Girls soccer: Bartlett's top dog against Hoffman Estates
It seemed like weather suited to the Iditarod, certainly not girls soccer.
But on the schedule Saturday afternoon for both Hoffman Estates and Bartlett was a nonconference contest, and despite several bouts of near zero-visibility from blowing snow (followed by bright sunshine), the teams played anyway. Bartlett bravely claimed a 2-1 victory.
"We knew coming over here the weather would be a factor, but we never expected to be this much of a factor," said Bartlett senior Mariela Alba, who was a key figure in her team's fourth win of the season after turning in a wonderful performance during 80 minutes of cold, rain, snow and a howling wind.
Playing into the teeth of the gale was nearly impossible, as Bartlett found in the first half.
"I thought we did OK in that first half with that strong wind in our face, and the goal we gave up was a little bit unlucky, but that's soccer. So we just had to go out and play a strong second half, and we did," said Alba.
The Bartlett captain was the driving force in the opening quarter-hour of action. Alongside teammate Jenna Dombrowski and scoring standout Tabitha Evans, the Hawks had most of the play during the early exchanges.
"We started out a little slow, but got ourselves back into the game with some solid work to actually get the lead before the break," said Hoffman Estates coach Jeff Bird, who has his club off to flying start at 3-1-0. "But a few little lapses here and there in that second half would end up costing us. It's all about learning from a game like this and moving on from it."
The first-year head coach has a handful of returning players back from last year, including all-area defender and NIU- bound senior Jennie Nailor. Another key is the addition of former club player Ena Sabanagic, who showed why she's headed to Purdue next fall after a terrific afternoon of playmaking and creative play from midfield.
"Most of our roster is made up of freshmen and sophomores, so despite our good start this season, we're going to see this team playing its best soccer later on when we finally sort things out and everyone has had enough time to adjust to each other, the speed of play, and what we expect from each of them," said Bird.
A brilliant save from Frankie Van kept Bartlett off the scoreboard just minutes into the match when the senior turned a wicked strike from Jenna Noesen up and over the bar after an Alba corner.
That unlucky goal Alba referenced came after Bartlett had conceded a free kick opportunity just outside the box after an unfortunate hand ball. Sabanagic took full advantage of the situation by bending her attempt around the wall, just inside the near post with a superb touch right before intermission.
A sustained charge from Bartlett kept most of the action in the Hoffman Estates' end, with an assist given to the wind.
Dombrowski hit the bar from 22 yards to begin the second period, and with the visitors unable to get out of their own end, it soon became even when Evans used a sublime touch to slot under Van after yet another short clearing attempt by Hoffman Estates.
Just after the hour, Alba put Evans through on the right side, and the freshman looked like a season veteran with her masterfully angled shot just beyond the reach of Van.
"We knew if we remained patient, we would get in on them and score, and after that first one came, I knew another one or two would come for us," said Alba.
Bartlett (4-2-1) opens Upstate Eight play on Tuesday at South Elgin before going on the road to St. Louis to play three straight clubs from Missouri. Hoffman Estates hosts reigning Mid-Suburban League champion Barrington at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.