Battle of Downers Grove ends in draw
South's tally in 68th minute yields 1-1 result
By Matt Le Cren
DOWNERS GROVE – Downers Grove North senior Carissa Mysliwiec had a premonition before Saturday’s game with crosstown rival Downers Grove South.
“I was talking to some people beforehand, and they were teasing me about not scoring before (this game),” Mysliwiec said. “I was like, ‘Just you wait until I’ll score at South.’
“It ended up happening.”
Indeed, Mysliwiec scored her first goal of the season in spectacular fashion, volleying home a ricochet of an Olivia Bull corner kick to give the visiting Trojans a 1-0 lead with 20:48 to go in the second half.
But Downers Grove South junior Paige Reichert returned the favor eight minutes later, netting her first goal of 2018 off a feed from Nicole Fajardo.
That accounted for all of the offense on a cold and windy day that saw both defenses shine during a typically gritty game between the rivals. The 1-1 tie felt like more of a victory for the Mustangs (2-0-2), who won only six games last year, including one over a nonconference opponent.
“For sure, it’s nice because we wanted to obviously come in and compete with them because they are a good team,” Downers Grove South defender Jennifer Masello said. “And it’s nice that we were able to respond after going down a goal.
“I think it showed a lot about us, and it showed us that we can do this. That’s one of the huge positives we can take away from it even though it was just a tie.”
Downers Grove South has dominated the rivalry, losing just once, but the Trojans (3-0-2) currently have the higher cachet after winning the first state trophy in program history with their fourth place finish at the 2017 Class 3A state finals.
Downers Grove North enjoyed the better of the possession but had a hard time solving Downers Grove South’s defense, which was led by Augsburg recruit Masello, fellow senior co-captain Emily Brindac and junior Savannah Hanyzewski. The Trojans outshot the Mustangs 8-2, including a 32-yard free kick from Bull that clanged off the top of the crossbar in the eighth minute, but they were rarely dangerous.
“I can’t complain but then again I’m a little frustrated, because the girls have played pretty well in all games; we just don’t score,” Downers Grove North coach Brian Papa said. “It’s a coach’s problem, and I’ve got to fix it.
“We’ve got to shoot in order to score. The girls got to take the initiative to do it.”
One who did was Mysliwiec, who hammered home a loose ball after teammate Alexis Parker knocked Bull’s free kick out of a crowd near the back post.
“It hit off Parker’s shoulder and then the ball was right there so you’ve just got to put it in,” Mysliwiec said. “It felt awesome.”
It looked awesome, too, especially to Parker, who had to contend with the wind and defenders like the 6-foot-1 Masello in order to redirect Bull’s serve back into the middle.
“That was beautiful,” Parker said. “When Olivia crossed it in I thought, ‘OK, I’m just going to try to get a body on it.’
“So I went back post because I thought (with the wind) it might go a little far. I tried to hit it with any part of my body to try to keep it in.
“I hit it with my shoulder, and I just saw Carissa out of nowhere come and just strike it. I was like, “'Oh, my God, what a play.’”
Reichert was similarly ebullient after bagging the equalizer, although her goal was more of a bolt from the blue.
The Trojans got caught out of position on a change of possession and the Mustangs took advantage quickly, with Fajardo finding the wide-open Reichert in the middle of the box for a 10-yard finish.
“I saw Nicole coming down the sideline,” Reichert said. “I knew I had to get in front of the goal, so I did, and it just went in.
“Honestly it was such a good feeling. I was just running back to my teammates, and we were all hugging each other because we were so happy. Got to keep getting more.”
It appears the Mustangs are primed to get more wins. The four-game unbeaten streak to open the season is a result of many young players being a year older and a year wiser, plus some vital bonding.
“I really think we’re clicking a lot better,” Reichert said. “We’re getting (the ball) up-top more, and we’re scoring more as you can see by our results.
“I think it’s going really well, better than last year. I think (experience) does play a role, and also I think we started off the year with great chemistry and great teamwork.”
That can be attributed to the leadership of players like Masello and Brindac, who set the tone for a defense that has given up just two goals so far.
“Last year we were pretty young,” Downers Grove South coach Chris Hernandez said. “We had sophomores and a freshman up.
“We have five sophomores and a freshman up with us this year but it’s that experience that is helping us understand how to play in big games and not being afraid.
“We had some nerves the first 10 minutes or so. But our goalkeepers (Angle Biondo and Rose Dumford) did a fantastic job and our backline of Savannah, Emily and Jen, they are excellent.”
Downers Grove North, which dipped one spot to sixth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 after the tie, returns six starters from their state Final Four squad. They have several newcomers who are trying to mix in for another deep playoff run. So far, so good.
“It’s a new team but we’re trying to get the hang of it, get to know each other a little bit more, and I think we’re doing a really good job,” Mysliwiec said. “Overall, the whole game we did really well as a team.”
Starting lineups
Downers Grove North
GK Grace Stevenson
D Chloe Nowka
D Olivia Bull
D Francesca Marconi
D Isabella Scarlati
M Margaret Urbanski
M Abby Swanson
M Julia Kramper
M Carli Nehls
M Carissa Mysliwiec
F Alexis Parker
Downers Grove South
GK Angel Biondo
D Savannah Hanyzewski
D Emily Brindac
D Jennifer Masello
D Taylor Petring
M Jillian Petring
M Marlo Rachie
M Abby Wissler
F Nicole Fajardo
F Lauren Victorin
F Lauren Travis
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match – Carissa Mysliewiec, M, Downers North.
Scoring summary
2nd Half
Downers North – Carissa Mysilewiec (Alexis Parker, Olivia Bull) 20:48
Downers South – Paige Reichert (Nicole Fajardo) 12:15
South's tally in 68th minute yields 1-1 result
By Matt Le Cren
DOWNERS GROVE – Downers Grove North senior Carissa Mysliwiec had a premonition before Saturday’s game with crosstown rival Downers Grove South.
“I was talking to some people beforehand, and they were teasing me about not scoring before (this game),” Mysliwiec said. “I was like, ‘Just you wait until I’ll score at South.’
“It ended up happening.”
Indeed, Mysliwiec scored her first goal of the season in spectacular fashion, volleying home a ricochet of an Olivia Bull corner kick to give the visiting Trojans a 1-0 lead with 20:48 to go in the second half.
But Downers Grove South junior Paige Reichert returned the favor eight minutes later, netting her first goal of 2018 off a feed from Nicole Fajardo.
That accounted for all of the offense on a cold and windy day that saw both defenses shine during a typically gritty game between the rivals. The 1-1 tie felt like more of a victory for the Mustangs (2-0-2), who won only six games last year, including one over a nonconference opponent.
“For sure, it’s nice because we wanted to obviously come in and compete with them because they are a good team,” Downers Grove South defender Jennifer Masello said. “And it’s nice that we were able to respond after going down a goal.
“I think it showed a lot about us, and it showed us that we can do this. That’s one of the huge positives we can take away from it even though it was just a tie.”
Downers Grove South has dominated the rivalry, losing just once, but the Trojans (3-0-2) currently have the higher cachet after winning the first state trophy in program history with their fourth place finish at the 2017 Class 3A state finals.
Downers Grove North enjoyed the better of the possession but had a hard time solving Downers Grove South’s defense, which was led by Augsburg recruit Masello, fellow senior co-captain Emily Brindac and junior Savannah Hanyzewski. The Trojans outshot the Mustangs 8-2, including a 32-yard free kick from Bull that clanged off the top of the crossbar in the eighth minute, but they were rarely dangerous.
“I can’t complain but then again I’m a little frustrated, because the girls have played pretty well in all games; we just don’t score,” Downers Grove North coach Brian Papa said. “It’s a coach’s problem, and I’ve got to fix it.
“We’ve got to shoot in order to score. The girls got to take the initiative to do it.”
One who did was Mysliwiec, who hammered home a loose ball after teammate Alexis Parker knocked Bull’s free kick out of a crowd near the back post.
“It hit off Parker’s shoulder and then the ball was right there so you’ve just got to put it in,” Mysliwiec said. “It felt awesome.”
It looked awesome, too, especially to Parker, who had to contend with the wind and defenders like the 6-foot-1 Masello in order to redirect Bull’s serve back into the middle.
“That was beautiful,” Parker said. “When Olivia crossed it in I thought, ‘OK, I’m just going to try to get a body on it.’
“So I went back post because I thought (with the wind) it might go a little far. I tried to hit it with any part of my body to try to keep it in.
“I hit it with my shoulder, and I just saw Carissa out of nowhere come and just strike it. I was like, “'Oh, my God, what a play.’”
Reichert was similarly ebullient after bagging the equalizer, although her goal was more of a bolt from the blue.
The Trojans got caught out of position on a change of possession and the Mustangs took advantage quickly, with Fajardo finding the wide-open Reichert in the middle of the box for a 10-yard finish.
“I saw Nicole coming down the sideline,” Reichert said. “I knew I had to get in front of the goal, so I did, and it just went in.
“Honestly it was such a good feeling. I was just running back to my teammates, and we were all hugging each other because we were so happy. Got to keep getting more.”
It appears the Mustangs are primed to get more wins. The four-game unbeaten streak to open the season is a result of many young players being a year older and a year wiser, plus some vital bonding.
“I really think we’re clicking a lot better,” Reichert said. “We’re getting (the ball) up-top more, and we’re scoring more as you can see by our results.
“I think it’s going really well, better than last year. I think (experience) does play a role, and also I think we started off the year with great chemistry and great teamwork.”
That can be attributed to the leadership of players like Masello and Brindac, who set the tone for a defense that has given up just two goals so far.
“Last year we were pretty young,” Downers Grove South coach Chris Hernandez said. “We had sophomores and a freshman up.
“We have five sophomores and a freshman up with us this year but it’s that experience that is helping us understand how to play in big games and not being afraid.
“We had some nerves the first 10 minutes or so. But our goalkeepers (Angle Biondo and Rose Dumford) did a fantastic job and our backline of Savannah, Emily and Jen, they are excellent.”
Downers Grove North, which dipped one spot to sixth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 after the tie, returns six starters from their state Final Four squad. They have several newcomers who are trying to mix in for another deep playoff run. So far, so good.
“It’s a new team but we’re trying to get the hang of it, get to know each other a little bit more, and I think we’re doing a really good job,” Mysliwiec said. “Overall, the whole game we did really well as a team.”
Starting lineups
Downers Grove North
GK Grace Stevenson
D Chloe Nowka
D Olivia Bull
D Francesca Marconi
D Isabella Scarlati
M Margaret Urbanski
M Abby Swanson
M Julia Kramper
M Carli Nehls
M Carissa Mysliwiec
F Alexis Parker
Downers Grove South
GK Angel Biondo
D Savannah Hanyzewski
D Emily Brindac
D Jennifer Masello
D Taylor Petring
M Jillian Petring
M Marlo Rachie
M Abby Wissler
F Nicole Fajardo
F Lauren Victorin
F Lauren Travis
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match – Carissa Mysliewiec, M, Downers North.
Scoring summary
2nd Half
Downers North – Carissa Mysilewiec (Alexis Parker, Olivia Bull) 20:48
Downers South – Paige Reichert (Nicole Fajardo) 12:15