Girls soccer: Barrington tops Conant for key MSL win

Barrington is inching closer to a fifth consecutive Mid-Suburban West Division title in girls soccer.

Ellie Stodola's double after an Ashley Prell opening goal, all within three minutes of one another, was all the Fillies (7-1-1, 6-0-0) needed to defeat host Conant 3-0 on Monday night in Hoffman Estates.

The outcome moves coach Ryan Stengren's team 6 points clear of the Cougars, who lost for the first time in nearly a month.

"There was that five-minute window were they exploded for their 3 goals, and that was about it," said Conant coach Jason Franco, whose slipped to 4-1-0 in the MSL and 5-2-0 overall. "We went six games without conceding a goal, but (Barrington) plays very quick and can attack with a purpose. So even though that first goal was a bit soft, they created a lot of dangerous opportunities, and from that they put us under for most of the first 20 minutes tonight."

Conant keeper Taylor Cyr turned away a Kayle Schutter strike at 14 minutes, but in doing so the ball spilled into the area. And opportunistic Prell took advantage and scored that all-important first goal.

"We all knew how big of a game this was tonight for both teams, so that first early goal was kind of a relief, and really got us going from there," said Barrington's Kayla Keck, who along with her back-line mates Haley Tausend, Lauren Pircher and Jackie Batliner have kept the Fillies' MSL opponents scoreless through six matches.

Schutter played a lovely ball through the box from the endline for Stodola as Barrington got its second goal just 60 seconds later.

Soph Spinell was behind the final goal of the evening, as Stodola finished from near the spot at 17 minutes.

"We came out and turned in a solid 20-25 minutes, but we kind of put it in neutral afterward, and our effort in the second half was not very sharp and not the way we need to play, despite having a 3-goal advantage," said Stengren.

With all-area striker Emily Mazurek back in the lineup after missing the Cougars' last five contests, the hosts' attack showed signs of life during the latter part of the first period, and it carried over after the intermission.

Mazurek, along with her younger sister Stephanie and Jackie Smeltzer aand Kaylin Feeley, played with plenty of determination and energy after the break as the Cougars enjoyed most of the run of play.

"If we had played like we did in the second half, maybe we could have given Barrington a little more of a game tonight - but I was encouraged with the way we stayed with it, and how we created some chances," Franco said. "And on the other end, with how we defended."

Conant defenders Rachel Raymer, Elizabeth Dolce, Christy Dizonno and Miranda Glennon, became more involved in front of Cyr, who was rarely called into the action during the second half.

Smeltzer had a go when teammate Zoe Shoro initiated a half-chance against the run of play, and Stephanie Mazurek grazed the bar on her angled drive from the right side.

"We'll have to be better at playing hard for 80 minutes next time out," said Stengren. "But all in all, this was a good win for us."

- Mike Garofola

Buffalo Grove 0, Prospect 0 (2 OT): Keepers Cassie Berman of BG and Mehgan Rickett of Prospect didn't allow anything in during MSL play in Mt. Prospect.