Girls soccer: At the end, Prospect's faith pays off
Faith Fitzsimmons was Prospect's savior in its 2-1 victory over visiting Palatine on Wednesday night at George Gattas Memorial Stadium in Mt. Prospect.
The Knights senior drove in the game-winner in the 76th minute as she finished a marvelous helper from Ella Marzolf to give the hosts their first win in Mid-Suburban League play after dropping its league opener to Fremd just before spring break.
"We created a lot of chances in our game with Fremd but didn't finish any of them," Fitzsimmons said. "So it was good to come out tonight and score a couple of goals to get a much-needed win."
"History tells you to give up an early goal to Palatine is not a good way to start," said Prospect coach Tom Froats, whose club improved to 3-3-0 and 1-1-0 in the MSL. "But what a great response by the girls to get back even right away and then go on to have much of the play for the rest of the night, leading up to the game-winner by Faith."
The Knights conceded the first goal at just six minutes when Anja Jacobson slotted past senior Gianna Rossi after accepting a wonderful diagonal helper from teammate Isabel Esquivel.
Less the 60 seconds later, Prospect tied it when Ella Marzolf, terrific all night long, steered in her close-range attempt following a well-driven free kick off the right foot of Helen Siavelis.
"Helen gave us a great ball into the box to help us get back on our front foot," Froats said.
The quartet of Marzolf, Fitzsimmons, Shawna Stokes and Ashley Welk helped the Knights control most of the possession not only during the first half but most of the night. Prospect played with speed, purpose and industry to help keep the Pirates (1-4-2, 0-1-0) on the defensive for long stretches.
"We were outplayed for most of the night because Prospect controlled the midfield, and attacked really well on the outside as they used width to get behind us on several occasions," said Palatine coach Willie Filian. "Tom has a nice team, and he is able to use five to six players off his bench to provide fresh legs to keep his players fresh and ready to go when called upon."
When the visitors were able to find three-time all-area midfielder Sarah Clancy, their attack showed some bite. However, with the Knights able to maintain possession, the senior was forced to play deeper and deeper in the second half.
Prospect lost Rossi to injury in the 45th minute, sending Isabella Hubrich into the match.
Clancy tested Hubrich with a free kick attempt, and the sophomore was up to the task by making the save.
That was the last quality chance for the Pirates for a long while as Prospect took control. Marzolf rattled the bar in the 53rd minute before Welk dribbled her way through and into the box, only to find the side netting twice within two minutes.
Ann Luo redirected Olivia Radtke's corner over the bar for the visitors in the 59th minute. That began an impressive quarter-hour of soccer from Prospect leading up to their breakthrough and the decisive Fitzsimmons strike.
"In the second half, Prospect looked like it was in midseason form while we looked like we were just in the first week of the season, Filian said. "We obviously have some work ahead of us."
Palatine keeper Amaya Rivera turned a Marzolf free kick around the back post and then got a glove on an attempt on frame by Abbey Danciu at 70 minutes.
The junior didn't have much of a chance when Fitzsimmons ran freely to the spot to one-time a ball sent in from Marzolf on a sequence started from the midline by Natalie Marfilius.
"Ella gave me an amazing ball after she went endline," Fitzsimmons said.
Prospect hosts division rival Rolling Meadows on Monday while the Pirates face crosstown rival Fremd on Saturday morning in the annual Kinsella Cup at Chic Anderson Stadium.