WWS freshmen pave the way past Geneva
Adams leads way with hat-trick in Tigers 4-2 win
By Curt Herron
GENEVA -- Ever since freshman Ashlyn Adams scored two goals and classmate Ella Byrnes added a goal and an assist for Wheaton Warrenville South when it beat Burlington Central 5-1 on April 5 for its first victory of the season, it was apparent that first-year varsity players would play a big role for coach Guy Callipari's team.
So, when a Tigers squad that had gone 9-0-1 following a 3-4-2 start faced its most important challenge of the season in Friday's Class 3A Geneva Regional championship against the inspired host Vikings, it seemed only appropriate that freshmen would again play a significant role.
And that's what happened. Byrnes and Adams scored first half goals with freshman Bri Stransky assisting on the first to give their team a 2-0 halftime lead. Then after Geneva seemed to grab the momentum with the first two goals of the final half, the Tigers responded with two more goals from Adams to capture a 4-2 win at Burgess Field.
Adams' scored three-consecutive goals for the Tigers. The critical last two came within a 7:34-stretch during the final 16 minutes of play and gave the team leader in goals her initial high school hat-trick and more importantly helped the Tigers to a second-straight regional championship. It is their third in the last four IHSA tournaments and the 23rd of the program's rich history.
With the victory, fifth-seeded and 24th-ranked Wheaton Warrenville South (13-4-3) advances to Tuesday's 4:30 p.m. Class 3A St. Charles East Sectional where it faces top-seeded and 12th-ranked St. Charles North, which survived an upset bid from Bartlett before prevailing 2-0 in two overtimes in Friday's Streamwood Regional final. The Tigers lost 1-0 to the North Stars when the squads opened DuKane Conference play on April 7.
Second-ranked and no. 20 St. Charles East meets third-seeded meet in Tuesday's semifinal at 6:30 p.m. The title match is set for 5 p.m. Friday.
Geneva (13-9-2) hoped to overcome an emotional week in its community and capture its first regional championship since 2017 and its13th since 2002. But coach Megan Owens' Vikings saw their hopes of avenging a 1-0 DuKane Conference home setback to the Tigers on May 10 get dashed when Adams took over in the late going.
Adams put in a shot from about 20 yards in the 65th minute following a pass from senior tri-captain Elie Farrell, and then scored again in the 73rd minute on a second touch from close range after senior Mia Taullahu’s helper.
"It was all the team," Adams said. "Geneva gave us a great game, and they're a great team. We just came back and hustled. I got an amazing through-ball from Elie, and I was just lucky enough to be there and put it in the net. And then I got an amazing pass from Mia and tipped it in.
"I've been so proud of everyone, from the seniors to the freshmen. Everyone played amazing, and they hustled their hearts out. I can't be more proud of them, and we're excited for our next game. We were up 2-0, but we knew that they wanted it. So, they came back and scored, but we never stopped; we never quit. We have good chemistry, and I love all of these girls. They truly are all my sisters. So it was really amazing."
Things were looking encouraging for the Tigers at the break after they scored a pair of goals late in the opening half. With their defense allowing just three goals and no more than one in any of its last 10 matches, their prospects of advancing appeared to be bright.
Wheaton Warrenville South’s IHSSCA Hall of Fame coach Callipari, who collected his 400th girls victory on Tuesday over Hoffman Estates by a 5-0 score in the semifinals, had good reason to be upbeat but also has been around long enough to know that although the Vikings were down, they certainly weren't out.
And thanks to the efforts of the Rawls sisters, senior Alana and sophomore Olivia, the Vikings scored their first goal early in the second half. Alana put in a rebound, and took a foul around the hour mark with Olivia putting in the subsequent penalty to even things.
"They had a lot to play for," Callipari said. "They're well-coached and came into the match with a lot of courage and desire and passion to begin with, and they're at home. The game is always going to be in the balance when you're both evenly-matched. So being up 2-0 obviously could be precarious, given the fact that if you give up one, especially in the first seven minutes, as we did, then we're on our heels. It's hard to get off of your heels and get on your front foot.
"I thought that we were well-positioned defensively but then they got a little bit of a bump and the PK happened, and now we're even. I just felt that our girls knew that we could break them down. Credit to Geneva since they were going for the win, and they thought that they had us.
“But we have the tools that we can break you down, and I'm glad that Ashlyn wasn't too unselfish and decided to take things upon herself when she's in, and consequently do the simple thing and put it in the far post.
"(Upcoming opponent) St. Charles North is not hiding anyone on the field, and they are deep. As long as they're healthy and have all of their tools, it could be a long day. Our keeper came up really big in the last affair against them. I think she had 17 saves to make it 1-0. It could have been a lot worse, but we had some chances, too. So, we're going to have to find our way, lock it in a little bit and still stay spirited, even if things kind of don't look well early on. You have to play 80 minutes. As long as we can do that and we still have a chance and are still in the game, then anything can happen."
With a challenging early schedule and a lot of young players as well as some inexperienced varsity starters, the veteran coach knew that it would take a while to put things together. The Tigers went on to build a successful season.
"We've had three injuries that have been season-ending, but the way that we build is to make certain that we always have a Plan B and a Plan C, " Callipari said. "And if it's freshmen, then they're going to have to step up, which they've done. It's very difficult for a 14-year-old to match up with a 17-year-old. You can see how physical the game can be and some of the other nuances of the game, but they're learning; and they learn fast. They're very coachable and spirited, and they're talented and pace certainly helps.
"We played four teams in the top 10 in the first six games and had eight freshmen and two of our juniors and a senior who are starting in their first varsity year and we might have had four players that were returning. So, we knew it was going to be a challenge, but we welcomed it. I thought we played well against those teams and that seasoned us and elevated our spirits by showing that we could compete with the best of the best, and that we had a lot of growth to go.
“You can start seeing the pacing, and they're getting a better understanding of how to break other teams down and what our strengths are and how to cover for any weaknesses we might have. That's how games are won and lost."
Geneva capitalized on one of its first good chances when Alana Rawls got to a loose ball that was deflected by Tigers senior goalie Caroline Spayth on a free kick. The senior put in the loose ball from close range to halve the deficit to 2-1 in the 47th minute.
After the Tigers responded with good shot attempts from junior Lauren Barnett and Adams that were stopped by sophomore goalie Jordan Forbes, Spayth had to dive to stop one attempt from Alana Rawls and pulled in another one from her, before Geneva senior Kaidence Horner sent in a try that was cleared away by junior Carrie Harvey.
"We really stepped up," Alana Rawls said of her team's second-half start. "We had a good halftime talk from all of the seniors and the coach and we stepped up and got the momentum and then got the PK and another goal and we got a lot of shots off. I think that the second half was probably one of our better halves of the season. We really stepped up and no one wanted the season to end. It's upsetting that it ended the way that it did, but I'm proud of the team.
"We started off playing feeling pretty good. But once we got into playing more difficult teams, we started slacking off, but we always were able to make comebacks in the second half. It was crazy. So, we thought that we were going to get it back once we scored these two today, but then the momentum went back to them.
“This was like the closest team that we've ever had. We had a very hard week with things that happened, but the way that we were just there for each other and able to support each other was just amazing."
Just before the midway mark of the second half, Olivia Rawls got free with the ball in the box and was fouled, which resulted in a penalty. The sophomore responded to the challenge by lining an attempt into the lower corner of the net in the 60th minute to draw the Vikings even with Wheaton Warrenville South.
After the two quick scores, Geneva became the first team to score more than a goal against the Tigers since St. Charles East scored three in a match on April 19. However, things would remain tied for just under five minutes before the momentum swung again to the visitors.
"We were down 2-0, which was pretty tough," Olivia Rawls said. "But coach Owens told us that once we got that first goal that we would keep scoring. We got the first and got some momentum. Then I got the PK, and we got more momentum, and we were playing pretty solid.
"I'm just really proud of our team for really coming together. We were all there for each other this whole week. Coach Owens is always saying to get into the box, and I think we really got in the box in this game. We played pretty well. We (she and Alana) played a lot more this year, because she was coming back from her ankle surgery. It was really fun. We were a team that always tried its best, but we always loved to have fun, and we were always laughing and joking around."
Wheaton Warrenville South’s positive attitude helped them secure the victory.
"Our team has talked a lot about how the possibility of any game could be our last game," Farrell said. "We had a really good talk before of just giving everything that you have until the final minute. And even when they scored that second goal to tie it up, everybody was talking, and we just told everybody to keep your heads up, and that's exactly what they did. They all stepped up in the positions that they needed to step into, and they really played a good game until the end.
"Ashlyn had some great finishes and has so much speed. I think everybody trusts her, and I trust her since I played with her for a while in club. She's younger than I am, but I know how she plays. We just have been able to figure out each other really well as to where we like the ball played. I know if I play a ball to her, I know she's going to get it and do something with it.
:I think we've really been pushing through to the end of the season and showing everybody that we're the good team that we know that we are. I think hard work truly represents this team. Everybody wants to work really hard to make each and every person so much better. This is one of the hardest working teams I've ever seen."
Other than a shot by Barnett that was hauled in by Forbes shortly after Adams completed her three-goal performance there was no more real drama and the Tigers wrapped up their spot in the sectional semifinals. They fell 2-1 to St. Charles North in that round last season and also lost by a goal to Conant in 2018 and Lyons in 2013 during that same round. The last time that the program advanced to a sectional finals was in 2010, when it fell 2-1 to eventual Class 3A champion Waubonsie Valley.
"It was really nerve-racking to see them tie the game and my heart was just kind of racing," Taullahu said. "But then when we got in, I was like, 'Alright, we have to get another goal up on them, because their team was really supportive of them on the bench. So we had to come out strong and put the ball in the back of the net. It was really nice, because I have a lot of faith in this team. I wasn't really worried about it; I was just a little nervous.
"When you have a lot of new people on the team, you have to make sure that the bond is really important. We started the year off kind of strong with team bonding, and I'm just really proud of the way that this team has progressed. We have an extremely strong bond on and off the field, always hanging out and talking. ,,, We have this love for each other. … Definitely the most important thing about this team and the thing that I love the most is how much we all care and are close with one another."
Wheaton Warrenville South took its initial lead in the 27th minute when Byrnes connected following a pass from Stransky. Then in the 37th minute, Adams scored her first goal when she fired in a long attempt that hit the post and was ruled as a goal with junior Kate Grunland getting the assist.
Geneva got off to a strong start this season with nine wins and a loss to currently top-ranked to Lyons. The Vikings were ranked in the top 20 but hit a rough patch against top competition; they met six top 20 teams as well as longtime rival Batavia. While Geneva came up a bit short in its bid for its first regional title since 2017, with just nine seniors on a 23-player roster the future looks bright for the program.
Geneva dealt with a wide range of emotions last week following the death of a student.
"I couldn't be prouder of this group and I couldn't ask for any more from them," Owens said. "They faced a lot of adversity this week and for them to step up and play as hard as they did, it's all that you can ask for as a coach. They gave it their all, and they're just a very special group. I'm just so proud to see how they all have supported each other throughout this last week and the entire season.
"They're just a really great group of amazing kids and we're so fortunate to have them be a part of our program. We had another strong season, and they performed and did all that I could have asked of them.
“They made it a lot of fun, and they were all very close. They were just a special group to coach, and I'm glad that I got the opportunity to work with all of them this year."
Starting lineups
Wheaton Warrenville South
G Caroline Spayth
D Mallory Cadagin
D Olivia Vassios
D Ella McClatchy
D Carrie Harvey
M Elie Farrell
M Lily Petrie
M Kate Grunland
F Mia Taullahu
F Ashlyn Adams
F Lauren Barnett
Geneva
G Jordan Forbes
D Morgan Slagle
D Luci Okolita
D Isabella Walls
D Lilly Coats
M Kya Trejo
M Kendall Forbes
M Caroline Madden
F Olivia Rawls
F Alana Rawls
F Morgan Rudowicz
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match:
Ashlyn Adams, fr., F, Wheaton Warrenville South
Scoring summary
First half
WWS: Ella Byrnes (Bri Stransky), 27th
WWS: Ashlyn Adams (Kate Grunland), 37th
Second half
G: Alana Rawls, 47th
G: Olivia Rawls (PK), 60th
WWS: Ashlyn Adams (Elie Farrell), 65th
WWS: Ashlyn Adams (Mia Taullahu), 73rd
Adams leads way with hat-trick in Tigers 4-2 win
By Curt Herron
GENEVA -- Ever since freshman Ashlyn Adams scored two goals and classmate Ella Byrnes added a goal and an assist for Wheaton Warrenville South when it beat Burlington Central 5-1 on April 5 for its first victory of the season, it was apparent that first-year varsity players would play a big role for coach Guy Callipari's team.
So, when a Tigers squad that had gone 9-0-1 following a 3-4-2 start faced its most important challenge of the season in Friday's Class 3A Geneva Regional championship against the inspired host Vikings, it seemed only appropriate that freshmen would again play a significant role.
And that's what happened. Byrnes and Adams scored first half goals with freshman Bri Stransky assisting on the first to give their team a 2-0 halftime lead. Then after Geneva seemed to grab the momentum with the first two goals of the final half, the Tigers responded with two more goals from Adams to capture a 4-2 win at Burgess Field.
Adams' scored three-consecutive goals for the Tigers. The critical last two came within a 7:34-stretch during the final 16 minutes of play and gave the team leader in goals her initial high school hat-trick and more importantly helped the Tigers to a second-straight regional championship. It is their third in the last four IHSA tournaments and the 23rd of the program's rich history.
With the victory, fifth-seeded and 24th-ranked Wheaton Warrenville South (13-4-3) advances to Tuesday's 4:30 p.m. Class 3A St. Charles East Sectional where it faces top-seeded and 12th-ranked St. Charles North, which survived an upset bid from Bartlett before prevailing 2-0 in two overtimes in Friday's Streamwood Regional final. The Tigers lost 1-0 to the North Stars when the squads opened DuKane Conference play on April 7.
Second-ranked and no. 20 St. Charles East meets third-seeded meet in Tuesday's semifinal at 6:30 p.m. The title match is set for 5 p.m. Friday.
Geneva (13-9-2) hoped to overcome an emotional week in its community and capture its first regional championship since 2017 and its13th since 2002. But coach Megan Owens' Vikings saw their hopes of avenging a 1-0 DuKane Conference home setback to the Tigers on May 10 get dashed when Adams took over in the late going.
Adams put in a shot from about 20 yards in the 65th minute following a pass from senior tri-captain Elie Farrell, and then scored again in the 73rd minute on a second touch from close range after senior Mia Taullahu’s helper.
"It was all the team," Adams said. "Geneva gave us a great game, and they're a great team. We just came back and hustled. I got an amazing through-ball from Elie, and I was just lucky enough to be there and put it in the net. And then I got an amazing pass from Mia and tipped it in.
"I've been so proud of everyone, from the seniors to the freshmen. Everyone played amazing, and they hustled their hearts out. I can't be more proud of them, and we're excited for our next game. We were up 2-0, but we knew that they wanted it. So, they came back and scored, but we never stopped; we never quit. We have good chemistry, and I love all of these girls. They truly are all my sisters. So it was really amazing."
Things were looking encouraging for the Tigers at the break after they scored a pair of goals late in the opening half. With their defense allowing just three goals and no more than one in any of its last 10 matches, their prospects of advancing appeared to be bright.
Wheaton Warrenville South’s IHSSCA Hall of Fame coach Callipari, who collected his 400th girls victory on Tuesday over Hoffman Estates by a 5-0 score in the semifinals, had good reason to be upbeat but also has been around long enough to know that although the Vikings were down, they certainly weren't out.
And thanks to the efforts of the Rawls sisters, senior Alana and sophomore Olivia, the Vikings scored their first goal early in the second half. Alana put in a rebound, and took a foul around the hour mark with Olivia putting in the subsequent penalty to even things.
"They had a lot to play for," Callipari said. "They're well-coached and came into the match with a lot of courage and desire and passion to begin with, and they're at home. The game is always going to be in the balance when you're both evenly-matched. So being up 2-0 obviously could be precarious, given the fact that if you give up one, especially in the first seven minutes, as we did, then we're on our heels. It's hard to get off of your heels and get on your front foot.
"I thought that we were well-positioned defensively but then they got a little bit of a bump and the PK happened, and now we're even. I just felt that our girls knew that we could break them down. Credit to Geneva since they were going for the win, and they thought that they had us.
“But we have the tools that we can break you down, and I'm glad that Ashlyn wasn't too unselfish and decided to take things upon herself when she's in, and consequently do the simple thing and put it in the far post.
"(Upcoming opponent) St. Charles North is not hiding anyone on the field, and they are deep. As long as they're healthy and have all of their tools, it could be a long day. Our keeper came up really big in the last affair against them. I think she had 17 saves to make it 1-0. It could have been a lot worse, but we had some chances, too. So, we're going to have to find our way, lock it in a little bit and still stay spirited, even if things kind of don't look well early on. You have to play 80 minutes. As long as we can do that and we still have a chance and are still in the game, then anything can happen."
With a challenging early schedule and a lot of young players as well as some inexperienced varsity starters, the veteran coach knew that it would take a while to put things together. The Tigers went on to build a successful season.
"We've had three injuries that have been season-ending, but the way that we build is to make certain that we always have a Plan B and a Plan C, " Callipari said. "And if it's freshmen, then they're going to have to step up, which they've done. It's very difficult for a 14-year-old to match up with a 17-year-old. You can see how physical the game can be and some of the other nuances of the game, but they're learning; and they learn fast. They're very coachable and spirited, and they're talented and pace certainly helps.
"We played four teams in the top 10 in the first six games and had eight freshmen and two of our juniors and a senior who are starting in their first varsity year and we might have had four players that were returning. So, we knew it was going to be a challenge, but we welcomed it. I thought we played well against those teams and that seasoned us and elevated our spirits by showing that we could compete with the best of the best, and that we had a lot of growth to go.
“You can start seeing the pacing, and they're getting a better understanding of how to break other teams down and what our strengths are and how to cover for any weaknesses we might have. That's how games are won and lost."
Geneva capitalized on one of its first good chances when Alana Rawls got to a loose ball that was deflected by Tigers senior goalie Caroline Spayth on a free kick. The senior put in the loose ball from close range to halve the deficit to 2-1 in the 47th minute.
After the Tigers responded with good shot attempts from junior Lauren Barnett and Adams that were stopped by sophomore goalie Jordan Forbes, Spayth had to dive to stop one attempt from Alana Rawls and pulled in another one from her, before Geneva senior Kaidence Horner sent in a try that was cleared away by junior Carrie Harvey.
"We really stepped up," Alana Rawls said of her team's second-half start. "We had a good halftime talk from all of the seniors and the coach and we stepped up and got the momentum and then got the PK and another goal and we got a lot of shots off. I think that the second half was probably one of our better halves of the season. We really stepped up and no one wanted the season to end. It's upsetting that it ended the way that it did, but I'm proud of the team.
"We started off playing feeling pretty good. But once we got into playing more difficult teams, we started slacking off, but we always were able to make comebacks in the second half. It was crazy. So, we thought that we were going to get it back once we scored these two today, but then the momentum went back to them.
“This was like the closest team that we've ever had. We had a very hard week with things that happened, but the way that we were just there for each other and able to support each other was just amazing."
Just before the midway mark of the second half, Olivia Rawls got free with the ball in the box and was fouled, which resulted in a penalty. The sophomore responded to the challenge by lining an attempt into the lower corner of the net in the 60th minute to draw the Vikings even with Wheaton Warrenville South.
After the two quick scores, Geneva became the first team to score more than a goal against the Tigers since St. Charles East scored three in a match on April 19. However, things would remain tied for just under five minutes before the momentum swung again to the visitors.
"We were down 2-0, which was pretty tough," Olivia Rawls said. "But coach Owens told us that once we got that first goal that we would keep scoring. We got the first and got some momentum. Then I got the PK, and we got more momentum, and we were playing pretty solid.
"I'm just really proud of our team for really coming together. We were all there for each other this whole week. Coach Owens is always saying to get into the box, and I think we really got in the box in this game. We played pretty well. We (she and Alana) played a lot more this year, because she was coming back from her ankle surgery. It was really fun. We were a team that always tried its best, but we always loved to have fun, and we were always laughing and joking around."
Wheaton Warrenville South’s positive attitude helped them secure the victory.
"Our team has talked a lot about how the possibility of any game could be our last game," Farrell said. "We had a really good talk before of just giving everything that you have until the final minute. And even when they scored that second goal to tie it up, everybody was talking, and we just told everybody to keep your heads up, and that's exactly what they did. They all stepped up in the positions that they needed to step into, and they really played a good game until the end.
"Ashlyn had some great finishes and has so much speed. I think everybody trusts her, and I trust her since I played with her for a while in club. She's younger than I am, but I know how she plays. We just have been able to figure out each other really well as to where we like the ball played. I know if I play a ball to her, I know she's going to get it and do something with it.
:I think we've really been pushing through to the end of the season and showing everybody that we're the good team that we know that we are. I think hard work truly represents this team. Everybody wants to work really hard to make each and every person so much better. This is one of the hardest working teams I've ever seen."
Other than a shot by Barnett that was hauled in by Forbes shortly after Adams completed her three-goal performance there was no more real drama and the Tigers wrapped up their spot in the sectional semifinals. They fell 2-1 to St. Charles North in that round last season and also lost by a goal to Conant in 2018 and Lyons in 2013 during that same round. The last time that the program advanced to a sectional finals was in 2010, when it fell 2-1 to eventual Class 3A champion Waubonsie Valley.
"It was really nerve-racking to see them tie the game and my heart was just kind of racing," Taullahu said. "But then when we got in, I was like, 'Alright, we have to get another goal up on them, because their team was really supportive of them on the bench. So we had to come out strong and put the ball in the back of the net. It was really nice, because I have a lot of faith in this team. I wasn't really worried about it; I was just a little nervous.
"When you have a lot of new people on the team, you have to make sure that the bond is really important. We started the year off kind of strong with team bonding, and I'm just really proud of the way that this team has progressed. We have an extremely strong bond on and off the field, always hanging out and talking. ,,, We have this love for each other. … Definitely the most important thing about this team and the thing that I love the most is how much we all care and are close with one another."
Wheaton Warrenville South took its initial lead in the 27th minute when Byrnes connected following a pass from Stransky. Then in the 37th minute, Adams scored her first goal when she fired in a long attempt that hit the post and was ruled as a goal with junior Kate Grunland getting the assist.
Geneva got off to a strong start this season with nine wins and a loss to currently top-ranked to Lyons. The Vikings were ranked in the top 20 but hit a rough patch against top competition; they met six top 20 teams as well as longtime rival Batavia. While Geneva came up a bit short in its bid for its first regional title since 2017, with just nine seniors on a 23-player roster the future looks bright for the program.
Geneva dealt with a wide range of emotions last week following the death of a student.
"I couldn't be prouder of this group and I couldn't ask for any more from them," Owens said. "They faced a lot of adversity this week and for them to step up and play as hard as they did, it's all that you can ask for as a coach. They gave it their all, and they're just a very special group. I'm just so proud to see how they all have supported each other throughout this last week and the entire season.
"They're just a really great group of amazing kids and we're so fortunate to have them be a part of our program. We had another strong season, and they performed and did all that I could have asked of them.
“They made it a lot of fun, and they were all very close. They were just a special group to coach, and I'm glad that I got the opportunity to work with all of them this year."
Starting lineups
Wheaton Warrenville South
G Caroline Spayth
D Mallory Cadagin
D Olivia Vassios
D Ella McClatchy
D Carrie Harvey
M Elie Farrell
M Lily Petrie
M Kate Grunland
F Mia Taullahu
F Ashlyn Adams
F Lauren Barnett
Geneva
G Jordan Forbes
D Morgan Slagle
D Luci Okolita
D Isabella Walls
D Lilly Coats
M Kya Trejo
M Kendall Forbes
M Caroline Madden
F Olivia Rawls
F Alana Rawls
F Morgan Rudowicz
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match:
Ashlyn Adams, fr., F, Wheaton Warrenville South
Scoring summary
First half
WWS: Ella Byrnes (Bri Stransky), 27th
WWS: Ashlyn Adams (Kate Grunland), 37th
Second half
G: Alana Rawls, 47th
G: Olivia Rawls (PK), 60th
WWS: Ashlyn Adams (Elie Farrell), 65th
WWS: Ashlyn Adams (Mia Taullahu), 73rd