Naperville Central needs
rare rally to beat Geneva in PKs
No. 2 Redhawks overcome 1st goal allowed, deficit of season
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE -- Ella Burke strode to the penalty spot with the game literally on her foot.
Good thing the Naperville Central junior had plenty of experience taking penalty kicks.
Right?
“That was actually the first penalty kick I’ve ever taken,” Burke said. “I was saying to myself that “OK, you’ve got to make it, you make it and you win.’
“I had to picture myself scoring it. That was my thought process.”
The process worked as Burke ripped her shot into the lower left corner of the net. After trailing 1-0 and tying the game in regulation, Naperville Central edged Geneva 5-4 on penalty kicks Thursday in a thrilling opening Group A game of the Naperville Invitational at Memorial Stadium.
The Redhawks (10-0-0) won despite giving up a goal and falling behind for the first time this season. Senior goalkeeper Abby O’Connor made five saves in regulation and also stopped the Vikings’ first attempt in the shootout.
The Naperville Central shooters -- Grace Granato, Megan Norkett, Molly O’Rear, Maddie Booger and Burke -- converted. They did so even though Geneva goalkeeper Jordan Forbes guessed correctly on three shots.
“Our kids who took the kicks did exactly what they needed to do,” Naperville Central coach Ed Watson said. “The pace that we hit them was enough, and Abby did a nice job of keeping the first one out. Then we held serve.”
Burke, an outstanding center back, usually spends much of her time helping to keep the ball out of her own net, so scoring the clincher was a new experience for her.
“It was amazing because all my teammates before me had made it, so I’ve got to make it,” Burke said. “They were so excited for me, and I think it was a really great win for our team.”
Indeed, though it seemed like an unlikely one for long stretches because 22nd-ranked Geneva (9-4-0) outplayed the Redhawks, especially in the first half. Even Watson said the Vikings deserved a better fate.
“We were made to play poorly by a very good team, and that’s it in a nutshell,” Watson said. “I will say that after a little correction at halftime, the effort was much better.
“Effort is so much of the game. If you’re going to be a good team, you have to recognize that everybody else is going to bring their best against you. Geneva deserved better than the result, but I’m not saying we’re willing to give it away.”
But the Redhawks almost had it taken away. Sophomore forward Olivia Rawls gave Geneva a 1-0 lead when she redirected a long free kick from Kya Trejo past O’Connor at the 19:03 mark of the first half.
“Kya had a great ball,” Rawls said. “There was no one on me at the beginning, so I yelled out ‘Kya!’
“She hit a perfect ball right to my foot, and I volleyed it in.”
Suddenly, Naperville Central was in a place it hadn’t been yet this season. With Forbes having a hot hand in between the pipes, an upset appeared to be in the making.
Forbes made six of her nine saves in the first half, including a couple diving stops on the Valparaiso-bound O’Rear.
But the game turned when junior midfielder Rilee Hasegawa, arguably Geneva’s best player, suffered a serious ankle injury with 3:17 remaining in the first half and had to be carried off the field.
The Vikings weren’t as dominant in the midfield after that and the Redhawks, especially O’Rear and Norkett, found more room to roam.
“She’s a very nice player,” Watson said of Hasegawa. “Her being out of the game is one thing.
“Her being out for an extended period of time is very disappointing. Nobody wants to see kids get hurt.”
Geneva coach Megan Owens said Hasegawa’s absence hurt the Vikings.
“I think just seeing their teammate hurt took a little bit out of our sails, but we had our opportunities,” Owens said. “I thought my team played great. I’m proud of them.”
Naperville Central rallied in the second half and finally broke through with 28:29 to go when senior forward Maddie Boogerd scored on a rebound after Forbes made a terrific diving save on a close blast from O’Rear.
The shot was too hot for Forbes to catch, and Boogerd alertly tapped in the equalizer. It was the second goal of the season for Boogerd, a Trinity Christian recruit.
“Molly had such a great finish and coach Watson always has to remind me to follow through,” Boogerd said. “But I think I was just there at the right time.”
Watson agreed.
“That is as timely a goal as you’re going to find,” Watson said. “Molly hit the heck out of it, and we talk about how you’ve got to follow. Maddie was there to finish.”
The game was far from finished. Geneva striker Morgan Rudowicz sent a 29-yard free kick barely over the crossbar with 9:23 to go, and Naperville Central midfielder Sarah McCracken missed high on a 25-yard shot with 35 seconds left.
“Our team knew going into this game that we were facing some really good competition. There were a couple players that we have to watch out for, but we came ready to play,” Boogerd said. “I think our team did a great job getting back into our game, putting our game faces back on.
“We did what we needed to do to pull through with a win.”
For O’Connor, that meant trying to stop at least one of Geneva’s shooters in the shootout. The Carnegie Mellon commit wasted no time in doing so, deflecting Payton Dominguez’s attempt over the crossbar.
Rawls, Leona Yonehara, Trejo and Kendall Forbes followed by converting their penalties, but the damage was done.
“We talk a lot about reading the shooter’s hips to help figure out which way they’re going to go, and along with their plant foot, which direction that’s facing,” O’Connor said. “So I just stuck with what I know, tried not to psyche myself out, take a deep breath and just trust that I knew what I was doing and just go the right way.”
She did, and so did the Redhawk shooters, all of whom put their shots where they wanted them. O’Rear’s left-footed strike was particularly impressive, hitting the side netting past the outstretched fingers of the diving Forbes.
“I’m super proud of our shooters today,” O’Connor said. “They stepped up big.
“A lot of people don’t want to take PKs. It’s scary. But I’m proud of them for stepping up and taking them.”
Despite the loss, Rawls said the Vikings can take a lot from the match.
“I think we played pretty good against a really high-ranked team,” Rawls said. “We lost Rilee, which was hard for us, but I think everyone kind of filled in for her a little bit, though we were a little slow that second half.”
“We were so close. Our team is capable of a lot of big things in this tournament.”
In order to advance to the quarterfinals, the Vikings will have to beat Oswego on Saturday and hope Oswego beats Naperville Central on Friday night.
Even if that doesn’t happen, Owens said watch out for the Vikings.
“I think people don’t give our team enough credit,” Owens said. “We took (St. Charles) North to the very end and Naperville is ranked so high and we outplayed them for big stretches of the game.
“On their goal, we just didn’t mark up. It stinks that it has to come down to PKs, but we’re there.”
Conversely, Geneva may have done Naperville Central a favor by drawing first blood. The Redhawks now have experienced coming back from a deficit.
“I think it was really good motivation for us because obviously it was the first goal that has been scored against us,” Burke said. “When we were scored on, we were like, ‘OK, we’ve got to turn it on here.’ I think that was kind of a wake-up call.”
Starting lineups
Geneva
GK Jordan Forbes
D Cami Bishop
D Morgan Slagle
D Bella Walls
D Leyna Yonehara
M Kya Trejo
M Rilee Hasegawa
M Caroline Madden
F Olivia Rawls
F Alana Rawls
F Morgan Rudowicz
Naperville Central
GK Abby O’Connor
D Taylor Walk
D Samantha Sharp
D Ella Burke
D Sophia Skoubis
M Sarah McCracken
M Grace Granato
M Megan Norkett
F Maddie Boogerd
F Lauren Thorne
F Molly O’Rear
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Abby O’Connor, sr., GK, Naperville Central.
Scoring summary
First half
Geneva – Olivia Rawls (Kya Trejo) 19:03 remaining
Second half
Naperville Central – Maddie Boogerd 28:29 remaining
Penalty kicks (Naperville Central wins 5-4)
Geneva: Payton Dominguez (saved), Olivia Rawls (made), Leyna Yonehara (made), Kya Trejo (made), Kendall Forbes (made).
Naperville Central: Grace Granato (made), Megan Norkett (made), Molly O’Rear (made), Maddie Boogerd (made), Ella Burke (made).
rare rally to beat Geneva in PKs
No. 2 Redhawks overcome 1st goal allowed, deficit of season
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE -- Ella Burke strode to the penalty spot with the game literally on her foot.
Good thing the Naperville Central junior had plenty of experience taking penalty kicks.
Right?
“That was actually the first penalty kick I’ve ever taken,” Burke said. “I was saying to myself that “OK, you’ve got to make it, you make it and you win.’
“I had to picture myself scoring it. That was my thought process.”
The process worked as Burke ripped her shot into the lower left corner of the net. After trailing 1-0 and tying the game in regulation, Naperville Central edged Geneva 5-4 on penalty kicks Thursday in a thrilling opening Group A game of the Naperville Invitational at Memorial Stadium.
The Redhawks (10-0-0) won despite giving up a goal and falling behind for the first time this season. Senior goalkeeper Abby O’Connor made five saves in regulation and also stopped the Vikings’ first attempt in the shootout.
The Naperville Central shooters -- Grace Granato, Megan Norkett, Molly O’Rear, Maddie Booger and Burke -- converted. They did so even though Geneva goalkeeper Jordan Forbes guessed correctly on three shots.
“Our kids who took the kicks did exactly what they needed to do,” Naperville Central coach Ed Watson said. “The pace that we hit them was enough, and Abby did a nice job of keeping the first one out. Then we held serve.”
Burke, an outstanding center back, usually spends much of her time helping to keep the ball out of her own net, so scoring the clincher was a new experience for her.
“It was amazing because all my teammates before me had made it, so I’ve got to make it,” Burke said. “They were so excited for me, and I think it was a really great win for our team.”
Indeed, though it seemed like an unlikely one for long stretches because 22nd-ranked Geneva (9-4-0) outplayed the Redhawks, especially in the first half. Even Watson said the Vikings deserved a better fate.
“We were made to play poorly by a very good team, and that’s it in a nutshell,” Watson said. “I will say that after a little correction at halftime, the effort was much better.
“Effort is so much of the game. If you’re going to be a good team, you have to recognize that everybody else is going to bring their best against you. Geneva deserved better than the result, but I’m not saying we’re willing to give it away.”
But the Redhawks almost had it taken away. Sophomore forward Olivia Rawls gave Geneva a 1-0 lead when she redirected a long free kick from Kya Trejo past O’Connor at the 19:03 mark of the first half.
“Kya had a great ball,” Rawls said. “There was no one on me at the beginning, so I yelled out ‘Kya!’
“She hit a perfect ball right to my foot, and I volleyed it in.”
Suddenly, Naperville Central was in a place it hadn’t been yet this season. With Forbes having a hot hand in between the pipes, an upset appeared to be in the making.
Forbes made six of her nine saves in the first half, including a couple diving stops on the Valparaiso-bound O’Rear.
But the game turned when junior midfielder Rilee Hasegawa, arguably Geneva’s best player, suffered a serious ankle injury with 3:17 remaining in the first half and had to be carried off the field.
The Vikings weren’t as dominant in the midfield after that and the Redhawks, especially O’Rear and Norkett, found more room to roam.
“She’s a very nice player,” Watson said of Hasegawa. “Her being out of the game is one thing.
“Her being out for an extended period of time is very disappointing. Nobody wants to see kids get hurt.”
Geneva coach Megan Owens said Hasegawa’s absence hurt the Vikings.
“I think just seeing their teammate hurt took a little bit out of our sails, but we had our opportunities,” Owens said. “I thought my team played great. I’m proud of them.”
Naperville Central rallied in the second half and finally broke through with 28:29 to go when senior forward Maddie Boogerd scored on a rebound after Forbes made a terrific diving save on a close blast from O’Rear.
The shot was too hot for Forbes to catch, and Boogerd alertly tapped in the equalizer. It was the second goal of the season for Boogerd, a Trinity Christian recruit.
“Molly had such a great finish and coach Watson always has to remind me to follow through,” Boogerd said. “But I think I was just there at the right time.”
Watson agreed.
“That is as timely a goal as you’re going to find,” Watson said. “Molly hit the heck out of it, and we talk about how you’ve got to follow. Maddie was there to finish.”
The game was far from finished. Geneva striker Morgan Rudowicz sent a 29-yard free kick barely over the crossbar with 9:23 to go, and Naperville Central midfielder Sarah McCracken missed high on a 25-yard shot with 35 seconds left.
“Our team knew going into this game that we were facing some really good competition. There were a couple players that we have to watch out for, but we came ready to play,” Boogerd said. “I think our team did a great job getting back into our game, putting our game faces back on.
“We did what we needed to do to pull through with a win.”
For O’Connor, that meant trying to stop at least one of Geneva’s shooters in the shootout. The Carnegie Mellon commit wasted no time in doing so, deflecting Payton Dominguez’s attempt over the crossbar.
Rawls, Leona Yonehara, Trejo and Kendall Forbes followed by converting their penalties, but the damage was done.
“We talk a lot about reading the shooter’s hips to help figure out which way they’re going to go, and along with their plant foot, which direction that’s facing,” O’Connor said. “So I just stuck with what I know, tried not to psyche myself out, take a deep breath and just trust that I knew what I was doing and just go the right way.”
She did, and so did the Redhawk shooters, all of whom put their shots where they wanted them. O’Rear’s left-footed strike was particularly impressive, hitting the side netting past the outstretched fingers of the diving Forbes.
“I’m super proud of our shooters today,” O’Connor said. “They stepped up big.
“A lot of people don’t want to take PKs. It’s scary. But I’m proud of them for stepping up and taking them.”
Despite the loss, Rawls said the Vikings can take a lot from the match.
“I think we played pretty good against a really high-ranked team,” Rawls said. “We lost Rilee, which was hard for us, but I think everyone kind of filled in for her a little bit, though we were a little slow that second half.”
“We were so close. Our team is capable of a lot of big things in this tournament.”
In order to advance to the quarterfinals, the Vikings will have to beat Oswego on Saturday and hope Oswego beats Naperville Central on Friday night.
Even if that doesn’t happen, Owens said watch out for the Vikings.
“I think people don’t give our team enough credit,” Owens said. “We took (St. Charles) North to the very end and Naperville is ranked so high and we outplayed them for big stretches of the game.
“On their goal, we just didn’t mark up. It stinks that it has to come down to PKs, but we’re there.”
Conversely, Geneva may have done Naperville Central a favor by drawing first blood. The Redhawks now have experienced coming back from a deficit.
“I think it was really good motivation for us because obviously it was the first goal that has been scored against us,” Burke said. “When we were scored on, we were like, ‘OK, we’ve got to turn it on here.’ I think that was kind of a wake-up call.”
Starting lineups
Geneva
GK Jordan Forbes
D Cami Bishop
D Morgan Slagle
D Bella Walls
D Leyna Yonehara
M Kya Trejo
M Rilee Hasegawa
M Caroline Madden
F Olivia Rawls
F Alana Rawls
F Morgan Rudowicz
Naperville Central
GK Abby O’Connor
D Taylor Walk
D Samantha Sharp
D Ella Burke
D Sophia Skoubis
M Sarah McCracken
M Grace Granato
M Megan Norkett
F Maddie Boogerd
F Lauren Thorne
F Molly O’Rear
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Abby O’Connor, sr., GK, Naperville Central.
Scoring summary
First half
Geneva – Olivia Rawls (Kya Trejo) 19:03 remaining
Second half
Naperville Central – Maddie Boogerd 28:29 remaining
Penalty kicks (Naperville Central wins 5-4)
Geneva: Payton Dominguez (saved), Olivia Rawls (made), Leyna Yonehara (made), Kya Trejo (made), Kendall Forbes (made).
Naperville Central: Grace Granato (made), Megan Norkett (made), Molly O’Rear (made), Maddie Boogerd (made), Ella Burke (made).