Dominant half can't save Geneva
Vikings fall to highly regarded small school in St. Louis showcase
By Keith Schildroth
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO. – Geneva’s matchup with Incarnate Word, the top-ranked small school in the St. Louis area, was a perfect example of a contest where neither club was able to break through in the first half, one dominated in the second half but had nothing to show for their effort, and the other team converted on it's only real scoring chances after the break.
Incarnate Word shutout the Vikings 3-0 in the Parkway College Showcase at the Lou Fusz Soccer Complex in suburban St. Louis. The Red Knights, ranked as the small school to beat in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch poll, improved to 4-0-0. Geneva, the no. 7 team in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, fell to 2-1-0.
"Three shots and three goals," said Vikings coach Megan Owens. "I don't know how they got three goals when we were in their half literally the whole second half. I mean the score did not reflect the game. I'm happy with how we played. We put a lot of pressure on them. It was just a matter of finishing."
Each club had chances in the first half.
Red Knights junior midfielder Olivia Layton had the first good scoring chance just two minutes into the contest when she got free on the left side and tested Vikings sophomore goalie Katie Montgomery.
Geneva junior forward Stephanie Howe came right back minutes later shooting from the right side and forced Red Knights goalie Grace Paez to make the first of her numerous quality saves of the game.
Incarnate Word senior midfielder Emily Groark, the most consistent scoring threat in the game, had the first of her many opportunities when she tested Montgomery from the top of the box. The Vikings offense started to show signs of life midway through the half on scoring chances from junior midfielder Sydney Gratz and junior forward Jenna Dominguez.
Dominguez had the better of the two with a snappy cross into the Red Knights goal mouth that just missed teammate Anna Spindle.
Incarnate Word’s offense came to life midway through the half. Junior midfielder Liz Goldstein kept Geneva’s defenders busy the entire game, especially Jaden Ciesielski who fouled Goldstein four times. The junior sent a nice through pass to sophomore forward Faith Montandon, who followed with a dangerous cross to the Vikings box.
Layton had the best scoring chance for Incarnate Word with a strong shot from the left side that Montgomery dived and punched wide.
The Vikings countered when Dominguez flicked a cross from Howe that Paez managed to punch wide.
Groark really picked up the pace in the closing minutes of the half. Montgomery pushed a shot wide of the goal from inside the box and later punched a free kick from Groark out of danger.
Layton had Montgomery alone inside the box and the Geneva keeper came off her line to save a goal.
"We had our opportunities," said Owens. "We worked the ball around well and we played well. We switched a lot up, and we took a lot of looks at different kids, which was what we wanted. We wanted to play a team that was going to put a lot of pressure on us so we could change things up. This is a game we really wanted for growth."
Incarnate Word finally managed to solve Montgomery when Groark scored in the first minute of the second half on a perfect pass from Layton.
Geneva almost tied the game minutes later when Dominguez sent a strong cross into the Red Knights box, but the chance went for naught.
Incarnate Word kept applying pressure when Groark again tested Montgomery to the far post but the Geneva goalie made the save.
The Geneva offense started to click midway through the final half when Dominguez was in a crowd inside the box and fired a shot that Paez managed to push out of bounds.
Incarnate Word finished well via a free kick after Ciesielski fouled Goldstein hard on the right side. Senior midfielder Abby Tremain started the free kick and hit Groark with a perfect pass for a 2-0 lead.
The Red Knights finished the scoring when Layton scored on a shot that got under Montgomery. Goldstein started the play with a crafty pass.
"I think we played really well together after playing last night," said Groark. "We just happened to get three goals against a really good team. I thought we had some chances in the first half but couldn't finish. They came out really hard in the second half, but we finished our chances."
Geneva’s offense continued to pepper Paez, but she was strong the entire second half. Dominguez almost scored twice midway through the final half. She had the Red Knights keeper alone in the box and fired a hard shot that Paez managed to push aside. Minutes later, Dominguez shot from the top of the box and had Paez beat, but the ball sailed just over the crossbar. Owens said the Vikings picked up the pace in the second half.
"We just calmed down some and settled in," said Owens. "We were able to make some adjustments to their lineup that they were using. I think we were playing with more confidence in the second half."
Dominguez said both clubs struggled in the first half.
"I think both teams started a little frantic," said Dominguez. "I think it was a really evenly matched game. We started to play well and settle down in the second half, and we played really well. We lost a couple of our chances, and we had some chances we couldn't finish. It was a good game. We have a lot of positives to take from it."
Dominguez said Paez kept the Red Knights in the game with important saves at key times.
"I think their keeper made some great saves," said Dominguez. "I know she denied me at least three times. I have a lot of respect for her, because I think I have a pretty good shot. "
Dominguez said the second half play from her club was a better example of the Geneva brand of soccer.
"We were able to settle the ball down and play quickly," said Dominguez. "I think as soon as we found our rhythm, we had a lot of really good runs. It just didn't end the way we wanted. But the wins will come."
Gratz agreed Paez frustrated the Geneva attack.
"It was hard to read where she (Paez) was going," said Gratz. "She read my shots every time. It was hard to place the ball. I think we played better the second half, because we settled the ball better. Our outside backs and outside forwards were working better together."
Incarnate Word coach Beth Sims said Geneva had the better of the play in the second half.
"They came out on fire in the second half, and we were lucky to make good on our chances," said Sims. "We had some chances in the first half but couldn't finish."
Sims said Paez preserved the win under consistent pressure in the second half.
"She really came off her line well, and we were communicating pretty good," said Sims. "Our defense really played well in the second half. She played really well."
Starting lineups
Incarnate Word
G: Grace Paez
D: Emma Vaughn
D: Maggie O'Brien
D: Sophie Patterson
D: Gabby Graham
M: Emily Groark
M: Abby Tremain
M: Paige Jackson
M: Carli Schieferle
F: Faith Montandon
F: Olivia Layton
Geneva
G: Katie Montgomery
D: Jaden Ciesielski
D: Anneliese Lockner
D: Rachel Lawrence
D: Mackenzie Bennett
M: Sydney Gratz
M: Liv Tegge
M: Lauren Albrecht
M: Anna Spindle
F: Stephanie Howe
F: Jenna Dominguez
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Emily Groark, sr., M, Incarnate Word
Vikings fall to highly regarded small school in St. Louis showcase
By Keith Schildroth
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO. – Geneva’s matchup with Incarnate Word, the top-ranked small school in the St. Louis area, was a perfect example of a contest where neither club was able to break through in the first half, one dominated in the second half but had nothing to show for their effort, and the other team converted on it's only real scoring chances after the break.
Incarnate Word shutout the Vikings 3-0 in the Parkway College Showcase at the Lou Fusz Soccer Complex in suburban St. Louis. The Red Knights, ranked as the small school to beat in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch poll, improved to 4-0-0. Geneva, the no. 7 team in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, fell to 2-1-0.
"Three shots and three goals," said Vikings coach Megan Owens. "I don't know how they got three goals when we were in their half literally the whole second half. I mean the score did not reflect the game. I'm happy with how we played. We put a lot of pressure on them. It was just a matter of finishing."
Each club had chances in the first half.
Red Knights junior midfielder Olivia Layton had the first good scoring chance just two minutes into the contest when she got free on the left side and tested Vikings sophomore goalie Katie Montgomery.
Geneva junior forward Stephanie Howe came right back minutes later shooting from the right side and forced Red Knights goalie Grace Paez to make the first of her numerous quality saves of the game.
Incarnate Word senior midfielder Emily Groark, the most consistent scoring threat in the game, had the first of her many opportunities when she tested Montgomery from the top of the box. The Vikings offense started to show signs of life midway through the half on scoring chances from junior midfielder Sydney Gratz and junior forward Jenna Dominguez.
Dominguez had the better of the two with a snappy cross into the Red Knights goal mouth that just missed teammate Anna Spindle.
Incarnate Word’s offense came to life midway through the half. Junior midfielder Liz Goldstein kept Geneva’s defenders busy the entire game, especially Jaden Ciesielski who fouled Goldstein four times. The junior sent a nice through pass to sophomore forward Faith Montandon, who followed with a dangerous cross to the Vikings box.
Layton had the best scoring chance for Incarnate Word with a strong shot from the left side that Montgomery dived and punched wide.
The Vikings countered when Dominguez flicked a cross from Howe that Paez managed to punch wide.
Groark really picked up the pace in the closing minutes of the half. Montgomery pushed a shot wide of the goal from inside the box and later punched a free kick from Groark out of danger.
Layton had Montgomery alone inside the box and the Geneva keeper came off her line to save a goal.
"We had our opportunities," said Owens. "We worked the ball around well and we played well. We switched a lot up, and we took a lot of looks at different kids, which was what we wanted. We wanted to play a team that was going to put a lot of pressure on us so we could change things up. This is a game we really wanted for growth."
Incarnate Word finally managed to solve Montgomery when Groark scored in the first minute of the second half on a perfect pass from Layton.
Geneva almost tied the game minutes later when Dominguez sent a strong cross into the Red Knights box, but the chance went for naught.
Incarnate Word kept applying pressure when Groark again tested Montgomery to the far post but the Geneva goalie made the save.
The Geneva offense started to click midway through the final half when Dominguez was in a crowd inside the box and fired a shot that Paez managed to push out of bounds.
Incarnate Word finished well via a free kick after Ciesielski fouled Goldstein hard on the right side. Senior midfielder Abby Tremain started the free kick and hit Groark with a perfect pass for a 2-0 lead.
The Red Knights finished the scoring when Layton scored on a shot that got under Montgomery. Goldstein started the play with a crafty pass.
"I think we played really well together after playing last night," said Groark. "We just happened to get three goals against a really good team. I thought we had some chances in the first half but couldn't finish. They came out really hard in the second half, but we finished our chances."
Geneva’s offense continued to pepper Paez, but she was strong the entire second half. Dominguez almost scored twice midway through the final half. She had the Red Knights keeper alone in the box and fired a hard shot that Paez managed to push aside. Minutes later, Dominguez shot from the top of the box and had Paez beat, but the ball sailed just over the crossbar. Owens said the Vikings picked up the pace in the second half.
"We just calmed down some and settled in," said Owens. "We were able to make some adjustments to their lineup that they were using. I think we were playing with more confidence in the second half."
Dominguez said both clubs struggled in the first half.
"I think both teams started a little frantic," said Dominguez. "I think it was a really evenly matched game. We started to play well and settle down in the second half, and we played really well. We lost a couple of our chances, and we had some chances we couldn't finish. It was a good game. We have a lot of positives to take from it."
Dominguez said Paez kept the Red Knights in the game with important saves at key times.
"I think their keeper made some great saves," said Dominguez. "I know she denied me at least three times. I have a lot of respect for her, because I think I have a pretty good shot. "
Dominguez said the second half play from her club was a better example of the Geneva brand of soccer.
"We were able to settle the ball down and play quickly," said Dominguez. "I think as soon as we found our rhythm, we had a lot of really good runs. It just didn't end the way we wanted. But the wins will come."
Gratz agreed Paez frustrated the Geneva attack.
"It was hard to read where she (Paez) was going," said Gratz. "She read my shots every time. It was hard to place the ball. I think we played better the second half, because we settled the ball better. Our outside backs and outside forwards were working better together."
Incarnate Word coach Beth Sims said Geneva had the better of the play in the second half.
"They came out on fire in the second half, and we were lucky to make good on our chances," said Sims. "We had some chances in the first half but couldn't finish."
Sims said Paez preserved the win under consistent pressure in the second half.
"She really came off her line well, and we were communicating pretty good," said Sims. "Our defense really played well in the second half. She played really well."
Starting lineups
Incarnate Word
G: Grace Paez
D: Emma Vaughn
D: Maggie O'Brien
D: Sophie Patterson
D: Gabby Graham
M: Emily Groark
M: Abby Tremain
M: Paige Jackson
M: Carli Schieferle
F: Faith Montandon
F: Olivia Layton
Geneva
G: Katie Montgomery
D: Jaden Ciesielski
D: Anneliese Lockner
D: Rachel Lawrence
D: Mackenzie Bennett
M: Sydney Gratz
M: Liv Tegge
M: Lauren Albrecht
M: Anna Spindle
F: Stephanie Howe
F: Jenna Dominguez
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Emily Groark, sr., M, Incarnate Word