Loretto supplies 'O' for Patriots

Scoring goals can be a challenge.

Ask Stevenson's girls soccer team.

Against St. Viator in Arlington Heights on Friday, the visiting Patriots hit a crossbar and a couple of posts and saw a defender clear a ball off the goal line.

Despite the tough breaks, Stevenson pulled out a 1-0 victory, handing the Lions their first loss.

Freshman Melissa Loretto scored the goal in the 41st minute.

The Patriots' Kelley Moran lofted a ball that ricocheted off the corner of the goal frame. Laura Schroeder then kicked the rebound off the legs of St. Viator keeper Mary-Kate Supplitt. Loretto pounced on the ball, maneuvered around a defender in tight space and buried a shot for her first varsity goal.

"I think when I got the ball, I just switched it," Loretto said. "The ball was on my feet and I just kicked it in."

Stevenson (2-1) had a number of scoring opportunities throughout the game.

"We know we can play defense. It's a matter of us putting together combinations up on top," Stevenson coach Mark Schartner said. "I'm pleased with our opportunities -- hitting the bar and the posts. The goal we did get was one of the weaker chances we had. But we had great communication out there."

One of best saves of the day happened 15 seconds before halftime.

St. Viator's Meghan McGrath came back on defense and made a sliding kick to clear a ball off the goal line. McGrath ended up in the goal, but the ball amazingly stayed out, keeping the game scoreless.

"The ball was coming across and going to the goal," McGrath said. "I just kicked it as high as I could. It spun out away from the goal and out of bounds. I didn't think I had a chance for it. I just made it."

Patriots keeper Courtney Levy made 5 saves in earning her second straight shutout.

St. Viator (5-1-1) had trouble controlling play almost from the get-go.

"I thought we were ragged and started out slow," St. Viator coach Sam Donnelly said. "We did play well the last 20 minutes of the game. We just couldn't get the last touch.

"I think we played better than Stevenson expected us to play. We're probably one of the more skillful teams that Stevenson will see all season."