Casmere caps Benet comeback vs. Lemont
Senior's brace leads Redwings 3-1 victory over Indians
By Patrick Z. McGavin
LISLE -- Every game is a clash of text and subtext. In other words, games play out what is immediately in front, or on the surface, and what is underneath, the layers that are peeled away.
In the marquee early year showdown of Lemont and Benet, the game itself said everything as two prestige programs were given a chance to learn something new.
Lemont discovered it could finally put the finishing touches on a goal opportunity. Benet learned it is more than capable of playing from behind.
Senior forward Abby Casmere maintained her torrid early season play by scoring two goals as the catalyst of the Redwings’ comeback 3-1 win in the round-robin Wheaton North Kickoff Classic on Saturday morning at Benedictine University.
Casmere also scored a goal and had an assist in the Redwings’ season-opening win over Metea Valley.
Her size, power and ability on the ball make her virtually unstoppable. She demonstrated not just touch but force and authority with the ball. She is now at the level where, every time she is around the ball, she makes something vivid happen.
“What makes her so good is the combination of the strength, the skill and the speed,” Benet coach Gerald Oconer said about Casmere. “Now she is really trying to develop that goal-scoring mentality when she is near the goal. Every time she is in that position she is trying to score.”
For her accomplishments, Casmere was named the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the match. She celebrated twice in the victory and then immediately afterward dashed off to a St. Patrick’s Day event.
Her play spoke volumes.
Benet returns nine starters from a Class AA supersectional qualifier that narrowly lost to eventual state champion St. Francis in the tournament. Oconer is also incorporating some club players into the mix.
It is a heady and exciting time for the Redwings, who were ranked no. 26 in Chicagoland Soccer’s exclusive First 50 preseason state-wide poll. So far, the Redwings (2-0-0) have been dynamite at both ends.
Lemont, ranked no. 35 in the opening ranking, posed a significant challenge. The Indians constitute another quality team brimming with possibility and excitement. These early games are important pieces of the process. This season marks the 25th year on the bench of coach Rick Prangen.
Since the coach’s breakthrough team of 2007 that finished 23-2-1, Lemont has been a model of consistency demonstrating explosive offensive personnel and very unselfish play.
Prangan's teams have posted eight 20-win seasons in the last 12 years and won six state trophies, finishing state runner-up in Class AA in 2009. The team has played the final weekend in Class AA at North Central College three times in the last four years.
Last year’s group lost to St. Francis in the state semifinals and beat Normal West for third place and finished a program-best 26-2-0. Multiple players are also back, and the team appears ready to take another leap.
One significant absence is two-time Chicagoland Soccer All-State forward Mairead Ruane. She amassed 54 goals and 35 assists those two years, and that kind of firepower is not easy to reload.
“This is a new team with growing pains,” Prangen said. “I was lucky enough to have large groups of seniors the last four years.
“We have to figure ourselves out.”
Lemont opened the Kickoff Classic tournament with a 1-0 loss to currently undefeated Sandburg (3-0-0 in tourney, 3-0-1 overall) and tied Metea Valley 0-0. Junior forward Erin Crispo is the top returning player. She finished second in scoring to Ruane last year with 22 goals and six assists.
“Right now we are just trying to focus on our shape and our positions and just really working together,” Crispo said. “Right now we are focusing on communication, helping each other out and getting used to all the new players and positions.”
Sophomore forward Victoria Silvar, who made the Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List after last season, is another skilled young talent. She scored 17 goals and added five assists last year. Her ability on corner kicks marked the Indians’ most dangerous offensive opportunities.
In the ninth minute, the Indians finally broke their 169-minute scoreless streak. Off a corner kick from the right edge, Silvar directed a ball into the box that was deflected into a mass of bodies.
Senior forward Katie Knutte was the first to the ball and smashed a one-touch from about nine yards inside the near post.
“That was awesome,” Crispo said. “I thought we had a lot of good build-up play, we had a lot of adrenaline up on top at the beginning. We were able to put away the chances we had in the final third, which is something we have been trying to do.”
Benet was on the defensive. The Redwings worked through the early disadvantage.
“We got a little frantic for a second, but I think once we got the game under control and just started making passes and connecting with each other I think that turned the momentum back to us,” junior defender Kate Flynn said.
“Our backline is huge about saving everything and staying connected and talking to each other. Organization is huge, and I think when we play together that is the best that we are.”
Casmere answered in the 28th minute. She was building up to the moment. In the preceding moments, she executed a deft wheel route of turning quickly and firing directly at Indians’ keeper Grace Kucharski. The senior stopped the shot, but the point was underlined. Casmere was starting to heat up.
In the 28th minute, Casmere worked across the middle and created the necessary space to launch a sideways rocket ball that Kucharski deflected, though not enough to prevent it from curling inside the near post for the equalizer.
“We know what kind of team we are,” Oconer said. “We just got a bit out of kilter in the first 10 or 15 minutes. They put a lot of good pressure against us, and they were able to win some set pieces. They finished one of them.
“Defense was the hallmark of our team last year. We had a lot of shutouts and did not give up many goals. I think they took it a little personally that we got scored on early in the game. They shut them down the rest of the way.”
Crispo nearly returned the advantage to the Indians late in the first half only to watch her shot from about 14 yards glance off the far post.
“I was fine with how we played in the first half,” Prangen said. “We were a post away from going up 2-1. We have a whole new backline that are we trying to figure out. We have some new roles for some new people. Some people who were role players last year have to be focal points this year and that is a bit of a transition for them.
“I think they are a really skilled team. Their center forward [Casmere] gave us a hard time most of the day. She is really dangerous on the ball. She really gave us some problems.”
Casmere scored the game-winner in the 45th minute off a beautiful touch pass from defender Brooke Pullen. Casmere again did a terrific job of using her size and length to shield her body and create the necessary operating space.
Benet put the game away moments later as midfielder Mia Ullmer blasted a beautiful shot at an untouchable angle from about 16 yards off from a short corner originated by forward Jaimee Cibulka.
Context is important with Lemont. The three schools the Indians (0-2-1) have played are significantly larger -- with anywhere from double or triple its enrollment.
“This is all preseason for us,” Prangen said. “They had the majority of the possession, but I liked our defensive shape. I liked what we were doing. We were causing them some issues going forward. We learned a lot about ourselves going forward.
“I just think in the second half they relaxed more on the ball and just beat us a lot on 1-v.-1. They broke us down that way. That is something we have to look at and get better at.”
Benet made another early statement -- this is a team to reckon with.
“I think we came out a little stronger than them and attacked the game and went after it as a team and not as individuals,” Flynn said.
“We were connecting well. We have clicked right away. We are connected, and the team chemistry is great. We are very excited.”
Starting lineups
Lemont
GK: Grace Kucharski
D: Anna Borzecki
D: Sofia Villarreal
D: Trinity Hatton
MF: Danielle Irwin
MF: Michaela Egan
MF: Maddy Counsil
MF: Kailey Wasyliw
F: Erin Crispo
F: Victoria Silvar
F: Katie Knutte
Benet
GK: Eva Frantzen
D: Brooke Pullen
D: Kate Flynn
D: Mary Kate Hansen
D: Mary Kate Wilhelm
MF: Kayla Brannigan
MF: Nicole Burns
MF: Mia Ullmer
F: Jaime Cibulka
F: Abby Casmere
F: Mia Tommasome
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Abby Casmere, sr., F, Benet
Scoring summary
First half
Lemont—Katie Knutte (unassisted), 9th minute
Benet—Mia Casmere (unassisted), 28th minute
Second half
Benet—Casmere (Brooke Pullen), 55th minute
Benet—Mia Ullmer (Jaimee Cibulka), 60th minute
Senior's brace leads Redwings 3-1 victory over Indians
By Patrick Z. McGavin
LISLE -- Every game is a clash of text and subtext. In other words, games play out what is immediately in front, or on the surface, and what is underneath, the layers that are peeled away.
In the marquee early year showdown of Lemont and Benet, the game itself said everything as two prestige programs were given a chance to learn something new.
Lemont discovered it could finally put the finishing touches on a goal opportunity. Benet learned it is more than capable of playing from behind.
Senior forward Abby Casmere maintained her torrid early season play by scoring two goals as the catalyst of the Redwings’ comeback 3-1 win in the round-robin Wheaton North Kickoff Classic on Saturday morning at Benedictine University.
Casmere also scored a goal and had an assist in the Redwings’ season-opening win over Metea Valley.
Her size, power and ability on the ball make her virtually unstoppable. She demonstrated not just touch but force and authority with the ball. She is now at the level where, every time she is around the ball, she makes something vivid happen.
“What makes her so good is the combination of the strength, the skill and the speed,” Benet coach Gerald Oconer said about Casmere. “Now she is really trying to develop that goal-scoring mentality when she is near the goal. Every time she is in that position she is trying to score.”
For her accomplishments, Casmere was named the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the match. She celebrated twice in the victory and then immediately afterward dashed off to a St. Patrick’s Day event.
Her play spoke volumes.
Benet returns nine starters from a Class AA supersectional qualifier that narrowly lost to eventual state champion St. Francis in the tournament. Oconer is also incorporating some club players into the mix.
It is a heady and exciting time for the Redwings, who were ranked no. 26 in Chicagoland Soccer’s exclusive First 50 preseason state-wide poll. So far, the Redwings (2-0-0) have been dynamite at both ends.
Lemont, ranked no. 35 in the opening ranking, posed a significant challenge. The Indians constitute another quality team brimming with possibility and excitement. These early games are important pieces of the process. This season marks the 25th year on the bench of coach Rick Prangen.
Since the coach’s breakthrough team of 2007 that finished 23-2-1, Lemont has been a model of consistency demonstrating explosive offensive personnel and very unselfish play.
Prangan's teams have posted eight 20-win seasons in the last 12 years and won six state trophies, finishing state runner-up in Class AA in 2009. The team has played the final weekend in Class AA at North Central College three times in the last four years.
Last year’s group lost to St. Francis in the state semifinals and beat Normal West for third place and finished a program-best 26-2-0. Multiple players are also back, and the team appears ready to take another leap.
One significant absence is two-time Chicagoland Soccer All-State forward Mairead Ruane. She amassed 54 goals and 35 assists those two years, and that kind of firepower is not easy to reload.
“This is a new team with growing pains,” Prangen said. “I was lucky enough to have large groups of seniors the last four years.
“We have to figure ourselves out.”
Lemont opened the Kickoff Classic tournament with a 1-0 loss to currently undefeated Sandburg (3-0-0 in tourney, 3-0-1 overall) and tied Metea Valley 0-0. Junior forward Erin Crispo is the top returning player. She finished second in scoring to Ruane last year with 22 goals and six assists.
“Right now we are just trying to focus on our shape and our positions and just really working together,” Crispo said. “Right now we are focusing on communication, helping each other out and getting used to all the new players and positions.”
Sophomore forward Victoria Silvar, who made the Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List after last season, is another skilled young talent. She scored 17 goals and added five assists last year. Her ability on corner kicks marked the Indians’ most dangerous offensive opportunities.
In the ninth minute, the Indians finally broke their 169-minute scoreless streak. Off a corner kick from the right edge, Silvar directed a ball into the box that was deflected into a mass of bodies.
Senior forward Katie Knutte was the first to the ball and smashed a one-touch from about nine yards inside the near post.
“That was awesome,” Crispo said. “I thought we had a lot of good build-up play, we had a lot of adrenaline up on top at the beginning. We were able to put away the chances we had in the final third, which is something we have been trying to do.”
Benet was on the defensive. The Redwings worked through the early disadvantage.
“We got a little frantic for a second, but I think once we got the game under control and just started making passes and connecting with each other I think that turned the momentum back to us,” junior defender Kate Flynn said.
“Our backline is huge about saving everything and staying connected and talking to each other. Organization is huge, and I think when we play together that is the best that we are.”
Casmere answered in the 28th minute. She was building up to the moment. In the preceding moments, she executed a deft wheel route of turning quickly and firing directly at Indians’ keeper Grace Kucharski. The senior stopped the shot, but the point was underlined. Casmere was starting to heat up.
In the 28th minute, Casmere worked across the middle and created the necessary space to launch a sideways rocket ball that Kucharski deflected, though not enough to prevent it from curling inside the near post for the equalizer.
“We know what kind of team we are,” Oconer said. “We just got a bit out of kilter in the first 10 or 15 minutes. They put a lot of good pressure against us, and they were able to win some set pieces. They finished one of them.
“Defense was the hallmark of our team last year. We had a lot of shutouts and did not give up many goals. I think they took it a little personally that we got scored on early in the game. They shut them down the rest of the way.”
Crispo nearly returned the advantage to the Indians late in the first half only to watch her shot from about 14 yards glance off the far post.
“I was fine with how we played in the first half,” Prangen said. “We were a post away from going up 2-1. We have a whole new backline that are we trying to figure out. We have some new roles for some new people. Some people who were role players last year have to be focal points this year and that is a bit of a transition for them.
“I think they are a really skilled team. Their center forward [Casmere] gave us a hard time most of the day. She is really dangerous on the ball. She really gave us some problems.”
Casmere scored the game-winner in the 45th minute off a beautiful touch pass from defender Brooke Pullen. Casmere again did a terrific job of using her size and length to shield her body and create the necessary operating space.
Benet put the game away moments later as midfielder Mia Ullmer blasted a beautiful shot at an untouchable angle from about 16 yards off from a short corner originated by forward Jaimee Cibulka.
Context is important with Lemont. The three schools the Indians (0-2-1) have played are significantly larger -- with anywhere from double or triple its enrollment.
“This is all preseason for us,” Prangen said. “They had the majority of the possession, but I liked our defensive shape. I liked what we were doing. We were causing them some issues going forward. We learned a lot about ourselves going forward.
“I just think in the second half they relaxed more on the ball and just beat us a lot on 1-v.-1. They broke us down that way. That is something we have to look at and get better at.”
Benet made another early statement -- this is a team to reckon with.
“I think we came out a little stronger than them and attacked the game and went after it as a team and not as individuals,” Flynn said.
“We were connecting well. We have clicked right away. We are connected, and the team chemistry is great. We are very excited.”
Starting lineups
Lemont
GK: Grace Kucharski
D: Anna Borzecki
D: Sofia Villarreal
D: Trinity Hatton
MF: Danielle Irwin
MF: Michaela Egan
MF: Maddy Counsil
MF: Kailey Wasyliw
F: Erin Crispo
F: Victoria Silvar
F: Katie Knutte
Benet
GK: Eva Frantzen
D: Brooke Pullen
D: Kate Flynn
D: Mary Kate Hansen
D: Mary Kate Wilhelm
MF: Kayla Brannigan
MF: Nicole Burns
MF: Mia Ullmer
F: Jaime Cibulka
F: Abby Casmere
F: Mia Tommasome
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Abby Casmere, sr., F, Benet
Scoring summary
First half
Lemont—Katie Knutte (unassisted), 9th minute
Benet—Mia Casmere (unassisted), 28th minute
Second half
Benet—Casmere (Brooke Pullen), 55th minute
Benet—Mia Ullmer (Jaimee Cibulka), 60th minute