Oswego East to get tested
again at Plainfield North
By Bill Stone
Coming off a tough week of competition, Oswego East faces another big assignment at 1 p.m. Monday. The Wolves visit Southwest Prairie Conference leader Plainfield North with hopes of snapping a three-game losing streak. But that stat can be a bit deceiving -- two of the defeats came against top 10 teams in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
“To us, it is just another game against another good opponent. It is an opportunity for us to get better as we play a good opponent,” Oswego East coach Juan Leal said. “We know the history of (Plainfield) North and respect it, but we also approach it like any other game.”
The Tigers (8-6-2, 5-0 in SPC) have a half game lead over Plainfield South (14-4-0, 4-0). Last season, they shared the SPC title with Minooka, which ended the Tigers’ streak of SPL titles in 2017.
Oswego East (5-8-1, 2-2) played Plainfield South on Saturday and lost 2-1 in overtime -- the Cougars’ second OT league victory. The Wolves began the week losing to no.
7 Naperville North 6-2 on April 17 and no. 8 Lyons 2-0 April 18 both at Naperville North in pool play of the Naperville Invitational.
Sydney Conway (11 goals), Alex McPhee (3 goals, 8 assists) and Taylor English (4 goals, 2 assists) lead Oswego East in scoring. Eleven players have at least one goal.
Chloe Noon had the lone goal in Saturday’s loss. McPhee had a goal and assist and English scored the other goal against Naperville North.
“We have kept working to get better and are continuing to strive to be better,” Leal said.
“Our midfielders are starting to really establish themselves as ball distributors, and we are spreading the field out.
"Our defense has done a great job of working together and helping the goalie minimize the amount of shots taken. Our corner kick set pieces have been a lot better than in the past and we are starting to become more of a threat.
"Our reserves have stepped up to the challenge of the varsity level and are contributing as well.”
Plainfield North’s losses include defeats against no. 6 St. Charles East, no. 10 Neuqua Valley, no. 15 Waubonsie Valley and no. 18 Batavia. Five of the Tigers’ last seven games have ended in shutouts, four in their favor. In the other three games they had one or no goals: a 1-1 tie Saturday at Downers Grove North; a 3-0 loss to Batavia on April 15; and a 4-1 defeat to Waubonsie Valley on April 13.
Five of the Tigers’ victories came by shutout. Another clean-sheet came in a tie with Hinsdale Central in the March 14 opener. They’ve allowed just one goal in their other three victories.
again at Plainfield North
By Bill Stone
Coming off a tough week of competition, Oswego East faces another big assignment at 1 p.m. Monday. The Wolves visit Southwest Prairie Conference leader Plainfield North with hopes of snapping a three-game losing streak. But that stat can be a bit deceiving -- two of the defeats came against top 10 teams in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
“To us, it is just another game against another good opponent. It is an opportunity for us to get better as we play a good opponent,” Oswego East coach Juan Leal said. “We know the history of (Plainfield) North and respect it, but we also approach it like any other game.”
The Tigers (8-6-2, 5-0 in SPC) have a half game lead over Plainfield South (14-4-0, 4-0). Last season, they shared the SPC title with Minooka, which ended the Tigers’ streak of SPL titles in 2017.
Oswego East (5-8-1, 2-2) played Plainfield South on Saturday and lost 2-1 in overtime -- the Cougars’ second OT league victory. The Wolves began the week losing to no.
7 Naperville North 6-2 on April 17 and no. 8 Lyons 2-0 April 18 both at Naperville North in pool play of the Naperville Invitational.
Sydney Conway (11 goals), Alex McPhee (3 goals, 8 assists) and Taylor English (4 goals, 2 assists) lead Oswego East in scoring. Eleven players have at least one goal.
Chloe Noon had the lone goal in Saturday’s loss. McPhee had a goal and assist and English scored the other goal against Naperville North.
“We have kept working to get better and are continuing to strive to be better,” Leal said.
“Our midfielders are starting to really establish themselves as ball distributors, and we are spreading the field out.
"Our defense has done a great job of working together and helping the goalie minimize the amount of shots taken. Our corner kick set pieces have been a lot better than in the past and we are starting to become more of a threat.
"Our reserves have stepped up to the challenge of the varsity level and are contributing as well.”
Plainfield North’s losses include defeats against no. 6 St. Charles East, no. 10 Neuqua Valley, no. 15 Waubonsie Valley and no. 18 Batavia. Five of the Tigers’ last seven games have ended in shutouts, four in their favor. In the other three games they had one or no goals: a 1-1 tie Saturday at Downers Grove North; a 3-0 loss to Batavia on April 15; and a 4-1 defeat to Waubonsie Valley on April 13.
Five of the Tigers’ victories came by shutout. Another clean-sheet came in a tie with Hinsdale Central in the March 14 opener. They’ve allowed just one goal in their other three victories.