Carmel continues to chew up opponents
Corsairs' 5-0 win at Nazareth pushes win streak to 6
By Dave Owen
LA GRANGE PARK -- Carmel is making some major forward progress.
After sitting with a 3-3-0 record through six games, the Corsairs shifted to a three-forward alignment -- and shifted into overdrive.
Saturday’s 5-0 win at Nazareth (7-8-0, 1-2-0) gave Carmel (9-3-0, 4-0-0 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference) a 26-2 scoring advantage in the six games since the switch -- all wins.
“We basically started playing three forwards, and we started to get more chances,” Carmel coach Ray Krawzak said. “We used to have one person kind of stuck on an island and didn’t get as many chances. Since we made that shift, and we did that six games ago, we’ve gotten many more chances than we used to.”
That increase in chances certainly applied to Carmel freshman forward Sarah Galla on Saturday.
Entering the match with one goal this season, Galla erupted for a three-goal hat trick, which included both Corsairs goals in the first half).
“I just had more energy on the field today, and just tried to give my all,” said Galla, whose breakout day earned her Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors.
Junior Zenaya Barnes had the other two goals and also an assist, and her role as an creator, despite being oft double-teamed, was central to Carmel’s success.
“I feel like a few games ago we found our shape,” said Barnes. “We play with three up-top, and we’ve been doing a great job of creating opportunities from in the mid to up-top, and on defense as well.
“We have great midfielders who step up, and I love to take the ball and assist across the goal. And they (my teammates) are there to find it and get the shots.”
Far from forgotten in the recent offensive surge has been the continued shut-down play of Carmel’s defense. Saturday’s shutout marked the seventh of the season.
“The defense has been reliable all throughout the season,” Krawzak said, “and it’s time to really start praising them I think because we’ve had a bunch of shutouts or one-goal allowed (games).
“The success we’ve had is because we made some offensive changes, but even in the beginning of the season we were really confident in our defense.
“Maddy Splitt and Ciara Thomas our center backs have done an outstanding job keeping things organized and not allowing defensive breakdowns,” Krawzak added. “I’m really pleased with that.
“Lily Sykes is an outside back on one side, and she also gets involved with the attack. And then on the other side we have Morgan Smola. Lily half the time looks like an attacker. Morgan not quite as much, but still a lot. They’ve done a good job of the balance between their defensive responsibilities and being involved with the attack.”
Defender Sykes had a role in each of the first two goals, the first coming 14 minutes in.
Passes by Sykes and Barnes set up Skyler Thomas’ 15-yard shot that was partially blocked by Nazareth defender Holly Skrip. But Galla fielded the deflection in the box and powered an 8-yard rebound into the net for a 1-0 lead.
After dueling chances in the next six minutes for Carmel’s Olivia Salvi (15-yarder just wide of the left post) and Nazareth’s Angelica Ariola (8-yarder over the net), a great Sykes pass capped another successful Carmel rush 15:55 before halftime.
Barnes’ initial 10-yard right side shot was saved but juggled by Nazareth goalkeeper Sarah Blair. Sykes corralled the ensuing clear attempt 25 yards out and sent a perfect cross to the front of the net, where Galla’s 6-yard redirect touch made the lead 2-0.
“I play more attacking,” said Sykes, who also played in all 25 games for Carmel’s 2015 Class 2A state championship squad. “Throughout my four years on varsity, that’s always just been my style of play. So the formation we have this year, we have a narrower attack in the middle, and it allows me and the other outside back to get up.
“It’s really nice, because we can contribute, and we have gotten a decent amount of goals off of it. So I think it’s working.”
Sykes was forced to work more in her defender role in the second half. Nazareth used a strong wind at its back to produce immediate tests to Carmel’s 2-0 halftime lead.
A send to the front by Nazareth’s Lizzie Cipra with 38:40 left was tipped just wide left from 10 yards by Adriana Berruti. Then with 32:15 to go, a Roadrunners corner kick set up an Ariola shot wide right.
“When that happens (the wind in opponents’ favor), we have to balance,” Sykes said. “Me and the other outside back (Smola) have to stay home more, so it’s a little bit less of an attack. But our center backs do an amazing job of keeping everything organized, and they also pull people back if we’re still up there. They see the whole field and are really good at doing their job.”
Nazareth’s push culminated midway through the half with several big stands by the Carmel defense.
With 22:20 to go, Splitt (partial clear on a cross) and midfielder Emma Heinrich (ensuing shot block) each stood tall on an extended Roadrunners push.
On a Nazareth corner kick five minutes later, Skrip’s 12-yard redirect shot was saved by Carmel goalkeeper Sophia Sarkis. Then with 16:55 left, Thomas’ nice block 30 yards out set up a Corsairs counterattack. It ended with a Galla 15-yard shot going wide left after a Barnes cross.
After effectively protecting the 2-0 lead for the first 30 minutes of the half, Carmel defied the wind to strike often late and produce a lopsided final score.
The lead became 3-0 with 10:04 left on a great Barnes rush. Racing in right side on two defenders, she defied the odds by lining a 12-yard shot off the inside of the right post and into the net.
Accustomed to playing on a grass field at home, Carmel is becoming more comfortable on what are typically artificial turf pitches on the road.
“Instead of going more direct like we have been on the grass,” senior Heinrich said, “we were trying to play more possession through the midfield and keep (the ball) down.
“That was working a lot better than trying to play long, especially with the wind coming towards us (in the second half). Playing through the midfield and connecting with the outsides was a lot better strategy for us I thought.”
Carmel just missed on another huge chance with 7:50 to go. A give-and-go from Barnes to Salvi sprung Salvi for a breakaway up the middle, and a shot off the right post. Heinrich followed by sending a right side 18-yard shot inches wide of the left post.
The Corsairs converted their next scoring bid with 5:23 left.
Heinrich’s pass found Barnes again driving in on the right. Her cross was deflected, but Galla was again on the spot for a putaway inside the left post and the completion of her hat-trick.
Carmel then capped the 5-0 win off a restart with 2:13 to play. Splitt’s 60-yard free kick right of the net found Barnes, who angled a shot inside the left post.
Between great finishes and strong defense, it was another great day in a big recent run for the Corsairs.
“We had a little bit of a rough patch where we lost three games in a row (to fall to 3-3),” Sykes said. “I think that was a bit of a slap in the face, but I think it needed to happen. We were losing to teams that we should have won against. Now we take every single game seriously, and we kind of found what we need to do to score. And it just clicks.”
Things didn’t click as well Saturday for Nazareth.
“This was watching us struggle on the offensive end to put the ball on frame,” Roadrunners coach John Nikchevich said. “If we had scored the goals we should have in the beginning, the game would have probably been 2-2 going into the second half.
“And then those (second half Carmel) goals were simple goals. We backed away too much, we weren’t physical enough, and we let up goals."
Such frustration of opponents is becoming the norm for Carmel.
“I think everyone’s attitude on the field is showing,” Galla said, “and we’re working as a team together, which is really good.”
Said Heinrich: “I think we have really good team chemistry this year. Everybody is playing for each other, and we’re really coming together as a unit which is really great to see.
“Everyone’s fitting in their positions really well,” Heinrich added. “They all know what to do and they’re all stepping up. And the subs that are coming in have been stepping up at their positions. Hopefully we’ll keep this roll going moving forward.”
Starting lineups
Carmel
GK Sophia Sarkis
D Megan Smola
D Ciara Thomas
D Maddy Splitt
D Lily Sykes
M Olivia Salvi
M Mia Salvi
M Emma Heinrich
F Zenaya Barnes
F Skyler Thomas
F Sarah Galla
Nazareth
GK Sarah Blair
D Holly Skrip
D Katie Howard
D Maddie Mazur
D Grace D’Onofrio
M Sophia Cullotta
M Grace Heery
M Amanda DeCesare
M Angelica Ariola
F Lizzie Cipra
F Adriana Berruti
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Sarah Galla, fr. F, Carmel
Scoring summary
First half
Carmel – Sarah Galla (Skyler Thomas), 14:00
Carmel – Galla (Lily Sykes), 24:05
Second half
Carmel – Zenaya Barnes, 69:56
Carmel – Galla (Barnes), 74:37
Carmel – Barnes (Maddy Splitt), 77:47
Corsairs' 5-0 win at Nazareth pushes win streak to 6
By Dave Owen
LA GRANGE PARK -- Carmel is making some major forward progress.
After sitting with a 3-3-0 record through six games, the Corsairs shifted to a three-forward alignment -- and shifted into overdrive.
Saturday’s 5-0 win at Nazareth (7-8-0, 1-2-0) gave Carmel (9-3-0, 4-0-0 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference) a 26-2 scoring advantage in the six games since the switch -- all wins.
“We basically started playing three forwards, and we started to get more chances,” Carmel coach Ray Krawzak said. “We used to have one person kind of stuck on an island and didn’t get as many chances. Since we made that shift, and we did that six games ago, we’ve gotten many more chances than we used to.”
That increase in chances certainly applied to Carmel freshman forward Sarah Galla on Saturday.
Entering the match with one goal this season, Galla erupted for a three-goal hat trick, which included both Corsairs goals in the first half).
“I just had more energy on the field today, and just tried to give my all,” said Galla, whose breakout day earned her Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors.
Junior Zenaya Barnes had the other two goals and also an assist, and her role as an creator, despite being oft double-teamed, was central to Carmel’s success.
“I feel like a few games ago we found our shape,” said Barnes. “We play with three up-top, and we’ve been doing a great job of creating opportunities from in the mid to up-top, and on defense as well.
“We have great midfielders who step up, and I love to take the ball and assist across the goal. And they (my teammates) are there to find it and get the shots.”
Far from forgotten in the recent offensive surge has been the continued shut-down play of Carmel’s defense. Saturday’s shutout marked the seventh of the season.
“The defense has been reliable all throughout the season,” Krawzak said, “and it’s time to really start praising them I think because we’ve had a bunch of shutouts or one-goal allowed (games).
“The success we’ve had is because we made some offensive changes, but even in the beginning of the season we were really confident in our defense.
“Maddy Splitt and Ciara Thomas our center backs have done an outstanding job keeping things organized and not allowing defensive breakdowns,” Krawzak added. “I’m really pleased with that.
“Lily Sykes is an outside back on one side, and she also gets involved with the attack. And then on the other side we have Morgan Smola. Lily half the time looks like an attacker. Morgan not quite as much, but still a lot. They’ve done a good job of the balance between their defensive responsibilities and being involved with the attack.”
Defender Sykes had a role in each of the first two goals, the first coming 14 minutes in.
Passes by Sykes and Barnes set up Skyler Thomas’ 15-yard shot that was partially blocked by Nazareth defender Holly Skrip. But Galla fielded the deflection in the box and powered an 8-yard rebound into the net for a 1-0 lead.
After dueling chances in the next six minutes for Carmel’s Olivia Salvi (15-yarder just wide of the left post) and Nazareth’s Angelica Ariola (8-yarder over the net), a great Sykes pass capped another successful Carmel rush 15:55 before halftime.
Barnes’ initial 10-yard right side shot was saved but juggled by Nazareth goalkeeper Sarah Blair. Sykes corralled the ensuing clear attempt 25 yards out and sent a perfect cross to the front of the net, where Galla’s 6-yard redirect touch made the lead 2-0.
“I play more attacking,” said Sykes, who also played in all 25 games for Carmel’s 2015 Class 2A state championship squad. “Throughout my four years on varsity, that’s always just been my style of play. So the formation we have this year, we have a narrower attack in the middle, and it allows me and the other outside back to get up.
“It’s really nice, because we can contribute, and we have gotten a decent amount of goals off of it. So I think it’s working.”
Sykes was forced to work more in her defender role in the second half. Nazareth used a strong wind at its back to produce immediate tests to Carmel’s 2-0 halftime lead.
A send to the front by Nazareth’s Lizzie Cipra with 38:40 left was tipped just wide left from 10 yards by Adriana Berruti. Then with 32:15 to go, a Roadrunners corner kick set up an Ariola shot wide right.
“When that happens (the wind in opponents’ favor), we have to balance,” Sykes said. “Me and the other outside back (Smola) have to stay home more, so it’s a little bit less of an attack. But our center backs do an amazing job of keeping everything organized, and they also pull people back if we’re still up there. They see the whole field and are really good at doing their job.”
Nazareth’s push culminated midway through the half with several big stands by the Carmel defense.
With 22:20 to go, Splitt (partial clear on a cross) and midfielder Emma Heinrich (ensuing shot block) each stood tall on an extended Roadrunners push.
On a Nazareth corner kick five minutes later, Skrip’s 12-yard redirect shot was saved by Carmel goalkeeper Sophia Sarkis. Then with 16:55 left, Thomas’ nice block 30 yards out set up a Corsairs counterattack. It ended with a Galla 15-yard shot going wide left after a Barnes cross.
After effectively protecting the 2-0 lead for the first 30 minutes of the half, Carmel defied the wind to strike often late and produce a lopsided final score.
The lead became 3-0 with 10:04 left on a great Barnes rush. Racing in right side on two defenders, she defied the odds by lining a 12-yard shot off the inside of the right post and into the net.
Accustomed to playing on a grass field at home, Carmel is becoming more comfortable on what are typically artificial turf pitches on the road.
“Instead of going more direct like we have been on the grass,” senior Heinrich said, “we were trying to play more possession through the midfield and keep (the ball) down.
“That was working a lot better than trying to play long, especially with the wind coming towards us (in the second half). Playing through the midfield and connecting with the outsides was a lot better strategy for us I thought.”
Carmel just missed on another huge chance with 7:50 to go. A give-and-go from Barnes to Salvi sprung Salvi for a breakaway up the middle, and a shot off the right post. Heinrich followed by sending a right side 18-yard shot inches wide of the left post.
The Corsairs converted their next scoring bid with 5:23 left.
Heinrich’s pass found Barnes again driving in on the right. Her cross was deflected, but Galla was again on the spot for a putaway inside the left post and the completion of her hat-trick.
Carmel then capped the 5-0 win off a restart with 2:13 to play. Splitt’s 60-yard free kick right of the net found Barnes, who angled a shot inside the left post.
Between great finishes and strong defense, it was another great day in a big recent run for the Corsairs.
“We had a little bit of a rough patch where we lost three games in a row (to fall to 3-3),” Sykes said. “I think that was a bit of a slap in the face, but I think it needed to happen. We were losing to teams that we should have won against. Now we take every single game seriously, and we kind of found what we need to do to score. And it just clicks.”
Things didn’t click as well Saturday for Nazareth.
“This was watching us struggle on the offensive end to put the ball on frame,” Roadrunners coach John Nikchevich said. “If we had scored the goals we should have in the beginning, the game would have probably been 2-2 going into the second half.
“And then those (second half Carmel) goals were simple goals. We backed away too much, we weren’t physical enough, and we let up goals."
Such frustration of opponents is becoming the norm for Carmel.
“I think everyone’s attitude on the field is showing,” Galla said, “and we’re working as a team together, which is really good.”
Said Heinrich: “I think we have really good team chemistry this year. Everybody is playing for each other, and we’re really coming together as a unit which is really great to see.
“Everyone’s fitting in their positions really well,” Heinrich added. “They all know what to do and they’re all stepping up. And the subs that are coming in have been stepping up at their positions. Hopefully we’ll keep this roll going moving forward.”
Starting lineups
Carmel
GK Sophia Sarkis
D Megan Smola
D Ciara Thomas
D Maddy Splitt
D Lily Sykes
M Olivia Salvi
M Mia Salvi
M Emma Heinrich
F Zenaya Barnes
F Skyler Thomas
F Sarah Galla
Nazareth
GK Sarah Blair
D Holly Skrip
D Katie Howard
D Maddie Mazur
D Grace D’Onofrio
M Sophia Cullotta
M Grace Heery
M Amanda DeCesare
M Angelica Ariola
F Lizzie Cipra
F Adriana Berruti
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Sarah Galla, fr. F, Carmel
Scoring summary
First half
Carmel – Sarah Galla (Skyler Thomas), 14:00
Carmel – Galla (Lily Sykes), 24:05
Second half
Carmel – Zenaya Barnes, 69:56
Carmel – Galla (Barnes), 74:37
Carmel – Barnes (Maddy Splitt), 77:47