Oswego East serves
notice at Neuqua Valley
Noon, Hamilton tally 2nd half goals, deliver big 3-1 victory
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – The clock read 2:35 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
History will record that it was actually Noon-time for Oswego East.
Junior midfielder Chloe Noon scored on an exquisite left-footed shot from 23 yards with 3:02 remaining in the second half that put the exclamation point on the Wolves’ impressive 3-1 win of host Neuqua Valley.
It was the first time Oswego East has beaten Neuqua Valley. The schools play infrequently and have met just once since 2009 – a 3-1 Neuqua win in the 2016 regional semifinals.
“I think it really shows our potential this year,” Noon said. “We all knew that this was going to be a tough game.
“We knew Neuqua has a really good history, and I personally have played with a lot of these girls. I think it really shows that we’re a force to be reckoned with, and we shouldn’t be counted out of this season.”
Indeed, the result was legit. The teams played a game worthy of squads ranked in the honorable mention section of the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
While the Wolves (5-0-0) had faced only token resistance in crushing their first four opponents, they proved their worth by going toe-to-toe with the Wildcats in an entertaining match that saw plenty of great play with frequent end-to-end action.
Neuqua Valley, which plays a much tougher schedule than Oswego East, played without three injured regulars, including Xavier-bound co-captain Katelyn Nardulli, but that didn’t diminish the accomplishment.
“I thought they had a lot of good players in the middle of the field and the upper half of the field,” Neuqua Valley junior midfielder Brooke Miller said. “And they had Alex McPhee in the back, and she’s always been really good at defense.
“They were able to use their grit and toughness to get past us.”
The first goal came early, when Erika Smiley pounced on a loose ball in the box and gave the Wolves a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute.
Neuqua didn’t threaten until the 18:30 mark, when Mikayla Lambert launched a corner kick in front to forward Abby Michalczyk, whose header hit the left post. Seconds later, defender Kyra O’Brien sent a shot from outside the box that skimmed the top of the crossbar.
The Wolves reasserted themselves in the final 10 minutes, forcing Indiana State signee Tara Tesmond to make five saves. One came on a Kaily Tyburski header, another on a 25-yard drive from freshman Anya Gulbrandsen and, finally, a diving denial at the right post on a 12-yard shot from Oswego East’s other rookie Riley Gumm.
The second half was even wilder, with both squads missing high on several open shots. They combined for three goals, each more spectacular than the last.
The first came off the foot of Neuqua’s Grace Williams, who tied the game with 29:45 remaining when she curled a corner kick inside the far post. The shot was pure skill -- there was no wind to affect the ball at the time.
Had the Wolves been pretenders, that goal could have presaged a Neuqua onslaught.
Instead, the visitors went right back to work, retaking the lead just 2:38 later. Gumm sent a pass from the left wing into the box to Veronica Hamilton, a sophomore defender who found herself wide-open about 15 yards to Tesmond’s right.
Hamilton hesitated for a second before lofting a 12-yard shot over Tesmond and inside the right post. It was her only shot of the game and the first goal of her varsity career, and it turned out to be the game-winner.
“When I saw (the opening), I had to take a touch, because I was trying to take a look to see if I had anyone to cross it to because, playing outside back, I’m not normally the one that’s shooting,” Hamilton said. “So I took a breath and (aimed) for far post and hoped for the best. It went over and into the goal.”
Neuqua Valley didn’t lack for opportunities to hit back, but came up empty on five more corner kicks. The Wildcats best chance came with 12:30 to go when Michalczyk sent a lead ball into space intended for Miller, who got to the ball near the top of the box at about the same time as Oswego East goalkeeper Sam McPhee.
The resulting collision resulted in McPhee clearing the ball about 10 yards upfield, where Williams got to it with McPhee still on the ground. Williams shot the ball into the box but it died in the grass in front of the goal and was cleared by a defender.
The Wolves, meanwhile, came up empty on three quality chances. Gulbrandsen missed wide left on a shot at the 19:50 mark and two minutes later Noon missed high on a runner in the box. McPhee, a Ball State recruit, sent a 20-yard drive over the crossbar.
But Noon’s time to shine came on what turned out to be the last of 24 shots in the match. Attacking 3-on-3, Gumm drove the left wing before crossing into the middle of the box, where the ball was knocked out by a defender.
Noon tracked it down outside the circle, cut back to her left and ripped a shot into the far upper left corner of the net. It was the only place Tesmond could not reach. It went inches past her fingertips, just inside the left post, and barely under the crossbar.
What made the shot even more impressive was that it was delivered with her non-dominant foot.
“I’m right-footed, but when I was younger, I played on the left side for years,” said Noon, who has three goals. “I know I can shoot from distance.
“That’s one of my strengths, so I was ready to follow up once it got deflected. I just cut it back and hit it with my left foot and placed it.”
The precision shooting is by design and not limited to Hamilton or Noon. Ten different players have scored for the Wolves, who put an emphasis on finishing.
“We’ve been taking a lot of shots at practice,” Leal said. “One of things we’re trying to do with our girls is to boost their confidence by being able to shoot from 25 to 35 yards, from everywhere on the field.
“Then when it comes to a game it’s just routine for them. It’s not something that is too hard.”
It has made the Wolves tough to stop.
“We have a lot of weapons,” Leal said. “We have two girls coming in on the wings that are freshmen that are really establishing themselves in Riley and Anya, and our center mids have been working their tails off to make sure that we’re getting the ball to everybody’s feet.”
Neuqua is hoping to get starting defenders Lauryn Adamski and Maddy McGrath back soon from injury. That will shore up a backline that has struggled at times against the many tough opponents on the schedule.
“We’ve had a little bit of trouble this season with how goals are being scored,” Miller said. “We just have to work on some things on defense, but I thought (the Wolves’ goals) were good goals overall.
“We had a couple chances. We just need to finish. Luckily this isn’t a conference game so we’re just going to use this more as a practice and get better for our games moving forward.”
Despite their record, the Wildcats have been competitive in every match. Their other losses are to Waubonsie Valley and ranked teams Barrington, Naperville North, Naperville Central and Metea Valley.
Four of the losses were one-goal decisions, including one overtime defeat, to DVC teams they will face again.
“We always are battling really close with these teams,” Miller said. “It’s just our missing our opportunities and giving up opportunities in the back.
“We just need to do a lot better being better at both boxes. If we make little improvements and make sure to work extra hard next game, we can pull together.”
Starting lineups
Oswego East
GK Sam McPhee
D Emma Rosenthal
D Yocie Castelan
D Alex McPhee
D Samantha Anderson
D Abigail Triska
M Anya Gulbrandsen
M Mikayla Lambert
M Chloe Noon
M Riley Gumm
F Erika Smiley
Neuqua Valley
GK Tara Tesmond
D Reagan Rushing
D Maya Stone
D Kyra O’Brien
D Kassie Salviola
D Kyra O’Brien
M Lauren Milana
M Grace Williams
M Frannie Keen
M Brooke Miller
M Grace Petrina
F Abby Michalczyk
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Chloe Noon, jr., MF, Oswego East
Scoring summary
First half
Oswego East – Erika Smiley 34:57 remaining
Second half
Neuqua Valley – Grace Williams 29:45 remaining
Oswego East – Veronica Hamilton (Riley Gumm) 26:07
Oswego East – Chloe Noon 3:02 remaining
notice at Neuqua Valley
Noon, Hamilton tally 2nd half goals, deliver big 3-1 victory
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – The clock read 2:35 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
History will record that it was actually Noon-time for Oswego East.
Junior midfielder Chloe Noon scored on an exquisite left-footed shot from 23 yards with 3:02 remaining in the second half that put the exclamation point on the Wolves’ impressive 3-1 win of host Neuqua Valley.
It was the first time Oswego East has beaten Neuqua Valley. The schools play infrequently and have met just once since 2009 – a 3-1 Neuqua win in the 2016 regional semifinals.
“I think it really shows our potential this year,” Noon said. “We all knew that this was going to be a tough game.
“We knew Neuqua has a really good history, and I personally have played with a lot of these girls. I think it really shows that we’re a force to be reckoned with, and we shouldn’t be counted out of this season.”
Indeed, the result was legit. The teams played a game worthy of squads ranked in the honorable mention section of the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
While the Wolves (5-0-0) had faced only token resistance in crushing their first four opponents, they proved their worth by going toe-to-toe with the Wildcats in an entertaining match that saw plenty of great play with frequent end-to-end action.
Neuqua Valley, which plays a much tougher schedule than Oswego East, played without three injured regulars, including Xavier-bound co-captain Katelyn Nardulli, but that didn’t diminish the accomplishment.
“I thought they had a lot of good players in the middle of the field and the upper half of the field,” Neuqua Valley junior midfielder Brooke Miller said. “And they had Alex McPhee in the back, and she’s always been really good at defense.
“They were able to use their grit and toughness to get past us.”
The first goal came early, when Erika Smiley pounced on a loose ball in the box and gave the Wolves a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute.
Neuqua didn’t threaten until the 18:30 mark, when Mikayla Lambert launched a corner kick in front to forward Abby Michalczyk, whose header hit the left post. Seconds later, defender Kyra O’Brien sent a shot from outside the box that skimmed the top of the crossbar.
The Wolves reasserted themselves in the final 10 minutes, forcing Indiana State signee Tara Tesmond to make five saves. One came on a Kaily Tyburski header, another on a 25-yard drive from freshman Anya Gulbrandsen and, finally, a diving denial at the right post on a 12-yard shot from Oswego East’s other rookie Riley Gumm.
The second half was even wilder, with both squads missing high on several open shots. They combined for three goals, each more spectacular than the last.
The first came off the foot of Neuqua’s Grace Williams, who tied the game with 29:45 remaining when she curled a corner kick inside the far post. The shot was pure skill -- there was no wind to affect the ball at the time.
Had the Wolves been pretenders, that goal could have presaged a Neuqua onslaught.
Instead, the visitors went right back to work, retaking the lead just 2:38 later. Gumm sent a pass from the left wing into the box to Veronica Hamilton, a sophomore defender who found herself wide-open about 15 yards to Tesmond’s right.
Hamilton hesitated for a second before lofting a 12-yard shot over Tesmond and inside the right post. It was her only shot of the game and the first goal of her varsity career, and it turned out to be the game-winner.
“When I saw (the opening), I had to take a touch, because I was trying to take a look to see if I had anyone to cross it to because, playing outside back, I’m not normally the one that’s shooting,” Hamilton said. “So I took a breath and (aimed) for far post and hoped for the best. It went over and into the goal.”
Neuqua Valley didn’t lack for opportunities to hit back, but came up empty on five more corner kicks. The Wildcats best chance came with 12:30 to go when Michalczyk sent a lead ball into space intended for Miller, who got to the ball near the top of the box at about the same time as Oswego East goalkeeper Sam McPhee.
The resulting collision resulted in McPhee clearing the ball about 10 yards upfield, where Williams got to it with McPhee still on the ground. Williams shot the ball into the box but it died in the grass in front of the goal and was cleared by a defender.
The Wolves, meanwhile, came up empty on three quality chances. Gulbrandsen missed wide left on a shot at the 19:50 mark and two minutes later Noon missed high on a runner in the box. McPhee, a Ball State recruit, sent a 20-yard drive over the crossbar.
But Noon’s time to shine came on what turned out to be the last of 24 shots in the match. Attacking 3-on-3, Gumm drove the left wing before crossing into the middle of the box, where the ball was knocked out by a defender.
Noon tracked it down outside the circle, cut back to her left and ripped a shot into the far upper left corner of the net. It was the only place Tesmond could not reach. It went inches past her fingertips, just inside the left post, and barely under the crossbar.
What made the shot even more impressive was that it was delivered with her non-dominant foot.
“I’m right-footed, but when I was younger, I played on the left side for years,” said Noon, who has three goals. “I know I can shoot from distance.
“That’s one of my strengths, so I was ready to follow up once it got deflected. I just cut it back and hit it with my left foot and placed it.”
The precision shooting is by design and not limited to Hamilton or Noon. Ten different players have scored for the Wolves, who put an emphasis on finishing.
“We’ve been taking a lot of shots at practice,” Leal said. “One of things we’re trying to do with our girls is to boost their confidence by being able to shoot from 25 to 35 yards, from everywhere on the field.
“Then when it comes to a game it’s just routine for them. It’s not something that is too hard.”
It has made the Wolves tough to stop.
“We have a lot of weapons,” Leal said. “We have two girls coming in on the wings that are freshmen that are really establishing themselves in Riley and Anya, and our center mids have been working their tails off to make sure that we’re getting the ball to everybody’s feet.”
Neuqua is hoping to get starting defenders Lauryn Adamski and Maddy McGrath back soon from injury. That will shore up a backline that has struggled at times against the many tough opponents on the schedule.
“We’ve had a little bit of trouble this season with how goals are being scored,” Miller said. “We just have to work on some things on defense, but I thought (the Wolves’ goals) were good goals overall.
“We had a couple chances. We just need to finish. Luckily this isn’t a conference game so we’re just going to use this more as a practice and get better for our games moving forward.”
Despite their record, the Wildcats have been competitive in every match. Their other losses are to Waubonsie Valley and ranked teams Barrington, Naperville North, Naperville Central and Metea Valley.
Four of the losses were one-goal decisions, including one overtime defeat, to DVC teams they will face again.
“We always are battling really close with these teams,” Miller said. “It’s just our missing our opportunities and giving up opportunities in the back.
“We just need to do a lot better being better at both boxes. If we make little improvements and make sure to work extra hard next game, we can pull together.”
Starting lineups
Oswego East
GK Sam McPhee
D Emma Rosenthal
D Yocie Castelan
D Alex McPhee
D Samantha Anderson
D Abigail Triska
M Anya Gulbrandsen
M Mikayla Lambert
M Chloe Noon
M Riley Gumm
F Erika Smiley
Neuqua Valley
GK Tara Tesmond
D Reagan Rushing
D Maya Stone
D Kyra O’Brien
D Kassie Salviola
D Kyra O’Brien
M Lauren Milana
M Grace Williams
M Frannie Keen
M Brooke Miller
M Grace Petrina
F Abby Michalczyk
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Chloe Noon, jr., MF, Oswego East
Scoring summary
First half
Oswego East – Erika Smiley 34:57 remaining
Second half
Neuqua Valley – Grace Williams 29:45 remaining
Oswego East – Veronica Hamilton (Riley Gumm) 26:07
Oswego East – Chloe Noon 3:02 remaining