Girls soccer: Carmel gets edge on Benet in ESCC race
Carmel got the win it had to have to inch one step closer to lifting the East Suburban Catholic Conference trophy for the second consecutive year.
The Corsairs defeated Benet 2-0 Tuesday afternoon in Lisle.
Sarah Galla and Emma Heinrich put the Corsairs (11-3-0, 6-0-0) in control with their two goals in the first quarter hour. Then they watched their teammates defend with all their might to collect their sixth shutout victory in league play while dashing the title hopes of the Redwings for good.
"That was a magnificent start by our girls today," said Carmel coach Ray Krawzak, whose club will face St. Viator on Friday in Arlington Heights knowing a win gives the Corsairs the outright championship and a draw means sharing the trophy with St. Viator.
"This was a big one for us to get (and) with the focus the girls had before and at the start, it helped us get an early goal, and another one soon after which allowed us to sit in a little more in the second half and defend our lead," Krawzak added.
The opening goal deflated the Redwings, with Galla on the end of a terrific ball sent into the 6-yard box that allowed the freshman to pound her one-timer past goalkeeper Eva Frantzen in the sixth minute.
The Corsairs had their second soon after when Olivia Salvi, alone at the back post, elevated to head Ciara Thomas' curling corner kick effort and double the visitors' advantage at 14 minutes.
"That was not the start we were looking to have. (We) played nervous from the opening whistle, and by the time we settled in (we) were chasing the game and the two goals Carmel put in," Benet coach Gerard Oconer said.
Despite trailing at home the Redwings (14-3-1, 6-1-0) spent the rest of the first half and nearly all of the second trying in vain to pry open their guests in an attempt to get back into the contest.
The best chance to do so at this point in the game fell to Jackie Schuman after Nicole Burns created an opportunity for her teammate in the 22nd minute. However, it was a devastating early ball from Schuman to Cami Picha that put Sarah Bozych through and in on Sophia Sarkis.
The Corsairs goalkeeper, sensing trouble, challenged far off her line without hesitation to persuade Bozych's attempt to go wide.
There was newfound confidence in the Redwings from the opening whistle of the second half, but a handful of chances were either denied by Sarkis or her teammates in front of her. At this point the Corsairs went from a 4-4-2 formation to four in the back, plus Salvi and Emma Heinrich now in support of the back line.
"We knew Benet would come after us in the second half, so Olivia and I dropped a little deeper to add two defensive midfielders, and I think that really helped frustrate them and help us hold onto the lead," Heinrich said.
The Redwings will close the regular season on Thursday at Hinsdale Central. Carmel continues its busy final week with Stevenson on Wednesday night, Vernon Hills away on Thursday, before its key match with St. Viator.