Girls soccer: Defense getting it done for Carmel

Carmel Catholic's girls soccer team has used a dominant defense to get off to a quick start.

The Corsairs finished their own season-opening quad on Thursday by shutting out Palatine 4-0 in Mundelein for their third straight victory. Carmel (3-0) started with 1-0 wins over Hersey and Lake Forest on Monday and Wednesday, respectively.

"This game became the easiest of the three because we got ahead early," Carmel coach Ray Krawzak said. "The defense showed up in the Hersey and Lake Forest games. Today, it was, 'Let's find a way (to generate) more offense.' I'm happy with the result and the way we got the lead early."

Jen Cutro had a goal and an assist for the Corsairs. Riley Harmon, Kathleen Graham and Olivia Pullin also found the back of the net. Zenaya Barnes had a couple of assists and Megan Smola picked up one.

The Corsairs scored three times in a 13-minute span in the opening half. Harmon opened the scoring, taking a cross from Cutro and finishing in the 10th minute.

"The best thing is the reaction scoring," said Harmon, whose goals was her second of the season. "Scoring the goals set the tone for the game and got everyone fired up. We're starting to build as a team."

Graham's chip shot under the crossbar off an assist from Barnes made it 2-0 in the 17th minute. Cutro tallied in the 22nd minute with a finishing touch off a feed from Smola. Pullin added the final goal off an assist from Barnes in the 75th minute.

Carmel's keepers Sophia Sarkis and Annie Burkhalter made a combined 4 stops.

Palatine (1-2) opened its season with a 3-0 loss to Lake Forest, before edging Hersey 2-1.

"We had segments that we played pretty well," Palatine coach Willie Filian said. "Number one, (Carmel) is a good team and number two, we're still trying to find ourselves."