Spiwak's goal lifts Rolling Meadows in OT

Melissa Spiwak's 93rd-minute strike helped Rolling Meadows' young but improving girls soccer team earn a hard-fought 1-0 victory on a cold foggy Wednesday night at host Hoffman Estates.

The Mustangs' steady improvement this season continued just when it appeared this match was headed to a goal-less draw. Then Spiwak, on the turn after collecting a loose ball deep in the Hawks' end, fired a well aimed shot off the back post and back over the endline to give the visitors their first 3 points in the Mid-Suburban League season.

"Melissa is one of our freshmen who hasn't gotten a lot of time yet, but tonight she was in the right place at the right time, and when the opportunity was there for her, she took full advantage and got us a much-needed win," said Mustangs coach Mike Drenth, who started eight sophomores, a freshman and just two seniors in this conference crossover.

"We are so young, and that's really a difficult way to be in the MSL, but the great thing about this team is we get along so well, both in school and when we play and practice together, and I know that will help us get better as the season goes on," said Rolling Meadows senior and captain Jamie Berry.

"It was yet another disappointing loss for us tonight," said Hoffman Estates coach Ralph Tooren, "and one that I felt we could have won just as well if we could have finished just a couple of those quality chances we had out there. We did so many good things to get into (Meadows') end. I don't know if it's a lack of concentration, patience or what, but in that final third we have been just awful at finishing, and you saw it last Saturday against Bartlett in our 2-1 loss and again tonight."

Tooren felt his club enjoyed most of the run of play, with the group of Ale Alonso, Natalie Nagrant, Anna Sall, Sharon Lopez and Molly Salerno outworking their counterparts while helping to keep the visitors under pressure for long stretches.

"Hoffman made us work our tails off all night," Berry said.

Despite winning most of the 50-50 balls, particularly at midfield, and finding a way to spend most of the time in their opponent's half, the Hawks (1-3-1, 0-2-0) nearly conceded the first goal of the game at 18 minutes. Only a superb save from keeper Francesca Van, in full extension to her left, prevented Mary Donlan from scoring.

"Francesca saved us in that first half for sure, but we just couldn't get anything on frame and dangerous against their keeper, who was solid but not tested seriously," said Tooren.

"Kelsey (Nallon) has been terrific all season for us in goal," said Drenth. "She's confident, quick and has good hands and she's been a real bright spot for us thus far."

Nallon read potential trouble when she came off her line to deny a lovely cross from Salerno to the back post targeted for Lopez in the 26th minute. Nallon saved Salerno's one-timer minutes later and also denied Nagrant, who sprung free in the 40th minute.

The Mustangs (1-2-1, 1-1-0) opened the second period with pace, and looked to have a quality chance in the 44th minute when a Berry ball out of the back put Megan Kelly in on the left side, only to have the first touch betray the sophomore.

After that, the hosts had a decided advantage with Alonso running the show out of the middle along with Erin Hanson as well as Jennie Nailor out of the back providing extra numbers going forward.

During the first 10-minute extra session, Nallon was called upon to stop Sall, then Alonso, before Spiwak hit the game-winner.

"I thought both back lines did a great job tonight, both keepers also," said Tooren. "But we made it a little too easy for their keeper, with shots right at her for most of the game - and so it goes with our inability to finish," said Tooren, whose club is at Palatine on Friday.

"The effort is there, and so is the work rate," said Drenth, "but we have to find a way to get more goals on the scoreboard."

The Mustangs will host defending MSL East division champion Hersey on Friday.

Conant 5, Buffalo Grove 1: Sidney O'Keeffe had a hat trick and assisted on 2 goals and Leah Celarek had a goal and an assist to help the Cougars (5-1-0) prevail in an MSL crossover. BG's goal came from Sarah O'Connor, assisted by Sara Busse.