First-round Showdown winner for Lake Zurich

Lake Zurich’s girls soccer team netted a first-round victory in 10th anniversary of the 32-team Pepsi Showdown, but Stevenson and Warren each lost their opening-round games at Olympic Park in Schaumburg on Saturday.

Vanesa Abad scored a goal and assisted on the other two and led No. 15 seed Lake Zurich past No. 18 Lane Tech 3-2 on Saturday morning.

“Always good in a tournament like this one — you always want to survive and advance,” Lake Zurich coach Michael Castronova said. “We found a way to win, and you can’t ask for much more.”

The Bears (2-1-1) will next play at No. 2 Metea Valley on Tuesday. Metea Valley got past Sycamore 5-0 on Saturday.

Abad scored the opening first-half goal from the corner, beating the Lane Tech defense for an unassisted goal.

Abad assisted on the Bears’ other two tallies, one to Jordan Jackson and the other to Danielle Tassi.

“She’s a constant motor out there,” Castronova said. “She created two great assists in the second half. She beat a couple girls on the outside and crossed the ball in for some great finishes.”

Lane Tech scored a couple of goals from Sofia Pavon and Jasmin Carrera to narrow the Lake Zurich lead to 1.

Ÿ Stevenson jumped out to a 2-goal advantage with the wind, but Fenwick battled back and forced the game into overtime.

Jackie Mannion scored the golden goal in the 82nd minute as No. 25 Fenwick surprised No. 8 Stevenson 3-2.

“It was tough with the wind going against us in the second half,” Stevenson coach Mark Schartner said. “The wind changed everything.

“I thought we played very well. Fenwick was a good team and played well against us.”

The Patriots (1-3-1) had two first-half goals, as Blake Klinsky scored with an assist from Jenna Weiner. Later, Weiner scored on a free kick from outside the penalty area.

“The wind changed a lot of things, especially on shots,” said Weiner, who already has 4 goals and 2 assists this spring. “I do like to hit balls outside the 18. With the wind like that it helps my shot.”

Fenwick (8-0-1) not only had the wind in the second half but also won the coin toss to for the 10-minute overtime to again get the wind at its back.

“Stevenson was a very good team,” Fenwick coach Robert Watson said. “Winning the coin flip in overtime allowed us to take the ball and get the game-winner.

“It was played well by both teams, and each team had a chance to win.”

Mannion got the winning goal on a corner kick that led to a loose ball in the penalty area.

The Friars’ other goals were scored by Bridget Hillsman, one of them a penalty kick.

Ÿ No. 29 seed Warren also had trouble with the gusty winds and No. 4 seed Plainfield North in a 7-0 loss.

The Blue Devils (1-4-1) had no answer for Marquette-bound Heather Handwork, who’s scored 13 goals in 8 games. She scored 4 times and assisted on two others for the Tigers (8-0).

“(Handwork) up top was a great player,” Warren coach Ryan McCabe said. “They put us in a hole early with the wind and some bad bounces. I thought the wind caused some things happen.

“We’ve got to figure some things out. We’ve got some girls in positions that they’re not used to, and we’ve got some injuries.”