Mustangs too tough for Benet
Benet and Downers Grove South engaged in a girls soccer game that was typical of the annual 16-team Naperville Invitational.
Hard play, a handful of scoring chances and a close contest.
The Mustangs' 2-1 win was built on goals from Caitie Adams and Katie Baschen, plus an element for which Benet had to acclimate.
"They're a physical team, and we're not used to teams going that hard to the ball and winning so many balls in the air," Benet's Brynne Miller said. "They're strong, and they go in hard.
"We were better against it in the second half, but we need to work on that."
The Redwings (6-3-1) struck first when Katie Kaufmann got behind the defense after a through ball from Miller and sent it into net from 10 yards out.
The Mustangs (8-4) responded with steady pressure over midfield and four corner kicks to halftime. Downers South tied the score before the break when Adams buried a long serve at the far post in the goalmouth, sent in by Jess Bronke.
"I knew a goal was coming, because they were spending so much time keeping the ball on our end," said Benet coach Henry Wind.
Coach Barry Jacobson's squad is young but put forth its typical tooth-and-nail battle all over the field.
"It's always a good game with Benet, an up-and-down the field game," Jacobson said. "That was a big win for us. Little by little, we're getting better."
That win effectively came when Lauren Rusk sent a ball over to Katie Baschen, who chipped a ball into the wind from 20 yards out.
Baschen's ball floated high and twisted under the crossbar seven minutes into the second half.
"We practice crosses all the time, so I knew I just had to hit it toward the goal," Baschen said. "I knew the wind would do something with it."
Wind applauded the play of Benet sweeper Jill Olliges, and the Mustangs' Kimmy Grimmer did an exceptional job of hounding Benet's leading scorer, Liz Dudek.
After Baschen's goal Benet's Tegan Albert sent a head shot off the post and the Redwings never found an equalizing goal.
"This is great for us right now," said Benet coach Henry Wind. "We need games like the ones we get in this tournament.
"We're not giving up a lot of shots. We just don't score a lot. But we're playing good soccer."