DGN rallies to nip Elk Grove
Trojans turn 2-0 deficit into 3-2 win in invitational opener
By Ken Keenan
ELK GROVE VILLAGE -- After spotting the host Grenadiers an early 2-0 lead in the first game of the season-opening Elk Grove Invitational on Tuesday night, Downers Grove North regrouped to post a 3-2 win.
Trojans senior midfielder Mia Marconi notched the game-winner, snapping a 2-2 tie with a chip shot from in-close with 25:38 remaining in the second half. Junior forward Alexis Parker earned the assist.
Parker, Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match, also scored the tying goal with 1:29 left before halftime. Seizing an opportunity in open space, Parker took a feed from senior mid Quinn Stephens and fired low-left from 25 yards past Elk Grove senior goalkeeper Anibeth Bravo.
Eleven minutes earlier, Stephens pulled the Trojans within 2-1, converting a corner kick by senior midfielder Mia Scott with a header in tight that bounced off the crossbar and over the goal line.
"Early on, we were keeping the ball in their zone but not doing anything," said Downers Grove North head coach Brian Papa. "It's the first game, so there's nervousness, and the girls don't want to make a mistake. But we settled down and played well. We could have quit (down 2-0), but we kept our composure and kept going with it."
Marconi said, "We were working out the kinks -- it showed early. But we did a good job coming back."
Elk Grove opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a bit of help from the visitors. A 45-yard free kick by Grenadiers sophomore defender Alexa Joshi looked to be an easy snag for Trojans senior keeper Emma Duncan at the top of the box. But the ball skipped off the head of an unsuspecting Downers Grove North defender and into the back of the net for an own-goal.
The home team increased the margin to 2-0 with 26:50 to go in the first half on a solid, 15-yard strike by freshman forward Hannah Gryzik, assisted by senior midfielder Gabriella Mauro.
"I think we came out fast, and (the Trojans) maybe weren't ready," Gryzik said. "We started connecting early and getting shots off. As a freshman, I was super-nervous at first, but after I scored it gave me confidence."
Added Elk Grove sophomore mid Emily Head: "Once we started, we calmed down a bit and got more comfortable throughout the game. I felt like we had it at 2-0, but little mistakes on the goals cost us."
Grenadiers skipper Dean Burrier Sanchis noted that Downers Grove North took advantage of some open real estate in Elk Grove's back end, created by moving defenders up to jump-start counterattacks.
"At first, we were trusting our shape and getting some opportunities," he said. "Things we were doing opened up some space. Later in the game, we lost our shape and had less ground to work with. We came unraveled a bit on defense. We do like to push up, but there were some gaps."
And the Trojans -- especially Parker, Stephens, senior forward Kelly Tochek and senior mid Julia Bauer, among others -- attacked with vigor to capture the momentum.
Less than four minutes into the second half, Parker cut in from the left side and delivered a pass to Marconi, who then ripped a wide-angle shot off the side of the cage. A minute later, Downers Grove North senior mid Julia Kramper sent a 35-yard sizzler wide-left.
With 31:15 to go in the second half, Parker blasted a 30-yard, left-footed shot that Bravo saved. Soon after, Parker set up Tochek for a clear look from 10 yards on the right side that missed wide-right.
"We knew we had the strength up=front," Parker said. "When the (Elk Grove) defense moved up, we had the speed to get by."
Added Marconi: "Once we got the lead, we were, like, 'We can do this.' With the lead, we gained more confidence and tried to hit more through-balls."
Trailing 3-2, the Grenadiers had a few chances to net the equalizer. Shortly after Marconi's tally put the Trojans ahead, Joshi cracked a 25-yard shot wide-left. In the 72nd minute, Gryzik unleashed a 30-yard rocket from the right side that tipped off Duncan's hands before nipping the crossbar.
It's last try came on a 40-yard free kick by Joshi with 2:40 remaining that found Mauro, who nudged a short try just wide-right.
"We came out a little flat in the second half, but we're going to get more comfortable," Burrier Sanchis said. "It's the first week -- some new players, playing some good teams -- and we're trying to gain some experience."
Meanwhile, the Trojans left the pitch happy to begin the new season with a positive result.
"I'll take the 'W' -- we can build off the win," Papa said.
"It's a really good start," Marconi said. "It gives us a lot of confidence."
Added Parker: "We have a lot of things to work on, but we got the win. It gives us momentum for the rest of the season."
The Elk Grove Invitational continues on Thursday, with Downers Grove North facing York (4:30 p.m.) and Elk Grove taking on Maine South (6:30 p.m.), and concludes on Saturday.
Starting lineups
Downers Grove North
G: Emma Duncan
D: Julie Redpath
D: Julia Blaszkowska
M: Maggie Urbanski
M: Bryn Heuberger
M: Victoria Fiklea
M: Julia Kramper
M: Mia Scott
M: Julia Bauer
F: Kelly Tochek
F: Alexis Parker
Elk Grove
G: Anibeth Bravo
D: Grace Nuxoll
D: Alexa Joshi
D: Lily Duckmann
D: Marisa Mauro
D: Doris Jimenez
M: Emily Head
M: Aliah Mendez
M: Katie Talens
M: Gabriella Mauro
F: Hannah Gryzik
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Alexis Parker, jr., F, Downers Grove North
Officials: Mark Zacios, Zdzislaw Kujawa, Dimitrios Panagiotidis
Scoring summary
First half
Elk Grove: Alexa Joshi (unassisted) in 14th minute
Elk Grove: Hannah Gryzik (assisted by Gabriella Mauro) in 24th minute
Downers Grove North: Quinn Stephens (assisted by Mia Scott) in 28th minute
Downers Grove North: Alexis Parker (assisted by Stephens) in 39th minute
Second half
Mia Marconi (assisted by Parker) in 55th minute
Trojans turn 2-0 deficit into 3-2 win in invitational opener
By Ken Keenan
ELK GROVE VILLAGE -- After spotting the host Grenadiers an early 2-0 lead in the first game of the season-opening Elk Grove Invitational on Tuesday night, Downers Grove North regrouped to post a 3-2 win.
Trojans senior midfielder Mia Marconi notched the game-winner, snapping a 2-2 tie with a chip shot from in-close with 25:38 remaining in the second half. Junior forward Alexis Parker earned the assist.
Parker, Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match, also scored the tying goal with 1:29 left before halftime. Seizing an opportunity in open space, Parker took a feed from senior mid Quinn Stephens and fired low-left from 25 yards past Elk Grove senior goalkeeper Anibeth Bravo.
Eleven minutes earlier, Stephens pulled the Trojans within 2-1, converting a corner kick by senior midfielder Mia Scott with a header in tight that bounced off the crossbar and over the goal line.
"Early on, we were keeping the ball in their zone but not doing anything," said Downers Grove North head coach Brian Papa. "It's the first game, so there's nervousness, and the girls don't want to make a mistake. But we settled down and played well. We could have quit (down 2-0), but we kept our composure and kept going with it."
Marconi said, "We were working out the kinks -- it showed early. But we did a good job coming back."
Elk Grove opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a bit of help from the visitors. A 45-yard free kick by Grenadiers sophomore defender Alexa Joshi looked to be an easy snag for Trojans senior keeper Emma Duncan at the top of the box. But the ball skipped off the head of an unsuspecting Downers Grove North defender and into the back of the net for an own-goal.
The home team increased the margin to 2-0 with 26:50 to go in the first half on a solid, 15-yard strike by freshman forward Hannah Gryzik, assisted by senior midfielder Gabriella Mauro.
"I think we came out fast, and (the Trojans) maybe weren't ready," Gryzik said. "We started connecting early and getting shots off. As a freshman, I was super-nervous at first, but after I scored it gave me confidence."
Added Elk Grove sophomore mid Emily Head: "Once we started, we calmed down a bit and got more comfortable throughout the game. I felt like we had it at 2-0, but little mistakes on the goals cost us."
Grenadiers skipper Dean Burrier Sanchis noted that Downers Grove North took advantage of some open real estate in Elk Grove's back end, created by moving defenders up to jump-start counterattacks.
"At first, we were trusting our shape and getting some opportunities," he said. "Things we were doing opened up some space. Later in the game, we lost our shape and had less ground to work with. We came unraveled a bit on defense. We do like to push up, but there were some gaps."
And the Trojans -- especially Parker, Stephens, senior forward Kelly Tochek and senior mid Julia Bauer, among others -- attacked with vigor to capture the momentum.
Less than four minutes into the second half, Parker cut in from the left side and delivered a pass to Marconi, who then ripped a wide-angle shot off the side of the cage. A minute later, Downers Grove North senior mid Julia Kramper sent a 35-yard sizzler wide-left.
With 31:15 to go in the second half, Parker blasted a 30-yard, left-footed shot that Bravo saved. Soon after, Parker set up Tochek for a clear look from 10 yards on the right side that missed wide-right.
"We knew we had the strength up=front," Parker said. "When the (Elk Grove) defense moved up, we had the speed to get by."
Added Marconi: "Once we got the lead, we were, like, 'We can do this.' With the lead, we gained more confidence and tried to hit more through-balls."
Trailing 3-2, the Grenadiers had a few chances to net the equalizer. Shortly after Marconi's tally put the Trojans ahead, Joshi cracked a 25-yard shot wide-left. In the 72nd minute, Gryzik unleashed a 30-yard rocket from the right side that tipped off Duncan's hands before nipping the crossbar.
It's last try came on a 40-yard free kick by Joshi with 2:40 remaining that found Mauro, who nudged a short try just wide-right.
"We came out a little flat in the second half, but we're going to get more comfortable," Burrier Sanchis said. "It's the first week -- some new players, playing some good teams -- and we're trying to gain some experience."
Meanwhile, the Trojans left the pitch happy to begin the new season with a positive result.
"I'll take the 'W' -- we can build off the win," Papa said.
"It's a really good start," Marconi said. "It gives us a lot of confidence."
Added Parker: "We have a lot of things to work on, but we got the win. It gives us momentum for the rest of the season."
The Elk Grove Invitational continues on Thursday, with Downers Grove North facing York (4:30 p.m.) and Elk Grove taking on Maine South (6:30 p.m.), and concludes on Saturday.
Starting lineups
Downers Grove North
G: Emma Duncan
D: Julie Redpath
D: Julia Blaszkowska
M: Maggie Urbanski
M: Bryn Heuberger
M: Victoria Fiklea
M: Julia Kramper
M: Mia Scott
M: Julia Bauer
F: Kelly Tochek
F: Alexis Parker
Elk Grove
G: Anibeth Bravo
D: Grace Nuxoll
D: Alexa Joshi
D: Lily Duckmann
D: Marisa Mauro
D: Doris Jimenez
M: Emily Head
M: Aliah Mendez
M: Katie Talens
M: Gabriella Mauro
F: Hannah Gryzik
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Alexis Parker, jr., F, Downers Grove North
Officials: Mark Zacios, Zdzislaw Kujawa, Dimitrios Panagiotidis
Scoring summary
First half
Elk Grove: Alexa Joshi (unassisted) in 14th minute
Elk Grove: Hannah Gryzik (assisted by Gabriella Mauro) in 24th minute
Downers Grove North: Quinn Stephens (assisted by Mia Scott) in 28th minute
Downers Grove North: Alexis Parker (assisted by Stephens) in 39th minute
Second half
Mia Marconi (assisted by Parker) in 55th minute