Batavia gives Kaneland rude welcome
No. 36-rated Bulldogs score quickly in 3-0 home win
By Steve Nemeth
BATAVIA --- With the P.A. volume cranked, Batavia fans got to hear the “Who Let the Dogs Out” refrain early and often in Wednesday’s season-opener as the Bulldogs pounced on Kaneland.
First it was an Anna Holcombe blast that became a rebound follow-up for Abby Zipse a mere 3:47 into the match. With less than 12 minutes elapsed, Batavia enjoyed a 3-0 lead which ultimately became the final score in 2019’s first game for both sides.
It was obviously a pleasant beginning for the Bulldogs (1-0-0), who are eager for a continuation of last year’s (14-4-2) success. though with a postseason extension beyond the 2018 regional championship overtime loss.
“We really wanted to have a positive start to the season and getting that first goal so quickly was really important,” Zipse said. “It got the momentum going in our favor. Seeing the ball going down the flank I waited at the top of the box for a cross or shot. Once I saw the ball leave their goalie’s hand I just made the slide.”
Was the thought of a turf burn any deterrent?
“Not at that point, besides I’ve got plenty of turf scars,” Zipse added while displaying war wounds on her leg. “In this case it felt so good especially knowing it was the first goal in the first half of the first game.”
For her part, Holcombe expressed as much satisfaction with that assist as scoring the Bulldogs’ last goal.
“I like being able to dribble by defenders with enough control to have the chance to make a good cross,” explained Holcombe whose performance earned her Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match acclaim.
“No question Anna deserves that, she did a real nice job moving off the ball and locking up the defense when she controlled it,” Batavia coach Mark Gianfrancesco said. “And if she lost a ball, she then defended very well. Those three aspects plus scoring a goal is all you can ask for.”
In between Holcombe’s assist and capping the score, Batavia added to its initial lead at 9:29 when Grace Salyers fed the ball to Ashley Whelpley. The sophomore sized up the opportunity and launched a 16-yarder that ultimately eluded Kaneland goalie Emma Ball.
“Having worked upfield in the middle I was able to work a give-and-go with Grace allowing me to shoot for the corner,” Whelpley recalled. “It deflected a little off a defender, but the key was getting a second goal. Getting ahead by a couple always makes us more comfortable and confident.”
Contrary to that positive view, there are soccer die-hards who insist a 2-0 lead is the most dangerous advantage. If that is the case, then Holcombe dispensed that concern at the 11:54 mark.
“Remembering that our first goal came off a rebound, I knew it might happen again so I got in position just in case,” Holcombe noted. “Gaining a three-goal lead keeps an opponent on their heels and makes them feel like being in a deeper hole. Wish we could’ve added to it, but then we needed to get a shutout and also achieved that.”
“I’m definitely most pleased with simply getting that first win under our belts,” Gianfrancesco said. “It’s a win that we can build off. I thought Jenna (Nichols) was the lynchpin in back holding everything together for us. Kate (Schoenfelder) making a first start also did a nice job and Zaira (Solis) also stood out.”
Statistics were also heavily in favor of Batavia with a 22-5 advantage for overall attempts and a 12-0 edge in shots on goal, plus 7-0 for corner kicks. Batavia junior Haley Flannagan was the starting keeper while freshman Aubrey Hahn took over for the second half to share the shutout.
However, the goalie earning the most praise was Kaneland’s Ball.
“Their goalie was very good and made a lot of key saves in both halves that kept us from ever stretching the lead,” Gianfrancesco said.
“Emma worked tirelessly throughout the match,” Kaneland coach Scott Parillo said. “The first 10 to 15 minutes of the match was so very telling in how badly we needed to have had more practice on a field outdoors.”
Not only were the Knights adjusting to being outdoors for more than just an hour, they’re accustomed to their grass field. Getting acclimated to the wet turf clearly compounded some of Ball’s early ball-control issues.
“However give Batavia all the credit, because they capitalized on any and every mistake we made, and that’s what good teams do,” Parillo said. “I do believe as the game wore on, we settled down some and weren’t quite so overwhelmed.”
For the visiting Knights (0-0-1), optimism remains since this was just the latest version of “up-scheduling” versus Class 3A schools to prepare for the Class AA postseason.
Not only has weather limited Kaneland’s time outdoors, a season-opener at Belvidere was canceled and the Knights just began the first of three-straight matches. Kaneland hosts Rosary on Thursday before visiting 3A Geneva on Friday. The philosophy to toughen his team with a schedule of games against higher level competition is why Parillo’s program generally finishes with double-digit victories ala last year’s 13-5-2 record.
Batavia is scheduled to continue a homestand on Saturday with a 1 p.m. contest against Oswego. This season the Bulldogs’ gauntlet includes tradition-rich Waubonsie Valley and Naperville North. Those games are a lead-in to competition in the new DuKane Conference, which features the traditional Tri-Cities rivals in St. Charles East and North, and Geneva, plus new league foes Wheaton North and South, Lake Park and Glenbard North.
Starting lineups
Kaneland
GK: Emma Ball
D Bailey Prichard
D Erin Ball
D Emma Hedlund
D Sarah Baerenklau
M Megan Mathys
M Vanessa Theobald
M Rachel Franck
F Abbie Lomahan
F Rachel Lutter
F Taylor Carlson
Batavia
GK: Haley Flannagan
D Rachel Polignone
D Kate Schoenfelder
D Jenna Nichols
D Ashley Wehlpley
D Zaira Solis
M Taylor Fleury
M Abby Zipse
M Bella Zink
F Anna Holcombe
F Grace Salyers
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Anna Holcombe, Sr. F, Batavia
Officials: Dave Holbrook (center), Jose Gonzalez, Trey McClure
Game summary
Batavia 3, Kaneland 0
Kaneland 0 0 -- 0 (0-1-0)
Batavia 3 0 -- 3 (1-0-0)
Scoring
First half
B -- Zipse follow-up off rebound for tap-in (Holcombe assist), 3:47 gone
B -- Whelpley 17-yard blast inside right (Salyers assist), 9:29 gone
B -- Holcombe pounces on loose rebound (unassisted), 11:54 gone
Second half
None
Overall shots
K 0 – 4 -- 5
B 12 – 10 -- 22
Shots on goal
K 0 – 0 -- 0
B 7 – 5 -- 12
Saves (goalie)
K (Emma Ball) 4 - 5 -- 9
B (Flannagan) 0 - (Hahn) 0 -- 0
Corner kicks
K 0 – 0 -- 0
B 2 – 5 -- 7
Offsides
K 0 – 0 -- 0
B 0 – 2 -- 2
No. 36-rated Bulldogs score quickly in 3-0 home win
By Steve Nemeth
BATAVIA --- With the P.A. volume cranked, Batavia fans got to hear the “Who Let the Dogs Out” refrain early and often in Wednesday’s season-opener as the Bulldogs pounced on Kaneland.
First it was an Anna Holcombe blast that became a rebound follow-up for Abby Zipse a mere 3:47 into the match. With less than 12 minutes elapsed, Batavia enjoyed a 3-0 lead which ultimately became the final score in 2019’s first game for both sides.
It was obviously a pleasant beginning for the Bulldogs (1-0-0), who are eager for a continuation of last year’s (14-4-2) success. though with a postseason extension beyond the 2018 regional championship overtime loss.
“We really wanted to have a positive start to the season and getting that first goal so quickly was really important,” Zipse said. “It got the momentum going in our favor. Seeing the ball going down the flank I waited at the top of the box for a cross or shot. Once I saw the ball leave their goalie’s hand I just made the slide.”
Was the thought of a turf burn any deterrent?
“Not at that point, besides I’ve got plenty of turf scars,” Zipse added while displaying war wounds on her leg. “In this case it felt so good especially knowing it was the first goal in the first half of the first game.”
For her part, Holcombe expressed as much satisfaction with that assist as scoring the Bulldogs’ last goal.
“I like being able to dribble by defenders with enough control to have the chance to make a good cross,” explained Holcombe whose performance earned her Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match acclaim.
“No question Anna deserves that, she did a real nice job moving off the ball and locking up the defense when she controlled it,” Batavia coach Mark Gianfrancesco said. “And if she lost a ball, she then defended very well. Those three aspects plus scoring a goal is all you can ask for.”
In between Holcombe’s assist and capping the score, Batavia added to its initial lead at 9:29 when Grace Salyers fed the ball to Ashley Whelpley. The sophomore sized up the opportunity and launched a 16-yarder that ultimately eluded Kaneland goalie Emma Ball.
“Having worked upfield in the middle I was able to work a give-and-go with Grace allowing me to shoot for the corner,” Whelpley recalled. “It deflected a little off a defender, but the key was getting a second goal. Getting ahead by a couple always makes us more comfortable and confident.”
Contrary to that positive view, there are soccer die-hards who insist a 2-0 lead is the most dangerous advantage. If that is the case, then Holcombe dispensed that concern at the 11:54 mark.
“Remembering that our first goal came off a rebound, I knew it might happen again so I got in position just in case,” Holcombe noted. “Gaining a three-goal lead keeps an opponent on their heels and makes them feel like being in a deeper hole. Wish we could’ve added to it, but then we needed to get a shutout and also achieved that.”
“I’m definitely most pleased with simply getting that first win under our belts,” Gianfrancesco said. “It’s a win that we can build off. I thought Jenna (Nichols) was the lynchpin in back holding everything together for us. Kate (Schoenfelder) making a first start also did a nice job and Zaira (Solis) also stood out.”
Statistics were also heavily in favor of Batavia with a 22-5 advantage for overall attempts and a 12-0 edge in shots on goal, plus 7-0 for corner kicks. Batavia junior Haley Flannagan was the starting keeper while freshman Aubrey Hahn took over for the second half to share the shutout.
However, the goalie earning the most praise was Kaneland’s Ball.
“Their goalie was very good and made a lot of key saves in both halves that kept us from ever stretching the lead,” Gianfrancesco said.
“Emma worked tirelessly throughout the match,” Kaneland coach Scott Parillo said. “The first 10 to 15 minutes of the match was so very telling in how badly we needed to have had more practice on a field outdoors.”
Not only were the Knights adjusting to being outdoors for more than just an hour, they’re accustomed to their grass field. Getting acclimated to the wet turf clearly compounded some of Ball’s early ball-control issues.
“However give Batavia all the credit, because they capitalized on any and every mistake we made, and that’s what good teams do,” Parillo said. “I do believe as the game wore on, we settled down some and weren’t quite so overwhelmed.”
For the visiting Knights (0-0-1), optimism remains since this was just the latest version of “up-scheduling” versus Class 3A schools to prepare for the Class AA postseason.
Not only has weather limited Kaneland’s time outdoors, a season-opener at Belvidere was canceled and the Knights just began the first of three-straight matches. Kaneland hosts Rosary on Thursday before visiting 3A Geneva on Friday. The philosophy to toughen his team with a schedule of games against higher level competition is why Parillo’s program generally finishes with double-digit victories ala last year’s 13-5-2 record.
Batavia is scheduled to continue a homestand on Saturday with a 1 p.m. contest against Oswego. This season the Bulldogs’ gauntlet includes tradition-rich Waubonsie Valley and Naperville North. Those games are a lead-in to competition in the new DuKane Conference, which features the traditional Tri-Cities rivals in St. Charles East and North, and Geneva, plus new league foes Wheaton North and South, Lake Park and Glenbard North.
Starting lineups
Kaneland
GK: Emma Ball
D Bailey Prichard
D Erin Ball
D Emma Hedlund
D Sarah Baerenklau
M Megan Mathys
M Vanessa Theobald
M Rachel Franck
F Abbie Lomahan
F Rachel Lutter
F Taylor Carlson
Batavia
GK: Haley Flannagan
D Rachel Polignone
D Kate Schoenfelder
D Jenna Nichols
D Ashley Wehlpley
D Zaira Solis
M Taylor Fleury
M Abby Zipse
M Bella Zink
F Anna Holcombe
F Grace Salyers
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Anna Holcombe, Sr. F, Batavia
Officials: Dave Holbrook (center), Jose Gonzalez, Trey McClure
Game summary
Batavia 3, Kaneland 0
Kaneland 0 0 -- 0 (0-1-0)
Batavia 3 0 -- 3 (1-0-0)
Scoring
First half
B -- Zipse follow-up off rebound for tap-in (Holcombe assist), 3:47 gone
B -- Whelpley 17-yard blast inside right (Salyers assist), 9:29 gone
B -- Holcombe pounces on loose rebound (unassisted), 11:54 gone
Second half
None
Overall shots
K 0 – 4 -- 5
B 12 – 10 -- 22
Shots on goal
K 0 – 0 -- 0
B 7 – 5 -- 12
Saves (goalie)
K (Emma Ball) 4 - 5 -- 9
B (Flannagan) 0 - (Hahn) 0 -- 0
Corner kicks
K 0 – 0 -- 0
B 2 – 5 -- 7
Offsides
K 0 – 0 -- 0
B 0 – 2 -- 2