Geneva possesses winning formula
against Lake Park
Farrell paces Vikings with pair of goals and helper in 4-1 DKC win
By Ken Keenan
ROSELLE -- Controlling play with a combination of dogged determination and a near-perfect possession game, visiting Geneva defeated a shorthanded Lake Park crew 4-1 in DuKane Conference action Thursday night.
"It was a good team effort," said Vikings head coach Megan Owens, whose team improved to 8-4-2 overall and 3-2-0 in league play with the victory. "Definitely a total team win."
Exceptional senior forward Caitlin Farrell led the Vikings charge, netting two goals and adding an assist en route to earning Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors.
Farrell set the tone in the 5th minute. Cutting in from the right side after seizing a pass from hard-working senior midfielder Katie Niermann, Farrell deked around a defender and fired into the left corner past Lancers junior goalkeeper Lilija Briedis for a 1-0 lead.
Briedis, filling in for injured senior keeper Sarah Yochem, was tested soon after and made a nice one-handed save to spoil a short try from the left side by Geneva sophomore mid Kelly Anderson.
The Vikings kept coming, possessing the ball side-to-side in the midfield before sparking the attack with quick passes in the gaps.
In the 16th minute, Farrell tipped a ball just wide of the far post from the left side. Less than a minute later, speedy Geneva senior forward Stephanie Howe set up senior forward Jenna Dominguez for a head attempt that missed wide-left.
With 10 minutes left in the first half, Vikings freshman forward Alana Rawls hit the left post with a shot during a wild scramble in front following a corner kick. A multi-touch possession in the 35th minute ended with a shot by Geneva junior mid Lindsay Ferris that zipped wide-right.
"They were always pressing," said Lake Park junior defender Sarah Novak. "We had to be strong in the back. Any little mistake could lead to a goal."
With 1:46 remaining in the first half, the Lancers capitalized on one of their few opportunities and knotted the score at 1-1. After a 35-yard free kick by Lake Park senior defender Francesca Ottolino skipped out of bounds off the hands of Vikings junior keeper Paige MacRitchie, Lancers sophomore defender Emma Thorne sent the subsequent corner kick into the box.
A traffic jam ensued, and Lake Park sophomore defender Melyssa Hernandez nipped the ball across the goal line after it pinballed off at least two Geneva defenders.
"For that to happen was a huge boost for us," said Lancers skipper Sean Crosby, whose depleted roster was missing junior mid Erin Mack, sophomore mids AnneMarie Ahrens and Alexis Morgan, and freshman defender Isabella Witt due to a school band commitment. "With so many players out, it's tough to compete with good attacking teams. You have to celebrate that goal. We were psyched to be tied."
Added Thorne: "Any goal in the DKC (DuKane Conference) is a big thing. Everyone was excited when we scored, but you have to keep fighting."
The elation didn't last long. Geneva regained the lead on Farrell's second tally with only 31 seconds to go before the break. After bursting ahead on a dish from Dominguez, Farrell scored from 25 yards into the left side of the cage to make it 2-1.
"We possessed well, but it was hard to break down (Lake Park's) defense early on," Owens said. "We made some adjustments at halftime, and we kinda dominated the second half."
Indeed, Geneva rarely allowed Lake Park (4-14-1, 1-6-0) to emerge from its own end during the final 40 minutes. The Vikings opportunities included a header by senior midfielder Sydney Gratz that missed wide-left just 20 seconds into the second session; a 15-yard rocket by Howe that grazed the crossbar and sailed high in the 42nd minute; and a nifty re-direct by Gratz on a cross by senior defender Amanda Rose that scooted wide-left with 33:40 showing.
"Geneva can move the ball really well," Crosby said. "They didn't hold onto it and created open space. If you watch and leave gaps, you'll get burned."
Geneva upped the advantage to 3-1 when Dominguez squeaked a hard, low shot through Briedis in the 49th minute. Farrell earned the assist.
"I think we struggled the whole first half," Farrell said. "In the second half, we manged to settle down and pass and find feet."
Added Dominguez: "We've been working on that in practice ... attacking and getting the shots."
The Vikings concluded the scoring on a well-placed corner kick by Gratz that was headed in by senior defender Rachel Lawrence with 5:59 remaining.
"Everyone contributed in the second half," Farrell said. "It was a whole team effort."
Geneva and Lake Park will cross paths again at 6:30 p.m. May 14 in the first round of the IHSA Class 3A Batavia Regional.
"They're a great opponent, all the way from the backline to the forwards," Thorne said. "We have to keep working and come back stronger. We have to commit to defense and capitalize when we get chances."
Added Crosby: "We have to get closer to full strength, and then hopefully we can be stronger the next time we face up."
Despite the impressive victory over Lake Park on Thursday, Farrell said the Vikings won't take the Lancers for granted in the postseason.
"You can't go into regionals thinking like that," Farrell said. "We have to go out and play as hard as we always do."
Starting lineups
Geneva
G: Paige MacRitchie
D: Amanda Rose
D: Rachel Lawrence
D: Kate Cannon
M: Sydney Gratz
M: Kelly Anderson
M: Anna Spindle
M: Katie Niermann
F: Stephanie Howe
F: Jenna Dominguez
F: Caitlin Farrell
Lake Park
G: Lilija Briedis
D: Sarah Novak
D: Francesca Ottolino
D: Olivia Wroblewski
D: Emma Thorne
M: Cyndi Martinez
M: Patty Lachowiez
M: Sophie Giron
M: Cecilia Defino
F: Lilli Giron
F: Selena Catalano
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Caitlin Farrell, sr., F, Geneva
Officials: Mike Davros, Dave Koder, Zach Richter
Scoring summary
First half
Geneva: Caitlin Farrell (assisted by Katie Niermann) in 5th minute
Lake Park: Melyssa Hernandez (unassisted) in 39th minute
Geneva: Farrell (assisted by Jenna Dominguez) in 40th minute
Second half
Geneva: Dominguez (assisted by Farrell) in 49th minute
Geneva: Rachel Lawrence (assisted by Sydney Gratz) in 75th minute
against Lake Park
Farrell paces Vikings with pair of goals and helper in 4-1 DKC win
By Ken Keenan
ROSELLE -- Controlling play with a combination of dogged determination and a near-perfect possession game, visiting Geneva defeated a shorthanded Lake Park crew 4-1 in DuKane Conference action Thursday night.
"It was a good team effort," said Vikings head coach Megan Owens, whose team improved to 8-4-2 overall and 3-2-0 in league play with the victory. "Definitely a total team win."
Exceptional senior forward Caitlin Farrell led the Vikings charge, netting two goals and adding an assist en route to earning Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors.
Farrell set the tone in the 5th minute. Cutting in from the right side after seizing a pass from hard-working senior midfielder Katie Niermann, Farrell deked around a defender and fired into the left corner past Lancers junior goalkeeper Lilija Briedis for a 1-0 lead.
Briedis, filling in for injured senior keeper Sarah Yochem, was tested soon after and made a nice one-handed save to spoil a short try from the left side by Geneva sophomore mid Kelly Anderson.
The Vikings kept coming, possessing the ball side-to-side in the midfield before sparking the attack with quick passes in the gaps.
In the 16th minute, Farrell tipped a ball just wide of the far post from the left side. Less than a minute later, speedy Geneva senior forward Stephanie Howe set up senior forward Jenna Dominguez for a head attempt that missed wide-left.
With 10 minutes left in the first half, Vikings freshman forward Alana Rawls hit the left post with a shot during a wild scramble in front following a corner kick. A multi-touch possession in the 35th minute ended with a shot by Geneva junior mid Lindsay Ferris that zipped wide-right.
"They were always pressing," said Lake Park junior defender Sarah Novak. "We had to be strong in the back. Any little mistake could lead to a goal."
With 1:46 remaining in the first half, the Lancers capitalized on one of their few opportunities and knotted the score at 1-1. After a 35-yard free kick by Lake Park senior defender Francesca Ottolino skipped out of bounds off the hands of Vikings junior keeper Paige MacRitchie, Lancers sophomore defender Emma Thorne sent the subsequent corner kick into the box.
A traffic jam ensued, and Lake Park sophomore defender Melyssa Hernandez nipped the ball across the goal line after it pinballed off at least two Geneva defenders.
"For that to happen was a huge boost for us," said Lancers skipper Sean Crosby, whose depleted roster was missing junior mid Erin Mack, sophomore mids AnneMarie Ahrens and Alexis Morgan, and freshman defender Isabella Witt due to a school band commitment. "With so many players out, it's tough to compete with good attacking teams. You have to celebrate that goal. We were psyched to be tied."
Added Thorne: "Any goal in the DKC (DuKane Conference) is a big thing. Everyone was excited when we scored, but you have to keep fighting."
The elation didn't last long. Geneva regained the lead on Farrell's second tally with only 31 seconds to go before the break. After bursting ahead on a dish from Dominguez, Farrell scored from 25 yards into the left side of the cage to make it 2-1.
"We possessed well, but it was hard to break down (Lake Park's) defense early on," Owens said. "We made some adjustments at halftime, and we kinda dominated the second half."
Indeed, Geneva rarely allowed Lake Park (4-14-1, 1-6-0) to emerge from its own end during the final 40 minutes. The Vikings opportunities included a header by senior midfielder Sydney Gratz that missed wide-left just 20 seconds into the second session; a 15-yard rocket by Howe that grazed the crossbar and sailed high in the 42nd minute; and a nifty re-direct by Gratz on a cross by senior defender Amanda Rose that scooted wide-left with 33:40 showing.
"Geneva can move the ball really well," Crosby said. "They didn't hold onto it and created open space. If you watch and leave gaps, you'll get burned."
Geneva upped the advantage to 3-1 when Dominguez squeaked a hard, low shot through Briedis in the 49th minute. Farrell earned the assist.
"I think we struggled the whole first half," Farrell said. "In the second half, we manged to settle down and pass and find feet."
Added Dominguez: "We've been working on that in practice ... attacking and getting the shots."
The Vikings concluded the scoring on a well-placed corner kick by Gratz that was headed in by senior defender Rachel Lawrence with 5:59 remaining.
"Everyone contributed in the second half," Farrell said. "It was a whole team effort."
Geneva and Lake Park will cross paths again at 6:30 p.m. May 14 in the first round of the IHSA Class 3A Batavia Regional.
"They're a great opponent, all the way from the backline to the forwards," Thorne said. "We have to keep working and come back stronger. We have to commit to defense and capitalize when we get chances."
Added Crosby: "We have to get closer to full strength, and then hopefully we can be stronger the next time we face up."
Despite the impressive victory over Lake Park on Thursday, Farrell said the Vikings won't take the Lancers for granted in the postseason.
"You can't go into regionals thinking like that," Farrell said. "We have to go out and play as hard as we always do."
Starting lineups
Geneva
G: Paige MacRitchie
D: Amanda Rose
D: Rachel Lawrence
D: Kate Cannon
M: Sydney Gratz
M: Kelly Anderson
M: Anna Spindle
M: Katie Niermann
F: Stephanie Howe
F: Jenna Dominguez
F: Caitlin Farrell
Lake Park
G: Lilija Briedis
D: Sarah Novak
D: Francesca Ottolino
D: Olivia Wroblewski
D: Emma Thorne
M: Cyndi Martinez
M: Patty Lachowiez
M: Sophie Giron
M: Cecilia Defino
F: Lilli Giron
F: Selena Catalano
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Caitlin Farrell, sr., F, Geneva
Officials: Mike Davros, Dave Koder, Zach Richter
Scoring summary
First half
Geneva: Caitlin Farrell (assisted by Katie Niermann) in 5th minute
Lake Park: Melyssa Hernandez (unassisted) in 39th minute
Geneva: Farrell (assisted by Jenna Dominguez) in 40th minute
Second half
Geneva: Dominguez (assisted by Farrell) in 49th minute
Geneva: Rachel Lawrence (assisted by Sydney Gratz) in 75th minute