Goal out of Africa starts Wheaton A.
on winning path vs. University
Freshman scores before injury sidelines her, Warriors win 2-0
By Bob Narang
WEST CHICAGO -- Wheaton Academy freshman forward Anna Africa made an early exit from the oppressive heat, but she would have preferred to stay on the field with her teammates Saturday afternoon.
She reinjured an ankle with 32 minutes remaining in the second half that forced her to watch the rest of the game from the sidelines in the Warriors nonconference match against University (Chicago).
There was no doubt, hower, that Africa influenced the game. Her opener held up as the game-winning goal in Wheaton Academy’s 2-0 victory.
Africa said she’s been dealing with ankle issues for the last few weeks, which caused her to miss a few games.
“I sprained both of my ankles a couple of weeks ago, and it’s been on and off,” Africa said. “This girl ran through me, so I sprained it again. I might be off again for a few days.”
Whether the talented Africa misses a few games or not, the Warriors (10-4-0) would feel her absence if it extends into the playoffs. Africa raised her season total to three goals after an assist from Kelsey Bowling in the 28th minute.
Right after scoring the goal, Africa raised both arms up in the air to celebrate the first goal on the scorching hot afternoon.
“Amy had the ball dribbling up and got it into the box. Grace (Platt) was in front of me, and it bounced and I volleyed it into the goal,” she said.
Despite her recent spate of ankle injuries, Africa said she’s happy to be a key contributor in her freshman year.
“Being a freshman has been fun,” she said. “I love the community. It’s a great big family. On my club teams, I play with older girls, so I’m used to playing with older girls and this faster pace of play and taking risks.”
University (Chicago) coach Josh Potter said his team should benefit from playing Wheaton Academy. Two years ago, the Warriors defeated the Maroons 1-0 on their home turf.
“We knew it was going to be a good game,” he said. “These are the games you need to play to prepare for the end of the season. It was warm, and the competition was good. This gave us a chance to see where we are. Wheaton Academy is a good team.
“I like where we’re at, but we still have some work to do. We’ve made some good strides over the course of the season. We hope we can take advantage of it next week to reinforce it”
Aside from the 85-degree heat, Wheaton Academy goalie Sara Swoboda had an easy day in the net. She spent most of the game with the action on the other side of the field.
She didn’t need to register a single save due to the strong play of her backline. Wheaton Academy coach Maria Selvaggio singled out the play of defenders Sarah Vander Klok and Jillian Paulson.
“Sarah and Jill played great and made it hard to break through, and they were poised on the ball,” Selvaggio said. “They can win balls and distribute. They played super sound and composed, and we needed that to secure the win.
“We played this team two years ago. They’re a really athletic team with some good players on the ball. We knew we had to battle it out, especially with the heat. I’m thrilled with the way we battled.
“We had the run of play in second half. We love to possess and keep the ball on the ground. They definitely gave us some pressure high in the second half and with only the one=goal lead, they needed us to make a mistake or break down. We knew we had to get second goal to secure the win.”
Senior midfielder Amy Alexander gave the Warriors some breathing room by tapping in a short shot, off a corner kick from Bowling in the 69th minute.
“We needed that goal to shift the momentum,” Alexander said. “The other team was getting energized in the second half, and a 1-0 lead is a little dangerous.
“They have a very good (defense) and were all over us on every touch we had. It was hard to penetrate through their backline because they had so many people clustered on us. But it came down to grit. We really wanted that second goal.”
University (Chicago) keeper Grace Liu dressed in all black for the game. The senior kept the game from getting out of reach with six saves for the Class AA Maroons (7-4-0).
Senior midfielder Izzy Kaufman felt her side learned from the loss.
““We have to start off stronger instead of letting teams get all over us,” she said. “I think just starting on the right foot and not letting heat get to us because the other team has to deal with the same stuff.
“We have to gain possession of the ball and play simple passes and take time, relax on the ball.
“They work really well together. They did a lot of good things against us. I think we have to play 100 percent and not let the conditions bother us and learn from this.”
The University (Chicago) backline played a strong game against Wheaton Academy. Freshman Haley Sturgill chased down several balls and used her speed to stop numerous attacks from forming.
“The backline is the strength of our team,” Potter said. “They do a good job defending and covering spaces. Haley Sturgill does a lot of recovering for the backline.
“They also help transition us from defending to attacking. We hope to keep some of the offenses we face in the future under wraps.
“We haven’t played in this type of heat this season. Every time you play is an opportunity for feedback and information, Today, we competed and did better in the second half.
“We need to start better. Wheaton Academy did a good job of stretching us out and playing balls around. We need to be able play quicker when under duress. They did a good job of pressing us at times.”
Starting lineups
University (Chiasgo)
GK: Grace Liu
D: Haley Sturgill
D: Eliza Doss
D: Grace Holleb
D: Carly Penn
MF: Izzy Kaufman
MF: Meena Lee
MF: Charlotte Sims
F: Ella Beiser
F: Stella Sturgill
F: Iris Zee
Wheaton Academy
GK: Sara Swoboda
D: Olivia Crane
D: Kelsey Bowling
D: Grace Platt
D: Jillian Paulson
MF: Kelly Bickhart
MF: Emilly Setran
MF: Amy Alexander
F: Jocelyn Royce
F: Eva De Souza
F: Sarah Vander Klok
Chicagoland Soccer Player of the Match: Anna Africa, fr., F, Wheaton Academy
Scoring summary
First half
Wheaton Academy — Anna Africa (Emily Setran) 28’
Second half
Wheaton Academy — Amy Alexander (Kelsey Bowling) 69’
on winning path vs. University
Freshman scores before injury sidelines her, Warriors win 2-0
By Bob Narang
WEST CHICAGO -- Wheaton Academy freshman forward Anna Africa made an early exit from the oppressive heat, but she would have preferred to stay on the field with her teammates Saturday afternoon.
She reinjured an ankle with 32 minutes remaining in the second half that forced her to watch the rest of the game from the sidelines in the Warriors nonconference match against University (Chicago).
There was no doubt, hower, that Africa influenced the game. Her opener held up as the game-winning goal in Wheaton Academy’s 2-0 victory.
Africa said she’s been dealing with ankle issues for the last few weeks, which caused her to miss a few games.
“I sprained both of my ankles a couple of weeks ago, and it’s been on and off,” Africa said. “This girl ran through me, so I sprained it again. I might be off again for a few days.”
Whether the talented Africa misses a few games or not, the Warriors (10-4-0) would feel her absence if it extends into the playoffs. Africa raised her season total to three goals after an assist from Kelsey Bowling in the 28th minute.
Right after scoring the goal, Africa raised both arms up in the air to celebrate the first goal on the scorching hot afternoon.
“Amy had the ball dribbling up and got it into the box. Grace (Platt) was in front of me, and it bounced and I volleyed it into the goal,” she said.
Despite her recent spate of ankle injuries, Africa said she’s happy to be a key contributor in her freshman year.
“Being a freshman has been fun,” she said. “I love the community. It’s a great big family. On my club teams, I play with older girls, so I’m used to playing with older girls and this faster pace of play and taking risks.”
University (Chicago) coach Josh Potter said his team should benefit from playing Wheaton Academy. Two years ago, the Warriors defeated the Maroons 1-0 on their home turf.
“We knew it was going to be a good game,” he said. “These are the games you need to play to prepare for the end of the season. It was warm, and the competition was good. This gave us a chance to see where we are. Wheaton Academy is a good team.
“I like where we’re at, but we still have some work to do. We’ve made some good strides over the course of the season. We hope we can take advantage of it next week to reinforce it”
Aside from the 85-degree heat, Wheaton Academy goalie Sara Swoboda had an easy day in the net. She spent most of the game with the action on the other side of the field.
She didn’t need to register a single save due to the strong play of her backline. Wheaton Academy coach Maria Selvaggio singled out the play of defenders Sarah Vander Klok and Jillian Paulson.
“Sarah and Jill played great and made it hard to break through, and they were poised on the ball,” Selvaggio said. “They can win balls and distribute. They played super sound and composed, and we needed that to secure the win.
“We played this team two years ago. They’re a really athletic team with some good players on the ball. We knew we had to battle it out, especially with the heat. I’m thrilled with the way we battled.
“We had the run of play in second half. We love to possess and keep the ball on the ground. They definitely gave us some pressure high in the second half and with only the one=goal lead, they needed us to make a mistake or break down. We knew we had to get second goal to secure the win.”
Senior midfielder Amy Alexander gave the Warriors some breathing room by tapping in a short shot, off a corner kick from Bowling in the 69th minute.
“We needed that goal to shift the momentum,” Alexander said. “The other team was getting energized in the second half, and a 1-0 lead is a little dangerous.
“They have a very good (defense) and were all over us on every touch we had. It was hard to penetrate through their backline because they had so many people clustered on us. But it came down to grit. We really wanted that second goal.”
University (Chicago) keeper Grace Liu dressed in all black for the game. The senior kept the game from getting out of reach with six saves for the Class AA Maroons (7-4-0).
Senior midfielder Izzy Kaufman felt her side learned from the loss.
““We have to start off stronger instead of letting teams get all over us,” she said. “I think just starting on the right foot and not letting heat get to us because the other team has to deal with the same stuff.
“We have to gain possession of the ball and play simple passes and take time, relax on the ball.
“They work really well together. They did a lot of good things against us. I think we have to play 100 percent and not let the conditions bother us and learn from this.”
The University (Chicago) backline played a strong game against Wheaton Academy. Freshman Haley Sturgill chased down several balls and used her speed to stop numerous attacks from forming.
“The backline is the strength of our team,” Potter said. “They do a good job defending and covering spaces. Haley Sturgill does a lot of recovering for the backline.
“They also help transition us from defending to attacking. We hope to keep some of the offenses we face in the future under wraps.
“We haven’t played in this type of heat this season. Every time you play is an opportunity for feedback and information, Today, we competed and did better in the second half.
“We need to start better. Wheaton Academy did a good job of stretching us out and playing balls around. We need to be able play quicker when under duress. They did a good job of pressing us at times.”
Starting lineups
University (Chiasgo)
GK: Grace Liu
D: Haley Sturgill
D: Eliza Doss
D: Grace Holleb
D: Carly Penn
MF: Izzy Kaufman
MF: Meena Lee
MF: Charlotte Sims
F: Ella Beiser
F: Stella Sturgill
F: Iris Zee
Wheaton Academy
GK: Sara Swoboda
D: Olivia Crane
D: Kelsey Bowling
D: Grace Platt
D: Jillian Paulson
MF: Kelly Bickhart
MF: Emilly Setran
MF: Amy Alexander
F: Jocelyn Royce
F: Eva De Souza
F: Sarah Vander Klok
Chicagoland Soccer Player of the Match: Anna Africa, fr., F, Wheaton Academy
Scoring summary
First half
Wheaton Academy — Anna Africa (Emily Setran) 28’
Second half
Wheaton Academy — Amy Alexander (Kelsey Bowling) 69’