Wheaton Warrenville South beats Burlington Central for 1st victory
Freshmen make big contributions in 5-1 nonconference win
By Curt Herron
WHEATON -- After not being able to find the net in its first two matches in the season's opening weeks, it didn't take long for Wheaton Warrenville South to collect its first goal of the campaign in its home match against Burlington Central on Tuesday at Red Grange Field.
Though it took some time for a follow-up to the opener the Tigers collected in the third minute, Wheaton Warrenville South (1-1-1) eventually collected four more in just over 15 minutes during the second half to claim a 5-1 victory over the Rockets.
Although scoring was a problem in its first two matches, a scoreless draw against Waubonsie Valley to start the season March 16 and a 1-0 loss to currently 11th-ranked Oswego East on March 24, those results suggested that good defensive play wasn't an issue. Wheaton Warrenville South looked like it might post a second shutout but the Rockets scored in the 67th minute after they allowed three goals to the hosts in just over 12 minutes.
Freshman Ashlyn Adams scored the first and the last of the second half goals to establish an excellent breakout performance for coach Guy Callipari's program. Fellow frosh Ella Byrnes also had a big night -- she assisted Adams on the initial goal of the second half and scored the next after an assist from junior Ella McClatchy.
Two more juniors were responsible for the other goals. Kate Hartnett connected in the early going, and Lauren Barnett scored the third goal in a span of 12:02 to give the hosts a 4-0 advantage. A pair of seniors handed out assists on those goals: Mia Taullahu helped out on the initial score; and Meghan Economos’ assist made it a 4-0 game.
"Burlington brought an 'A' game for us initially. They worked very hard, both on and off the ball, which made us work. You have to give credit to them because they just worked very hard everywhere around the park," Callipari said. "I think if they were deeper, they probably would have been in the game a little bit longer and had some more opportunities. We had taken a week off and didn't do any training for spring break. It took us a little bit longer to build into a rhythm that we felt we could manage.
"It's about everyone playing to another level and coming together as a team. We're represented by many different clubs at many different levels so it takes a while to build any continuity with them. We're using these early games to just try to find our way and find who we might be and what our strengths and what our weaknesses are. We work on both because we want to be competitive in every game that we play. We're playing in the Body Armor (former PepsiCo Showdown) this weekend, so we'll see some good competition there. We're looking forward to the challenges ahead."
Callipari, a 2012 IHSSCA Hall of Fame inductee who has coached the Tigers boys since 1991 and their girls since 1995, is one of the few coaches in IHSA history who has won more than 300 matches on both sides. Needless to say, he has pretty much seen it all during his successful tenure. But having as many freshmen on a team as he has eight seniors is a bit unusual. However, he's hopeful that his upcoming graduates, seven juniors and three sophomores will help the squad's eight freshmen elevate their games to a higher level as they open DuKane Conference play when they host sixth-ranked St. Charles North at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
"It was really nice to see that we're beginning to think in the same way," Callipari said. "When you have a freshman class, and quite a few of them that you rely on, and they're 14 and you have 17-year-olds, the commonality is the game. It's nice that that is coming to be. They're starting to work together and for each other. Leadership is important in order to groom that and to be welcoming and not divisive. And we have great leadership and a great senior class, so I don't fear that. We have a great underclass that has a lot of potential. To see them coming together is really nice, especially early on.
"They're going to be tested on Thursday against St. Charles North. We'll find out the reality of how the young ones can play at that level. I thought they did a nice job against Oswego East. We were in the game and missed some great opportunities. Tonight we were able to finish some of those opportunities. We checked off a couple of boxes tonight with having the goals and also getting the W."
The Tigers converted on one of the match's first good opportunities when Taullahu sent a pass in front of the net to Hartnett, who scored from close range in the third minute to account for the only scoring during the opening half.
Other good scoring chances presented themselves in the first 40 minutes. A header by senior Elie Farrell was hauled in by Burlington Central goalie Soraya Walikonis. Later in the half, junior Carrie Harvey bounced one off of the post.
Burlington Central had one of its best opportunities as the half wound down when Ava Elders sent in a threatening corner kick.
"We have a word before each game, and our word for today was momentum, which I think fit really perfectly," Farrell said. "Once we got it rolling and started working together as a team, once we got the confidence, we started pushing. I think that's really a helpful thing, especially going into play St. Charles North. Ashlyn and Ella, two freshmen, really stepped up tonight. A few of our girls couldn't play for a little bit, so they really stepped up to take that role.
"In practice the other day, we practiced splitting the defenders, and I think today we saw the gaps in their defense really well. It's fun to see everybody stepping into their roles a little bit more. It's exciting to see when everybody is playing well together, it's exciting to see what we're capable of. Just by talking with each other, I think we really stepped up our game. I really like our communication. To have positive communication and positive encouragement is huge for a team."
Wheaton Warrenville South began its second half scoring success in the 54th minute. Byrnes sent a pass to Adams, who got past defenders and made a long run downfield before connecting to make it 2-0. In the 63rd minute, McClatchy placed a throw-in in front of the net, and Byrnes was there to give the hosts their third goal.
Adams and Byrnes were joined in the starting lineup by another freshman, Lily Petrie, who got a start on defense along with Byrnes, senior Olivia Vassios and junior McClatchy in support of senior goalie Caroline Spayth. The Tigers have allowed just two goals in their first three matches.
"There's a lot of strong players on our defense," Petrie said. "It's really cool to be on this team. I came into the tryout and a lot of the girls are really good. When they said that I made it I was really excited, because I haven't played with any of these girls. I think it's really nice here since there's a lot of traditions. We have a lucky charm box and we put our quotes before every game in there. I just find it really cool since I haven't seen any other team do that."
Burlington Central, a program that's won three sectional titles since finishing third in Class AA in 2017 under coach Jessica Arneson, finally connected in the 67th minute on a liner from the side by Elders, who's a junior. Wheaton Warrenville South closed out the scoring in the 69th minute when Adams fired in a free kick from about 25 yards.
After playing just three matches thus far this season, the Tigers face a busy schedule in the next two weeks. They have three conference, two nonconference and two tournament matches on their docket.
"I felt like in our first game that we were playing great but just couldn't put it in the back of the net," Harvey said. "But tonight we were able to succeed in that area. We've been working really hard at practice. It's a whole-team effort. I feel like everyone puts in 100 percent effort the entire game. I love being here so much. It's been like the best time on and off the field since everybody is great.
"I think that we need to build off of this and keep it going and show everybody who we are. I like the community here, and everybody on and off the field are great. You can see when we get on the field. Everybody just works well together, and there's no player that's left out."
Starting lineups
Burlington Central
G Soraya Walikonis
D Emersyn Fry
D Jada Hall
D Emma Kerr
D Brianna Domaleczny
M Sydney Tecza
M Eva Samuelian
M Ashley Gasca
M Eva Boer
F Rylee Butler
F Ava Elders
Wheaton Warrenville South
G Caroline Spayth
D Ella Byrnes
D Olivia Vassios
D Lily Petrie
D Ella McClatchy
M Elie Farrell
M Mia Taullahu
M Kate Grunland
M Carrie Harvey
F Ashlyn Adams
F Kate Hartnett
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match: Ashlyn Adams, fr., F, Wheaton Warrenville South; Ella Byrnes, fr., D, Wheaton Warrenville South
Scoring summary
First half
W: Kate Hartnett (Mia Taullahu), 3rd minute
Second half
W: Ashlyn Adams (Ella Byrnes), 54th minute
W: Ella Byrnes (Ella McClatchy), 63rd minute
W: Lauren Barnett (Meghan Economos), 66th minute
BC: Ava Elders, 67th minute
W: Ashlyn Adams, 69th minute
Freshmen make big contributions in 5-1 nonconference win
By Curt Herron
WHEATON -- After not being able to find the net in its first two matches in the season's opening weeks, it didn't take long for Wheaton Warrenville South to collect its first goal of the campaign in its home match against Burlington Central on Tuesday at Red Grange Field.
Though it took some time for a follow-up to the opener the Tigers collected in the third minute, Wheaton Warrenville South (1-1-1) eventually collected four more in just over 15 minutes during the second half to claim a 5-1 victory over the Rockets.
Although scoring was a problem in its first two matches, a scoreless draw against Waubonsie Valley to start the season March 16 and a 1-0 loss to currently 11th-ranked Oswego East on March 24, those results suggested that good defensive play wasn't an issue. Wheaton Warrenville South looked like it might post a second shutout but the Rockets scored in the 67th minute after they allowed three goals to the hosts in just over 12 minutes.
Freshman Ashlyn Adams scored the first and the last of the second half goals to establish an excellent breakout performance for coach Guy Callipari's program. Fellow frosh Ella Byrnes also had a big night -- she assisted Adams on the initial goal of the second half and scored the next after an assist from junior Ella McClatchy.
Two more juniors were responsible for the other goals. Kate Hartnett connected in the early going, and Lauren Barnett scored the third goal in a span of 12:02 to give the hosts a 4-0 advantage. A pair of seniors handed out assists on those goals: Mia Taullahu helped out on the initial score; and Meghan Economos’ assist made it a 4-0 game.
"Burlington brought an 'A' game for us initially. They worked very hard, both on and off the ball, which made us work. You have to give credit to them because they just worked very hard everywhere around the park," Callipari said. "I think if they were deeper, they probably would have been in the game a little bit longer and had some more opportunities. We had taken a week off and didn't do any training for spring break. It took us a little bit longer to build into a rhythm that we felt we could manage.
"It's about everyone playing to another level and coming together as a team. We're represented by many different clubs at many different levels so it takes a while to build any continuity with them. We're using these early games to just try to find our way and find who we might be and what our strengths and what our weaknesses are. We work on both because we want to be competitive in every game that we play. We're playing in the Body Armor (former PepsiCo Showdown) this weekend, so we'll see some good competition there. We're looking forward to the challenges ahead."
Callipari, a 2012 IHSSCA Hall of Fame inductee who has coached the Tigers boys since 1991 and their girls since 1995, is one of the few coaches in IHSA history who has won more than 300 matches on both sides. Needless to say, he has pretty much seen it all during his successful tenure. But having as many freshmen on a team as he has eight seniors is a bit unusual. However, he's hopeful that his upcoming graduates, seven juniors and three sophomores will help the squad's eight freshmen elevate their games to a higher level as they open DuKane Conference play when they host sixth-ranked St. Charles North at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
"It was really nice to see that we're beginning to think in the same way," Callipari said. "When you have a freshman class, and quite a few of them that you rely on, and they're 14 and you have 17-year-olds, the commonality is the game. It's nice that that is coming to be. They're starting to work together and for each other. Leadership is important in order to groom that and to be welcoming and not divisive. And we have great leadership and a great senior class, so I don't fear that. We have a great underclass that has a lot of potential. To see them coming together is really nice, especially early on.
"They're going to be tested on Thursday against St. Charles North. We'll find out the reality of how the young ones can play at that level. I thought they did a nice job against Oswego East. We were in the game and missed some great opportunities. Tonight we were able to finish some of those opportunities. We checked off a couple of boxes tonight with having the goals and also getting the W."
The Tigers converted on one of the match's first good opportunities when Taullahu sent a pass in front of the net to Hartnett, who scored from close range in the third minute to account for the only scoring during the opening half.
Other good scoring chances presented themselves in the first 40 minutes. A header by senior Elie Farrell was hauled in by Burlington Central goalie Soraya Walikonis. Later in the half, junior Carrie Harvey bounced one off of the post.
Burlington Central had one of its best opportunities as the half wound down when Ava Elders sent in a threatening corner kick.
"We have a word before each game, and our word for today was momentum, which I think fit really perfectly," Farrell said. "Once we got it rolling and started working together as a team, once we got the confidence, we started pushing. I think that's really a helpful thing, especially going into play St. Charles North. Ashlyn and Ella, two freshmen, really stepped up tonight. A few of our girls couldn't play for a little bit, so they really stepped up to take that role.
"In practice the other day, we practiced splitting the defenders, and I think today we saw the gaps in their defense really well. It's fun to see everybody stepping into their roles a little bit more. It's exciting to see when everybody is playing well together, it's exciting to see what we're capable of. Just by talking with each other, I think we really stepped up our game. I really like our communication. To have positive communication and positive encouragement is huge for a team."
Wheaton Warrenville South began its second half scoring success in the 54th minute. Byrnes sent a pass to Adams, who got past defenders and made a long run downfield before connecting to make it 2-0. In the 63rd minute, McClatchy placed a throw-in in front of the net, and Byrnes was there to give the hosts their third goal.
Adams and Byrnes were joined in the starting lineup by another freshman, Lily Petrie, who got a start on defense along with Byrnes, senior Olivia Vassios and junior McClatchy in support of senior goalie Caroline Spayth. The Tigers have allowed just two goals in their first three matches.
"There's a lot of strong players on our defense," Petrie said. "It's really cool to be on this team. I came into the tryout and a lot of the girls are really good. When they said that I made it I was really excited, because I haven't played with any of these girls. I think it's really nice here since there's a lot of traditions. We have a lucky charm box and we put our quotes before every game in there. I just find it really cool since I haven't seen any other team do that."
Burlington Central, a program that's won three sectional titles since finishing third in Class AA in 2017 under coach Jessica Arneson, finally connected in the 67th minute on a liner from the side by Elders, who's a junior. Wheaton Warrenville South closed out the scoring in the 69th minute when Adams fired in a free kick from about 25 yards.
After playing just three matches thus far this season, the Tigers face a busy schedule in the next two weeks. They have three conference, two nonconference and two tournament matches on their docket.
"I felt like in our first game that we were playing great but just couldn't put it in the back of the net," Harvey said. "But tonight we were able to succeed in that area. We've been working really hard at practice. It's a whole-team effort. I feel like everyone puts in 100 percent effort the entire game. I love being here so much. It's been like the best time on and off the field since everybody is great.
"I think that we need to build off of this and keep it going and show everybody who we are. I like the community here, and everybody on and off the field are great. You can see when we get on the field. Everybody just works well together, and there's no player that's left out."
Starting lineups
Burlington Central
G Soraya Walikonis
D Emersyn Fry
D Jada Hall
D Emma Kerr
D Brianna Domaleczny
M Sydney Tecza
M Eva Samuelian
M Ashley Gasca
M Eva Boer
F Rylee Butler
F Ava Elders
Wheaton Warrenville South
G Caroline Spayth
D Ella Byrnes
D Olivia Vassios
D Lily Petrie
D Ella McClatchy
M Elie Farrell
M Mia Taullahu
M Kate Grunland
M Carrie Harvey
F Ashlyn Adams
F Kate Hartnett
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match: Ashlyn Adams, fr., F, Wheaton Warrenville South; Ella Byrnes, fr., D, Wheaton Warrenville South
Scoring summary
First half
W: Kate Hartnett (Mia Taullahu), 3rd minute
Second half
W: Ashlyn Adams (Ella Byrnes), 54th minute
W: Ella Byrnes (Ella McClatchy), 63rd minute
W: Lauren Barnett (Meghan Economos), 66th minute
BC: Ava Elders, 67th minute
W: Ashlyn Adams, 69th minute