Oswego East blanks Plainfield S.,
clinches 1st conference championship
Wolves record 6th shutout, maintain undefeated campaign
By Curt Herron
JOLIET -- It’s a script that not even the best Hollywood screenwriter could have imagined.
A few players return from a squad that went 6-14-1 after losing nine of its last 10 matches in 2019 and didn't get to play the next season due to a worldwide pandemic. After the new season opened, the team plays twice and then is sidelined by a 10-day hiatus for COVID-19 protocols.
Undeterred, the plucky bunch forges ahead to its greatest success.
Oswego East senior captains Sammy Anderson, Alex McPhee and Abbey Scott are still surprised by how well things have turned out during this unique season, and they are among the stars of the show.
On Wednesday, the Wolves scored a pair of first half goals to help them capture a 2-0 victory over host Plainfield South. The win improved them to 12-0-0 overall and 10-0-0 in the Southwest Prairie Conference, assuring the program of not only the undisputed championship, but also the school's first league title in the sport.
After completing regular season play on Thursday with a home match against Joliet Central, the Wolves will try to establish some more history when they begin play in the Class 3A Bolingbrook Sectional.
Oswego East drew the third-seed in the 17-team sectional, ranked behind perennial powers Naperville Central and Naperville North. It's the highest seed that the program has ever received, easily exceeding its eighth-seed status in 2017 when it beat rival Oswego to advance to its only regional title game.
The Wolves host West Aurora in the regional semifinal Wednesday. A win matches them with either Neuqua Valley or Plainfield South in the regional final two days later.
"Obviously it's never one of the goals we have at the beginning of the year, our goal is just to win and to compete," said Wolves coach Juan Leal of the unbeaten regular season. "This is a special group of girls that work for one another and love and completely support one another. They understand that it's a team-first concept. The goals will come, and it doesn't matter who scores them as long as they go on the scoreboard.
"Big kudos to Plainfield South for defending us well. To have another shutout really speaks to the way our defense played against a team with some offensive firepower. One thing we plan for is to give up a maximum of one goal a game, and we're way under that average.
“It's an honor to be seeded number three, and it's obviously never been done at our school in our sport. We're just happy with the way that things are going, and we're excited about the tournament."
With sophomore goalkeeper Sam McPhee stopping several good attempts from the Cougars (6-4-2, 6-3-2), and Emma Rosenthal, Yocie Castelan, Alex McPhee, Anderson and Erin Fleisher leading the play on the backline, the Wolves posted their sixth shutout. They have allowed just six goals this season, and no opponent has scored more than once.
"I'm really proud of this team and how far we've come," Anderson said. "Especially with COVID taking away our season last year, it was questionable what would come of this year. Then Oswego East had the 10-day pause; it just raised so many questions.
“I'm just so proud of this team for coming together and persevering through everything to continue to play. This team has surprised me in the best way possible. We've come together so well and jelled as a team. From the first game, we hit the ground running."
After Alex McPhee and Mikayla Lambert were denied on good attempts by Cougars keeper Abby Slivka in the early going, the Wolves got the only goal they needed in the 10th minute. Alex McPhee placed a corner kick in front of the net, and Lambert got to the loose ball and sent a pass to Riley Gumm, who connected from close range.
"This team just works well together," Alex McPhee said. "And I want to give our underclassmen a lot of credit since from the first game, they showed that they were here to play. And it's really fun playing with my sister, Sam, since she's my toughest critic but also my biggest supporter.
“We've played hard in every single game, and we find a way to win. Everyone has each other’s backs, and we're all there for one another. This has been my favorite season. It's my senior season, and it's a great way to end it."
Throughout the rest of the first half, the Wolves had most of the other top chances. Gumm was thwarted twice, and Chloe Noon and Lambert were also denied. Just as it looked as if the 1-0 lead might stand at the break, the Wolves took advantage of an opportunity in the 36th minute to add to their lead.
Gumm got fouled in the box, and Alex McPhee fired in the subsequent penalty. The insurance goal looked like it might be needed. Plainfield South still had plenty of fight left in it. That was thanks to the scoring threat of sister forwards Alyssa and Addison Grigg. The latter produced most of her team's best chances in the final half.
Meanwhile, Oswego East continued to put the pressure on with shots from a wide range of players, including Erika Smiley, Kailey Tyburski, Alex McPhee, Gumm, Lambert and Noon. But Slivka slammed the gates closed and kept the hosts in the match thanks to her play in the net.
"This season has been so special," Scott said. "Throughout all of my seasons, I've never played with a team that was so close-knit. We came together so fast to create one goal, which was to win conference. As a team, we didn't let (the hiatus) affect us, we realized what it was. We're just like a family. We're close, and we bond so well together."
Although they hoped for a better outcome, Plainfield South was still happy with its fight and attempt to end the Wolves drive to an unbeaten conference slate.
"I thought overall that we really played as a team today," Cougars assistant coach Elise Bicek said. "Just the way that we communicated and moved together as a team and that helped to keep Oswego East at bay. They're such a great team, and it was great to watch them and to play against them.
"It's been exciting to watch sisters Alyssa and Addison Grigg play together and to work off of each other. And a huge shout out to our goalie, Abbey Slivka, who kept us in the game by making some great saves. Maya Gray and Sara Kehrer worked phenomenally together and really fought to get the ball out of the back."
Starting lineups
Oswego East
G- Sam McPhee
D - Sammy Anderson
D -Alex McPhee
D - Emma Rosenthal
D - Yosie Castelan
M - Makayla Lambert
M - Chloe Noon
M - Anya Gulbrandsen
M - Riley Gumm
M - Abigail Triska
F - Erika Smiley
Plainfield South
G - Abbey Slivka
D - Maya Gray
D - Sarah Kehrer
D - Olivia Kardadi
D - Mackenzie Whitmire
M - Ellie Grundon
M - Kaitlyn Cheop
M - Mason Hillery
M - Olivia Satala
F - Alyssa Grigg
F - Addison Grigg
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Sam McPhee, so., GK, Oswego East
Scoring summary
First half
O - Gumm (Lambert), 10
O – A. McPhee, 36
Second half
No scoring
clinches 1st conference championship
Wolves record 6th shutout, maintain undefeated campaign
By Curt Herron
JOLIET -- It’s a script that not even the best Hollywood screenwriter could have imagined.
A few players return from a squad that went 6-14-1 after losing nine of its last 10 matches in 2019 and didn't get to play the next season due to a worldwide pandemic. After the new season opened, the team plays twice and then is sidelined by a 10-day hiatus for COVID-19 protocols.
Undeterred, the plucky bunch forges ahead to its greatest success.
Oswego East senior captains Sammy Anderson, Alex McPhee and Abbey Scott are still surprised by how well things have turned out during this unique season, and they are among the stars of the show.
On Wednesday, the Wolves scored a pair of first half goals to help them capture a 2-0 victory over host Plainfield South. The win improved them to 12-0-0 overall and 10-0-0 in the Southwest Prairie Conference, assuring the program of not only the undisputed championship, but also the school's first league title in the sport.
After completing regular season play on Thursday with a home match against Joliet Central, the Wolves will try to establish some more history when they begin play in the Class 3A Bolingbrook Sectional.
Oswego East drew the third-seed in the 17-team sectional, ranked behind perennial powers Naperville Central and Naperville North. It's the highest seed that the program has ever received, easily exceeding its eighth-seed status in 2017 when it beat rival Oswego to advance to its only regional title game.
The Wolves host West Aurora in the regional semifinal Wednesday. A win matches them with either Neuqua Valley or Plainfield South in the regional final two days later.
"Obviously it's never one of the goals we have at the beginning of the year, our goal is just to win and to compete," said Wolves coach Juan Leal of the unbeaten regular season. "This is a special group of girls that work for one another and love and completely support one another. They understand that it's a team-first concept. The goals will come, and it doesn't matter who scores them as long as they go on the scoreboard.
"Big kudos to Plainfield South for defending us well. To have another shutout really speaks to the way our defense played against a team with some offensive firepower. One thing we plan for is to give up a maximum of one goal a game, and we're way under that average.
“It's an honor to be seeded number three, and it's obviously never been done at our school in our sport. We're just happy with the way that things are going, and we're excited about the tournament."
With sophomore goalkeeper Sam McPhee stopping several good attempts from the Cougars (6-4-2, 6-3-2), and Emma Rosenthal, Yocie Castelan, Alex McPhee, Anderson and Erin Fleisher leading the play on the backline, the Wolves posted their sixth shutout. They have allowed just six goals this season, and no opponent has scored more than once.
"I'm really proud of this team and how far we've come," Anderson said. "Especially with COVID taking away our season last year, it was questionable what would come of this year. Then Oswego East had the 10-day pause; it just raised so many questions.
“I'm just so proud of this team for coming together and persevering through everything to continue to play. This team has surprised me in the best way possible. We've come together so well and jelled as a team. From the first game, we hit the ground running."
After Alex McPhee and Mikayla Lambert were denied on good attempts by Cougars keeper Abby Slivka in the early going, the Wolves got the only goal they needed in the 10th minute. Alex McPhee placed a corner kick in front of the net, and Lambert got to the loose ball and sent a pass to Riley Gumm, who connected from close range.
"This team just works well together," Alex McPhee said. "And I want to give our underclassmen a lot of credit since from the first game, they showed that they were here to play. And it's really fun playing with my sister, Sam, since she's my toughest critic but also my biggest supporter.
“We've played hard in every single game, and we find a way to win. Everyone has each other’s backs, and we're all there for one another. This has been my favorite season. It's my senior season, and it's a great way to end it."
Throughout the rest of the first half, the Wolves had most of the other top chances. Gumm was thwarted twice, and Chloe Noon and Lambert were also denied. Just as it looked as if the 1-0 lead might stand at the break, the Wolves took advantage of an opportunity in the 36th minute to add to their lead.
Gumm got fouled in the box, and Alex McPhee fired in the subsequent penalty. The insurance goal looked like it might be needed. Plainfield South still had plenty of fight left in it. That was thanks to the scoring threat of sister forwards Alyssa and Addison Grigg. The latter produced most of her team's best chances in the final half.
Meanwhile, Oswego East continued to put the pressure on with shots from a wide range of players, including Erika Smiley, Kailey Tyburski, Alex McPhee, Gumm, Lambert and Noon. But Slivka slammed the gates closed and kept the hosts in the match thanks to her play in the net.
"This season has been so special," Scott said. "Throughout all of my seasons, I've never played with a team that was so close-knit. We came together so fast to create one goal, which was to win conference. As a team, we didn't let (the hiatus) affect us, we realized what it was. We're just like a family. We're close, and we bond so well together."
Although they hoped for a better outcome, Plainfield South was still happy with its fight and attempt to end the Wolves drive to an unbeaten conference slate.
"I thought overall that we really played as a team today," Cougars assistant coach Elise Bicek said. "Just the way that we communicated and moved together as a team and that helped to keep Oswego East at bay. They're such a great team, and it was great to watch them and to play against them.
"It's been exciting to watch sisters Alyssa and Addison Grigg play together and to work off of each other. And a huge shout out to our goalie, Abbey Slivka, who kept us in the game by making some great saves. Maya Gray and Sara Kehrer worked phenomenally together and really fought to get the ball out of the back."
Starting lineups
Oswego East
G- Sam McPhee
D - Sammy Anderson
D -Alex McPhee
D - Emma Rosenthal
D - Yosie Castelan
M - Makayla Lambert
M - Chloe Noon
M - Anya Gulbrandsen
M - Riley Gumm
M - Abigail Triska
F - Erika Smiley
Plainfield South
G - Abbey Slivka
D - Maya Gray
D - Sarah Kehrer
D - Olivia Kardadi
D - Mackenzie Whitmire
M - Ellie Grundon
M - Kaitlyn Cheop
M - Mason Hillery
M - Olivia Satala
F - Alyssa Grigg
F - Addison Grigg
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Sam McPhee, so., GK, Oswego East
Scoring summary
First half
O - Gumm (Lambert), 10
O – A. McPhee, 36
Second half
No scoring