Martinez gets Glenbard North started
After deciding late in the preseason to rejoin the Glenbard North girls soccer lineup, senior center midfielder Emma Martinez wouldn't let an additional 30 minutes of waiting affect her Monday.
The original 6:30 p.m. start against Addison Trail was delayed by bad weather in Carol Stream. The teams were instructed to warm up in the field house so play could begin as soon as possible.
"Of course it's hard to play before a game when you're not on the field," Martinez said. "It's hard to warm up, but we got everyone focused in the last 10 minutes and we really pulled it together before we had to scramble on the field."
Only 7:50 into the game, Martinez buried a 20-yard direct kick and the Panthers were on their way to a 5-0 nonconference victory.
A four-year varsity player who played forward as a freshman and sophomore, Martinez scored just once in 2016.
"It's definitely nice scoring," Martinez said. "We've been working on that. We've been working on coming out stronger with more energy."
The Panthers (1-5-1) had scored just once entering the game. They also got goals from sophomore Sofia Espana, freshmen Alexis Bolger and Mariela Manuel and junior Aurelia Carulli. Bolger assisted Manuel's goal.
The hosts took control at the outset and finished with 28 shots - 17 on goal - and 10 corner kicks.
"They did come out well," Glenbard North coach David Stanfield said. "We've played some really tough games against some good teams. They probably realized tonight they had a winnable game. They didn't dwell on the ball unnecessarily. They moved it well. They moved it with pace. The movement off the ball was pretty good."
Addison Trail (1-9) was shut out for the fifth consecutive game. The Blazers had one distant shot off goal in the first half but repeatedly tested Glenbard North sophomore goalie Karissa Chalus in the second.
"That's been the story of our team. The second half is when we come out a little bit stronger, a little more poised," Addison Trail coach Sergio Nunez said. "It's the first 10, 15 minutes of every game that we get scored on. As soon as we get around that bend, then we start playing soccer."
Martinez nearly didn't play soccer this season. Stanfield said she initially approached him about being a team manager but then reconsidered. After fulfilling tryout and practice obligations, she made her season debut against Metea Valley on March 25.
"It's so nice. I love the lights. I love the field. I love the turf. I love the team," Martinez said. "It's my fourth year on the team and I love it. The competition's great."
And the Panthers sure can use her. She's their only senior.
"It's a little sad but I love the team so it's fine," Martinez said.
"Apart from her ability, she's just a good influence to have," Stanfield said. "I was very, very happy for her, more than anything, when she decided to come back. She's a really good role model for the other girls. She shows a lot of leadership, but the other kids are stepping up too, even the younger ones. (Freshman center midfielders) Alexis Bolger and Perla Kamami have really settled in quickly."
Bolger scored the goal for a 3-0 halftime advantage and assisted Manuel moments after Bolger's corner kick. Bolger also served as decoy to Martinez's free kick.
"It's fun to get out there and win games and be able to move around," Bolger said. "We played a pretty good game with everyone on the field. Everyone gets along amazingly. We couldn't get along any better."
With 32 minutes left the Blazers' Suhei Valbuena broke free down right wing and put a shot on the right post that Chalus deflected. Roughly a minute later, Chalus went to her knees to handle a 25-yard free kick by Meryem Ahmed and charged to the top of the box to block Valbuena's point-blank shot with 27 minutes left.
"We moved the ball around really well tonight so moving forward, when our competition gets tougher, (I'm hoping) that we maintain our composure as opposed to just kicking and running," Martinez said. "Tonight we did maintain our composure, regardless of the score."