Carmel ousts Grayslake Central
in another Galla win
Twins put stamp on program, Corsairs 6-0 win
By Rusty Silber
MUNDELEIN – When freshmen make the varsity, the immediate concern is what can the young players contribute to the success of the team. But the question in the back of everyone’s mind is how they will impact the program as seniors.
That inquiry is currently being answered at Carmel for the twin combination of Liz and Sarah Galla, who have positioned themselves as stars and leaders of the team.
The four-year varsity regulars played their usual vital roles on the field as Carmel cruised past visiting Grayslake Central 6-0 in a nonconference match Friday night.
Sarah gets more ink playing forward, while Liz works in the trenches as a major part of the Corsairs defense.
"Playing soccer with my sister has been an experience that I will always remember," Sarah said. "It's really fun, and it’s something that we both enjoy doing together. We are the best of friends all the time and never the worst of enemies."
"Playing soccer with Sarah is so much fun," Liz said. "It's kind of nice playing together in our senior year. It's a fun thing to do together. Usually, you hear twins are so opposite. Somehow, we still play soccer. We also complement each other in some ways."
Neither of the girls will be playing soccer in college. Sarah will attend Iowa, and Liz take classes at Illinois.
“We're kind of similar in a lot of ways," Liz said. "We just have different vibes to go to different schools,"
Liz, who played outside on defense since freshman year and has now moved into the center back position to lead the defense this year.
"I just like it as a defender to control the field," Liz said. "Just make sure that everyone is supposed to be doing what they're supposed to be doing. I'm a very vocal player. I just like helping people on the field."
Sarah has been the top player up-top and leads the Corsairs attack with four goals and three assists.
"I think, I pass the ball pretty well," Sarah said. "It's always awesome to see your teammates score. Me, personally, I feel like, I have to do my job to pass the ball. I'm not a selfish player."
On Friday, Carmel forward Sofia Coury got her first start of the season after showing a strong work ethic coming off the bench.
She put home the Corsairs second goal and worked at creating shots and getting her teammates involved in the final third. For her efforts, Coury earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor.
"When I get out there, I do try to give it my all," the senior said. "I did want to put in a lot of effort. I try to put in 100 percent out there. I was trying to work with the outside midfielders and tried to connect with them. I'm grateful for the opportunity to play and having a lot of fun. We didn't have a season last year."
Coury is also a tennis player. She finished second in sectionals last fall playing singles.
"I rely on her 100 percent," Carmel coach Stephanie Kile said. "I know, she's going to work her tail off every minute in every game, and it's even evident in practice. She's one player that you won't question her work ethic. She's always out there giving 100 percent, and she's scored goals over the last few games."
The win was the second-straight for Carmel (3-2-1). The group seems to be coming together.
The Corsairs took control of the game with five goals in the first half.
Kate Jones opened the scoring with a goal in the fifth minute off an assist from Maddie Preda. Then, Coury scored unassisted goal in the 17th minute.
Jillian Miller added another in the 23rd minute off an assist from Sarah Galla for a 3-0 advantage.
Mia Salvi scored in the 30th minute after Lyndsey Basara flipped her an assist. Freshman Anna Hartman added an unassisted goal 30 seconds later. Sarah Galla put in the last goal of the night.
Grayslake Central (1-6-0) has seen a tough schedule in the opening weeks with a grueling stretch of games.
"We do have a young team, and it's a slow process," Grayslake Central coach Keith Andersson said. "I know the seniors are getting frustrated. If they keep moving a percent every day, we can only get better and better.
"These girls hadn't played for 700 days. They haven't played together, at least playing indoor together. They got thrown together in seven days.
“We had our first game against Libertyville (ranked no. 4 in Chicagoland Soccer’s First 50 poll) and welcome to the season. It’s been a rough 5- 6 games. What I'm starting to see is that our younger kids are stepping up and actually starting to contribute more and more.
“Plus, where start to see who plays what. They're starting to click here and there. Every day is a new day to work hard."
Rams senior Lillian Bak is one of the leaders and has been trying to keep the team moving forward in this unusual year.
"We're really grateful to have a season," Bak said. "Happy that we've got a strong group of girls. We're all encouraging and work as a team. Even if we lose games, win or lose, we do have each other.
“We never get down on each other. I think that's really important. This season, our number one goal is to win conference (Northern Lake County). We're playing all these hard teams right now. I think a loss will discourage us, but in the long run it will all work out."
Starting lineups
Grayslake Central
GK-Piper Gallaher
D-Natalie Thorsen
D-Sara Armstrong
D-Adine Mendoza
D-Emma Coonan
MF-Ava Ramsey
MF-Kaitlyn Armstrong
MF-Katie Dinsmore
MF-Katelyn Morrissey
F-Courtney Fletcher
F-Lillian Bak
Carmel
GK-Lisete Astudillo
D-Maddie Preda
D-Grace Harvey
D-Liz Galla
D-Abby Gibbons
MF-Jillian Miller
MF-Lauren Jenkins
MF-Kate Jones
MF-Zkylah Barnes
F-Sofia Coury
F-Sarah Galla
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match - Sofia Coury, sr., F, Carmel
Scoring summary
First half
Carmel - Jones (Preda) 5'
Carmel - Coury (unassisted) 17'
Carmel - Miller (S. Galla) 23'
Carmel - Salvi (Basara) 30'
Carmel - Hartman (unassisted) 30'
Second half
Carmel - S. Galla (unassisted) 66'
in another Galla win
Twins put stamp on program, Corsairs 6-0 win
By Rusty Silber
MUNDELEIN – When freshmen make the varsity, the immediate concern is what can the young players contribute to the success of the team. But the question in the back of everyone’s mind is how they will impact the program as seniors.
That inquiry is currently being answered at Carmel for the twin combination of Liz and Sarah Galla, who have positioned themselves as stars and leaders of the team.
The four-year varsity regulars played their usual vital roles on the field as Carmel cruised past visiting Grayslake Central 6-0 in a nonconference match Friday night.
Sarah gets more ink playing forward, while Liz works in the trenches as a major part of the Corsairs defense.
"Playing soccer with my sister has been an experience that I will always remember," Sarah said. "It's really fun, and it’s something that we both enjoy doing together. We are the best of friends all the time and never the worst of enemies."
"Playing soccer with Sarah is so much fun," Liz said. "It's kind of nice playing together in our senior year. It's a fun thing to do together. Usually, you hear twins are so opposite. Somehow, we still play soccer. We also complement each other in some ways."
Neither of the girls will be playing soccer in college. Sarah will attend Iowa, and Liz take classes at Illinois.
“We're kind of similar in a lot of ways," Liz said. "We just have different vibes to go to different schools,"
Liz, who played outside on defense since freshman year and has now moved into the center back position to lead the defense this year.
"I just like it as a defender to control the field," Liz said. "Just make sure that everyone is supposed to be doing what they're supposed to be doing. I'm a very vocal player. I just like helping people on the field."
Sarah has been the top player up-top and leads the Corsairs attack with four goals and three assists.
"I think, I pass the ball pretty well," Sarah said. "It's always awesome to see your teammates score. Me, personally, I feel like, I have to do my job to pass the ball. I'm not a selfish player."
On Friday, Carmel forward Sofia Coury got her first start of the season after showing a strong work ethic coming off the bench.
She put home the Corsairs second goal and worked at creating shots and getting her teammates involved in the final third. For her efforts, Coury earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor.
"When I get out there, I do try to give it my all," the senior said. "I did want to put in a lot of effort. I try to put in 100 percent out there. I was trying to work with the outside midfielders and tried to connect with them. I'm grateful for the opportunity to play and having a lot of fun. We didn't have a season last year."
Coury is also a tennis player. She finished second in sectionals last fall playing singles.
"I rely on her 100 percent," Carmel coach Stephanie Kile said. "I know, she's going to work her tail off every minute in every game, and it's even evident in practice. She's one player that you won't question her work ethic. She's always out there giving 100 percent, and she's scored goals over the last few games."
The win was the second-straight for Carmel (3-2-1). The group seems to be coming together.
The Corsairs took control of the game with five goals in the first half.
Kate Jones opened the scoring with a goal in the fifth minute off an assist from Maddie Preda. Then, Coury scored unassisted goal in the 17th minute.
Jillian Miller added another in the 23rd minute off an assist from Sarah Galla for a 3-0 advantage.
Mia Salvi scored in the 30th minute after Lyndsey Basara flipped her an assist. Freshman Anna Hartman added an unassisted goal 30 seconds later. Sarah Galla put in the last goal of the night.
Grayslake Central (1-6-0) has seen a tough schedule in the opening weeks with a grueling stretch of games.
"We do have a young team, and it's a slow process," Grayslake Central coach Keith Andersson said. "I know the seniors are getting frustrated. If they keep moving a percent every day, we can only get better and better.
"These girls hadn't played for 700 days. They haven't played together, at least playing indoor together. They got thrown together in seven days.
“We had our first game against Libertyville (ranked no. 4 in Chicagoland Soccer’s First 50 poll) and welcome to the season. It’s been a rough 5- 6 games. What I'm starting to see is that our younger kids are stepping up and actually starting to contribute more and more.
“Plus, where start to see who plays what. They're starting to click here and there. Every day is a new day to work hard."
Rams senior Lillian Bak is one of the leaders and has been trying to keep the team moving forward in this unusual year.
"We're really grateful to have a season," Bak said. "Happy that we've got a strong group of girls. We're all encouraging and work as a team. Even if we lose games, win or lose, we do have each other.
“We never get down on each other. I think that's really important. This season, our number one goal is to win conference (Northern Lake County). We're playing all these hard teams right now. I think a loss will discourage us, but in the long run it will all work out."
Starting lineups
Grayslake Central
GK-Piper Gallaher
D-Natalie Thorsen
D-Sara Armstrong
D-Adine Mendoza
D-Emma Coonan
MF-Ava Ramsey
MF-Kaitlyn Armstrong
MF-Katie Dinsmore
MF-Katelyn Morrissey
F-Courtney Fletcher
F-Lillian Bak
Carmel
GK-Lisete Astudillo
D-Maddie Preda
D-Grace Harvey
D-Liz Galla
D-Abby Gibbons
MF-Jillian Miller
MF-Lauren Jenkins
MF-Kate Jones
MF-Zkylah Barnes
F-Sofia Coury
F-Sarah Galla
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match - Sofia Coury, sr., F, Carmel
Scoring summary
First half
Carmel - Jones (Preda) 5'
Carmel - Coury (unassisted) 17'
Carmel - Miller (S. Galla) 23'
Carmel - Salvi (Basara) 30'
Carmel - Hartman (unassisted) 30'
Second half
Carmel - S. Galla (unassisted) 66'