Linn leads Deerfield to crucial league point
Senior's helpers keep Warriors on path to league title after 2-2 tie
By Gary Larsen
NORTHBROOK — A premier outside midfielder is a bunch of things. She is a cross between a sprinter and distance runner with a wickedly accurate serve, and an ability to take on defenders, plus a willingness to track back defensively.
Deerfield outside mid Samantha Linn — or ‘Slinn’, as she’s called by teammates — checks every box.
“She’s been awesome,” Deerfield coach Rich Grady said.
Linn had assists on goals by Julia Neal and Callie Birtman in the Warriors’ 2-2 tie with Glenbrook North on Thursday in a key Central Suburban League tilt between North Division rivals and title aspirants.
The Warriors led 2-0 at halftime before the host Spartans picked up their intensity to even things up in the second half. Despite giving up a 2-0 lead, the visiting Warriors were anything but discouraged.
“Our team played amazing together, and we knew it would be a tough game coming out,” Linn said. “We started off so strong, and they came back strong, too. It was a tough match.”
Deerfield (11-2-1, 2-0-1) started fast against Glenbrook North (5-0-3, 1-0-1). The Spartans won 4-0 over the Warriors in last year’s meeting, but freshman forward Birtman ensured a different outcome at 13 minutes.
Birtman scored off a Linn cross from the right side, on a head shot goal at the far post that capped a run of steady attacking pressure. Junior forward Neal made it 2-0 at 21 minutes, taking a centering pass from Linn and scoring from 14 yards.
An already diversely dangerous Deerfield attack made Grady particularly happy on Thursday.
“If you look at our two goals, neither one was scored by a starter,” Grady said. “They were two forwards that come off the bench, and that’s one of the points of emphasis, is to get our scoring more diversified, and we got that today. Both Julia and Callie stepped up when we needed them.”
Linn nearly made it 3-0 at 37 minutes when she broke in alone on Spartans keeper Ellie Scott, but Scott saved Linn’s shot at the near post on the right side.
Linn’s role as chief architect on Thursday earned her Chicagoland Soccer’s MVP of the Match honor. That wouldn’t have been possible without players like center mids Malori Killoren and Haley Emory sending her quality feeds as she made her runs up the right side of the field.
Linn’s burst of speed and relentlessness stands out in most games. And all that running never seems to tire her out.
“I love it,” she said. “That’s my favorite thing to do. I love getting sent wide and taking it around the defender.
“For me, mostly it’s remembering to get down the line and then to cut in, too, which I’ve been working on a lot this season -- trying to cut around the (defender) and then send it in or take it in a little bit further.”
Deerfield, ranked 17th in Chicagoland Soccer’s Top 25, knew their 2-0 lead wasn’t safe against Glenbrook North. Playing without injured captain and center mid Devyn Compisi also complicated matters.
“I would have felt better with a 3-0 lead,” Grady said. “Overall, considering that we’ve lost Devyn for a little while and had to shuffle things, to come in here and play a quality opponent like these guys, and they’re undefeated, to come out 2-2 I’m not going to be upset with our overall effort.
“We’re very dangerous when we get the ball wide to (Linn), and we just didn’t do that enough after the first 20 minutes.”
Glenbrook North brought the attacking heat after halftime. The Spartans cut their deficit in half on a goal from Samantha Cramin at 48 minutes and tied it on a Victoria Caparos goal at 66 minutes.
Cramin scored from point-blank range near the post, and Caparos scored from 16 yards, capping a steady run of attacking pressure by the Spartans. Alyssa Nekritz hit the crossbar with a shot in the second half and also forced a diving save from Deerfield keeper Karley Morris.
“In the first half I felt like we weren’t taking our time,” Glenbrook North captain Emily Charen said. “We’re not just fast and athletic. We’re a good team. I felt like we were stressed and nervous, and we were just kicking the ball and playing how they play. In the second half, I could feel the energy (rise) on our team, and it was exciting to be a part of it.”
Grady was pleased with the way his girls weathered the attacking storm that hit them in the second half, and Glenbrook North coach Craig Loch was happy his side provided that storm.
“I think in the first twenty minutes the excitement of the game got a little over us, and it took us a half to settle down,” Loch said. “We just had to keep our composure and play our game.
“Deerfield is a very well-coached team, and they have the ability to break teams down. Offensively they’re very dangerous. Their ability to get forward is dangerous and their midfield is very strong, even missing (Compisi).”
Deerfield's keeper did all she could in the second half. Morris cut off crosses and made several diving stops in the face of Glenbrook North’s pressure. The Spartans also elevated their level of physical play after halftime.
“They’re definitely a little bit bigger than us, especially in the middle,” Linn said. “But we have great people there in (Emory) and (Killoren), and Shayna Wood was filling in for (Compisi), and they were still getting up there and winning those head balls.
“That was huge at the beginning because we were getting those balls out wide, too, and that was an essential part of it. I thought every single person really showed their heart tonight.”
Asked to single out an unsung player from Thursday’s game and Grady didn’t hesitate.
“Mallory Sawyer,” Grady said. “In the second half we put her in the midfield, and she was sliding around, winning tackles, and winning head balls. She’s a very good athlete, and it’s good to get her in that role and see what she can do.”
Starting lineups
Deerfield
GK Karley Morris
D Ashley Morgan
D Sydney Fleishman
D Emma Pelz
D Riley Halpern
M Haley Emory
M Malori Killoren
M Samantha Linn
M Shayna Wood
F Chloe Cappas
F Marissa Hyland
Glenbrook North
GK Ellie Scott
D Emily Porta
D Olivia Kosla
D Maggie Oliphant
D Melissa Tucker
M Torrie Welch
M Katie Benson
M Alyssa Nekritz
M Samantha Cramin
F Emily Charen
F Victoria Caparos
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Samantha Linn, sr. M, Deerfield
Scoring summary
First half
Deerfield — Birtman (Linn) 13th minute
Deerfield — Neal (Linn) 21st minute
Second half
Glenbrook North — Samantha Cramin (UA) 48th minute
Glenbrook North — Caparos (UA) 66th minute
Senior's helpers keep Warriors on path to league title after 2-2 tie
By Gary Larsen
NORTHBROOK — A premier outside midfielder is a bunch of things. She is a cross between a sprinter and distance runner with a wickedly accurate serve, and an ability to take on defenders, plus a willingness to track back defensively.
Deerfield outside mid Samantha Linn — or ‘Slinn’, as she’s called by teammates — checks every box.
“She’s been awesome,” Deerfield coach Rich Grady said.
Linn had assists on goals by Julia Neal and Callie Birtman in the Warriors’ 2-2 tie with Glenbrook North on Thursday in a key Central Suburban League tilt between North Division rivals and title aspirants.
The Warriors led 2-0 at halftime before the host Spartans picked up their intensity to even things up in the second half. Despite giving up a 2-0 lead, the visiting Warriors were anything but discouraged.
“Our team played amazing together, and we knew it would be a tough game coming out,” Linn said. “We started off so strong, and they came back strong, too. It was a tough match.”
Deerfield (11-2-1, 2-0-1) started fast against Glenbrook North (5-0-3, 1-0-1). The Spartans won 4-0 over the Warriors in last year’s meeting, but freshman forward Birtman ensured a different outcome at 13 minutes.
Birtman scored off a Linn cross from the right side, on a head shot goal at the far post that capped a run of steady attacking pressure. Junior forward Neal made it 2-0 at 21 minutes, taking a centering pass from Linn and scoring from 14 yards.
An already diversely dangerous Deerfield attack made Grady particularly happy on Thursday.
“If you look at our two goals, neither one was scored by a starter,” Grady said. “They were two forwards that come off the bench, and that’s one of the points of emphasis, is to get our scoring more diversified, and we got that today. Both Julia and Callie stepped up when we needed them.”
Linn nearly made it 3-0 at 37 minutes when she broke in alone on Spartans keeper Ellie Scott, but Scott saved Linn’s shot at the near post on the right side.
Linn’s role as chief architect on Thursday earned her Chicagoland Soccer’s MVP of the Match honor. That wouldn’t have been possible without players like center mids Malori Killoren and Haley Emory sending her quality feeds as she made her runs up the right side of the field.
Linn’s burst of speed and relentlessness stands out in most games. And all that running never seems to tire her out.
“I love it,” she said. “That’s my favorite thing to do. I love getting sent wide and taking it around the defender.
“For me, mostly it’s remembering to get down the line and then to cut in, too, which I’ve been working on a lot this season -- trying to cut around the (defender) and then send it in or take it in a little bit further.”
Deerfield, ranked 17th in Chicagoland Soccer’s Top 25, knew their 2-0 lead wasn’t safe against Glenbrook North. Playing without injured captain and center mid Devyn Compisi also complicated matters.
“I would have felt better with a 3-0 lead,” Grady said. “Overall, considering that we’ve lost Devyn for a little while and had to shuffle things, to come in here and play a quality opponent like these guys, and they’re undefeated, to come out 2-2 I’m not going to be upset with our overall effort.
“We’re very dangerous when we get the ball wide to (Linn), and we just didn’t do that enough after the first 20 minutes.”
Glenbrook North brought the attacking heat after halftime. The Spartans cut their deficit in half on a goal from Samantha Cramin at 48 minutes and tied it on a Victoria Caparos goal at 66 minutes.
Cramin scored from point-blank range near the post, and Caparos scored from 16 yards, capping a steady run of attacking pressure by the Spartans. Alyssa Nekritz hit the crossbar with a shot in the second half and also forced a diving save from Deerfield keeper Karley Morris.
“In the first half I felt like we weren’t taking our time,” Glenbrook North captain Emily Charen said. “We’re not just fast and athletic. We’re a good team. I felt like we were stressed and nervous, and we were just kicking the ball and playing how they play. In the second half, I could feel the energy (rise) on our team, and it was exciting to be a part of it.”
Grady was pleased with the way his girls weathered the attacking storm that hit them in the second half, and Glenbrook North coach Craig Loch was happy his side provided that storm.
“I think in the first twenty minutes the excitement of the game got a little over us, and it took us a half to settle down,” Loch said. “We just had to keep our composure and play our game.
“Deerfield is a very well-coached team, and they have the ability to break teams down. Offensively they’re very dangerous. Their ability to get forward is dangerous and their midfield is very strong, even missing (Compisi).”
Deerfield's keeper did all she could in the second half. Morris cut off crosses and made several diving stops in the face of Glenbrook North’s pressure. The Spartans also elevated their level of physical play after halftime.
“They’re definitely a little bit bigger than us, especially in the middle,” Linn said. “But we have great people there in (Emory) and (Killoren), and Shayna Wood was filling in for (Compisi), and they were still getting up there and winning those head balls.
“That was huge at the beginning because we were getting those balls out wide, too, and that was an essential part of it. I thought every single person really showed their heart tonight.”
Asked to single out an unsung player from Thursday’s game and Grady didn’t hesitate.
“Mallory Sawyer,” Grady said. “In the second half we put her in the midfield, and she was sliding around, winning tackles, and winning head balls. She’s a very good athlete, and it’s good to get her in that role and see what she can do.”
Starting lineups
Deerfield
GK Karley Morris
D Ashley Morgan
D Sydney Fleishman
D Emma Pelz
D Riley Halpern
M Haley Emory
M Malori Killoren
M Samantha Linn
M Shayna Wood
F Chloe Cappas
F Marissa Hyland
Glenbrook North
GK Ellie Scott
D Emily Porta
D Olivia Kosla
D Maggie Oliphant
D Melissa Tucker
M Torrie Welch
M Katie Benson
M Alyssa Nekritz
M Samantha Cramin
F Emily Charen
F Victoria Caparos
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Samantha Linn, sr. M, Deerfield
Scoring summary
First half
Deerfield — Birtman (Linn) 13th minute
Deerfield — Neal (Linn) 21st minute
Second half
Glenbrook North — Samantha Cramin (UA) 48th minute
Glenbrook North — Caparos (UA) 66th minute