Girls soccer: Conant needs OT to edge Elk Grove
Juliana Madonia came to the rescue for Conant, just when it appeared the Cougars were destined to earn just 1 point in the Mid-Suburban League girls soccer standings in a matchup with visiting Elk Grove.
Madonia scored the game-winner for her mates in the 99th minute to give the home side a 2-1 overtime victory. Conant improved to 5-1-0 overall, and is a perfect 3-0-0 in league play.
"Juliana had a very good game for us even before hitting the game-winner, but she really saved us here tonight," said Conant coach Jason Franco. "We had so much of the play in the first half, and appeared to take control after getting the opener. But credit Elk Grove. They got back in it with a great equalizer, then fought us hard right until the very end."
"We're looking to change the culture here at Elk Grove, and tonight was a good example of the direction this team and our program is taking," said Grens first-year head coach Dean Burrier Sanchis, whose club is 3-3-0 overall but 0-2-0 in the MSL. "We struggled in the first half but made some adjustments at the break, and players such as Zoe Blomquist, Kate Tellens and Alexa Joshi gave us some great minutes, laying it all out there in the second half to give us a chance to get a draw, or even a victory."
The reason the Grens had troubles in the first half was their inability to win first, second and 50-50 balls, forcing most of the play to be in their own end and allowing Conant to build some attacking confidence.
"I thought we had a solid effort for most of the game, especially in the first half when we kept Elk Grove in its own end, which allowed us to have most of the run of play," said Conant senior Miranda Glennon, whose ball-winning percentage was nearly 100 percent as she still found time to act as playmaker for the Cougars when in the attack.
Franco suggested one of the stars of this contest was Grens keeper Rachel Kandefer, whose strong work allowed the visitors to stay in the game throughout.
The junior was confident in every attempt sent her way, but was unable to do much about the games first goal in the 56th minute as Cougars scoring leader Stephanie Mazurek bagged her sixth of the year with an assist by Bella Grebenor.
The Grens responded positively to the Mazurek goal with some of their best work of the evening, led by Emily Sitkowski, Blomquist and Joshi.
Emma Slattery's well-aimed free kick from the midline fell nicely onto the foot of Amanda Sitkowski, who directed the equalizer from near the spot in 67th minute.
"Just a great ball from Slattery to get (Elk Grove) even, and after we went to overtime, I had a feeling it would end in a draw until Juliana stepped up to be a hero," Franco said.
"This is a team that enjoys each other, and plays that way also, so I know better times are ahead for Elk Grove soccer," Burrier Sanchis said.
The Grens are on the road at Palatine on Friday, while Conant has Fremd on Friday, then Palatine on Saturday.
• Prospect got first-half goals from Ashley Welk (twice) and Faith Fitzsimmons and held on for a 3-0 victory over Schaumburg. The Knights got 2 assists from Sarah Mulvihill and one from Fitzsimmons.
Gianna Ross earned the shutout for Prospect, benefiting from support from defenders Helen Siavelis, Natalie Marfilius, Tina Suto, Ashley Erickson, Madalyn Ladd, and Alexa Mitka.
Hoffman Estates 8, Wheeling 0: Kathy Lopez scored 3 goals and Molly Salerno had 2 goals and an assist to power the Hawks in MSL action.