Scoreless, but plenty of thrills
If the opening match of the annual Mairin Wallner Memorial Tournament at Barrington is any indication, the next couple of days of soccer should be a treat for fans from all eight clubs on hand.
Conant and St. Viator played to a 0-0 draw in a very entertaining match despite the lack of goal-scoring. Fueled by terrific talent made, the fast and ultra-wide turf inside the Fillies call home was an ideal setting.
After its 0-0 result last Saturday against Rockford Boylan in its tournament opener, MSL West-leading Conant (10-1-2 overall) gained another point in pool play, while St. Viator (7-4-3) earned a single point in its first match of the tournament.
"I think we showed that we can play with just about anyone," said St. Viator coach Sam Donnelly, a day after his club defeated Providence Catholic 4-0. "Conant obviously is a very good side and we had some wonderful chances to score, but were unable to put any of them away.
"However, we are getting closer with each match that we play and our hope is to peak when the state tournament starts in a couple of weeks."
The Cougars appeared relaxed and comfortable on the ball during the opening minutes and played through its midfield with ease as Courtney Raetzman, Jesse Rosales and Becky Knoll regularly found Alyssa Stylski and Lauren Jason up top.
"Conant played a formation we were not familiar with and we found it difficult to deal with during most of the first half," said Lions sweeper Colleen Nolan.
Nolan and her backline mates did well to soak up the pressure until the Lions attack found their pace. And when that occurred, it was the Cougars who needed to turn their attention to the defensive side.
The freshman-sophomore duo of Katelyn Hammarlund and Taylor Skala provided plenty of high energy and well-designed runs which began out of the middle, while keeping the pressure up when the Cougars along the back were on the ball.
Just minutes after intermission, Skala broke through on the right side and unloaded a drive from 16 yards which forced Conant keeper Linday Fillingam to stop, with all this coming after a well-built attack that led to Jason heading over the bar a Brenna Fitzpatrick serve to the spot.
The sequence helped turn the urgency of both sides up a notch, with the tackling becoming more fierce and speed of play a little quicker up until the final whistle.
Conant had a chance to go in front after Kaitlin Chiero was tripped up inside the box, but the ensuing PK attempt by Raetzman was struck directly at keeper Stephanie Shanahan who made the sure-handed save at 58 minutes.
In a brilliant exchange in close, Stylski nearly watched Jason redirect a header into the back of the net at 71 minutes, while a stealth-like counter by the Lions initiated by Hammarlund sent Skala through, but without luck.
"I thought during those last 25-30 minutes we had the run of play, but just couldn't punch one in," said Conant coach Jason Franco. "St. Viator surprised us and played very well, and at times exposed us a little bit in the back which will help in our development as the season progresses."