Hinsdale Central: very good
and getting better
By Patrick Z. McGavin
SCHAUMBURG — Without question the most challenging regular season tournaments in girls soccer are the PepsiCo Showdown and the Naperville Invitational.
Negotiating those respective draws is the equivalent of a deep state tournament run. Hinsdale Central has played at a very high level. The program is a perennial power. Skip Begley's 2009 team captured the Class 3A state title.
Michael Smith now commands the show. The Hinsdale Central girls had never played in the PepsiCo tournament until this year. The Red Devils played to their no. 4 seed, winning their first three games, two in dramatic fashion, before falling in the semifinals to defending tournament and Class 3A state champion New Trier 4-1 Saturday afternoon at Olympic Park.
The Naperville Invitational kicks off pool play later this week. Hinsdale Central plays against Geneva and opening round host Wheaton North in its satellite field. Everything connects here. PepsiCo leads to Naperville Invitational, which eventually leads to state. All roads ultimate converge.
The Red Devils (8-2-0) losses have come against New Trier and Naperville North.
"Those are two great teams, and I think right now, the two best in the state," said Smith, who is in his fourth season at the helm. "I think right now those two have separated themselves, and there are a bunch of teams, like us, that are in that next group of teams."
The season is long and varied, and Smith leapt at the opportunity to also join the field here. The Red Devils played a varied group of competitors: defending Class 1A state champion Manteno in the first-round, round-of-16 foe Lincoln-Way North, a state finalist in Class 3A last year; and traditional power St. Charles North in the quarterfinals.
"To have that experience, of going up and playing at St. Charles North, that was the whole reason we got into the tournament," Smith said.
Hinsdale Central is a team without superstars. The team is built on chemistry, organization and depth. Five starters -- midfielder Jenny Savisky, midfielder Kaitlyn Livingston, midfielder Emily LaRocque, defender Erin Smith and keeper Katy Coseglia -- saw extensive time in the Class 3A state title game against Naperville North in 2013.
Star junior keeper Coseglia split time with Riley Glenn on the state runner-up. She typifies the team's toughness, grace and athleticism. Despite the onslaught New Trier threw at the Red Devils, Coseglia kept Hinsdale Central in the match with her athletic stops inside the box.
New Trier exposed some defensive vulnerabilities in the Red Devils. That was the larger imperative in playing in the PepsiCo Showdown.
"They were able to take advantage of some situations, but the good thing is, we saw where our mistakes were and what we need to correct," Smith said.
Smith is taking the long view. In his first year, the Red Devils suffered through the growing pains of a transition year, but then got hot in the state tournament and reached the sectional finals. In his second year, Smith and Hinsdale Central experienced their breakthrough.
The Red Devils are also right in the thick of the West Suburban Silver with Lyons, York and Glenbard West.
"Exactly," Smith said. "These tournaments not only let us know what we need to work on and what areas we need to improve, they help us get ready for the big conference games," he said.
New Trier and Naperville North are also in the Naperville Invitational. Like the rest of his team, Smith is eager for round two.
and getting better
By Patrick Z. McGavin
SCHAUMBURG — Without question the most challenging regular season tournaments in girls soccer are the PepsiCo Showdown and the Naperville Invitational.
Negotiating those respective draws is the equivalent of a deep state tournament run. Hinsdale Central has played at a very high level. The program is a perennial power. Skip Begley's 2009 team captured the Class 3A state title.
Michael Smith now commands the show. The Hinsdale Central girls had never played in the PepsiCo tournament until this year. The Red Devils played to their no. 4 seed, winning their first three games, two in dramatic fashion, before falling in the semifinals to defending tournament and Class 3A state champion New Trier 4-1 Saturday afternoon at Olympic Park.
The Naperville Invitational kicks off pool play later this week. Hinsdale Central plays against Geneva and opening round host Wheaton North in its satellite field. Everything connects here. PepsiCo leads to Naperville Invitational, which eventually leads to state. All roads ultimate converge.
The Red Devils (8-2-0) losses have come against New Trier and Naperville North.
"Those are two great teams, and I think right now, the two best in the state," said Smith, who is in his fourth season at the helm. "I think right now those two have separated themselves, and there are a bunch of teams, like us, that are in that next group of teams."
The season is long and varied, and Smith leapt at the opportunity to also join the field here. The Red Devils played a varied group of competitors: defending Class 1A state champion Manteno in the first-round, round-of-16 foe Lincoln-Way North, a state finalist in Class 3A last year; and traditional power St. Charles North in the quarterfinals.
"To have that experience, of going up and playing at St. Charles North, that was the whole reason we got into the tournament," Smith said.
Hinsdale Central is a team without superstars. The team is built on chemistry, organization and depth. Five starters -- midfielder Jenny Savisky, midfielder Kaitlyn Livingston, midfielder Emily LaRocque, defender Erin Smith and keeper Katy Coseglia -- saw extensive time in the Class 3A state title game against Naperville North in 2013.
Star junior keeper Coseglia split time with Riley Glenn on the state runner-up. She typifies the team's toughness, grace and athleticism. Despite the onslaught New Trier threw at the Red Devils, Coseglia kept Hinsdale Central in the match with her athletic stops inside the box.
New Trier exposed some defensive vulnerabilities in the Red Devils. That was the larger imperative in playing in the PepsiCo Showdown.
"They were able to take advantage of some situations, but the good thing is, we saw where our mistakes were and what we need to correct," Smith said.
Smith is taking the long view. In his first year, the Red Devils suffered through the growing pains of a transition year, but then got hot in the state tournament and reached the sectional finals. In his second year, Smith and Hinsdale Central experienced their breakthrough.
The Red Devils are also right in the thick of the West Suburban Silver with Lyons, York and Glenbard West.
"Exactly," Smith said. "These tournaments not only let us know what we need to work on and what areas we need to improve, they help us get ready for the big conference games," he said.
New Trier and Naperville North are also in the Naperville Invitational. Like the rest of his team, Smith is eager for round two.