Loebel, Allon strike twice in Geneva’s win

On paper, Geneva’s girls soccer team certainly figured to be stronger team when it traveled to play on West Aurora’s artificial surface on Saturday afternoon.

But with the favored Vikings struggling to put the pieces together and with the Blackhawks’ Jessica Saffell a constant threat on breakaways, the opening 35 minutes were as intriguing as they were scoreless.

Geneva got an all-important scoring breakthrough 3 minutes before halftime and had a considerably easier time of it in the second half, and eventually won the nonconference match 6-0 to improve to 4-0 for the season.

“We were playing kind of narrow, trying for through balls and they were going straight to the keeper,” Geneva’s Michaela Loebel said. “In the second half, we looked more wide and connected through the middle more.”

Although the Vikings train and play their home matches on natural grass, they have experience playing on artificial turf, including Thursday’s 3-0 win over South Elgin. The surface still requires some adjustment, and Geneva struggled with the increased pace the ball took for much of the first half.

“It definitely moves a lot quicker,” Loebel said. “We’re getting used to it. But it’s a lot different from our field. Ours kind of goes like a hill.”

Loebel scored two of Geneva’s goals, as did Catherine Allon. Allon’s first goal was also the first of the match, when she one-timed a Caitrin Griffin corner kick into the net.

“We felt we dominated most of the first half and it was frustrating not getting the ball into the net,” Allon said. “I knew we had to get one before the half ended. The first goal gets the momentum going and then we all start falling into place and get in sync.”

Even trailing 1-0, West Aurora (2-2) remained a threat. Saffell had three breakaway opportunities in the first half but failed to convert on any.

“The first half, we played awesome,” West Aurora coach Laura Wagley said. “I think going into the second half, we were pumped up. They know Geneva’s an awesome program and has been since I can remember. I think we got tired, and it’s hard to stick with a team of that caliber for a full 80 minutes.”

The important second goal came in the opening exchanges of the second half when Hope Goodman fed Allon, whose shot went in off West Aurora’s goalkeeper.

That second goal opened the floodgates and Geneva’s lead grew to 4-0 within the first 15 minutes of the second half. Loebel scored both those goals, first dribbling into the penalty area before scoring and then taking a Kailey Rote pass to score.

Courtney Lardas and Molly Axen also scored for the Vikings, who do not play again during Spring Break until they travel to Edwardsville on Friday. West Aurora, also on Spring Break, visits Joliet Central on March 31 before moving back into DuPage Valley Conference competition.