Hersey settles for draw
after late Maine W. strike
Teams see positives in season-opening 1-1 finish
By Mike Garofola
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS -- Claudia Kadielawa's long-range wonder goal rescued visiting Maine West from sure defeat Tuesday afternoon at Roland Goins Stadium in a hard-fought, well-officiated 1-1 contest with Hersey in the season opener for both clubs.
By his own admission, Maine West manager Jeff Bishop conceded the hosts' enjoyed most of the play on this sunny day. But as so often happens in this sport, an inability to finish chances, even if it is due at times to sensational work between the sticks, keep things close. In this case a stunning equalizer came seven minutes from time.
“Let’s be honest, Hersey had the ball so much more than we did, and we really didn’t get a good look until later into the second half,” said Bishop, whose club lost 4-0 at York on Friday in Elmhurst. “Leslee (Ordonez) showed once again why she is one of the best, or the best in the state with two great point-blank saves and with the way she managed things in and around the box.”
As is the case with ties and early season games, both sides had things to address.
“We’re a work in progress with so many new players on our roster this season,” said Huskies manager, Mike Rusniak. “Obviously (we) have to get on the end of those great long throws from Becca (Caliendo), but we fought hard for 80 minutes, had a few chances.
“(Their) keeper did a great job of turning shots away. All in all, it was a pretty good effort in our first game of the season
"It was great to finally get out there and play 80 minutes of soccer. Now we know what we'll need to work on. I thought overall the girls played pretty well.
"How we played in regard to our formation and shape from the start to the end of the game was completely different, which is the (in-game) growth you always want to see."
“I like the way we communicated, and passed the ball today,” began sophomore, Faith Sena, who shared Chicagoland Soccer MVP pf the Match honors with Ordonez.
"Even with so many new players, I really feel like we have very good chemistry on and off the field, and a lot of that is the way Res (coach Rusniak) and (assistant coach Sam) Reiff have brought us together."
Hersey was the better side for most of the first half. The Huskies had an early half-chance when freshmen Kiki Craft sent Abi Beck up the left side. The shot hit the outside netting in the eighth minute.
Two minutes later, Caliendo connected with Cassie Caruso, who in turn found Craft. The looping, short attempt was pulled down by Ordonez.
Those exchanges showed how much of a threat the Huskies could be on the counter and how important the service coming from Caruso along the right side would help pry open Maine West in its own end throughout this contest.
"Cassie is one of the most consistent players I have coached,” Rusniak said. “She showed a great deal of experience and leadership, and you saw how much she likes to be a part of the attack with some of those great balls she played into the box."
After Ava Cismoski went wide from 25 yards, the home side created a trio of deep, long throws. The piercing tosses from Caliendo led to some nervous moments in the Maine West end and a handful of quality chances which the Huskies failed to capitalize on. Hersey finally broke the ice when Sena steered in the opener minutes after the intermission.
"Cassie's throws are a real weapon. We just have to get better at getting on the end of more of them," admitted Sena.
The Maine West attack came to life for a brief period in the 22nd minute when Ximena Acuna, Yanet Conde, and Kadzielawa worked some nice combination magic. An early ball from Conde was a little too heavy and Huskies keeper Alli Paulson was able to come off her line to win a 50-50 chance with the hard-running Kadzielawa.
The visitors’ struggle with their possession forced them to defend far more than they would have liked as Hersey surged forward. After a lovely eight-ball combination, Beck went wide before Ordonez made her first big save of the day when she stopped Sena, who unloaded a 14-yard blast on the turn.
"That's a really good keeper Jeff has,” said Rusniak. “She stopped us from scoring once in the first half and two-three times more in the second. She does a very good job in the air and coming off her line."
The home side should have made it 1-0 two minutes before the break when another long throw from Caliendo was cleared off the line to keep this match scoreless after 40 minutes.
"We had zero chances on frame in the first half, and basically defended the entire half," said Bishop, who asked his club to press, especially on the Huskies’ first touch. “The girls did really well with the adjustments we made at the break.
"We did not want to give them time to control the ball and look up, which we were much better at in the second half. Plus we reminded our defense, and team in general, that pace, and decision-making needed to be quicker.
"I thought we did much better in all of those areas in the second half."
Hersey kept plugging away, and it finally paid off. Sena ran freely onto another long throw from Caliendo at the back post and found a way to direct it into the far, inside netting in the 47th minute.
"The coaches told us at the half to just get any part of your body on one of Becca's long throws, and that's what I did," said Sena, who pointed to a spot on the upper part of her leg to show where she met the Caliendo toss.
"There were so many throws from Becca we should have done something with, so it was great to finally put one in," said Ali Beck, who along with Caruso and Caliendo wear the captains’ armbands for Rusniak.
Playing with a little more confidence after bagging their first of the season, the Huskies worked to double their advantage. They may have had the opportunity to do so if Ordonez was not so quick off her line when she read potential trouble coming her way.
The senior took the ball off the foot of FInley Wilcox after Sena and Gretchen Chianelli put her through in the 51st minute. Minutes later, Ordonez turned away a close-range blast from Sena that should have made it a two-goal advantage on the hour.
"Leslee is a four-year starter who is a huge leader on the field for us,” said Bishop. “The younger players look up to her, while her game speaks for herself.
"She has an extremely high soccer IQ, and it's her tremendous positioning and decision-making that makes her the exceptional keeper that she is.
"I was so excited before this game, I injured myself in club soccer, and have been out of action for three months. It was great to be out here today with my teammates," said Ordonez, who recently committed to play at south suburban Governors State University.
"We lost a lot of players from last year’s team, but we're going to be so much better, it's just going to take some time," added Ordonez.
When it looked as though the home side would come away with the win in its opener, up stepped Claudia Kadzielawa, who was given just enough time and space to tee up a 30-yard cracker which found the upper right corner and gave Paulson no chance to stop.
"They really only had two looks today, but unfortunately one of them found the back of the net," said Ali Beck.
"It was a pretty good effort for both teams,” Bishop said. “Hersey was better in their possession, and creating chances. I thought we were so much better in the second half, so that's what we'll build off of."
Rusniak did not dwell on the 1-1 draw, instead praising several of his players who put forth quality efforts during the nonconference match.
"We moved Sena to striker last year, and she really worked on growing into playing her best at her new position,” he said. “She is always one of the hardest workers. Her strength and confidence with the ball on her foot will make her an impact player this year.
"Ava (Cismoski) and Gretchen (Chianelli) had great first games for us. They really showed how effective they will be in the middle. They complement each other really well, which is impressive; they have only been together for a couple of weeks."
Cismoski, a junior, missed all of last season with an ACL injury.
"Ali Beck was great all night. The experience she has gained as a four-year player really shows through with her leadership on defense," continued Rusniak.
"We lost a great central defender with Jane Stefaniak, so Ali knew going into this season she had to be the mainstay in the middle of our backline. Today, she looked smooth. Her communication was everything that you want and need.
"She had been given the green light to get forward, and she did a couple of times in this game to help create some very good scoring opportunities for us."
The Huskies won their first game of the season Thursday by a 1-0 tally vs. Cary-Grove. The team will take some time off and return for its biggest test of this young season when the Huskies travel to meet reigning Mid-Suburban League champion Barrington on March 30 in their league opener.
Starting lineups
Maine West (4-4-2)
G- Leslee Ordonez
D- Shannon Walsh
D- Vicky Delgadillo
D- Tais Vivar
D- Ana Lopez
M- Anna Montanile
M- Monika Wieczorek
M- Kaitlin Pittro
M- Ximena Acuna
F- Claudia Kadielawa
F- Yanet Conde
Hersey (4-1-3-2)
G- Alli Paulson
D- Anni Caliendo
D- Ali Beck
D- Natalie Suto
D- Cassie Caruso
M- Finley Wilcox
M- Becca Caliendo
M- Ava Cismoski
M- Gretchen Chianelli
F- Faith Sena
F- Abi Beck
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match:
Leslee Ordonez, sr., GK, Maine West;
Faith Sena, so., F, Hersey
Officials: Gabrion Caushi, referee; Matthew Scimeca, AR 1; Michael Gucwa, AR 2
Scoring summary
First half
Hersey
Sena (B. Caliendo) 47'
Second half
Maine West
Claudia Kadzielawa (U/A) 73'
after late Maine W. strike
Teams see positives in season-opening 1-1 finish
By Mike Garofola
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS -- Claudia Kadielawa's long-range wonder goal rescued visiting Maine West from sure defeat Tuesday afternoon at Roland Goins Stadium in a hard-fought, well-officiated 1-1 contest with Hersey in the season opener for both clubs.
By his own admission, Maine West manager Jeff Bishop conceded the hosts' enjoyed most of the play on this sunny day. But as so often happens in this sport, an inability to finish chances, even if it is due at times to sensational work between the sticks, keep things close. In this case a stunning equalizer came seven minutes from time.
“Let’s be honest, Hersey had the ball so much more than we did, and we really didn’t get a good look until later into the second half,” said Bishop, whose club lost 4-0 at York on Friday in Elmhurst. “Leslee (Ordonez) showed once again why she is one of the best, or the best in the state with two great point-blank saves and with the way she managed things in and around the box.”
As is the case with ties and early season games, both sides had things to address.
“We’re a work in progress with so many new players on our roster this season,” said Huskies manager, Mike Rusniak. “Obviously (we) have to get on the end of those great long throws from Becca (Caliendo), but we fought hard for 80 minutes, had a few chances.
“(Their) keeper did a great job of turning shots away. All in all, it was a pretty good effort in our first game of the season
"It was great to finally get out there and play 80 minutes of soccer. Now we know what we'll need to work on. I thought overall the girls played pretty well.
"How we played in regard to our formation and shape from the start to the end of the game was completely different, which is the (in-game) growth you always want to see."
“I like the way we communicated, and passed the ball today,” began sophomore, Faith Sena, who shared Chicagoland Soccer MVP pf the Match honors with Ordonez.
"Even with so many new players, I really feel like we have very good chemistry on and off the field, and a lot of that is the way Res (coach Rusniak) and (assistant coach Sam) Reiff have brought us together."
Hersey was the better side for most of the first half. The Huskies had an early half-chance when freshmen Kiki Craft sent Abi Beck up the left side. The shot hit the outside netting in the eighth minute.
Two minutes later, Caliendo connected with Cassie Caruso, who in turn found Craft. The looping, short attempt was pulled down by Ordonez.
Those exchanges showed how much of a threat the Huskies could be on the counter and how important the service coming from Caruso along the right side would help pry open Maine West in its own end throughout this contest.
"Cassie is one of the most consistent players I have coached,” Rusniak said. “She showed a great deal of experience and leadership, and you saw how much she likes to be a part of the attack with some of those great balls she played into the box."
After Ava Cismoski went wide from 25 yards, the home side created a trio of deep, long throws. The piercing tosses from Caliendo led to some nervous moments in the Maine West end and a handful of quality chances which the Huskies failed to capitalize on. Hersey finally broke the ice when Sena steered in the opener minutes after the intermission.
"Cassie's throws are a real weapon. We just have to get better at getting on the end of more of them," admitted Sena.
The Maine West attack came to life for a brief period in the 22nd minute when Ximena Acuna, Yanet Conde, and Kadzielawa worked some nice combination magic. An early ball from Conde was a little too heavy and Huskies keeper Alli Paulson was able to come off her line to win a 50-50 chance with the hard-running Kadzielawa.
The visitors’ struggle with their possession forced them to defend far more than they would have liked as Hersey surged forward. After a lovely eight-ball combination, Beck went wide before Ordonez made her first big save of the day when she stopped Sena, who unloaded a 14-yard blast on the turn.
"That's a really good keeper Jeff has,” said Rusniak. “She stopped us from scoring once in the first half and two-three times more in the second. She does a very good job in the air and coming off her line."
The home side should have made it 1-0 two minutes before the break when another long throw from Caliendo was cleared off the line to keep this match scoreless after 40 minutes.
"We had zero chances on frame in the first half, and basically defended the entire half," said Bishop, who asked his club to press, especially on the Huskies’ first touch. “The girls did really well with the adjustments we made at the break.
"We did not want to give them time to control the ball and look up, which we were much better at in the second half. Plus we reminded our defense, and team in general, that pace, and decision-making needed to be quicker.
"I thought we did much better in all of those areas in the second half."
Hersey kept plugging away, and it finally paid off. Sena ran freely onto another long throw from Caliendo at the back post and found a way to direct it into the far, inside netting in the 47th minute.
"The coaches told us at the half to just get any part of your body on one of Becca's long throws, and that's what I did," said Sena, who pointed to a spot on the upper part of her leg to show where she met the Caliendo toss.
"There were so many throws from Becca we should have done something with, so it was great to finally put one in," said Ali Beck, who along with Caruso and Caliendo wear the captains’ armbands for Rusniak.
Playing with a little more confidence after bagging their first of the season, the Huskies worked to double their advantage. They may have had the opportunity to do so if Ordonez was not so quick off her line when she read potential trouble coming her way.
The senior took the ball off the foot of FInley Wilcox after Sena and Gretchen Chianelli put her through in the 51st minute. Minutes later, Ordonez turned away a close-range blast from Sena that should have made it a two-goal advantage on the hour.
"Leslee is a four-year starter who is a huge leader on the field for us,” said Bishop. “The younger players look up to her, while her game speaks for herself.
"She has an extremely high soccer IQ, and it's her tremendous positioning and decision-making that makes her the exceptional keeper that she is.
"I was so excited before this game, I injured myself in club soccer, and have been out of action for three months. It was great to be out here today with my teammates," said Ordonez, who recently committed to play at south suburban Governors State University.
"We lost a lot of players from last year’s team, but we're going to be so much better, it's just going to take some time," added Ordonez.
When it looked as though the home side would come away with the win in its opener, up stepped Claudia Kadzielawa, who was given just enough time and space to tee up a 30-yard cracker which found the upper right corner and gave Paulson no chance to stop.
"They really only had two looks today, but unfortunately one of them found the back of the net," said Ali Beck.
"It was a pretty good effort for both teams,” Bishop said. “Hersey was better in their possession, and creating chances. I thought we were so much better in the second half, so that's what we'll build off of."
Rusniak did not dwell on the 1-1 draw, instead praising several of his players who put forth quality efforts during the nonconference match.
"We moved Sena to striker last year, and she really worked on growing into playing her best at her new position,” he said. “She is always one of the hardest workers. Her strength and confidence with the ball on her foot will make her an impact player this year.
"Ava (Cismoski) and Gretchen (Chianelli) had great first games for us. They really showed how effective they will be in the middle. They complement each other really well, which is impressive; they have only been together for a couple of weeks."
Cismoski, a junior, missed all of last season with an ACL injury.
"Ali Beck was great all night. The experience she has gained as a four-year player really shows through with her leadership on defense," continued Rusniak.
"We lost a great central defender with Jane Stefaniak, so Ali knew going into this season she had to be the mainstay in the middle of our backline. Today, she looked smooth. Her communication was everything that you want and need.
"She had been given the green light to get forward, and she did a couple of times in this game to help create some very good scoring opportunities for us."
The Huskies won their first game of the season Thursday by a 1-0 tally vs. Cary-Grove. The team will take some time off and return for its biggest test of this young season when the Huskies travel to meet reigning Mid-Suburban League champion Barrington on March 30 in their league opener.
Starting lineups
Maine West (4-4-2)
G- Leslee Ordonez
D- Shannon Walsh
D- Vicky Delgadillo
D- Tais Vivar
D- Ana Lopez
M- Anna Montanile
M- Monika Wieczorek
M- Kaitlin Pittro
M- Ximena Acuna
F- Claudia Kadielawa
F- Yanet Conde
Hersey (4-1-3-2)
G- Alli Paulson
D- Anni Caliendo
D- Ali Beck
D- Natalie Suto
D- Cassie Caruso
M- Finley Wilcox
M- Becca Caliendo
M- Ava Cismoski
M- Gretchen Chianelli
F- Faith Sena
F- Abi Beck
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match:
Leslee Ordonez, sr., GK, Maine West;
Faith Sena, so., F, Hersey
Officials: Gabrion Caushi, referee; Matthew Scimeca, AR 1; Michael Gucwa, AR 2
Scoring summary
First half
Hersey
Sena (B. Caliendo) 47'
Second half
Maine West
Claudia Kadzielawa (U/A) 73'