No bones about it, Skelton
leads Warren past Lake Forest
Junior's goal, assist propel Blue Devils to 3-0 victory
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Ella Skelton turned heads as a vibrant and dynamic freshman when she appeared on the scene two years ago.
She was intense and athletic, and showed a clear feel for the game. Warren had a hierarchy then with its record of recent success, and players like Courtney Chomko, Elizabeth Weinberg and Cate Cullison helped pave the way. The 2019 team went on to win the Libertyville Regional.
Skelton was malleable and fit wherever coach Ryan McCabe needed her.
“It’s intimidating coming in as a freshman,” Skelton said. “I took on a defensive role as a freshman, and it built up my confidence. Now I am taking more of an attacking role.
“It’s just another position I need to take on.”
Call Ella Skelton the transformer.
One of the immediate consequences of the lost pandemic year was the clearing of the decks. Last year’s seniors moved on, and Skelton stepped into the void.
Now she is at the top of the Blue Devils’ attack. She commands attention and is a bracing and revealing talent.
“Definitely my role has changed a lot, and I feel like I’ve taken on a big role with the team,” she said. “It’s also different because I missed my sophomore year, but I’m definitely ready to keep going.
“I really enjoy doing that. I find I am very close with these girls. They are all my family, and it’d great to be that person who can lead us and help us work together as a team.”
Skelton proved repeatedly why she is one of the best players in the state with her speed, quickness and shot-making prowess.
One must take notice. Lake Forest certainly did.
Skelton scored a goal and created another score with a beautiful corner kick assist as the Blue Devils, ranked ninth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, parlayed an attacking style with a shutdown defense in their 3-0 victory in North Suburban Conference play Thursday night.
Warren (8-1-3, 2-1-0) scored all of its goals in the first half.
The Blue Devils unveiled new levels to their offensive attack, braiding together sharp passing, excellent combinations and a strong forward style.
Warren played back-to-back scoreless draws with no. 7 Loyola and no. 22 Buffalo Grove at the Glenbrook South quad at the start of the month. They were also shut out and suffered their only loss of the season against no. 2 Libertyville on May 6.
McCabe looked to vary the attack and make it less predictable. Warren has now scored 14 goals in its last four victories.
“We have definitely been working more on building through the final third,” he said. “It seemed like during that stretch of games we’d do a great job of building and then we’d get to the final third and just kind of stalled out or not create as many good opportunities.
“I think now we’re combining a lot better in the final third. Because of that, we are getting better goal-scoring opportunities.”
Lake Forest (4-4-0, 2-2-0) permitted more than two goals for just the second time this season. The Scouts have won all four of their games by 1-0 games.
Senior Lindsey Asmussen is the defensive equivalent of Skelton, a disruptive and heady talent with a great feel for the game.
She is the principal reason the Scouts had only conceded three goals in their first seven games. After two years away from the game, Lake Forest is hungry and active.
“We’re playing every minute like it’s our last game,” Asmussen said. “Honestly that energy has been amazing. It’s a whole group of new people. We’re all super close. I couldn't ask for a better team to be a part of.”
Coach Ty Stuckslager also had to adjust on the fly after starting freshman keeper Sarah Constantine learned just before the start of the game an injury would keep her out of the game.
“Little things change things,” he said. “I think we entered the game with a positive mindset. We’re a young team. All of a sudden, our only goalie gets knocked out, and we have to find somebody to go into the goal.”
Sophomore Alexandra Fontana, a lithe and lanky converted forward, took on the job. She performed brilliantly, stopping Skelton in the seventh minute and also moving sharply off her line to thwart a breakaway by midfielder Amber Langosch.
As tight as the Scouts’ defense has been, the offense has been a developing concern. Lake Forest has not had a multiple goal game yet.
“We’re not a great offensive threat yet,” Stuckslager said. “As long as we keep putting pressure on things, we might get one every now and then, but we have to make our money defending.”
Lake Forest nearly capitalized at the start as forward Ashleigh Rupprecht got deep inside the box and worked off a cross from Emersen Waddle for the Scouts’ best early scoring threat.
The shot was just wide of Blue Devils’ keeper Myka Smith, who made three saves for the shutout.
Warren dominated the rest of the half in possession time and scoring chances. Skelton created constant pressure with her speed and ability to get into space.
The Blue Devils broke through in the 21st minute. Forward Emily Soriaga punched the ball out wide to a streaking Langosch on the left wing.
Fontana came off the line for the terrific stop, but Langosch stayed with the ball. She served it out wide right to a streaking Liza Matimore, who got the angle and found Skelton in the middle of the attack.
Skelton smashed the ball home for the opening goal.
Warren’s pressure generated repeated corner kick opportunities—seven in the first half. Those corner chances created the second and third Warren goals.
In the 30th minute, Skelton served a corner from the right edge that Pullins elevated beautifully for. She got the ball to the ground for a rocket volley for the second goal.
Pullins is playing her first year of high school soccer. She is a commanding presence: rangy; physical; and dynamic with the ball.
“I’m tall, I’m big, and I can get the air balls and stuff like that,” she said. “It’s one of my good contributions. On corner kicks I get up there, and I get in the air. I get my head on the ball when I can.
“On the corner from Ella it just came down, and I kicked it in. It was beautiful, and I was happy.”
At the end of the first half, Warren created another corner from the left wing.
Lake Forest committed a foul in the box on the play, and midfielder Katelyn Crowson drilled home the penalty kick in the 39th minute for the game’s final goal.
Ella Skelton earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match for her superb contributions.
“We came out strong, and we got those early goals,” Skelton said. “It set the tone for the whole game. That was definitely important for us.
“We put in a lot of work and tried to dial in on those set pieces and attacking roles. I think tonight that work has paid off, and we got the three goals in the first half.”
Lake Forest prevented any further damage in the second half. The Scouts created some decent opportunities. Freshman midfielder Lainey Tabor had a solid shot in the closing minutes that forced a Smith save.
The architectural foundation is there for the Scouts to develop an intriguing offensive attack.
Mary McKendry showed a huge throw, and her set piece chances off the sideline created some very intriguing possibilities.
Stuckslager made sure to commend his late-minute replacement in goal.
“Alexandra did a great job playing in the net,” Stuckslager said. “Each of the goals there was missed communication. The second goal was a scrum and the girl hammered it in, and the third goal was a penalty kick.
“It went against us. We talked at halftime about how we can get better. They didn’t change their lineups, and yet we played much better.”
Starting lineups
Warren
GK: Myka Smith
D: Emma Paraskos
D: Kyle Mahoney
D: Mia Glory
D: Olivia Ehlers
MF: Amber Langosch
MF: Melissa Cote
MF: Samantha Pullins
MF: Kylie Mahoney
F: Ella Skelton
F: Emily Soriaga
Lake Forest
GK: Alexandra Fontana
D: Hanna Sands
D: Lindsey Asmussen
D: Lyla Walsh
D: Hayden Keller
MF: Mary McKendry
MF: Emersen Waddle
MF: Lainey Tabor
MF: Kathy Peterson-Ross
F: Ashleigh Rupprecht
F: Callie Birtman
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Ella Skelton, jr., F, Warren
Scoring summary
First half
Warren—Ella Skelton (Liza Matimore), 21st minute
Warren—Samantha Pullins (Skelton), 30th minute
Warren—Katelyn Crowson (penalty kick), 39th minute
Second half
No scoring
leads Warren past Lake Forest
Junior's goal, assist propel Blue Devils to 3-0 victory
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Ella Skelton turned heads as a vibrant and dynamic freshman when she appeared on the scene two years ago.
She was intense and athletic, and showed a clear feel for the game. Warren had a hierarchy then with its record of recent success, and players like Courtney Chomko, Elizabeth Weinberg and Cate Cullison helped pave the way. The 2019 team went on to win the Libertyville Regional.
Skelton was malleable and fit wherever coach Ryan McCabe needed her.
“It’s intimidating coming in as a freshman,” Skelton said. “I took on a defensive role as a freshman, and it built up my confidence. Now I am taking more of an attacking role.
“It’s just another position I need to take on.”
Call Ella Skelton the transformer.
One of the immediate consequences of the lost pandemic year was the clearing of the decks. Last year’s seniors moved on, and Skelton stepped into the void.
Now she is at the top of the Blue Devils’ attack. She commands attention and is a bracing and revealing talent.
“Definitely my role has changed a lot, and I feel like I’ve taken on a big role with the team,” she said. “It’s also different because I missed my sophomore year, but I’m definitely ready to keep going.
“I really enjoy doing that. I find I am very close with these girls. They are all my family, and it’d great to be that person who can lead us and help us work together as a team.”
Skelton proved repeatedly why she is one of the best players in the state with her speed, quickness and shot-making prowess.
One must take notice. Lake Forest certainly did.
Skelton scored a goal and created another score with a beautiful corner kick assist as the Blue Devils, ranked ninth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, parlayed an attacking style with a shutdown defense in their 3-0 victory in North Suburban Conference play Thursday night.
Warren (8-1-3, 2-1-0) scored all of its goals in the first half.
The Blue Devils unveiled new levels to their offensive attack, braiding together sharp passing, excellent combinations and a strong forward style.
Warren played back-to-back scoreless draws with no. 7 Loyola and no. 22 Buffalo Grove at the Glenbrook South quad at the start of the month. They were also shut out and suffered their only loss of the season against no. 2 Libertyville on May 6.
McCabe looked to vary the attack and make it less predictable. Warren has now scored 14 goals in its last four victories.
“We have definitely been working more on building through the final third,” he said. “It seemed like during that stretch of games we’d do a great job of building and then we’d get to the final third and just kind of stalled out or not create as many good opportunities.
“I think now we’re combining a lot better in the final third. Because of that, we are getting better goal-scoring opportunities.”
Lake Forest (4-4-0, 2-2-0) permitted more than two goals for just the second time this season. The Scouts have won all four of their games by 1-0 games.
Senior Lindsey Asmussen is the defensive equivalent of Skelton, a disruptive and heady talent with a great feel for the game.
She is the principal reason the Scouts had only conceded three goals in their first seven games. After two years away from the game, Lake Forest is hungry and active.
“We’re playing every minute like it’s our last game,” Asmussen said. “Honestly that energy has been amazing. It’s a whole group of new people. We’re all super close. I couldn't ask for a better team to be a part of.”
Coach Ty Stuckslager also had to adjust on the fly after starting freshman keeper Sarah Constantine learned just before the start of the game an injury would keep her out of the game.
“Little things change things,” he said. “I think we entered the game with a positive mindset. We’re a young team. All of a sudden, our only goalie gets knocked out, and we have to find somebody to go into the goal.”
Sophomore Alexandra Fontana, a lithe and lanky converted forward, took on the job. She performed brilliantly, stopping Skelton in the seventh minute and also moving sharply off her line to thwart a breakaway by midfielder Amber Langosch.
As tight as the Scouts’ defense has been, the offense has been a developing concern. Lake Forest has not had a multiple goal game yet.
“We’re not a great offensive threat yet,” Stuckslager said. “As long as we keep putting pressure on things, we might get one every now and then, but we have to make our money defending.”
Lake Forest nearly capitalized at the start as forward Ashleigh Rupprecht got deep inside the box and worked off a cross from Emersen Waddle for the Scouts’ best early scoring threat.
The shot was just wide of Blue Devils’ keeper Myka Smith, who made three saves for the shutout.
Warren dominated the rest of the half in possession time and scoring chances. Skelton created constant pressure with her speed and ability to get into space.
The Blue Devils broke through in the 21st minute. Forward Emily Soriaga punched the ball out wide to a streaking Langosch on the left wing.
Fontana came off the line for the terrific stop, but Langosch stayed with the ball. She served it out wide right to a streaking Liza Matimore, who got the angle and found Skelton in the middle of the attack.
Skelton smashed the ball home for the opening goal.
Warren’s pressure generated repeated corner kick opportunities—seven in the first half. Those corner chances created the second and third Warren goals.
In the 30th minute, Skelton served a corner from the right edge that Pullins elevated beautifully for. She got the ball to the ground for a rocket volley for the second goal.
Pullins is playing her first year of high school soccer. She is a commanding presence: rangy; physical; and dynamic with the ball.
“I’m tall, I’m big, and I can get the air balls and stuff like that,” she said. “It’s one of my good contributions. On corner kicks I get up there, and I get in the air. I get my head on the ball when I can.
“On the corner from Ella it just came down, and I kicked it in. It was beautiful, and I was happy.”
At the end of the first half, Warren created another corner from the left wing.
Lake Forest committed a foul in the box on the play, and midfielder Katelyn Crowson drilled home the penalty kick in the 39th minute for the game’s final goal.
Ella Skelton earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match for her superb contributions.
“We came out strong, and we got those early goals,” Skelton said. “It set the tone for the whole game. That was definitely important for us.
“We put in a lot of work and tried to dial in on those set pieces and attacking roles. I think tonight that work has paid off, and we got the three goals in the first half.”
Lake Forest prevented any further damage in the second half. The Scouts created some decent opportunities. Freshman midfielder Lainey Tabor had a solid shot in the closing minutes that forced a Smith save.
The architectural foundation is there for the Scouts to develop an intriguing offensive attack.
Mary McKendry showed a huge throw, and her set piece chances off the sideline created some very intriguing possibilities.
Stuckslager made sure to commend his late-minute replacement in goal.
“Alexandra did a great job playing in the net,” Stuckslager said. “Each of the goals there was missed communication. The second goal was a scrum and the girl hammered it in, and the third goal was a penalty kick.
“It went against us. We talked at halftime about how we can get better. They didn’t change their lineups, and yet we played much better.”
Starting lineups
Warren
GK: Myka Smith
D: Emma Paraskos
D: Kyle Mahoney
D: Mia Glory
D: Olivia Ehlers
MF: Amber Langosch
MF: Melissa Cote
MF: Samantha Pullins
MF: Kylie Mahoney
F: Ella Skelton
F: Emily Soriaga
Lake Forest
GK: Alexandra Fontana
D: Hanna Sands
D: Lindsey Asmussen
D: Lyla Walsh
D: Hayden Keller
MF: Mary McKendry
MF: Emersen Waddle
MF: Lainey Tabor
MF: Kathy Peterson-Ross
F: Ashleigh Rupprecht
F: Callie Birtman
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Ella Skelton, jr., F, Warren
Scoring summary
First half
Warren—Ella Skelton (Liza Matimore), 21st minute
Warren—Samantha Pullins (Skelton), 30th minute
Warren—Katelyn Crowson (penalty kick), 39th minute
Second half
No scoring