Wheaton Academy's Setran, Swoboda star
in victory over Riverside-Brookfield
Warriors open conference with shootout win
By Bobby Narang
WEST CHICAGO -- The Wheaton Academy bench erupted in a mass celebration late Thursday night.
The entire team darted toward the same spot, in full sprint to celebrate a stunning conclusion to a long game against Riverside-Brookfield. Wheaton Academy senior goalie Sara Swoboda was more than welcome to accept the attention from her teammates, especially after an inspiring performance in the net.
Thanks to Swoboda, the Warriors pulled out a 4-3 penalty kick advantage and Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division victory after a 100-minute 1-1 tie.
Both goals came in the first half.
Wheaton Academy’s Emily Setran was all over the field in Thursday’s game, attempting to create scoring chances with her aggressiveness and speed. She scored the Warriors’ lone goal on a breakaway opportunity off a long run. The game’s first goal came with 5 minutes, 16 second left until halftime.
Riverside-Brookfield’s Nina Bretz quickly countered with a goal in the 39th minute.
Setran set the tone after the two overtimes, knocking in the first penalty kick. Teammates Anna Africa, Eva DeSouza and Jillian Paulson added goals.
“It was little rough in the game, because it was raining pretty hard, but we maintained our toughness and composure,” Setran said. “We played pretty well. I was pretty nervous in penalty kicks, but I knew we could do it. I felt pretty confident all game. We played well and tough and had a lot of good passing.”
Paulson, a defender, secured the winner with a soft tap on her penalty kick to her right.
“I knew I could make it, just shoot short and into the corner,” Paulson said. “I picked where I wanted to go before I walked up, but I switch it every game. It was a great win. By the end of regulation, I stepped off and my legs were getting cold. This feels amazing, just good to have a good conference first win.”
Swoboda, who finished with seven saves, helped put an end to a long, cold and rainy night in a game that tested the resolve of both teams. Swoboda’s strong play in the net influenced two errant shots by the Bulldogs in the shootout. One shot went wide left, and the final attempt sailed over the post. Hazell Hall, Carmen Guerrero and Bretz made their penalty kick attempts for the Bulldogs (2-5-1, 1-1-0).
“This feels amazing, because we all felt little nervous and pressure going into our first conference game,” Swoboda said. “It’s so relieving to get it done, going into our next game this gives us a lot of confidence.”
Swoboda couldn’t pin down the last time she recorded a shootout victory, possibly pointing to a tournament in Michigan during her freshman season. She came up big in the first 10-minute overtime, recording three saves in a two-plus minute segment.
Swoboda, who didn’t have a save in the second 10-minute overtime, said she was ready for the penalty kicks.
“I just tried to stay focused and keep my eyes on the ball, follow it wherever it goes and get set,” she said.
“I hope to keep it up and keep this streak going.”
Thursday’s win helped shrug off any disappointment remaining from Monday’s scoreless tie against West Chicago.
“We came off spring break and we were little rusty in finishing against West Chicago, but we had a great game,” Wheaton Academy coach Maria Selvaggio said. “We knew coming in today that it was just a matter of composure in the final third and confidence in our finishing and getting quality shots.
“We did have chances in the run of play. We were dangerous and could’ve put it away sooner, but Riverside-Brookfield is a great team. They’re very organized. They have some great players all around. It was a good battle, so it was great to come out on top.”
Selvaggio praised the play of Swoboda for her steadiness amid the difficult conditions, which included a nonstop driving rain for the entire second half.
The Warriors are full of several new face this season, have a chance for some redemption when they play defending Class A state champion Althoff in the BodyArmor Sports Series, formerly known as the PepsiCo Showdown, on Saturday at Olympic Park in Schaumburg. Althoff defeated the Warriors 3-0 in the state semifinals last spring.
“(Sara) had a great game, and I feel she steps up in big games,” Selvaggio said. “When she gets a lot of action, she’s dialed in. She played like a leader tonight.
“We’re hoping this gives us momentum heading into a full weekend, which includes playing Althoff. That should be a fun rematch. Our momentum has been ideal.”
Wheaton Academy now enjoys a four-game unbeaten streak (3-0-1) after starting the season with losses to ranked Benet and Class A runnerup Timothy. The coach believes that may be the first time the program has ever opened a campaign with a pair of defeats.
“Sure, our start wasn’t that great, but we keep finding who we are,” she said. “We’re hitting a good place and finding our chemistry. This is a great point, to have this victory to fuel us forward.”
Riverside-Brookfield coach Ivek Halic said his players had an inspiring effort against a talented team on the road. The Bulldogs played strong, particularly in the first overtime but just couldn’t get a shot past Swoboda in the final 60 minutes.
Riverside-Brookfield goalie Reagan Peschke matched Swoboda’s performance in the net, finishing with two big saves in the second overtime for five in the game.
“It was a gutsy performance, and they left everything on the field,” Halic said. “It was an unfortunate way to lose, but I couldn’t be more proud of the girls. We took it to the wire. It was tough conditions, but my captains did an amazing job. We have a young group, but they’re buying in. It takes time to build that chemistry, but we’re getting there.”
Meanwhile, Selvaggio noted the effort of her players for battling the cold and rainy, noting the strong outings by Setran and Africa.
“Emily had an amazing game,” she said. “Her goal in the first half was about poise and a quality goal. It was unfortunate we gave up a goal later in the half. But Emily was all over the field in that 100 minutes and to have that confidence to take that first penalty kick shows her maturity and hunger to take care of business. Anna Africa was a workhouse, too. We’re excited to build off that, to take us into hopefully a good weekend.”
Starting lineups
Riverside-Brookfield
GK Reagan Peschke
D Jessica Sharenow
D Cassidy Erb
D Lena Lembcke
MF Amanda DiForti
MF Niamh Larson
MF Madison Bisiules
MF Kate Newberry
MF Carmen Guerrero
F Nina Bretz
F Natalie Rubi
Wheaton Academy
GK Sara Swoboda
D Jillian Paulson
D Britta Love
D Lexi Rojek
MF Katelyn Schoepke
MF Lily Lebo
MF Grace Penniall
MF Jocelyn Royce
M Emily Setran
F Eva DeSouza
F Anna Africa
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Sara Swoboda, sr., GK, Wheaton Academy
Scoring summary
First half
Wheaton Academy — Emily Setran (unassisted), 35th minute
Riverside-Brookfield — Nina Bretz (Natalie Rubi), 39th minute
Second half
No scoring
First overtime
No scoring
Second overtime
No scoring
Penalty kicks
Riverside-Brookfield
1: Hazel Hall —- good
2: Niamh Larson — no good
3: Carmen Guerrero — good
4: Nina Bretz — good
5: Lena Lembcke — no good
Wheaton Academy
1: Emily Setran — good
2: Anna Africa — good
3: Eva DeSouza — good
4: Katelyn Schoepke — no good
5: Jillian Paulson — good
in victory over Riverside-Brookfield
Warriors open conference with shootout win
By Bobby Narang
WEST CHICAGO -- The Wheaton Academy bench erupted in a mass celebration late Thursday night.
The entire team darted toward the same spot, in full sprint to celebrate a stunning conclusion to a long game against Riverside-Brookfield. Wheaton Academy senior goalie Sara Swoboda was more than welcome to accept the attention from her teammates, especially after an inspiring performance in the net.
Thanks to Swoboda, the Warriors pulled out a 4-3 penalty kick advantage and Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division victory after a 100-minute 1-1 tie.
Both goals came in the first half.
Wheaton Academy’s Emily Setran was all over the field in Thursday’s game, attempting to create scoring chances with her aggressiveness and speed. She scored the Warriors’ lone goal on a breakaway opportunity off a long run. The game’s first goal came with 5 minutes, 16 second left until halftime.
Riverside-Brookfield’s Nina Bretz quickly countered with a goal in the 39th minute.
Setran set the tone after the two overtimes, knocking in the first penalty kick. Teammates Anna Africa, Eva DeSouza and Jillian Paulson added goals.
“It was little rough in the game, because it was raining pretty hard, but we maintained our toughness and composure,” Setran said. “We played pretty well. I was pretty nervous in penalty kicks, but I knew we could do it. I felt pretty confident all game. We played well and tough and had a lot of good passing.”
Paulson, a defender, secured the winner with a soft tap on her penalty kick to her right.
“I knew I could make it, just shoot short and into the corner,” Paulson said. “I picked where I wanted to go before I walked up, but I switch it every game. It was a great win. By the end of regulation, I stepped off and my legs were getting cold. This feels amazing, just good to have a good conference first win.”
Swoboda, who finished with seven saves, helped put an end to a long, cold and rainy night in a game that tested the resolve of both teams. Swoboda’s strong play in the net influenced two errant shots by the Bulldogs in the shootout. One shot went wide left, and the final attempt sailed over the post. Hazell Hall, Carmen Guerrero and Bretz made their penalty kick attempts for the Bulldogs (2-5-1, 1-1-0).
“This feels amazing, because we all felt little nervous and pressure going into our first conference game,” Swoboda said. “It’s so relieving to get it done, going into our next game this gives us a lot of confidence.”
Swoboda couldn’t pin down the last time she recorded a shootout victory, possibly pointing to a tournament in Michigan during her freshman season. She came up big in the first 10-minute overtime, recording three saves in a two-plus minute segment.
Swoboda, who didn’t have a save in the second 10-minute overtime, said she was ready for the penalty kicks.
“I just tried to stay focused and keep my eyes on the ball, follow it wherever it goes and get set,” she said.
“I hope to keep it up and keep this streak going.”
Thursday’s win helped shrug off any disappointment remaining from Monday’s scoreless tie against West Chicago.
“We came off spring break and we were little rusty in finishing against West Chicago, but we had a great game,” Wheaton Academy coach Maria Selvaggio said. “We knew coming in today that it was just a matter of composure in the final third and confidence in our finishing and getting quality shots.
“We did have chances in the run of play. We were dangerous and could’ve put it away sooner, but Riverside-Brookfield is a great team. They’re very organized. They have some great players all around. It was a good battle, so it was great to come out on top.”
Selvaggio praised the play of Swoboda for her steadiness amid the difficult conditions, which included a nonstop driving rain for the entire second half.
The Warriors are full of several new face this season, have a chance for some redemption when they play defending Class A state champion Althoff in the BodyArmor Sports Series, formerly known as the PepsiCo Showdown, on Saturday at Olympic Park in Schaumburg. Althoff defeated the Warriors 3-0 in the state semifinals last spring.
“(Sara) had a great game, and I feel she steps up in big games,” Selvaggio said. “When she gets a lot of action, she’s dialed in. She played like a leader tonight.
“We’re hoping this gives us momentum heading into a full weekend, which includes playing Althoff. That should be a fun rematch. Our momentum has been ideal.”
Wheaton Academy now enjoys a four-game unbeaten streak (3-0-1) after starting the season with losses to ranked Benet and Class A runnerup Timothy. The coach believes that may be the first time the program has ever opened a campaign with a pair of defeats.
“Sure, our start wasn’t that great, but we keep finding who we are,” she said. “We’re hitting a good place and finding our chemistry. This is a great point, to have this victory to fuel us forward.”
Riverside-Brookfield coach Ivek Halic said his players had an inspiring effort against a talented team on the road. The Bulldogs played strong, particularly in the first overtime but just couldn’t get a shot past Swoboda in the final 60 minutes.
Riverside-Brookfield goalie Reagan Peschke matched Swoboda’s performance in the net, finishing with two big saves in the second overtime for five in the game.
“It was a gutsy performance, and they left everything on the field,” Halic said. “It was an unfortunate way to lose, but I couldn’t be more proud of the girls. We took it to the wire. It was tough conditions, but my captains did an amazing job. We have a young group, but they’re buying in. It takes time to build that chemistry, but we’re getting there.”
Meanwhile, Selvaggio noted the effort of her players for battling the cold and rainy, noting the strong outings by Setran and Africa.
“Emily had an amazing game,” she said. “Her goal in the first half was about poise and a quality goal. It was unfortunate we gave up a goal later in the half. But Emily was all over the field in that 100 minutes and to have that confidence to take that first penalty kick shows her maturity and hunger to take care of business. Anna Africa was a workhouse, too. We’re excited to build off that, to take us into hopefully a good weekend.”
Starting lineups
Riverside-Brookfield
GK Reagan Peschke
D Jessica Sharenow
D Cassidy Erb
D Lena Lembcke
MF Amanda DiForti
MF Niamh Larson
MF Madison Bisiules
MF Kate Newberry
MF Carmen Guerrero
F Nina Bretz
F Natalie Rubi
Wheaton Academy
GK Sara Swoboda
D Jillian Paulson
D Britta Love
D Lexi Rojek
MF Katelyn Schoepke
MF Lily Lebo
MF Grace Penniall
MF Jocelyn Royce
M Emily Setran
F Eva DeSouza
F Anna Africa
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Sara Swoboda, sr., GK, Wheaton Academy
Scoring summary
First half
Wheaton Academy — Emily Setran (unassisted), 35th minute
Riverside-Brookfield — Nina Bretz (Natalie Rubi), 39th minute
Second half
No scoring
First overtime
No scoring
Second overtime
No scoring
Penalty kicks
Riverside-Brookfield
1: Hazel Hall —- good
2: Niamh Larson — no good
3: Carmen Guerrero — good
4: Nina Bretz — good
5: Lena Lembcke — no good
Wheaton Academy
1: Emily Setran — good
2: Anna Africa — good
3: Eva DeSouza — good
4: Katelyn Schoepke — no good
5: Jillian Paulson — good