Fast finish as Trojans prevail over West Chicago

The first half might have been a bit sluggish, but the second 40 minutes of Monday's soccer game between Downers Grove North and West Chicago made up for it.

All three of the game's goals were scored in the second half, and it was Downers Grove North (9-1-3) that came out with a 2-1 win over West Chicago (4-6-2).

"We had a very lackluster effort in the first half," said Trojans coach Jason Hunter. "But we played better in the second."

The Trojans held the attacking edge over the young Wildcats in West Chicago.

"We try to play attractive soccer, but we're still struggling with believing that we can play," said West Chicago coach Cesar Gomez. "When we play with confidence, we play well, but we're still working on that."

Kierstyn Harrington broke the scoring draught in the 46th minute, when Allison Gilbert dribbled up the right flank on a counter and centered a pass across the top of the penalty area.

Harrington settled it and tucked it inside the far post from 14 yards out.

West Chicago's Megan Radloff ripped a free kick on net from 24 yards out two minutes later, but Trojans' keeper Madeline Fitzpatrick was there to snare it. Radloff hit another shot just wide in the 56th minute.

"She's been keeping us in games," Gomez said of Radloff. "Teams have been putting two people on her as soon as they see how dangerous she can be."

The Trojans went up 2-0 when Jessica Bollow streaked up the right side with a ball at her feet and centered a pass to Shannon Schafer, who buried it from 12 yards out.

Bollow put several shots on net in the first half, and her blazing speed has been an asset in the attack all season for North.

"Even if she doesn't finish, she draws two people, which opens it up for someone else to go one-on-one," Hunter said.

The game's intensity level took a leap after West Chicago (4-6-2) cut the Trojans' lead in half. Melanie Fischer settled a ball 18 yards out in the 62nd minute, and her shot tore a path to the back netting.

For the game, DGNorth earned a 14 to 6 edge in shots on net but wasn't satisfied with the total effort put forth, although Hunter credited Katie Castrogiovanni with a full day's work.

"We have a few minutes here or there where the intensity is lacking, and that's where mistakes happen," Castrogiovanni said. "Especially in the first half, we didn't win enough of the fifty-fifty balls."

"But otherwise, we've been pretty good about putting in a full effort."