SCN uses fast start to beat Neuqua V.
Hosts post impressive 3-0 win in battle of ranked teams
By Matt Le Cren
ST. CHARLES – Neuqua Valley coach Joe Moreau prides himself on putting together the toughest schedule he can.
The veteran boss believes it will prepare his team to make a deep run in the playoffs.
It’s a sound strategy but not one conducive to racking up a great win-loss record. This year’s schedule may be the toughest one yet for the Wildcats, ranked eighth in Chicagoland Soccer's preseason poll, who open the season with 12-consecutive matches against quality opponents.
It began Thursday with a 1-0 loss to reigning state champion Barrington. The next stop was Saturday with a trip to state title contender St. Charles North, which has six Division I players back from a team that went undefeated until losing to three-time defending state champion New Trier in the supersectional.
The result was surprisingly one-sided.
The host North Stars attacked with gusto from the start and decided the game early by scoring three goals in a 13-minute span of the first half. The 3-0 win improved St. Charles North’s record to 3-0-0.
“We knew coming into this game that this would be a tough match with their high pressure,” St. Charles North senior midfielder Hailey Rydberg said. “So I think a lot of it had to do with mental preparation. We started off strong with high pressure.
“We were talking at halftime looking at the stats. We only had four shots on goal and we put in three, so that’s pretty good.”
Iowa-bound Rydberg got it started when she converted a penalty kick in the 10th minute. She later added another goal, her fourth of the season, in the 23rd minute as a result of an unassisted effort.
North’s second goal, which came in the 20th minute, involved great teamwork between Gia Wahlberg and Sarah Andrey, who finished a cross from the Michigan State recruit.
“It started off with a throw-in,” Andrey said. “I saw Gia running up on the side. It was all just quick little passes, and I just happened to be in the right position.”
The third-ranked North Stars are positioned to contend for a state championship because they have talent at every position. While Rydberg, Wahlberg and fellow seniors such as Vermont signee Dmi Petrusha and Minnesota State-Mankato recruit Cassidy Joyce, who did a great job marking Neuqua star Alyssa Bombacino, are the headliners, the supporting cast is strong.
“I would say the depth (is key),” Rydberg said. “You could trust every single player on this team that they’ll put in the effort and get the work done.”
That group understands the big picture, which means not looking at the larger goal without seeing the small tasks that must be completed en route.
“We have so many high-talented players on the team, and we’re off to a really good start,” Andrey said. “We’re not looking too far ahead, just keep (focused) on whatever is in front of us. We’ll always try our hardest.”
That’s what St. Charles North coach Brian Harks likes to hear.
“One of the best qualities about this group of players is that they’re very grounded,” Harks said. “They don’t get overly excited or overly sad. They approach the season one game at a time, and it makes for a better product.”
It’s a product that looked good against the Wildcats, who played well in their season-opening loss against Barrington.
“Our girls are continuing to find ways to get better every day, and I think that really showed in today’s game,” Harks said. “One of the girls even mentioned that this was our best game yet because we’re continuing to learn from the day before and find ways to play together a little bit better.”
The Wildcats (0-2-0) played a bit better in the second half after Moreau made some lineup changes. The North Stars held just a 7-5 shot advantage after intermission.
Sophomore Megan Olah nearly notched Neuqua’s first goal of 2018 in the 55th minute, but her hard shot from 17 yards went just over the crossbar. Nine minutes later, junior Shannon Tagler sent a 30-yard blast wide of the left post.
“(The North Stars) are good, a nice team,” Moreau said. “We gave up a PK early.
“They had much better possession of the ball than us, and they worked the ball well. The second and third goals were good goals.
“We’ve got to stay with runners because their midfielders were running through. We made some switches, and I thought defensively we were more solid in the second half. We just couldn’t get a good attack.”
Neuqua’s defense has been mostly solid in the opening two games. Goalie Kasey Gillespie made seven saves against the North Stars, including a leaping effort to tip a long shot from Rydberg over the crossbar in the 51st minute.
But as can be the case against top opponents, scoring goals has been a riddle the Wildcats have yet to unwrap.
“We’ve just got to figure out a way to finish,” Moreau said. “We’re’ getting some shots. We’re just not getting shots in the 18.”
Starting lineups
Neuqua Valley
GK Kasey Gillespie
D Shannon Tagler
D Erin McCarthy
D Kailey Serna
D Megan Olah
D Leah Senese
M Danielle Hopkins
M Alyssa Bombacino
M Kayla Monis
F Sydney Rushing
F Alison Dovalovsky
St. Charles North
GK Sara Maleski
D Grace Barresi
D Alyssa Mileham
D Celeste Wahlberg
D Alyssa Kraft
M Samantha Rydberg
M Hailey Rydberg
M Cassidy Joyce
F Claudia Najera
F Chloe Netzel
F Gia Wahlberg
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match – Hailey Rydberg, sr., MF, St. Charles North
Scoring summary
1st Half
St. Charles North – Hailey Rydberg (PK) 10th minute
St. Charles North – Sarah Andrey (Gia Wahlberg) 20th minute
St. Charles North – Hailey Rydberg 23rd minute
Hosts post impressive 3-0 win in battle of ranked teams
By Matt Le Cren
ST. CHARLES – Neuqua Valley coach Joe Moreau prides himself on putting together the toughest schedule he can.
The veteran boss believes it will prepare his team to make a deep run in the playoffs.
It’s a sound strategy but not one conducive to racking up a great win-loss record. This year’s schedule may be the toughest one yet for the Wildcats, ranked eighth in Chicagoland Soccer's preseason poll, who open the season with 12-consecutive matches against quality opponents.
It began Thursday with a 1-0 loss to reigning state champion Barrington. The next stop was Saturday with a trip to state title contender St. Charles North, which has six Division I players back from a team that went undefeated until losing to three-time defending state champion New Trier in the supersectional.
The result was surprisingly one-sided.
The host North Stars attacked with gusto from the start and decided the game early by scoring three goals in a 13-minute span of the first half. The 3-0 win improved St. Charles North’s record to 3-0-0.
“We knew coming into this game that this would be a tough match with their high pressure,” St. Charles North senior midfielder Hailey Rydberg said. “So I think a lot of it had to do with mental preparation. We started off strong with high pressure.
“We were talking at halftime looking at the stats. We only had four shots on goal and we put in three, so that’s pretty good.”
Iowa-bound Rydberg got it started when she converted a penalty kick in the 10th minute. She later added another goal, her fourth of the season, in the 23rd minute as a result of an unassisted effort.
North’s second goal, which came in the 20th minute, involved great teamwork between Gia Wahlberg and Sarah Andrey, who finished a cross from the Michigan State recruit.
“It started off with a throw-in,” Andrey said. “I saw Gia running up on the side. It was all just quick little passes, and I just happened to be in the right position.”
The third-ranked North Stars are positioned to contend for a state championship because they have talent at every position. While Rydberg, Wahlberg and fellow seniors such as Vermont signee Dmi Petrusha and Minnesota State-Mankato recruit Cassidy Joyce, who did a great job marking Neuqua star Alyssa Bombacino, are the headliners, the supporting cast is strong.
“I would say the depth (is key),” Rydberg said. “You could trust every single player on this team that they’ll put in the effort and get the work done.”
That group understands the big picture, which means not looking at the larger goal without seeing the small tasks that must be completed en route.
“We have so many high-talented players on the team, and we’re off to a really good start,” Andrey said. “We’re not looking too far ahead, just keep (focused) on whatever is in front of us. We’ll always try our hardest.”
That’s what St. Charles North coach Brian Harks likes to hear.
“One of the best qualities about this group of players is that they’re very grounded,” Harks said. “They don’t get overly excited or overly sad. They approach the season one game at a time, and it makes for a better product.”
It’s a product that looked good against the Wildcats, who played well in their season-opening loss against Barrington.
“Our girls are continuing to find ways to get better every day, and I think that really showed in today’s game,” Harks said. “One of the girls even mentioned that this was our best game yet because we’re continuing to learn from the day before and find ways to play together a little bit better.”
The Wildcats (0-2-0) played a bit better in the second half after Moreau made some lineup changes. The North Stars held just a 7-5 shot advantage after intermission.
Sophomore Megan Olah nearly notched Neuqua’s first goal of 2018 in the 55th minute, but her hard shot from 17 yards went just over the crossbar. Nine minutes later, junior Shannon Tagler sent a 30-yard blast wide of the left post.
“(The North Stars) are good, a nice team,” Moreau said. “We gave up a PK early.
“They had much better possession of the ball than us, and they worked the ball well. The second and third goals were good goals.
“We’ve got to stay with runners because their midfielders were running through. We made some switches, and I thought defensively we were more solid in the second half. We just couldn’t get a good attack.”
Neuqua’s defense has been mostly solid in the opening two games. Goalie Kasey Gillespie made seven saves against the North Stars, including a leaping effort to tip a long shot from Rydberg over the crossbar in the 51st minute.
But as can be the case against top opponents, scoring goals has been a riddle the Wildcats have yet to unwrap.
“We’ve just got to figure out a way to finish,” Moreau said. “We’re’ getting some shots. We’re just not getting shots in the 18.”
Starting lineups
Neuqua Valley
GK Kasey Gillespie
D Shannon Tagler
D Erin McCarthy
D Kailey Serna
D Megan Olah
D Leah Senese
M Danielle Hopkins
M Alyssa Bombacino
M Kayla Monis
F Sydney Rushing
F Alison Dovalovsky
St. Charles North
GK Sara Maleski
D Grace Barresi
D Alyssa Mileham
D Celeste Wahlberg
D Alyssa Kraft
M Samantha Rydberg
M Hailey Rydberg
M Cassidy Joyce
F Claudia Najera
F Chloe Netzel
F Gia Wahlberg
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match – Hailey Rydberg, sr., MF, St. Charles North
Scoring summary
1st Half
St. Charles North – Hailey Rydberg (PK) 10th minute
St. Charles North – Sarah Andrey (Gia Wahlberg) 20th minute
St. Charles North – Hailey Rydberg 23rd minute