Warren outlasts Fremd in tournament debut
Brock's 1st half goal stands in 1-0 win over Vikings
By Michael Wojtychiw
NORTHFIELD - Making adjustments in a game can make the difference between a win and a loss.
But it’s not just about your team’s adjustments. It’s also how you respond to your opponent’s changes.
Warren was tasked with doing that against Fremd in the second half of its Group G game on the opening night of the Naperville Invitational on Thursday.
After the half, the Vikings (7-3-1) switched things up to position three players up-top.
"We changed our formation at the half," Fremd manager Steve Keller said. "We went to man-marking, giving each person a specific role. I think that simplified things for them.
"We made sure our girls knew who they were marking, and that they were tight. Depending on the formation we play, we have to be able to do that.”
The move necessitated a tactical response from Warren, but the Blue Devils didn’t forget who to try to keep under wraps.
"Our game plan from the beginning was to mark no. three, Lily (Spotak). She played up-top the whole time so it was easy to mark her," Warren's Olivia Ehlers said. "When they put the three up-top, we noticed right away. As a center back, you automatically notice that, and we were easily able to change on the fly.
"With the help of Ella Skelton, she was able to see things from her point of view we couldn't see, and that made it easier to click onto right away."
The Blue Devils' backline stiffened and kept the Vikings off the scoreboard to preserve a 1-0 win.
"Our backline was fantastic today," Warren manager Ryan McCabe said. "Fremd was definitely pressuring us a lot in the second half, which put us under heavy pressure. But our backline and goalkeeper were up to the task, which was good to see, especially since they were outnumbered a few times.
"They did a good job organizing and making the recovery runs to keep Fremd off the board."
The Vikings’ offensive alignment change also meant that its defensive formation would change as well. That threw a new wrinkle at the dynamic Warren attack.
The Blue Devils, who held the offensive edge in the first half, saw a lot of opportunities dissipate in the second half. They managed just a couple shots on goal, one of which required a ridiculous save from Fremd keeper Sam Gary on a header right in front.
"They really pressed in on our forward line in the second half, pushing us back a little bit" Warren's Alex Brock said. "We kept working and pushing back through that though.”
A big reason for Fremd’s second half improvement was the talk the team had during halftime. They knew what they had to do to be successful and wanted to reiterate it.
"We played well," Keller said. "I thought we came out well in the second half and kept the pressure on, felt we did enough to get the equalizer but just didn't do enough to put it in the back of the net.
"The girls did a nice job in doing what we asked of them, and that resulted in us maintaining the pressure. We worked hard that second half."
For Warren, it was the use of set pieces that helped them keep first half pressure on the Vikings defense and led to the game-winner.
With just over under 15 minutes remaining before the half, the Blue Devils took a ball down the left sideline toward the goal. Senior forward Ella Skelton sent the ball in the box where it deflected off the crossbar. Sophomore forward Alex Brock was in the difference-making spot.
The Blue Devils attack continue to pressure but nothing came from a corner and free kick after that.
According to McCabe, set pieces play a big part in the Blue Devils' attack and are a focal point at practice.
"We worked on them quite a bit," he said. "The girls’ game is definitely something where they can be a make-or-break situation, regardless if you're in the attack or defending.
"We do definitely make a point to make sure we know the importance of it and to make sure we're set on all set pieces."
While the Warren defense focused on Spotak and held her to a single shot, a couple of Fremd’s sophomores stepped up to lead the attack. Gemma Gillespie and Sammie Findysz combined for six shots and three shots on goal, including a free kick by Gillespie in the closing minutes that traveled just over the crossbar and after looking like it might be the equalizer.
After opening loss, the Vikings know that the next pool-play match against Oak Park and River Forest is a big one.
"These are great games for us. Warren's a great team. Our next opponent, Oak Park, just got ranked, so we're going to face a good opponent then," Keller said. "Obviously we're going out there, we're trying to win. But if anything, it's a good barometer for us to see where we're at and what things we need to do to hopefully make a run at the end.
"We have a ways to go. We have to shore up the little things we talk about. If we do that, we're a tough team to play against. But even today was the tale of two halves. We pressured and had them pinned back for a lot of the second half. But the first half, we were a little lackadaisical in marking, and it cost us."
Warren (7-1-2) made the most of its Naperville Invitational debut.
A nonconference game last year against Naperville Central got things rolling for the Blue Devils invitation. Warren, ranked 14th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, is one of 12-ranked teams in the field.
"We're definitely excited to be in the tournament," McCabe said. "There's not going to be an easy game. There are so many quality teams in the tournament, and it's a good chance for us to see where we stack up as we get towards the end of the regular-season.
"I really wanna see how we respond. Like today, we're going to be put in some difficult situations against some teams we don't normally see.
“We really just need to see how we respond to a setback, like if a goal gets scored or somebody is pressing us up-high, how we respond to that. Have a bunch of questions asked of us and how we answer those questions before we get to conference and playoffs."
"We are super excited, because we won't be seeing teams like Naperville North, Naperville Central, teams like that until supersectionals or the Final
Four," Ehlers said. "We really want to see them now, ahead of the state run. We're super excited, ready to work hard and ready to win."
Starting lineups
Warren
GK: Trish Georgiou
D: Olivia Ehlers
D: Mia Gloria
D: Paige Hogberg
D: Emma Paraskos
MF: Kylie Mahoney
MF: Brooke Gaertig
MF: Katelyn Crowson
MF: Reese Mertens
F: Ella Skelton
F: Addison Stanciak
Fremd
GK: Sam Gary
D: Shannon Moran
D: Bella Scesniak
D: Maddie McMillan
MF: Hanah Rosen
MF: Kaitlyn Rodi
MF: Kylie Williams
MF: Gemma Gillespie
F: Lily Spotak
F: Sammie Findysz
F: Anna Schmitt
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Alex Brock, so., F, Warren
Scoring summary
First half
Warren: Alex Brock (Ella Skelton), 26th minute
Second half
No scoring
Brock's 1st half goal stands in 1-0 win over Vikings
By Michael Wojtychiw
NORTHFIELD - Making adjustments in a game can make the difference between a win and a loss.
But it’s not just about your team’s adjustments. It’s also how you respond to your opponent’s changes.
Warren was tasked with doing that against Fremd in the second half of its Group G game on the opening night of the Naperville Invitational on Thursday.
After the half, the Vikings (7-3-1) switched things up to position three players up-top.
"We changed our formation at the half," Fremd manager Steve Keller said. "We went to man-marking, giving each person a specific role. I think that simplified things for them.
"We made sure our girls knew who they were marking, and that they were tight. Depending on the formation we play, we have to be able to do that.”
The move necessitated a tactical response from Warren, but the Blue Devils didn’t forget who to try to keep under wraps.
"Our game plan from the beginning was to mark no. three, Lily (Spotak). She played up-top the whole time so it was easy to mark her," Warren's Olivia Ehlers said. "When they put the three up-top, we noticed right away. As a center back, you automatically notice that, and we were easily able to change on the fly.
"With the help of Ella Skelton, she was able to see things from her point of view we couldn't see, and that made it easier to click onto right away."
The Blue Devils' backline stiffened and kept the Vikings off the scoreboard to preserve a 1-0 win.
"Our backline was fantastic today," Warren manager Ryan McCabe said. "Fremd was definitely pressuring us a lot in the second half, which put us under heavy pressure. But our backline and goalkeeper were up to the task, which was good to see, especially since they were outnumbered a few times.
"They did a good job organizing and making the recovery runs to keep Fremd off the board."
The Vikings’ offensive alignment change also meant that its defensive formation would change as well. That threw a new wrinkle at the dynamic Warren attack.
The Blue Devils, who held the offensive edge in the first half, saw a lot of opportunities dissipate in the second half. They managed just a couple shots on goal, one of which required a ridiculous save from Fremd keeper Sam Gary on a header right in front.
"They really pressed in on our forward line in the second half, pushing us back a little bit" Warren's Alex Brock said. "We kept working and pushing back through that though.”
A big reason for Fremd’s second half improvement was the talk the team had during halftime. They knew what they had to do to be successful and wanted to reiterate it.
"We played well," Keller said. "I thought we came out well in the second half and kept the pressure on, felt we did enough to get the equalizer but just didn't do enough to put it in the back of the net.
"The girls did a nice job in doing what we asked of them, and that resulted in us maintaining the pressure. We worked hard that second half."
For Warren, it was the use of set pieces that helped them keep first half pressure on the Vikings defense and led to the game-winner.
With just over under 15 minutes remaining before the half, the Blue Devils took a ball down the left sideline toward the goal. Senior forward Ella Skelton sent the ball in the box where it deflected off the crossbar. Sophomore forward Alex Brock was in the difference-making spot.
The Blue Devils attack continue to pressure but nothing came from a corner and free kick after that.
According to McCabe, set pieces play a big part in the Blue Devils' attack and are a focal point at practice.
"We worked on them quite a bit," he said. "The girls’ game is definitely something where they can be a make-or-break situation, regardless if you're in the attack or defending.
"We do definitely make a point to make sure we know the importance of it and to make sure we're set on all set pieces."
While the Warren defense focused on Spotak and held her to a single shot, a couple of Fremd’s sophomores stepped up to lead the attack. Gemma Gillespie and Sammie Findysz combined for six shots and three shots on goal, including a free kick by Gillespie in the closing minutes that traveled just over the crossbar and after looking like it might be the equalizer.
After opening loss, the Vikings know that the next pool-play match against Oak Park and River Forest is a big one.
"These are great games for us. Warren's a great team. Our next opponent, Oak Park, just got ranked, so we're going to face a good opponent then," Keller said. "Obviously we're going out there, we're trying to win. But if anything, it's a good barometer for us to see where we're at and what things we need to do to hopefully make a run at the end.
"We have a ways to go. We have to shore up the little things we talk about. If we do that, we're a tough team to play against. But even today was the tale of two halves. We pressured and had them pinned back for a lot of the second half. But the first half, we were a little lackadaisical in marking, and it cost us."
Warren (7-1-2) made the most of its Naperville Invitational debut.
A nonconference game last year against Naperville Central got things rolling for the Blue Devils invitation. Warren, ranked 14th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, is one of 12-ranked teams in the field.
"We're definitely excited to be in the tournament," McCabe said. "There's not going to be an easy game. There are so many quality teams in the tournament, and it's a good chance for us to see where we stack up as we get towards the end of the regular-season.
"I really wanna see how we respond. Like today, we're going to be put in some difficult situations against some teams we don't normally see.
“We really just need to see how we respond to a setback, like if a goal gets scored or somebody is pressing us up-high, how we respond to that. Have a bunch of questions asked of us and how we answer those questions before we get to conference and playoffs."
"We are super excited, because we won't be seeing teams like Naperville North, Naperville Central, teams like that until supersectionals or the Final
Four," Ehlers said. "We really want to see them now, ahead of the state run. We're super excited, ready to work hard and ready to win."
Starting lineups
Warren
GK: Trish Georgiou
D: Olivia Ehlers
D: Mia Gloria
D: Paige Hogberg
D: Emma Paraskos
MF: Kylie Mahoney
MF: Brooke Gaertig
MF: Katelyn Crowson
MF: Reese Mertens
F: Ella Skelton
F: Addison Stanciak
Fremd
GK: Sam Gary
D: Shannon Moran
D: Bella Scesniak
D: Maddie McMillan
MF: Hanah Rosen
MF: Kaitlyn Rodi
MF: Kylie Williams
MF: Gemma Gillespie
F: Lily Spotak
F: Sammie Findysz
F: Anna Schmitt
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Alex Brock, so., F, Warren
Scoring summary
First half
Warren: Alex Brock (Ella Skelton), 26th minute
Second half
No scoring