WW South blanks Batavia

Wheaton Warrenville South's girls soccer team ran the field in its season opener Thursday at Batavia.

But the young Bulldogs, who were also taking the field for the first time this year, did not make things easy. Though the Tigers peppered the Batavia keepers, and captured the 1-0 win, they managed just a single goal.

"We need to learn how to close a game out," Wheaton Warrenville South coach Guy Callipari said. "I knew we were eager and excited, but we wanted to try and string three or four passes together and work the nerves out. We were able to do that, and switched the point of attack a bit, and that dictated the game."

With just over 22 minutes remaining in the opening half, Leah Johnson's pass through the middle found a wide open Kelli Jones, who punched it in, and Batavia keeper Elana Mudrak never had a chance.

"Our outside was always open, so we were always looking for each other, and I was able to get underneath," Jones said. "We came out really well and worked together."

Wheaton Warrenville South's defense made certain that single goal would be enough. Seniors Sarah Langlas and Amy Quintana owned the middle and back, and the Bulldogs could not manage a shot on goal until the 10th minute of the second half.

"The back four did a terrific job, and Sarah cleaned things up in the middle," Callipari said.

Batavia got determined efforts by sophomore midfielders Dana Landem and Haliegh Erwin, who consistently tangled with Tiger veterans.

"We have a number of new players, and we're learning," Batavia coach Jim McAlpin said. "I'm confident that with a little more experience we're going to be a lot more solid than we are now."

The Tigers tallied 16 shots on goal, but Mudrak and Katie Morrissey, who took over at the start of the second half, were stingy and aggressive in the box.

"They each do a good job for us, and I have no hesitation about playing them both," McAlpin said.

Batavia's best scoring opportunity came in the 15th minute of the second half when Torrey Kinniard's free kick sailed just a few inches higher than the sophomore wanted it to, hitting the crossbar and bouncing beyond the goal.

Despite the loss, Batavia senior forward Mary Wandolowski felt confident her team will build on the experience.

"Now we know more about what we have to work on," Wandolowski said. "We'll get there."