Loyola edges Fremd
in early Naperville Invitational opener
Ramblers open Naperville Invite play with PK victory
By Mike Garofola
PALATINE -- If you're a player on the Loyola soccer club, it's a "No rest for the weary" kind of week for you.
Just keeping tabs on what tournament and venue you're at is enough to test even the best organizational system.
Fortunately, the Ramblers have a terrific new manager and a great staff in place to help keep everyone ready and in place.
Tuesday night, the Ramblers got off to the perfect start in Naperville Invitational group play with a thrilling shootout victory over host Fremd at Hildebrandt Field.
"We're in a tough stretch of games for us which began last Saturday with Glenbrook South, so our goal has been to stay focused and sharp as we manage our way through six games against quality opponents," said Shannon Hartinger, who in her first season in charge has guided her club to a 4-3-2 record which included matches against three clubs in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25. "Thus far we've done pretty well for ourselves.
"We had that great win over Glenbrook South, then lost a tough one to Lake Forest Monday night. But I am very proud of the way we came out and played tonight, after having that let down the night before."
This group play game, originally scheduled for April 20, was moved to accommodate Loyola's late spring break, which begins April 18.
For Fremd manager Steve Keller, it might have been better if this contest was played then and not Tuesday.
"We were not very good at all," admitted a disappointed Fremd manager.
"It was state testing day at school, and several of our players were not even required to be at school. That's not an excuse or to take anything away from Loyola, but we lacked energy and played with very little emotion. In the end, that's what cost you games."
It was clear from the opening whistle that the visitors, even though back on the pitch just 24 hours after the loss to Lake Forest, came ready to play.
"It's kind of crazy week for all of us," began senior Lauren Daffada, who was named Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match. "We're basically playing two different tournament schedules and almost every night.
"We have so many freshmen and sophomore players, but they all have a great attitude. And they really work hard, so it's because of the nice mix of young and old players that I feel that we come out and play hard right from the start."
Daffada and teammate Kate Murtagh were key figures in the Ramblers eventual victory. The dynamic duo did just about everything asked and required of them in order to hold down the middle of the park.
If not winning first and second balls, the pair did their share of quality distribution while defending and basically going box-to-box in order to keep the home side from getting on its front foot.
In addition to all of the less-than-dazzling play by the Vikings, which bothered Keller, his biggest concern was the loss of two outstanding players to injury.
Junior Lauren Burk, Fremd's terrific center back, suffered an upper leg injury at three minutes near the Vikings touchline. She went to the bench for treatment and returned. The all-everything Burk made a valiant attempt to play through obvious discomfort but called it a night in the 19th minute.
In the 50th minute, one of the Vikings top offensive threats, Mackenzie Stein, went down away from the action on the far side of the stadium. She needed assistance coming off of the pitch after suffering what looked to be a lower leg or ankle injury.
Both players sported ice packs when they left after the game.
"We don't know much right now, so we'll have to wait and see how both are doing tomorrow," said Keller, who placed senior Christy Murauskis just in front of his back-four.
The first chance scoring chance for either club came from the visitors when freshmen Molly Sipe won the ball just inside the Fremd half. She quickly played wide to Megan Kurtz, who drove her attempt over the bar at 23 minutes.
The effort from Kurtz seemed to breathe life into the Loyola attack, as did the fresh legs of Isabella Guzman and Maya Basan when Hartinger brought them on in the 26th minute.
Guzman in particular was effervescent, always working, while providing the type of pace and work rate that kept the ball in the Vikings end and helping others to do so as well.
Maggie Brett, who's working her way back slowly from offseason ACL surgery, added plenty of spice to the Ramblers attack during her near 50-minutes of work in her fifth game of the season.
Guzman was part of some nice combination work, along with fellow freshman Kathryn Diblik, that ended with Eleanor Jackson nearly breaking free if not for a sharp tackle by Murauskis.
Despite having its trouble in getting out of its own end, the Vikings were able to earn the best chance of the first half for either side. Maya Poyraz was at the heart of an attempt on frame in the 35th minute.
The junior ran onto a short clearing effort and unloaded a wicked one-timer through a crowd towards an open window at the back post.
Loyola keeper Katherine Jaros, who read the situation very well, moved quickly to her right. With a nice horizontal reach, she pulled the Poyraz 14-yard strike out of the air.
Fremd continued with a well-executed, one-two combination from Palak Khera and Claire Stewart that saw the latter brought down.
However, Liz Prigge's resultant 30-yard free kick went over to close out the first period.
"We stood around and watched the game, rarely doing anything away from the ball to help each other," said Keller, who reminded his club of this, and a few other items during the intermission. "And we just didn't to anything to help ourselves dictate the game."
Loyola, who ran several successful short corners on this night mostly with Sipe and Brett the facilitators, was at its best in the 48th minute.
Brett touched a pass ever so softly to Sipe, whose inward-swinging serve found Madeline Prassas, who steered in the opener much to the delight of Hartinger and the Loyola faithful.
"We are more consistently executing set pieces, and our runners are getting themselves into dangerous areas to score," said Hartinger. "So it was great for Madeline to be in position to find the back of the net on that first goal."
The Prassas goal was possible because of the work from Daffada, who won a tough 50-50 challenge before helping create the corner.
The visitors could have doubled their advantage moments later when Murtagh, Brett and Kaitlyn Kurtz moved the ball forward with exquisite pace and touches and freed up Brett.
In retrospect, the all-state forward likely would have had a go herself instead of playing the ball wide to Kurtz, whom the assistant referee ruled offside on this exchange.
Fremd overcame the injury loss of Stein to finally come out of its offensive shell, but not after Grace Ehlert, one of seven freshmen on the Loyola roster, tricked her way into the box. She saw a possible attempt taking off her shooting boot by Fremd keeper Jennifer Norris.
Emma Spotak, one of the heroes of the Vikings 2-0 win over crosstown rival Palatine last week, helped bring the Fremd attack back into the game.
The senior had a go from 22 yards in the 54th minute, then roared up the right side, before playing a lovely ball into the box. There, Loyola's Claire Kelly parried the danger out of the area.
This sequence inspired the Vikings attack, which began to play with more urgency and energy.
There were intermittent glimpses of the attacking capabilities of Fremd. Its best possession and combination work came from Emma Katovich, Allie Prigge and Rose Kentish, who brought a ball into the final third where Ashley Scesniak went just over the bar.
Murauskis broke away free on the right flank on a lightning-quick counter before turning one home from close range after Jaros strayed far off her line. That gave the Fremd captain a near open net in the 76th minute.
"Christy was just Christy tonight," said Keller.
"She was our one constant, regardless of where we asked her to play, and she scored a great goal to give us a chance."
When 80 minutes could not decide a winner, tournament rules in group play sent both clubs to the spot for penalty kicks.
Once there, both sides were perfect in the first four rounds: Murauskis, Kentish, Liz Prigge and Allie Prigge in that order for the Vikings; Murtagh, Kelly, Brett and Meredith Phillips for the visitors.
However, when Scesniak went just over the bar to open round no. 5, it opened the door for Jackson, who buried her attempt into the upper right corner to send the Ramblers bench into orbit.
"We knew who our first 10 shooters would be based on training, but I always ask who feels good at that moment, and all five said 'Yes,' then stepped up and hit their PKs really well," said Hartinger.
"Even though we have so many new players, including myself, players like Lauren (Daffada) have made us all feel welcome, and have helped us get comfortable and play with a lot of confidence," said Sipe.
Added Daffada: "That's kind of our job and responsibility as seniors. We have to be the leaders, just as other older players did for us when we first came here."
Hartinger likes Daffada's style.
"Lauren is an intense player, but she also keeps things lighthearted which has a real positive impact on the team," she said. "The senior group of: Brett, Daffada, Jaros, Kelly, Kurtz, Murtagh and Phillips have all done an outstanding job of creating a great environment, on and off the field."
Loyola swtiched tournaments and lost 2-0 to group winner and host Lyons in the Lou Malnati's Deep Dish Classic.
Fremd fell 1-0 in a Mid-Suburban League match at Hersey.
Starting lineups
Loyola Academy (4-4-2)
G- Katherine Jaros
D- Molly Sipe
D- Madeline Prassas
D- Claire Kelly
D- Megan Kurtz
M- Grace Ehlert
M- Kate Murtagh
M- Lauren Daffada
M- Meredith Phillips
F- Maggie Brett
F- Kaitlyn Kurtz
Fremd (4-1-3-2)
G- Jennifer Norris
D- Allie Prigge
D- Allie Prigge
D- Lauren Burk
D- Elizabeth Prigge
D- Emma Katovich
M- Christy Murauskis
M- Emma Spotak
M- Kayla Tanner
M- Mackenzie Stein
F- Ashley Scesniak
F- Caeleigh Stone
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Lauren Daffada, sr., MF, Loyola
Referee: Alex Mavrothalasitis
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Loyola: Prassas (Sipe) 45'
Fremd: Murauskis (Poyraz) 77'
PKS
Fremd: Murauskis, Kentish, Liz Prigge, Allie Prigge, Scesniak (over)
Loyola: Murtagh, Kelly, Brett and Meredith Phillips, Jackson
in early Naperville Invitational opener
Ramblers open Naperville Invite play with PK victory
By Mike Garofola
PALATINE -- If you're a player on the Loyola soccer club, it's a "No rest for the weary" kind of week for you.
Just keeping tabs on what tournament and venue you're at is enough to test even the best organizational system.
Fortunately, the Ramblers have a terrific new manager and a great staff in place to help keep everyone ready and in place.
Tuesday night, the Ramblers got off to the perfect start in Naperville Invitational group play with a thrilling shootout victory over host Fremd at Hildebrandt Field.
"We're in a tough stretch of games for us which began last Saturday with Glenbrook South, so our goal has been to stay focused and sharp as we manage our way through six games against quality opponents," said Shannon Hartinger, who in her first season in charge has guided her club to a 4-3-2 record which included matches against three clubs in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25. "Thus far we've done pretty well for ourselves.
"We had that great win over Glenbrook South, then lost a tough one to Lake Forest Monday night. But I am very proud of the way we came out and played tonight, after having that let down the night before."
This group play game, originally scheduled for April 20, was moved to accommodate Loyola's late spring break, which begins April 18.
For Fremd manager Steve Keller, it might have been better if this contest was played then and not Tuesday.
"We were not very good at all," admitted a disappointed Fremd manager.
"It was state testing day at school, and several of our players were not even required to be at school. That's not an excuse or to take anything away from Loyola, but we lacked energy and played with very little emotion. In the end, that's what cost you games."
It was clear from the opening whistle that the visitors, even though back on the pitch just 24 hours after the loss to Lake Forest, came ready to play.
"It's kind of crazy week for all of us," began senior Lauren Daffada, who was named Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match. "We're basically playing two different tournament schedules and almost every night.
"We have so many freshmen and sophomore players, but they all have a great attitude. And they really work hard, so it's because of the nice mix of young and old players that I feel that we come out and play hard right from the start."
Daffada and teammate Kate Murtagh were key figures in the Ramblers eventual victory. The dynamic duo did just about everything asked and required of them in order to hold down the middle of the park.
If not winning first and second balls, the pair did their share of quality distribution while defending and basically going box-to-box in order to keep the home side from getting on its front foot.
In addition to all of the less-than-dazzling play by the Vikings, which bothered Keller, his biggest concern was the loss of two outstanding players to injury.
Junior Lauren Burk, Fremd's terrific center back, suffered an upper leg injury at three minutes near the Vikings touchline. She went to the bench for treatment and returned. The all-everything Burk made a valiant attempt to play through obvious discomfort but called it a night in the 19th minute.
In the 50th minute, one of the Vikings top offensive threats, Mackenzie Stein, went down away from the action on the far side of the stadium. She needed assistance coming off of the pitch after suffering what looked to be a lower leg or ankle injury.
Both players sported ice packs when they left after the game.
"We don't know much right now, so we'll have to wait and see how both are doing tomorrow," said Keller, who placed senior Christy Murauskis just in front of his back-four.
The first chance scoring chance for either club came from the visitors when freshmen Molly Sipe won the ball just inside the Fremd half. She quickly played wide to Megan Kurtz, who drove her attempt over the bar at 23 minutes.
The effort from Kurtz seemed to breathe life into the Loyola attack, as did the fresh legs of Isabella Guzman and Maya Basan when Hartinger brought them on in the 26th minute.
Guzman in particular was effervescent, always working, while providing the type of pace and work rate that kept the ball in the Vikings end and helping others to do so as well.
Maggie Brett, who's working her way back slowly from offseason ACL surgery, added plenty of spice to the Ramblers attack during her near 50-minutes of work in her fifth game of the season.
Guzman was part of some nice combination work, along with fellow freshman Kathryn Diblik, that ended with Eleanor Jackson nearly breaking free if not for a sharp tackle by Murauskis.
Despite having its trouble in getting out of its own end, the Vikings were able to earn the best chance of the first half for either side. Maya Poyraz was at the heart of an attempt on frame in the 35th minute.
The junior ran onto a short clearing effort and unloaded a wicked one-timer through a crowd towards an open window at the back post.
Loyola keeper Katherine Jaros, who read the situation very well, moved quickly to her right. With a nice horizontal reach, she pulled the Poyraz 14-yard strike out of the air.
Fremd continued with a well-executed, one-two combination from Palak Khera and Claire Stewart that saw the latter brought down.
However, Liz Prigge's resultant 30-yard free kick went over to close out the first period.
"We stood around and watched the game, rarely doing anything away from the ball to help each other," said Keller, who reminded his club of this, and a few other items during the intermission. "And we just didn't to anything to help ourselves dictate the game."
Loyola, who ran several successful short corners on this night mostly with Sipe and Brett the facilitators, was at its best in the 48th minute.
Brett touched a pass ever so softly to Sipe, whose inward-swinging serve found Madeline Prassas, who steered in the opener much to the delight of Hartinger and the Loyola faithful.
"We are more consistently executing set pieces, and our runners are getting themselves into dangerous areas to score," said Hartinger. "So it was great for Madeline to be in position to find the back of the net on that first goal."
The Prassas goal was possible because of the work from Daffada, who won a tough 50-50 challenge before helping create the corner.
The visitors could have doubled their advantage moments later when Murtagh, Brett and Kaitlyn Kurtz moved the ball forward with exquisite pace and touches and freed up Brett.
In retrospect, the all-state forward likely would have had a go herself instead of playing the ball wide to Kurtz, whom the assistant referee ruled offside on this exchange.
Fremd overcame the injury loss of Stein to finally come out of its offensive shell, but not after Grace Ehlert, one of seven freshmen on the Loyola roster, tricked her way into the box. She saw a possible attempt taking off her shooting boot by Fremd keeper Jennifer Norris.
Emma Spotak, one of the heroes of the Vikings 2-0 win over crosstown rival Palatine last week, helped bring the Fremd attack back into the game.
The senior had a go from 22 yards in the 54th minute, then roared up the right side, before playing a lovely ball into the box. There, Loyola's Claire Kelly parried the danger out of the area.
This sequence inspired the Vikings attack, which began to play with more urgency and energy.
There were intermittent glimpses of the attacking capabilities of Fremd. Its best possession and combination work came from Emma Katovich, Allie Prigge and Rose Kentish, who brought a ball into the final third where Ashley Scesniak went just over the bar.
Murauskis broke away free on the right flank on a lightning-quick counter before turning one home from close range after Jaros strayed far off her line. That gave the Fremd captain a near open net in the 76th minute.
"Christy was just Christy tonight," said Keller.
"She was our one constant, regardless of where we asked her to play, and she scored a great goal to give us a chance."
When 80 minutes could not decide a winner, tournament rules in group play sent both clubs to the spot for penalty kicks.
Once there, both sides were perfect in the first four rounds: Murauskis, Kentish, Liz Prigge and Allie Prigge in that order for the Vikings; Murtagh, Kelly, Brett and Meredith Phillips for the visitors.
However, when Scesniak went just over the bar to open round no. 5, it opened the door for Jackson, who buried her attempt into the upper right corner to send the Ramblers bench into orbit.
"We knew who our first 10 shooters would be based on training, but I always ask who feels good at that moment, and all five said 'Yes,' then stepped up and hit their PKs really well," said Hartinger.
"Even though we have so many new players, including myself, players like Lauren (Daffada) have made us all feel welcome, and have helped us get comfortable and play with a lot of confidence," said Sipe.
Added Daffada: "That's kind of our job and responsibility as seniors. We have to be the leaders, just as other older players did for us when we first came here."
Hartinger likes Daffada's style.
"Lauren is an intense player, but she also keeps things lighthearted which has a real positive impact on the team," she said. "The senior group of: Brett, Daffada, Jaros, Kelly, Kurtz, Murtagh and Phillips have all done an outstanding job of creating a great environment, on and off the field."
Loyola swtiched tournaments and lost 2-0 to group winner and host Lyons in the Lou Malnati's Deep Dish Classic.
Fremd fell 1-0 in a Mid-Suburban League match at Hersey.
Starting lineups
Loyola Academy (4-4-2)
G- Katherine Jaros
D- Molly Sipe
D- Madeline Prassas
D- Claire Kelly
D- Megan Kurtz
M- Grace Ehlert
M- Kate Murtagh
M- Lauren Daffada
M- Meredith Phillips
F- Maggie Brett
F- Kaitlyn Kurtz
Fremd (4-1-3-2)
G- Jennifer Norris
D- Allie Prigge
D- Allie Prigge
D- Lauren Burk
D- Elizabeth Prigge
D- Emma Katovich
M- Christy Murauskis
M- Emma Spotak
M- Kayla Tanner
M- Mackenzie Stein
F- Ashley Scesniak
F- Caeleigh Stone
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Lauren Daffada, sr., MF, Loyola
Referee: Alex Mavrothalasitis
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Loyola: Prassas (Sipe) 45'
Fremd: Murauskis (Poyraz) 77'
PKS
Fremd: Murauskis, Kentish, Liz Prigge, Allie Prigge, Scesniak (over)
Loyola: Murtagh, Kelly, Brett and Meredith Phillips, Jackson