Young falls prey to fast Maine South start
Schmidt scores 2 goals for host Hawks in 5-0 win
By Patrick Z. McGavin
PARK RIDGE -- Just before the kickoff to a new season, snow flurries decorated the turf field here Monday night. It was just symbolic. Seconds later, all evidence was gone, absent without a trace. The symbolism was clear, marking a new transition, a new beginning.
Two teams with ambition and expectations of excellence met as no. 20 Maine South welcomed Chicago Public League power Young in the first game for both programs. The big question for Maine South was how they were going to push on in the absence of Emma Thomas, one of the best players in the state last year.
In her only year of high school competition, Thomas scored 34 goals and added seven assists for the Class 3A regional finalist.
Enter stage right Annika Schmidt.
“Annika was our leading scorer as a sophomore two years ago,” Maine South coach J.J. Crawford said. “Emma came in last year and took that role, but Annika is ready to get it back.”
Thomas has graduated, but Schmidt and senior midfielder Maddie Malinowski are two standout players. The Hawks also return three superb talents from club -- Aly Kilburg, Hannah Northfell and Francesca Faraci.
The combination of past and present proved lethal against the Dolphins.
An electric and skilled forward, Schmidt dictated pace and tempo right at the start by scoring in the second minute as her superb play sparked the Hawks’ 5-0 victory on a crisp and beautiful night.
Schmidt scored the first two goals of the game as Maine South (1-0-0) built a commanding 3-0 lead at the break. The hosts were eager to make a dominant first impression.
“Last year we always seemed to have slow starts in the first half, and we talked about it before the game of having a fast start and I think we were able to do that, especially with how we controlled possession and really forced the tempo,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match for her excellent performance.
Maine South was aggressive from the start, pushing the ball wide and crossing into space as Schmidt and Malinowski put the Dolphins on their heels.
Schmidt upended the typical rhythm at the start of the game, the back-and-forth, with each side looking to adapt to the playing styles. Schmidt took a pass from midfielder Lauren May and unleashed a short haymaker.
Objective reached for the Hawks.
“Getting a goal really early like that really helped the momentum of the game,” Schmidt said. “Once that happened, our whole team just gets motivated to score. Once that happens the other team might get down, and we have the momentum to get more and more goals.”
The start was particularly disappointing to Young coach Spero Mandakas. He realized the power of his team was its offense. “We have goal scorers on this team,” he said. “We scored 65 goals last year, and 54 of those were by players we have back this year.”
The Dolphins fought off a slow start last year and played their best soccer in May during a 7-3-0 stretch. The team reached the semifinals of the ChicagoPublic League tournament.
The Putrim sisters, Sophie and Olivia, are poised, skilled and highly competitive. Mia Lisanti is one of the best sophomores in the city. Senior forward Sara Woods, rangy and athletic, is highly creative with the ball. With so many offensive weapons at his command, Mandakas knew the early emphasis in training was solidifying and learning how to create defensive pressure and choke off the other side’s preferred mode of attack.
That part remains a work in progress.
“Our defensive pressure in the first 20 minutes was horrible,” Mandakas said. “They were a really high quality team, but we need to play better in those situations. We really gifted them two goals early. We are going to be playing very good, high skill teams the whole season and if we give up those kind of easy opportunities, these teams are going to pounce on them.”
As the aggressor, Maine South dictated the shape of the game. Everything played into their wheelhouse.
“I asked for a fast start, and that’s what they gave us,” Crawford said. “They did what we have been working on in practice, which is one- and two-touch and getting the ball to the wings. For a first game, we have some kinks obviously, but with that said, I could not ask for a better start.”
In the 20th minute, Schmidt illustrated her varied skills, a punishing forward style that directed action repeatedly inside the Dolphins’ box. In a madcap flury, Schmidt had one shot from about 14 yards hit off the post. Young struggled to clear the rebound, and May and Schmidt took turns pressuring the goal.
Schmidt’s third attempt split a defender and eased past Young keeper Mia Engelmann for the Hawks’ second goal.
Schmidt is clearly comfortable as the focal point of the offense. Deferring to Thomas a year ago has now opened a new path, or in her case, a return to what she experienced as a sophomore.
“Obviously Emma is a big loss, but my first year playing here, my sophomore year, we did very well,” Schmidt said. “Now we have Maddie in the middle, and Aly and the other club players who are back. I think it’s going to be fine.”
Malinowski put the game out of reach by collecting a cross from midfielder Elyse Bartucci, cut left to create space and advanced the ball for a beautiful finish inside the far post in the 37th minute for her first goal of the year.
“We wanted to win the 50/50 balls right at the beginning of the game, and that gets us going,” Malinowski said. “We wanted to make sure we were spaced out really well. We tried to get it out wide and then girls cross it back in, and we were able to do that.”
Senior defender Hope McMullen and Kilburg completed the scoring with goals in the 53rd and 67th minute, respectively.
Kilburn’s return is just the jolt the Hawks need and the source of optimism going forward.
“We are going to have a dynamic and elite middle with Maddie and Aly,” Crawford said. “Maddie’s is just rocking in the midfield. She and Aly looked great tonight. I think we’re going to have possibly the best center middle in the state with her and Aly.
“I’m just one person, but that is my opinion.”
Engelmann, a first-year starter, had eight saves for the Dolphins (0-1-0). Though the result was disappointing, context is everything. The tenor remains bright and exciting.
Lisanti and Woods generated strong pressure for the Dolphins. Sophie Putrim also showcased her excellent athleticism and ability to chase down long through-balls. Young could not quite generate the final touch.
“We have a lot of people who are returning,” Young senior defender Kyra Sobel said. “We work really well together. They scored that early goal, and that definitely put us in the mindset that we definitely got into our own heads.
“We have some freshmen and sophomores. We are going to be really strong this year. We are working out some kinks. We were able to get the intensity back, but we were down right at the start.”
Starting lineups
Young
GK: Mia Engelmann
D: Kyra Sobel
D: Meaghan Jungels
D: Lauren Ehlers
D: Addie Schlensker
MF: Keila Vega
MF: Sara Woods
MF: Anniliese Kelner
F: Sophie Putrim
F: Mia Lisanti
F: Eleanor Sherline
Maine South
GK: Katie Kons
D: Danielle Barzowski
D: Angelina Moore
D: Lilly Trapp
D: Hannah Northfell
MF: Elyse Bartucci
MF: Aly Kilburg
MF: Lauren May
MF: Maddie Malinowski
F: Hannah Schilling
F: Annika Schmidt
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Annika Schmidt, Maine South, sr., F
Scoring summary
First half
Maine South—Annika Schmidt (Lauren May), 2nd minute
Maine South—Schmidt, 20th minute
Maine South—Maddie Malinowski (May), 37th minute
Second half
Maine South—Hope McMullen (Elyse Bartucci), 53rd minute
Maine South—Ali Kilburg (Bartucci), 67th minute
Schmidt scores 2 goals for host Hawks in 5-0 win
By Patrick Z. McGavin
PARK RIDGE -- Just before the kickoff to a new season, snow flurries decorated the turf field here Monday night. It was just symbolic. Seconds later, all evidence was gone, absent without a trace. The symbolism was clear, marking a new transition, a new beginning.
Two teams with ambition and expectations of excellence met as no. 20 Maine South welcomed Chicago Public League power Young in the first game for both programs. The big question for Maine South was how they were going to push on in the absence of Emma Thomas, one of the best players in the state last year.
In her only year of high school competition, Thomas scored 34 goals and added seven assists for the Class 3A regional finalist.
Enter stage right Annika Schmidt.
“Annika was our leading scorer as a sophomore two years ago,” Maine South coach J.J. Crawford said. “Emma came in last year and took that role, but Annika is ready to get it back.”
Thomas has graduated, but Schmidt and senior midfielder Maddie Malinowski are two standout players. The Hawks also return three superb talents from club -- Aly Kilburg, Hannah Northfell and Francesca Faraci.
The combination of past and present proved lethal against the Dolphins.
An electric and skilled forward, Schmidt dictated pace and tempo right at the start by scoring in the second minute as her superb play sparked the Hawks’ 5-0 victory on a crisp and beautiful night.
Schmidt scored the first two goals of the game as Maine South (1-0-0) built a commanding 3-0 lead at the break. The hosts were eager to make a dominant first impression.
“Last year we always seemed to have slow starts in the first half, and we talked about it before the game of having a fast start and I think we were able to do that, especially with how we controlled possession and really forced the tempo,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match for her excellent performance.
Maine South was aggressive from the start, pushing the ball wide and crossing into space as Schmidt and Malinowski put the Dolphins on their heels.
Schmidt upended the typical rhythm at the start of the game, the back-and-forth, with each side looking to adapt to the playing styles. Schmidt took a pass from midfielder Lauren May and unleashed a short haymaker.
Objective reached for the Hawks.
“Getting a goal really early like that really helped the momentum of the game,” Schmidt said. “Once that happened, our whole team just gets motivated to score. Once that happens the other team might get down, and we have the momentum to get more and more goals.”
The start was particularly disappointing to Young coach Spero Mandakas. He realized the power of his team was its offense. “We have goal scorers on this team,” he said. “We scored 65 goals last year, and 54 of those were by players we have back this year.”
The Dolphins fought off a slow start last year and played their best soccer in May during a 7-3-0 stretch. The team reached the semifinals of the ChicagoPublic League tournament.
The Putrim sisters, Sophie and Olivia, are poised, skilled and highly competitive. Mia Lisanti is one of the best sophomores in the city. Senior forward Sara Woods, rangy and athletic, is highly creative with the ball. With so many offensive weapons at his command, Mandakas knew the early emphasis in training was solidifying and learning how to create defensive pressure and choke off the other side’s preferred mode of attack.
That part remains a work in progress.
“Our defensive pressure in the first 20 minutes was horrible,” Mandakas said. “They were a really high quality team, but we need to play better in those situations. We really gifted them two goals early. We are going to be playing very good, high skill teams the whole season and if we give up those kind of easy opportunities, these teams are going to pounce on them.”
As the aggressor, Maine South dictated the shape of the game. Everything played into their wheelhouse.
“I asked for a fast start, and that’s what they gave us,” Crawford said. “They did what we have been working on in practice, which is one- and two-touch and getting the ball to the wings. For a first game, we have some kinks obviously, but with that said, I could not ask for a better start.”
In the 20th minute, Schmidt illustrated her varied skills, a punishing forward style that directed action repeatedly inside the Dolphins’ box. In a madcap flury, Schmidt had one shot from about 14 yards hit off the post. Young struggled to clear the rebound, and May and Schmidt took turns pressuring the goal.
Schmidt’s third attempt split a defender and eased past Young keeper Mia Engelmann for the Hawks’ second goal.
Schmidt is clearly comfortable as the focal point of the offense. Deferring to Thomas a year ago has now opened a new path, or in her case, a return to what she experienced as a sophomore.
“Obviously Emma is a big loss, but my first year playing here, my sophomore year, we did very well,” Schmidt said. “Now we have Maddie in the middle, and Aly and the other club players who are back. I think it’s going to be fine.”
Malinowski put the game out of reach by collecting a cross from midfielder Elyse Bartucci, cut left to create space and advanced the ball for a beautiful finish inside the far post in the 37th minute for her first goal of the year.
“We wanted to win the 50/50 balls right at the beginning of the game, and that gets us going,” Malinowski said. “We wanted to make sure we were spaced out really well. We tried to get it out wide and then girls cross it back in, and we were able to do that.”
Senior defender Hope McMullen and Kilburg completed the scoring with goals in the 53rd and 67th minute, respectively.
Kilburn’s return is just the jolt the Hawks need and the source of optimism going forward.
“We are going to have a dynamic and elite middle with Maddie and Aly,” Crawford said. “Maddie’s is just rocking in the midfield. She and Aly looked great tonight. I think we’re going to have possibly the best center middle in the state with her and Aly.
“I’m just one person, but that is my opinion.”
Engelmann, a first-year starter, had eight saves for the Dolphins (0-1-0). Though the result was disappointing, context is everything. The tenor remains bright and exciting.
Lisanti and Woods generated strong pressure for the Dolphins. Sophie Putrim also showcased her excellent athleticism and ability to chase down long through-balls. Young could not quite generate the final touch.
“We have a lot of people who are returning,” Young senior defender Kyra Sobel said. “We work really well together. They scored that early goal, and that definitely put us in the mindset that we definitely got into our own heads.
“We have some freshmen and sophomores. We are going to be really strong this year. We are working out some kinks. We were able to get the intensity back, but we were down right at the start.”
Starting lineups
Young
GK: Mia Engelmann
D: Kyra Sobel
D: Meaghan Jungels
D: Lauren Ehlers
D: Addie Schlensker
MF: Keila Vega
MF: Sara Woods
MF: Anniliese Kelner
F: Sophie Putrim
F: Mia Lisanti
F: Eleanor Sherline
Maine South
GK: Katie Kons
D: Danielle Barzowski
D: Angelina Moore
D: Lilly Trapp
D: Hannah Northfell
MF: Elyse Bartucci
MF: Aly Kilburg
MF: Lauren May
MF: Maddie Malinowski
F: Hannah Schilling
F: Annika Schmidt
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Annika Schmidt, Maine South, sr., F
Scoring summary
First half
Maine South—Annika Schmidt (Lauren May), 2nd minute
Maine South—Schmidt, 20th minute
Maine South—Maddie Malinowski (May), 37th minute
Second half
Maine South—Hope McMullen (Elyse Bartucci), 53rd minute
Maine South—Ali Kilburg (Bartucci), 67th minute