Melone, Conant start season on nice roll

At this rate Conant's girls soccer team and Meghan Melone are in for big seasons.

Melone scored her third goal and Conant improved to 3-0 as it beat the hosts 1-0 for the first Grayslake Central Invitational title Friday afternoon.

"It's nice to start the year winning three in a row," Conant coach Jason Franco said. "I was hoping to get these 3 games getting the ball rolling before we get started with our conference (Mid-Suburban) race.

"I was telling the girls this is similar to our conference. These girls (Grayslake Central) were tough and athletic. Grayslake Central was tough to break down and they proved that today. We were only able to get 1 goal on them."

It came in the seventh minute when Melone scored on a 25-yard free kick.

"I was trying to put it up in the corner," said Melone. "Most of the time, I'm the one to take the kicks. I was trying to look for the goalkeeper's weaker side.

"I expected us to get a couple of breakaways, but they (Grayslake Central) were a real good team. I'm surprised my goal was the game-winner."

Grayslake Central (3-2) won two out of three games in the tournament, getting past Waukegan and Hampshire, and gave a good effort against Conant.

"I thought we totally took them (Conant) out of their game," Grayslake Central Mike McCaulou said. "I thought the game was really even and they had one real good opportunity to score.

"We've been scored upon five times in five games and four of those are on dead ball situations. We've got to get better on those and stop giving them up. We've got to be smart defensively."

Conant used two goalkeepers as Jackie Piasecki and Anna Senyk each combined to make 4 saves in earning the shutout.