English, Smiley double Oswego East's pleasure vs. Hinsdale Central
Pair of braces, solid defense give Wolves 4-0 win
By Matt Le Cren
HINSDALE -- The frightful weather conditions continued Saturday, but so did Oswego East’s delightful play.
Erika Smiley and Taylor English made sure of that. Both scored twice to lift the visiting Wolves (4-1-0) to an impressive 4-0 victory over Hinsdale Central in a battle of at Dickinson Field.
Smiley struck first by converting the first shot of the game. The senior took a perfect lead pass from Anya Gulbrandsen that split the middle of the defense and scored on a breakaway with 36:07 left in the first half of a game played in a cold, steady rain.
“We have really good chemistry,” Smiley said. “That’s what is good for our team is that we all play with each other and for each other. So, yeah, we (she and English) scored the goals, but it was a team effort.”
The Wolves, who are ranked 19th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, entered the game off a 5-0 rout of Joliet West on Thursday. They took a step up in class in facing previously unbeaten Hinsdale Central but clearly were up to the task.
“I think the girls just caught a rhythm coming in from Thursday,” Oswego East coach Juan Leal said. “They just brought that energy into today, because they figured the success we had on Thursday we could replicate if we just keep the ball moving and tire the other team out.”
The Wolves did just that by controlling the midfield and attacking down the flanks to get around Hinsdale Central’s formidable defense.
“One of the biggest things that we’ve been talking about this year that we did really well today was moving the ball, switching the point of attack, being patient with our passing,” Leal said. “They had some really good players in the back that were winning the ball.
“Obviously, we knew we weren’t going to beat them in the air, so we just had to go through them and play on the ground. The girls did a phenomenal job. They’re buying into the program philosophy of letting the ball do the work and everyone will be able to relish the goals.”
There have been plenty of goals to relish lately. The Wolves have won four in a row since a season-opening 1-0 loss at currently third-ranked Naperville Central. Oswego East has scored 20 goals in their last three games, including 11 in a shutout win over Joliet Central on Tuesday.
Scoring four times against Hinsdale Central, though, was a major accomplishment. The 24th-ranked Red Devils (3-1-1) had allowed four or more goals just once in their previous 35 games dating back to the 2019 season.
“It was definitely exciting,” said English, who bagged her first two goals of the season “It’s good to see everything as a team come together.
“In practice we’ve worked on keeping possession and working through the midfield and out wide. I think we did that in this game really well, which allowed us to get some opportunities.”
Most of those opportunities came in the second half, when the Wolves were finally able to wear down Hinsdale Central’s defense and put three balls past goalkeeper Anne Schaefer, a freshman who was pulled up from the JV team to make her varsity debut in place of senior Sydney Pjesky, the Red Devils usual second half keeper. Rania Arain is the starter.
Schaefer played well, making seven saves in her 40 minutes of action, including two diving saves and a kick save on English’s volley off a Riley Gumm corner kick.
She didn’t have a chance on any of the three goals. English tallied the first one when she buried a left-footed rocket from 20 yards under the crossbar to make it 2-0 at the 35:01 mark.
Six minutes later, Smiley was left wide-open on the doorstep and tapped in a cross from Gumm for a 3-0 lead. English finished the scoring with a penalty kick with 6:58 to go.
Leal said Smiley’s opening goal was the crucial one.
“We wanted to attack and score first just to set our rhythm and to keep them on their heels,” Leal said. “That first goal, as early as it came, we didn’t want them getting any momentum, so it was huge for us.”
The other turning point came at a nearly identical time in the second half. Hinsdale Central striker Hanna Florence got loose for a breakaway into the box, but her left-footed shot skittered just wide of the left post.
Less than two minutes later, English scored the first of her two goals.
“It was a sloppy game,” Hinsdale Central coach Anthony Madonia said. “But if Hanna Florence pokes in that tying goal, we’re looking at a much different game, I think. You’ve seen her play over the past two years, she’s usually pretty automatic.”
While the Wolves were playing their third match of the week, Madonia’s club was shaking off the rust and not playing with a full deck after taking a week off for spring break. The Red Devils were without Pjesky and her twin sister Hannah, who is usually one of the starting forwards. Outside back Ava Elliott wanted to play but an illness got the best of her.
That led to some last-minute shuffling. Madonia inserted Carter Knotts into the starting lineup. The junior midfielder is coming off an injury.
“Given a really small roster for the day, it was good just to get back out there,” Madonia said. “It was a good tune-up after being gone for a week for spring break.
“We had some glimpses of what we’re capable of, but it definitely exposed some things we need to tighten up.”
One benefit of the 2022 season is a return to normalcy after the interruptions the pandemic caused. That includes playing tournaments and nonconference opponents. Intersectional games like this one help both teams.
“We have a rough schedule, so you can’t focus on the record all that much,” Madonia said. “I know the girls were beat up about it, but you’ve just got to worry about what you can control.
“We planned this game on purpose. We want to set the standard on what we’re preparing for. Oswego East was a great team.”
Indeed, the Wolves show every sign of continuing the progress they showed during their breakout 2021 season.
“I think our defensive line, especially, is really strong,” English said. “We work together. Then our midfielders, we know how to create, how to move in the middle and then play out wide to our forwards, who are very creative.
“So I think if we put all that together, we’ll do well.”
The Wolves did that against a solid foe Saturday.
“It’s nice getting new competition that we’re not used to,” Smiley said. “I really love it, and I’m really excited for the whole season.”
Starting lineups
Oswego East
GK Sam McPhee
D Yocie Castelan
D Hannah Bolte
D Abigail Triska
M Mikayla Lambert
M Emma Rosenthal
M Chloe Noon
M Anya Gulbrandsen
M Taylor English
F Riley Gumm
F Erika Smiley
Hinsdale Central
GK Rania Arain
D Nina Sarros
D Sidney Turnbull
D Claire Kumskis
D Peyton Rohn
M Carter Knotts
M Kate Kocoras
M Maddy Panveno
F Cate McDonnell
F Hanna Florence
F Reana Ibrahimian
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Erika Smiley, jr., F, Oswego East.
Scoring summary
First half
Oswego East – Erika Smiley (Anja Gulbrandsen) 36:07 remaining
Second half
Oswego East – Taylor English 35:01 remaining
Oswego East – Smiley (Riley Gumm) 28:47 remaining
Oswego East – English (PK) 6:58 remaining
Pair of braces, solid defense give Wolves 4-0 win
By Matt Le Cren
HINSDALE -- The frightful weather conditions continued Saturday, but so did Oswego East’s delightful play.
Erika Smiley and Taylor English made sure of that. Both scored twice to lift the visiting Wolves (4-1-0) to an impressive 4-0 victory over Hinsdale Central in a battle of at Dickinson Field.
Smiley struck first by converting the first shot of the game. The senior took a perfect lead pass from Anya Gulbrandsen that split the middle of the defense and scored on a breakaway with 36:07 left in the first half of a game played in a cold, steady rain.
“We have really good chemistry,” Smiley said. “That’s what is good for our team is that we all play with each other and for each other. So, yeah, we (she and English) scored the goals, but it was a team effort.”
The Wolves, who are ranked 19th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, entered the game off a 5-0 rout of Joliet West on Thursday. They took a step up in class in facing previously unbeaten Hinsdale Central but clearly were up to the task.
“I think the girls just caught a rhythm coming in from Thursday,” Oswego East coach Juan Leal said. “They just brought that energy into today, because they figured the success we had on Thursday we could replicate if we just keep the ball moving and tire the other team out.”
The Wolves did just that by controlling the midfield and attacking down the flanks to get around Hinsdale Central’s formidable defense.
“One of the biggest things that we’ve been talking about this year that we did really well today was moving the ball, switching the point of attack, being patient with our passing,” Leal said. “They had some really good players in the back that were winning the ball.
“Obviously, we knew we weren’t going to beat them in the air, so we just had to go through them and play on the ground. The girls did a phenomenal job. They’re buying into the program philosophy of letting the ball do the work and everyone will be able to relish the goals.”
There have been plenty of goals to relish lately. The Wolves have won four in a row since a season-opening 1-0 loss at currently third-ranked Naperville Central. Oswego East has scored 20 goals in their last three games, including 11 in a shutout win over Joliet Central on Tuesday.
Scoring four times against Hinsdale Central, though, was a major accomplishment. The 24th-ranked Red Devils (3-1-1) had allowed four or more goals just once in their previous 35 games dating back to the 2019 season.
“It was definitely exciting,” said English, who bagged her first two goals of the season “It’s good to see everything as a team come together.
“In practice we’ve worked on keeping possession and working through the midfield and out wide. I think we did that in this game really well, which allowed us to get some opportunities.”
Most of those opportunities came in the second half, when the Wolves were finally able to wear down Hinsdale Central’s defense and put three balls past goalkeeper Anne Schaefer, a freshman who was pulled up from the JV team to make her varsity debut in place of senior Sydney Pjesky, the Red Devils usual second half keeper. Rania Arain is the starter.
Schaefer played well, making seven saves in her 40 minutes of action, including two diving saves and a kick save on English’s volley off a Riley Gumm corner kick.
She didn’t have a chance on any of the three goals. English tallied the first one when she buried a left-footed rocket from 20 yards under the crossbar to make it 2-0 at the 35:01 mark.
Six minutes later, Smiley was left wide-open on the doorstep and tapped in a cross from Gumm for a 3-0 lead. English finished the scoring with a penalty kick with 6:58 to go.
Leal said Smiley’s opening goal was the crucial one.
“We wanted to attack and score first just to set our rhythm and to keep them on their heels,” Leal said. “That first goal, as early as it came, we didn’t want them getting any momentum, so it was huge for us.”
The other turning point came at a nearly identical time in the second half. Hinsdale Central striker Hanna Florence got loose for a breakaway into the box, but her left-footed shot skittered just wide of the left post.
Less than two minutes later, English scored the first of her two goals.
“It was a sloppy game,” Hinsdale Central coach Anthony Madonia said. “But if Hanna Florence pokes in that tying goal, we’re looking at a much different game, I think. You’ve seen her play over the past two years, she’s usually pretty automatic.”
While the Wolves were playing their third match of the week, Madonia’s club was shaking off the rust and not playing with a full deck after taking a week off for spring break. The Red Devils were without Pjesky and her twin sister Hannah, who is usually one of the starting forwards. Outside back Ava Elliott wanted to play but an illness got the best of her.
That led to some last-minute shuffling. Madonia inserted Carter Knotts into the starting lineup. The junior midfielder is coming off an injury.
“Given a really small roster for the day, it was good just to get back out there,” Madonia said. “It was a good tune-up after being gone for a week for spring break.
“We had some glimpses of what we’re capable of, but it definitely exposed some things we need to tighten up.”
One benefit of the 2022 season is a return to normalcy after the interruptions the pandemic caused. That includes playing tournaments and nonconference opponents. Intersectional games like this one help both teams.
“We have a rough schedule, so you can’t focus on the record all that much,” Madonia said. “I know the girls were beat up about it, but you’ve just got to worry about what you can control.
“We planned this game on purpose. We want to set the standard on what we’re preparing for. Oswego East was a great team.”
Indeed, the Wolves show every sign of continuing the progress they showed during their breakout 2021 season.
“I think our defensive line, especially, is really strong,” English said. “We work together. Then our midfielders, we know how to create, how to move in the middle and then play out wide to our forwards, who are very creative.
“So I think if we put all that together, we’ll do well.”
The Wolves did that against a solid foe Saturday.
“It’s nice getting new competition that we’re not used to,” Smiley said. “I really love it, and I’m really excited for the whole season.”
Starting lineups
Oswego East
GK Sam McPhee
D Yocie Castelan
D Hannah Bolte
D Abigail Triska
M Mikayla Lambert
M Emma Rosenthal
M Chloe Noon
M Anya Gulbrandsen
M Taylor English
F Riley Gumm
F Erika Smiley
Hinsdale Central
GK Rania Arain
D Nina Sarros
D Sidney Turnbull
D Claire Kumskis
D Peyton Rohn
M Carter Knotts
M Kate Kocoras
M Maddy Panveno
F Cate McDonnell
F Hanna Florence
F Reana Ibrahimian
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Erika Smiley, jr., F, Oswego East.
Scoring summary
First half
Oswego East – Erika Smiley (Anja Gulbrandsen) 36:07 remaining
Second half
Oswego East – Taylor English 35:01 remaining
Oswego East – Smiley (Riley Gumm) 28:47 remaining
Oswego East – English (PK) 6:58 remaining