Stop the presses!
Lake Forest takes down New Trier
Scouts topple North Shore rival 3-0 after long drought
By Bobby Narang
LAKE FOREST -- Alexandra Fontana became an unlikely hero on an unlikely day against an unlikely opponent.
Just minutes before Saturday’s game against New Trier, the Lake Forest junior was penciled in as the emergency starter in goal. Starting keeper Sarah Constantine was unable to suit up due to a sickness, which forced Lake Forest coach Ty Stuckslager to dig into his roster for a last-minute replacement.
Fontana, a defender, played two games in goal last season.
The assignment was even tougher given Lake Forest’s recent history against New Trier. The Scouts entered the annual game without a goal against the Trevians in their last four meetings, losing three games to go with a 0-0 tie in 2017.
Even with New Trier’s unusual struggles this season, the Scouts understood the challenge before them.
“I’ve never beaten New Trier in my career,” Lake Forest senior Ashleigh Rupprecht said.
But the 2022 season has been all about new beginnings after the pandemic caused the girls to lose their season in 2020 and play an appreviated campaign in 2021.
And the Scouts definitely broke new ground. They took a 2-0 first half lead en route to a 3-0 victory over the Trevians. Lily Cran, Rupprecht and Hanna Sands each scored a goal for Lake Forest (6-9-1).
Seconds after the clock hit all zeros, Fontana dashed off the goal line toward her team. Her team dashed toward her from midfield. They met at the 25-yard line for a mass celebration after the stunning performance and the rare victory over the Trevians.
Fontana said she was overcome with emotions after the final whistle sounded.
“I played goalie in club and last year against Warren twice, but we lost both,” Fontana said. “I’m very happy with this game. I was super nervous at the end. I wanted the ball out of my zone, away from me … so I could relax.
“I was so happy at the end. It was the best feeling I’ve ever felt in soccer. The team worked really hard for this day and win. It was so lovely to see it all come together and win 3-0.”
Fontana registered four saves to earn the shutout and said it a unique experience playing in the net against the powerful Trevians.
“I didn’t know I was starting,” she said. “I volunteered since I played it last year. I was so happy I did this, just to help the team win this.”
Stuckslager credited Fontana and the backline for playing focused and motivated soccer for the entire game.
“To enter the game without your keeper and to win is (special),” Stuckslager said. “Alexandra volunteered at the last minute. We were going to put somebody else in. She played a great game.
“It’s not like she has had any reps. Her confidence grew throughout the game. You can’t help but see that, so did the rest of the team. When we got that early first goal, that put forth the can-do for the team.
“This is a great win. We put them under pressure. I’m happy for the girls, the first sunny day in front of a big crowd. A lot of things going our way.
“The backline was fantastic. We would start the attack with them, at least start what we wanted to do with the attack. I don’t think Alexandra had too many one-on-ones.”
The Scouts have won two-straight games to gain some momentum for Monday’s North Suburban Conference game at Warren (9-3-4).
“We’ve never beat New Trier, and we’re all not even sure the last time we’ve beaten Warren,” Lake Forest defender Riley Hoskins said. “We really came out as a team and showed what we can do.
“Our communication and everything we did, we proved we left it all out on the field. We’re all so happy about this win … It felt good to play in this amazing (weather). It was an amazing day.”
New Trier (9-7-4) was stymied, and Lake Forest’s backline was a key reason for that. It stopped many potentially dangerous shots with deflections and physical play. As the confidence of the defense and Fontana rose, so too did the team's.
The Trevians also suffered from the injury bug during the game.
They had two players leave the game in a two-minute span after getting hit in the face by the ball, plus another player exited the game with a lower leg injury. Toward the end of the first half, two more had to leave the action.
“It was a tough loss,” New Trier’s Nora Westrol said. “That Evanston loss (3-1 on Thursday) was tough on us.
“With everyone getting hurt early in the game, and them getting two early goals, it was really tough. I got hit in the face, so did Sofia Palmer. It was brutal.”
Westrol and Palmer each had to take some time on the sideline near the midpoint of the opening half.
“I think it’s pretty tough right now, but I’m confident after a little break that we will be ready for the postseason,” said Westrol. “I think we’re going to come back stronger. I’m excited for that possibility.”
Lake Forest shocked themselves, a crowd estimated at 250 people, and the Trevians by scoring off a corner kick just 2 minutes and 33 seconds into the game.
Charlotte Andress hit a perfectly placed ball that Cran knocked into the net for the program’s first goal against New Trier in five years.
In the 17th minute, Rupprecht took advantage of a loose ball in the box to knock in a pop-fly like goal from 13 yards for a 2-0 lead.
“The win feels amazing. I am so proud of the team,” Rupprecht said. “We really brought it. The weather was beautiful, and it was amazing to see so many people from the community come out here to support us. It was a great atmosphere.”
The team co-captain said scoring her goal is among the highlights of her career.
“I was aiming for high inside the left post,” she said. “I’m right-footed, but my technique is better with my left foot. I bent forward, bent my knee and pointed my toe and tried to hit it hard as I can. It felt like slow motion.
“I told my coaches that scoring against New Trier has been a four-year dream of mine. I finally made it happen in my last game against them. I’m overjoyed. We shut them down.
“It’s a great shout-out to Alexandra Fontana. She played amazing. I’m overjoyed with everybody.”
The Trevians allowed the final goal when Sands scored on a penalty kick in the 68th minute. Fontana secured the shutout with a quality save in the 75th minute.
“It was just not our day, but (Lake Forest) played well and took advantage of opportunities,” New Trier coach Jim Burnside said. “We’ve been grinding out some games, and today was not our day.
“We’re going to try and do simple things. We lacked focus today. We have to bounce back. We need to be better at connecting and making opportunities for ourselves.
“Our girls played hard. ... I give (Lake Forest) credit. I’m proud of my team for working hard.”
Starting lineups
New Trier
GK Caroline Hague
D Charlotte Dellin
D Sadie-Grace Richardson
D Honor Dold
D Ava Shah
MF Sybil Evans
MF Annie Paden
MF Lida Dodge
MF Clara Deliduka
F Josie Noble
F Kendall Sierens
Lake Forest
GK Alexandra Fontana
D Sophie Benjakul
D Hanna Sands
D Ava Walsh
D Riley Hoskins
MF Charlotte Andress
MF Lainey Tabor
MF Lily Cran
MF Kathy Peterson-Ross
F Tricia Gray
F Ashleigh Rupprecht
Chicagoland MVP of the Match: Alexandra Fontana, jr. GK, Lake Forest
Scoring
First half
LF: Lily Cran (Charlotte Andress), 3rd minute
LF: Ashleigh Rupprecht (unassisted), 17th minute
Second half
LF: Hanna Sands (penalty kick), 68th minute
Lake Forest takes down New Trier
Scouts topple North Shore rival 3-0 after long drought
By Bobby Narang
LAKE FOREST -- Alexandra Fontana became an unlikely hero on an unlikely day against an unlikely opponent.
Just minutes before Saturday’s game against New Trier, the Lake Forest junior was penciled in as the emergency starter in goal. Starting keeper Sarah Constantine was unable to suit up due to a sickness, which forced Lake Forest coach Ty Stuckslager to dig into his roster for a last-minute replacement.
Fontana, a defender, played two games in goal last season.
The assignment was even tougher given Lake Forest’s recent history against New Trier. The Scouts entered the annual game without a goal against the Trevians in their last four meetings, losing three games to go with a 0-0 tie in 2017.
Even with New Trier’s unusual struggles this season, the Scouts understood the challenge before them.
“I’ve never beaten New Trier in my career,” Lake Forest senior Ashleigh Rupprecht said.
But the 2022 season has been all about new beginnings after the pandemic caused the girls to lose their season in 2020 and play an appreviated campaign in 2021.
And the Scouts definitely broke new ground. They took a 2-0 first half lead en route to a 3-0 victory over the Trevians. Lily Cran, Rupprecht and Hanna Sands each scored a goal for Lake Forest (6-9-1).
Seconds after the clock hit all zeros, Fontana dashed off the goal line toward her team. Her team dashed toward her from midfield. They met at the 25-yard line for a mass celebration after the stunning performance and the rare victory over the Trevians.
Fontana said she was overcome with emotions after the final whistle sounded.
“I played goalie in club and last year against Warren twice, but we lost both,” Fontana said. “I’m very happy with this game. I was super nervous at the end. I wanted the ball out of my zone, away from me … so I could relax.
“I was so happy at the end. It was the best feeling I’ve ever felt in soccer. The team worked really hard for this day and win. It was so lovely to see it all come together and win 3-0.”
Fontana registered four saves to earn the shutout and said it a unique experience playing in the net against the powerful Trevians.
“I didn’t know I was starting,” she said. “I volunteered since I played it last year. I was so happy I did this, just to help the team win this.”
Stuckslager credited Fontana and the backline for playing focused and motivated soccer for the entire game.
“To enter the game without your keeper and to win is (special),” Stuckslager said. “Alexandra volunteered at the last minute. We were going to put somebody else in. She played a great game.
“It’s not like she has had any reps. Her confidence grew throughout the game. You can’t help but see that, so did the rest of the team. When we got that early first goal, that put forth the can-do for the team.
“This is a great win. We put them under pressure. I’m happy for the girls, the first sunny day in front of a big crowd. A lot of things going our way.
“The backline was fantastic. We would start the attack with them, at least start what we wanted to do with the attack. I don’t think Alexandra had too many one-on-ones.”
The Scouts have won two-straight games to gain some momentum for Monday’s North Suburban Conference game at Warren (9-3-4).
“We’ve never beat New Trier, and we’re all not even sure the last time we’ve beaten Warren,” Lake Forest defender Riley Hoskins said. “We really came out as a team and showed what we can do.
“Our communication and everything we did, we proved we left it all out on the field. We’re all so happy about this win … It felt good to play in this amazing (weather). It was an amazing day.”
New Trier (9-7-4) was stymied, and Lake Forest’s backline was a key reason for that. It stopped many potentially dangerous shots with deflections and physical play. As the confidence of the defense and Fontana rose, so too did the team's.
The Trevians also suffered from the injury bug during the game.
They had two players leave the game in a two-minute span after getting hit in the face by the ball, plus another player exited the game with a lower leg injury. Toward the end of the first half, two more had to leave the action.
“It was a tough loss,” New Trier’s Nora Westrol said. “That Evanston loss (3-1 on Thursday) was tough on us.
“With everyone getting hurt early in the game, and them getting two early goals, it was really tough. I got hit in the face, so did Sofia Palmer. It was brutal.”
Westrol and Palmer each had to take some time on the sideline near the midpoint of the opening half.
“I think it’s pretty tough right now, but I’m confident after a little break that we will be ready for the postseason,” said Westrol. “I think we’re going to come back stronger. I’m excited for that possibility.”
Lake Forest shocked themselves, a crowd estimated at 250 people, and the Trevians by scoring off a corner kick just 2 minutes and 33 seconds into the game.
Charlotte Andress hit a perfectly placed ball that Cran knocked into the net for the program’s first goal against New Trier in five years.
In the 17th minute, Rupprecht took advantage of a loose ball in the box to knock in a pop-fly like goal from 13 yards for a 2-0 lead.
“The win feels amazing. I am so proud of the team,” Rupprecht said. “We really brought it. The weather was beautiful, and it was amazing to see so many people from the community come out here to support us. It was a great atmosphere.”
The team co-captain said scoring her goal is among the highlights of her career.
“I was aiming for high inside the left post,” she said. “I’m right-footed, but my technique is better with my left foot. I bent forward, bent my knee and pointed my toe and tried to hit it hard as I can. It felt like slow motion.
“I told my coaches that scoring against New Trier has been a four-year dream of mine. I finally made it happen in my last game against them. I’m overjoyed. We shut them down.
“It’s a great shout-out to Alexandra Fontana. She played amazing. I’m overjoyed with everybody.”
The Trevians allowed the final goal when Sands scored on a penalty kick in the 68th minute. Fontana secured the shutout with a quality save in the 75th minute.
“It was just not our day, but (Lake Forest) played well and took advantage of opportunities,” New Trier coach Jim Burnside said. “We’ve been grinding out some games, and today was not our day.
“We’re going to try and do simple things. We lacked focus today. We have to bounce back. We need to be better at connecting and making opportunities for ourselves.
“Our girls played hard. ... I give (Lake Forest) credit. I’m proud of my team for working hard.”
Starting lineups
New Trier
GK Caroline Hague
D Charlotte Dellin
D Sadie-Grace Richardson
D Honor Dold
D Ava Shah
MF Sybil Evans
MF Annie Paden
MF Lida Dodge
MF Clara Deliduka
F Josie Noble
F Kendall Sierens
Lake Forest
GK Alexandra Fontana
D Sophie Benjakul
D Hanna Sands
D Ava Walsh
D Riley Hoskins
MF Charlotte Andress
MF Lainey Tabor
MF Lily Cran
MF Kathy Peterson-Ross
F Tricia Gray
F Ashleigh Rupprecht
Chicagoland MVP of the Match: Alexandra Fontana, jr. GK, Lake Forest
Scoring
First half
LF: Lily Cran (Charlotte Andress), 3rd minute
LF: Ashleigh Rupprecht (unassisted), 17th minute
Second half
LF: Hanna Sands (penalty kick), 68th minute