NSCD-Willows a preview
of Class A sectional final?
By Mike Garofola
Saturday, May 18. That's the date of the Class A Cristo Rey St. Martin Sectional final in Waukegan.
Could the Independent School League matchup between North Shore Country Day and Willows on Tuesday at Maryville Soccer Park in Des Plaines be a preview of that big state tournament match?
There's still a long way to go, of course, before that could take place, and both managers are locked on the present.
Despite its modest 5-3-0 overall record thus far, 2018 Class A state runnerup North Shore Country Day has done well in the first half of its season as it's navigated through a hearty nonconference schedule that included a trio of Class 3A opponents.
"The players returning from our state team have responded just as I hoped they would," began manager Lizzy Giffen. "They were excited to get back at it again and have been focused on working hard each day to get better.
"They also know this is a new year, and as always, you have to earn the success that may come."
Giffen revved up the Raiders schedule, playing strong Class AA squad Lake Forest, then meeting Class 3A schools Maine West, Young and then Wheaton North in the PepsiCo Showdown.
"We were purposeful this year when building a schedule that challenged us more than we have in the past," said Giffen.
"I was very happy with how we played against all of those teams and would always emphasize with the girls how we improved with each game, even if we didn't get the result we wanted."
The Raiders went 1-3-0. The win came in a shootout with Maine West after the Raiders fought back when going down in regulation.
Giffen says she "loved" how her club played against, what she called, an "incredibly talented" Lake Forest bunch, who brought speed and explosiveness to the park.
The coach has an even dozen players back from her 2018 roster for the current campaign after North Shore Country Day finished second to Notre Dame (Quincy) in the Class A final last May.
Edith Edwards-Mizel, who led the team with 29 goals last season, is one of them, along with Allie Charnas, Caroline Segal, Emily Weil and Julia Fortier, all of whom Giffen declares have been the most consistent players of 2019.
Charnas, a junior, has impressed her manager in a variety ways beginning with something nobody can teach -- an appreciation of the game.
"Allie simply loves playing soccer and has that type of passion and hunger which translates into her game," said Giffen.
"She worked so hard in the offseason to become more explosive and to use her speed. When we're playing well, it's because everything is going through her as she dictates the attack while also defending just as well."
Charnas, who bagged 10 goals a year ago to go along with nine helpers, says playing for Giffen is about as good as it gets.
"Coach (Giffen) knows soccer inside and out, but more than just being a coach 'Giff' is our go-to at school," said Charnas.
"Her office is where most of the team will hangout, so we all know her, and she knows us so well, which really helps with the chemistry of our team."
"As either an English teacher, advisor or college counselor, we all have contact with her constantly, but I think we give her a good laugh during the school day."
Charnas said beig a part of program history last season was much like a wild thrill ride, one that came together after the original goal of the Raiders was to make it to the sectional final which by itself would have broken new ground.
This season there is another perspective.
"I think our main worry was the team would be expecting too much, and be concerned with making it back to state," Charnas said. "But all of us understand it's just a game-by-game season, and the upperclassmen have done well to keep that clear for everyone."
Giffen points to the contributions of a pair of sophomores, Rachel Olatunji and Jane Scullion, who have each shown they belong in the Raiders first 11. Classmate Zinzi Steele has impressed as the first player off the bench, providing fresh legs, pace and inspiration in the NSCD attack.
"Realizing our full potential after having a tougher early schedule than in the past has helped prepare us for the second half of our season, so I feel we're all ready to start getting through our conference schedule," said Charnas.
This Independent School League fixture is the second of the season and first of three straight for the Raiders, who opened league play on April 2 with a 3-0 win over University (Chicago).
After Tuesday, Elgin Academy and Woodlands are up next, with Parker and Latin at the very end of the NSCD schedule.
Willows (10-4-0, 2-1-0) bounced back from a conference-opening 2-1 loss to University (Chicago) on March 19 with an impressive 1-0 away victory at Parker one day later.
"(That) win over Parker might have been our best game of the season thus far," said Willows first-year manager Leah Kartsimas.
"We can back from that tough one against U. High and connected play, scored that one big goal, and held off their shots.
"Our keeper Kathryn Stangel made (13) saves, we had (8) on frame, and what I believe the girls learned was, not to dwell on our first loss, but instead learn from it and our mistakes.
"We also changed around players positions, and everybody, since then, has worked hard, and together, and we've grown as a team."
The Eagles avenged a 2-1 loss to Regina Dominican in the 2018 regional final with an impressive 5-1 victory one week after the Parker win. Then they produced an offensive firestorm in an 8-1 defeat of Rosary.
Willows went 2-2-0 at the PepsiCo, which began on a sour note with a shootout loss against Pritzker.
"That loss in kicks was a great thing for me to see as a new head coach," said Kartsimas.
"To see how the girls played in that game after a 90-minute bus ride into the city, and not having a whole lot of time to warmup and get ready, yet still be able to manuever through the challenges of it all really impressed me."
"I think we responded well at the Pepsi," said Theresa Presberg, whom Kartsimas said has been the Eagles most consistent player wherever she has been deployed. "We were not that worried about playing four games in eight days, because it was a good opportunity for all of us to play in that tournament."
Added Kartsimas: "If I need someone to create opportunities for others, I put her at center mid. If we need an extra defender, she plays kind of as a fifth defender."
"She is our only junior who is a captain among seniors, and the team really looks up to her."
"Playing for coach Kartsimas is awesome!" said Presberg. "She has brought a fresh new perspective to the team, and a new, positive attitude and style of play that we all enjoy."
Teammates Ashleigh Fischer and Clare Kelly both agreed:
"I love that this team is so much fun, yet we can still go out there and get the job done," said Kelly, an outside midfielder who is a constant threat with her crosses. "We're all very close, and it shows with the way we help each other stay (up). We have that competitive spirit among us."
"Almost everything she hits goes to the back post," Kartsimas said. "When she strikes the ball, it has so much pace and power. It almost instantly becomes a shot because keepers cannot defend the power."
Fischer, who is the Eagles dead-ball, and corner kick specialist agrees with Kelly about the team's unity.
"We all connect with each other on and off the field," said the sophomore. "And although we're not all the same age, we are able to bond so well and play the sport we all love by staying in a positive mindset."
The aforementioned Stangel has recorded five clean-sheets behind a stingy defense which has conceded just 11 goals in 14 games.
Kartsimas usually has her club in a modified: 1-4-4-2 formation with Presburg the attacking midfielder and Fischer the holding mid to make the Eagles strong up the spine.
The Willows manager likes to attach junior Ana Kagan to the opponents best forward, where she will look to intercept and pressure in order to force a mistake.
Fransi Inguanti and Mary Grace Kenny have been pleasant surprises according to Kartsimas. Inguanti gives the team a long-throw weapon, and Kenny is a key figure on the outside of the Eagles backline.
"I love the energy this team has, and they really enjoy being on the field together," said an appreciative Kartsimas. "Win or lose, they leave it everything they have out there."
Kartsimas expects, what she calls, "a well oiled machine" in North Shore Country Day to show up at the Eagles home park. The potential of meeting one more time at sectionals will be in the back of the minds of many.
"North Shore Country Day is a very good team who will look to drive the ball forward," Kartsimas said. "So we'll look to keep them under control, pressure them, and create some opportunities."
of Class A sectional final?
By Mike Garofola
Saturday, May 18. That's the date of the Class A Cristo Rey St. Martin Sectional final in Waukegan.
Could the Independent School League matchup between North Shore Country Day and Willows on Tuesday at Maryville Soccer Park in Des Plaines be a preview of that big state tournament match?
There's still a long way to go, of course, before that could take place, and both managers are locked on the present.
Despite its modest 5-3-0 overall record thus far, 2018 Class A state runnerup North Shore Country Day has done well in the first half of its season as it's navigated through a hearty nonconference schedule that included a trio of Class 3A opponents.
"The players returning from our state team have responded just as I hoped they would," began manager Lizzy Giffen. "They were excited to get back at it again and have been focused on working hard each day to get better.
"They also know this is a new year, and as always, you have to earn the success that may come."
Giffen revved up the Raiders schedule, playing strong Class AA squad Lake Forest, then meeting Class 3A schools Maine West, Young and then Wheaton North in the PepsiCo Showdown.
"We were purposeful this year when building a schedule that challenged us more than we have in the past," said Giffen.
"I was very happy with how we played against all of those teams and would always emphasize with the girls how we improved with each game, even if we didn't get the result we wanted."
The Raiders went 1-3-0. The win came in a shootout with Maine West after the Raiders fought back when going down in regulation.
Giffen says she "loved" how her club played against, what she called, an "incredibly talented" Lake Forest bunch, who brought speed and explosiveness to the park.
The coach has an even dozen players back from her 2018 roster for the current campaign after North Shore Country Day finished second to Notre Dame (Quincy) in the Class A final last May.
Edith Edwards-Mizel, who led the team with 29 goals last season, is one of them, along with Allie Charnas, Caroline Segal, Emily Weil and Julia Fortier, all of whom Giffen declares have been the most consistent players of 2019.
Charnas, a junior, has impressed her manager in a variety ways beginning with something nobody can teach -- an appreciation of the game.
"Allie simply loves playing soccer and has that type of passion and hunger which translates into her game," said Giffen.
"She worked so hard in the offseason to become more explosive and to use her speed. When we're playing well, it's because everything is going through her as she dictates the attack while also defending just as well."
Charnas, who bagged 10 goals a year ago to go along with nine helpers, says playing for Giffen is about as good as it gets.
"Coach (Giffen) knows soccer inside and out, but more than just being a coach 'Giff' is our go-to at school," said Charnas.
"Her office is where most of the team will hangout, so we all know her, and she knows us so well, which really helps with the chemistry of our team."
"As either an English teacher, advisor or college counselor, we all have contact with her constantly, but I think we give her a good laugh during the school day."
Charnas said beig a part of program history last season was much like a wild thrill ride, one that came together after the original goal of the Raiders was to make it to the sectional final which by itself would have broken new ground.
This season there is another perspective.
"I think our main worry was the team would be expecting too much, and be concerned with making it back to state," Charnas said. "But all of us understand it's just a game-by-game season, and the upperclassmen have done well to keep that clear for everyone."
Giffen points to the contributions of a pair of sophomores, Rachel Olatunji and Jane Scullion, who have each shown they belong in the Raiders first 11. Classmate Zinzi Steele has impressed as the first player off the bench, providing fresh legs, pace and inspiration in the NSCD attack.
"Realizing our full potential after having a tougher early schedule than in the past has helped prepare us for the second half of our season, so I feel we're all ready to start getting through our conference schedule," said Charnas.
This Independent School League fixture is the second of the season and first of three straight for the Raiders, who opened league play on April 2 with a 3-0 win over University (Chicago).
After Tuesday, Elgin Academy and Woodlands are up next, with Parker and Latin at the very end of the NSCD schedule.
Willows (10-4-0, 2-1-0) bounced back from a conference-opening 2-1 loss to University (Chicago) on March 19 with an impressive 1-0 away victory at Parker one day later.
"(That) win over Parker might have been our best game of the season thus far," said Willows first-year manager Leah Kartsimas.
"We can back from that tough one against U. High and connected play, scored that one big goal, and held off their shots.
"Our keeper Kathryn Stangel made (13) saves, we had (8) on frame, and what I believe the girls learned was, not to dwell on our first loss, but instead learn from it and our mistakes.
"We also changed around players positions, and everybody, since then, has worked hard, and together, and we've grown as a team."
The Eagles avenged a 2-1 loss to Regina Dominican in the 2018 regional final with an impressive 5-1 victory one week after the Parker win. Then they produced an offensive firestorm in an 8-1 defeat of Rosary.
Willows went 2-2-0 at the PepsiCo, which began on a sour note with a shootout loss against Pritzker.
"That loss in kicks was a great thing for me to see as a new head coach," said Kartsimas.
"To see how the girls played in that game after a 90-minute bus ride into the city, and not having a whole lot of time to warmup and get ready, yet still be able to manuever through the challenges of it all really impressed me."
"I think we responded well at the Pepsi," said Theresa Presberg, whom Kartsimas said has been the Eagles most consistent player wherever she has been deployed. "We were not that worried about playing four games in eight days, because it was a good opportunity for all of us to play in that tournament."
Added Kartsimas: "If I need someone to create opportunities for others, I put her at center mid. If we need an extra defender, she plays kind of as a fifth defender."
"She is our only junior who is a captain among seniors, and the team really looks up to her."
"Playing for coach Kartsimas is awesome!" said Presberg. "She has brought a fresh new perspective to the team, and a new, positive attitude and style of play that we all enjoy."
Teammates Ashleigh Fischer and Clare Kelly both agreed:
"I love that this team is so much fun, yet we can still go out there and get the job done," said Kelly, an outside midfielder who is a constant threat with her crosses. "We're all very close, and it shows with the way we help each other stay (up). We have that competitive spirit among us."
"Almost everything she hits goes to the back post," Kartsimas said. "When she strikes the ball, it has so much pace and power. It almost instantly becomes a shot because keepers cannot defend the power."
Fischer, who is the Eagles dead-ball, and corner kick specialist agrees with Kelly about the team's unity.
"We all connect with each other on and off the field," said the sophomore. "And although we're not all the same age, we are able to bond so well and play the sport we all love by staying in a positive mindset."
The aforementioned Stangel has recorded five clean-sheets behind a stingy defense which has conceded just 11 goals in 14 games.
Kartsimas usually has her club in a modified: 1-4-4-2 formation with Presburg the attacking midfielder and Fischer the holding mid to make the Eagles strong up the spine.
The Willows manager likes to attach junior Ana Kagan to the opponents best forward, where she will look to intercept and pressure in order to force a mistake.
Fransi Inguanti and Mary Grace Kenny have been pleasant surprises according to Kartsimas. Inguanti gives the team a long-throw weapon, and Kenny is a key figure on the outside of the Eagles backline.
"I love the energy this team has, and they really enjoy being on the field together," said an appreciative Kartsimas. "Win or lose, they leave it everything they have out there."
Kartsimas expects, what she calls, "a well oiled machine" in North Shore Country Day to show up at the Eagles home park. The potential of meeting one more time at sectionals will be in the back of the minds of many.
"North Shore Country Day is a very good team who will look to drive the ball forward," Kartsimas said. "So we'll look to keep them under control, pressure them, and create some opportunities."