Bennett, Mundelein get defensive and turn back Libertyville

There are those girls soccer players who love scoring goals.

Then there are players who get equal fulfillment and satisfaction out of disrupting a potential scoring play.

The latter fits Mundelein senior outside back and defender Raena Bennett to a tee.

For it was her defensive pressure that played a big role in helping the host Mustangs persevere and earn a 2-1 victory over Libertyville in the North Suburban Lake Division opener for both teams on Friday evening.

"I love getting the crosses and services and getting physical so I can disrupt a play," said Bennett. "I am also very vocal and tried to pick everyone up when they (Libertyville) scored at the beginning of the game. We just came out too slow and gave them too much space."

The first five minutes of the game looked like Libertyville was going to have its way after a disappointing 3-0 loss to New Trier two days earlier. The Cats were in Mundelein territory and had multiple shots on goal the first 10 minutes.

"The New Trier game was a rude awakening and the girls thought they'd play better," said Libertyville coach Andy Bitta, whose team fell to 1-2. "We have an abundance of good players and a lot of depth. We just need to get everyone on the same page."

The Cats were definitely on the same page in just the fourth minute of the contest, when senior midfielder Danielle Pacholski fed junior defender Emily Olson to get the Cats off and running.

"They certainly punched us in the mouth, but we fought back," said Mustangs coach Ernie Billittier, who club stayed unbeaten at 5-0-1. "I definitely found out though that I have a very resilient team. Our defense was organized and we stuck to the plan.

After Olson's tally, it was pretty much all Mundelein controlling the field and flow of the game.

The Mustangs tied things up1-1 before halftime when in the 24th minute leading scorer sophomore Myah Strokosch was fouled. Her free kick just outside the right box resulted in a mad scramble in front of the goal and when it was all said and done, senior midfielder Kelly Grove banged one past Cats senior keeper Jordan Hertzier (2 saves) for the equalizer.

Mundelein scored the go-ahead goal in the 46th minute when senior midfielder Alexis Malka cleaned up a short pass from junior forward Leah Glodman after another mad scramble in front of the Libertyville goal.

Down 2-1 and with 10 minutes left in regulation, the Cats staged a ferocious rally that included 4 corner kicks. Overall, Libertyville's sense of urgency produced 8 shots on goal in the second half. The Wildcats finished with a 15-6 advantage for the game.

And whenever Mundelein keeper Lexi Pawlowski (8 saves) wasn't diving all over the place, players like Bennett - with her aggressiveness and pressure, mostly in the corners - disrupted numerous scoring play from developing, especially in the closing minutes of the contest.

"We started pressuring them more and forcing them into bad passes," said Bennett. "We just need to start stronger and show that sense of urgency. But it's always fantastic when you can beat a quality team like Libertyville."

Libertyville actually appeared to have drawn even in the 76th minute but an off-sides call against the Cats negated the goal.