Marist offense finding its stride
RedHawks finishing right way with 3-0 win vs. Shepard
By Steve Millar
PALOS HEIGHTS – Marist has its offense clicking at the right time of the year.
Winners of four of their last five games following Monday’s 3-0 victory at Shepard, the RedHawks have scored 17 goals in that stretch.
“In the beginning of the year, there were a lot of games where teams shut us down,” senior forward Ally Corcoran said. “Now we’re scoring a lot more. I feel like over the course of the season we’ve definitely gotten better.”
Corcoran scored her team-best ninth goal of the season Monday, but she no longer feels pressure to carry the load.
“Our freshmen have been a big part of it,” she said. “I’m really confident in them, and I’m confident in the older girls like Amanda (Rizzo). I know they’ll score just like I score. I never feel like I have to do it on my own.”
Two freshmen, Cece Light and Ciara Bridges, also scored for the RedHawks (10-10-2).
It was Corcoran, though, who got things started.
In the 12th minute, she took a long pass from defender Michelle Lenz and broke down the middle of the field.
Shepard goalkeeper Veronica Janik charged out of the net to cut down Corcoran’s angle, but she banged a shot off the side of the right post and in to put Marist in front 1-0.
“I was kind of getting my arm grabbed from behind and then the goalie was there, so I couldn’t get much on the shot,” Corcoran said. “There was nothing technical about that. I just got lucky.”
Pretty or not, Corcoran’s goal set the tone.
“Once you get that lead, your whole team’s a bit more confident,” she said. “It’s good to get that first goal. If the other team gets it, it can make you play down. When we get it, we play better.”
Corcoran was confident Marist would not relinquish the lead. After all, the RedHawks’ back line is also playing at a high level.
Lenz, Annie Callaghan, Sofia Perez and Katherine Pappas all played a big role on defense as Marist recorded its fifth shutout of the season.
For her dominance at center back, and her playmaking on Corcoran’s goal, Lenz was named Chicagoland Soccer’s MVP of the Match.
“In the beginning of the season, our defensive line was pretty much completely different from last year,” Lenz said. “I was the only returning player. It was tough at first, but our outside defenders have gotten a lot more experience, and we’re more solid.”
With her confidence in her teammates at a higher level, Lenz is more comfortable taking risks.
“It takes a lot of pressure off me, and it’s a big help knowing I can trust them, and I don’t have to stay back and worry about covering the whole defense,” she said. “That opens me up to be more offensive and make some plays.”
While Marist’s defense held Shepard (7-12-2) without a shot on goal in the first half, one of the RedHawks’ youngsters helped them get some cushion.
Light made it 2-0 in the 26th minute. Sprinting down the right sideline, she had her initial attempt shut down by a defender but stole the ball back and quickly buried a high shot.
“We’ve been working at, if we do give up the ball, working twice as hard to get it back,” Marist coach Chris Roe said.
Down 2-0 at halftime, the Astros threatened to cut into the lead early in the second half.
Diana Lopez got the ball near midfield and played a nice through-ball to Yiselle Silvar, who fired just wide in the opening minute of the half.
Just over 10 minutes later, the Astros worked a nice combination play as Kylie Radz passed the ball to Amara Mason on the left sideline.
Mason’s cross to the middle of the box found Gabrielle Taylor, who put a strong shot on net only to be robbed by Marist goalkeeper Lauren Stapleton.
Stapleton was fresh off the bench after watching Cassandra Eraci play the first half without facing a shot on goal.
“Lauren made a terrific save to thwart any comeback chance,” Roe said. “We were lazy getting back on that chance, though. You’ve got to give Lauren credit.”
Stapleton finished with three saves, denying a pair of Mason shots from outside 30 yards later in the half.
Shepard coach Frank Marek was pleased to see his side pick things up after halftime.
“Our three captains, Ixchel (Salgado), Amara (Mason) and Kaci (Jasik), made it a point to play together as a team, and they realized where to attack in the second half,” he said. “We executed a bit better in the second half, but Marist was a tough opponent with a strong defense.”
Janik made 10 saves for the Astros, who finished their regular season with the last in a long line of tough nonconference tests.
Shepard’s out-of-conference slate included the likes of Fenwick, Stagg, Homewood-Flossmoor Lincoln-Way Central and Mother McAuley, along with Marist.
“We wanted to pick up some tough nonconference games,” Marek said. “Those teams are up this year, and we’re young with a lot of sophomores and two freshman starters. Those games were tough, but they’re good experiences for the future.”
Bridges accounted for the final tally for the RedHawks as she took a pass from Victoria Collins and sent a high shot past Janik with 19:59 to go.
Roe liked seeing many of his players get involved in the offense.
“We’re moving the ball around well,” Roe said. “We’re keeping the ball on the ground instead of trying to play kick ball.
“Some games, like this one, when the other team is kicking the ball down the field you just want to kick it right back at them. Our girls did a good job of bringing it down and trying to move it. The long ball is there when you need it, but you don’t want to rely on it.”
Roe would still like to see the RedHawks avoid the carelessness with the ball that’s been on display at times.
“We move the ball fine and then we pass it away,” he said. “That’s where the good teams will usually come down and bury us.
“We did a lot of good things in this game, though. It’s coming around. One more game.”
That final regular season game will be a Wednesday night tilt against rival Mother McAuley.
Marist beat the Mighty Macs 2-0 on April 12. If the RedHawks can repeat that feat, they’ll be over .500 for the first time this season.
Then it’s on to the Class AA playoffs. Lenz said the postseason won’t overwhelm her team.
“We’ve played a lot of tough teams so we’re ready for anything,” she said. “We’re not going to encounter anything we’re not prepared for. It’s just a matter of if we play to our highest potential.”
Starting lineups
Marist
GK: Cassandra Eraci
D: Katherine Pappas
D: Michelle Lenz
D: Sofia Perez
D: Annie Callaghan
MF: Cece Light
MF: Lindsey Richter
MF: Ciara Bridges
MF: Colleen O’Finn
F: Ally Corcoran
F: Amanda Rizzo
Shepard
GK: Veronica Janik
D: Ariel Villareal
D: Jasmine Iturbe
D: Diana Lopez
D: Kaci Jasik
MF: Yiselle Silvar
MF: Gabrielle Taylor
MF: Ixchel Salgado
MF: Jessie Eichwedel
MF: Kylie Radz
F: Amara Mason
Chicagoland Soccer’s MVP of the Match: Michelle Lenz, sr., D, Marist
Scoring summary
First half
Marist: Ally Corcoran (Michelle Lenz), 12th minute
Marist: Cece Light (unassisted), 26th minute
Second half
Marist: Ciara Bridges (Victoria Collins), 61st minute
RedHawks finishing right way with 3-0 win vs. Shepard
By Steve Millar
PALOS HEIGHTS – Marist has its offense clicking at the right time of the year.
Winners of four of their last five games following Monday’s 3-0 victory at Shepard, the RedHawks have scored 17 goals in that stretch.
“In the beginning of the year, there were a lot of games where teams shut us down,” senior forward Ally Corcoran said. “Now we’re scoring a lot more. I feel like over the course of the season we’ve definitely gotten better.”
Corcoran scored her team-best ninth goal of the season Monday, but she no longer feels pressure to carry the load.
“Our freshmen have been a big part of it,” she said. “I’m really confident in them, and I’m confident in the older girls like Amanda (Rizzo). I know they’ll score just like I score. I never feel like I have to do it on my own.”
Two freshmen, Cece Light and Ciara Bridges, also scored for the RedHawks (10-10-2).
It was Corcoran, though, who got things started.
In the 12th minute, she took a long pass from defender Michelle Lenz and broke down the middle of the field.
Shepard goalkeeper Veronica Janik charged out of the net to cut down Corcoran’s angle, but she banged a shot off the side of the right post and in to put Marist in front 1-0.
“I was kind of getting my arm grabbed from behind and then the goalie was there, so I couldn’t get much on the shot,” Corcoran said. “There was nothing technical about that. I just got lucky.”
Pretty or not, Corcoran’s goal set the tone.
“Once you get that lead, your whole team’s a bit more confident,” she said. “It’s good to get that first goal. If the other team gets it, it can make you play down. When we get it, we play better.”
Corcoran was confident Marist would not relinquish the lead. After all, the RedHawks’ back line is also playing at a high level.
Lenz, Annie Callaghan, Sofia Perez and Katherine Pappas all played a big role on defense as Marist recorded its fifth shutout of the season.
For her dominance at center back, and her playmaking on Corcoran’s goal, Lenz was named Chicagoland Soccer’s MVP of the Match.
“In the beginning of the season, our defensive line was pretty much completely different from last year,” Lenz said. “I was the only returning player. It was tough at first, but our outside defenders have gotten a lot more experience, and we’re more solid.”
With her confidence in her teammates at a higher level, Lenz is more comfortable taking risks.
“It takes a lot of pressure off me, and it’s a big help knowing I can trust them, and I don’t have to stay back and worry about covering the whole defense,” she said. “That opens me up to be more offensive and make some plays.”
While Marist’s defense held Shepard (7-12-2) without a shot on goal in the first half, one of the RedHawks’ youngsters helped them get some cushion.
Light made it 2-0 in the 26th minute. Sprinting down the right sideline, she had her initial attempt shut down by a defender but stole the ball back and quickly buried a high shot.
“We’ve been working at, if we do give up the ball, working twice as hard to get it back,” Marist coach Chris Roe said.
Down 2-0 at halftime, the Astros threatened to cut into the lead early in the second half.
Diana Lopez got the ball near midfield and played a nice through-ball to Yiselle Silvar, who fired just wide in the opening minute of the half.
Just over 10 minutes later, the Astros worked a nice combination play as Kylie Radz passed the ball to Amara Mason on the left sideline.
Mason’s cross to the middle of the box found Gabrielle Taylor, who put a strong shot on net only to be robbed by Marist goalkeeper Lauren Stapleton.
Stapleton was fresh off the bench after watching Cassandra Eraci play the first half without facing a shot on goal.
“Lauren made a terrific save to thwart any comeback chance,” Roe said. “We were lazy getting back on that chance, though. You’ve got to give Lauren credit.”
Stapleton finished with three saves, denying a pair of Mason shots from outside 30 yards later in the half.
Shepard coach Frank Marek was pleased to see his side pick things up after halftime.
“Our three captains, Ixchel (Salgado), Amara (Mason) and Kaci (Jasik), made it a point to play together as a team, and they realized where to attack in the second half,” he said. “We executed a bit better in the second half, but Marist was a tough opponent with a strong defense.”
Janik made 10 saves for the Astros, who finished their regular season with the last in a long line of tough nonconference tests.
Shepard’s out-of-conference slate included the likes of Fenwick, Stagg, Homewood-Flossmoor Lincoln-Way Central and Mother McAuley, along with Marist.
“We wanted to pick up some tough nonconference games,” Marek said. “Those teams are up this year, and we’re young with a lot of sophomores and two freshman starters. Those games were tough, but they’re good experiences for the future.”
Bridges accounted for the final tally for the RedHawks as she took a pass from Victoria Collins and sent a high shot past Janik with 19:59 to go.
Roe liked seeing many of his players get involved in the offense.
“We’re moving the ball around well,” Roe said. “We’re keeping the ball on the ground instead of trying to play kick ball.
“Some games, like this one, when the other team is kicking the ball down the field you just want to kick it right back at them. Our girls did a good job of bringing it down and trying to move it. The long ball is there when you need it, but you don’t want to rely on it.”
Roe would still like to see the RedHawks avoid the carelessness with the ball that’s been on display at times.
“We move the ball fine and then we pass it away,” he said. “That’s where the good teams will usually come down and bury us.
“We did a lot of good things in this game, though. It’s coming around. One more game.”
That final regular season game will be a Wednesday night tilt against rival Mother McAuley.
Marist beat the Mighty Macs 2-0 on April 12. If the RedHawks can repeat that feat, they’ll be over .500 for the first time this season.
Then it’s on to the Class AA playoffs. Lenz said the postseason won’t overwhelm her team.
“We’ve played a lot of tough teams so we’re ready for anything,” she said. “We’re not going to encounter anything we’re not prepared for. It’s just a matter of if we play to our highest potential.”
Starting lineups
Marist
GK: Cassandra Eraci
D: Katherine Pappas
D: Michelle Lenz
D: Sofia Perez
D: Annie Callaghan
MF: Cece Light
MF: Lindsey Richter
MF: Ciara Bridges
MF: Colleen O’Finn
F: Ally Corcoran
F: Amanda Rizzo
Shepard
GK: Veronica Janik
D: Ariel Villareal
D: Jasmine Iturbe
D: Diana Lopez
D: Kaci Jasik
MF: Yiselle Silvar
MF: Gabrielle Taylor
MF: Ixchel Salgado
MF: Jessie Eichwedel
MF: Kylie Radz
F: Amara Mason
Chicagoland Soccer’s MVP of the Match: Michelle Lenz, sr., D, Marist
Scoring summary
First half
Marist: Ally Corcoran (Michelle Lenz), 12th minute
Marist: Cece Light (unassisted), 26th minute
Second half
Marist: Ciara Bridges (Victoria Collins), 61st minute