Wheaton Academy can't stop Althoff
Warriors fall 3-0, hope for rebound in 3rd place game
By Mike Garofola
HOFFMAN ESTATES -- Althoff simply had too much from front-to-back for Wheaton Academy to overcome Friday morning and dashed the Warriors’ hopes for a Class A state title.
The Crusaders (21-2-0) impressed from the opening whistle en route to a 3-0 victory to advance into the championship match, where they will meet Wheaton Academy’s Metro Suburban League rival Timothy at 2 p.m. Saturday.
"We were prepared for (Althoff), but we didn't match their energy or pace right from the start. I thought a case of nerves likely had an impact on some of our younger players," said Warriors manager Maria Selvaggio, whose club will face Notre Dame (Quincy, 17-2-1) in the third place game.
Selvaggio, who was one of the stars of the Warriors first state championship team in 2004 along with her older sister Laura under-then manager Dave Underwood, will collect the seventh state award in program history Saturday, and first since 2017 when the club brought home the AA second place trophy.
"(They) came out on their front foot, and we didn't match (that) like we have all season," continued Selvaggio.
"We lost a key player to an injury (Grace Platt), and I think we struggled quite a bit after she went out. (We) finally came into the game later on, but they were the better team today and deserved the result they got."
Amy Alexander, Kelly Bickhart and Emily Setran had a difficult time talking about the loss of their teammate (Platt) just before the half hour. The teammates not only missed her valuable play in the center of the park, but more importantly the passion, personality and impressive play she puts forth, despite being just a freshmen.
"We all struggled for a while after Grace went out," said Bickhart.
"She doesn't play like a freshman and from the very first day we came together, I think we all knew just how special of a player and person she is."
Early pressure from Althoff immediately put the Warriors (18-5-0) under duress. After consecutive corners, the downstate soccer power reaped a reward when Kylie Petroski ran onto a lovely ball from Tori Calvert, met it on the volley and smashed it into the back of the net from 10 yards.
Petroski, who shared Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors with teammate Regan Moody, had this to say later about her 19th goal of the season.
"I practice those type of shots and scoring opportunities all of the time when we train and with my dad,” she said. “So I was ready when the ball came my way.”
The junior is part of an active three-man frontline with Calvert and Moody. The trio came into this contest with a combined 60 of the 106 goals their club has netted.
Not only did the high pressure and pace from the Crusaders trio give Wheaton Academy trouble, so did Althoff’s ball-winning and highly active and creative trio of midfielders. Their work-rate stymied the Warriors attack, which rarely went through its two best players, Anderson and Bickhart, who were forced to stay deep and defend far more than they would have liked.
"They were very good just about everywhere. So we had to ask a lot of our players in order to try to keep their attack under control," said Selvaggio.
When the Warriors manager brought on freshmen Anna Africa at 18 minutes, it gave the attack some much needed life. Along with Setran, this dynamic duo created some trouble of their own on the other end of the park.
"The ball was in our end a lot in the first half, but when Anna came (in) we were able to attack more like we've done this season," offered Setran.
The Africa-Setran combination was the best thing going for the Warriors whenever they were on the turf at the same time. After the break, Setran had the best chance of the game up until then when on the turn, she forced Crusaders keeper Anna Brewer into action from 18 yards.
Just moments before, Warriors keeper Sara Swoboda could thank the woodwork for sending an Emma Tell cracker up and over the bar when the Crusaders sophomore burst past a pair of Wheaton Academy defenders.
Swoboda, despite watching three end in the back of her net, turned in a strong and very busy 80-minute performance. She stayed alert and active on corner and free kick attempts and was never shy about coming off her line to challenge when needed.
Swoboda stopped an angled 20-yard effort from Petroski at 49 minutes with confidence. Five minutes later, the Crusaders used width to build a chance through Petroski after teammates Molly Lanter, Moody and Calvert set Petroski free with quick, meaningful passes.
"We never let down in this game, even after getting that first goal which is so important. We were always trying to add to our lead," said Moody.
Just before a well-timed, and voracious tackle from Kelsey Bowling stopped a potential 1-v-1 opportunity from Tell, Petroski doubled the Crusaders advantage when she steered her 20-yard blast into the far inside netting.
Moody insured there would be no epic comeback when she bagged her 29th of the season six minutes from time.
"We just didn't have what it took today to play with Althoff," said Alexander.
"The effort was there, and the girls fought until the end. But they were the better team today and deserve to move on," added Selvaggio.
The 3-0 defeat ended an impressive 10-game win streak for Wheaton Academy. It culminated in a 5-0 victory over Princeton in last Tuesday's supersectional at Mendota.
During that final run to the state tournament, the Warriors outscore their opponents: 45-2 to advance into the last weekend of the season.
"We just have to regroup, and come out and play our best on Saturday, and hopefully bring home the third place trophy," Selvaggio said.
Starting lineups
Wheaton Academy (4-4-2)
G- Sara Swoboda
D- Sarah Van Wagner
D- Jillian Paulson
D- Olivia Crane
D- Kelsey Bowling
M- Kelly Bickhart
M- Jocelyn Royce
M- Amy Anderson
M- Grace Platt
F- Eva DeSouza
F- Emily Setran
Althoff (4-3-3)
G- Anna Brewer
D- Morgan Wagner
D- Natalie Cohn
D- Hope Schmitt
D- Bree Birdsong
M- Emma Tell
M- Julia O'Neill
M-Issy Wendler
F- Tori Calvert
F- Regan Moody
F- Kylie Petroski
Chicagoland MVPs of the Match:
Regan Moody, sr., MF, Althoff;
Kylie Petroski, sr., F, Althoff
Officials: Jay Weiss (referee); Tom Schaeffer (assistant); Doug Neufelt (assistant); Patrick Legge (fourth)
Scoring summary
First half
Althoff: Petroski (Calvert) 7'
Second half
Althoff: Petroski (Moody) 62'
Althoff: Moody (Van Wagner) 74'
Warriors fall 3-0, hope for rebound in 3rd place game
By Mike Garofola
HOFFMAN ESTATES -- Althoff simply had too much from front-to-back for Wheaton Academy to overcome Friday morning and dashed the Warriors’ hopes for a Class A state title.
The Crusaders (21-2-0) impressed from the opening whistle en route to a 3-0 victory to advance into the championship match, where they will meet Wheaton Academy’s Metro Suburban League rival Timothy at 2 p.m. Saturday.
"We were prepared for (Althoff), but we didn't match their energy or pace right from the start. I thought a case of nerves likely had an impact on some of our younger players," said Warriors manager Maria Selvaggio, whose club will face Notre Dame (Quincy, 17-2-1) in the third place game.
Selvaggio, who was one of the stars of the Warriors first state championship team in 2004 along with her older sister Laura under-then manager Dave Underwood, will collect the seventh state award in program history Saturday, and first since 2017 when the club brought home the AA second place trophy.
"(They) came out on their front foot, and we didn't match (that) like we have all season," continued Selvaggio.
"We lost a key player to an injury (Grace Platt), and I think we struggled quite a bit after she went out. (We) finally came into the game later on, but they were the better team today and deserved the result they got."
Amy Alexander, Kelly Bickhart and Emily Setran had a difficult time talking about the loss of their teammate (Platt) just before the half hour. The teammates not only missed her valuable play in the center of the park, but more importantly the passion, personality and impressive play she puts forth, despite being just a freshmen.
"We all struggled for a while after Grace went out," said Bickhart.
"She doesn't play like a freshman and from the very first day we came together, I think we all knew just how special of a player and person she is."
Early pressure from Althoff immediately put the Warriors (18-5-0) under duress. After consecutive corners, the downstate soccer power reaped a reward when Kylie Petroski ran onto a lovely ball from Tori Calvert, met it on the volley and smashed it into the back of the net from 10 yards.
Petroski, who shared Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors with teammate Regan Moody, had this to say later about her 19th goal of the season.
"I practice those type of shots and scoring opportunities all of the time when we train and with my dad,” she said. “So I was ready when the ball came my way.”
The junior is part of an active three-man frontline with Calvert and Moody. The trio came into this contest with a combined 60 of the 106 goals their club has netted.
Not only did the high pressure and pace from the Crusaders trio give Wheaton Academy trouble, so did Althoff’s ball-winning and highly active and creative trio of midfielders. Their work-rate stymied the Warriors attack, which rarely went through its two best players, Anderson and Bickhart, who were forced to stay deep and defend far more than they would have liked.
"They were very good just about everywhere. So we had to ask a lot of our players in order to try to keep their attack under control," said Selvaggio.
When the Warriors manager brought on freshmen Anna Africa at 18 minutes, it gave the attack some much needed life. Along with Setran, this dynamic duo created some trouble of their own on the other end of the park.
"The ball was in our end a lot in the first half, but when Anna came (in) we were able to attack more like we've done this season," offered Setran.
The Africa-Setran combination was the best thing going for the Warriors whenever they were on the turf at the same time. After the break, Setran had the best chance of the game up until then when on the turn, she forced Crusaders keeper Anna Brewer into action from 18 yards.
Just moments before, Warriors keeper Sara Swoboda could thank the woodwork for sending an Emma Tell cracker up and over the bar when the Crusaders sophomore burst past a pair of Wheaton Academy defenders.
Swoboda, despite watching three end in the back of her net, turned in a strong and very busy 80-minute performance. She stayed alert and active on corner and free kick attempts and was never shy about coming off her line to challenge when needed.
Swoboda stopped an angled 20-yard effort from Petroski at 49 minutes with confidence. Five minutes later, the Crusaders used width to build a chance through Petroski after teammates Molly Lanter, Moody and Calvert set Petroski free with quick, meaningful passes.
"We never let down in this game, even after getting that first goal which is so important. We were always trying to add to our lead," said Moody.
Just before a well-timed, and voracious tackle from Kelsey Bowling stopped a potential 1-v-1 opportunity from Tell, Petroski doubled the Crusaders advantage when she steered her 20-yard blast into the far inside netting.
Moody insured there would be no epic comeback when she bagged her 29th of the season six minutes from time.
"We just didn't have what it took today to play with Althoff," said Alexander.
"The effort was there, and the girls fought until the end. But they were the better team today and deserve to move on," added Selvaggio.
The 3-0 defeat ended an impressive 10-game win streak for Wheaton Academy. It culminated in a 5-0 victory over Princeton in last Tuesday's supersectional at Mendota.
During that final run to the state tournament, the Warriors outscore their opponents: 45-2 to advance into the last weekend of the season.
"We just have to regroup, and come out and play our best on Saturday, and hopefully bring home the third place trophy," Selvaggio said.
Starting lineups
Wheaton Academy (4-4-2)
G- Sara Swoboda
D- Sarah Van Wagner
D- Jillian Paulson
D- Olivia Crane
D- Kelsey Bowling
M- Kelly Bickhart
M- Jocelyn Royce
M- Amy Anderson
M- Grace Platt
F- Eva DeSouza
F- Emily Setran
Althoff (4-3-3)
G- Anna Brewer
D- Morgan Wagner
D- Natalie Cohn
D- Hope Schmitt
D- Bree Birdsong
M- Emma Tell
M- Julia O'Neill
M-Issy Wendler
F- Tori Calvert
F- Regan Moody
F- Kylie Petroski
Chicagoland MVPs of the Match:
Regan Moody, sr., MF, Althoff;
Kylie Petroski, sr., F, Althoff
Officials: Jay Weiss (referee); Tom Schaeffer (assistant); Doug Neufelt (assistant); Patrick Legge (fourth)
Scoring summary
First half
Althoff: Petroski (Calvert) 7'
Second half
Althoff: Petroski (Moody) 62'
Althoff: Moody (Van Wagner) 74'