PK gives Naperville Central
edge over Oswego East
Norkett goal holds up in 1-0 win
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE -- Some players who get dumped in the penalty area don’t want to attempt the ensuing penalty kick.
They might be feeling pain from the tackle or uncertainty about their ability to convert the kick under pressure.
Not Naperville Central midfielder Megan Norkett.
No, there was never a doubt in her mind about what was going to happen after she was knocked down by an Oswego East defender midway through the second half of Tuesday night’s nonconference tilt at Memorial Stadium.
Norkett immediately stepped up when the official pointed to the spot.
“I’ve had a little rough go with penalties in the past,” Norkett said. “That’s actually the first one I’ve taken in a while, which I knew right when I was fouled I was going to take it.
“It’s kind of like a mindset thing with the penalties. You have to get fouled and know that you want to take it.
“If you’re shaky about it, that could mean a struggle for you. But I got fouled and knew that this was the one I was going to redeem myself with and put it in the back of the net.”
And Norkett did. The Northwestern recruit blew the ball past Oswego East goalkeeper Sam McPhee, who had no chance on the play.
The goal with 22:20 to go in the second half was all the host Redhawks, who are listed fifth in the Chicagoland Soccer First 50 poll, needed to post a 1-0 victory over the 27th-ranked Wolves.
Norkett didn’t get any argument from her teammates when she wanted to take the penalty. That’s by design.
“Whoever gets fouled will probably get first dibs at it,” Norkett said. “Then if they’re not confident, we can see what coach Watson wants.”
Naperville Central coach Ed Watson wants whomever is feeling most confident to take it. He had no say in Norkett’s decision.
“I have no problem with her stepping up and taking it,” Watson said. “I would like to have girls fighting over it. That’s always a good thing.
“But if you’re going to hit it as hard as she did, she can take it every time.”
Norkett proved in more than one way that she can take hard shots. She was on the receiving end of a tackle that brought her down in the box, but didn’t really mind it, given the outcome.
“I was trying to turn, and I knew she was going to come in hard behind with the tackle,” Norkett said. “I knew to hold it out a little bit, wait for her to come in, and it was going to be a PK because I was in the box.”
Despite bringing an impressive array of firepower to the pitch, that was the only time the Redhawks were able to break through Oswego East’s backline, which played well in front of McPhee, a junior who made six sterling saves to keep the Wolves in it.
“I think we played awesome,” McPhee said. “Coming out this season and playing Naperville Central was really good for us.
“The PK was unlucky. The score just went their way this game, but we did good.”
McPhee is one of 16 returning players, including eight starters, the Wolves bring back from the best team in program history. They were 14-1-0 in 2021, going unbeaten until losing to Neuqua Valley in a regional final.
“That was a good litmus test for us,” Oswego East coach Juan Leal said. “Obviously, they are a powerhouse school, and we knew going into this game that they had a high ranking.
“They have a great center mid (Norkett). They have a good team all around her.
“But our girls rose to the occasion. We got a few opportunities. We could have buried them and our girls are mad at themselves for not finishing, but they know that sometimes you’ve got to keep going.”
The Wolves did not get a shot off until the second half, when they forced Naperville Central goalkeeper Abby O’Connor to make three fairly routine saves. Oswego East’s best chance came off a Riley Gumm corner kick, which Anya Gulbrandsen volleyed just wide of the left post from 15 yards with 33:35 left.
“They got their confidence up and started playing a little better,” Leal said. “I think we panicked for a couple minutes there but then we got composed and found a few other opportunities.
“We’re proud of how we played. This is a big game for us. It wasn’t the result we wanted, but overall we’re only going to get better.”
The Redhawks think they are going to improve, too, though they already are playing at a high level. Their defense of Sophia Skoubis, Ella Burke, Sarah McCracken and Sam Sharp are going to be extremely difficult to beat, and O’Connor, a Carnegie Mellon recruit, is a formidable presence behind them.
Skoubis (Missouri) and McCracken (North Dakota) have played together since the were 6-year-olds. Burke and Sharp also are Division I prospects.
“We covered our marks very well in the midfield,” Skoubis said. “We made an adjustment second half – we pulled another six back and we matched their two 10s, so that really helped.
“We had great communication along the backline and we were able to shut it down.”
Opponents will have to expect more of the same.
“You saw it tonight -- it was very strong first game out,” Skoubis said. “Sarah and I have chemistry. We’re able to work next to each other and then Burke on my side and Sam do too.”
Oswego East’s defense wasn’t shabby, either.
“I haven’t played with that back four ever, and I was kind of scared going into the game,” McPhee said. “But I think they did amazing.
“Our two center backs, Yocie (Castelan) and Abby (Triska) locked down everyone. They were awesome.
“Naperville Central is a great team. They made it farther than us last year but I’m so happy with how we played.
“Even though we didn’t win, I am beyond happy. We’re just going to get better from here.”
Leal said McPhee is a key reason for that optimism.
“She’s a great goalie,” Leal said. “She talked to the girls really well and obviously got them moving.
“She’s our anchor back there. She sees the field well; she distributes well and can field the ball really well. She makes monster saves.”
The Wolves’ play drew praise from the Redhawks.
“That was a really tough team to play against,” Norkett said. “It was great for our first game to come out strong and obviously a win made it even better.
“It was two very strong teams. I feel like we played really well, which is just great for a first game. I think we can build on that and get even better.”
While some schools schedule fairly easy opponents early in the season in order to ease into play, Watson likes to find tough nonconference foes to play before spring break.
The Redhawks clearly relish the competition.
“I think that was a great test for us and to come out of it with a win, especially get that first win under our belt tonight is really important,” Skoubis said. “I think it also showed the grit of our team and how well we can persevere.”
Starting lineups
Oswego East
GK Sam McPhee
D Veronica Hamilton
D Yocie Castelan
D Hannah Bolte
M Anya Gulbrandsen
M Mikayla Lambert
M Emma Rosenthal
M Taylor English
M Chloe Noon
M Riley Gumm
F Erika Smiley
Naperville Central
GK Abby O’Connor
D Samantha Sharp
D Sarah McCracken
D Ella Burke
D Sophia Skoubis
M Grace Granato
M Megan Norkett
F Taylor Walk
F Maggie Boogerd
F Molly O’Rear
F Lauren Thorne
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Megan Norkett, sr., MF, Naperville Central
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Naperville Central: Megan Norkett (PK), 22:20
edge over Oswego East
Norkett goal holds up in 1-0 win
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE -- Some players who get dumped in the penalty area don’t want to attempt the ensuing penalty kick.
They might be feeling pain from the tackle or uncertainty about their ability to convert the kick under pressure.
Not Naperville Central midfielder Megan Norkett.
No, there was never a doubt in her mind about what was going to happen after she was knocked down by an Oswego East defender midway through the second half of Tuesday night’s nonconference tilt at Memorial Stadium.
Norkett immediately stepped up when the official pointed to the spot.
“I’ve had a little rough go with penalties in the past,” Norkett said. “That’s actually the first one I’ve taken in a while, which I knew right when I was fouled I was going to take it.
“It’s kind of like a mindset thing with the penalties. You have to get fouled and know that you want to take it.
“If you’re shaky about it, that could mean a struggle for you. But I got fouled and knew that this was the one I was going to redeem myself with and put it in the back of the net.”
And Norkett did. The Northwestern recruit blew the ball past Oswego East goalkeeper Sam McPhee, who had no chance on the play.
The goal with 22:20 to go in the second half was all the host Redhawks, who are listed fifth in the Chicagoland Soccer First 50 poll, needed to post a 1-0 victory over the 27th-ranked Wolves.
Norkett didn’t get any argument from her teammates when she wanted to take the penalty. That’s by design.
“Whoever gets fouled will probably get first dibs at it,” Norkett said. “Then if they’re not confident, we can see what coach Watson wants.”
Naperville Central coach Ed Watson wants whomever is feeling most confident to take it. He had no say in Norkett’s decision.
“I have no problem with her stepping up and taking it,” Watson said. “I would like to have girls fighting over it. That’s always a good thing.
“But if you’re going to hit it as hard as she did, she can take it every time.”
Norkett proved in more than one way that she can take hard shots. She was on the receiving end of a tackle that brought her down in the box, but didn’t really mind it, given the outcome.
“I was trying to turn, and I knew she was going to come in hard behind with the tackle,” Norkett said. “I knew to hold it out a little bit, wait for her to come in, and it was going to be a PK because I was in the box.”
Despite bringing an impressive array of firepower to the pitch, that was the only time the Redhawks were able to break through Oswego East’s backline, which played well in front of McPhee, a junior who made six sterling saves to keep the Wolves in it.
“I think we played awesome,” McPhee said. “Coming out this season and playing Naperville Central was really good for us.
“The PK was unlucky. The score just went their way this game, but we did good.”
McPhee is one of 16 returning players, including eight starters, the Wolves bring back from the best team in program history. They were 14-1-0 in 2021, going unbeaten until losing to Neuqua Valley in a regional final.
“That was a good litmus test for us,” Oswego East coach Juan Leal said. “Obviously, they are a powerhouse school, and we knew going into this game that they had a high ranking.
“They have a great center mid (Norkett). They have a good team all around her.
“But our girls rose to the occasion. We got a few opportunities. We could have buried them and our girls are mad at themselves for not finishing, but they know that sometimes you’ve got to keep going.”
The Wolves did not get a shot off until the second half, when they forced Naperville Central goalkeeper Abby O’Connor to make three fairly routine saves. Oswego East’s best chance came off a Riley Gumm corner kick, which Anya Gulbrandsen volleyed just wide of the left post from 15 yards with 33:35 left.
“They got their confidence up and started playing a little better,” Leal said. “I think we panicked for a couple minutes there but then we got composed and found a few other opportunities.
“We’re proud of how we played. This is a big game for us. It wasn’t the result we wanted, but overall we’re only going to get better.”
The Redhawks think they are going to improve, too, though they already are playing at a high level. Their defense of Sophia Skoubis, Ella Burke, Sarah McCracken and Sam Sharp are going to be extremely difficult to beat, and O’Connor, a Carnegie Mellon recruit, is a formidable presence behind them.
Skoubis (Missouri) and McCracken (North Dakota) have played together since the were 6-year-olds. Burke and Sharp also are Division I prospects.
“We covered our marks very well in the midfield,” Skoubis said. “We made an adjustment second half – we pulled another six back and we matched their two 10s, so that really helped.
“We had great communication along the backline and we were able to shut it down.”
Opponents will have to expect more of the same.
“You saw it tonight -- it was very strong first game out,” Skoubis said. “Sarah and I have chemistry. We’re able to work next to each other and then Burke on my side and Sam do too.”
Oswego East’s defense wasn’t shabby, either.
“I haven’t played with that back four ever, and I was kind of scared going into the game,” McPhee said. “But I think they did amazing.
“Our two center backs, Yocie (Castelan) and Abby (Triska) locked down everyone. They were awesome.
“Naperville Central is a great team. They made it farther than us last year but I’m so happy with how we played.
“Even though we didn’t win, I am beyond happy. We’re just going to get better from here.”
Leal said McPhee is a key reason for that optimism.
“She’s a great goalie,” Leal said. “She talked to the girls really well and obviously got them moving.
“She’s our anchor back there. She sees the field well; she distributes well and can field the ball really well. She makes monster saves.”
The Wolves’ play drew praise from the Redhawks.
“That was a really tough team to play against,” Norkett said. “It was great for our first game to come out strong and obviously a win made it even better.
“It was two very strong teams. I feel like we played really well, which is just great for a first game. I think we can build on that and get even better.”
While some schools schedule fairly easy opponents early in the season in order to ease into play, Watson likes to find tough nonconference foes to play before spring break.
The Redhawks clearly relish the competition.
“I think that was a great test for us and to come out of it with a win, especially get that first win under our belt tonight is really important,” Skoubis said. “I think it also showed the grit of our team and how well we can persevere.”
Starting lineups
Oswego East
GK Sam McPhee
D Veronica Hamilton
D Yocie Castelan
D Hannah Bolte
M Anya Gulbrandsen
M Mikayla Lambert
M Emma Rosenthal
M Taylor English
M Chloe Noon
M Riley Gumm
F Erika Smiley
Naperville Central
GK Abby O’Connor
D Samantha Sharp
D Sarah McCracken
D Ella Burke
D Sophia Skoubis
M Grace Granato
M Megan Norkett
F Taylor Walk
F Maggie Boogerd
F Molly O’Rear
F Lauren Thorne
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Megan Norkett, sr., MF, Naperville Central
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Naperville Central: Megan Norkett (PK), 22:20