Dusatko hustle powers
Plainfield N. past Oswego E.
Tigers defense tough under heavy pressure to go 6-0-0 in SPC
By Dave Owen
PLAINFIELD – Junior forward Lindsey Dusatko’s decision to play high school soccer this spring has been a massive boost for Plainfield North.
That was never more evident than Monday against Oswego East.
Withstanding waves of pressure from the Wolves (5-9-1, 2-3-0 in the Southwest Prairie Conference) all afternoon, the Tigers (9-6-2, 6-0-0) used a great counterattack goal into the wind by Dusatko midway through the first half to get the result.
That strike produced a 1-0 win, keeping Plainfield North in the conference lead with three league matches to go.
“That is one special player,” Oswego East coach Juan Leal said of Dusatko, “and we haven’t up gone against many teams that have two girls like they have up-top. That complicated things with our center backs communication-wise.”
The goal 22:50 before halftime came out of nowhere, or more correctly one of Oswego East’s many first half threats.
A Wolves’ offensive-end cross from the right sideline towards the box was blocked and cleared by Tigers defender Marissa Richmond.
And what a clear it was – the low line drive send down the left sideline reached Dusatko, who raced in past two defenders and lined a 15-yard shot inside the left post.
“In the first half we had a tough time connecting because of (playing into) the wind. It played a big factor,” Dusatko said. “We had a couple opportunities, and then once I had that one and was able to dribble past people, it felt pretty good.
“We were hoping that we would get a goal early on to help us relax more in the second half.”
Richmond’s initial play made the great finish possible.
“My main goal was to get the ball up and out (of the defensive end),” Richmond said, “because our defense had a lot of pressure on us.
“I was able to see Lindsey in the gap, so I thought if I could play it through, then obviously Linds would be able to take it in on goal and finish.”
For Leal and the Wolves, it was the pivotal moment of what would evolve into a frustrating match.
“We knew that girl (Dusatko) was fast,” Leal said. “We knew going into this game that she was their number-one target up there, and that we would have to try to contain her.
“We did our best, but we just couldn’t do it there (on the one break), and she wound up coming out on top there. Give that girl a lot of props -- she did what she could to keep her team ahead of us.”
But staying ahead of Oswego East wouldn’t be easy.
The Wolves had begun their offensive blitz in the sixth minute, when passes by Chloe Noon and Taylor English sprung Sydney Conway for an 18-yard liner just over the net.
“We were taking shots,” Conway said. “We outshot them 15-4.
“We had the wind (in the first half), so I thought we would be able to get in the back of the net. But we were just unlucky and came up short. We had really good shots.”
But offsetting Oswego East’s quantity of chances, Plainfield North had a few high quality ones even before the deciding goal.
The first came in the 13th minute. After Jessie Gruben’s initial shot off a Natalie Drover pass was blocked, Richmond’s 25-yard rebound one-timer was deflected just over the crossbar by leaping Wolves goalkeeper Reagan Sanders.
Two minutes later, Oswego East was back on the attack when Alex McPhee launched a rising 33-yard free kick that Tigers goalkeeper Ashley Clark reached high to grab.
Then came Richmond’s send, Dusatko’s finish and a huge lift for the Tigers.
“I think the first half going into the wind we were able to break down the ball,” Richmond said, “and I think our communication helped us through the first half.
“And with Lindsey and her speed, being able to get past the other girls, that was good.”
But down 1-0, the Oswego East didn’t hang its head.
Two minutes after the goal, Abbey Scott was fouled right of the box. McPhee’s ensuing free kick towards the back post set up a scramble, ending with a clear by Sophie Adzia.
In the 35th minute, Mikayla Lambert’s low shot was denied on a short hop save by Clark.
Dueling steals in the midfield in the 38th minute by Oswego East’s Allison Adams and Richmond set up the final scoring bid of the half, a 25-yard shot by Plainfield North freshman forward Nina Bradshaw that was deflected wide.
“Nina is good,” Richmond said. “I think it helps to have another forward, because we’re able to switch them out, and they’ll work as hard as they can. Nina is really holding her own.”
After the deflection of Bradshaw’s shot, the ensuing Tigers corner kick send was blocked in front by Zoe Hallam.
With the start of the second half, Oswego East played into the wind but continued to apply pressure.
Conway produced three shots in the first seven minutes of the half, the best coming with 33 minutes left. Off an English run up the middle, Conway’s left side shot was denied by a Clark save at the left post.
“I thought we even shot more (into the wind) to be honest,” Conway said. “It’s good that we didn’t give up and say ‘We don’t have the wind now.’ We kept trying.”
So did Dusatko, who nearly bookended her extra-effort, first half goal with a second half finish.
After a 50-50 ball win and send by Claudia Baginski with 30:40 left, Dusatko forced her way into the crease on a long dribble before goalkeeper Sanders was able to dive on the ball and keep the score 1-0.
Besides that chance and a McKenna Kalina 14-yard shot just wide off a Makenna Woodill corner kick with 13 minutes left, the scoring chances down the stretch were virtually monopolized by the Wolves.
Dusatko left the game after a collision with 6:20 to play which certainly didn’t help the Tigers’ bid for an insurance goal.
But despite that factor and the Wolves’ continued threats, the Tigers defense and scoreboard never budged.
A Clark save on English’s 25-yard left foot shot with 28:45 to go and long clears of the box by Payton Strausberger (22:45 left) and Richmond (21:05 to go) began the closing stretch.
With 9:45 to play, a McKee rush was denied when Clark slid out to cover a loose ball 8 yards out.
Clark again came off her line with 7:55 to go to deflect an English shot to her left, and Strausberger was on the spot to prevent a rebound.
Then with 3:40 to go came another dose of Oswego East frustration. Katie Olivas’ pass hit Conway in the box. Sidestepping a defender, Conway lined a 12-yard shot that Clark thwarted with a one-hop diving save at the right post.
Long clears followed by Ann Marie Krusiewicz (2:30 left) and Woodill (1:35 to go). The Wolves’ last bid with 10 seconds to play ended with a McKee shot wide of the left post.
That left Leal to provide a postgame dissection of a strong effort and tough defeat.
“We’re getting better every single game, we’re creating our opportunities,” Leal said. “We just haven’t found our killer mentality and putting the ball in the back of the net. We’re still searching for that part of our identity, and we’re working at it in practice by competing and working at it in games. That’s the only thing holding us down. We can’t find the ball in the back of the net.
“I told the girls we played very well,” Leal added. “We possessed more than they did, we took more shots than they did -- we did everything better than they did. Unfortunately we made a couple of mistakes, and they capitalized on one. And that’s all it took to lose the game for us.
“We fought to the end there, but our legs were just a little tired the last 10 minutes, and we just couldn’t keep up with the intensity in our heads and hearts to want it.
“We’re a very talented group, and the girls know that. Once we get our killer mentality, we’ll be in a very good spot.”
Conway offered her own take on the Wolves’ fight to the end -- and the lesson of the 1-0 setback.
“I really think effort comes in a lot,” Conway said. “In the last five minutes when you’re down 1-0 in such a tight game, you have to put in your all and give everything.
“What we just came up short with was, they just wanted it slightly more. They put it in the back of the net on one of their chances. Just value every single shot you have and try to make it the best, because that one goal can make the whole difference in soccer.”
Beyond battling to the finish, limiting Plainfield North’s potent offense was another big positive for the Wolves.
“I’m very happy with our team, because we kept them down to one goal,” Leal said. “We stopped their opportunities from building. We did a good job of delaying their runs, making sure we won 50-50 balls today and making sure they never got a chance to set their rhythm up. And our girls did a wonderful job of limiting them to minimal options and forcing them to do things that they’re not normally comfortable doing.”
One thing Plainfield North is getting very comfortable with is winning. With a young squad that includes 12 freshmen or sophomores continuing to mesh, the Tigers have roared back from a 1-3-1 start.
“There were a couple of us on varsity last year, so we have a hold of that (experience),” said Richmond, a sophomore. “But with our new players this year, they’ve adapted really well in the sense that it’s faster paced. I think through club they also know that, but we’ve been able to bring it all together and work really well together.”
Clark’s return in the net after missing the March portion of the season has been another obvious huge boost.
“And Claudia (Baginski) our captain is back (from a knee injury) and doing better,” Dusatko said. “That really helps in the mid.”
All factors are helping the Tigers march towards a conference title.
“Now we’re 6-0 in conference, which is very crucial,” Dusatko said. “We play Joliet Central (April 30) and then two Plainfield schools (South and East) in the future, so we have to win those three (to clinch conference).
“But we’re confident. We’re playing well.”
Starting lineups
Oswego East
GK: Reagan Sanders
D: Katie Olivas
D: Allison Adams
D: Madeline Kastel
D: Sydney Biala
M: Madison Frazier
M: Chloe Noon
M: Sammy Anderson
M: Taylor English
F: Alex McPhee
F: Sydney Conway
Plainfield North
GK: Ashley Clark
D: Payton Strausberger
D: Marissa Richmond
D: Sophie Adzia
D: Makenna Woodill
M: Ann Marie Krusiewicz
M: Reese Capion
M: Natalie Drover
M: Claudia Baginski
F: Lindsey Dusatko
F: Jessie Gruben
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Lindsey Dusatko, jr. F, Plainfield North
Scoring summary
First half
PN – Lindsey Dusatko, 18th minute
Second half
No scoring
Plainfield N. past Oswego E.
Tigers defense tough under heavy pressure to go 6-0-0 in SPC
By Dave Owen
PLAINFIELD – Junior forward Lindsey Dusatko’s decision to play high school soccer this spring has been a massive boost for Plainfield North.
That was never more evident than Monday against Oswego East.
Withstanding waves of pressure from the Wolves (5-9-1, 2-3-0 in the Southwest Prairie Conference) all afternoon, the Tigers (9-6-2, 6-0-0) used a great counterattack goal into the wind by Dusatko midway through the first half to get the result.
That strike produced a 1-0 win, keeping Plainfield North in the conference lead with three league matches to go.
“That is one special player,” Oswego East coach Juan Leal said of Dusatko, “and we haven’t up gone against many teams that have two girls like they have up-top. That complicated things with our center backs communication-wise.”
The goal 22:50 before halftime came out of nowhere, or more correctly one of Oswego East’s many first half threats.
A Wolves’ offensive-end cross from the right sideline towards the box was blocked and cleared by Tigers defender Marissa Richmond.
And what a clear it was – the low line drive send down the left sideline reached Dusatko, who raced in past two defenders and lined a 15-yard shot inside the left post.
“In the first half we had a tough time connecting because of (playing into) the wind. It played a big factor,” Dusatko said. “We had a couple opportunities, and then once I had that one and was able to dribble past people, it felt pretty good.
“We were hoping that we would get a goal early on to help us relax more in the second half.”
Richmond’s initial play made the great finish possible.
“My main goal was to get the ball up and out (of the defensive end),” Richmond said, “because our defense had a lot of pressure on us.
“I was able to see Lindsey in the gap, so I thought if I could play it through, then obviously Linds would be able to take it in on goal and finish.”
For Leal and the Wolves, it was the pivotal moment of what would evolve into a frustrating match.
“We knew that girl (Dusatko) was fast,” Leal said. “We knew going into this game that she was their number-one target up there, and that we would have to try to contain her.
“We did our best, but we just couldn’t do it there (on the one break), and she wound up coming out on top there. Give that girl a lot of props -- she did what she could to keep her team ahead of us.”
But staying ahead of Oswego East wouldn’t be easy.
The Wolves had begun their offensive blitz in the sixth minute, when passes by Chloe Noon and Taylor English sprung Sydney Conway for an 18-yard liner just over the net.
“We were taking shots,” Conway said. “We outshot them 15-4.
“We had the wind (in the first half), so I thought we would be able to get in the back of the net. But we were just unlucky and came up short. We had really good shots.”
But offsetting Oswego East’s quantity of chances, Plainfield North had a few high quality ones even before the deciding goal.
The first came in the 13th minute. After Jessie Gruben’s initial shot off a Natalie Drover pass was blocked, Richmond’s 25-yard rebound one-timer was deflected just over the crossbar by leaping Wolves goalkeeper Reagan Sanders.
Two minutes later, Oswego East was back on the attack when Alex McPhee launched a rising 33-yard free kick that Tigers goalkeeper Ashley Clark reached high to grab.
Then came Richmond’s send, Dusatko’s finish and a huge lift for the Tigers.
“I think the first half going into the wind we were able to break down the ball,” Richmond said, “and I think our communication helped us through the first half.
“And with Lindsey and her speed, being able to get past the other girls, that was good.”
But down 1-0, the Oswego East didn’t hang its head.
Two minutes after the goal, Abbey Scott was fouled right of the box. McPhee’s ensuing free kick towards the back post set up a scramble, ending with a clear by Sophie Adzia.
In the 35th minute, Mikayla Lambert’s low shot was denied on a short hop save by Clark.
Dueling steals in the midfield in the 38th minute by Oswego East’s Allison Adams and Richmond set up the final scoring bid of the half, a 25-yard shot by Plainfield North freshman forward Nina Bradshaw that was deflected wide.
“Nina is good,” Richmond said. “I think it helps to have another forward, because we’re able to switch them out, and they’ll work as hard as they can. Nina is really holding her own.”
After the deflection of Bradshaw’s shot, the ensuing Tigers corner kick send was blocked in front by Zoe Hallam.
With the start of the second half, Oswego East played into the wind but continued to apply pressure.
Conway produced three shots in the first seven minutes of the half, the best coming with 33 minutes left. Off an English run up the middle, Conway’s left side shot was denied by a Clark save at the left post.
“I thought we even shot more (into the wind) to be honest,” Conway said. “It’s good that we didn’t give up and say ‘We don’t have the wind now.’ We kept trying.”
So did Dusatko, who nearly bookended her extra-effort, first half goal with a second half finish.
After a 50-50 ball win and send by Claudia Baginski with 30:40 left, Dusatko forced her way into the crease on a long dribble before goalkeeper Sanders was able to dive on the ball and keep the score 1-0.
Besides that chance and a McKenna Kalina 14-yard shot just wide off a Makenna Woodill corner kick with 13 minutes left, the scoring chances down the stretch were virtually monopolized by the Wolves.
Dusatko left the game after a collision with 6:20 to play which certainly didn’t help the Tigers’ bid for an insurance goal.
But despite that factor and the Wolves’ continued threats, the Tigers defense and scoreboard never budged.
A Clark save on English’s 25-yard left foot shot with 28:45 to go and long clears of the box by Payton Strausberger (22:45 left) and Richmond (21:05 to go) began the closing stretch.
With 9:45 to play, a McKee rush was denied when Clark slid out to cover a loose ball 8 yards out.
Clark again came off her line with 7:55 to go to deflect an English shot to her left, and Strausberger was on the spot to prevent a rebound.
Then with 3:40 to go came another dose of Oswego East frustration. Katie Olivas’ pass hit Conway in the box. Sidestepping a defender, Conway lined a 12-yard shot that Clark thwarted with a one-hop diving save at the right post.
Long clears followed by Ann Marie Krusiewicz (2:30 left) and Woodill (1:35 to go). The Wolves’ last bid with 10 seconds to play ended with a McKee shot wide of the left post.
That left Leal to provide a postgame dissection of a strong effort and tough defeat.
“We’re getting better every single game, we’re creating our opportunities,” Leal said. “We just haven’t found our killer mentality and putting the ball in the back of the net. We’re still searching for that part of our identity, and we’re working at it in practice by competing and working at it in games. That’s the only thing holding us down. We can’t find the ball in the back of the net.
“I told the girls we played very well,” Leal added. “We possessed more than they did, we took more shots than they did -- we did everything better than they did. Unfortunately we made a couple of mistakes, and they capitalized on one. And that’s all it took to lose the game for us.
“We fought to the end there, but our legs were just a little tired the last 10 minutes, and we just couldn’t keep up with the intensity in our heads and hearts to want it.
“We’re a very talented group, and the girls know that. Once we get our killer mentality, we’ll be in a very good spot.”
Conway offered her own take on the Wolves’ fight to the end -- and the lesson of the 1-0 setback.
“I really think effort comes in a lot,” Conway said. “In the last five minutes when you’re down 1-0 in such a tight game, you have to put in your all and give everything.
“What we just came up short with was, they just wanted it slightly more. They put it in the back of the net on one of their chances. Just value every single shot you have and try to make it the best, because that one goal can make the whole difference in soccer.”
Beyond battling to the finish, limiting Plainfield North’s potent offense was another big positive for the Wolves.
“I’m very happy with our team, because we kept them down to one goal,” Leal said. “We stopped their opportunities from building. We did a good job of delaying their runs, making sure we won 50-50 balls today and making sure they never got a chance to set their rhythm up. And our girls did a wonderful job of limiting them to minimal options and forcing them to do things that they’re not normally comfortable doing.”
One thing Plainfield North is getting very comfortable with is winning. With a young squad that includes 12 freshmen or sophomores continuing to mesh, the Tigers have roared back from a 1-3-1 start.
“There were a couple of us on varsity last year, so we have a hold of that (experience),” said Richmond, a sophomore. “But with our new players this year, they’ve adapted really well in the sense that it’s faster paced. I think through club they also know that, but we’ve been able to bring it all together and work really well together.”
Clark’s return in the net after missing the March portion of the season has been another obvious huge boost.
“And Claudia (Baginski) our captain is back (from a knee injury) and doing better,” Dusatko said. “That really helps in the mid.”
All factors are helping the Tigers march towards a conference title.
“Now we’re 6-0 in conference, which is very crucial,” Dusatko said. “We play Joliet Central (April 30) and then two Plainfield schools (South and East) in the future, so we have to win those three (to clinch conference).
“But we’re confident. We’re playing well.”
Starting lineups
Oswego East
GK: Reagan Sanders
D: Katie Olivas
D: Allison Adams
D: Madeline Kastel
D: Sydney Biala
M: Madison Frazier
M: Chloe Noon
M: Sammy Anderson
M: Taylor English
F: Alex McPhee
F: Sydney Conway
Plainfield North
GK: Ashley Clark
D: Payton Strausberger
D: Marissa Richmond
D: Sophie Adzia
D: Makenna Woodill
M: Ann Marie Krusiewicz
M: Reese Capion
M: Natalie Drover
M: Claudia Baginski
F: Lindsey Dusatko
F: Jessie Gruben
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Lindsey Dusatko, jr. F, Plainfield North
Scoring summary
First half
PN – Lindsey Dusatko, 18th minute
Second half
No scoring