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Girls soccer: Maine South too much for Palatine

A four-goal second half explosion by Maine South, led by Penn State-bound Emma Thomson, sent Palatine home with a 6-1 girls soccer defeat Thursday night at Wilson Stadium in Park Ridge.

There was little the visiting Pirates (1-2-1) could do once the Hawks (2-0-0) got on their collective front foot, inspired by some terrific work from junior Maddie Malinowski in the middle of the park who got the attack for the home side up and running after the break.

"No. 14 (Malinowski) had a lot of energy out there tonight - too much for us, and once they got going, they never really stopped," admitted Pirates head coach Willie Filian.

"We obviously need to play more games together to help us sort a few things out, and to get players more comfortable playing at this speed and level of play but that's not an excuse. Maine South was just better than us tonight."

Neither side enjoyed much of the play in the early going of this nonconference contest which began with a fine mist - and would graduate later to a light rain which would end in the final 10 minutes of regulation.

Palatine would keep its hosts under pressure with its usual ways - winning first and second balls, creating a deep throw or corner here and there but it was the Hawks who would strike first with Thomson finding the back of the net at 10 minutes.

"I really thought Palatine owned the first 8-10 minutes of the game, but we were fortunate to get kind of a fluky goal from Emma to get the lead," said Hawks head coach JJ Crawford.

Alexis Ortega-Saa would create a corner for the Pirates' Carolyn Soukup, whose serve into the box was cleared smartly out of the area by Chloe Sassan.

With Soukup helping keep things organized and tight along the back, the visitors would respond with a goal of their own to equalize in the 23rd minute.

That's when Sarah Clancy would provide a near perfect ball into the box to allow Kacie Filian to redirect her header past Hawks first-half keeper Katie Kons.

"I really like the way we came to back to get back even in this game, but after that second goal they scored, we really had a tough time finding our game again," said Soukop, who will play next fall at UW-Parkside.

Maine South got off to a flying start after the intermission with Sara Ignoffo finishing at the back post a lovely ball from Emily Olson in the 45th minute.

Thomson would drive her 20-yard free kick in just after the hour to make it 4-1, and would dominate the rest of the way with two more goals from Annika Schmidt and Katie Wolinski.

"We have a terrific one-two punch up top with Thomson and Schmidt, and a hardworking midfield led by Malinowski, so I feel like we can be a very good team once we get more games under our belt," said Crawford, whose club takes on CSL rival Glenbrook South next Tuesday.

Palatine will open play in the MSL next Wednesday against Buffalo Grove.

"Maine South had more of a physical edge to its game, and we didn't. We'll have to work on getting better with that, plus a few other things before our next game," offered Filian.

Softball

Junior Olivia Morini had 4 hits while sophomore Kylee Gucwa and sophomore Hannah Young had 2 apiece as Buffalo Grove posted a 16-5 triumph over Dalton Hgh School (NY) on Thursday in Tampa, FL.

The Bison, who led 10-0 after thee innings, also received 2 doubles from junior Lauren Beiersdorf (3 RBI) and one by freshman winning pitcher Megan Fontanetta.

Freshman Alyssa Ramos (2 RBI) had a triple. Senior Alexa O'Rourke and Young each had 2 RBI.

BG improved to its record to 5-3 in Tampa and stands at 6-4 overall.

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