Carmel, Lane see improvement in draw
Team's forge forward in tough, tournament pool game
By Bobby Narang
MUNDELEIN -- Two days after tough losses against talented and higher-ranked teams, Lane and Carmel met up for the second round of the Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic.
Both teams were hungry for a victory to build momentum for the second half of the season. Like the changing spring weather, the early season can be a mixed bag of results for soccer teams in Chicagoland.
Monday night’s game was no different.
Lane opened the scoring with a goal late in the first half, and Carmel responded with a goal midway through the second half for a 1-1 tie in Group A play in the 4th annual edition of the tournament Monday.
Both teams felt senses of relief and disappointment following the 80-minute thriller, which featured strong offensive attacks, quality athletes with an abundance of speed on the pitch and excellent goalie play for each team.
Lane opened up the scoring when Sofia Avila took advantage of two miscues by Carmel’s backline that allowed her to drill a ball with her off-foot from 21 yards into the back of the net in the 39th minute.
Jillian Miller answered 21 minutes later.
A 1-1 tie was the last thing Carmel (4-2-1) and Lane (5-3-1) wanted from Monday’s rare encounter between the far north suburban and city schools.
On Saturday: the Corsairs suffered a tough 1-0 loss to then no. 12 New Trier on the first day of Group A play Saturday; a depleted Lane squad dropped a 5-1 decision to defending tournament champion and then no. 13 Stevenson.
On the final day of pool assignments Wednesday, Carmel will play at currently eighth-ranked Stevenson at 6:30 p.m; Lane hosts no. 17 New Trier at 5 p.m. on Alumni Appreciation Night at home.
The tough tournament scheduled added importance for both teams to win Monday’s game, especially with each playing another elite team Wednesday.
“We really wanted to get this win, but every time you come out you want to get a win, especially on your home turf,” Carmel coach Stephanie Kile said. “We were trying out some different things tonight.
“One of the things I spoke about during the pregame was to give 100 percent for all 80 minutes. I felt like we lacked that on Saturday. So it was very positive to come back in terms of effort and adjusting to tinkering with a new formation.
“I thought the girls played their hearts out and adjusted well.”
Carmel junior forward Emily Fix said Lane was another good test to prepare her team for the Class AA playoffs.
“This tournament we’re playing really good teams, all Class 3A teams,” Fix said. “This is a good and tough challenge for us. We’re playing well and working hard. In the transition to attack, they caught us in the counters and had some really good wide players with a lot of speed and got past us. Other than that, we played really well and held up a good fight.”
Lane coach Michelle Vale said she was extremely pleased with the effort and determination of her players, especially because spring break and injuries have limited her roster in the tournament.
However, Vale did express frustration over several calls during the game.
After witnessing her team battle for 80 minutes to end with a draw, Vale credited her players for playing with energy. Her frustrations almost reached another level, when she saw the team school bus whiz by her while she talked to a reporter. Fortunately, the bus wasn’t leaving without her; the bus driver was only maneuvering the bus for Lane's departure.
“I saw a team that was working really hard and was not willing let a couple of bad calls get to them,” Vale said. “I think they were very frustrated. My team is working really hard, and they were pretty classy. They kept their cool. They did their very best and enjoyed the opportunity to play.
“We had a few kids on spring break and also a couple of kids who are currently sick. The girls stood up for their team. I’m very pleased with their performance today.
“I think the score would’ve been different if we had a couple of those calls not missed, but I think this bode wells for us. I’m really pleased with the girls getting more playing time."
Regardless of the outcomes, Vale said she’s enjoyed watching some players adapt to playing increased roles while dealing with playing opponents from outside the city.
“It’s a competitive (tourney),” Vale said. “I knew that. It’s a great honor to be invited to this tournament. We really wanted to be a part of it. It definitely demonstrates how much of a drop-off there is between playing some of the suburban schools and city schools because of the speed of play and the pace of the game.
“Everything is just little bit different. It’s a great opportunity for my players to experience this now and to be ready for the state playoffs.”
After watching Carmel’s Anna Hartman dart up and down the pitch and attempt four early shots, Lane’s Avila put an end to the scoreless drought with 76 seconds remaining until halftime.
The junior midfielder seized an advantage after Carmel’s backline failed to clear out the ball on two separate occasions. Junior defender Eleanor Nagle crossed a ball perfectly to her non-dominant side, and Avila smacked a rare left-footed goal past Carmel goalie Maggie Bowes, who finished with six saves.
“I’m a righty, so that was kind of a surprise to score from that far away,” Avila said of her third goal of the season as she munched on a frosted donut. “It was pretty frustrating to end in a tie because we were up, and they came back. We can definitely take a lesson from this. We have to work harder.”
Nagle said Lane showed toughness battling to the wire without a full squad against an aggressive Carmel team.
“We had to push through,” Nagle said. “We showed a lot of potential and just have to grow together and working together will help us. Playing in this tournament against several high-profile teams will definitely help build us as a team.”
Carmel opened the second half playing with an energy and urgency to tie the game. The Corsairs came up empty on three early shots, including one that required a great save from Lane keeper Siena Belko in the 54th minute on a shot by Carmel’s Bella D’Amore.
The Corsairs found their equalizer with 20:11 left thanks to a bit of luck. Belko had a punch-out save, but instead of the ball soaring over the box or away from her, it landed directly at the top of the box.
After the ball was sent in, Miller jumped at the loose ball and tapped a shot past Belko.
“I’m not sure who kicked the ball up but … I was able to finish,” Miller said of her goal. “Lane is a really tough team, and Carmel is a small school compared to them. I feel like we just need to work better. At practice, we need to work on possession more.”
Carmel senior defender Zkylah Barnes, a captain, helped slow down Lane’s attack throughout the game, in particular with two key plays in the final 10 minutes.
She stopped a header from Olive Tinucci in the 70th minute and had a bullet shot from Tinucci bounce off her in the 74th minute.
“They had some amazing players, like Scout Murray,” Barnes said. “They had very good speed and very good offense.
“We just had to hold the line and stay strong on our game play. They had a nice shot on their goal, so there’s nothing bad to stay. “
Belko, who recorded eight saves, saw two quality opportunities from Carmel in the final 30 seconds.
The close calls caused a fan to remark, “Do you believe in miracles?”
The Corsairs missed on a shot wide, then seconds later had a header from in front of the box sail just over the post. Belko said she was definitely keeping an eye on Hartman throughout the game.
“The first mood of attack they were doing were those through-balls right in front of the box, so I was definitely playing a bit higher than normal,” Belko said. “On their goal, I wish I could’ve tipped it over.
“I think this was a good game. The last (minute) was tough. I didn’t want to let the ball cross the line. That kept me going. I think we’ve all been supportive of each other, and growing closer on these long bus rides.
“We have had a lot more connections, like on our goal. We’re excited to get back out there on Wednesday and play hard.”
Starting lineups
Lane
GK Siena Belko
D Olivia Schmit
D Eleanor Nagle
D Olive Tinucci
MF Kristiyana Sevora
MF Gabriella Mann
MF Maya Martinez-Bates
MF Jocelyn Ramirez
MF Scout Murray
F Dale Sink
F Gabriela Pop
Carmel
GK Maggie Bowes
D Zkylah Barnes
D Peyton Carney
D Grace Harvey
D Mila Schachelmayer
MF Bella D’Amore
MF Kate Jones
MF Madison Konen
MF Jillian Miller
F Emily Fix
F Anna Hartman
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Siena Belko, jr., GK, Lane
Scoring summary
First half
Lane: Sofia Avila (Eleanor Nagle), 39th minute.
Second half
Carmel: Jillian Miller (Anna Hartman), 60th minute.
Team's forge forward in tough, tournament pool game
By Bobby Narang
MUNDELEIN -- Two days after tough losses against talented and higher-ranked teams, Lane and Carmel met up for the second round of the Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic.
Both teams were hungry for a victory to build momentum for the second half of the season. Like the changing spring weather, the early season can be a mixed bag of results for soccer teams in Chicagoland.
Monday night’s game was no different.
Lane opened the scoring with a goal late in the first half, and Carmel responded with a goal midway through the second half for a 1-1 tie in Group A play in the 4th annual edition of the tournament Monday.
Both teams felt senses of relief and disappointment following the 80-minute thriller, which featured strong offensive attacks, quality athletes with an abundance of speed on the pitch and excellent goalie play for each team.
Lane opened up the scoring when Sofia Avila took advantage of two miscues by Carmel’s backline that allowed her to drill a ball with her off-foot from 21 yards into the back of the net in the 39th minute.
Jillian Miller answered 21 minutes later.
A 1-1 tie was the last thing Carmel (4-2-1) and Lane (5-3-1) wanted from Monday’s rare encounter between the far north suburban and city schools.
On Saturday: the Corsairs suffered a tough 1-0 loss to then no. 12 New Trier on the first day of Group A play Saturday; a depleted Lane squad dropped a 5-1 decision to defending tournament champion and then no. 13 Stevenson.
On the final day of pool assignments Wednesday, Carmel will play at currently eighth-ranked Stevenson at 6:30 p.m; Lane hosts no. 17 New Trier at 5 p.m. on Alumni Appreciation Night at home.
The tough tournament scheduled added importance for both teams to win Monday’s game, especially with each playing another elite team Wednesday.
“We really wanted to get this win, but every time you come out you want to get a win, especially on your home turf,” Carmel coach Stephanie Kile said. “We were trying out some different things tonight.
“One of the things I spoke about during the pregame was to give 100 percent for all 80 minutes. I felt like we lacked that on Saturday. So it was very positive to come back in terms of effort and adjusting to tinkering with a new formation.
“I thought the girls played their hearts out and adjusted well.”
Carmel junior forward Emily Fix said Lane was another good test to prepare her team for the Class AA playoffs.
“This tournament we’re playing really good teams, all Class 3A teams,” Fix said. “This is a good and tough challenge for us. We’re playing well and working hard. In the transition to attack, they caught us in the counters and had some really good wide players with a lot of speed and got past us. Other than that, we played really well and held up a good fight.”
Lane coach Michelle Vale said she was extremely pleased with the effort and determination of her players, especially because spring break and injuries have limited her roster in the tournament.
However, Vale did express frustration over several calls during the game.
After witnessing her team battle for 80 minutes to end with a draw, Vale credited her players for playing with energy. Her frustrations almost reached another level, when she saw the team school bus whiz by her while she talked to a reporter. Fortunately, the bus wasn’t leaving without her; the bus driver was only maneuvering the bus for Lane's departure.
“I saw a team that was working really hard and was not willing let a couple of bad calls get to them,” Vale said. “I think they were very frustrated. My team is working really hard, and they were pretty classy. They kept their cool. They did their very best and enjoyed the opportunity to play.
“We had a few kids on spring break and also a couple of kids who are currently sick. The girls stood up for their team. I’m very pleased with their performance today.
“I think the score would’ve been different if we had a couple of those calls not missed, but I think this bode wells for us. I’m really pleased with the girls getting more playing time."
Regardless of the outcomes, Vale said she’s enjoyed watching some players adapt to playing increased roles while dealing with playing opponents from outside the city.
“It’s a competitive (tourney),” Vale said. “I knew that. It’s a great honor to be invited to this tournament. We really wanted to be a part of it. It definitely demonstrates how much of a drop-off there is between playing some of the suburban schools and city schools because of the speed of play and the pace of the game.
“Everything is just little bit different. It’s a great opportunity for my players to experience this now and to be ready for the state playoffs.”
After watching Carmel’s Anna Hartman dart up and down the pitch and attempt four early shots, Lane’s Avila put an end to the scoreless drought with 76 seconds remaining until halftime.
The junior midfielder seized an advantage after Carmel’s backline failed to clear out the ball on two separate occasions. Junior defender Eleanor Nagle crossed a ball perfectly to her non-dominant side, and Avila smacked a rare left-footed goal past Carmel goalie Maggie Bowes, who finished with six saves.
“I’m a righty, so that was kind of a surprise to score from that far away,” Avila said of her third goal of the season as she munched on a frosted donut. “It was pretty frustrating to end in a tie because we were up, and they came back. We can definitely take a lesson from this. We have to work harder.”
Nagle said Lane showed toughness battling to the wire without a full squad against an aggressive Carmel team.
“We had to push through,” Nagle said. “We showed a lot of potential and just have to grow together and working together will help us. Playing in this tournament against several high-profile teams will definitely help build us as a team.”
Carmel opened the second half playing with an energy and urgency to tie the game. The Corsairs came up empty on three early shots, including one that required a great save from Lane keeper Siena Belko in the 54th minute on a shot by Carmel’s Bella D’Amore.
The Corsairs found their equalizer with 20:11 left thanks to a bit of luck. Belko had a punch-out save, but instead of the ball soaring over the box or away from her, it landed directly at the top of the box.
After the ball was sent in, Miller jumped at the loose ball and tapped a shot past Belko.
“I’m not sure who kicked the ball up but … I was able to finish,” Miller said of her goal. “Lane is a really tough team, and Carmel is a small school compared to them. I feel like we just need to work better. At practice, we need to work on possession more.”
Carmel senior defender Zkylah Barnes, a captain, helped slow down Lane’s attack throughout the game, in particular with two key plays in the final 10 minutes.
She stopped a header from Olive Tinucci in the 70th minute and had a bullet shot from Tinucci bounce off her in the 74th minute.
“They had some amazing players, like Scout Murray,” Barnes said. “They had very good speed and very good offense.
“We just had to hold the line and stay strong on our game play. They had a nice shot on their goal, so there’s nothing bad to stay. “
Belko, who recorded eight saves, saw two quality opportunities from Carmel in the final 30 seconds.
The close calls caused a fan to remark, “Do you believe in miracles?”
The Corsairs missed on a shot wide, then seconds later had a header from in front of the box sail just over the post. Belko said she was definitely keeping an eye on Hartman throughout the game.
“The first mood of attack they were doing were those through-balls right in front of the box, so I was definitely playing a bit higher than normal,” Belko said. “On their goal, I wish I could’ve tipped it over.
“I think this was a good game. The last (minute) was tough. I didn’t want to let the ball cross the line. That kept me going. I think we’ve all been supportive of each other, and growing closer on these long bus rides.
“We have had a lot more connections, like on our goal. We’re excited to get back out there on Wednesday and play hard.”
Starting lineups
Lane
GK Siena Belko
D Olivia Schmit
D Eleanor Nagle
D Olive Tinucci
MF Kristiyana Sevora
MF Gabriella Mann
MF Maya Martinez-Bates
MF Jocelyn Ramirez
MF Scout Murray
F Dale Sink
F Gabriela Pop
Carmel
GK Maggie Bowes
D Zkylah Barnes
D Peyton Carney
D Grace Harvey
D Mila Schachelmayer
MF Bella D’Amore
MF Kate Jones
MF Madison Konen
MF Jillian Miller
F Emily Fix
F Anna Hartman
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Siena Belko, jr., GK, Lane
Scoring summary
First half
Lane: Sofia Avila (Eleanor Nagle), 39th minute.
Second half
Carmel: Jillian Miller (Anna Hartman), 60th minute.