North vs. South has Plainfield,
Southwest Prairie ramifications
By Dave Owen
Crosstown rivalry games always have a little extra fire.
Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. at Plainfield South should be one of the most sizzling bragging rights matchups ever between the Cougars (12-3-1) and visiting Plainfield North (11-2-2).
The reason? The Southwest Prairie Conference title chase. The Tigers enter with a first place 5-0 mark, and the Cougars are a half-game behind at 5-1. And the matches are heightened in the SPC, because as evidenced by the league records, ties are not an option.
“I think both sides get excited when South and North get together,” Plainfield South coach Alfonso Lopez said. “The matches have been more competitive these past few years, and the girls know it’s going to be a tough match for both sides.”
Plainfield North mentor Steve Berry is trying his best to maintain a low key approach to Tuesday.
“We approach our schedule one game at a time, and next up will be a conference game versus Plainfield South,” Berry said. “We know with the successful history of PN girls soccer, we will get all our opponents’ best game, and will be prepared on Tuesday night.”
The most recent showdown went the extra mile. Last May 2 at Plainfield North, the Tigers needed two overtimes to edge the Cougars 1-0.
Then there’s the familiarity factor amongst the players.
“A lot of the girls on both sides have been teammates with each other outside of school,” Lopez said. “They know each other and like to compete against one another.”
And most importantly, there’s the biggest prize of all: Tuesday’s winner controls their own destiny in the SPC championship hunt.
“This match is huge in the race for a conference championship,” Lopez said. “We have to win to stay alive in the chase for our first conference title, and North has to win to stand alone in first place.
“So there is a lot riding on the match tomorrow.”
According to Lopez, how smooth that ride is for his side could hinge on containing the Tigers offensive stars.
“One of the keys is staying compact on the defensive end, and trying to slow down (Molly) Grant and (Victoria) Thornton,” he said. “They (the Tigers) have a great team with great players all around, but we have to try and slow those two down. And we have to make sure that when we get scoring chances, we put them away.”
The health of starting goalkeeper Antonia Medonia (sidelined since last Tuesday) is a defensive concern for the Tigers.
“Antonia will remain out for the week as she remains in concussion protocol,” Berry said.
Plainfield North enters Tuesday’s match on a six-game unbeaten streak. It includes a 2-0 win last Tuesday over Minooka and a 0-0 tie with 2017 Class 3A fourth place fininsher Downers Grove North on Friday in the Wheaton Academy Invitational. The Tigers won the four-team round robin with a 2-0-1 record.
If the title chase and rivalry implications aren’t enough, Plainfield South should be fired up further after a rare conference stumble on Thursday. The Cougars’ chance to make Tuesday’s match a battle of league unbeatens ended with a shocking 4-0 loss to Plainfield East.
But South regrouped nicely Saturday for a 3-0 win over Bolingbrook behind two goals by Isabel Cerda and one by Emily DeVivo.
“We bounced back well against Bolingbrook,” Lopez said. “The loss against East stung, but our girls knew that was our worst game of the season in all aspects. We didn't know what team we were watching play out there. The good thing about that is we will see them (Plainfield East) in the regional.”
And even better, the North-South battle still has high stakes – with friendly expectations of a great match.
“We hope both teams have great games,” Lopez said, “and every girl out there stays safe and plays their best.”
Click here to see the Southwest Prairie Conference standings
Southwest Prairie ramifications
By Dave Owen
Crosstown rivalry games always have a little extra fire.
Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. at Plainfield South should be one of the most sizzling bragging rights matchups ever between the Cougars (12-3-1) and visiting Plainfield North (11-2-2).
The reason? The Southwest Prairie Conference title chase. The Tigers enter with a first place 5-0 mark, and the Cougars are a half-game behind at 5-1. And the matches are heightened in the SPC, because as evidenced by the league records, ties are not an option.
“I think both sides get excited when South and North get together,” Plainfield South coach Alfonso Lopez said. “The matches have been more competitive these past few years, and the girls know it’s going to be a tough match for both sides.”
Plainfield North mentor Steve Berry is trying his best to maintain a low key approach to Tuesday.
“We approach our schedule one game at a time, and next up will be a conference game versus Plainfield South,” Berry said. “We know with the successful history of PN girls soccer, we will get all our opponents’ best game, and will be prepared on Tuesday night.”
The most recent showdown went the extra mile. Last May 2 at Plainfield North, the Tigers needed two overtimes to edge the Cougars 1-0.
Then there’s the familiarity factor amongst the players.
“A lot of the girls on both sides have been teammates with each other outside of school,” Lopez said. “They know each other and like to compete against one another.”
And most importantly, there’s the biggest prize of all: Tuesday’s winner controls their own destiny in the SPC championship hunt.
“This match is huge in the race for a conference championship,” Lopez said. “We have to win to stay alive in the chase for our first conference title, and North has to win to stand alone in first place.
“So there is a lot riding on the match tomorrow.”
According to Lopez, how smooth that ride is for his side could hinge on containing the Tigers offensive stars.
“One of the keys is staying compact on the defensive end, and trying to slow down (Molly) Grant and (Victoria) Thornton,” he said. “They (the Tigers) have a great team with great players all around, but we have to try and slow those two down. And we have to make sure that when we get scoring chances, we put them away.”
The health of starting goalkeeper Antonia Medonia (sidelined since last Tuesday) is a defensive concern for the Tigers.
“Antonia will remain out for the week as she remains in concussion protocol,” Berry said.
Plainfield North enters Tuesday’s match on a six-game unbeaten streak. It includes a 2-0 win last Tuesday over Minooka and a 0-0 tie with 2017 Class 3A fourth place fininsher Downers Grove North on Friday in the Wheaton Academy Invitational. The Tigers won the four-team round robin with a 2-0-1 record.
If the title chase and rivalry implications aren’t enough, Plainfield South should be fired up further after a rare conference stumble on Thursday. The Cougars’ chance to make Tuesday’s match a battle of league unbeatens ended with a shocking 4-0 loss to Plainfield East.
But South regrouped nicely Saturday for a 3-0 win over Bolingbrook behind two goals by Isabel Cerda and one by Emily DeVivo.
“We bounced back well against Bolingbrook,” Lopez said. “The loss against East stung, but our girls knew that was our worst game of the season in all aspects. We didn't know what team we were watching play out there. The good thing about that is we will see them (Plainfield East) in the regional.”
And even better, the North-South battle still has high stakes – with friendly expectations of a great match.
“We hope both teams have great games,” Lopez said, “and every girl out there stays safe and plays their best.”
Click here to see the Southwest Prairie Conference standings