Benet blanks Naperville C. in milestone win
Redwings advance to Naperville Invite quarterfinals for 1st time
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – Benet has won 405 games and four sectional championships since it began playing girls soccer in 1991.
But the Redwings, ranked 10th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, had never before gotten past pool play inthe prestigious Naperville Invitational.
That changed Saturday. Kate Flynn and Mae Tully scored goals, and the Redwings did not allow a shot in a 2-0 victory over host Naperville Central at Memorial Stadium.
The win gave Benet (12-1-0) the Group A championship and a berth in the April 25 quarterfinals, where they will oppose no. 8 St. Charles East (12-3-0) at Naperville North.
The other quarterfinal matches are no. 23 Loyola at no. 1 Barrington, no. 3 New Trier at no. 9 Naperville North and no. 14 Neuqua Valley versus no. 2 St. Charles North at Memorial Stadium.
“That was one of our goals for the team at the beginning of the year, because we knew we’ve never gotten out of our group before,” Benet coach Gerard Oconer said. “We knew that we had the kind of team this year that had the potential to do it.
“We always struggle with the first game of this tournament, so to get a win out of the way right away (2-0 over Oswego on Wednesday) eased a little bit of the pressure off of us. We just came ready to play today. It was probably the sharpest warm-up we’ve had all season.
“The energy level was really good from the very beginning, and I think they were extra-motivated to take advantage of the early opportunity to really show what we can do next week when we start playing the (quarterfinal) teams.”
This year’s Elite Eight have combined to win the 11 Naperville Invitational titles, including the last four. Naperville Central has accounted for two championships; the Redhawks often have defeated Benet in group play.
Not this time.
The Redwings were solid offensively and utterly dominant defensively. The Redhawks (7-6-1) could not get anything going, mustering only one corner kick and not even coming close to getting a shot off against Benet’s backline of Flynn, Cami Picha, Mary Kate Hansen and Mary Kate Wilhelm.
It was the fourth-consecutive shutout and ninth overall for the Redwings, who extended Naperville Central’s losing streak to four.
“We’re really happy that our defense had a shutout today,” Tully said. “Our goalie (Eva Frantzen) didn’t need to make any saves, even though she was there and ready.
“We were really happy with how our defense held them, and on offense we were finally working into the middle and back out, and we’re excited with scoring two.”
Tully’s tally was the more titanic of the two and put the game out of reach with 26:23 remaining in the second half.
Jaimee Cibulka dribbled into the left side of the Naperville Central penalty area and got around the corner before rifling a cross into the middle just outside the 6. The onrushing Tully met it there and blew it by Redhawks goalie Sophie Epelbaum.
“When I saw Jaimee going up the sideline, I knew she was going to try to slot it in,” Tully said. “So I was like, ‘I need to start sprinting and get there,’ because I knew that’s where the ball would be played, and I needed to get in front of the defender.”
Flynn found herself nowhere near a defender on a first half corner kick that resulted in Benet’s first goal. Nicole Burns sent a high, swerving serve in from the left side to Flynn, who was nearly on the goal line when she deflected the ball in off her body at the 24:16 mark.
“(Burns) took a great corner, and I was wide open on the back post, so I just ran through the ball,” Flynn said. “It was right on the line.”
The early strike was decisive, especially given the way both teams have been playing lately. The Redhawks, who have been shut out in four-straight games, seem to be regressing on offense, having registered only four shots, one of which was on frame, in their previous game, and none this time.
“They’re a pretty good team, so I think we did well,” Flynn said. “We’ve been working recently on coming out strong and fast right away, trying to score early.
“Because we knew if we got a goal in fairly early, we would be able to take the game to them.”
That’s exactly what the Redwings did. They launched 13 shots, eight of which were on frame. Three others hit the post, including one from Tully that slipped off Naperville Central’s starting goalie, Amber Hunter, and struck the right post with 13:00 to go in the first half.
That was part of a three-minute flurry that also saw Mia Tommasone hit the left post and Hunter punch a header from Hansen around the right post.
Picha was the other Redwing to hit the woodwork. She slipped past Epelbaum and rolled an attempt off the right pipe with 32:40 left in the second half.
Hunter made four saves and Epelbaum two to keep the score respectable, but the Redhawks remain in a scoring funk.
“We weren’t good enough today,” Naperville Central coach Ed Watson said. “We have to be better. That’s all there is to it.
“Right now, if we’re not going to be more skilled (than opponents), then we have to work harder.”
Despite his squad’s struggles, Watson gave kudos to the Redwings.
“Credit Benet. They’re a good team,” Watson said. “They should be a formidable team to be reckoned with in the AA state tournament.”
Starting lineups
Benet
GK Eva Frantzen
D Kate Flynn
D Cami Picha
D Mary Kate Hansen
D Mary Kate Wilhelm
M Brooke Pullen
M Kayla Brannigan
M Mia Ullmer
F Jaimee Cibulka
F Abby Casmere
F Mia Tommasone
Naperville Central
GK Amber Hunter
D Emma Irle
D Grace Anderson
D Abbey Hillman
D Liz Barker
D Sophia Skoubis
M Sullivan Schubel
M Maddie Mills
M Morgan McCracken
F Sarah Scoles
F Caroline Reedy
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match – Mae Tully, sr., F, Benet
Scoring summary
First half
Benet – Kate Flynn (Nicole Burns) 24:16
Second half
Benet – Mae Tully (Jaimee Cibulka) 26:23
Redwings advance to Naperville Invite quarterfinals for 1st time
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – Benet has won 405 games and four sectional championships since it began playing girls soccer in 1991.
But the Redwings, ranked 10th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, had never before gotten past pool play inthe prestigious Naperville Invitational.
That changed Saturday. Kate Flynn and Mae Tully scored goals, and the Redwings did not allow a shot in a 2-0 victory over host Naperville Central at Memorial Stadium.
The win gave Benet (12-1-0) the Group A championship and a berth in the April 25 quarterfinals, where they will oppose no. 8 St. Charles East (12-3-0) at Naperville North.
The other quarterfinal matches are no. 23 Loyola at no. 1 Barrington, no. 3 New Trier at no. 9 Naperville North and no. 14 Neuqua Valley versus no. 2 St. Charles North at Memorial Stadium.
“That was one of our goals for the team at the beginning of the year, because we knew we’ve never gotten out of our group before,” Benet coach Gerard Oconer said. “We knew that we had the kind of team this year that had the potential to do it.
“We always struggle with the first game of this tournament, so to get a win out of the way right away (2-0 over Oswego on Wednesday) eased a little bit of the pressure off of us. We just came ready to play today. It was probably the sharpest warm-up we’ve had all season.
“The energy level was really good from the very beginning, and I think they were extra-motivated to take advantage of the early opportunity to really show what we can do next week when we start playing the (quarterfinal) teams.”
This year’s Elite Eight have combined to win the 11 Naperville Invitational titles, including the last four. Naperville Central has accounted for two championships; the Redhawks often have defeated Benet in group play.
Not this time.
The Redwings were solid offensively and utterly dominant defensively. The Redhawks (7-6-1) could not get anything going, mustering only one corner kick and not even coming close to getting a shot off against Benet’s backline of Flynn, Cami Picha, Mary Kate Hansen and Mary Kate Wilhelm.
It was the fourth-consecutive shutout and ninth overall for the Redwings, who extended Naperville Central’s losing streak to four.
“We’re really happy that our defense had a shutout today,” Tully said. “Our goalie (Eva Frantzen) didn’t need to make any saves, even though she was there and ready.
“We were really happy with how our defense held them, and on offense we were finally working into the middle and back out, and we’re excited with scoring two.”
Tully’s tally was the more titanic of the two and put the game out of reach with 26:23 remaining in the second half.
Jaimee Cibulka dribbled into the left side of the Naperville Central penalty area and got around the corner before rifling a cross into the middle just outside the 6. The onrushing Tully met it there and blew it by Redhawks goalie Sophie Epelbaum.
“When I saw Jaimee going up the sideline, I knew she was going to try to slot it in,” Tully said. “So I was like, ‘I need to start sprinting and get there,’ because I knew that’s where the ball would be played, and I needed to get in front of the defender.”
Flynn found herself nowhere near a defender on a first half corner kick that resulted in Benet’s first goal. Nicole Burns sent a high, swerving serve in from the left side to Flynn, who was nearly on the goal line when she deflected the ball in off her body at the 24:16 mark.
“(Burns) took a great corner, and I was wide open on the back post, so I just ran through the ball,” Flynn said. “It was right on the line.”
The early strike was decisive, especially given the way both teams have been playing lately. The Redhawks, who have been shut out in four-straight games, seem to be regressing on offense, having registered only four shots, one of which was on frame, in their previous game, and none this time.
“They’re a pretty good team, so I think we did well,” Flynn said. “We’ve been working recently on coming out strong and fast right away, trying to score early.
“Because we knew if we got a goal in fairly early, we would be able to take the game to them.”
That’s exactly what the Redwings did. They launched 13 shots, eight of which were on frame. Three others hit the post, including one from Tully that slipped off Naperville Central’s starting goalie, Amber Hunter, and struck the right post with 13:00 to go in the first half.
That was part of a three-minute flurry that also saw Mia Tommasone hit the left post and Hunter punch a header from Hansen around the right post.
Picha was the other Redwing to hit the woodwork. She slipped past Epelbaum and rolled an attempt off the right pipe with 32:40 left in the second half.
Hunter made four saves and Epelbaum two to keep the score respectable, but the Redhawks remain in a scoring funk.
“We weren’t good enough today,” Naperville Central coach Ed Watson said. “We have to be better. That’s all there is to it.
“Right now, if we’re not going to be more skilled (than opponents), then we have to work harder.”
Despite his squad’s struggles, Watson gave kudos to the Redwings.
“Credit Benet. They’re a good team,” Watson said. “They should be a formidable team to be reckoned with in the AA state tournament.”
Starting lineups
Benet
GK Eva Frantzen
D Kate Flynn
D Cami Picha
D Mary Kate Hansen
D Mary Kate Wilhelm
M Brooke Pullen
M Kayla Brannigan
M Mia Ullmer
F Jaimee Cibulka
F Abby Casmere
F Mia Tommasone
Naperville Central
GK Amber Hunter
D Emma Irle
D Grace Anderson
D Abbey Hillman
D Liz Barker
D Sophia Skoubis
M Sullivan Schubel
M Maddie Mills
M Morgan McCracken
F Sarah Scoles
F Caroline Reedy
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match – Mae Tully, sr., F, Benet
Scoring summary
First half
Benet – Kate Flynn (Nicole Burns) 24:16
Second half
Benet – Mae Tully (Jaimee Cibulka) 26:23