals. They hope to string together a late-season win streak.
"What's really nice is that they seem like very seasoned players for their age, but a lot of that is due to the fact that we probably have one of the toughest starts of any team after playing four or five Top 25 teams already early on," Callipari said. "We felt that we were competitive in each match, but didn't get the results that we were looking for.
“This was a good testament that they continue to work in the way that they have and play our brand of soccer, even though we didn't do such a great job of that in the first half.
“I thought Batavia did a nice job of playing through the seams and collectively getting numbers forward and taking care of the dead ball environments. I think that is what they've had some success at all along this season.
"But in the second half, we managed that piece a lot better and felt that we were balanced enough and technical enough to keep the ball and get numbers forward to create more opportunities. It's unfortunate their two in the back got criss-crossed a little bit and that allowed Meghan to get in on her own, but that's hard work and perseverance.
“They knew she was lurking and has the ability to get in behind and finish gracefully as a senior should, and she did. I'm really pleased with her performance. She needed a breakout game.
“It was a good game.”
Callipari was also impressed that his club has surrendered either one or no goals for the eighth time in 10 matches.
"Credit to our defense, for all of the frustration that we've had in the offensive third, we've been in every match because of the work that we're doing in the defensive third with help from our middle people," Callipari said. "Oddly enough, I would have thought on paper that it would have been the other way around, that our offense would be high-powered and keep us in games. … I wasn't sure what the defense would look like.
“They've done a stellar job of communicating, taking away gaps, winning balls in the air and playing simple and getting us into transition, which is another piece to the puzzle."
The Tigers came out strong at the start of the second half as Adams and Economos both had early opportunities that were thwarted by Batavia senior goalie Aubrey Hahn. Shortly after Tigers senior Elie Farrell sent in a long free kick that glanced off the post, Bulldogs senior Johanna Shubert was turned away by Wheaton Warrenville South senior keeper Caroline Spayth.
A bit later, Farrell got off a close attempt that was deflected by Batavia senior defender Mia Anzalone. But in the ensuing moments, Adams connected with Economos, who finished from close range to even the squads at 1-1 in the 58th minute.
After Hahn moved well upfield to fire in a pair of threatening free kicks, Batavia senior Ryan Gianfrancesco sent a pass into Shubert, whose subsequent header was hauled in by the Tigers goalie. Batavia threatened again a short time later when senior Bella Lins’ attempt from the side was denied by Spayth.
Just as it looked as if the sides might end up even in scoring through regulation, Economos took a pass from Petrie and then got free to fire from about 20 yards for the match-winner in the 76th minute. After Farrell tried to add to the Tigers' lead, Hahn gave Batavia one final hope when she sent in another dangerous, long free kick shortly before the final whistle.
"I really loved how we didn't give up after that first goal. We bounced back and answered with two more," Tigers senior Olivia Vassios said. "Something that we've kind of talked about and focused on the whole season has been just taking things one step at a time.
“When we were down 1-0, our first goal was to just get one in and equalize the game. And then once that happened, our next step was to just get one more. If we just take things step by step, then we'll see the results.
"I'm really proud of how well the defense has been working together. We've just been really solid. Consistently throughout the season, we've done a really good job of just keeping our cool and playing our game in the back. I love just how well we've been working together and everyone gets along so well.
“We've spent a lot of time at team dinners, and we have team shoes that we all wear. It's just the small things that unify us all together. I think that really translates onto the field when we play and just how well we connect together."
The first score of the match came in the 15th minute when Batavia senior forward Gianfrancesco sent in a corner kick that eluded Spayth and found the net to give the visitors the early advantage.
Wheaton Warrenville South looked to respond a bit later when junior Lauren Barnett was denied on a header and a subsequent attempt by Economos deflected off of the crossbar. After Batavia senior Carlin King was turned away on a long free kick, Tigers senior Mia Taullahu had a shot try halted by Hahn.
There was plenty of activity during the final 10 minutes of the first half as Taullahu was stopped on a close-range shot, and Tigers junior Ella McClatchy and Economos were also thwarted by the Bulldogs goalie.
"We have to keep improving in areas, and obviously when you play a good team you've got to be mentally and physically ready to play," Bulldogs coach Mark Gianfrancesco said. "We kind of lost some luster as we came into today and weren't really playing the way that we needed to play. That was a testament to them but also just mental preparation for us as well.
"We have a lot of girls who are playing somewhat well, and they're coming together as a team. We just want to keep improving as the season progresses. It's only halfway through the season, and we have a lot of games left."
Wheaton Warrenville South (4-4-2, 1-2-0) plays Highland Park on Sunday in a BodyArmor bracket final at the Lyons Soccer Complex in LaGrange. Then the Tigers entertain Community Unit School District 200 rival Wheaton North on Tuesday.
Batavia (8-2-2, 3-1-0) travels to no. 12 Metea Valley on Saturday and plays at conference rival and 22nd-ranked Geneva on Tuesday.
Starting lineups
Batavia
G Aubrey Hahn
D Jaden Collins
D Carlin King
D Caitlin Callahan
D Mia Anzalone
M Kailey Hansen
M Sarah Koziol
M Riley DiBiase
F Johanna Schubert
F Laila Figueras
F Ryan Gianfrancesco
Wheaton Warrenville South
G Caroline Spayth
D Mallory Cadagin
D Elie Farrell
D Olivia Vassios
D Ella McClatchy
M Lily Petrie
M Kate Grunland
M Carrie Harvey
F Ashlyn Adams
F Meghan Economos
F Lauren Barnett
Chicagoland Soccer Player of the Match
Meghan Economos, sr., F, Wheaton Warrenville South
Scoring summary
First half
B: Ryan Gianfrancesco, 15th
Second half
WWS: Meghan Economos (Ashlyn Adams), 58th
WWS: Economos (Lily Petrie), 76th