Madison Korosec gives Naperville North
right touch vs. OPRF
Assists Barry twice in 2-0 NI quarterfinal win
By Patrick Z. McGavin
NAPERVILLE -- On a loaded and dangerous team, Madison Korosec has a poise, style and special talent uniquely her own.
The Naperville North midfielder is naturally bonded with her twin sister, high-scoring forward Taylor Korosec.
The two are Chicagoland Soccer all-state talents who are central players in the Huskies’ privileged run of the past two seasons.
Naperville North’s signature actions are re-starts and set pieces. What makes them so devastating are the size, athleticism and special talents of the players on the receiving end.
As the deliverer, or shot-creator, Madison Korosec is equipped with the magic touch.
“I just try to place it, and they all have runs they are supposed to make,” Madison Korosec said.
“Obviously players like Norah do a great job of getting a head on the ball, and putting it in the back of the net.”
Madison Korosec played two highlight-reel, special kicks that Norah Barry finished off for no. 3 Naperville North’s 2-0 victory over no. 17 Oak Park and River Forest on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Naperville Invitational.
Naperville North (12-1-2) advances to play top-ranked Lyons in the second semifinal Friday at Naperville Central.
Lyons ended no. 7 Oswego East’s 11-game winning streak with the 2-1 victory.
Lyons (13-0-0) defeated Naperville North in a penalty shootout in the semifinals of the 4th Annual Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic on April 16.
The first semifinal features no. 2 Naperville Central against no. 6 Barrington.
Barry scored her fourth and fifth goals in Naperville North’s win. Madison Korosec has seven assists.
Both goals were magnetic, a thing of beauty, involving a great first touch by Madison Korosec and Barry timing her runs beautifully.
This was cooperative soccer at its most beautiful and pure.
The first was a header off the right corner in the 62nd minute.
The follow-up was equally sublime, a free kick from about 30 yards from the center left edge that Barry again ran under in the 67th minute.
“Madison always plays good balls in,” Barry said. “At halftime, we talked about staying composed in front of the net, especially when we did have good chances.
“It’s all about staying calm and getting your body behind it.”
Naperville North overcame a fantastic effort by Oak Park and River Forest keeper Lilah Gery.
She finished with 11 saves as she flashed terrific athleticism, quickness and reaction time inside the box.
“All props go to the defense,” Gery said. “They make my job easy.
“I was able to get to the high balls, which I was happy about. Naperville North did a good job of sticking with it and challenging every ball.”
Naperville North’s dynamic and highly skilled center backs Norah Barry and Lucy Iverson also did a great job of containing Oak Park and River Forest star forward Julia Daun.
“I was really impressed with how well we dealt with their best player in Julia. W, e limited her to very few chances,” Naperville North coach Steve Goletz said.
The goals also marked a point of exhilaration and release for Naperville North.
They pounded at Oak Park and River Forest for more than an hour of game-time action with sharp sequences but empty results.
This followed playing a double-overtime 100-minute scoreless tie with Naperville Central on Monday.
“If we weren’t generating those chances, I think I’d be a little bit more worried,” Goletz said.
“We are generating a ton of chances. I think the last little piece is missing. Sometimes it’s individual, whether it’s a bad touch or we don’t put it on goal. Sometimes we try to make the perfect pass.”
Taylor Korosec had several tantalizing shots from distance that forced Gery to make leaping stabs.
Naperville North forward Olivia Anderson also did a terrific job of attacking and creating off the dribble.
The dominant possession time had overlapping ramifications. Naperville North prevented the dynamic and fluid Daun from getting loose in space.
It created a cumulative pressure that placed Oak Park and River Forest repeatedly on its heels and forced them to react to the play.
“We had to play more of a defensive game,” Daun said. “We play a 3-5-2, and we had one of our forwards strapped on their no. 6, their center midfielder, to mark up in the middle.
“That meant it was definitely harder to get into the middle and attack. They had a strong defense, a lot of really tall girls, and it was hard to break their line.”
The combination of the pressure and the denial of Daun in space created the perfect template of success.
“I thought Ellie Gerner was fantastic in the middle of the field,” Goletz said. “Norah and Lucy were fantastic again.
“I don’t think Abby Haskel made a true save the entire game. She picked it up a few times, but nothing that was ever truly dangerous.”
Madison Korosec earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match for her brilliant service.
Her patience -- and that of the team -- was rewarded.
“It can be really frustrating playing really hard games and not get the chances that we want,” Madison Korosec said.
“It is something we are working on, and also getting them in the run of play. It’s also really exciting to be able to capitalize on the re-starts.”
Results always trump technique. Interestingly Barry thought both of her goals were more effective than aesthetically pleasing.
“A lot of headers are just chances, and trying to get your body underneath,” Barry said.
“There’s always a certain amount of luck, and just trying to be in the right spot at the right time.”
On the first goal, she broke through a mass of bodies to get the first touch
“There were some earlier in the game, and I let them get past me; and they were too low for Lucy,” Barry said. “I thought I might as well try and get it.
“It wasn’t necessarily the prettiest header, but whatever works.”
Oak Park and River Forest (10-4-0) was coming off a tough penalty shoot-out loss against conference rival Downers Grove North.
With Daun as the centerpiece, the team has talent and drive. If they were outgunned, they stood up to Naperville North.
“Naperville North is always a good, very competitive team to play,” Oak Park and River Forest coach Christie Johnson said.
“Our keeper was killing it tonight with the high ball, and her communication. I think we came out and fought as hard as we could. We just couldn’t get through into our attack half and get shots on goal.”
April has been a defining month for Naperville North.
The team went from the high-level teams such as no. 5 Evanston and no. 8 Libertyville at the Deep Dish Classic to the elite of the Naperville Invitational.
“Playing a schedule like this is exhausting,” Madison Korosec said. “This is what we want. We want to play challenging teams. A lot of us are seniors, and just being able to play in these high-level games is very exciting.
“When we get the win, it’s very rewarding that we got it by playing a very talented team.”
Starting lineups
Oak Park and River Forest
GK: Lilah Gery
D: Tess Wright
D: Charlotte Greenstone
D: Kylie Houghton
MF: Addison Bliss
MF: Shane Colpoys
MF: Lily Clifford
MF: Cate Ryan
MF: Josie Humbert
F: Julia Daun
F: Kiki Leman
Naperville North
GK: Abby Haskell
D: Maggie Fitzgerald
D: Lucy Iverson
D: Norah Barry
D: Peyton Hegner
MF: Cameron Dinkla
MF: Madison Korosec
MF: Ellie Gerner
F: Olivia Anderson
F: Taylor Korosec
F: Rachael Noren
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Madison Korosec, sr., MF, Naperville North
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Naperville North—Norah Barry (Madison Korosec), 62nd minute
Naperville North—Barry (Madison Korosec), 67th minute
right touch vs. OPRF
Assists Barry twice in 2-0 NI quarterfinal win
By Patrick Z. McGavin
NAPERVILLE -- On a loaded and dangerous team, Madison Korosec has a poise, style and special talent uniquely her own.
The Naperville North midfielder is naturally bonded with her twin sister, high-scoring forward Taylor Korosec.
The two are Chicagoland Soccer all-state talents who are central players in the Huskies’ privileged run of the past two seasons.
Naperville North’s signature actions are re-starts and set pieces. What makes them so devastating are the size, athleticism and special talents of the players on the receiving end.
As the deliverer, or shot-creator, Madison Korosec is equipped with the magic touch.
“I just try to place it, and they all have runs they are supposed to make,” Madison Korosec said.
“Obviously players like Norah do a great job of getting a head on the ball, and putting it in the back of the net.”
Madison Korosec played two highlight-reel, special kicks that Norah Barry finished off for no. 3 Naperville North’s 2-0 victory over no. 17 Oak Park and River Forest on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Naperville Invitational.
Naperville North (12-1-2) advances to play top-ranked Lyons in the second semifinal Friday at Naperville Central.
Lyons ended no. 7 Oswego East’s 11-game winning streak with the 2-1 victory.
Lyons (13-0-0) defeated Naperville North in a penalty shootout in the semifinals of the 4th Annual Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic on April 16.
The first semifinal features no. 2 Naperville Central against no. 6 Barrington.
Barry scored her fourth and fifth goals in Naperville North’s win. Madison Korosec has seven assists.
Both goals were magnetic, a thing of beauty, involving a great first touch by Madison Korosec and Barry timing her runs beautifully.
This was cooperative soccer at its most beautiful and pure.
The first was a header off the right corner in the 62nd minute.
The follow-up was equally sublime, a free kick from about 30 yards from the center left edge that Barry again ran under in the 67th minute.
“Madison always plays good balls in,” Barry said. “At halftime, we talked about staying composed in front of the net, especially when we did have good chances.
“It’s all about staying calm and getting your body behind it.”
Naperville North overcame a fantastic effort by Oak Park and River Forest keeper Lilah Gery.
She finished with 11 saves as she flashed terrific athleticism, quickness and reaction time inside the box.
“All props go to the defense,” Gery said. “They make my job easy.
“I was able to get to the high balls, which I was happy about. Naperville North did a good job of sticking with it and challenging every ball.”
Naperville North’s dynamic and highly skilled center backs Norah Barry and Lucy Iverson also did a great job of containing Oak Park and River Forest star forward Julia Daun.
“I was really impressed with how well we dealt with their best player in Julia. W, e limited her to very few chances,” Naperville North coach Steve Goletz said.
The goals also marked a point of exhilaration and release for Naperville North.
They pounded at Oak Park and River Forest for more than an hour of game-time action with sharp sequences but empty results.
This followed playing a double-overtime 100-minute scoreless tie with Naperville Central on Monday.
“If we weren’t generating those chances, I think I’d be a little bit more worried,” Goletz said.
“We are generating a ton of chances. I think the last little piece is missing. Sometimes it’s individual, whether it’s a bad touch or we don’t put it on goal. Sometimes we try to make the perfect pass.”
Taylor Korosec had several tantalizing shots from distance that forced Gery to make leaping stabs.
Naperville North forward Olivia Anderson also did a terrific job of attacking and creating off the dribble.
The dominant possession time had overlapping ramifications. Naperville North prevented the dynamic and fluid Daun from getting loose in space.
It created a cumulative pressure that placed Oak Park and River Forest repeatedly on its heels and forced them to react to the play.
“We had to play more of a defensive game,” Daun said. “We play a 3-5-2, and we had one of our forwards strapped on their no. 6, their center midfielder, to mark up in the middle.
“That meant it was definitely harder to get into the middle and attack. They had a strong defense, a lot of really tall girls, and it was hard to break their line.”
The combination of the pressure and the denial of Daun in space created the perfect template of success.
“I thought Ellie Gerner was fantastic in the middle of the field,” Goletz said. “Norah and Lucy were fantastic again.
“I don’t think Abby Haskel made a true save the entire game. She picked it up a few times, but nothing that was ever truly dangerous.”
Madison Korosec earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match for her brilliant service.
Her patience -- and that of the team -- was rewarded.
“It can be really frustrating playing really hard games and not get the chances that we want,” Madison Korosec said.
“It is something we are working on, and also getting them in the run of play. It’s also really exciting to be able to capitalize on the re-starts.”
Results always trump technique. Interestingly Barry thought both of her goals were more effective than aesthetically pleasing.
“A lot of headers are just chances, and trying to get your body underneath,” Barry said.
“There’s always a certain amount of luck, and just trying to be in the right spot at the right time.”
On the first goal, she broke through a mass of bodies to get the first touch
“There were some earlier in the game, and I let them get past me; and they were too low for Lucy,” Barry said. “I thought I might as well try and get it.
“It wasn’t necessarily the prettiest header, but whatever works.”
Oak Park and River Forest (10-4-0) was coming off a tough penalty shoot-out loss against conference rival Downers Grove North.
With Daun as the centerpiece, the team has talent and drive. If they were outgunned, they stood up to Naperville North.
“Naperville North is always a good, very competitive team to play,” Oak Park and River Forest coach Christie Johnson said.
“Our keeper was killing it tonight with the high ball, and her communication. I think we came out and fought as hard as we could. We just couldn’t get through into our attack half and get shots on goal.”
April has been a defining month for Naperville North.
The team went from the high-level teams such as no. 5 Evanston and no. 8 Libertyville at the Deep Dish Classic to the elite of the Naperville Invitational.
“Playing a schedule like this is exhausting,” Madison Korosec said. “This is what we want. We want to play challenging teams. A lot of us are seniors, and just being able to play in these high-level games is very exciting.
“When we get the win, it’s very rewarding that we got it by playing a very talented team.”
Starting lineups
Oak Park and River Forest
GK: Lilah Gery
D: Tess Wright
D: Charlotte Greenstone
D: Kylie Houghton
MF: Addison Bliss
MF: Shane Colpoys
MF: Lily Clifford
MF: Cate Ryan
MF: Josie Humbert
F: Julia Daun
F: Kiki Leman
Naperville North
GK: Abby Haskell
D: Maggie Fitzgerald
D: Lucy Iverson
D: Norah Barry
D: Peyton Hegner
MF: Cameron Dinkla
MF: Madison Korosec
MF: Ellie Gerner
F: Olivia Anderson
F: Taylor Korosec
F: Rachael Noren
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Madison Korosec, sr., MF, Naperville North
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Naperville North—Norah Barry (Madison Korosec), 62nd minute
Naperville North—Barry (Madison Korosec), 67th minute