Conant stays in MSL West race
Just keep on winning - that's all Conant can do right now.
With the MSL West Division race coming down to the final weekend of the regular season, the Cougars gained a much-needed victory on the road Thursday night at Rolling Meadows.
The Cougars (9-1-0-18 pts) netted second-half goals by Marrisa Ross and Lauren Jason to edge the Mustangs 2-1.
"(They) worked so hard for 80 minutes and did it with tenacious, feisty play which gave us trouble for long stretches and make us work to get a victory that we really needed," said Cougars coach Jason Franco, whose team plays Barrington on Saturday.
The Mustangs (4-7-1) withstood early pressure in front of senior keeper Kelly Zahorski.
The Cougars' Alyssa Stylski nearly set up a goal, but neither Brenna Fitzpatrick nor Kaitlin Chiero could unleash a shot, and Courtney Raetzman's drive of a loose ball went over the net.
"We've been having a little trouble scoring, but we know that if we can get a couple of goals it will take the lid (off) and it might open things up for us the rest of the way" said Jason, the Cougars' leading scorer with 10 goals.
Mustangs senior Taylor Fritz nearly converted a pass from Rebecca Zych, but Cougars keeper Jackie Piasecki made a clutch save.
Ross, who was just brought on by Franco at 61 minutess, paid immediate dividends when she had enough touch to go up and over Zahorski in the 63rd minute to snap the scoreless match.
"What a terrific moment for Marissa who usually gives us 10-15 minutes of play," Franco said.
After Ann Marie Lynch unloaded a missile off the football crossbar on an indirect dead ball in the 70th minute, the Mustangs failed to convert a chance to draw even in close off a scrum.
Jason added to the Cougars' lead with the help of Stylski and Paige Wentzel.
Fritz scored on an assist from Maggie Moran in the 79th minute to make the score 2-1.
"We're obviously missing a very important player in our lineup in Alex Partipilo (out for the year) and our depth doesn't allow us to plug someone in to take her place," said Mustangs coach Jeff Adkins. "But our effort was exceptional against a very strong opponent, and I am very proud of the team and the fact that we can use this match as one to help jump-start us in the postseason.