Grayslake bragging rights
on line when Central meets North
By Bobby Narang
GRAYSLAKE — Neighborhood rivalry games are always red-letter days on calendars for high school sports teams.
Separated by just 2.4 miles, Grayslake North will travel to do battle at 7 p.m. Thursday at Grayslake Central. Besides local bragging rights, the rivalry takes on further importance for the teams to grab an early-season Northern Lake County Conference victory.
The hosts and Knights hooked up for a memorable match last season that Grayslake North took 2-0.
Grayslake Central coach Keith Andersson, who coached the boys team to a Class AA fourth place finish in the fall, said his team is hungry for a win over their rivals.
“The big key is to keep possession of the ball and tight defense. If we can control the tempo of the game and mark them tight, we will have a good game,” Andersson said.
“As a team, we’re finally passing and keeping possession. We have pushed to play this style of soccer for a few years now, and the girls are really starting to buy in. It’s great to see them play simple one-, two-touch soccer.”
Grayslake North coach Adam DeCaluwe would love nothing better than to get a win and preferably not a draw. The team has a lone win, 3-1 over Prairie Ridge on March 17, and four ties.
“Anyone can win any given day,” he said. “We’re certainly going out there with the intent of trying to outwork them. And more than anything, we are trying to capitalize on our chances created.
“We have a great group of girls who work hard for each other, look to do the right thing in every situation they find themselves in and genuinely seem to really enjoy each other and the hard work of the season.
“We look to playing some pretty good soccer, with the aim at being dangerous. So far, we find ourselves creating a lot of goal-scoring chances, but have found it a bit more difficult to finish those chances. That’s a big key for us going forward.”
Grayslake Central (4-4-0, 1-0-0) has one of best goalies in Lake County -- the strong and consistent Piper Gallaher. The Loyola recruit and team captain has helped freshmen Dahlia Rodriguez, Madison Hoffman, Kate Kruse and Mallory Barrows adapt to playing key roles on the varsity.
“As a coach, you can tell she wants more than just a final senior season,” Andersson said of Gallaher. “She wants the memories that go with postseason play. Piper has truly turned into an amazing goalie over the years.
“The freshmen have really stepped in and made a name for themselves: Dahlia Rodriguez, Madison Hoffman, Kate Kruse and Mallory Barrows. All have been instrumental. We haven't missed a beat. It also helps to have an amazing goalkeeper in Piper.”
On the other side of town, DeCaluwe said Grayslake North (1-1-4, 0-1-1) must score more goals to turn their season around. The offense has the same number of goals as the defense has allowed.
Seniors Micaela Acuna Saenz and Emily Hansen both have three goals.
“Our senior captains, defender Maddy Barrie, midfielder Emily Hansen and defender Ashley Plant, have done a great job leading our group,” DeCaluwe said. “They set the tone in terms of work rate and approach to everything we do.
“They help bring the group together, making sure that our young players and newcomers all feel welcome and comfortable.
“Their reliability, on and off the field, has been crucial to the team which has a pretty good mix of experience and youth. While we did graduate quite a few important players with a lot of experience, this year we’re finding ourselves to be capable of playing well on both sides of the ball.
“We really just feel we need to find a bit more composure and aggression in the final third to help convert our chances created into goals.”
on line when Central meets North
By Bobby Narang
GRAYSLAKE — Neighborhood rivalry games are always red-letter days on calendars for high school sports teams.
Separated by just 2.4 miles, Grayslake North will travel to do battle at 7 p.m. Thursday at Grayslake Central. Besides local bragging rights, the rivalry takes on further importance for the teams to grab an early-season Northern Lake County Conference victory.
The hosts and Knights hooked up for a memorable match last season that Grayslake North took 2-0.
Grayslake Central coach Keith Andersson, who coached the boys team to a Class AA fourth place finish in the fall, said his team is hungry for a win over their rivals.
“The big key is to keep possession of the ball and tight defense. If we can control the tempo of the game and mark them tight, we will have a good game,” Andersson said.
“As a team, we’re finally passing and keeping possession. We have pushed to play this style of soccer for a few years now, and the girls are really starting to buy in. It’s great to see them play simple one-, two-touch soccer.”
Grayslake North coach Adam DeCaluwe would love nothing better than to get a win and preferably not a draw. The team has a lone win, 3-1 over Prairie Ridge on March 17, and four ties.
“Anyone can win any given day,” he said. “We’re certainly going out there with the intent of trying to outwork them. And more than anything, we are trying to capitalize on our chances created.
“We have a great group of girls who work hard for each other, look to do the right thing in every situation they find themselves in and genuinely seem to really enjoy each other and the hard work of the season.
“We look to playing some pretty good soccer, with the aim at being dangerous. So far, we find ourselves creating a lot of goal-scoring chances, but have found it a bit more difficult to finish those chances. That’s a big key for us going forward.”
Grayslake Central (4-4-0, 1-0-0) has one of best goalies in Lake County -- the strong and consistent Piper Gallaher. The Loyola recruit and team captain has helped freshmen Dahlia Rodriguez, Madison Hoffman, Kate Kruse and Mallory Barrows adapt to playing key roles on the varsity.
“As a coach, you can tell she wants more than just a final senior season,” Andersson said of Gallaher. “She wants the memories that go with postseason play. Piper has truly turned into an amazing goalie over the years.
“The freshmen have really stepped in and made a name for themselves: Dahlia Rodriguez, Madison Hoffman, Kate Kruse and Mallory Barrows. All have been instrumental. We haven't missed a beat. It also helps to have an amazing goalkeeper in Piper.”
On the other side of town, DeCaluwe said Grayslake North (1-1-4, 0-1-1) must score more goals to turn their season around. The offense has the same number of goals as the defense has allowed.
Seniors Micaela Acuna Saenz and Emily Hansen both have three goals.
“Our senior captains, defender Maddy Barrie, midfielder Emily Hansen and defender Ashley Plant, have done a great job leading our group,” DeCaluwe said. “They set the tone in terms of work rate and approach to everything we do.
“They help bring the group together, making sure that our young players and newcomers all feel welcome and comfortable.
“Their reliability, on and off the field, has been crucial to the team which has a pretty good mix of experience and youth. While we did graduate quite a few important players with a lot of experience, this year we’re finding ourselves to be capable of playing well on both sides of the ball.
“We really just feel we need to find a bit more composure and aggression in the final third to help convert our chances created into goals.”