Despite tough defense, Stevenson falls
Taylor Connington will help anchor the Stevenson girls soccer team's defense this season.
From her sweeper spot, Connington made her presence felt several times Wednesday, as she helped stop New Trier's attack, once by running to clear the ball off the goal line.
The Patriots withstood a lot of the pressure from the visiting Trevians but lost a 2-0 nonconference decision in their season opener.
"New Trier's forwards are fast and it's hard to keep track of them," said Connington, a senior playing her third year on varsity. "I just tried to keep the defense organized and make sure to clean up anything that got past.
"The best part is, we all know how each other plays back there and we all talk to one another."
Other Patriots defenders include Alison Bottner, Emily Niedermayer and Lindsay Onysio.
The Patriots' Lizzy Sanscrainte made a solid impression in her first game in goal, coming up with 11 saves - including several on point-blanks shots.
New Trier scored both goals a minute apart late in the first half.
The Trevians were awarded a penalty kick when Dani Fraelick and Sanscrainte collided. Fraelick was able to release a shot, which went over the crossbar.
New Trier's Amber Fry converted the PK for a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute.
The Trevians made it 2-0 when Eliza Fisher looped a shot that Sanscrainte saved. But Fraelick pounced on the rebound and finished.
"Our defense played a great game and so did our keeper," Stevenson coach Mark Schartner said. "The penalty shot broke our spirits. Our defense stepped. New Trier was a good team."
The Patriots are trying to fill the spots of several players who graduated.
"We're still trying to find our shape," Schartner said. "We haven't had much time outdoors, just like everybody else."
Trevians keeper Laura Martorana made 2 saves.
"I thought (Stevenson) played hard and pressured the ball," New Trier coach Jim Burnside said. "Stevenson brought the intensity. We had chances that we created. Stevenson's keeper played great."