Bartlett seeks to regain footing
against surging Streamwood
By Mike Garofola
There has been plenty of one-way traffic going the wrong way against state- and Upstate Eight Conference-power St. Charles East -- just ask the Fighting Saints five opponents who have been outscored by a combined 34-0 differential.
Vince Revak's Bartlett club was recently victimized by the Chicagoland Soccer's current second-ranked team.
The Hawks (1-1-0, 1-0-0) enter their road game against league foe Streamwood at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday after a 7-0 loss, one of three such Fighting Saints road victories.
"We're looking to get back on track today against Streamwood," said an optimistic Revak. "After our last effort against St. Charles, we'll need to regain some of that confidence we had after our season-opening victory over Glenbard South."
Revak said in the early stages of the season that underclassmen defender/midfielder Brooke Baumann, central defender Gracie Cwik and midfielder Laney Stark have caught his attention.
"Brooke, Gracie and Laney are competing at a high level and with plenty of confidence," Revak said.
Stark, a freshman, bagged two in the Hawks season-opening 4-1 victory over Glenbard South. Sophomore Baumann converted a spot-kick; senior forward Lauren Kowalski added a goal, and classmate and forward Serena Salvato chipped in with a pair of helpers.
Revak is counting on Salvato and junior center mid Tessa Evans to run the attack for his club. Junior Sabrina Fowler is in place to bolster the backline.
"We did a very good job of pressuring Glenbard South, and there were spells in the game, especially in the second half, where we pinned them inside their own half," said Revak. "It was a good win where each and every player made a contribution in some way.
"Streamwood is always a competitive opponent for us. I know the girls are anxious to get back on track, especially with this being a conference game."
Host Streamwood (2-0-1, 0-0-1) enters this contest fresh off back-to-back clean-sheets. Its latest was a 7-0 win against West Aurora on Monday afternoon that featured with sophomore sensation Natalia Colin claiming her second-hat trick in as many games.
"Natalia is the real deal," said Streamwood manager Matt Polivin. "She is a terrific talent, who is so comfortable with the ball. She uses her skill (with) the ball better than most players around.
"She has that killer instinct -- go to goal and finish. There's a reason she plays with both the U.S. and Mexican National under-17 teams."
Colin already has eight goals on the season.
"The strength of our team is having Natalia up-top scoring goals and creating for others, but I feel that our backline is also very good," said Sabres junior Esther Cardenas, who is deployed along the center of the Sabres defense and alongside freshman Vanessa Colin, Natalia's younger sibling.
"We are organized, communicate really well, and we like to defend.
"Daniella (Sanchez) is doing a great job as one of our outside backs. She is really good at getting forward into our attack also."
Diana Herrera (six assists) and Dayanara Huerta are the engines in the Sabres attack. Both have impressed Polovin thus far with their ability to possess, distribute and beat the opponent.
The Sabres played without starting keeper Selina Chavez for the games against Glenbard North (a 4-0 win) then West Aurora, but Lily Ende stepped in. The sophomore played like a seasoned veteran according to Polovin.
"Lily said she had not played as a keeper since she was six years old, but she didn't flinch when I asked who can play in goal for us with Selina out of town," said Polovin.
"She made a couple of nice saves against (North) to help us get the shutout. At West Aurora, with 40-mile-an-hour winds in her face, she shut down anything that came her way for her second shutout of young career.
"Our team is playing with a lot of confidence right now," said Cardenas. "If we stay healthy, we should be able to compete with everyone in the conference."
against surging Streamwood
By Mike Garofola
There has been plenty of one-way traffic going the wrong way against state- and Upstate Eight Conference-power St. Charles East -- just ask the Fighting Saints five opponents who have been outscored by a combined 34-0 differential.
Vince Revak's Bartlett club was recently victimized by the Chicagoland Soccer's current second-ranked team.
The Hawks (1-1-0, 1-0-0) enter their road game against league foe Streamwood at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday after a 7-0 loss, one of three such Fighting Saints road victories.
"We're looking to get back on track today against Streamwood," said an optimistic Revak. "After our last effort against St. Charles, we'll need to regain some of that confidence we had after our season-opening victory over Glenbard South."
Revak said in the early stages of the season that underclassmen defender/midfielder Brooke Baumann, central defender Gracie Cwik and midfielder Laney Stark have caught his attention.
"Brooke, Gracie and Laney are competing at a high level and with plenty of confidence," Revak said.
Stark, a freshman, bagged two in the Hawks season-opening 4-1 victory over Glenbard South. Sophomore Baumann converted a spot-kick; senior forward Lauren Kowalski added a goal, and classmate and forward Serena Salvato chipped in with a pair of helpers.
Revak is counting on Salvato and junior center mid Tessa Evans to run the attack for his club. Junior Sabrina Fowler is in place to bolster the backline.
"We did a very good job of pressuring Glenbard South, and there were spells in the game, especially in the second half, where we pinned them inside their own half," said Revak. "It was a good win where each and every player made a contribution in some way.
"Streamwood is always a competitive opponent for us. I know the girls are anxious to get back on track, especially with this being a conference game."
Host Streamwood (2-0-1, 0-0-1) enters this contest fresh off back-to-back clean-sheets. Its latest was a 7-0 win against West Aurora on Monday afternoon that featured with sophomore sensation Natalia Colin claiming her second-hat trick in as many games.
"Natalia is the real deal," said Streamwood manager Matt Polivin. "She is a terrific talent, who is so comfortable with the ball. She uses her skill (with) the ball better than most players around.
"She has that killer instinct -- go to goal and finish. There's a reason she plays with both the U.S. and Mexican National under-17 teams."
Colin already has eight goals on the season.
"The strength of our team is having Natalia up-top scoring goals and creating for others, but I feel that our backline is also very good," said Sabres junior Esther Cardenas, who is deployed along the center of the Sabres defense and alongside freshman Vanessa Colin, Natalia's younger sibling.
"We are organized, communicate really well, and we like to defend.
"Daniella (Sanchez) is doing a great job as one of our outside backs. She is really good at getting forward into our attack also."
Diana Herrera (six assists) and Dayanara Huerta are the engines in the Sabres attack. Both have impressed Polovin thus far with their ability to possess, distribute and beat the opponent.
The Sabres played without starting keeper Selina Chavez for the games against Glenbard North (a 4-0 win) then West Aurora, but Lily Ende stepped in. The sophomore played like a seasoned veteran according to Polovin.
"Lily said she had not played as a keeper since she was six years old, but she didn't flinch when I asked who can play in goal for us with Selina out of town," said Polovin.
"She made a couple of nice saves against (North) to help us get the shutout. At West Aurora, with 40-mile-an-hour winds in her face, she shut down anything that came her way for her second shutout of young career.
"Our team is playing with a lot of confidence right now," said Cardenas. "If we stay healthy, we should be able to compete with everyone in the conference."