Metea Valley answers wakeup call

Gillian Allen's goal just 33 seconds into Monday's season opener gave the Hinsdale South girls water polo team a 1-0 lead.

That was a good thing - for Metea Valley.

"I'm actually thankful that they did (score) because you've got to come into the game always in the mindset that you're going to lose," Metea Valley senior Alex Cerra said. "So you have to try your best.

"It was a good wakeup call."

That it was. Gabby Duval tied the game 27 seconds later, the first of seven consecutive goals for the visiting Mustangs, who cruised to a 16-9 victory in Darien.

Sadie Gregory and Lexie Budnick each scored twice and Cerra once to give Metea a 6-1 lead after the first quarter. Caroline Kellogg made it 7-1 in the second quarter before the Hornets answered with a Devan Rospert goal with 4:35 left in the half.

Metea coach Dave MacDonald, who played everyone who dressed after using his starters in the first quarter, wasn't surprised at the fast start.

"Surprised, no, but I came into the game with kind of a traditional start because although I thought the game would be in our favor, you never know what a team is going to come at you with," MacDonald said. "I approached the start of the game cautiously and put my more experienced players to feel things out."

The Mustangs led 11-4 at the half and by at least 6 goals the rest of the way despite getting all of the reserves some playing time.

"Since we only had a week (of practice) instead of two weeks like last year to prepare for our first game I feel like we came out here and did a really good job," Cerra said. "We had a big advantage, but we took full advantage of the advantage that we had in that we played our best players in the first quarter.

"But we made sure that every player got enough experience that we think could help them later in the season. (We like) being able to say everyone is a shooter. We don't really have positions."

Allen and Briana Veselik both had 2 goals to lead Hinsdale South, which is coming off a 2-26 season.

"Coming off of just a week of practice I thought the girls did phenomenal in the water today," Hinsdale South coach Landon Joiner said. "They had good communication and they've been working through the off-season just building up the team camaraderie and the team atmosphere.

"We have low numbers this year, but I think the girls are really going to get after it."