Evanston in control vs. depleted Deerfield
Undefeated Wildkits roll into Malnati's Classic after 3-0 win
By Mike Garofola
DEERFIELD -- Hadley Bushala scored twice after the break after Callista O'Connor opened the scoring as Evanston brushed aside host Deerfield 3-0 Thursday at Adams Field.
The Wildkits (7-0-0, 2-0-0) swarmed around the undermanned Warriors area from early on, playing with speed, precision passing and the ability to switch fields to stay perfect on the new season in advance of the start of the Lou Malnati's Deep Dish Classic this weekend.
"It was a very good effort all the way around," said a pleased Stacy Salgado, Evanston's manager.
"There was a calm, composed effort out there tonight, didn't play rushed or frantic. We played fast but with a real strong work rate.
"After going through several injuries last season, one of our goals is to stay healthy and to just go out there and play the best soccer we can and then see where it takes us."
Good health is one thing Rich Grady would like nothing more to have at Deerfield.
The Warriors manager was without six players on this dreary, cold spring night including one of the best around, Malori Killoren, who is sidelined with mononucleosis.
With the 2018 Chicagoland Soccer all-state junior midfielder out of action, the Warriors attack struggled to find their rhythm and pace on this night. That heaped more pressure on those entrusted to pick up the pieces while also putting a strain on the backline.
"Just about everything goes through Malori," said Grady, who in addition to the half dozen unable to play also had senior Shayna Wood playing with on cast on a broken wrist.
"We need a goal or someone to create for another, we call on her.
"Others will need to step up right now."
The tactical approach for the home side with so many key players out was to sit in as best as possible, look to counter, and just absorb the pressure Evanston, ranked fifth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, would bring.
It was a plan most would employ. However, the all-action work from Keara Kerr, O'Connor, Katarina Sehgal, Brealyn Viamille, Bushala and Ryann Lucas allowed the visitors to gain a foothold on this game as the quarter hour approached.
"I really liked the way we moved the ball and connected with each," said Bushala, who will attend NYU next fall. "It was fast and quick, and it allowed us to get space and time, which helped us keep the ball for so long tonight."
Seeing more of the ball than the home side, the Wildkits attack brought a number of chances and half-chances during an impressive opening first period. Deerfield defender Katie Morgan and her backline mates were involved in the action far more than they would have liked to be.
"There was never at any point that I felt my team gave in, even when they put us under such heavy pressure at times," said the freshman Morgan, whom Grady deployed as his center back, alongside Emma Pelz, Ally Linn and Sophie Goodman in his first 11. "We played hard and competed with what we had tonight, and that's the no. 1 thing that impressed me about our team in this game."
Evanston's Sarah Sollinger and Bushala created the first of several corners for the visitors. It ended with Bushala whipping a crisp serve through the box and wide of the back post.
Grady also stationed Wood just in front of his backline, and for awhile, her ability to win balls and tackles helped slow an ever-building Evanston attack.
The Bushala-Lucas combination became a familiar call on this night, and the dynamic duo did well to bring others into the game to help round out the attack.
"Last year as a freshman, I felt a little out of place, because I was a freshmen on the varsity team," began Lucas.
"But I always felt like I belonged because of my teammates. And this year, I know I can make a bigger contribution to the team."
Kerr unloaded a wicked strike off keeper Isa Davila, and if not for an alert Ally Linn, who cleared the ball out of the area, the visitors may have had a chance to finish in the 17th minute.
Kerr's tackle and interception near the edge saw Bushala beat one defender then force Davila to save an 18-yard attempt.
Heroic and fearless Deerfield midfielder Mallory Sawyer took one off the line at 22 minutes during a sequence in which the visitors were buzzing around the six-yard box peppering the young keeper with three-consecutive, short-range shots.
"Isa had a good night," said Grady. "She stopped a handful of well-paced shots that just took off at her on the wet turf. I am sure if you asked her, (she) would like to take back the first and second goals Evanston scored on us."
A short clearing effort from the sophomore keeper allowed an unmarked Lucas to collect the ball, then play a nice one-two with Sehgal to free up O'Connor who made it 1-0 in the 34th minute after a lovely finish.
"We talked at the half about continuing to play and switch quickly, and if we did the chances would continue to come for us," said Bushala.
And they would.
Six minutes after the intermission, a superb early ball down the right side from Brealyn Viamille pried open that side of the park.
Bushala, with a burst of speed, outraced a pair of Warriors to the ball.
Davila's hesitation to come fully off her line to challenge allowed the ever alert Bushala to fire her bending effort around the charging Warriors keeper and into the back of the empty net left behind to double the Wildkits advantage.
"I saw her (Davila) come out late for that great ball from Brealyn," said Bushala, who earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor. "But I guess I was kind of lucky to score that one for us."
Both clubs began to slowly bring players off for the night with their reserves gaining some much needed time and experience.
One such player was Evanston senior Annika DeStefano, who suffered a season ending ACL injury last year about this time last year.
"Annika made a brief appearance for the first time in our last game with Niles West, and today, we wanted to give her more minutes, which we did in more of a central midfielder role, instead of along the back, where she started for us last year," said Salgado of DeStefano's 22 minutes of work.
DeStefano provided the helper on Bushala's second of the night at 73 minutes to complete the Evanston scoreline.
"This was a good tune up for us before we meet five-straight tough opponents at the Malnati's Classic," offered Salgado. "So it was good to see us play sharp and intelligent soccer and to get out of this game injury-free."
Evanston will attempt to advance to the Malnati's semifinals out of a pool that includes Hinsdale Central, previously ranked Carmel and no. 9 Naperville North.
For Grady and his club got back on the winning track with a 2-1 win at Lakes on Friday before its PepsiCo Showdown opener with Glenbard East at 9 a.m. Saturday morning at Olympic Park in Schaumburg.
"It's going to be a grind for us (for) sure, but I know a game against a quality opponent like Evanston, followed by four games at the Pepsi will go a long way towards getting us ready for the final few weeks of our season," said Grady.
"Beside Killoren, we're without seniors Greer Deutsch, Hannah Shapiro, and Naomi Fischoff, plus tonight, Holly (Deutsch) gave it a go, but she wasn't feeling well at all.
"We were better in the second half, but there's still a lot we can improve on, and, again not to use it as an excuse, but we'll be in a good spot once we get everyone back.
No. 17 Deerfield (6-3-0) can point to its three losses, all to ranked teams, as something to build on. That is a fact not lost on rookie Morgan.
"It would be easy to focus on a loss tonight, but I saw a lot of things we did well," she said. "But you also have to consider how good of a team Evanston was. We're going to be much better soon."
Starting lineups
Evanston (4-4-2)
G- Caitlin Fitzpatrick
D- Eloise Gilbert-Bartell
D- Nadia VanDenBerg
D- Carley Menocal
D- Sarah Sollinger
M- Keara Kerr
M- Katarina Sehgal
M- Ryann Lucas
M- Callista O'Connor
F- Hadley Bushala
F- Brealyn Viamille
Deerfield (4-3-3)
G- Isa Davila
D- Sophie Goodman
D- Emma Pelz
D- Katie Morgan
D- Ally Linn
M- Shayna Wood
M- Riley Schimanski
M- Mallory Sawyer
F- Marissa Hyland
F- Julia Neal
F- Holly Deutsch
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Hadley Bushala, sr., F, Evanston
Referee: Michael Zielinski
Scoring summary
First half
Evanston: O'Connor (Lucas, Sehgal) 34'
Second half
Evanston: Bushala (Viamille) 46'
Evanston: Bushala (DeStefano) 73'
Undefeated Wildkits roll into Malnati's Classic after 3-0 win
By Mike Garofola
DEERFIELD -- Hadley Bushala scored twice after the break after Callista O'Connor opened the scoring as Evanston brushed aside host Deerfield 3-0 Thursday at Adams Field.
The Wildkits (7-0-0, 2-0-0) swarmed around the undermanned Warriors area from early on, playing with speed, precision passing and the ability to switch fields to stay perfect on the new season in advance of the start of the Lou Malnati's Deep Dish Classic this weekend.
"It was a very good effort all the way around," said a pleased Stacy Salgado, Evanston's manager.
"There was a calm, composed effort out there tonight, didn't play rushed or frantic. We played fast but with a real strong work rate.
"After going through several injuries last season, one of our goals is to stay healthy and to just go out there and play the best soccer we can and then see where it takes us."
Good health is one thing Rich Grady would like nothing more to have at Deerfield.
The Warriors manager was without six players on this dreary, cold spring night including one of the best around, Malori Killoren, who is sidelined with mononucleosis.
With the 2018 Chicagoland Soccer all-state junior midfielder out of action, the Warriors attack struggled to find their rhythm and pace on this night. That heaped more pressure on those entrusted to pick up the pieces while also putting a strain on the backline.
"Just about everything goes through Malori," said Grady, who in addition to the half dozen unable to play also had senior Shayna Wood playing with on cast on a broken wrist.
"We need a goal or someone to create for another, we call on her.
"Others will need to step up right now."
The tactical approach for the home side with so many key players out was to sit in as best as possible, look to counter, and just absorb the pressure Evanston, ranked fifth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, would bring.
It was a plan most would employ. However, the all-action work from Keara Kerr, O'Connor, Katarina Sehgal, Brealyn Viamille, Bushala and Ryann Lucas allowed the visitors to gain a foothold on this game as the quarter hour approached.
"I really liked the way we moved the ball and connected with each," said Bushala, who will attend NYU next fall. "It was fast and quick, and it allowed us to get space and time, which helped us keep the ball for so long tonight."
Seeing more of the ball than the home side, the Wildkits attack brought a number of chances and half-chances during an impressive opening first period. Deerfield defender Katie Morgan and her backline mates were involved in the action far more than they would have liked to be.
"There was never at any point that I felt my team gave in, even when they put us under such heavy pressure at times," said the freshman Morgan, whom Grady deployed as his center back, alongside Emma Pelz, Ally Linn and Sophie Goodman in his first 11. "We played hard and competed with what we had tonight, and that's the no. 1 thing that impressed me about our team in this game."
Evanston's Sarah Sollinger and Bushala created the first of several corners for the visitors. It ended with Bushala whipping a crisp serve through the box and wide of the back post.
Grady also stationed Wood just in front of his backline, and for awhile, her ability to win balls and tackles helped slow an ever-building Evanston attack.
The Bushala-Lucas combination became a familiar call on this night, and the dynamic duo did well to bring others into the game to help round out the attack.
"Last year as a freshman, I felt a little out of place, because I was a freshmen on the varsity team," began Lucas.
"But I always felt like I belonged because of my teammates. And this year, I know I can make a bigger contribution to the team."
Kerr unloaded a wicked strike off keeper Isa Davila, and if not for an alert Ally Linn, who cleared the ball out of the area, the visitors may have had a chance to finish in the 17th minute.
Kerr's tackle and interception near the edge saw Bushala beat one defender then force Davila to save an 18-yard attempt.
Heroic and fearless Deerfield midfielder Mallory Sawyer took one off the line at 22 minutes during a sequence in which the visitors were buzzing around the six-yard box peppering the young keeper with three-consecutive, short-range shots.
"Isa had a good night," said Grady. "She stopped a handful of well-paced shots that just took off at her on the wet turf. I am sure if you asked her, (she) would like to take back the first and second goals Evanston scored on us."
A short clearing effort from the sophomore keeper allowed an unmarked Lucas to collect the ball, then play a nice one-two with Sehgal to free up O'Connor who made it 1-0 in the 34th minute after a lovely finish.
"We talked at the half about continuing to play and switch quickly, and if we did the chances would continue to come for us," said Bushala.
And they would.
Six minutes after the intermission, a superb early ball down the right side from Brealyn Viamille pried open that side of the park.
Bushala, with a burst of speed, outraced a pair of Warriors to the ball.
Davila's hesitation to come fully off her line to challenge allowed the ever alert Bushala to fire her bending effort around the charging Warriors keeper and into the back of the empty net left behind to double the Wildkits advantage.
"I saw her (Davila) come out late for that great ball from Brealyn," said Bushala, who earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor. "But I guess I was kind of lucky to score that one for us."
Both clubs began to slowly bring players off for the night with their reserves gaining some much needed time and experience.
One such player was Evanston senior Annika DeStefano, who suffered a season ending ACL injury last year about this time last year.
"Annika made a brief appearance for the first time in our last game with Niles West, and today, we wanted to give her more minutes, which we did in more of a central midfielder role, instead of along the back, where she started for us last year," said Salgado of DeStefano's 22 minutes of work.
DeStefano provided the helper on Bushala's second of the night at 73 minutes to complete the Evanston scoreline.
"This was a good tune up for us before we meet five-straight tough opponents at the Malnati's Classic," offered Salgado. "So it was good to see us play sharp and intelligent soccer and to get out of this game injury-free."
Evanston will attempt to advance to the Malnati's semifinals out of a pool that includes Hinsdale Central, previously ranked Carmel and no. 9 Naperville North.
For Grady and his club got back on the winning track with a 2-1 win at Lakes on Friday before its PepsiCo Showdown opener with Glenbard East at 9 a.m. Saturday morning at Olympic Park in Schaumburg.
"It's going to be a grind for us (for) sure, but I know a game against a quality opponent like Evanston, followed by four games at the Pepsi will go a long way towards getting us ready for the final few weeks of our season," said Grady.
"Beside Killoren, we're without seniors Greer Deutsch, Hannah Shapiro, and Naomi Fischoff, plus tonight, Holly (Deutsch) gave it a go, but she wasn't feeling well at all.
"We were better in the second half, but there's still a lot we can improve on, and, again not to use it as an excuse, but we'll be in a good spot once we get everyone back.
No. 17 Deerfield (6-3-0) can point to its three losses, all to ranked teams, as something to build on. That is a fact not lost on rookie Morgan.
"It would be easy to focus on a loss tonight, but I saw a lot of things we did well," she said. "But you also have to consider how good of a team Evanston was. We're going to be much better soon."
Starting lineups
Evanston (4-4-2)
G- Caitlin Fitzpatrick
D- Eloise Gilbert-Bartell
D- Nadia VanDenBerg
D- Carley Menocal
D- Sarah Sollinger
M- Keara Kerr
M- Katarina Sehgal
M- Ryann Lucas
M- Callista O'Connor
F- Hadley Bushala
F- Brealyn Viamille
Deerfield (4-3-3)
G- Isa Davila
D- Sophie Goodman
D- Emma Pelz
D- Katie Morgan
D- Ally Linn
M- Shayna Wood
M- Riley Schimanski
M- Mallory Sawyer
F- Marissa Hyland
F- Julia Neal
F- Holly Deutsch
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Hadley Bushala, sr., F, Evanston
Referee: Michael Zielinski
Scoring summary
First half
Evanston: O'Connor (Lucas, Sehgal) 34'
Second half
Evanston: Bushala (Viamille) 46'
Evanston: Bushala (DeStefano) 73'