Girls soccer: Munoz, Elgin trip up South Elgin
The big snowflakes slowly wafting down made for a lovely winter scene. Unfortunately, this is April.
But such is the state of spring in the Midwest in this crazy year, and the Elgin and South Elgin girls soccer teams made the best of it Thursday.
One person not affected by the conditions was Hayley Munoz. The Elgin junior scored twice, and Emily Graves added a goal as the Maroons prevailed, 3-0, in the nonconference matchup at frigid Memorial Field.
Munoz scored the only goal of the first half, taking a long feed from Guadalupe Sanchez and, after the South Elgin goalkeeper slipped a bit, put it in from short range.
"I saw a great opportunity," said Munoz. "I followed the ball and had a great shot."
Regardless of the conditions, Munoz was anxious to face the Maroons' rivals to the south.
"I was excited to play South Elgin," she said. "I was hoping for a goal and a win."
The snow tapered off in the second half, and the conditions never really became an issue.
"The conditions actually ended up being way better than I thought they were going to be," said South Elgin coach Laura Szwaja. "That became a nonfactor, I think. If you're in spring soccer, it's something you're used to."
The weather might even have brought the Maroons (2-5) together a little bit.
"I'm just happy that the girls all came together and were working really strong," said Elgin coach Alicia Knoll. "What could have been a not-good situation with the weather, they decided to really work hard together, play to each other's strengths, and it ended up being a positive outcome for us."
Munoz notched her second goal early in the second half on a breakaway. She found herself all alone in the offensive zone, deked the keeper to the left, and fired the ball in from about 20 yards out.
That was more than enough offense for keeper Joana Mercado, Kylie Graves, and the Elgin defense. But Emily Graves made sure that Elgin's lead was safe, knocking in a shot in the 69th minute. The keeper again appeared to slip, and was unable to get to Graves' bouncing shot.