Sharp Plainfield S. wins 4th game in 4 days
4-0 win over Romeoville puts Cougars in Windy City semis
By Matt Le Cren
ROMEOVILLE – The shots were all top-shelf.
They resulted in top-notch goals.
First Isabel Cerda, then Jamie Lee Cooper and finally Ciara Coneset blasted high shots under the crossbar, well out of the reach of Romeoville goalkeeper Macayla Dwyer.
The latter two came just two minutes apart and gave visiting Plainfield South a three-goal lead en route to a 4-0 win Saturday in the quarterfinals of the Windy City Ram Invitational.
So was it strategy, or just coincidence, that led the Cougars to shoot high and hard?
“In all honesty, I think our strategy was we just wanted to go out there and play how we did in the past few days, give it our all and stay positive and just play fast,” Coneset said. “Given the conditions, we wanted to make sure that we got our passes to our feet, and I think when shots came, they came. We just wanted to go out there and play.”
The Cougars played – and won – for the fourth-consecutive day. The senior-heavy lineup, which boasts eight returning starters, has produced a 4-0-0 start that is impressive, if not all that surprising to its authors.
“I’m actually really excited,” said Coneset, who earned Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors after scoring twice. “We’ve all played together for a really long time going back to sixth grade and club, so we have a really good chemistry going into the season.
“It’s just (a matter of) getting there at the right time and the right place.”
The Cougars were in the right places nearly all the time against previously unbeaten Romeoville (2-1-0), which played without three starters, including two defenders.
The visitors outshot the Spartans 12-1 in the icy conditions, which resulted in the fans having to stand on the track because the bleachers were encased in ice.
Cerda broke the proverbial ice just 9:35 into the match with an 18-yard rocket for her second goal of the season. The senior, who will continue her career at Waubonsee Community College, then set up Cooper’s goal with a slick pass into the middle of the box. Cooper beat Dwyer from 14 yards with another line drive.
“It was a great relief, actually, just to set that tone, that we can do it,” Cerda said of her strike. “We tried to play together and connect passes.”
Plainfield South did a lot of connecting, which caused the Spartans to chase. But the Cougars began connecting with each other long ago and that familiarity has bred the current success.
“We’re excited for the start and happy the girls are excited and doing well,” Plainfield South coach Alfonso Lopez said. “I think (the recipe) is a little of everything.
“These seniors have been playing together since middle school, so when you have that there is a lot of working together, a lot of experience from the past. We have a young group of girls with us as well that are jelling with them, so it’s a team effort.”
Indeed, the Cougars don’t seem to rely on any one player. Coneset, a Central Michigan recruit, was the offensive star Saturday, scoring on a 22-yard rocket with 17:02 left in the first half and capping the scoring with a penalty kick at the 27:46 mark of the second half.
But the defense stood out as well, allowing no shots on goal and making Trenholm’s job easy.
“We communicated well,” Cerda said. “Having the great defensive line back there and having that communication as well, is a confidence booster.
“We were encouraging each other. We were building each other up when we made mistakes.”
None of the mistakes the Cougars have made so far have proven costly, but stiffer tests surely await. Also ahead is another game against Romeoville, which will visit the Cougars on Thursday for a Southwest Prairie Conference match.
The Spartans might have their full lineup back by then and they will obviously be aware of Plainfield South’s game plan.
“The strategy today was to attack the outsides and get it into the middle and go from there,” Lopez said. “(The Cougars) did a good job doing that. We were able to get down the sidelines.”
While the Spartans now know what to expect, the Cougars have the confidence of having executed a plan to gained a win. So the plan Thursday is simple.
“Just do the same thing once again,” Coneset said.
If they can do it, then a promising season could continue to blossom this spring.
“We were surprised at how much talent we did have, but I think it’s all about heart and effort,” Coneset said. “We’re getting out what we put in.”
Starting lineups
Plainfield South
GK Nicole Trenholm
D Adanelly Escamilla
D Christina Schade
D Cameron Graham
M Gianna Derka
M Amaya Silvar
M Emily DeVivo
M Isabel Cerda
F Phoebe Hillery
F Ciara Coneset
F Taylor Metcalf
Romeoville
GK Macayla Dwyer
D Mayra Esquivel
D Kalie Rice
D Carolina Lopez
D Adamari Carrera
M Stephany Esquivel
M Jennifer Rodriguez
M Samantha Moreno
M Elizabeth Vitel
F Erika Allen
F Azucena Gomez
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match – Ciara Coneset, F, Plainfield South
Scoring summary
1st Half
Plainfield South – Isabel Cerda 30:25
Plainfield South – Jamie Lee Cooper (Cerda) 19:08
Plainfield South – Ciara Coneset (Emily DeVivo) 17:02
2nd Half
Plainfield South – Coneset (PK) 27:46
4-0 win over Romeoville puts Cougars in Windy City semis
By Matt Le Cren
ROMEOVILLE – The shots were all top-shelf.
They resulted in top-notch goals.
First Isabel Cerda, then Jamie Lee Cooper and finally Ciara Coneset blasted high shots under the crossbar, well out of the reach of Romeoville goalkeeper Macayla Dwyer.
The latter two came just two minutes apart and gave visiting Plainfield South a three-goal lead en route to a 4-0 win Saturday in the quarterfinals of the Windy City Ram Invitational.
So was it strategy, or just coincidence, that led the Cougars to shoot high and hard?
“In all honesty, I think our strategy was we just wanted to go out there and play how we did in the past few days, give it our all and stay positive and just play fast,” Coneset said. “Given the conditions, we wanted to make sure that we got our passes to our feet, and I think when shots came, they came. We just wanted to go out there and play.”
The Cougars played – and won – for the fourth-consecutive day. The senior-heavy lineup, which boasts eight returning starters, has produced a 4-0-0 start that is impressive, if not all that surprising to its authors.
“I’m actually really excited,” said Coneset, who earned Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors after scoring twice. “We’ve all played together for a really long time going back to sixth grade and club, so we have a really good chemistry going into the season.
“It’s just (a matter of) getting there at the right time and the right place.”
The Cougars were in the right places nearly all the time against previously unbeaten Romeoville (2-1-0), which played without three starters, including two defenders.
The visitors outshot the Spartans 12-1 in the icy conditions, which resulted in the fans having to stand on the track because the bleachers were encased in ice.
Cerda broke the proverbial ice just 9:35 into the match with an 18-yard rocket for her second goal of the season. The senior, who will continue her career at Waubonsee Community College, then set up Cooper’s goal with a slick pass into the middle of the box. Cooper beat Dwyer from 14 yards with another line drive.
“It was a great relief, actually, just to set that tone, that we can do it,” Cerda said of her strike. “We tried to play together and connect passes.”
Plainfield South did a lot of connecting, which caused the Spartans to chase. But the Cougars began connecting with each other long ago and that familiarity has bred the current success.
“We’re excited for the start and happy the girls are excited and doing well,” Plainfield South coach Alfonso Lopez said. “I think (the recipe) is a little of everything.
“These seniors have been playing together since middle school, so when you have that there is a lot of working together, a lot of experience from the past. We have a young group of girls with us as well that are jelling with them, so it’s a team effort.”
Indeed, the Cougars don’t seem to rely on any one player. Coneset, a Central Michigan recruit, was the offensive star Saturday, scoring on a 22-yard rocket with 17:02 left in the first half and capping the scoring with a penalty kick at the 27:46 mark of the second half.
But the defense stood out as well, allowing no shots on goal and making Trenholm’s job easy.
“We communicated well,” Cerda said. “Having the great defensive line back there and having that communication as well, is a confidence booster.
“We were encouraging each other. We were building each other up when we made mistakes.”
None of the mistakes the Cougars have made so far have proven costly, but stiffer tests surely await. Also ahead is another game against Romeoville, which will visit the Cougars on Thursday for a Southwest Prairie Conference match.
The Spartans might have their full lineup back by then and they will obviously be aware of Plainfield South’s game plan.
“The strategy today was to attack the outsides and get it into the middle and go from there,” Lopez said. “(The Cougars) did a good job doing that. We were able to get down the sidelines.”
While the Spartans now know what to expect, the Cougars have the confidence of having executed a plan to gained a win. So the plan Thursday is simple.
“Just do the same thing once again,” Coneset said.
If they can do it, then a promising season could continue to blossom this spring.
“We were surprised at how much talent we did have, but I think it’s all about heart and effort,” Coneset said. “We’re getting out what we put in.”
Starting lineups
Plainfield South
GK Nicole Trenholm
D Adanelly Escamilla
D Christina Schade
D Cameron Graham
M Gianna Derka
M Amaya Silvar
M Emily DeVivo
M Isabel Cerda
F Phoebe Hillery
F Ciara Coneset
F Taylor Metcalf
Romeoville
GK Macayla Dwyer
D Mayra Esquivel
D Kalie Rice
D Carolina Lopez
D Adamari Carrera
M Stephany Esquivel
M Jennifer Rodriguez
M Samantha Moreno
M Elizabeth Vitel
F Erika Allen
F Azucena Gomez
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match – Ciara Coneset, F, Plainfield South
Scoring summary
1st Half
Plainfield South – Isabel Cerda 30:25
Plainfield South – Jamie Lee Cooper (Cerda) 19:08
Plainfield South – Ciara Coneset (Emily DeVivo) 17:02
2nd Half
Plainfield South – Coneset (PK) 27:46