Girls soccer: Formula's a winner for Libertyville in season opener

Expectations are riding on the high side this season for Libertyville's girls soccer team, and why not?

The Wildcats have several experienced players bringing leadership to a program with plenty of young, talented players.

The mix was a winner in Libertyville's season opener as the Wildcats rolled past visiting Hersey 5-0 in a nonconference matchup Tuesday afternoon at Brainerd Field in Libertyville.

"We're young, but kept our composure and didn't panic," said Kevin Thunholm, who was coaching his first game after long time Hall of Fame coach Andy Bitta stepped aside due to health reasons last month. "I thought we moved the ball real well for not being outside at all this spring. We played the ball to feet. But we need to finish - and I think it will come. We just need to play with more confidence."

Taylor Underwood, one of the returning seniors, scored a goal and assisted on another as the Wildcats jumped out to a 3-0 first-half lead.

Underwood found Morgan Verbeten up front for the first goal in the fifth minute. Then Underwood scored in the 19th minute as her shot deflected off a Hersey defender into the back of the net for a 2-goal advantage.

"We have a good bunch of new girls this year, so we're young but we have a lot of leadership," Underwood said. "We do have a lot of speed (up top), and we can easily get on the ball. I think we will be able to find the back of the net."

Makenna Yoor added a third Wildcats goal just before the half for a 3-0 lead at the break. Libertyville's second-half goals came from Mary Murphy and Bryn Miller.

Underwood and Maddie Olson figure to help settle Libertyville from their midfield spots. Olson plans to have a two-way awareness to her game.

"I feel that I have to be there offensively and defensively for the team," Olson said. "If I'm making runs in the box and at the same time we get counter-attacked, then I have to make a run back and help defend. So, I'm definitely all over the field. I really think we work well in the midfield and I expect this season will be really good for us."

Freshman Kendall Edwards, in her first game in goal, made 5 stops and got the shutout.

Hersey, also a young team this year, played without senior center-back Erin Smetana, who missed the game with illness.

"I like the fact that they don't have the idea of quitting," Hersey coach Darren Llewelyn said. "Right now, we're going to focus on Carmel (Hersey's Thursday opponent) and focus on our mistakes from this one.

"This is a game to see what we can do. With how Libertyville scored goals, they're all curable. I don't panic with that, because we're going to see it over and over. We just have to work on the little things, on positioning."