Hartman makes quick transition,
paces Carmel past Grayslake Central
Sophomore’s brace, assist lead Corsairs to 4-0 win
By Matt Misiek
GRAYSLAKE -- Even though the venue and circumstances were completely different from nine days earlier for Carmel forward Anna Hartman, the result to Monday night’s season-opening match at Grayslake Central was equally memorable.
On March 5, the sophomore laced up different footwear and took the hardwood in the IHSA Girls Basketball Class 3A state championship game. Hartman dished out five assists in Carmel’s 43-39 victory over Nazareth to win the program's first girls basketball state trophy in its debut trip to the Final Four.
Fast-forward to Monday night when Hartman again showed the generosity in the first half, assisting on the opening goal. She then scored two goals of her own as the Corsairs notched the 4-0 victory.
“I literally had one day off before the start of soccer practices, but I came,” Hartman said with a smile. “However, (coach) Steph (Kile) said that I should take a few days off. So for me, I really only got two days’ worth of practice in with the team.”
As both squads eased their way into the season for the first 17 minutes, the Corsairs started to find their offensive rhythm.
Hartman helped demonstrate that the fix was in, as in junior forward Emily Fix. Hartman battled through the Rams defense on the right in the 18th minute to the top of the 18. She spotted Fix to her left and connected. The junior was able to get a tap on the ball to nudge it past Grayslake Central keeper Piper Gallaher.
Even before the opening goal, the chemistry that Hartman and Fix shared was definitely on display for Carmel (1-0-0).
“We just started a new formation, and it took some time getting used to it,” Fix added. “The keys were to keep our eyes open to the middle. Anna was taking the ball down the line. She found me in the middle and just tapped it to me, and I finished.”
The duo created another sparkling chance three minutes later when Fix found herself past the Rams’ defense on the left flank. From 10 yards away she sent a brilliant cross into the path of Hartman, who with a simple turn to goal slotted the right-footed effort past Gallaher to double the lead.
“This year is Emily’s first year of playing high school soccer,” Carmel coach Stephanie Kile explained. “For her and Anna to have that instant connection was really cool. This is only the start of the season. As the season progresses, they have the potential to be really dangerous forwards along with the rest of our group, Madison (Konen), Maddie (Nikolai). All of them can be dangerously tough.”
Hartman, the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match, earned her brace in the 61st minute with a left-footed drive after Corsairs senior defender Grace Harvey won a battle for the ball in the Rams’ defensive 18 and located the sophomore forward.
Konen, sporting a brace of her own on her knee, did not show any effects of the accessory as she scored Carmel’s third goal in the 33rd minute off of an assist from sophomore midfielder Bella D’Amore.
“Bella D’Amore did a really nice job tonight,” Kile continued. “She played a defensive role as well as attacking and every which way she contributed. I thought she had a really great game.”
After a slow start and only one shot in the first half, Grayslake Central's most impressive flurry of action came at the start of the second half. The Rams (0-1-0) were able to penetrate into the Corsairs defensive third in the 41st minute. Freshman forward Dahlia Rodriguez was met from behind inside the box and fell to the turf, but the contact was deemed incidental and play continued.
The next notable opportunity came from another fellow freshman forward Madison Hoffman in the 43rd minute. Rodriguez’s delectable delivery from a corner on the left into the box was targeted in the air for the streaking Hoffman but was just two inches too tall.
Grayslake Central coach Keith Andersson said the play of all of his freshmen was indeed the Rams highlight of the game.
“Madison (Hoffman), Katie (Kruse),Mallory (Barrows) and Dahlia Rodriguez, we weren’t sure how they would do,” Andersson explained. “They slid right on and had no issues. It is something great to look forward to for the next three years. It is an exciting time for us.”
Hoffman was excited after her first high school soccer match.
“We’ve got a great group of girls,” she said. “We executed our game plan pretty well but Carmel is such a good team. It was exciting to play at the high school level, way different than at the club level. So it was good overall.”
Hoffman also commented on Gallaher’s performance in goal despite the loss.
“Piper’s a great goalkeeper,” Hoffman said. “This is my first time playing with her but I’ve known her for a while. I played basketball with her. She can handle anything that comes her way.”
Gallaher, who will continue her playing career next year at Loyola in Chicago, was busy all night long. She recorded 12 saves including some highlight-reel opportunities. She grabbed a heavy shot from Fix from the top of the 18 in the 32nd minute that was to her right and required a few juggles before securing. The best save came late in the 74th minute. With Hartman on the right 18 bearing down and looking for a hat-trick, Gallaher stretched her right leg to kick the ball away from goal and to the Rams defense.
“Win or lose, it feels great,” Gallaher said. “I play this sport for a reason; it is my favorite sport. There is a reason that I am going to continue with it in college. I love this team; it is always fun. It is a great time to be on the field.”
Andersson shared several observations after the match.
“The first ten minutes, I believe they (Carmel) had around 10 corner kicks,” the coach said. “You realize that if they have that many opportunities, you know something is going to happen. However, the second half was a lot different, only giving up the one goal.”
“(We) played different. As a staff, we need to get the team to play the beautiful style that we like to see, the one-two touch, the pass-and-move and let the ball do the work. Tonight was just a bit more of boot-ball.”
Andersson and Gallaher see some similarities in the Rams' core group that mirror the boys team that made a spirited run to the fourth place trophy last fall in the Class AA state tournament.
“We definitely have a lot of young talent than can be really good,” Gallaher said. “I think if this group can just come together. This team wants it, and I know we can get it. We even have support from the boys team. With all of this group effort, it is just about connecting the pieces.”
“This group has the same potential,” said Andersson, who coached the boys’ team as well. “We have some very strong seniors, and they got to go travel with the boys team and to experience the games and the atmosphere.”
“People forget about high school soccer. The state finals we had almost 1,000 people at our games, compared to much lower fan amounts for other non-state soccer related activities. The exposure is so critical for these players.”
Starting lineups
Carmel
GK Lisete Astudillo
D Zkylah Barnes
D Peyton Carney
D Macaire Everett
MF Grace Harvey
MF Jillian Miller
MF Bella D’Amore
MF Lauren Jenkins
F Emily Fix
F Anna Hartman
F Madison Konen
Grayslake Central
GK Piper Gallaher
D Natalie Thorson
D Katie Dinsmore
D Avalyn Woods
MF Ava Ramsey
MF Sara Armstrong
MF Madison Hoffman
MF Kaitlyn Morrissey
F Courtney Fletcher
F Dahlia Rodriguez
F Sara Ottolino
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Anna Hartman, F, so., Carmel
Referees: Kristopher Janezic, center;Wojciech Wojduk, AR1; Dan Sawchuk, AR2
paces Carmel past Grayslake Central
Sophomore’s brace, assist lead Corsairs to 4-0 win
By Matt Misiek
GRAYSLAKE -- Even though the venue and circumstances were completely different from nine days earlier for Carmel forward Anna Hartman, the result to Monday night’s season-opening match at Grayslake Central was equally memorable.
On March 5, the sophomore laced up different footwear and took the hardwood in the IHSA Girls Basketball Class 3A state championship game. Hartman dished out five assists in Carmel’s 43-39 victory over Nazareth to win the program's first girls basketball state trophy in its debut trip to the Final Four.
Fast-forward to Monday night when Hartman again showed the generosity in the first half, assisting on the opening goal. She then scored two goals of her own as the Corsairs notched the 4-0 victory.
“I literally had one day off before the start of soccer practices, but I came,” Hartman said with a smile. “However, (coach) Steph (Kile) said that I should take a few days off. So for me, I really only got two days’ worth of practice in with the team.”
As both squads eased their way into the season for the first 17 minutes, the Corsairs started to find their offensive rhythm.
Hartman helped demonstrate that the fix was in, as in junior forward Emily Fix. Hartman battled through the Rams defense on the right in the 18th minute to the top of the 18. She spotted Fix to her left and connected. The junior was able to get a tap on the ball to nudge it past Grayslake Central keeper Piper Gallaher.
Even before the opening goal, the chemistry that Hartman and Fix shared was definitely on display for Carmel (1-0-0).
“We just started a new formation, and it took some time getting used to it,” Fix added. “The keys were to keep our eyes open to the middle. Anna was taking the ball down the line. She found me in the middle and just tapped it to me, and I finished.”
The duo created another sparkling chance three minutes later when Fix found herself past the Rams’ defense on the left flank. From 10 yards away she sent a brilliant cross into the path of Hartman, who with a simple turn to goal slotted the right-footed effort past Gallaher to double the lead.
“This year is Emily’s first year of playing high school soccer,” Carmel coach Stephanie Kile explained. “For her and Anna to have that instant connection was really cool. This is only the start of the season. As the season progresses, they have the potential to be really dangerous forwards along with the rest of our group, Madison (Konen), Maddie (Nikolai). All of them can be dangerously tough.”
Hartman, the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match, earned her brace in the 61st minute with a left-footed drive after Corsairs senior defender Grace Harvey won a battle for the ball in the Rams’ defensive 18 and located the sophomore forward.
Konen, sporting a brace of her own on her knee, did not show any effects of the accessory as she scored Carmel’s third goal in the 33rd minute off of an assist from sophomore midfielder Bella D’Amore.
“Bella D’Amore did a really nice job tonight,” Kile continued. “She played a defensive role as well as attacking and every which way she contributed. I thought she had a really great game.”
After a slow start and only one shot in the first half, Grayslake Central's most impressive flurry of action came at the start of the second half. The Rams (0-1-0) were able to penetrate into the Corsairs defensive third in the 41st minute. Freshman forward Dahlia Rodriguez was met from behind inside the box and fell to the turf, but the contact was deemed incidental and play continued.
The next notable opportunity came from another fellow freshman forward Madison Hoffman in the 43rd minute. Rodriguez’s delectable delivery from a corner on the left into the box was targeted in the air for the streaking Hoffman but was just two inches too tall.
Grayslake Central coach Keith Andersson said the play of all of his freshmen was indeed the Rams highlight of the game.
“Madison (Hoffman), Katie (Kruse),Mallory (Barrows) and Dahlia Rodriguez, we weren’t sure how they would do,” Andersson explained. “They slid right on and had no issues. It is something great to look forward to for the next three years. It is an exciting time for us.”
Hoffman was excited after her first high school soccer match.
“We’ve got a great group of girls,” she said. “We executed our game plan pretty well but Carmel is such a good team. It was exciting to play at the high school level, way different than at the club level. So it was good overall.”
Hoffman also commented on Gallaher’s performance in goal despite the loss.
“Piper’s a great goalkeeper,” Hoffman said. “This is my first time playing with her but I’ve known her for a while. I played basketball with her. She can handle anything that comes her way.”
Gallaher, who will continue her playing career next year at Loyola in Chicago, was busy all night long. She recorded 12 saves including some highlight-reel opportunities. She grabbed a heavy shot from Fix from the top of the 18 in the 32nd minute that was to her right and required a few juggles before securing. The best save came late in the 74th minute. With Hartman on the right 18 bearing down and looking for a hat-trick, Gallaher stretched her right leg to kick the ball away from goal and to the Rams defense.
“Win or lose, it feels great,” Gallaher said. “I play this sport for a reason; it is my favorite sport. There is a reason that I am going to continue with it in college. I love this team; it is always fun. It is a great time to be on the field.”
Andersson shared several observations after the match.
“The first ten minutes, I believe they (Carmel) had around 10 corner kicks,” the coach said. “You realize that if they have that many opportunities, you know something is going to happen. However, the second half was a lot different, only giving up the one goal.”
“(We) played different. As a staff, we need to get the team to play the beautiful style that we like to see, the one-two touch, the pass-and-move and let the ball do the work. Tonight was just a bit more of boot-ball.”
Andersson and Gallaher see some similarities in the Rams' core group that mirror the boys team that made a spirited run to the fourth place trophy last fall in the Class AA state tournament.
“We definitely have a lot of young talent than can be really good,” Gallaher said. “I think if this group can just come together. This team wants it, and I know we can get it. We even have support from the boys team. With all of this group effort, it is just about connecting the pieces.”
“This group has the same potential,” said Andersson, who coached the boys’ team as well. “We have some very strong seniors, and they got to go travel with the boys team and to experience the games and the atmosphere.”
“People forget about high school soccer. The state finals we had almost 1,000 people at our games, compared to much lower fan amounts for other non-state soccer related activities. The exposure is so critical for these players.”
Starting lineups
Carmel
GK Lisete Astudillo
D Zkylah Barnes
D Peyton Carney
D Macaire Everett
MF Grace Harvey
MF Jillian Miller
MF Bella D’Amore
MF Lauren Jenkins
F Emily Fix
F Anna Hartman
F Madison Konen
Grayslake Central
GK Piper Gallaher
D Natalie Thorson
D Katie Dinsmore
D Avalyn Woods
MF Ava Ramsey
MF Sara Armstrong
MF Madison Hoffman
MF Kaitlyn Morrissey
F Courtney Fletcher
F Dahlia Rodriguez
F Sara Ottolino
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Anna Hartman, F, so., Carmel
Referees: Kristopher Janezic, center;Wojciech Wojduk, AR1; Dan Sawchuk, AR2