Fireworks tonight! Libertyville,
Warren meet in vital conference match
By Mike Garofola
It's a race to the North Suburban Conference finish line for Libertyville, Stevenson and Warren.
In the first leg of this sprint, Stevenson and Warren played to a 0-0 draw April 29 in an exciting 80-minute affair. Tonight, the second leg sees no. 8 Libertyville (11-2-1, 5-0-0) welcome no. 18 Warren (9-3-3, 4-0-1).
While this is not quite at the level of an El Classico or North London Derby, the connection between players from both sides makes for an fascinating sidebar. They have been associated through high-profile soccer clubs FC United and Libertyville FC 1974. Plenty of first-class talent will be on hand for what promises to be a thrilling league fixture.
"It always makes for an interesting dynamic when that many (players) know each other really well," said Blue Devils manager Ryan McCabe.
"Even though we have not had much chance to see them play, we know they have several back from last year’s third place state team, and that they will be organized and have plenty of girls who are dangerous in the attack."
Last season all three clubs shared the league crown with 6-1-0 records. Warren’s loss came at the feet of Libertyville (2-0); it was just one of two defeats during a marvelous 15-2-3 campaign that ended with a sectional semifinal defeat to Stevenson.
"Everybody knows everyone from our two teams. It should make for an exciting and hard-fought game," said Warren backline star Liv Ehlers, who played with many from Libertyville before she moved to play for FC United, where the likes of Loyola star Grace Ehlert is a teammate there.
"Libertyville has some great players we all know, so we'll expect them to come out early and do their best to just pound on us," added Ehlers.
Ehlers is a complete central defender who reads the game expertly, is cool and calm on the ball, has the type of recovery speed and quickness to cover mistakes and is dominant in the air and positionally as well.
"Liv has been a mainstay for us at center back," said McCabe. “She does a great job of organizing, has made great tackles in crunch time and just does so much for us back there."
"Our backline has really come together after working through a few injuries," offered Ehlers.
"Paige (Hogberg) has really stepped up for us on the outside. Maya (Martinek) as a freshman has played well, and Emma (Paraskos) and Mia Gloria have been very good in front of our keeper, Trish Georgiou. Together we have worked hard through adversity to become a confident group that is really comfortable with each other."
"Ava DeNapoli, and Martinek have come off the bench to give us valuable minutes," said McCabe. "And with (us) having to shift things around here and there due to injuries, Mia (Gloria) has shown her how versatile she can be both as an outside back and central defender.
"Emma (Paraskos) has the ability to carry the ball out of the back and is composed and skillful to add another layer to our attack. (Paige) does a great job winning balls in the air and can serve a great deep ball to help launch a counter.
“Libertyville will likely pressure our backline, so we'll need to keep our shape in the back and find our passing lanes quickly."
Warren is at the tail end of a busy stretch of games that included matches against the likes of Oak Park and River Forest, Stevenson, Loyola and Bartlett. The Blue Devils took down league rival Mundelein in a 4-0 victory May 3.
"It's a delicate balance each year when you add challenging games outside of conference in order to test us before the postseason,” said McCabe. “(We) felt fortunate to join the Naperville Invitational and did not want to miss out on that great experience, but five games in 10 days in not ideal.
"That stretch allowed some of our younger players to gain some experience. Although we didn't always play our best soccer, I was pleased with the resilience the girls showed.”
"It was a real busy time for us and a bit stressful as well," said Ehlers, who believes she and her teammates are back in sync after Naperville Invitational losses to Oak Park and River Forest, and Loyola, and wins against Fremd and Bartlett. “We came out of it very well, and the recovery time we had after those games should help us be ready for Libertyville.”
Ehlers is thrilled with her decision to attend DePauw University (Greencastle, Ind.) next fall, where she will play soccer and pursue a pre-law academic track.
"Everything about the school, Greencastle, the team felt right to me. It was an easy choice for me to make," said the Blue Devils senior.
Libertyville midfielder Lauren Rocco is equally charged up to play at the California-San Diego next fall.
"What's not to like?" asked Rocco, who played in a San Diego tournament when the Tritons coaching staff made their move.
"Obviously the weather out there is great, as well as the people, campus, coaching staff. After meeting some of my teammates, I was really excited about going there to play," continued Rocco, who plans on following in her mother’s career path as a pediatrician.
Rocco has been playing at the six, eight or 10 in what she called a fluid formation.
"With a talented roster that we have, we're able to have a lot of different looks during the course of the game," said Rocco.
"With so many of us on the same club, there's kind of a family feeling to a Warren-Libertyville game. (But) only before and after, because all of us want to win a game as big as this one is."
Rocco believed the Wildcats surprised many of its opponents on their way to the Class 3A third place finish a year ago. Things are different now.
"We have a target on our backs this season,” she said. “It seems to bring the best out of all of us. Even when we went through a little bit of a rough stretch with losses to Evanston, then Glenbrook North, (DePaz) told us to put that behind us and just focus on what's ahead."
Staring them down today is an intense rivaly match.
"We expect the usual from Warren," said Wildcats manager Daniel DePaz. “A well-coached, hard-working and skilled team that will give us everything they have for 80 minutes.
"We did hit a little bit of a rough patch during the last couple of weeks. We had some players with injuries. But this group is very resilient and was still able to win games during that time.
"We've been getting healthier and have started getting back on track, so we've shown we can rebound, and once again begin to play smart soccer as a team."
Rocco was quick to praise the work of Pru Babat, who was a late call-up from the JV just prior to the 2021 state series and has proved to be a valuable piece in the Wildcats backline.
Senior Abby Gordon, who herself missed time early on with an ankle injury, said the Wildcats depth and strong core of returning players has helped overcome the loss of Brielle Rochester (ACL).
"One of the strengths of this team is our chemistry,” she said. “It was so strong a year ago and is even stronger this year. We just get along really well."
Gordon, who is also a longtime member of the Libertyville FC 1974 team, can be seen in a variety of roles in the Wildcats formation, just like Rocco and others. Gordon feels that gives her club an advantage.
"We can play a couple of different formations, sometimes with double (6s) or a 4-3-3, just one up-top with two wide outside mids,” she said. “It's fun to have that flexibility in our roster, especially in a game like this one with Warren, then Stevenson next week when it will be so competitive."
Gordon feels some team bonding was just what the doctor ordered for the Wildcats following its losses.
"We needed to come together after those two games,” she said. “But I also think it was the wake-up call we all needed to get us back to locking in to what we need to do each time out."
Both clubs appear in fine form following 4-0 victories prior to this evening. The knowledge that a loss will likely end their championship hopes should lead to a memorable match.
Warren meet in vital conference match
By Mike Garofola
It's a race to the North Suburban Conference finish line for Libertyville, Stevenson and Warren.
In the first leg of this sprint, Stevenson and Warren played to a 0-0 draw April 29 in an exciting 80-minute affair. Tonight, the second leg sees no. 8 Libertyville (11-2-1, 5-0-0) welcome no. 18 Warren (9-3-3, 4-0-1).
While this is not quite at the level of an El Classico or North London Derby, the connection between players from both sides makes for an fascinating sidebar. They have been associated through high-profile soccer clubs FC United and Libertyville FC 1974. Plenty of first-class talent will be on hand for what promises to be a thrilling league fixture.
"It always makes for an interesting dynamic when that many (players) know each other really well," said Blue Devils manager Ryan McCabe.
"Even though we have not had much chance to see them play, we know they have several back from last year’s third place state team, and that they will be organized and have plenty of girls who are dangerous in the attack."
Last season all three clubs shared the league crown with 6-1-0 records. Warren’s loss came at the feet of Libertyville (2-0); it was just one of two defeats during a marvelous 15-2-3 campaign that ended with a sectional semifinal defeat to Stevenson.
"Everybody knows everyone from our two teams. It should make for an exciting and hard-fought game," said Warren backline star Liv Ehlers, who played with many from Libertyville before she moved to play for FC United, where the likes of Loyola star Grace Ehlert is a teammate there.
"Libertyville has some great players we all know, so we'll expect them to come out early and do their best to just pound on us," added Ehlers.
Ehlers is a complete central defender who reads the game expertly, is cool and calm on the ball, has the type of recovery speed and quickness to cover mistakes and is dominant in the air and positionally as well.
"Liv has been a mainstay for us at center back," said McCabe. “She does a great job of organizing, has made great tackles in crunch time and just does so much for us back there."
"Our backline has really come together after working through a few injuries," offered Ehlers.
"Paige (Hogberg) has really stepped up for us on the outside. Maya (Martinek) as a freshman has played well, and Emma (Paraskos) and Mia Gloria have been very good in front of our keeper, Trish Georgiou. Together we have worked hard through adversity to become a confident group that is really comfortable with each other."
"Ava DeNapoli, and Martinek have come off the bench to give us valuable minutes," said McCabe. "And with (us) having to shift things around here and there due to injuries, Mia (Gloria) has shown her how versatile she can be both as an outside back and central defender.
"Emma (Paraskos) has the ability to carry the ball out of the back and is composed and skillful to add another layer to our attack. (Paige) does a great job winning balls in the air and can serve a great deep ball to help launch a counter.
“Libertyville will likely pressure our backline, so we'll need to keep our shape in the back and find our passing lanes quickly."
Warren is at the tail end of a busy stretch of games that included matches against the likes of Oak Park and River Forest, Stevenson, Loyola and Bartlett. The Blue Devils took down league rival Mundelein in a 4-0 victory May 3.
"It's a delicate balance each year when you add challenging games outside of conference in order to test us before the postseason,” said McCabe. “(We) felt fortunate to join the Naperville Invitational and did not want to miss out on that great experience, but five games in 10 days in not ideal.
"That stretch allowed some of our younger players to gain some experience. Although we didn't always play our best soccer, I was pleased with the resilience the girls showed.”
"It was a real busy time for us and a bit stressful as well," said Ehlers, who believes she and her teammates are back in sync after Naperville Invitational losses to Oak Park and River Forest, and Loyola, and wins against Fremd and Bartlett. “We came out of it very well, and the recovery time we had after those games should help us be ready for Libertyville.”
Ehlers is thrilled with her decision to attend DePauw University (Greencastle, Ind.) next fall, where she will play soccer and pursue a pre-law academic track.
"Everything about the school, Greencastle, the team felt right to me. It was an easy choice for me to make," said the Blue Devils senior.
Libertyville midfielder Lauren Rocco is equally charged up to play at the California-San Diego next fall.
"What's not to like?" asked Rocco, who played in a San Diego tournament when the Tritons coaching staff made their move.
"Obviously the weather out there is great, as well as the people, campus, coaching staff. After meeting some of my teammates, I was really excited about going there to play," continued Rocco, who plans on following in her mother’s career path as a pediatrician.
Rocco has been playing at the six, eight or 10 in what she called a fluid formation.
"With a talented roster that we have, we're able to have a lot of different looks during the course of the game," said Rocco.
"With so many of us on the same club, there's kind of a family feeling to a Warren-Libertyville game. (But) only before and after, because all of us want to win a game as big as this one is."
Rocco believed the Wildcats surprised many of its opponents on their way to the Class 3A third place finish a year ago. Things are different now.
"We have a target on our backs this season,” she said. “It seems to bring the best out of all of us. Even when we went through a little bit of a rough stretch with losses to Evanston, then Glenbrook North, (DePaz) told us to put that behind us and just focus on what's ahead."
Staring them down today is an intense rivaly match.
"We expect the usual from Warren," said Wildcats manager Daniel DePaz. “A well-coached, hard-working and skilled team that will give us everything they have for 80 minutes.
"We did hit a little bit of a rough patch during the last couple of weeks. We had some players with injuries. But this group is very resilient and was still able to win games during that time.
"We've been getting healthier and have started getting back on track, so we've shown we can rebound, and once again begin to play smart soccer as a team."
Rocco was quick to praise the work of Pru Babat, who was a late call-up from the JV just prior to the 2021 state series and has proved to be a valuable piece in the Wildcats backline.
Senior Abby Gordon, who herself missed time early on with an ankle injury, said the Wildcats depth and strong core of returning players has helped overcome the loss of Brielle Rochester (ACL).
"One of the strengths of this team is our chemistry,” she said. “It was so strong a year ago and is even stronger this year. We just get along really well."
Gordon, who is also a longtime member of the Libertyville FC 1974 team, can be seen in a variety of roles in the Wildcats formation, just like Rocco and others. Gordon feels that gives her club an advantage.
"We can play a couple of different formations, sometimes with double (6s) or a 4-3-3, just one up-top with two wide outside mids,” she said. “It's fun to have that flexibility in our roster, especially in a game like this one with Warren, then Stevenson next week when it will be so competitive."
Gordon feels some team bonding was just what the doctor ordered for the Wildcats following its losses.
"We needed to come together after those two games,” she said. “But I also think it was the wake-up call we all needed to get us back to locking in to what we need to do each time out."
Both clubs appear in fine form following 4-0 victories prior to this evening. The knowledge that a loss will likely end their championship hopes should lead to a memorable match.