Naperville Central’s roll
continues, Granite City falls
Undefeated Redhawks win 2-0, remain unscored upon
By Keith Schildroth
BELLEVILLE, ILL. -- A quick weekend trip to the southern part of the state proved to be a nice test for Naperville Central.
The number-five club in Chicagoland Soccer’s First 50 preseason poll improved to a perfect 4-0-0 with shutout wins over Belleville West on Friday night and 2-0 in a quick turn-around game against Granite City on Saturday morning at Belleville West High School. The Redhawks’ stingy backline and goalie Abby O'Connor have yet to allow a goal on the young season.
The northern visitors were prime candidates for a slight soccer hangover or let down, but Granite City wasn't that lucky. The young and talented Lady Warriors did not have the depth to get much offense going the entire game.
Granite City has a terrific tradition of a blue collar, lunch pail style of play no matter the makeup of their roster. These trademarks date back to Hall of Fame coaches Bob Kehoe and Gene Baker, who both put their mark on the overall soccer program at the school.
"We beat a solid team," said Naperville Central coach Ed Watson. "It's two days in a row playing really good competition, and we're starting to see some good things from girls. We have a lot of returning players and some who are going to fit in. Everybody is starting to learn their roles, and we're starting to get there. It was a good week for us."
Both clubs faced a, strong, consistent wind the majority of the game. Granite City (1-1-0) also had to worry about a tight Redhawks backline.
"They didn't give us a whole lot of looks, and we only played one up-top," said Granite City Coach Kenny Prazma. "We knew they were good. We started out a little bit more defensive, started with a 4-2-3-1 and unfortunately made a few mistakes in the back.
'We're pretty young. And being the second game, I thought we played better in the second half than the first half. They're big, fast, and they play with the ball extremely well."
Megan Norkett set the pace early for the Naperville Central. She was a consistent offensive threat most of the game, either making runs with the ball into the Lady Warriors end of the field or finding an open teammate. She produced numerous scoring chances.
Norkett hit forward Maddie Boogerd with a perfect through-pass in the opening minutes of the game. The ensuing shot just missed wide of Lady Warriors goalie Alivia Upshaw.
Norkett was busy again picking up a loose ball with some hard work along the sideline. She moved the ball just outside the Warriors box and beat Upshaw to the far post for a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute.
The Redhawks offense didn't let up before intermission. Norkett was active again targeting Sarah McCracken with a nifty pass that just missed the mark. Upshaw came off her line to stop a strong cross from Norkett.
Upshaw kept Granite City in the game late in the half when she came off her line to make a nice kick save on a shot from Molly O'Rear. Norkett started the play with a perfect pass.
"She (Norkett) is a talented player," said Watson. "It's easy to go under the radar and show that you're good. She doesn't go under the radar. Anybody that plays us knows they pay her a great deal of attention. Megan and Molly (O'Rear) both don't need to have the ball at their feet all the time to help us. Their movement off the ball is as critical as what they do when they have the ball at their feet. They're both terrific players. "
O'Rear took advantage of a mistake in the Granite City backfield and that lead to the second goal. She picked up a free ball just on top of the Granite City box, took it almost the length of the box and pushed a shot to the lower right corner past Upshaw in the 23rd minute.
She kept up the pressure in the final minutes of the first half with a few other good scoring chances. O'Rear fired a shot from the left side forced Upshaw to make a nice save. Norkett and Natalie Jordan continued to keep Upshaw busy with two shots that perhaps produced the keeper’s best stops of the half.
"I thought we played really well as a team together, obviously with the conditions," said Norkett. "We had to adjust to the wind, and we came together. My first thought when I receive the ball is to see if I can get forward. If not, I try and see if I can find somebody up-top like Molly, so she can lay if off or turn it back and connect to a space.
“I thought we've improved a lot for the first four games. We still have some room to grow and get better, but overall we've played pretty well and I'm pretty proud of everyone."
Granite City forward Maddy Vasiloff tested O'Connor in the final minute of the first half with a dangerous cross that the keeper intercepted. The Warriors built off the Vasiloff attempt. Going into the second half, they picked up their play on offense.
Norkett was at it again early in the second half. She started a near-perfect corner kick that just missed connecting with forward Lauren Thorne. Granite City forward Emmi Hogan started to make progress with some hard work along the sidelines that resulted in a few good scoring chances. Midfielder Peyton Hatfield just missed the crossbar with a blast from the top of the box.
Naperville Central had the best near-miss scoring chance of the second half when Norkett worked a pretty play down the left sideline and hit a nifty cross that Boogerd nearly connected with inside the box.
Hickam almost scored for Granite City in the final minutes of the game. She gave O'Connor her toughest test with a bomb that the keeper managed to punch over the goal.
"The other team did a really good job shutting us down, but I don't think the score really shows how we played," said Hatfield. "Both teams played great. They just executed their shots a little bit better. I think this game will help us during the season. This was a challenge today."
Even though O'Connor has had a light work load, Watson is happy with her level of play.
"I'm real pleased with how our goalkeeper is playing right now," said Watson. "She hasn't seen a lot of opportunities, but there has been some tough ones that she's had to deal with. The one shot she had today, she punched over the top. A lot of goalkeepers give that up."
Watson said he was happy with the Redhawks play in the first half but his club was a tad sluggish in closing the game.
"I was very happy how we played against the wind in the first half." said Watson. "We kept the ball down, moved the ball quickly to their teammates. Quite frankly we were better in the first half than we were in the second when we had the wind to our advantage. I don't know if it's that trap you get into when you can't play the ball in behind, because you can't catch it."
O'Rear said the quick start is the result of a dedicated style of play.
"We're feeling great, and I'm really, really proud of this team,"said O'Rear. "We've worked so hard. I'm so proud of the work ethic they bring to every game. Our midfield works incredibly hard; our defense always shuts it down for us and our offense always gets it done for us."
Starting lineups
Naperville Central
GK: Abby O'Connor
D: Chloe Mowry
D: Sam Sharp
D: Sarah McCracken
D: Ella Burke
MF: Grace Granato
MF: Molly O'Rear
MF: Megan Norkett
F: Maddie Boogerd
F: Lauren Thorne
F: Sophia Skoubis
Granite City
GK: Alivia Upshaw
D: Sophia Dutko
D: Logan Wakeford
D: Abby Knight
D: Adrian Bloomquist
MF: Peyton Hartfield
MF: Ella Hickam
MF: Abby Knight
FWD: Lillian Bloomquist
FWD: Savanhna Khammanyvong
FWD: Emma Hogan
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of Match: Megan Norkett, jr., MF, Naperville Central
Scoring summary
First half
Naperville Central: Megan Norkett (unassisted), 17th minute
Naperville Central: Molly O'Rear (unassisted), 23rd minute
Second half
No scoring
continues, Granite City falls
Undefeated Redhawks win 2-0, remain unscored upon
By Keith Schildroth
BELLEVILLE, ILL. -- A quick weekend trip to the southern part of the state proved to be a nice test for Naperville Central.
The number-five club in Chicagoland Soccer’s First 50 preseason poll improved to a perfect 4-0-0 with shutout wins over Belleville West on Friday night and 2-0 in a quick turn-around game against Granite City on Saturday morning at Belleville West High School. The Redhawks’ stingy backline and goalie Abby O'Connor have yet to allow a goal on the young season.
The northern visitors were prime candidates for a slight soccer hangover or let down, but Granite City wasn't that lucky. The young and talented Lady Warriors did not have the depth to get much offense going the entire game.
Granite City has a terrific tradition of a blue collar, lunch pail style of play no matter the makeup of their roster. These trademarks date back to Hall of Fame coaches Bob Kehoe and Gene Baker, who both put their mark on the overall soccer program at the school.
"We beat a solid team," said Naperville Central coach Ed Watson. "It's two days in a row playing really good competition, and we're starting to see some good things from girls. We have a lot of returning players and some who are going to fit in. Everybody is starting to learn their roles, and we're starting to get there. It was a good week for us."
Both clubs faced a, strong, consistent wind the majority of the game. Granite City (1-1-0) also had to worry about a tight Redhawks backline.
"They didn't give us a whole lot of looks, and we only played one up-top," said Granite City Coach Kenny Prazma. "We knew they were good. We started out a little bit more defensive, started with a 4-2-3-1 and unfortunately made a few mistakes in the back.
'We're pretty young. And being the second game, I thought we played better in the second half than the first half. They're big, fast, and they play with the ball extremely well."
Megan Norkett set the pace early for the Naperville Central. She was a consistent offensive threat most of the game, either making runs with the ball into the Lady Warriors end of the field or finding an open teammate. She produced numerous scoring chances.
Norkett hit forward Maddie Boogerd with a perfect through-pass in the opening minutes of the game. The ensuing shot just missed wide of Lady Warriors goalie Alivia Upshaw.
Norkett was busy again picking up a loose ball with some hard work along the sideline. She moved the ball just outside the Warriors box and beat Upshaw to the far post for a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute.
The Redhawks offense didn't let up before intermission. Norkett was active again targeting Sarah McCracken with a nifty pass that just missed the mark. Upshaw came off her line to stop a strong cross from Norkett.
Upshaw kept Granite City in the game late in the half when she came off her line to make a nice kick save on a shot from Molly O'Rear. Norkett started the play with a perfect pass.
"She (Norkett) is a talented player," said Watson. "It's easy to go under the radar and show that you're good. She doesn't go under the radar. Anybody that plays us knows they pay her a great deal of attention. Megan and Molly (O'Rear) both don't need to have the ball at their feet all the time to help us. Their movement off the ball is as critical as what they do when they have the ball at their feet. They're both terrific players. "
O'Rear took advantage of a mistake in the Granite City backfield and that lead to the second goal. She picked up a free ball just on top of the Granite City box, took it almost the length of the box and pushed a shot to the lower right corner past Upshaw in the 23rd minute.
She kept up the pressure in the final minutes of the first half with a few other good scoring chances. O'Rear fired a shot from the left side forced Upshaw to make a nice save. Norkett and Natalie Jordan continued to keep Upshaw busy with two shots that perhaps produced the keeper’s best stops of the half.
"I thought we played really well as a team together, obviously with the conditions," said Norkett. "We had to adjust to the wind, and we came together. My first thought when I receive the ball is to see if I can get forward. If not, I try and see if I can find somebody up-top like Molly, so she can lay if off or turn it back and connect to a space.
“I thought we've improved a lot for the first four games. We still have some room to grow and get better, but overall we've played pretty well and I'm pretty proud of everyone."
Granite City forward Maddy Vasiloff tested O'Connor in the final minute of the first half with a dangerous cross that the keeper intercepted. The Warriors built off the Vasiloff attempt. Going into the second half, they picked up their play on offense.
Norkett was at it again early in the second half. She started a near-perfect corner kick that just missed connecting with forward Lauren Thorne. Granite City forward Emmi Hogan started to make progress with some hard work along the sidelines that resulted in a few good scoring chances. Midfielder Peyton Hatfield just missed the crossbar with a blast from the top of the box.
Naperville Central had the best near-miss scoring chance of the second half when Norkett worked a pretty play down the left sideline and hit a nifty cross that Boogerd nearly connected with inside the box.
Hickam almost scored for Granite City in the final minutes of the game. She gave O'Connor her toughest test with a bomb that the keeper managed to punch over the goal.
"The other team did a really good job shutting us down, but I don't think the score really shows how we played," said Hatfield. "Both teams played great. They just executed their shots a little bit better. I think this game will help us during the season. This was a challenge today."
Even though O'Connor has had a light work load, Watson is happy with her level of play.
"I'm real pleased with how our goalkeeper is playing right now," said Watson. "She hasn't seen a lot of opportunities, but there has been some tough ones that she's had to deal with. The one shot she had today, she punched over the top. A lot of goalkeepers give that up."
Watson said he was happy with the Redhawks play in the first half but his club was a tad sluggish in closing the game.
"I was very happy how we played against the wind in the first half." said Watson. "We kept the ball down, moved the ball quickly to their teammates. Quite frankly we were better in the first half than we were in the second when we had the wind to our advantage. I don't know if it's that trap you get into when you can't play the ball in behind, because you can't catch it."
O'Rear said the quick start is the result of a dedicated style of play.
"We're feeling great, and I'm really, really proud of this team,"said O'Rear. "We've worked so hard. I'm so proud of the work ethic they bring to every game. Our midfield works incredibly hard; our defense always shuts it down for us and our offense always gets it done for us."
Starting lineups
Naperville Central
GK: Abby O'Connor
D: Chloe Mowry
D: Sam Sharp
D: Sarah McCracken
D: Ella Burke
MF: Grace Granato
MF: Molly O'Rear
MF: Megan Norkett
F: Maddie Boogerd
F: Lauren Thorne
F: Sophia Skoubis
Granite City
GK: Alivia Upshaw
D: Sophia Dutko
D: Logan Wakeford
D: Abby Knight
D: Adrian Bloomquist
MF: Peyton Hartfield
MF: Ella Hickam
MF: Abby Knight
FWD: Lillian Bloomquist
FWD: Savanhna Khammanyvong
FWD: Emma Hogan
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of Match: Megan Norkett, jr., MF, Naperville Central
Scoring summary
First half
Naperville Central: Megan Norkett (unassisted), 17th minute
Naperville Central: Molly O'Rear (unassisted), 23rd minute
Second half
No scoring