SCE tops Evanston in PKs for group win
Saturday win over Boylan gains Naperville Inv. quarters for Saints
By Mike Garofola
BARRINGTON -- Evanston and St. Charles East have been here before -- the penalty kick shootout.
When both sides went goalless after 100 minutes of soccer in the second day of group play of the Naperville Invitational, the teams went to the spot at Barrington Community Stadium to find a winner.
St. Charles East's Hayley Popiel settled the war of nerves when she converted her chance to give the Saints a final 6-5 advantage after eight nerve-wracking rounds for a hard-fought victory and three important points in the Group E standings.
The Fighting Saints will face Boylan on Saturday in Barrington with the knowledge another victory will ensure their stay in the front draw next week of this highly regarded tournament, now in its 21st season.
"There wasn't a whole lot of play in the first half for both teams," began Saints captain Rose Stackhouse. "But after the break, we finally found our game and created so many chances. But when you don't finish them (that's) when you end up in PKs.
"Fortunately for us, we have a keeper that all of us have so much confidence in, so we all knew that Grace (Griffin) would step up and make the saves when we needed her to."
Griffin emerged as one of the heroes in the tournament opener for the Saints. She commanded the box with confidence and fearless play. So did her counterpart, Evanston's Sylvi Imrem, who stood on her head in the second half to help keep her mates at Evanston in the match.
"Sylvi came through for us on a day in which we were without two starters and didn't show much at all in the first half," said Evanston manager Stacy Salgado.
Salgado welcomed back both Imrem, and midfielder and captain Margaret Rogan. At the same time, two of her best, midfielder/forward Vanessa Eljaiek and central defender Ruby Siegel, were out of action.
"We haven't been at full strength yet this season, but that's not an excuse for this result or any other. (When) we have players out, others have to step in.
"That's the way it works around here."
Lethargic was the way players described a rather dull first 40 minutes. Each side bypassed its midfield, struggled to connect and find feet, and rarely produced anything of quality at either keeper.
"I know for us, we didn't seem to find any type of rhythm at all in the first half," said Imrem.
"Maybe it's the grueling schedule we've had these past two weeks, and the weather we've all been playing in, but it took us awhile to begin to put something together."
Imrem, who recorded the clean-sheet in the Wildkits 2-0 tournament-opening victory Thursday over Boylan, watched Griffin come off her line to punch a corner out of the box at 25 minutes, before her Wildkits teammate Rogan steered an attempt wide of the post.
That stood as the chance of the half until Avery Ackman's 40th-minute free kick blast was redirected just outside the back post.
That concluded an opening period that was played mostly between both 18s. Several deep throws, and missed connections allowed each backline to either clear easily, or in some cases filter a pass to initiate the offense.
"We talked at the half about all of us getting more involved, especially the outside backs to join the attack, or get forward to add numbers," said St. Charles East's Ashley DiOro.
The Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match took to heart what manager Vince DiNuzzo suggested at the intermission. The junior went on one marauding run after another along the right side with pace and purpose to add that extra dimension to a now rampant Saints attack.
"That's how I see my role for us, and it's one that I really enjoy, because it makes me feel like I am really contributing to my team on both sides of the ball," added DiOro.
It was evident from the early exchanges after the intermission that the Saints (8-2-3) were hungry for a goal. A now vibrant quartet of Stackhouse, Kayla Villa, Hannah Miller and DiOro brought urgency and energy.
A clever move to get in close by Stackhouse after collecting a long throw from DiOro called Imrem into action at 44 minutes. That was followed by a well-exhibited one-two combination by the same pair, which resulted in another save from Imrem.
Ruby Rogers sharp tackle of Stackhouse stopped a potential 1-v.-1 by the senior after bringing down a ball from over the top to jumpstart another sequence that continued to pin the Wildkits in their own end.
While the attacking manuevers continued to flow with regularity and grew to nearly a half-dozen quality chances on frame, Stackhouse and her mates still couldn't break through.
"Our attack really stepped up in the second half, and we started to do some very good things except to put one or two into the back of the net," said Stackhouse.
"I really believe if we got one another would have followed."
From the hour mark until 72 minutes, all of the play was in the Evanston end. Villa put Stackhouse through, then became a part of some lovely build-up play with the aforementioned DiOri, Stackhouse and Miller all having a touch. The sequence ended when Villa went high with a left-footed attempt.
After the flurry, Evanston moved forward with a pair of Ackman free kicks that forced Griffin into action.
Salgado shifted one of her backliners in the 70th minute and went with just three (Ackman, Rogers and Kathleen Donati). She added a midfielder in would now be a 3-5-2 formation.
The new-look produced another well-aimed free kick from Ackman and a two half-chances from Zoe Salamon and Callista O'Connor, but it would be Imrem who came to the rescue for the Wildkits in the closing moments of regulation.
That's when the sophomore went airborne to make an acrobatic stop on Miller.
"It's great to have Sylvi back with us after missing so much time," said Salgado. "She played well in her first full game back with us last night against Boylan, and continued to do so today when we needed her to."
St. Charles East began to rebuild pressure during the first 10-minute extra session.
Imrem challenged far off her line to clear an early ball from Madison Cady targeted for Miller. Then the keeper saved an attempt from Alessia D'Argento.
Evanston's best chance in a long time came from Kat Sehgal in the 92nd minute. With a bit of trickery, the junior broke into the area before testing Griffin.
In the shootout, St. Charles East held a 2-1 lead after three shots with Villa and Miller converting their spot-kicks, while DeStefano finished easily for Evanston.
Wynne Collins brought the Wildkits back even with a nicely paced kick.
Alondra Carranza, Cady and Sydney Daeschler were matched in perfection by the Evanston trio of: Sehgal, Rogers and Ryann Lucas, who all made it impossible for both keepers to stop their darting spot-kicks.
In the deciding round, Popiel went the opposite way to solve Imrem, but Griffin turned away Salamon to decide the match.
"It's nice to be there for your team when they really need you," said a humble Griffin, who saved three of eight tries.
"Games like this will make us better when it really counts later in the season," added Stackhouse. "So I'm glad we went through one, but even happier we won this one."
Salgado and her club have a chance to reach the tournament quarterfinals but will need Boylan to upset St. Charles East to move on.
Evanston will get some much needed rest over the weekend before hosting Central Suburban League South Division rival Maine South on Tuesday.
After a great second place finish in the Lou Malnati's Deep Dish Classic last weekend, it's clear Evanston (8-5-2) doesn't shy from tough competition.
"No doubt it's been a couple of difficult couple of weeks for us (with) us now playing in our second really competitive tournament, plus dealing with the weather and a handful of injuries," Salgado said.
"We're not going to use any of that as an excuse for today's results or any others. It's the nature of the spring season, and we'll look to bounce back, both physically and mentally in order to get ourselves ready for next week."
Consolation games for the Naperville Invitational on April 26-28 will be announced after the final round of group play Saturday.
Starting lineups
Evanston (4-4-2)
GK- Sylvi Imrem
D- Ruby Rogers
D- Annika DeStefano
D- Kathleen Donati
D- Ryann Lucas
M- Avery Ackman
M- Kat Sehgal
M- Margaret Rogan
M- Callista O'Connor
F- Zoe Salamon
F- Keara Kerr
St. Charles East (4-4-2)
GK- Grace Griffin
D- Ashley DiOri
D- Hayley Popiel
D- Alondra Carranza
D- Margaret Harper
M- Emma Blankenship
M- Kayla Villa
M- Madison Cady
M- Hannah Miller
F- Rose Stackhouse
F- Alessia D'Argento
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Ashley DiOro, jr., D, St. Charles East
Referee: Rick Naatz
Saturday win over Boylan gains Naperville Inv. quarters for Saints
By Mike Garofola
BARRINGTON -- Evanston and St. Charles East have been here before -- the penalty kick shootout.
When both sides went goalless after 100 minutes of soccer in the second day of group play of the Naperville Invitational, the teams went to the spot at Barrington Community Stadium to find a winner.
St. Charles East's Hayley Popiel settled the war of nerves when she converted her chance to give the Saints a final 6-5 advantage after eight nerve-wracking rounds for a hard-fought victory and three important points in the Group E standings.
The Fighting Saints will face Boylan on Saturday in Barrington with the knowledge another victory will ensure their stay in the front draw next week of this highly regarded tournament, now in its 21st season.
"There wasn't a whole lot of play in the first half for both teams," began Saints captain Rose Stackhouse. "But after the break, we finally found our game and created so many chances. But when you don't finish them (that's) when you end up in PKs.
"Fortunately for us, we have a keeper that all of us have so much confidence in, so we all knew that Grace (Griffin) would step up and make the saves when we needed her to."
Griffin emerged as one of the heroes in the tournament opener for the Saints. She commanded the box with confidence and fearless play. So did her counterpart, Evanston's Sylvi Imrem, who stood on her head in the second half to help keep her mates at Evanston in the match.
"Sylvi came through for us on a day in which we were without two starters and didn't show much at all in the first half," said Evanston manager Stacy Salgado.
Salgado welcomed back both Imrem, and midfielder and captain Margaret Rogan. At the same time, two of her best, midfielder/forward Vanessa Eljaiek and central defender Ruby Siegel, were out of action.
"We haven't been at full strength yet this season, but that's not an excuse for this result or any other. (When) we have players out, others have to step in.
"That's the way it works around here."
Lethargic was the way players described a rather dull first 40 minutes. Each side bypassed its midfield, struggled to connect and find feet, and rarely produced anything of quality at either keeper.
"I know for us, we didn't seem to find any type of rhythm at all in the first half," said Imrem.
"Maybe it's the grueling schedule we've had these past two weeks, and the weather we've all been playing in, but it took us awhile to begin to put something together."
Imrem, who recorded the clean-sheet in the Wildkits 2-0 tournament-opening victory Thursday over Boylan, watched Griffin come off her line to punch a corner out of the box at 25 minutes, before her Wildkits teammate Rogan steered an attempt wide of the post.
That stood as the chance of the half until Avery Ackman's 40th-minute free kick blast was redirected just outside the back post.
That concluded an opening period that was played mostly between both 18s. Several deep throws, and missed connections allowed each backline to either clear easily, or in some cases filter a pass to initiate the offense.
"We talked at the half about all of us getting more involved, especially the outside backs to join the attack, or get forward to add numbers," said St. Charles East's Ashley DiOro.
The Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match took to heart what manager Vince DiNuzzo suggested at the intermission. The junior went on one marauding run after another along the right side with pace and purpose to add that extra dimension to a now rampant Saints attack.
"That's how I see my role for us, and it's one that I really enjoy, because it makes me feel like I am really contributing to my team on both sides of the ball," added DiOro.
It was evident from the early exchanges after the intermission that the Saints (8-2-3) were hungry for a goal. A now vibrant quartet of Stackhouse, Kayla Villa, Hannah Miller and DiOro brought urgency and energy.
A clever move to get in close by Stackhouse after collecting a long throw from DiOro called Imrem into action at 44 minutes. That was followed by a well-exhibited one-two combination by the same pair, which resulted in another save from Imrem.
Ruby Rogers sharp tackle of Stackhouse stopped a potential 1-v.-1 by the senior after bringing down a ball from over the top to jumpstart another sequence that continued to pin the Wildkits in their own end.
While the attacking manuevers continued to flow with regularity and grew to nearly a half-dozen quality chances on frame, Stackhouse and her mates still couldn't break through.
"Our attack really stepped up in the second half, and we started to do some very good things except to put one or two into the back of the net," said Stackhouse.
"I really believe if we got one another would have followed."
From the hour mark until 72 minutes, all of the play was in the Evanston end. Villa put Stackhouse through, then became a part of some lovely build-up play with the aforementioned DiOri, Stackhouse and Miller all having a touch. The sequence ended when Villa went high with a left-footed attempt.
After the flurry, Evanston moved forward with a pair of Ackman free kicks that forced Griffin into action.
Salgado shifted one of her backliners in the 70th minute and went with just three (Ackman, Rogers and Kathleen Donati). She added a midfielder in would now be a 3-5-2 formation.
The new-look produced another well-aimed free kick from Ackman and a two half-chances from Zoe Salamon and Callista O'Connor, but it would be Imrem who came to the rescue for the Wildkits in the closing moments of regulation.
That's when the sophomore went airborne to make an acrobatic stop on Miller.
"It's great to have Sylvi back with us after missing so much time," said Salgado. "She played well in her first full game back with us last night against Boylan, and continued to do so today when we needed her to."
St. Charles East began to rebuild pressure during the first 10-minute extra session.
Imrem challenged far off her line to clear an early ball from Madison Cady targeted for Miller. Then the keeper saved an attempt from Alessia D'Argento.
Evanston's best chance in a long time came from Kat Sehgal in the 92nd minute. With a bit of trickery, the junior broke into the area before testing Griffin.
In the shootout, St. Charles East held a 2-1 lead after three shots with Villa and Miller converting their spot-kicks, while DeStefano finished easily for Evanston.
Wynne Collins brought the Wildkits back even with a nicely paced kick.
Alondra Carranza, Cady and Sydney Daeschler were matched in perfection by the Evanston trio of: Sehgal, Rogers and Ryann Lucas, who all made it impossible for both keepers to stop their darting spot-kicks.
In the deciding round, Popiel went the opposite way to solve Imrem, but Griffin turned away Salamon to decide the match.
"It's nice to be there for your team when they really need you," said a humble Griffin, who saved three of eight tries.
"Games like this will make us better when it really counts later in the season," added Stackhouse. "So I'm glad we went through one, but even happier we won this one."
Salgado and her club have a chance to reach the tournament quarterfinals but will need Boylan to upset St. Charles East to move on.
Evanston will get some much needed rest over the weekend before hosting Central Suburban League South Division rival Maine South on Tuesday.
After a great second place finish in the Lou Malnati's Deep Dish Classic last weekend, it's clear Evanston (8-5-2) doesn't shy from tough competition.
"No doubt it's been a couple of difficult couple of weeks for us (with) us now playing in our second really competitive tournament, plus dealing with the weather and a handful of injuries," Salgado said.
"We're not going to use any of that as an excuse for today's results or any others. It's the nature of the spring season, and we'll look to bounce back, both physically and mentally in order to get ourselves ready for next week."
Consolation games for the Naperville Invitational on April 26-28 will be announced after the final round of group play Saturday.
Starting lineups
Evanston (4-4-2)
GK- Sylvi Imrem
D- Ruby Rogers
D- Annika DeStefano
D- Kathleen Donati
D- Ryann Lucas
M- Avery Ackman
M- Kat Sehgal
M- Margaret Rogan
M- Callista O'Connor
F- Zoe Salamon
F- Keara Kerr
St. Charles East (4-4-2)
GK- Grace Griffin
D- Ashley DiOri
D- Hayley Popiel
D- Alondra Carranza
D- Margaret Harper
M- Emma Blankenship
M- Kayla Villa
M- Madison Cady
M- Hannah Miller
F- Rose Stackhouse
F- Alessia D'Argento
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Ashley DiOro, jr., D, St. Charles East
Referee: Rick Naatz