Leigh leads Evanston past New Trier
Sophomore's 4th, 5th goals of week finalize Wildkits league title
By Patrick Z. McGavin
NORTHFIELD -- Jocelyn Leigh knows her place, and it’s become a very dangerous location for her opponents.
The Evanston sophomore is more familiar in her surroundings, and more secure in what is expected from her.
“I definitely feel more confident this year, and I feel like I am more part of the team,” Leigh said.
“I’m closer with everybody, and I just feel more connected.”
It tends to get lost sometimes in the viscosities of the games, with their different rhythms, actions and movements -- the ability to connect and stay intertwined with nine other field players is a crucial part.
Leigh is free and unencumbered, knowing the middle of the Evanston attack is there to back her up. In turn, that middle is backed up by an airtight defense, and solid keeper in the presence of Ariel Kite.
“I just know to trust everybody on the field, and they can get the ball to me, or we can just play off each other,” Leigh said.
The forward continued to astonish with shot-creation and accuracy with two first half goals as no. 6 Evanston knocked out rival and 20th-ranked New Trier 3-1 to end Central Suburban League South Division play Thursday night.
Leigh scored three goals in the Wildkits’ 5-0 victory over previously unbeaten no. 5 Glenbrook North on Tuesday.
Evanston (15-2-1) is now 10-1-0 in its last 11 games with a 42-6 goal differential. The team has won its last eight in-state games. The Wildkits only loss in the run was a 2-0 defeat against St. Teresa (Mo.) in a bracket title game at the Tournament of Champions in Burlington, Ia., on Saturday.
New Trier (9-6-4, 2-1-2) played well in spurts, especially over the final 17 minutes of the first half.
However, Evanston has the ability to make a team pay for every mistake.
“I thought we did some good things,” New Trier coach Jim Burnside said. “They’re a very good, athletic team, and they took advantage of our lapses.
“Good teams take advantage of opportunities. We had a couple of mental breakdowns.”
Evanston is a team with many dovetailing pieces.
Leigh scored her two goals two minutes apart in the middle of the first half.
In the 20th minute, forward Brealyn Viamille controlled a ball and slotted it beautifully to her running mate for the quick put-away.
Not satisfied, Leigh came right back. In the 22nd minute, defender Lucinda Lindland hit a beautiful cross that Leigh finished from about nine yards.
Boom-boom. A tight game was suddenly 2-0 in favor of the visitors.
The Wildkits' transition game is something to behold.
“We really know when we need to press or when we need to cover,” Leigh said.
“The spaces tend to really open up when we were able to get the ball up from those transitions. We have such a great connection. We just know when people are making the runs.”
With her creativity and shot-making, Leigh earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor.
Chicagoland Soccer All-State defender, Carly Menocal operates at center back next to Ellie Oif.
“I think we have a very skilled team, but we also have a very athletic team,” Menocal said. “We want to have that early advantage by getting it to the top of the attack.”
Sarah Sollinger and Lindland operate on the edges. The shutout of Glenbrook North Tuesday was the Wildkits’ 10th this season.
“Out of the four of us who play in the back, three of us have been together since our freshmen year,” Menocal said.
“We have great chemistry, and we are able to play off each other. We can always feel when one has to step or cover.”
New Trier is a team showing signs of growth and development. Sometimes it’s more subtle, almost glancing.
The Evanston game marked the 11th time this season New Trier has played a team ranked in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
“I would say playing that kind of schedule definitely takes its toll,” Burnside said.
“We are significantly better than we were at the beginning of the season in March.”
New Trier is a team with a high ceiling because of its youth and depth. The younger players just need time to assimilate to the speed of the game.
Sophomores Sybil Evans and Clara Deliduka personify the raw talent and promise of the next-generation players.
A midfielder, Evans capably got to the center, operating near the top of the box. She showed poise and good touch on the ball in her ability to generate dangerous plays from distance.
Likewise, Deliduka also showed promise as a shot-creator. The young forward got deep several times, especially late in the first half.
The Trevians’ build-up finally broke through in the 32nd minute. Junior Sofia Palmer, another talented two-way performer, broke down the middle and unleashed a ball that Kite blocked.
Forward Lauren Caldwell was beautifully positioned for the follow-up for the Trevians.
The goal was the first conceded by the Wildkits in conference play.
New Trier’s hopes for a comeback were dashed in the wild closing seconds of the first half.
Evanston pressed numbers forward. Driving toward the left wing, Viamille was fouled on the edge.
Moving quickly, midfielder Nalah Dominguez waited -- patiently to a point -- for the center official to spot the ball.
Then she blasted the ball from the left edge about 19 yards that curved inside the far post.
The stunning score came in the 40th minute, with just 2.7 seconds remaining.
“I thought the referee was going to stop time, but he didn’t,” Dominguez said.
“The wall ended up moving back, so nobody was in front of me. So, I just took the shot, and it went in.”
The athleticism of the Wildkits’ attacking players in Leigh, Viamille and Nadia VandenBerg create open channels for the elusive and quick Dominguez to create.
“We are looking for those angles in the middle,” Dominguez said.
“As you move, angles open up. It’s there for a split second, and then it is gone. I think we have gotten really good at figuring out the timing of the attack.”
New Trier fought valiantly, and played well in the second half. The score and the conditions played against them.
The wet and slick field made possession increasingly difficult. Purdue recruit Lida Dodge, playing at the top, created some valuable pressure.
Palmer ripped a shot from about 19 yards that forced a strong stop by Kite.
Annie Paden was dangerous on free kicks.
With the two-goal advantage, Evanston had the ability to drop numbers, and attack more through the counter.
New Trier generated some solid chances without ever truly becoming dangerous.
“The constant worker out there was Ava Shah, our senior in the back,” Burnside said.
“I think the kids did a pretty good job of executing our game plan. They have some dynamic kids, and I thought we played with heart.”
Starting lineups
Evanston
GK: Ariel Kite
D: Lucinda Lindland
D: Carley Menocal
D: Ellie Oif
D: Sarah Sollinger
MF: Adriana Merriam
MF: Nahla Dominguez
MF: Sydney Ross
F: Nadia Van den Berg
F: Brealyn Viamille
F: Jocelyn Leigh
New Trier
GK: Caroline Hague
D: Charlotte Dellin
D: Ava Shah
D: Sadie-Grace Richardson
D: Honor Dold
MF: Clara Deliduka
MF: Annie Paden
MF: Josie Noble
F: Sybil Evans
F: Lida Dodge
F: Kendall Sierens
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Jocelyn Leigh, so., F, Evanston
Scoring summary
First half
E: Jocelyn Leigh (Brealyn Viamille), 20th minute
E: Leigh (Lucinda Lindland), 22nd minute
NT: Lauren Caldwell (Sofia Palmer), 32nd minute
E: Nalah Dominguez (free kick), 40th minute
Second half
No scoring
Sophomore's 4th, 5th goals of week finalize Wildkits league title
By Patrick Z. McGavin
NORTHFIELD -- Jocelyn Leigh knows her place, and it’s become a very dangerous location for her opponents.
The Evanston sophomore is more familiar in her surroundings, and more secure in what is expected from her.
“I definitely feel more confident this year, and I feel like I am more part of the team,” Leigh said.
“I’m closer with everybody, and I just feel more connected.”
It tends to get lost sometimes in the viscosities of the games, with their different rhythms, actions and movements -- the ability to connect and stay intertwined with nine other field players is a crucial part.
Leigh is free and unencumbered, knowing the middle of the Evanston attack is there to back her up. In turn, that middle is backed up by an airtight defense, and solid keeper in the presence of Ariel Kite.
“I just know to trust everybody on the field, and they can get the ball to me, or we can just play off each other,” Leigh said.
The forward continued to astonish with shot-creation and accuracy with two first half goals as no. 6 Evanston knocked out rival and 20th-ranked New Trier 3-1 to end Central Suburban League South Division play Thursday night.
Leigh scored three goals in the Wildkits’ 5-0 victory over previously unbeaten no. 5 Glenbrook North on Tuesday.
Evanston (15-2-1) is now 10-1-0 in its last 11 games with a 42-6 goal differential. The team has won its last eight in-state games. The Wildkits only loss in the run was a 2-0 defeat against St. Teresa (Mo.) in a bracket title game at the Tournament of Champions in Burlington, Ia., on Saturday.
New Trier (9-6-4, 2-1-2) played well in spurts, especially over the final 17 minutes of the first half.
However, Evanston has the ability to make a team pay for every mistake.
“I thought we did some good things,” New Trier coach Jim Burnside said. “They’re a very good, athletic team, and they took advantage of our lapses.
“Good teams take advantage of opportunities. We had a couple of mental breakdowns.”
Evanston is a team with many dovetailing pieces.
Leigh scored her two goals two minutes apart in the middle of the first half.
In the 20th minute, forward Brealyn Viamille controlled a ball and slotted it beautifully to her running mate for the quick put-away.
Not satisfied, Leigh came right back. In the 22nd minute, defender Lucinda Lindland hit a beautiful cross that Leigh finished from about nine yards.
Boom-boom. A tight game was suddenly 2-0 in favor of the visitors.
The Wildkits' transition game is something to behold.
“We really know when we need to press or when we need to cover,” Leigh said.
“The spaces tend to really open up when we were able to get the ball up from those transitions. We have such a great connection. We just know when people are making the runs.”
With her creativity and shot-making, Leigh earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor.
Chicagoland Soccer All-State defender, Carly Menocal operates at center back next to Ellie Oif.
“I think we have a very skilled team, but we also have a very athletic team,” Menocal said. “We want to have that early advantage by getting it to the top of the attack.”
Sarah Sollinger and Lindland operate on the edges. The shutout of Glenbrook North Tuesday was the Wildkits’ 10th this season.
“Out of the four of us who play in the back, three of us have been together since our freshmen year,” Menocal said.
“We have great chemistry, and we are able to play off each other. We can always feel when one has to step or cover.”
New Trier is a team showing signs of growth and development. Sometimes it’s more subtle, almost glancing.
The Evanston game marked the 11th time this season New Trier has played a team ranked in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
“I would say playing that kind of schedule definitely takes its toll,” Burnside said.
“We are significantly better than we were at the beginning of the season in March.”
New Trier is a team with a high ceiling because of its youth and depth. The younger players just need time to assimilate to the speed of the game.
Sophomores Sybil Evans and Clara Deliduka personify the raw talent and promise of the next-generation players.
A midfielder, Evans capably got to the center, operating near the top of the box. She showed poise and good touch on the ball in her ability to generate dangerous plays from distance.
Likewise, Deliduka also showed promise as a shot-creator. The young forward got deep several times, especially late in the first half.
The Trevians’ build-up finally broke through in the 32nd minute. Junior Sofia Palmer, another talented two-way performer, broke down the middle and unleashed a ball that Kite blocked.
Forward Lauren Caldwell was beautifully positioned for the follow-up for the Trevians.
The goal was the first conceded by the Wildkits in conference play.
New Trier’s hopes for a comeback were dashed in the wild closing seconds of the first half.
Evanston pressed numbers forward. Driving toward the left wing, Viamille was fouled on the edge.
Moving quickly, midfielder Nalah Dominguez waited -- patiently to a point -- for the center official to spot the ball.
Then she blasted the ball from the left edge about 19 yards that curved inside the far post.
The stunning score came in the 40th minute, with just 2.7 seconds remaining.
“I thought the referee was going to stop time, but he didn’t,” Dominguez said.
“The wall ended up moving back, so nobody was in front of me. So, I just took the shot, and it went in.”
The athleticism of the Wildkits’ attacking players in Leigh, Viamille and Nadia VandenBerg create open channels for the elusive and quick Dominguez to create.
“We are looking for those angles in the middle,” Dominguez said.
“As you move, angles open up. It’s there for a split second, and then it is gone. I think we have gotten really good at figuring out the timing of the attack.”
New Trier fought valiantly, and played well in the second half. The score and the conditions played against them.
The wet and slick field made possession increasingly difficult. Purdue recruit Lida Dodge, playing at the top, created some valuable pressure.
Palmer ripped a shot from about 19 yards that forced a strong stop by Kite.
Annie Paden was dangerous on free kicks.
With the two-goal advantage, Evanston had the ability to drop numbers, and attack more through the counter.
New Trier generated some solid chances without ever truly becoming dangerous.
“The constant worker out there was Ava Shah, our senior in the back,” Burnside said.
“I think the kids did a pretty good job of executing our game plan. They have some dynamic kids, and I thought we played with heart.”
Starting lineups
Evanston
GK: Ariel Kite
D: Lucinda Lindland
D: Carley Menocal
D: Ellie Oif
D: Sarah Sollinger
MF: Adriana Merriam
MF: Nahla Dominguez
MF: Sydney Ross
F: Nadia Van den Berg
F: Brealyn Viamille
F: Jocelyn Leigh
New Trier
GK: Caroline Hague
D: Charlotte Dellin
D: Ava Shah
D: Sadie-Grace Richardson
D: Honor Dold
MF: Clara Deliduka
MF: Annie Paden
MF: Josie Noble
F: Sybil Evans
F: Lida Dodge
F: Kendall Sierens
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Jocelyn Leigh, so., F, Evanston
Scoring summary
First half
E: Jocelyn Leigh (Brealyn Viamille), 20th minute
E: Leigh (Lucinda Lindland), 22nd minute
NT: Lauren Caldwell (Sofia Palmer), 32nd minute
E: Nalah Dominguez (free kick), 40th minute
Second half
No scoring