Plenty at stake when Benet meets Carmel
By Mike Garofola
You might think it's too early in the season to call the Benet-Carmel match on Wednesday a must win-situation, but no doubt a victory by either side will impact who might lift the East Suburban Catholic Conference trophy come this May.
Reigning league champion Benet will arrive at Baker Stadium in Mundelein with a 5-1 victory in its conference opener over Marist. The host Corsairs head into this contest unbeaten in four matches following its 1-0 win over Lake Forest this past weekend.
"We expect a high-intensity, back-and-forth matchup with Carmel, which has some dangerous attacking players. We'll need to carefully track them throughout the game," said Redwings manager Gerard Oconer, who watched a double from Kiera Petrucelli, and solo efforts from Katie Lewellyn, Mariana Pinto, and Gabi DiMatteo lead the way in the Marist victory last Saturday afternoon in Lisle.
Benet (4-2-0, 1-0-0) is in a transition of sorts. The Redwings, ranked 17th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, begin the process of replacing the remarkable star power of Chicagoland Soccer all-staters Jaimee Cibulka and Brooke Pullen, along with seven other players who were 2021 graduates. Last year's squad saw its season end when eventual Class 3A state runnerup Lyons posted a 1-0 sectional win.
Cibulka went on to play at Loyola where she was named to the Missouri Valley Conference all-freshmen team last fall.
"Our senior captains: Mariana Pinto, Katie Lewellyn, and Annastacia Thiel have all helped fill in for the loss of Jaimee and Brooke," said Oconer. “We've become more balanced (offensively) this year with improved depth. We've relied on multiple players to score for us.”
Oconer says the return to good health of junior defender Reese MacDonald, who missed the last two seasons to separate ACL surgeries, has made the absence of Pullen easier to handle.
The Redwings manager points to Pinto, Lewellyn and Sadie Sterbenz as three who have stepped up their play here in the early going. Another trio, Bailey Abbott, Chloe Sentman and Petrucelli have been pleasant surprises thus far.
"We'll need to be at our best against Carmel in the attacking third and make sure to capitalize on the chances we create," said Oconer.
The success of the 20th-ranked and host Corsairs (4-0-0) has come on both sides of the ball thanks to the addition of junior Emily Fix and sophomore Peyton Carney. Both are back from club soccer to give manager Stephanie Kile more quality to an already impressive 2022 roster.
"Emily immediately played a major role for us and has been an offensive threat," Kile said. "We anticipate big things from her for the rest of the season. Peyton has done extremely well in the back, is quite coachable and has already shown to be a terrific leader.
"I've really been impressed with Bella D'Amore, whose improvement over the past year has been vital to our midfield."
Sophomore Anna Hartman, who enjoyed a fantastic freshman season a year ago, leads the club with five goals and six assists. Fix has two goals and three assists.
Maddie Nikolai, Madison Konen and D'Amore have all bagged two goals each.
"Anna has so much talent," said Fix. "I feel that her and I have great chemistry together, along with Madison (Konen).
"I wanted to come back to play high school soccer. I feel like we have a strong group of players that have a winning mindset. Each of us capable to contribute in so many ways.
"I am excited to play in my first really important ESCC game against a program like Benet, which historically is one of the best in our conference and the state."
The Redwings posted a dazzling 18-1-0 overall record and perfect 7-0-0 record in league play in 2021. Benet claimed its ninth ESCC title, one less than Saint Viator and two more than Carmel, who shared its 2006 and 2007 crowns with Benet
"We expect a real battle," Kile said. "Benet has a very solid team, is well coached and has with some key players in their attack that can be a threat.
"Defensively we need to stay organized, and composed. On the other side of the ball, it is important to take advantage of our opportunities.
"We have not beaten Benet since 2018, so Wednesday night is important to us. I am definitely excited for this game."
By Mike Garofola
You might think it's too early in the season to call the Benet-Carmel match on Wednesday a must win-situation, but no doubt a victory by either side will impact who might lift the East Suburban Catholic Conference trophy come this May.
Reigning league champion Benet will arrive at Baker Stadium in Mundelein with a 5-1 victory in its conference opener over Marist. The host Corsairs head into this contest unbeaten in four matches following its 1-0 win over Lake Forest this past weekend.
"We expect a high-intensity, back-and-forth matchup with Carmel, which has some dangerous attacking players. We'll need to carefully track them throughout the game," said Redwings manager Gerard Oconer, who watched a double from Kiera Petrucelli, and solo efforts from Katie Lewellyn, Mariana Pinto, and Gabi DiMatteo lead the way in the Marist victory last Saturday afternoon in Lisle.
Benet (4-2-0, 1-0-0) is in a transition of sorts. The Redwings, ranked 17th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, begin the process of replacing the remarkable star power of Chicagoland Soccer all-staters Jaimee Cibulka and Brooke Pullen, along with seven other players who were 2021 graduates. Last year's squad saw its season end when eventual Class 3A state runnerup Lyons posted a 1-0 sectional win.
Cibulka went on to play at Loyola where she was named to the Missouri Valley Conference all-freshmen team last fall.
"Our senior captains: Mariana Pinto, Katie Lewellyn, and Annastacia Thiel have all helped fill in for the loss of Jaimee and Brooke," said Oconer. “We've become more balanced (offensively) this year with improved depth. We've relied on multiple players to score for us.”
Oconer says the return to good health of junior defender Reese MacDonald, who missed the last two seasons to separate ACL surgeries, has made the absence of Pullen easier to handle.
The Redwings manager points to Pinto, Lewellyn and Sadie Sterbenz as three who have stepped up their play here in the early going. Another trio, Bailey Abbott, Chloe Sentman and Petrucelli have been pleasant surprises thus far.
"We'll need to be at our best against Carmel in the attacking third and make sure to capitalize on the chances we create," said Oconer.
The success of the 20th-ranked and host Corsairs (4-0-0) has come on both sides of the ball thanks to the addition of junior Emily Fix and sophomore Peyton Carney. Both are back from club soccer to give manager Stephanie Kile more quality to an already impressive 2022 roster.
"Emily immediately played a major role for us and has been an offensive threat," Kile said. "We anticipate big things from her for the rest of the season. Peyton has done extremely well in the back, is quite coachable and has already shown to be a terrific leader.
"I've really been impressed with Bella D'Amore, whose improvement over the past year has been vital to our midfield."
Sophomore Anna Hartman, who enjoyed a fantastic freshman season a year ago, leads the club with five goals and six assists. Fix has two goals and three assists.
Maddie Nikolai, Madison Konen and D'Amore have all bagged two goals each.
"Anna has so much talent," said Fix. "I feel that her and I have great chemistry together, along with Madison (Konen).
"I wanted to come back to play high school soccer. I feel like we have a strong group of players that have a winning mindset. Each of us capable to contribute in so many ways.
"I am excited to play in my first really important ESCC game against a program like Benet, which historically is one of the best in our conference and the state."
The Redwings posted a dazzling 18-1-0 overall record and perfect 7-0-0 record in league play in 2021. Benet claimed its ninth ESCC title, one less than Saint Viator and two more than Carmel, who shared its 2006 and 2007 crowns with Benet
"We expect a real battle," Kile said. "Benet has a very solid team, is well coached and has with some key players in their attack that can be a threat.
"Defensively we need to stay organized, and composed. On the other side of the ball, it is important to take advantage of our opportunities.
"We have not beaten Benet since 2018, so Wednesday night is important to us. I am definitely excited for this game."