Prospect weathers Niles North
Marzolf scores brace in 4-0 road victory
By Patrick Z. McGavin
SKOKIE -- The last thing Prospect wanted on this cold and cruel day was to be inefficient. Sure, possession mattered, but so did a result.
“The conditions were catastrophic,” Niles North coach Filip Cejovic said.
This Knights’ team is built differently. The last few years have all pointed forward in this direction.
Prospect returns 11 players who were either full-time or occasional starters on last year’s team. The Knights went a deceiving 8-10-2, against a hyper-competitive schedule. By the final month of the season, the Knights were a cohesive and formidable group.
Following a competitive season-opening loss to no. 2 New Trier, Prospect went about signaling the next phase of its evolution. The team blasted IMSA 8-0 on Monday. Now a scrappy Niles North side stood in the path of Prospect’s continued progress.
“I thought we handled the conditions very well,” Prospect coach Tom Froats said. Going into the teeth of a harsh and unyielding wind, Prospect showed ever greater signs of its new maturity by simply digging in and transcending the mental and physical obstacles.
In the seventh minute, junior forward Abbey Danciu -- one of the team’s bright newcomers -- laid off a ball for Ella Marzolf. The gifted and skilled Marzolf, a three-year starter, did the rest. She blasted a ball for an early goal that underscored the team’s grit and resolve.
Marzolf scored two goals and Danciu added another in support of her assist as the Knights (2-1-0) utilized an early second half scoring burst to subdue the host Vikings 4-0 in a nonconference match on this blustery and cold Tuesday afternoon.
For her accomplishments, Marzolf earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor.
“Certainly in the first half, when we were going into the wind, I thought we were very composed on the ball and we were able to possess a lot, even going into that stiff breeze, and that speaks to the skill level of our players, their ability to connect passes and move very well off the ball,” Froats said.
“I thought they were a little physical at the start of the game, but we held tough, and we were willing to battle in those physical challenges, go hard for the 50/50 balls, and that also speaks to the effort and the energy that we brought. I thought, overall, we were able to do some nice things.”
Niles North (2-3-0) showcases its own stellar player in senior attacking midfielder Edina Taerbaum. She has high-level club experience from FC United, and brings a compelling combination of size, speed and a tricky, off-balance offensive game as a natural left-footer. She came in hot with six goals in back-to-back Vikings wins.
“I think psychologically, at the start, it was a matter of us having the confidence and coming out strong and believing we could win,” Taerbaum said. “We are not the kind of team where we can afford to take breaks. I think most of the time we do a good job. I think after the first goal they scored, we did get a little down. We have to be able to fight through that, and just play like it’s still 0-0 and not get in our heads.”
The Marzolf goal held up as the only scoring of the first half.
It was a credit to each side how fluid they looked despite the weather, particularly the harsh southern wind that bore down on the field and made every pass and effort to connect fraught with difficulties. The teams played through the adversity.
Each had close calls: for Niles North a ball Taerbaum could not quite get on the end of; and a low-level rocket ball in the 36th minute by Prospect senior midfielder Shawna Stokes that hit off the far post.
The Vikings absorbed a lot of pressure in the first half, demonstrating mettle and perseverance to remain only a single goal back. Niles North keeper Altina Rexhepi recorded seven saves. Her counterpart, Prospect freshman Isabella Hubrich, contributed two.
The momentum changed significantly right at the start of the second half. Less than two minutes in, Taerbaum had the Vikings’ best scoring chance, a free kick from about 18 yards from the right edge. Hubrich speared her ball, leaving Taerbaum with a sense of missed opportunities.
“I am pretty upset about that free kick,” she said. “It just did not go off my foot how I wanted. It was definitely not planned like that. Just like the first half where I did not hit the ball how I like on a shot, I had a good chance to score. Both of those players were pretty disappointing.”
The Knights’ poise, savvy and experience proved the difference in the game. If Prospect had its own disappointment in not pulling away sooner, the team sharpened its attack at the start of the second half that yielded two goals just three minutes apart.
Having the wind in the second half allowed the Knights to push ever greater numbers forward and open up their attack. Instrumental in setting up the first goal, Danciu showed a deft scoring touch in the 43rd minute. Sometimes the weather complications work in your favor. The cumulative pressure Prospect created paid its own dividends.
Working the left center, Danciu controlled a ball from midfielder Faith Fitzsimmons and blasted a skidding ball that flummoxed Rexhepi. The combination of the spin and the torque from the ball turned a relatively straightforward shot into an adventure. A crazy bounce caught Rexhepi off balance and deflected off her right shoulder for the second goal.
“This was our fifth game in seven days,” Cejovic said. “It was obviously a difficult day to play. We had things going against us, including some of our players who were not at their best physically today. We were a bit worn out. You have to give (Prospect) some credit, too. They are a very nice team, very well-organized, very well-coached. I thought we gave it our all in the second half.
“We were a bit unlucky with the goals that we did concede.”
Marzolf put the game out of reach moments later with a nifty dash down the left edge that gave her a free look that she finished with authority from about 12 yards. Junior midfielder Kristin Schneider, off a pass by junior defender Madalyn Ladd, punctuated the victory with a goal in the 80th minute.
Prospect demonstrated a diversified attack. Marzolf and Ladd showed solid serving abilities on a couple of corner kicks. Stokes and Fitzsimmons created an uptempo rhythm that allowed the team to change sides quickly and move the ball in advantageous situations.
The early shutout victories are crucial in establishing confidence and solidifying roles. The Knights are ready to make a statement in the Mid-Suburban League East Division. The level of competition gets significantly stronger with Mid-Suburban West power Fremd the opening conference assignment Thursday night in Palatine.
“I think we are growing together as a team,” Froats said. “I think we’re deep, and we have lots of versatile players and different matchups on the field that we could exploit. We have several dynamic offensive personalities. I don’t think there’s going to be one individual that our offense goes through. We are going to share that wealth.
“I thought overall today we were creating pretty dynamic scoring chances. There were a few times where I think we need to be a little more aggressive. I like to think we are a pretty technical group. We play the ball on the ground, and we have the ability to interchange different positions and unsettle the defenses that we go against. I see (progress) in us as a team. To see that from match to match is great.”
Starting lineups
Prospect
GK: Isabella Hubrich
D: Helen Siavelis
D: Ashley Erickson
D: Alex Mitka
D: Natalie Marfilius
MF: Shawna Stokes
MF: Faith Fitzsimmons
MF: Abbey Danciu
F: Ashley Welk
F: Ella Marzolf
F: Ashley Adams
Niles North
GK: Altina Rexhepi
D: Rutha Paska
D: Tamara Stevanovic
D: Elina Callas
MF: Sara Montes
MF: Yael Bettenhausen
MF: Kate Whitney
MF: Angela Arana
MF: Edina Taerbaum
MF: Tenzin Norkhang
F: Autumn Woody
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Ella Marzolf, jr., F, Prospect
Scoring summary
First half
Prospect—Ella Marzolf (Abbey Danciu), 7th minute
Second half
Prospect—Danciu (Faith Fitzsimmons), 43rd minute
Prospect—Marzolf, 46th minute
Prospect—Kristin Schneider (Madalyn Ladd), 80th minute
Marzolf scores brace in 4-0 road victory
By Patrick Z. McGavin
SKOKIE -- The last thing Prospect wanted on this cold and cruel day was to be inefficient. Sure, possession mattered, but so did a result.
“The conditions were catastrophic,” Niles North coach Filip Cejovic said.
This Knights’ team is built differently. The last few years have all pointed forward in this direction.
Prospect returns 11 players who were either full-time or occasional starters on last year’s team. The Knights went a deceiving 8-10-2, against a hyper-competitive schedule. By the final month of the season, the Knights were a cohesive and formidable group.
Following a competitive season-opening loss to no. 2 New Trier, Prospect went about signaling the next phase of its evolution. The team blasted IMSA 8-0 on Monday. Now a scrappy Niles North side stood in the path of Prospect’s continued progress.
“I thought we handled the conditions very well,” Prospect coach Tom Froats said. Going into the teeth of a harsh and unyielding wind, Prospect showed ever greater signs of its new maturity by simply digging in and transcending the mental and physical obstacles.
In the seventh minute, junior forward Abbey Danciu -- one of the team’s bright newcomers -- laid off a ball for Ella Marzolf. The gifted and skilled Marzolf, a three-year starter, did the rest. She blasted a ball for an early goal that underscored the team’s grit and resolve.
Marzolf scored two goals and Danciu added another in support of her assist as the Knights (2-1-0) utilized an early second half scoring burst to subdue the host Vikings 4-0 in a nonconference match on this blustery and cold Tuesday afternoon.
For her accomplishments, Marzolf earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor.
“Certainly in the first half, when we were going into the wind, I thought we were very composed on the ball and we were able to possess a lot, even going into that stiff breeze, and that speaks to the skill level of our players, their ability to connect passes and move very well off the ball,” Froats said.
“I thought they were a little physical at the start of the game, but we held tough, and we were willing to battle in those physical challenges, go hard for the 50/50 balls, and that also speaks to the effort and the energy that we brought. I thought, overall, we were able to do some nice things.”
Niles North (2-3-0) showcases its own stellar player in senior attacking midfielder Edina Taerbaum. She has high-level club experience from FC United, and brings a compelling combination of size, speed and a tricky, off-balance offensive game as a natural left-footer. She came in hot with six goals in back-to-back Vikings wins.
“I think psychologically, at the start, it was a matter of us having the confidence and coming out strong and believing we could win,” Taerbaum said. “We are not the kind of team where we can afford to take breaks. I think most of the time we do a good job. I think after the first goal they scored, we did get a little down. We have to be able to fight through that, and just play like it’s still 0-0 and not get in our heads.”
The Marzolf goal held up as the only scoring of the first half.
It was a credit to each side how fluid they looked despite the weather, particularly the harsh southern wind that bore down on the field and made every pass and effort to connect fraught with difficulties. The teams played through the adversity.
Each had close calls: for Niles North a ball Taerbaum could not quite get on the end of; and a low-level rocket ball in the 36th minute by Prospect senior midfielder Shawna Stokes that hit off the far post.
The Vikings absorbed a lot of pressure in the first half, demonstrating mettle and perseverance to remain only a single goal back. Niles North keeper Altina Rexhepi recorded seven saves. Her counterpart, Prospect freshman Isabella Hubrich, contributed two.
The momentum changed significantly right at the start of the second half. Less than two minutes in, Taerbaum had the Vikings’ best scoring chance, a free kick from about 18 yards from the right edge. Hubrich speared her ball, leaving Taerbaum with a sense of missed opportunities.
“I am pretty upset about that free kick,” she said. “It just did not go off my foot how I wanted. It was definitely not planned like that. Just like the first half where I did not hit the ball how I like on a shot, I had a good chance to score. Both of those players were pretty disappointing.”
The Knights’ poise, savvy and experience proved the difference in the game. If Prospect had its own disappointment in not pulling away sooner, the team sharpened its attack at the start of the second half that yielded two goals just three minutes apart.
Having the wind in the second half allowed the Knights to push ever greater numbers forward and open up their attack. Instrumental in setting up the first goal, Danciu showed a deft scoring touch in the 43rd minute. Sometimes the weather complications work in your favor. The cumulative pressure Prospect created paid its own dividends.
Working the left center, Danciu controlled a ball from midfielder Faith Fitzsimmons and blasted a skidding ball that flummoxed Rexhepi. The combination of the spin and the torque from the ball turned a relatively straightforward shot into an adventure. A crazy bounce caught Rexhepi off balance and deflected off her right shoulder for the second goal.
“This was our fifth game in seven days,” Cejovic said. “It was obviously a difficult day to play. We had things going against us, including some of our players who were not at their best physically today. We were a bit worn out. You have to give (Prospect) some credit, too. They are a very nice team, very well-organized, very well-coached. I thought we gave it our all in the second half.
“We were a bit unlucky with the goals that we did concede.”
Marzolf put the game out of reach moments later with a nifty dash down the left edge that gave her a free look that she finished with authority from about 12 yards. Junior midfielder Kristin Schneider, off a pass by junior defender Madalyn Ladd, punctuated the victory with a goal in the 80th minute.
Prospect demonstrated a diversified attack. Marzolf and Ladd showed solid serving abilities on a couple of corner kicks. Stokes and Fitzsimmons created an uptempo rhythm that allowed the team to change sides quickly and move the ball in advantageous situations.
The early shutout victories are crucial in establishing confidence and solidifying roles. The Knights are ready to make a statement in the Mid-Suburban League East Division. The level of competition gets significantly stronger with Mid-Suburban West power Fremd the opening conference assignment Thursday night in Palatine.
“I think we are growing together as a team,” Froats said. “I think we’re deep, and we have lots of versatile players and different matchups on the field that we could exploit. We have several dynamic offensive personalities. I don’t think there’s going to be one individual that our offense goes through. We are going to share that wealth.
“I thought overall today we were creating pretty dynamic scoring chances. There were a few times where I think we need to be a little more aggressive. I like to think we are a pretty technical group. We play the ball on the ground, and we have the ability to interchange different positions and unsettle the defenses that we go against. I see (progress) in us as a team. To see that from match to match is great.”
Starting lineups
Prospect
GK: Isabella Hubrich
D: Helen Siavelis
D: Ashley Erickson
D: Alex Mitka
D: Natalie Marfilius
MF: Shawna Stokes
MF: Faith Fitzsimmons
MF: Abbey Danciu
F: Ashley Welk
F: Ella Marzolf
F: Ashley Adams
Niles North
GK: Altina Rexhepi
D: Rutha Paska
D: Tamara Stevanovic
D: Elina Callas
MF: Sara Montes
MF: Yael Bettenhausen
MF: Kate Whitney
MF: Angela Arana
MF: Edina Taerbaum
MF: Tenzin Norkhang
F: Autumn Woody
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Ella Marzolf, jr., F, Prospect
Scoring summary
First half
Prospect—Ella Marzolf (Abbey Danciu), 7th minute
Second half
Prospect—Danciu (Faith Fitzsimmons), 43rd minute
Prospect—Marzolf, 46th minute
Prospect—Kristin Schneider (Madalyn Ladd), 80th minute