Girls soccer: Conant connects for fourth straight win

So far, so good for Conant's girls soccer team.

After a season-opening loss to No. 1 St. Charles North, the Cougars have reeled off four straight victories. The most recent was Monday's 3-1 Mid-Suburban League crossover triumph against Buffalo Grove at Grant Blaney Stadium.

With the Cougars (4-1-0, 2-0-0) struggling to get control of the game and nearly every first and second ball, it was Val Moreno who gave her side some life with a goal at 12 minutes.

Junior Stephanie Mazurek doubled the Cougars' advantage shortly after the half-hour.

"Buffalo Grove had most of the play in the first half because they won all of the 50-50 balls and controlled the midfield because of it, until we scored that first goal," said Mazurek, a two-time all-area choice who has scored in all five of the Cougars' games.

"For the first 15-20 minutes they (Buffalo Grove) had us under pressure with their ability to win so many of the first and second balls, plus their speed, quickness and a nice work rate as well," said Conant coach Jason Franco. "They have some very good young players who are technical and can play the game. But we have players like Mazurek, who is a proven scorer, and some very good players around her. And they all came through when we needed them to today."

The Bison (1-3-1, 0-1-0) had the best of it from the opening whistle, thanks in part to some terrific combination work up top.

The freshman-sophomore duo of Pamela Bolis and Macy Floro connected often with another frosh, Quinlan Libit, who ran the attack for the home side from the midfield.

That trio was joined by an active back line which joined the attack or provided service to its front-runners. Sophomore Kendra Lee and a pair of freshmen, Bridget Reynolds and Savannah Larsen, were those leaders.

"Our young players are coming along nicely but with so much youth and inexperience, we lack confidence, especially in the final third where we've struggled this season thus far," said BG coach Pat Dudle.

Moreno's splendid one-timer in close finished what Mazurek and Jess Smeltzer aided after teammate Delaney Hoye started the sequence with a wonderful ball out of the back.

"Delaney has been terrific in the back for us this season," Franco said.

Jackie Molloy made the first of her goal-saving stops just after Moreno's goal. Molloy's best save came in the 31st minute when the senior keeper fearlessly turned away a point-blank blast by Mazurek.

Mazurek, who has bagged 16 goals in her first two seasons at Conant, scored her fifth of the season when she ran onto an early ball from Smeltzer at 32 minutes.

Smeltzer, who added another helper on the final goal of the contest, had scored in the last three games for the Cougars.

The Bison nearly pulled one back just before the break when Bolis roared up the left side before stinging the gloves of Cyr with her well-aimed attempt. It spilled toward the back post where Clare Reynolds and Tess Vasilakos came close to getting a touch on the ball.

The home side enjoyed a bright start to the second half as Alyssa Floro used a bit of trickery to beat two Cougars into the box.

Once there, the senior forced Taylor Cyr to send her low drive off the post and almost over the end line, which the assistant referee confirmed with a sharp eye.

Miranda Glennon added another goal to the score line for the visitors when she steered in a Neide Ocampo corner inside the six-yard box.

Libit ended Cyr's bid for a shutout with her angled shot three minutes from time.

"It was good to get 3 points to begin a week in which we have four games in five days," Franco said.

Conant faces Elk Grove on Wednesday, travels to Fremd on Friday before finishing on Saturday with Palatine.

The Bison will be busy as well with Fremd and Hersey on the schedule before the weekend.

"We had almost 2½ weeks off because of the weather and spring break," Dudle said. "So we just need to get some games to help us sort things out and our young players continue to learn under fire."

Lake Zurich 4, Hersey 1: Kristin Brousseau scored a hat track as visiting Lake Zurich's girls soccer team came away from Hersey with a 4-1 victory on Monday in nonconference play.

Brosseau's goals were assisted by Haley Brousseau, Abby Willock and Rachel Krueger, and Anna Biergans also tallied with an assist from Samantha Hartman.

Claire Jones made 4 stops in goal for the Huskies (2-0-3).

Barrington 4, Palatine 1: The host Fillies won their third straight, improving to 3-0-2 overall and 2-0 against Mid-Suburban League foes.