Loyola seniors thrive
in season-opening win over Payton
Ehlert, Kurtz score 2 goals each in 6-0 win
By Michael Wojtychiw
WILMETTE -- Loyola and Payton came into Monday's season opener as two experienced squads.
The Ramblers brought back 21 players from last year's regional champions; the Grizzlies returned eight starters from last year's sectional champion.
With that much experience on the field, a close game was to be expected. But Loyola’s talented senior class that stole the show on a beautiful but chilly mid-March afternoon in Wilmette. Four different seniors scored en route to a 6-0 win for the hosts.
"An early win like this really sets the tone for our season," Loyola's Kathryn Diblik said.
The Ramblers, ranked eighth in the Chicagoland Soccer First 50 preseason poll, came out looking like a team on a mission. They putting consistent pressure on the Grizzlies' sophomore goalie Chloe Guzik, who made three saves in the game's first five minutes and saw a Loyola shot hit the crossbar a little under six and a half minutes into the match.
Loyola (1-0) finally converted a minute later when senior Molly Sipe, who filled in for injured Maya Basan as the Ramblers' corner-kick taker, converted on a send that looked as if it may have bounced off a Payton defender before getting into the net.
Just over a minute later, Lauren Couri collected a loose ball in the middle of the box and slotted it past Guzik with 31:39 left to go until halftime.
"Getting those goals helped start our momentum because in those opening minutes, we obviously had the nerves to start. Once we got those, it really helped us calm down," Diblik said.
"Those two goals were crucial for our success not only early, but later in the game as well," Loyola's Grace Ehlert said. "It helped us settle in. We're really hyped for the season, so we knew we were going to come out strong and solidified. "
After the Ramblers' first two goals, it seemed Payton (0-1) was able to work its way into the game, like their Opening Day nerves had calmed.
That led to the Grizzlies getting numerous chances off of free kicks, but they couldn't convert on their only shot on goal -- a Cate Cupps blast that was saved by Loyola keeper Ellie Bradley.
"It seemed like we really dropped our intensity after that early stretch," Loyola manager Shannon Hartinger said. "We talked to the girls at halftime about how we came out intense all over the field. I felt that after the first two goals we had a letdown, which really helped them back into the game.
"I think we grew into the game though and found our attack in the second half."
Payton manager Paul Escobar immediately saw his club had an issue.
"We didn't match their intensity at first and that's a problem because in the first 10 minutes, games can be won and lost," he said. "After those first 10 minutes, I think they settled down, but it's hard chasing two goals against a good team. It was a tough loss, but we saw what we need to work on now."
While the Loyola defense kept Payton, ranked no. 42 in the First 50, off the scoreboard, Guzik did her best to keep the Ramblers at bay. She did so admirably.
The sophomore made 11 saves on the game, including eight in the first half.
After the break Kurtz, a Chicagoland Soccer All-State selection last year, got the Ramblers back on the board when she put a ball past Guzik in the 50th minute for a 3-0 lead.
Not to be outdone, the Washington University (St. Louis)-bound Ehlert got on the scoreboard next with two goals in a four-minute stretch halfway through the half. One came off a pass from Brooke Semple and the other off of a Sipe corner service.
"Brooke (Semple) set it up for me,” Ehlert said of her first goal. “I had time at the top of the box and I was able to get the shot off and keep it on frame.
"On corners, I'm always trying to get my head or foot on the ball. “I just had that mindset to try to score, and Molly played a great ball in.”
Kurtz finished off the scoring with just under 13 minutes remaining when she put in her second goal, the third Loyola tally in a 7:15 stretch.
"Throughout the game, we really used our wingers to help us get the ball downfield and for those of us in the box, setting us up for some good opportunities," Diblik said. "Everyone opening up that space for us really helped a lot."
"The momentum when you get the one goal, you really want to get a next one," Ehlert said. "But I think also we want to keep our consistency at the same level throughout the whole half, not just certain spurts."
The loss was a tough one for Escobar and his Grizzlies to swallow, but there were positives for the Payton coach.
"They didn't quit, and I really liked that,” Escobar noted. “They played hard to the end, and that's what I want to see every time from them."
The Grizzlies plan to regain momentum for a program that earned a sectional title and was the runnerup to Lane in the city tournament last season.
Payton brings back forwards Nadine Denahan and Felicity Cole, who made the Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List last spring, and a number of other strong players who saw key playing time including Guzik, Tess Scrivner and Cupps. Cole, Guzik and Cupps are members of a talented sophomore class at Payton.
"We brought back a nice group this year that's looking to do something similar to last year with getting to the supersectional," Escobar said. "You've got to take it a game at a time though, and this was a good eye-opener for us. I'm happy we scheduled the way we did."
The week is a big one for the Grizzles, who also face no. 16 Glenbrook North and no. 12 Evanston this week.
"We're just looking for them to be consistent and play a whole game, all 80 minutes," he said. "If we do that, then we should be pretty successful. If we limit those five minutes here, 10 minutes there, keep it together, that's what we're looking for.
"I like to put us against competitive teams. Then when we get to the later rounds like state and city playoffs, we know what playing a tough team is about. They then know the level they need to be at to be successful."
Starting lineups
Payton
GK: Chloe Guzik
D: Shea Vandermeid
D: Lola Feuer
D: Cate Cupps
MF: Norah Denahan
MF: Tess Scrivner
MF: Norah Duritsa
MF" Madeline Spark
MF: Isabella Chitarro
F: Felicity Cole
F: Nadine Denahan
Loyola
GK: Ellie Bradley
D: Maria Nikas
D: Molly Sipe
D: Anne Carretta
D: Eva Pattison
MF: Grace Ehlert
MF: Kaitlyn Kurtz
MF: Emma Shaffer
F: Lauren Couri
F: Kathryn Diblik
F: Ella Couri
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Grace Ehlert, sr., MF, Loyola
Scoring summary
First half
Loyola: own goal (Molly Sipe corner kick), 8th minute
Loyola: Lauren Couri (Unassisted), 10th minute
Second half
Loyola: Kaitlyn Kurtz (unassisted), 50th minute
Loyola: Grace Ehlert (Brooke Semple), 60th minute
Loyola: Ehlert (Sipe), 64th minute
Loyola: Kurtz (unassisted), 68th minute
in season-opening win over Payton
Ehlert, Kurtz score 2 goals each in 6-0 win
By Michael Wojtychiw
WILMETTE -- Loyola and Payton came into Monday's season opener as two experienced squads.
The Ramblers brought back 21 players from last year's regional champions; the Grizzlies returned eight starters from last year's sectional champion.
With that much experience on the field, a close game was to be expected. But Loyola’s talented senior class that stole the show on a beautiful but chilly mid-March afternoon in Wilmette. Four different seniors scored en route to a 6-0 win for the hosts.
"An early win like this really sets the tone for our season," Loyola's Kathryn Diblik said.
The Ramblers, ranked eighth in the Chicagoland Soccer First 50 preseason poll, came out looking like a team on a mission. They putting consistent pressure on the Grizzlies' sophomore goalie Chloe Guzik, who made three saves in the game's first five minutes and saw a Loyola shot hit the crossbar a little under six and a half minutes into the match.
Loyola (1-0) finally converted a minute later when senior Molly Sipe, who filled in for injured Maya Basan as the Ramblers' corner-kick taker, converted on a send that looked as if it may have bounced off a Payton defender before getting into the net.
Just over a minute later, Lauren Couri collected a loose ball in the middle of the box and slotted it past Guzik with 31:39 left to go until halftime.
"Getting those goals helped start our momentum because in those opening minutes, we obviously had the nerves to start. Once we got those, it really helped us calm down," Diblik said.
"Those two goals were crucial for our success not only early, but later in the game as well," Loyola's Grace Ehlert said. "It helped us settle in. We're really hyped for the season, so we knew we were going to come out strong and solidified. "
After the Ramblers' first two goals, it seemed Payton (0-1) was able to work its way into the game, like their Opening Day nerves had calmed.
That led to the Grizzlies getting numerous chances off of free kicks, but they couldn't convert on their only shot on goal -- a Cate Cupps blast that was saved by Loyola keeper Ellie Bradley.
"It seemed like we really dropped our intensity after that early stretch," Loyola manager Shannon Hartinger said. "We talked to the girls at halftime about how we came out intense all over the field. I felt that after the first two goals we had a letdown, which really helped them back into the game.
"I think we grew into the game though and found our attack in the second half."
Payton manager Paul Escobar immediately saw his club had an issue.
"We didn't match their intensity at first and that's a problem because in the first 10 minutes, games can be won and lost," he said. "After those first 10 minutes, I think they settled down, but it's hard chasing two goals against a good team. It was a tough loss, but we saw what we need to work on now."
While the Loyola defense kept Payton, ranked no. 42 in the First 50, off the scoreboard, Guzik did her best to keep the Ramblers at bay. She did so admirably.
The sophomore made 11 saves on the game, including eight in the first half.
After the break Kurtz, a Chicagoland Soccer All-State selection last year, got the Ramblers back on the board when she put a ball past Guzik in the 50th minute for a 3-0 lead.
Not to be outdone, the Washington University (St. Louis)-bound Ehlert got on the scoreboard next with two goals in a four-minute stretch halfway through the half. One came off a pass from Brooke Semple and the other off of a Sipe corner service.
"Brooke (Semple) set it up for me,” Ehlert said of her first goal. “I had time at the top of the box and I was able to get the shot off and keep it on frame.
"On corners, I'm always trying to get my head or foot on the ball. “I just had that mindset to try to score, and Molly played a great ball in.”
Kurtz finished off the scoring with just under 13 minutes remaining when she put in her second goal, the third Loyola tally in a 7:15 stretch.
"Throughout the game, we really used our wingers to help us get the ball downfield and for those of us in the box, setting us up for some good opportunities," Diblik said. "Everyone opening up that space for us really helped a lot."
"The momentum when you get the one goal, you really want to get a next one," Ehlert said. "But I think also we want to keep our consistency at the same level throughout the whole half, not just certain spurts."
The loss was a tough one for Escobar and his Grizzlies to swallow, but there were positives for the Payton coach.
"They didn't quit, and I really liked that,” Escobar noted. “They played hard to the end, and that's what I want to see every time from them."
The Grizzlies plan to regain momentum for a program that earned a sectional title and was the runnerup to Lane in the city tournament last season.
Payton brings back forwards Nadine Denahan and Felicity Cole, who made the Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List last spring, and a number of other strong players who saw key playing time including Guzik, Tess Scrivner and Cupps. Cole, Guzik and Cupps are members of a talented sophomore class at Payton.
"We brought back a nice group this year that's looking to do something similar to last year with getting to the supersectional," Escobar said. "You've got to take it a game at a time though, and this was a good eye-opener for us. I'm happy we scheduled the way we did."
The week is a big one for the Grizzles, who also face no. 16 Glenbrook North and no. 12 Evanston this week.
"We're just looking for them to be consistent and play a whole game, all 80 minutes," he said. "If we do that, then we should be pretty successful. If we limit those five minutes here, 10 minutes there, keep it together, that's what we're looking for.
"I like to put us against competitive teams. Then when we get to the later rounds like state and city playoffs, we know what playing a tough team is about. They then know the level they need to be at to be successful."
Starting lineups
Payton
GK: Chloe Guzik
D: Shea Vandermeid
D: Lola Feuer
D: Cate Cupps
MF: Norah Denahan
MF: Tess Scrivner
MF: Norah Duritsa
MF" Madeline Spark
MF: Isabella Chitarro
F: Felicity Cole
F: Nadine Denahan
Loyola
GK: Ellie Bradley
D: Maria Nikas
D: Molly Sipe
D: Anne Carretta
D: Eva Pattison
MF: Grace Ehlert
MF: Kaitlyn Kurtz
MF: Emma Shaffer
F: Lauren Couri
F: Kathryn Diblik
F: Ella Couri
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Grace Ehlert, sr., MF, Loyola
Scoring summary
First half
Loyola: own goal (Molly Sipe corner kick), 8th minute
Loyola: Lauren Couri (Unassisted), 10th minute
Second half
Loyola: Kaitlyn Kurtz (unassisted), 50th minute
Loyola: Grace Ehlert (Brooke Semple), 60th minute
Loyola: Ehlert (Sipe), 64th minute
Loyola: Kurtz (unassisted), 68th minute