Young pries way to big win
Dolphins defeat BOTY defensive tactic in 8-0 Chicago Cup win
By Mike Garofola
CHICAGO -- Young was dominant Saturday afternoon at Fornelli Field on the St. Ignatius campus, handing a hard-fighting Back of the Yards club an 8-0 defeat in Chicago Cup pool play. The win moved the Dolphins to 2-0 in the group.
Next up for Young (10-4-1) will be tourney host St. Ignatius, ranked seventh in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, on Monday evening to decide who wins the pool and automatically advances to the semifinals. The other has a strong chance to qualify as the wild card team.
"Back of the Yards played hard -- right until the last whistle," began Ross LeBeaux, Young's first-year manager. "A lot of credit goes to Colin Rook and his girls.
"While it's true we had too much firepower for them to handle, (it) still was important for us to play soccer the way we want to, and the way we know we can.
"For the most part, that's exactly what we did. But we're going to have to be sharper in the final third, because we did not do as well with our finishing as I would have liked us to do."
Junior Mia Lisanti started the rout in the 23rd minute with her 13th of the season with a right-footed cracker after her mates in the midfield pressured to produce a costly turnover for the Bobcats.
Lisanti, who bagged four in the Dolphins 8-0 victory over Parker in its tournament opener, then watched freshman Alexis Sassower double the lead 60 seconds later, when she outraced Bobcats keeper Roxana Herrera to a lovely ball from Ayana Loyd.
Herrera was a story in herself on this sunny, spring day.
The freshman wowed both managers, in addition to Sassower and teammate Ella Koleno, who all marveled at her athletic saves and valiant work between the sticks to keep the Bobcats (5-8-1) slight hopes alive.
"(Rox) has been simply amazing for us all season long," said Back of the Yards manager Rook.
"What you saw today is what she's done each and every game. And on top of her tremendous play, she is a great leader as a freshman. She keeps us organized and is always a positive influence in the back win, lose or draw."
"Their defense played us tough, never giving up," added Sassower. "Their keeper also made some amazing saves."
Sassower provided plenty of pace and trickery up-top alongside the aforementioned Lisanti, whom the Bobcats flagged as the player they needed to mark tighter than any other from Young.
The Bobcats deployed a strict 4-4-2 formation but at the same time sat deep in their own end. That allowed the Dolphins to possess as much as they liked. It forced Sassower, Koleno and their mates to pry open a sea of maroon and orange shirts.
"That was the plan," said Rook of the defensive tactic.
"Young has some great attacking players, and we were not about to try to play (their) style of soccer.
"I thought we defended really well for most of the first half. Plenty of the credit goes to my two center backs Jaqueline Soto and Nayeli Aranda, (but) those two late goals before the break really hit us hard."
Long before the Dolphins began to add to their scoreline, the play of Eleanor Sherline and Sydney Koleno in the center of the park helped inspire the Young attack.
This dynamic pair distributed, ran at their midfield counterparts, found their mates on the wing and on occasion had a go or two on frame when the time was right.
"I thought we did a good job of connecting passes and moving the ball around (quickly) while using the width of the field also," said Ella Koleno, stationed alongside Lisanti, when the two were on at the same time.
"The thing I like about this team, it's been our plan all along, is they like to play the game," LeBeux said. "They try to play the right way. That's exactly what they did, and it's fun to watch."
Moments after Sassower was brought back on following a brief rest, the freshman curled in the superb third goal for the Dolphins at 37 minutes with the help of Nicole Erenberg and Ashley Sidkey.
Just before Sassower made it 3-0, it was Herrera who put on a show of her own with a trio of marvelous saves.
The first came when she turned around a 25-yard free kick smash by Carina Barillas. The next of her three was her best of the first half -- a late glove save on a wicked effort from Keila D'Alia-Reconquista.
Ayana Loyd likely put the dagger in the hearts of the Bobcats faithful with the Dolphins fourth goal less than one minute after Sassower's double.
The Loyd goal was the prettiest of the first perio four with Sassower, Erenberg and Barillas all turning providers in order to set Loyd free.
"Nicole (Erenberg) gave me such a great ball, there's no way I should have missed on that one," smiled Sassower.
The late flurry doomed Back of the Yards.
"We were defending really well but those two late goals really took the wind out of us," said Rook, who added four players from his JV team in order to add numbers to his reserves. "And although the girls continued to compete after the break, we just were not able to sustain."
The Bobcats fought for its defensive life after an intermission that featured the Dolphins claiming nearly 95 percent of the possession.
LeBeaux's club built from the back through the middle of the park as it probed and tested the Bobcats, which now had all but one of its players behind the ball at all times.
"It was a challenge for the girls to attack that kind of defensive posture, but it's good for them to learn," the coach said. "It requires some patience and composure, which I felt, for the most part, they did well at."
Herrera was terrific in stopping Sherline, then needed some help from Nayeli Aranda when Lisanti sent Ella Koleno through.
If it wasn't Herrera frustrating the Dolphins with her shot-stopping ability, it was their own misfires on frame which kept their advantage at four goals as the hour approached.
"We could have been so much better finishing today," admitted Ella Koleno as Sassower nodded in agreement alongside her.
Sassower, along with Herrera, shared the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor for their work.
Lisanti went wide twice. Then Analea Scott went wide after latching onto a terrific cross. Sassower followed suit during a six-minute sequence in which the Dolphins were unable to find the back of the net.
The Young bench thought for sure Lisanti had been hauled down in the box at 55 minutes, but the non-call was soon forgotten.
That's when Ella Koleno weaved her way into the area and drove to the left of Herrera before firing her angled strike into the far-inside-left netting.
The Koleno goal led to a three-goal explosion in the final 20 minutes. No. 6 came when Stella Ljung lifted her 30-yard looping attempt over the outstretched gloves of Herrera.
Sydney Koleno unloaded a 30-yard missile off the woodwork and unfortunately the back of Herrera before nesting into the back of the net 10 minutes from time.
The last goal of this contest was left for Carina Basillas, whose one-timer off a Dolphins corner found its way in just before the final whistle.
"We've played well of late during our six-game win streak, but things will get more difficult for us on Monday with Ignatius, then the likes of Lane, Jones and Payton when the Chicago Public League playoffs are upon us," said LeBeaux.
"I feel the girls are ready for the challenge ahead and capable of making some noise during the next few weeks of the season. It's an exciting time for all of us here at Young."
Starting lineups
Back of the Yards (4-4-2)
G- Roxana Herrera
D- Maria Patino
D- Jaqueline Soto
D- Nayeli Aranda
D- Elizabeth Vallejo
M- Yasmin Miron
M- Marbella Gil
M- Jazmin Quintana
M- Jenny Ochoa
F- Neidy De La Paz
F- Valeria Servin
Young (4-4-3)
G- Mia Engelmann
D- Liz Martinez
D- Carina Barillas
D- Adelle Schlensker
D- Analea Scott
M- Meaghan Jungels
M- Sydney Koleno
M- Eleanor Sherline
F- Mia Lisanti
F- Alexis Sassower
F- Ella Koleno
Chicagoland Soccer MVP's of the Match: Alexis Sassower, fr., F, Young
Roxana Herrera, fr., GK, Back of the Yards
Referee: Francisco Rojas
Scoring summary
First half
Whitney Young: Lisanti (U/A) 23'
Whitney Young: Sassower (Loyd) 24'
Whitney Young: Sassower (Erenberg, Sidkey) 37'
Whitney Young: Loyd (Barillas, Erenberg) 38'
Second half
Whitney Young: Ella Koleno (Lisanti, Sassower) 59'
Whitney Young: Ljung (U/A) 65'
Whitney Young: Sydney Koleno (U/A) 70'
Whitney Young: Barillas (U/A) 80'
Dolphins defeat BOTY defensive tactic in 8-0 Chicago Cup win
By Mike Garofola
CHICAGO -- Young was dominant Saturday afternoon at Fornelli Field on the St. Ignatius campus, handing a hard-fighting Back of the Yards club an 8-0 defeat in Chicago Cup pool play. The win moved the Dolphins to 2-0 in the group.
Next up for Young (10-4-1) will be tourney host St. Ignatius, ranked seventh in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, on Monday evening to decide who wins the pool and automatically advances to the semifinals. The other has a strong chance to qualify as the wild card team.
"Back of the Yards played hard -- right until the last whistle," began Ross LeBeaux, Young's first-year manager. "A lot of credit goes to Colin Rook and his girls.
"While it's true we had too much firepower for them to handle, (it) still was important for us to play soccer the way we want to, and the way we know we can.
"For the most part, that's exactly what we did. But we're going to have to be sharper in the final third, because we did not do as well with our finishing as I would have liked us to do."
Junior Mia Lisanti started the rout in the 23rd minute with her 13th of the season with a right-footed cracker after her mates in the midfield pressured to produce a costly turnover for the Bobcats.
Lisanti, who bagged four in the Dolphins 8-0 victory over Parker in its tournament opener, then watched freshman Alexis Sassower double the lead 60 seconds later, when she outraced Bobcats keeper Roxana Herrera to a lovely ball from Ayana Loyd.
Herrera was a story in herself on this sunny, spring day.
The freshman wowed both managers, in addition to Sassower and teammate Ella Koleno, who all marveled at her athletic saves and valiant work between the sticks to keep the Bobcats (5-8-1) slight hopes alive.
"(Rox) has been simply amazing for us all season long," said Back of the Yards manager Rook.
"What you saw today is what she's done each and every game. And on top of her tremendous play, she is a great leader as a freshman. She keeps us organized and is always a positive influence in the back win, lose or draw."
"Their defense played us tough, never giving up," added Sassower. "Their keeper also made some amazing saves."
Sassower provided plenty of pace and trickery up-top alongside the aforementioned Lisanti, whom the Bobcats flagged as the player they needed to mark tighter than any other from Young.
The Bobcats deployed a strict 4-4-2 formation but at the same time sat deep in their own end. That allowed the Dolphins to possess as much as they liked. It forced Sassower, Koleno and their mates to pry open a sea of maroon and orange shirts.
"That was the plan," said Rook of the defensive tactic.
"Young has some great attacking players, and we were not about to try to play (their) style of soccer.
"I thought we defended really well for most of the first half. Plenty of the credit goes to my two center backs Jaqueline Soto and Nayeli Aranda, (but) those two late goals before the break really hit us hard."
Long before the Dolphins began to add to their scoreline, the play of Eleanor Sherline and Sydney Koleno in the center of the park helped inspire the Young attack.
This dynamic pair distributed, ran at their midfield counterparts, found their mates on the wing and on occasion had a go or two on frame when the time was right.
"I thought we did a good job of connecting passes and moving the ball around (quickly) while using the width of the field also," said Ella Koleno, stationed alongside Lisanti, when the two were on at the same time.
"The thing I like about this team, it's been our plan all along, is they like to play the game," LeBeux said. "They try to play the right way. That's exactly what they did, and it's fun to watch."
Moments after Sassower was brought back on following a brief rest, the freshman curled in the superb third goal for the Dolphins at 37 minutes with the help of Nicole Erenberg and Ashley Sidkey.
Just before Sassower made it 3-0, it was Herrera who put on a show of her own with a trio of marvelous saves.
The first came when she turned around a 25-yard free kick smash by Carina Barillas. The next of her three was her best of the first half -- a late glove save on a wicked effort from Keila D'Alia-Reconquista.
Ayana Loyd likely put the dagger in the hearts of the Bobcats faithful with the Dolphins fourth goal less than one minute after Sassower's double.
The Loyd goal was the prettiest of the first perio four with Sassower, Erenberg and Barillas all turning providers in order to set Loyd free.
"Nicole (Erenberg) gave me such a great ball, there's no way I should have missed on that one," smiled Sassower.
The late flurry doomed Back of the Yards.
"We were defending really well but those two late goals really took the wind out of us," said Rook, who added four players from his JV team in order to add numbers to his reserves. "And although the girls continued to compete after the break, we just were not able to sustain."
The Bobcats fought for its defensive life after an intermission that featured the Dolphins claiming nearly 95 percent of the possession.
LeBeaux's club built from the back through the middle of the park as it probed and tested the Bobcats, which now had all but one of its players behind the ball at all times.
"It was a challenge for the girls to attack that kind of defensive posture, but it's good for them to learn," the coach said. "It requires some patience and composure, which I felt, for the most part, they did well at."
Herrera was terrific in stopping Sherline, then needed some help from Nayeli Aranda when Lisanti sent Ella Koleno through.
If it wasn't Herrera frustrating the Dolphins with her shot-stopping ability, it was their own misfires on frame which kept their advantage at four goals as the hour approached.
"We could have been so much better finishing today," admitted Ella Koleno as Sassower nodded in agreement alongside her.
Sassower, along with Herrera, shared the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor for their work.
Lisanti went wide twice. Then Analea Scott went wide after latching onto a terrific cross. Sassower followed suit during a six-minute sequence in which the Dolphins were unable to find the back of the net.
The Young bench thought for sure Lisanti had been hauled down in the box at 55 minutes, but the non-call was soon forgotten.
That's when Ella Koleno weaved her way into the area and drove to the left of Herrera before firing her angled strike into the far-inside-left netting.
The Koleno goal led to a three-goal explosion in the final 20 minutes. No. 6 came when Stella Ljung lifted her 30-yard looping attempt over the outstretched gloves of Herrera.
Sydney Koleno unloaded a 30-yard missile off the woodwork and unfortunately the back of Herrera before nesting into the back of the net 10 minutes from time.
The last goal of this contest was left for Carina Basillas, whose one-timer off a Dolphins corner found its way in just before the final whistle.
"We've played well of late during our six-game win streak, but things will get more difficult for us on Monday with Ignatius, then the likes of Lane, Jones and Payton when the Chicago Public League playoffs are upon us," said LeBeaux.
"I feel the girls are ready for the challenge ahead and capable of making some noise during the next few weeks of the season. It's an exciting time for all of us here at Young."
Starting lineups
Back of the Yards (4-4-2)
G- Roxana Herrera
D- Maria Patino
D- Jaqueline Soto
D- Nayeli Aranda
D- Elizabeth Vallejo
M- Yasmin Miron
M- Marbella Gil
M- Jazmin Quintana
M- Jenny Ochoa
F- Neidy De La Paz
F- Valeria Servin
Young (4-4-3)
G- Mia Engelmann
D- Liz Martinez
D- Carina Barillas
D- Adelle Schlensker
D- Analea Scott
M- Meaghan Jungels
M- Sydney Koleno
M- Eleanor Sherline
F- Mia Lisanti
F- Alexis Sassower
F- Ella Koleno
Chicagoland Soccer MVP's of the Match: Alexis Sassower, fr., F, Young
Roxana Herrera, fr., GK, Back of the Yards
Referee: Francisco Rojas
Scoring summary
First half
Whitney Young: Lisanti (U/A) 23'
Whitney Young: Sassower (Loyd) 24'
Whitney Young: Sassower (Erenberg, Sidkey) 37'
Whitney Young: Loyd (Barillas, Erenberg) 38'
Second half
Whitney Young: Ella Koleno (Lisanti, Sassower) 59'
Whitney Young: Ljung (U/A) 65'
Whitney Young: Sydney Koleno (U/A) 70'
Whitney Young: Barillas (U/A) 80'