Halftime chat gets Vernon Hills going
A 3-goal second-half explosion - with 2 coming just minutes after intermission - lifted Vernon Hills up and over visiting Wheeling on Friday afternoon in a nonconference girls soccer match.
The Cougars (4-3-0) took the lead for good at 44 minutes when Jenny Manhard scored from just inside the spot.
Three minutes later, teammate Brigid Walsh found the net at the back post.
"We talked at halftime about coming out and trying to pound home a goal in the first five minutes, and after that it really seemed to open things up for us," said junior midfielder Jessica Feece, who along with freshman striker Carly Manso gave the Wildcats (3-5-0) fits along the right side during the first 40 minutes with some terrific energy and creative play.
"Our attack has really improved after starting out just playing kick and run, and with (Carly), my sister Mallory, Julie Pecht and Lauren Clatch, we've been knocking the ball around and stringing passes together."
The Cougars had the best of it all in the middle, with the aforementioned group running freely and putting early pressure on the Wildcats in their own end.
Wildcats keeper Chloe Majowski likely deserved a better fate after a solid 80 minutes of work despite allowing 3 goals. She stopped Walsh in close at 35 minutes on what appeared to be a sure goal.
"We just didn't come out and play, and Vernon Hills just outworked us everywhere," said senior sweeper Sam Gorzelny, who along with Anna MacQueen and Kelsey Maczko did their best to keep everything in front of them and away from Majowski.
"Credit (Wheeling) on the defensive side because they played tough when they had to and kept it packed in during that first half to help keep us out of the back of the net," said Cougars coach Vince DeLuca.
Just after Walsh made it 2-0, the Wildcats had their best scoring opportunity, but Jackie Trombetta's cracker was saved by freshmen keeper Iris Ostrovsky.
Wheeling coach Darrren Llewellyn sent freshmen Gina Mazzetta, Amanda Peterson and Nia Evans onto the pitch in an effort to ignite the Wildcats. Although the trio did well in their first appearances, it proved not to be the answer.
"Our work rate just wasn't were it needed to be," Llewellyn said. "We were hoping that our win the other night against Elk Grove might carry over and give the girls something to build from, but from the very beginning we just didn't play as hard as we've seen them play before."
Nancy Lee finished the Cougars' scoring in the 64th minute.
Boys volleyball
Lake County Invite: Stevenson, Libertyville and Vernon Hills advanced to the championship round of the Lake County Invite by going 3-0 in preliminary action on Friday.
Stevenson defeated Mundelein (25-16, 25-23), Antioch (25-7, 25-7) and Highland Park (25-18, 25-21). Brad Feiger had monster games at the net, tallying a total of 31 kills over the three matches. Jay Meisner had 19 digs and 17 digs against Highland Park and Mundelein, respectively.
Vernon Hills defeated North Chicago (25-13, 25-10), Zion-Benton (25-19, 25-22) and Barrington (25-19, 25-21).
Ernie Choi rolled up 20 kills over the three matches, while Quintin Anderson led the defense with 22 digs. Keegan Harris added 17 kills, 2 aces and 2 blocks while Mike Robinson finished with 13 kills, 3 aces and 4 blocks.
Libertyville got wins over Lakes (25-16, 25-16), Waukegan (25-12, 25-6) and Lake Forest (25-18, 25-20).
Boys tennis
Carmel d. Marist: Carmel swept all four doubles matches to get a 4-2 victory over Marist.
The No. 1 team of Dan Avampato and Chris Butler led the way with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Brian Hyland and Mat Kukowski.
Grayslake Central 3, Lakes 2: Grayslake Central won both of its singles matches.
Central's Mitch Granger won the No. 1 singles match over Joey Davis (6-0, 6-2), while teammate Roy Pienaak came out on top in a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 marathon with Josh Rosenberg.
Meanwhile, Lakes got its victories in the Nos. 1 and 2 doubles matches. The No. 1 team of Andrew Yopp and Randall Haylock swept Pat Edmonds and Dan Cho 6-1, 6-1, while Mike Chernetsky and Andrew Flick defeated Central's Sterling Douglass and Mason Walker 6-4, 6-4 in the No. 2 match.