Deerfield looks to continue upward swing
By Mike Garofola
It was a groundbreaking and memorable spring one year ago for the Deerfield soccer club.
One program record after another was either set or broken as the Warriors built up to the Class 2A state runnerup trophy.
Deerfield (7-6-3, 1-2-0) got out to a 1-0-3 start this season but has stayed around the .500 mark until finally rising above that line with a recent four-game winning streak. The stretch ended Saturday with a 6-0 loss to then no. 22 Glenbrook South in the semifinals of the Glenbrook Cup.
"Expectations were high, but we've had to recognize that last year we won so many of the close games we were involved in -- that's something you cannot count on every year. But who knows, the games that ended up as a draw could have also been wins for us also," said manager Rich Grady.
Indeed.
Last season, the Warriors recorded a stunning 16 clean-sheets, and another eight one-goal victories, a credit to its keeper and Class of 2017 graduate Sari Eisen, and a senior-laden team, which is almost impossible to put a true value on.
This year if the trio of draws plus two one-goal losses were flipped around, as Grady mentioned, it would put the Warriors with a much more impressive overall record and the recognition that they could be a dangerous presence in the postseason.
"We've struggled when defending against quality opponents, and simply have not made the progress we've needed to make defensively," said Grady.
"With that said, if we can sort things out in our defensive game, we can make a statement in the playoffs. But we also do not have the right to take any game lightly - so that focus will be (only) on our first playoff game against Grayslake Central."
Despite the question marks Grady speaks of, he lists three of his players who have been pleasant surprises, in addition to a couple of others who have been steady from the opening contest for the Warriors.
"(Sophomore) Marissa Hyland is our second leading scorer, even though she is usually coming off of the bench for us. (Senior) Molli Goodman, in her first year as a starter, is right there with Marissa, as is Haley Emory, a junior who has been a real versatile player for us with the ability to both score and defend."
Freshman Malori Killoren looks to be the Warriors playmaker of the future, thanks in part to her vision, unselfish play, pace and distribution -- skills not always seen from first-year varsity player.
Senior midfielder Mirelle Haas, a key figure in the Warriors state tournament run a year ago, has been a rock in the middle of the park for her club. Grady knows she can provide the type of high-level work rate which will inspire others for 80 minutes.
Deerfield travels to Des Plaines for a 7 p.m. Central Suburban League North Division game against Maine West (4-8-1, 1-2-0). The hosts are in their second year of a major reconstruction. Amidst a season of lows and highs, manager Jeff Bishops' club appears to have finally put some things together in the final third of the campaign.
"Our opener at the PepsiCo Showdown was easily our worst effort of the season, but now that we're healthy, we have started to play better as a team, while moving and passing the ball like I know that we can," he said.
"There's no doubt our poor overall showing at the Showdown has been our lowest point of the season.
"That stretch really devastated the girls. But on the flip-side, it provided the motivation they all needed to turn things around.
"We followed that up with (competitive) losses to Niles West in PKs, and Niles North."
Maine West matched its biggest goal scoring explosion of the season on Monday against lowly Wheeling, putting seven into the back of the net for the second time this year. The first came in a 7-0 win against CSL divisional foe Maine East on April 27.
Bishop has leaned on three of his younger players -- sophomores Sarah Magnoni (defender) and silky smooth Jessica Felix (midfielder) as well as freshman forward Dylan VanFleet -- for steady play throughout season. Another trio, juniors Dee Rivera and Meghan Paluch, and sophomore Pamela Mendoza, has come a long way and contributed more than Bishop expected during their first year with the big club.
By Mike Garofola
It was a groundbreaking and memorable spring one year ago for the Deerfield soccer club.
One program record after another was either set or broken as the Warriors built up to the Class 2A state runnerup trophy.
Deerfield (7-6-3, 1-2-0) got out to a 1-0-3 start this season but has stayed around the .500 mark until finally rising above that line with a recent four-game winning streak. The stretch ended Saturday with a 6-0 loss to then no. 22 Glenbrook South in the semifinals of the Glenbrook Cup.
"Expectations were high, but we've had to recognize that last year we won so many of the close games we were involved in -- that's something you cannot count on every year. But who knows, the games that ended up as a draw could have also been wins for us also," said manager Rich Grady.
Indeed.
Last season, the Warriors recorded a stunning 16 clean-sheets, and another eight one-goal victories, a credit to its keeper and Class of 2017 graduate Sari Eisen, and a senior-laden team, which is almost impossible to put a true value on.
This year if the trio of draws plus two one-goal losses were flipped around, as Grady mentioned, it would put the Warriors with a much more impressive overall record and the recognition that they could be a dangerous presence in the postseason.
"We've struggled when defending against quality opponents, and simply have not made the progress we've needed to make defensively," said Grady.
"With that said, if we can sort things out in our defensive game, we can make a statement in the playoffs. But we also do not have the right to take any game lightly - so that focus will be (only) on our first playoff game against Grayslake Central."
Despite the question marks Grady speaks of, he lists three of his players who have been pleasant surprises, in addition to a couple of others who have been steady from the opening contest for the Warriors.
"(Sophomore) Marissa Hyland is our second leading scorer, even though she is usually coming off of the bench for us. (Senior) Molli Goodman, in her first year as a starter, is right there with Marissa, as is Haley Emory, a junior who has been a real versatile player for us with the ability to both score and defend."
Freshman Malori Killoren looks to be the Warriors playmaker of the future, thanks in part to her vision, unselfish play, pace and distribution -- skills not always seen from first-year varsity player.
Senior midfielder Mirelle Haas, a key figure in the Warriors state tournament run a year ago, has been a rock in the middle of the park for her club. Grady knows she can provide the type of high-level work rate which will inspire others for 80 minutes.
Deerfield travels to Des Plaines for a 7 p.m. Central Suburban League North Division game against Maine West (4-8-1, 1-2-0). The hosts are in their second year of a major reconstruction. Amidst a season of lows and highs, manager Jeff Bishops' club appears to have finally put some things together in the final third of the campaign.
"Our opener at the PepsiCo Showdown was easily our worst effort of the season, but now that we're healthy, we have started to play better as a team, while moving and passing the ball like I know that we can," he said.
"There's no doubt our poor overall showing at the Showdown has been our lowest point of the season.
"That stretch really devastated the girls. But on the flip-side, it provided the motivation they all needed to turn things around.
"We followed that up with (competitive) losses to Niles West in PKs, and Niles North."
Maine West matched its biggest goal scoring explosion of the season on Monday against lowly Wheeling, putting seven into the back of the net for the second time this year. The first came in a 7-0 win against CSL divisional foe Maine East on April 27.
Bishop has leaned on three of his younger players -- sophomores Sarah Magnoni (defender) and silky smooth Jessica Felix (midfielder) as well as freshman forward Dylan VanFleet -- for steady play throughout season. Another trio, juniors Dee Rivera and Meghan Paluch, and sophomore Pamela Mendoza, has come a long way and contributed more than Bishop expected during their first year with the big club.