Cary-Grove impressive in blanking Jacobs
Aggressiveness with a purpose.
That was Cary-Grove's motto Thursday against Jacobs, and the Golden Eagles never had a chance for victory.
Scoring with less than 3 minutes elapsed in the game, the Trojans stayed focused for 80 minutes in posting an impressive 4-0 Fox Valley Conference Valley Division win over Jacobs in Algonquin.
"The girls are working extremely hard in practice and this team is bringing that work ethic to games," said Cary-Grove coach Ray Krystal. "We came out and attacked and got a quick goal. We used the wind to our advantage. We are really working well together and learning together as a team. Our very challenging schedule which included the Pepsi Challenge is really paying off."
With a 40-mile per hour wind at their backs, the Trojans (10-6, 5-2) struck first with 37 minutes and 6 seconds left in the first half. Off a perfect pass from Brittany Kroening, Korey Kronforst's first of 2 goals gave the Trojans a 1-0 advantage.
The Trojans didn't waste time extending the lead. Cary-Grove grabbed a 2-0 advantage at 10:51 of the half when Mary Schneider scored off a pass from Kronforst. That was the score at halftime.
The Trojans made sure there wouldn't be a Jacobs (6-8-1, 1-4) comeback when Kroening scored off a pass from Schneider with only 7:58 elapsed in the second half.
Kronforst scored an unassisted insurance goal with 16 minutes left in the game to give the Trojans a 4-goal cushion.
"We were really connecting as a team today," said Kronforst. "We knew we had to come out strong because Jacobs is a very good team. We have been working hard in practice and that is one of the reasons we are playing well."
The Golden Eagles' best opportunity to score came early in the second half when Cassidy Sherman's free kick from 30 yards out hit the post.
Cary-Grove dominated play outshooting Jacobs 13-4.
"They are a very very dangerous, attacking team," said Jacobs coach AJ Cappello. "They came out very aggressive and got that quick goal on us. We had a nice talk at halftime and had a nice plan of attack, but Cary-Grove got a quick goal. We were in trouble down 3-0 in the second half."