Steenstrup, Schaumburg make 1 goal stand up against Elk Grove

Schaumburg (5-0-0, 1-0-0) stayed perfect this season ... but with a less than perfect effort Monday at Elk Grove.

Kelsey Steenstrup scored the eventual game-winner at 23 minutes, then the Saxons kept the Grens (1-1-1) from producing but a few scoring opportunities en route to a 1-0 victory - and their fifth straight shutout - in the Mid-Suburban League opener for both clubs.

"It wasn't a very pretty effort out there today," said Saxons coach Greg Charvat. "We struggled to possess, create chances and to play the way (we) have been in our first four matches of the season, so we'll just have to step back and take a look on how we can get ourselves back on track."

With both sides starting cautiously, the Saxons seemed a bit braver, particularly in the middle of the park. Becky Sneddon, Teagan Eberle and Steenstrup showed enough pace to produce enough pressure to force the Grens to defend more than they would have liked.

Grens defender Katie Naughton, just back from training in California with the National Olympic Development Program team, was put to the test early and often - but the sophomore was up to the task and never allowed the Saxons to produce many quality opportunities against keeper Nicole Ricci.

An untimely miscue along the back by one of the Grens' rookie backliners allowed the Saxons to go ahead after a well-struck ball from the far flag by Sneddon fell to Steenstrup near the spot.

The sophomore got just enough pace on her shot for the ball to go under Ricci.

"The (goal) by Schaumburg was a gift, but we were never able to get much of anything going (ourselves) for most of the match and some of that credit has to go to them because they were just a fortress in their third," said Grens coach Dan Klaus.

The Grens showed plenty of energy following intermission and had the run of play for the first 10 minutes. That forced the Saxons and all-area junior defender Stephanie Pouse into several nervous moments.

"We're a little banged up here and there, but we also did not play well at all and just seemed to be off from the start," said Pouse, who is nursing a bad ankle.

Klaus pushed Naughton into the middle with 10 minutes remaining in regulation, with the hope the move could help find leading scorer Michelle Calmeyn (6 goals) and Kelli Hubly in close.

"I thought after our goal it would help inspire the team, but it didn't today," Chavrat said. "However, it's still good to get a conference win and the 3 points that go along with it."