Sharp’s 1st varsity goal sparks
Naperville Central win over Neuqua Valley
Redhawks remain unbeaten, unscored upon after 4-0 win
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE -- Of all the potential candidates who could have scored the game-winning goal for Naperville Central on Tuesday, Samantha Sharp’s name would have been way down on the list.
So, of course, she’s the one who did.
Sharp, a senior defender, got some help from a stiff wind to bend in a corner kick midway through the first to break a scoreless tie and spark the Redhawks, who are ranked fourth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, to a 4-0 DuPage Valley Conference victory over host Neuqua Valley.
The goal, which came against the run of play with 18:30 remaining in the half, was the first goal of Sharp’s varsity career. It was an unexpected turn of events for Sharp, an Air Force recruit who usually toils on Naperville Central’s rock-solid, and thus far impenetrable, backline.
“We needed that,” Naperville Central coach Ed Watson said. “We were stagnant.
“I think we made the mistake of thinking that going downhill with the wind was going to be easy, and it was nothing but difficulty. They created a couple corner kick opportunities.
“We got caught in between. Are we going to play in behind them or play to feet? We just had a lot of miscommunication early on, and that goal settled us down.”
Sharp wasn’t trying to score when she lofted the ball from the left corner high into the Neuqua six. It caught the wind and went over the head of Neuqua goalkeeper Ellie Rubin.
“I was kind of surprised that it went in, but I was definitely happy,” Sharp said. “It is always good to score your first varsity goal, so I’m super excited.”
The Redhawks utilize the short corner on probably half of their corner kick tries, so Sharp doesn’t usually get a lot of chances to put a ball up for grabs. She wouldn’t take all the credit for her important goal.
“It’s definitely just a team effort,” Sharp said. “Everything I do is for the team, so just to score that goal and clinch the win was super exciting.”
Sharp’s tally put the Redhawks (8-0-0, 2-0-0) ahead to stay. Megan Norkett provided a highlight-reel goal 10 minutes later, and Rebecca Ruggiero delivered a backbreaker 19 seconds before halftime.
The Northwestern-bound Norkett took a pass from Ella Burke just outside the top right circle and made two nifty cutback moves to elude a defender. She put the ball on her dominant left foot and opened some daylight with which to shoot.
Norkett’s finish from 15 yards was as clinical as it was cunning, beating Rubin inside the right post for a 2-0 lead with 8:19 to go in the half.
“I know a lot of people know I’m left-footed, so obviously that’s something that they try and take away,” Norkett said. “So I decided to go right this time and cut it back on my left foot and then put it back.”
The result pleased Watson, but so did the build-up before that. He praised the hustle of senior reserve midfielder Maddie Mogg for triggering the sequence of events that led to the fantastic finish.
“Megan’s goal was a great goal,” Watson said. “That’s the piece where people go, ‘Gosh, she is a special player,’ but I think it’s important for people to understand how that all started.
“Ella Burke came out of the back and played it back through. But we got it down here with the hard work of Maddie Mogg, who got to a ball right on the sideline and played it off of their leg, and we got a throw-in.
“And the ball didn’t come out of their end until we scored. Those are the types of plays that lead to goals, so she deserves a lot of credit for that.”
Neuqua Valley coach Joe Moreau would have been OK going into halftime with a 2-0 deficit, knowing the Wildcats (0-4-2, 0-2-0) would have the wind at their backs in the second half.
But a defensive breakdown in the waning moments foiled that. Valparaiso recruit Molly O’Rear intercepted a goal kick about 35 yards from Neuqua Valley’s net and quickly sent a lead pass to Ruggiero racing into the right side of the 18.
Ruggiero was pressured but got off a shot from a fairly tough angle. The ball deflected off a defender and into the net to make it 3-0 with 19 ticks left.
“I think we continued to play well (after Sharp’s goal),” Moreau said. “The third goal was kind of a tough one. That was a little deflating.
“But we’re battling in every game. Our four losses are against four top 10 teams in Chicagoland Soccer, and we have two more top 10 teams next week. We’re battling, but we’ve got to get some more goals.”
None were to be found against the Redhawks, but that came as no surprise. Naperville Central still hasn’t allowed a goal this season. Senior goalkeeper Abby O’Connor, a Carnegie Mellon recruit, made four saves, all on shots from distance, in recording her eighth shutout.
Despite the loss, Neuqua Valley sophomore defender Kate Wohlfeil said the Wildcats enjoyed the test.
“I know Naperville Central has been a very good team in past years, so I feel like I knew what to expect,” Wohlfeil said. “They have a very good front line and obviously an entire good team.
“It was kind of fun going against people that were challenging.”
Neuqua’s schedule is packed with little else but challenges. No opponent figures to be an easy win.
While that will be tough on an inexperienced lineup, Wohlfeil isn’t discouraged.
“I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season, because I feel like we’re kind of growing together and becoming a really strong team,” Wohlfeil said. “This year we have a lot of girls that have never played together before, so we are getting used to each other and how we play together.
“I feel like we’re really strong off the field as well as on the field, so I feel like that makes us a strong team.”
There might not be a stronger team around than Naperville Central, especially where defense is concerned. With defenders like Sharp, Burke, Sarah McCracken and Sophia Skoubis – all Division I recruits – being backed up by promising reserves like junior Taylor Walk and sophomore Chloe Mowry, the Redhawks can frustrate even the most potent offenses.
Veterans like Sharp don’t be need to told what to do. She marked Neuqua Valley forward Selma Larbi, who scored against Naperville North last week, and the promising freshman striker mustered only one shot. The Wildcats finished with six shots, five of which came in the second half after the game was out of reach.
“She’s such a competitor,” Watson said of Sharp. “She, on her own, opted to go and kind of shadow (Larbi).
“I think she really likes the challenge. That’s what happens when you’ve got a backline that’s made up of three seniors, and the goalkeeper is a senior and they’re all playing high-level soccer. We’re very fortunate.”
And when those defenders score goals, well, that’s the icing on the cake. Sharp’s goal was just the beginning of another feast for the Redhawks.
“It definitely did (set the tone), because of the energy she brought after that goal,” Norkett said. “Obviously, she was ecstatic about scoring it.
“That was great energy to bring, so that really helped us amp up our level and play well for the rest of the game.”
Starting lineups
Naperville Central
GK Abby O’Connor
D Samantha Sharp
D Taylor Walk
D Ella Burke
D Sophia Skoubis
M Sarah McCracken
M Grace Granato
M Megan Norkett
F Maddie Boogerd
F Molly O’Rear
F Lauren Thorne
Neuqua Valley
GK Ellie Rubin
D Kassie Salviola
D Maya Stone
D Sejal Rhodes
D Kate Wohlfeil
D Brianna Clasen
M Lauren Milani
M Brooke Miller
M Grace Petrina
F Selma Larbi
F Abby Michalczyk
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Samantha Sharp, sr., D, Naperville Central
Scoring summary
First half
Naperville Central – Samantha Sharp 18:30 remaining
Naperville Central – Megan Norkett 8:19 remaining
Naperville Central – Rebecca Ruggiero (Molly O’Rear) :19 remaining
Second half
Naperville Central – Maddie Boogerd (Lauren Thorne) 12:15 remaining
Naperville Central win over Neuqua Valley
Redhawks remain unbeaten, unscored upon after 4-0 win
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE -- Of all the potential candidates who could have scored the game-winning goal for Naperville Central on Tuesday, Samantha Sharp’s name would have been way down on the list.
So, of course, she’s the one who did.
Sharp, a senior defender, got some help from a stiff wind to bend in a corner kick midway through the first to break a scoreless tie and spark the Redhawks, who are ranked fourth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, to a 4-0 DuPage Valley Conference victory over host Neuqua Valley.
The goal, which came against the run of play with 18:30 remaining in the half, was the first goal of Sharp’s varsity career. It was an unexpected turn of events for Sharp, an Air Force recruit who usually toils on Naperville Central’s rock-solid, and thus far impenetrable, backline.
“We needed that,” Naperville Central coach Ed Watson said. “We were stagnant.
“I think we made the mistake of thinking that going downhill with the wind was going to be easy, and it was nothing but difficulty. They created a couple corner kick opportunities.
“We got caught in between. Are we going to play in behind them or play to feet? We just had a lot of miscommunication early on, and that goal settled us down.”
Sharp wasn’t trying to score when she lofted the ball from the left corner high into the Neuqua six. It caught the wind and went over the head of Neuqua goalkeeper Ellie Rubin.
“I was kind of surprised that it went in, but I was definitely happy,” Sharp said. “It is always good to score your first varsity goal, so I’m super excited.”
The Redhawks utilize the short corner on probably half of their corner kick tries, so Sharp doesn’t usually get a lot of chances to put a ball up for grabs. She wouldn’t take all the credit for her important goal.
“It’s definitely just a team effort,” Sharp said. “Everything I do is for the team, so just to score that goal and clinch the win was super exciting.”
Sharp’s tally put the Redhawks (8-0-0, 2-0-0) ahead to stay. Megan Norkett provided a highlight-reel goal 10 minutes later, and Rebecca Ruggiero delivered a backbreaker 19 seconds before halftime.
The Northwestern-bound Norkett took a pass from Ella Burke just outside the top right circle and made two nifty cutback moves to elude a defender. She put the ball on her dominant left foot and opened some daylight with which to shoot.
Norkett’s finish from 15 yards was as clinical as it was cunning, beating Rubin inside the right post for a 2-0 lead with 8:19 to go in the half.
“I know a lot of people know I’m left-footed, so obviously that’s something that they try and take away,” Norkett said. “So I decided to go right this time and cut it back on my left foot and then put it back.”
The result pleased Watson, but so did the build-up before that. He praised the hustle of senior reserve midfielder Maddie Mogg for triggering the sequence of events that led to the fantastic finish.
“Megan’s goal was a great goal,” Watson said. “That’s the piece where people go, ‘Gosh, she is a special player,’ but I think it’s important for people to understand how that all started.
“Ella Burke came out of the back and played it back through. But we got it down here with the hard work of Maddie Mogg, who got to a ball right on the sideline and played it off of their leg, and we got a throw-in.
“And the ball didn’t come out of their end until we scored. Those are the types of plays that lead to goals, so she deserves a lot of credit for that.”
Neuqua Valley coach Joe Moreau would have been OK going into halftime with a 2-0 deficit, knowing the Wildcats (0-4-2, 0-2-0) would have the wind at their backs in the second half.
But a defensive breakdown in the waning moments foiled that. Valparaiso recruit Molly O’Rear intercepted a goal kick about 35 yards from Neuqua Valley’s net and quickly sent a lead pass to Ruggiero racing into the right side of the 18.
Ruggiero was pressured but got off a shot from a fairly tough angle. The ball deflected off a defender and into the net to make it 3-0 with 19 ticks left.
“I think we continued to play well (after Sharp’s goal),” Moreau said. “The third goal was kind of a tough one. That was a little deflating.
“But we’re battling in every game. Our four losses are against four top 10 teams in Chicagoland Soccer, and we have two more top 10 teams next week. We’re battling, but we’ve got to get some more goals.”
None were to be found against the Redhawks, but that came as no surprise. Naperville Central still hasn’t allowed a goal this season. Senior goalkeeper Abby O’Connor, a Carnegie Mellon recruit, made four saves, all on shots from distance, in recording her eighth shutout.
Despite the loss, Neuqua Valley sophomore defender Kate Wohlfeil said the Wildcats enjoyed the test.
“I know Naperville Central has been a very good team in past years, so I feel like I knew what to expect,” Wohlfeil said. “They have a very good front line and obviously an entire good team.
“It was kind of fun going against people that were challenging.”
Neuqua’s schedule is packed with little else but challenges. No opponent figures to be an easy win.
While that will be tough on an inexperienced lineup, Wohlfeil isn’t discouraged.
“I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season, because I feel like we’re kind of growing together and becoming a really strong team,” Wohlfeil said. “This year we have a lot of girls that have never played together before, so we are getting used to each other and how we play together.
“I feel like we’re really strong off the field as well as on the field, so I feel like that makes us a strong team.”
There might not be a stronger team around than Naperville Central, especially where defense is concerned. With defenders like Sharp, Burke, Sarah McCracken and Sophia Skoubis – all Division I recruits – being backed up by promising reserves like junior Taylor Walk and sophomore Chloe Mowry, the Redhawks can frustrate even the most potent offenses.
Veterans like Sharp don’t be need to told what to do. She marked Neuqua Valley forward Selma Larbi, who scored against Naperville North last week, and the promising freshman striker mustered only one shot. The Wildcats finished with six shots, five of which came in the second half after the game was out of reach.
“She’s such a competitor,” Watson said of Sharp. “She, on her own, opted to go and kind of shadow (Larbi).
“I think she really likes the challenge. That’s what happens when you’ve got a backline that’s made up of three seniors, and the goalkeeper is a senior and they’re all playing high-level soccer. We’re very fortunate.”
And when those defenders score goals, well, that’s the icing on the cake. Sharp’s goal was just the beginning of another feast for the Redhawks.
“It definitely did (set the tone), because of the energy she brought after that goal,” Norkett said. “Obviously, she was ecstatic about scoring it.
“That was great energy to bring, so that really helped us amp up our level and play well for the rest of the game.”
Starting lineups
Naperville Central
GK Abby O’Connor
D Samantha Sharp
D Taylor Walk
D Ella Burke
D Sophia Skoubis
M Sarah McCracken
M Grace Granato
M Megan Norkett
F Maddie Boogerd
F Molly O’Rear
F Lauren Thorne
Neuqua Valley
GK Ellie Rubin
D Kassie Salviola
D Maya Stone
D Sejal Rhodes
D Kate Wohlfeil
D Brianna Clasen
M Lauren Milani
M Brooke Miller
M Grace Petrina
F Selma Larbi
F Abby Michalczyk
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Samantha Sharp, sr., D, Naperville Central
Scoring summary
First half
Naperville Central – Samantha Sharp 18:30 remaining
Naperville Central – Megan Norkett 8:19 remaining
Naperville Central – Rebecca Ruggiero (Molly O’Rear) :19 remaining
Second half
Naperville Central – Maddie Boogerd (Lauren Thorne) 12:15 remaining