Cary-Grove using teamwork to get off to another hot start

For Cary-Grove the soccer field has been a battlefield, and currently the Trojans are winning the battles. At 5-0, the Trojans have not only scored a minimum of 5 goals per contest, 29 goals to date, but they have yet to give one up.

According to head coach Raymond Krystal teamwork is the key.

"Balance is the word that I choose," said coach Krystal. "If you have balance and consistency at the high school level, you have accomplished something."

With five games behind them, weather has been the only thing that has stopped the Trojans, who have certainly accomplished something thus far.

"This is just a fun group," said Krystal. "We have a group of girls here that gets along very well together, and they take that on the field with them.

"They are having fun, and it is infectious. This team has some of the best camaraderie I have seen."

Their support of one another is perhaps best shown by the numbers.

Goalkeeper Alex Holland has 5 shutouts in the books, and has blocked a total of 8 shots on goal. While she has single-handedly earned each of those saves in high-skilled goalkeeper fashion, her defense has only enabled her eight opportunities in five games.

"Defense for us is a team effort, and we are proud of that," Krystal explained. "Our goal here is for everybody to be a factor, and everybody is on board with that."

Offensively, the plan is the same.

In a recent 5-0 win over McHenry, Cary-Grove had 5 goals from five different players.

"When everybody is a factor, you are more dangerous to opponents," said Krystal.

And while seven players total have scored to date, some have found the back of the net more than others.

Currently leading the Trojan scoring attack is forward Kelsey Passaglia. In five games, she has logged a total of 12 goals and 6 assists including a hat trick in three different matches. Kelli Anderson follows with 5 goals, one hat trick and 4 assists.

"The way this season has gone, it's like every game is the first game," said Krystal in regards to cancellations and postponed contests.

"That being said, there has been a lot of enthusiasm from these girls that they carry out onto the field every time."

Southern hospitality: Crystal Lake South kicked off the 2008 campaign with a bold statement defeating the Daily Herald's No. 12 ranked team in Barrington (4-1) via a 2-0 conclusion before stumbling against Crystal Lake Central on April 3.

"It has been a long time since we've beaten Barrington," said coach Anne Santucci.

Unfortunately, Santucci believes that rainy days have washed away some of the team's confidence.

The Gators have played just three games since March 19, but perhaps a recent 2-0 win over Dundee-Crown provided just enough sunshine to get them back on track.

"Our game against Dundee-Crown felt like the first game of the season," said Santucci. "We still have a lot to work out, but it felt great to play.

"Dundee-Crown was a better team than we expected so I'm hoping a couple of those games will help remind our girls that they are a very strong team."

South will certainly be tested this weekend as they head to Prospect to compete in the Prospect Tournament.

D-C getting charged: With just 5 seniors on the roster and a new head coach, Dundee-Crown got off to a slow start, but changes in the right direction are happening fast.

The Chargers opened the season with a 1-1 tie versus Streamwood, and earned their first win of the year on April 8 defeating McHenry 4-1 before opening play at the Lake Park Tournament with a 1-1 tie against Morton.

"The team we have now is a completely different team from the one I saw on day one," said coach Sebastian Falinski. "Every girl on this team is working extremely hard, and taking several steps in the right direction.

"Our win over McHenry was one of the best games I have seen from this group."

Crystal Lake South coach Anne Santucci certainly wasted no time crediting D-C with a high-level of play.

"Anne said that we were one of the best teams that they have seen with ball possession in her four years with South," Falinski said.

"The thing that is going to carry us is teamwork."

In the meantime, Falinski notes that potential and capability is starting to show.

"Playing tough teams like Conant and Huntley early has quickly shown us what changes needed to be made, and what we need to do," he said. "The girls are taking action."

Going streaking: There is certainly something to be said for building momentum.

And as the clouds clear, area teams are all looking to get into the same pattern -- a winning pattern.

Sitting at 10-0, Huntley currently holds the title for most consecutive victories. However, the patterns continue to develop and several teams are boasting streaks of their own.

With 5 straight wins, Cary-Grove is looking to catch the Red Raiders.

After opening the season with a 2-0 loss to Conant, Hampshire has won four in a row. led offensively by Christine Schumacher (4 goals) and Alex Field ((3 goals).

Having gone unbeaten since April 8, Elgin Academy will enter the Dunlap Invitational this weekend on a 3-game win streak.

The team is starting to get together, and get familiar with one another," said Hilltoppers coach Greg Repede. "Veterans like Lauren Steimle, Allison Clark and Kate Burnham have not only done a nice job offensively, but they are setting an excellent example for the entire team."

Seniors Kyla Farquhar, Jacqui Diaz de Leon and Marysia Watson are also taking on successful leadership roles, but never underestimate the underclass.

Anchoring the defense, sweeper Farquhar is joined by newcomer Sienna Romano.

"These two girls are solidifying the team's defense," said Repede. "Bianca Swegler is also doing an excellent job in goal for us."

One of the biggest surprises for Repede and the Hilltoppers has been newcomer Alyssa Pena, who is on the soccer field for the first time ever.

"Alyssa is new to the sport, but she is such an incredible athlete that she has made immense contributions already," Repede said. "She is emulating our top players and doing so successfully.

"Kristin Cella has been outstanding bringing both excellent ball movement and tight passing skills to the field."

Jacobs and Burlington Central currently ride a pair of consecutive Ws, and for the Golden Eagles the storm is clearing in more ways than one.

Not only has weather impaired Jacobs, but it also opened the season with one of the more challenging schedules competing in the Pepsi Showdown along with Larkin.

"We struggled at the Pepsi Showcase, but those are some very, very talented teams that we faced," said coach Jim Dzialo.

With back-to-back wins over Whitney Young and Woodstock by respective scores of 4-0 and 5-0, the Golden Eagles will again be challenged soon enough.

"The true test will be in conference play starting with Crystal Lake South," said Dzialo. "With a few conference matches under the belt, I will have a better idea of where we stand."

Saints go marching: The lone area representative to the Suburban Catholic Conference, St. Edward sits on the high-end of the water mark at 3-2. In their most recent win, the Green Wave saw 7 goals from 7 different players en route to a 7-0 win over Driscoll.

"We're really stressing moving the ball around, and watching seven different girls score goals in one contest let me know that they are grasping what we're teaching," Wave coach Tim Brieger said.

With Brittany Brozek up top leading the offensive attack having scored a goal or collected 2 assists in each game to date, Brieger looks to Bianca Ramirez to lead the midfield and Mackenzie Malone to anchor the defensive end.

"Our first touch needs work, but the girls are moving the ball well," said Brieger. "In each game, someone new is shining which is great to see."

The Green Wave will host the St. Edward Tournament this weekend.