Hersey lines up stingy defense

Hersey has found the perfect combination to lock up opposing offenses.

Switching to a 3-5-2 alignment this season in front of sophomore goalkeeper Julia Fredian has the Huskies with 10 shutouts in their first 16 matches for the Mid-Suburban East co-leaders.

Hersey coach Brad Abel thought the alignment would work with senior Rosie White, senior Kristen Gierman and sophomore Andrea Perkins returning to the starting lineup.

"We wanted to play a more possession style with five in the middle," Abel said. "It's worked out pretty good."

White, Gierman and Perkins are the back three with Amanda Slove and Kathryn Korff in the middle. Chelsea Santora is also a key part as an attacking midfielder.

"The big thing is the three in the back," Abel said. "You need to have three solid defenders who are able to run with the top forwards in the state."

Korff and Slove bring an important physical presence that is vital on 50-50 balls, which Abel said was one of the differences in the Huskies' 2-1 win at Fremd last Wednesday.

Korff was originally going to play the back but before the season Abel put Gierman there. Last year Gierman had 5 goals as an outside midfielder/forward but this year was one of 11 players selected to the all-tournament team in the prestigious 32-team Pepsi Showdown.

"She's like the field general on the backline," Abel said.

"You can count on her to control every single ball back there," White said.

Gierman also is closing in on 10 assists and has been vital to Hersey's success on set pieces. Abel said it's how leading scorer Jackie Drees has totaled half of her goals.

"That's one of the things that's been working for us," Abel said of the Huskies' ability to get into the defensive third and force corner and free kicks.

Defense drives Cougars: Conant (13-2-1) has 2 more victories than last season by allowing only 6 goals and posting 10 shutouts going into today's 6 p.m. MSL West showdown at Fremd.

"We've really locked it down defensively," said second-year Conant coach Jason Franco. "We've won a lot of games 1-0 in conference and that's the difference. If those are ties or losses we're not talking about the Fremd game being big for us."

Versatile senior all-state candidate Brittany Bodziak started most of the year at sweeper but was moved forward three games ago by Franco. Senior Meghan Melone has moved back to sweeper.

Brittany Haggerty, Emma Loos and stopper Becky Knoll have been solid for three-year starting keeper Monica Danek.

And Conant doesn't have an easy road to finish the MSL West with a visit to Barrington at 4:30 p.m. Monday.

"This (Fremd) is probably one of the biggest conference games we've had in a long time," Franco said. "We'll find out what we're made of. We've had a pretty nice season so far but Fremd and Barrington back-to-back are two tough games."

Knights get offense going: Prospect went into the Moline tournament at .500.

But the Knights won the title by outscoring three opponents 12-1 and kept rolling by beating Palatine 1-0 and Rolling Meadows 4-0.

"I think we're playing with a lot of confidence," said Prospect coach Tom Froats. "For us early in the year we created opportunities we're still creating, but we're doing a much better job of finishing them.

"We're winning games that early in the season we ended up tying or just losing."

Midfielder Becky Santiago has been instrumental as a playmaker in getting the Knights' attack going. Julie Schmoldt had 5 goals in Moline and Susie Lello and Mo O'Keefe have also been dangerous threats.

Maggie Fettis' midfield play has supported a solid defense led by Lexi Glennon, Caroline Aubry, Lauren Leipprandt, Ali Ives and Michelle Pappas.

"Our defense has really come together," Froats said. "With a strong defense you create opportunities offensively."

And it doesn't hurt to have the top two students in the senior class in goalkeeper Marietta Smith and midfielder Alex Moxley.

"They've provided great senior leadership on and off the field," Froats said.

Setting the table: This is the first season the MSL has gone to the Table system of standings with 2 points for a win and 1 point for a tie. The division champions will meet for the MSL Cup at 7 p.m. Thursday at the West winner.

The big difference with the table -- which the boys also used for the first time in the fall -- is all 11 MSL matches count in the standings.

In the past, there was almost no margin for error with just 5 division matches counting toward a title.

"I love it," said Hersey coach Brad Abel. "Last year we lost our first division game to Prospect and I knew right there we were out of it for the most part.

"It gives every conference game a little more to look forward to and gives them a little more meaning."

Abel said the only downside is the number of games and deciding their importance compared to other in-season tournaments. Abel would also like to see wins receive a greater value with 3 points.

Conant coach Jason Franco is also a proponent of the new system.

"In the past if you slipped up in one of the division games that was pretty much the end," Franco said. "I think it's a truer showing of who really is the top team."

Prospect coach Tom Froats saw positives and negatives to the Table.

"It gives a little more excitement to each of the games we play and a little more importance," Froats said. "But I still like the division aspect of it where you're competing with East teams and there is a little bit of a rivalry."

Fans can keep track of the updated MSL Table on the Prospect girls soccer Web site through http://phs.d214.org.