Welk's blast puts Prospect past Carmel
30-yard finish gives Knights 1-0 regional semfinal win
By Mike Garofola
PALATINE -- Prospect watched a video of the most insane soccer goals, when Kristin Schneider proclaimed Ashley is someone that could do that!
Tuesday night Ashley Welk did.
Welk broke Carmel's stubborn resistence with a remarkable solo effort in the 58th minute to shatter the upset hopes of the 11th-seeded Corsairs (7-11-4) and move the Knights into the regional final against host Fremd on Friday night at Hildebrandt Field.
Welk's unstoppable 30-yard cracker went just under the bar and was met with the expected roar of the crowd and her teammates, who witnessed an incredible strike that proved to be the game-winner in a 1-0 final.
"I won't lie to you, I'd much rather that goal come from one of my players to win the game, but there was nothing cheap about that goal," said Carmel manager Ray Krawzak.
"It was brilliant. If my team is going to lose, better on a goal like that than anything else."
"We've come to expect that type of effort from Ashley when we've needed it," said Prospect manager Tom Froats.
Carmel's health this season, or rather lack of it, has been well documented. Put that together with four sophomores in the first 11, plus a keeper (Taylor Zelich) who is learning on the job, and it's not a suprise that the season has been a roller coaster ride for Krawzak's club.
"Everyone has injuries, we're no different," said Krawzak. "But tonight we were (almost) at full strength. The hope was to come out, play hard for 80 minutes, maybe put one of our dead balls chances (in), then see if we can advance to play another day."
During the first half hour of so, the heart of the Lady Knights (12-9-5) attack centered around Welk, Kristin and Lauryn Schneider, and Ella Marzolf, with a steady diet of Madalyn Ladd adding numbers with runs from her spot as a right outside back.
Carmel senior defender Caitlin Teehan had a busy half hour. On several occasions, she read potential trouble brewing and slowed and/or stopped the Lady Knights with timely interceptions,
Classmate Olivia Salvi was just as active. It was her ability to tackle, track and intercept that helped keep the Knights attempts on frame to a minimum.
"Caitlin was really involved tonight for, much like she's been during a terrific career for us," began Krawzak.
"We moved (Olivia Salvi) and Maddy Splitt after the break, and the two helped keep us in the game and gave us some chances. Both enjoyed great nights in their career finales."
Throughout the contest Krawzak reminded his players of finding the back of the net on its dead-ball opportunities. The first of a handful went to Olivia Salvi, who headed wide a Mia Salvi free kick that came off of the back post in the 13th minute.
For Prospect, Welk proved to be the engine in the Lady Knights center attack. She dribbled away from trouble, drove forward with precise control and sprayed the ball around to her teammates.
"We're really lucky to have Ashley," sayd Froats. "She makes a lot happen with and without the ball, but she's also so unselfish."
Carmel's Zenaya Barnes and Sophia Coury created a corner for the Corsairs at 22 minutes, but Prospect defended well and put the ball out of the area cleanly.
Moments later, some lovely combination from Salvi and Barnes gave sophomore Lyndsey Basara and the Corsairs their best chance, but the shot went wide.
After a five-minute rest, Welk was brought back on in the 30th minute. She moved from the midfield to the top, and the senior nearly made the move pay immediate dividends.
With Teehan draped all over Welk, she still managed to get enough space to force Zelich into action. Soon after she did again when Kristin Schneider set her up.
Both Zelich and Barnes were a topic of conversation from both managers afterwards, beginning with comments from Krawzak of his first-year keeper.
"I cannot say enough of the play by Taylor," Krawzak said. "She made some terrific saves for us tonight, was active in the box and played like a veteran -- which is kind of funny when you consider she came to us 10 weeks ago without any experience at the position."
Froats was impressed with Barnes after scouting the Corsairs but was even more so after the game.
"We knew just how much of a talent no. 17 (Barnes) was before tonight, and I can tell you that up-close, she is even better," said Froats of the Grambling State-bound senior, who also happens to be a magnificent lacrosse player.
"We had our hands full with her. You probably saw us marking her with two players and trying to keep her back to the net as best as we could. If we allowed her to turn, it could be trouble."
While the Corsairs were hardly an attacking threat in the first half, their offense showed more life after the break.
A trio of corners came from nice pressure from Barnes, Coury and Mia Salvi. None stressed Prospect keeper Annie Ninness, who later claimed her 12th clean-sheet of the season.
Abby Knott made her second appearance of the evening in the 44th minute, and the freshman made an immediate statement when she skimmed the bar with her attempt from 22 yards.
"Abby had been a pleasant surprise for us this season, and as you saw, she can do a lot of things with and without the ball," Froats said. "She has shown she will be a big part of our team next year."
Welk made something out of nothing 18 minutes into the second half. But the four-year veteran was not as impressed by her game-winner as others were.
"I knew I had to try to do something to help us win, because we're playing what could be the last time together as a team," a humble Welk said.
With more urgency in its step, Carmel threw numbers forward, targeted Barnes more frequently and went into tackles with additional zest in order to force turnovers and poor decisions in their opponent's end.
The Prospect backline of Helen Siavelis, Ashley Erickson, Karsen Keller and Ladd would have none of that. As a unit, they conceded a pair of corners and a free kick from Mia Salvi that angled wide of the post.
Carmel gave it their best.
"One of the great things about this team has been their heart and ability to compete and fight; (they) did that tonight," said Krawzak. "For 10-15 minutes we kept them under but just couldn't be dangerous enough in the final third to put one in.
"It's a bittersweet end to our season, but I cannot be more proud of this group, who played hard for the entire 80 minutes."
Prospect came back into the game late after weathering the Corsairs final push. Knott, Welk and Kristin Schneider each had a go. Senior Tina Suto did her part by making sure things were secure in front of her backline mates.
"It was a tense, hard-fought game," said Kristin Schneider. "Except for a little bit of a let-down in the second half, I felt we had a lot of the play without allowing them to do very much with their attack."
Starting lineups
Carmel (4-5-1)
G- Taylor Zelich
D- Morgan Smola
D- Caitlin Teehan
D- Maddy Splitt
D- Lyndsey Basara
M- Mia Salvi
M- Olivia Pullin
M- Olivia Salvi
M- Liza Galla
M- Sophia Coury
F- Zenaya Barnes
Prospect (4-1-3-2)
G- Annie Ninness
D- Madalyn Ladd
D- Helen Siavelis
D- Ashley Erickson
D- Karsen Keller
M- Tina Suto
M- Ella Marzolf
M- Kristin Schneider
M- Ashley Welk
M- Lauryn Schneider
F- Hannah Mekky
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match: Ashley Welk, sr., MF/F, Prospect
Zenaya Barnes, sr., F, Carmel
Referee: Bob Karcz
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Prospect: Welk (U/A) 58'
30-yard finish gives Knights 1-0 regional semfinal win
By Mike Garofola
PALATINE -- Prospect watched a video of the most insane soccer goals, when Kristin Schneider proclaimed Ashley is someone that could do that!
Tuesday night Ashley Welk did.
Welk broke Carmel's stubborn resistence with a remarkable solo effort in the 58th minute to shatter the upset hopes of the 11th-seeded Corsairs (7-11-4) and move the Knights into the regional final against host Fremd on Friday night at Hildebrandt Field.
Welk's unstoppable 30-yard cracker went just under the bar and was met with the expected roar of the crowd and her teammates, who witnessed an incredible strike that proved to be the game-winner in a 1-0 final.
"I won't lie to you, I'd much rather that goal come from one of my players to win the game, but there was nothing cheap about that goal," said Carmel manager Ray Krawzak.
"It was brilliant. If my team is going to lose, better on a goal like that than anything else."
"We've come to expect that type of effort from Ashley when we've needed it," said Prospect manager Tom Froats.
Carmel's health this season, or rather lack of it, has been well documented. Put that together with four sophomores in the first 11, plus a keeper (Taylor Zelich) who is learning on the job, and it's not a suprise that the season has been a roller coaster ride for Krawzak's club.
"Everyone has injuries, we're no different," said Krawzak. "But tonight we were (almost) at full strength. The hope was to come out, play hard for 80 minutes, maybe put one of our dead balls chances (in), then see if we can advance to play another day."
During the first half hour of so, the heart of the Lady Knights (12-9-5) attack centered around Welk, Kristin and Lauryn Schneider, and Ella Marzolf, with a steady diet of Madalyn Ladd adding numbers with runs from her spot as a right outside back.
Carmel senior defender Caitlin Teehan had a busy half hour. On several occasions, she read potential trouble brewing and slowed and/or stopped the Lady Knights with timely interceptions,
Classmate Olivia Salvi was just as active. It was her ability to tackle, track and intercept that helped keep the Knights attempts on frame to a minimum.
"Caitlin was really involved tonight for, much like she's been during a terrific career for us," began Krawzak.
"We moved (Olivia Salvi) and Maddy Splitt after the break, and the two helped keep us in the game and gave us some chances. Both enjoyed great nights in their career finales."
Throughout the contest Krawzak reminded his players of finding the back of the net on its dead-ball opportunities. The first of a handful went to Olivia Salvi, who headed wide a Mia Salvi free kick that came off of the back post in the 13th minute.
For Prospect, Welk proved to be the engine in the Lady Knights center attack. She dribbled away from trouble, drove forward with precise control and sprayed the ball around to her teammates.
"We're really lucky to have Ashley," sayd Froats. "She makes a lot happen with and without the ball, but she's also so unselfish."
Carmel's Zenaya Barnes and Sophia Coury created a corner for the Corsairs at 22 minutes, but Prospect defended well and put the ball out of the area cleanly.
Moments later, some lovely combination from Salvi and Barnes gave sophomore Lyndsey Basara and the Corsairs their best chance, but the shot went wide.
After a five-minute rest, Welk was brought back on in the 30th minute. She moved from the midfield to the top, and the senior nearly made the move pay immediate dividends.
With Teehan draped all over Welk, she still managed to get enough space to force Zelich into action. Soon after she did again when Kristin Schneider set her up.
Both Zelich and Barnes were a topic of conversation from both managers afterwards, beginning with comments from Krawzak of his first-year keeper.
"I cannot say enough of the play by Taylor," Krawzak said. "She made some terrific saves for us tonight, was active in the box and played like a veteran -- which is kind of funny when you consider she came to us 10 weeks ago without any experience at the position."
Froats was impressed with Barnes after scouting the Corsairs but was even more so after the game.
"We knew just how much of a talent no. 17 (Barnes) was before tonight, and I can tell you that up-close, she is even better," said Froats of the Grambling State-bound senior, who also happens to be a magnificent lacrosse player.
"We had our hands full with her. You probably saw us marking her with two players and trying to keep her back to the net as best as we could. If we allowed her to turn, it could be trouble."
While the Corsairs were hardly an attacking threat in the first half, their offense showed more life after the break.
A trio of corners came from nice pressure from Barnes, Coury and Mia Salvi. None stressed Prospect keeper Annie Ninness, who later claimed her 12th clean-sheet of the season.
Abby Knott made her second appearance of the evening in the 44th minute, and the freshman made an immediate statement when she skimmed the bar with her attempt from 22 yards.
"Abby had been a pleasant surprise for us this season, and as you saw, she can do a lot of things with and without the ball," Froats said. "She has shown she will be a big part of our team next year."
Welk made something out of nothing 18 minutes into the second half. But the four-year veteran was not as impressed by her game-winner as others were.
"I knew I had to try to do something to help us win, because we're playing what could be the last time together as a team," a humble Welk said.
With more urgency in its step, Carmel threw numbers forward, targeted Barnes more frequently and went into tackles with additional zest in order to force turnovers and poor decisions in their opponent's end.
The Prospect backline of Helen Siavelis, Ashley Erickson, Karsen Keller and Ladd would have none of that. As a unit, they conceded a pair of corners and a free kick from Mia Salvi that angled wide of the post.
Carmel gave it their best.
"One of the great things about this team has been their heart and ability to compete and fight; (they) did that tonight," said Krawzak. "For 10-15 minutes we kept them under but just couldn't be dangerous enough in the final third to put one in.
"It's a bittersweet end to our season, but I cannot be more proud of this group, who played hard for the entire 80 minutes."
Prospect came back into the game late after weathering the Corsairs final push. Knott, Welk and Kristin Schneider each had a go. Senior Tina Suto did her part by making sure things were secure in front of her backline mates.
"It was a tense, hard-fought game," said Kristin Schneider. "Except for a little bit of a let-down in the second half, I felt we had a lot of the play without allowing them to do very much with their attack."
Starting lineups
Carmel (4-5-1)
G- Taylor Zelich
D- Morgan Smola
D- Caitlin Teehan
D- Maddy Splitt
D- Lyndsey Basara
M- Mia Salvi
M- Olivia Pullin
M- Olivia Salvi
M- Liza Galla
M- Sophia Coury
F- Zenaya Barnes
Prospect (4-1-3-2)
G- Annie Ninness
D- Madalyn Ladd
D- Helen Siavelis
D- Ashley Erickson
D- Karsen Keller
M- Tina Suto
M- Ella Marzolf
M- Kristin Schneider
M- Ashley Welk
M- Lauryn Schneider
F- Hannah Mekky
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match: Ashley Welk, sr., MF/F, Prospect
Zenaya Barnes, sr., F, Carmel
Referee: Bob Karcz
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Prospect: Welk (U/A) 58'