Stevenson finds solace in victory

It’s been a week of heavy hearts for the Stevenson girls soccer team.

Just a week ago, sophomore Carolyn Briggs lost her father Brian, who passed away suddenly. The episode, naturally, has had a major effect on the entire team.

But Stevenson pulled together for a 1-0 shutout over rival Libertyville on Tuesday night in a North Suburban Lake match in Lincolnshire.

Kate Krejsa scored the goal for the Patriots (8-3-2, 2-0) in the 77th minute, but Stevenson was more concerned about its extended soccer family than the outcome of the game.

“Over this past week, the level of stress and grief that this team has gone through ... ” Stevenson coach Mark Schartner said. “We’ve been through a lot as a team. They’ve fought through a lot of distractions, and it has made this team a lot stronger.

“There’s a higher purpose than high school soccer. I’ve never been through something like this during the season.”

The Patriots have managed to go 5-1-1 over their last 7 games.

“This was big for us, to get through another game,” Schartner said. “So we can get settled out a little more.”

The Patriots had a tough time finding their way through the strength of the Libertyville defense, which was led by Elaine Sundberg in goal (8 saves) and defenders Lauren Del Prato, Allison Kelly and Greta Gustafson.

“Our defense was solid and our play was solid all over the field,” said Libertyville coach Scott Schinto, whose team dropped to 4-6-1 overall and 1-1 in the NSC Lake.

“It was a great Stevenson-Libertyville matchup. It’s a good rivalry that we will always have. You can throw the records away and just play.”

Krejsa netted her 14th goal of the season on a long-range kick that found a slot under the crossbar, with Erin Bailey picked up the assist.

“When I looked over my shoulder, there was some space and I just turned it toward the middle,” Krejsa said. “I just took a touch and shot. I knew that since I was that far out I had to get it in the air to get it over the goalie. It was more like a chip shot.”

Patriots keeper Cori Calcaterra made 6 stops and earned the shutout behind defenders Anne Geocaris, Morgan Meyer, Molly Brandt and Bailey.