Warren nips Jacobs in Pepsi Showdown opener

First-year Jacobs girls soccer coach Anthony Cappello realizes the wins will come in time. But for now Cappello is looking for improved play and great effort every time his Golden Eagles take the field.

Losing their fourth game in a row decided by 1 goal, Warren edged Jacobs 3-2 in a first round game of the Pepsi Showdown played In Algonquin Tuesday night.

"It is very frustrating, but uplifting at the same time," said Cappello. "We played well tonight against a very good team, but couldn't get that right touch or right bounce. We are very young, playing a lot of sophomores and freshmen. Our time will come. The kids are giving great effort."

The Blue Devils (2-2) will play third-seeded New Trier in a second round winners bracket game Thursday at 6 p.m. The Golden Eagles (1-5) will play in a losers bracket game Friday at Lakes beginning at 4:30 p.m.

The Blue Devils, who trailed Jacobs 2-1 at halftime, came up with the big plays in the second half. With the score tied at 2-2, Warren's Natalia Jovanovic slipped through the Jacobs defense and scored what turned out to be the winning goal with 18:03 left in the game.

Warren sophomore goalie Amanda Macuiba ensured the Devils would register a win with two magnificent saves with 4:07 left in the match.

Macuiba initially made the save on a direct kick from Catie Sherman, then made a diving save on a rebound attempt by Cassidy Sherman.

"Amanda played very well the whole game and made some great saves with the game on the line," said Warren coach Jeff Knouse. "We challenged the seniors at halftime and told them they had to provide some leadership in the second half. We knew we had to play harder in the second half and we did. Jacobs is a very good team and we feel good with the win."

All 3 goals in the first half came in a 21-second span. Catie Sherman gave Jacobs a 1-0 lead with a goal at 18:01. Thirteen seconds later, Rachel Walz scored for Warren to tie the score at 1-1. At 18:22, Kelsey Quitschau gave Jacobs a 2-1 advantage with a goal. That was the score at halftime.

Warren, which outshot Jacobs 9-6, tied the game at 2-2 with 36:39 left in the game on a perfectly executed corner kick. Jackie Luka positioned herself in front of the Jacobs goal, taking a perfectly placed kick from Kelsey Armour and scored to tie the game.