Girls soccer: Flores, Leyden shut out Maine West

Goals on either side of the half and some terrific work from goalkeeper Evelyn Flores helped Leyden claim its first victory of the season Saturday afternoon in Northlake.

Flores came to the rescue when called upon with a pair of brave point-blank saves over the course of the first half, while teammates Sylvia Orozco and Makayla Hernandez staked the home side to a 2-0 advantage over visiting Maine West at halftime on their way to a 4-0 nonconference victory.

“Evelyn wasn't available in our first three games, and it showed with us giving up too many goals our three losses,” said Leyden coach Jim Rossetti. “You saw today just how fantastic of a keeper she is (in) my opinion, one of the best in and around our area, and just how valuable she is to our team.”

“Soccer is a game of creating chances and putting them away. Today we missed on those chances. (Some) of it was on us and some were due to their keeper, who played just great,” said Warriors coach Jeff Bishop.

“Overall, I thought we played some good soccer, did some good things on both sides of the ball, and, to be honest, and with all due respect to Leyden, it did not feel like a 4-0 game at all.”

The Warriors (0-1-1) conceded the opener in the 13th minute when Orozco finished past a diving Jocelyn Chihuahua.

Flores denied Warriors center midfielder Natalia Vivar from in close in the 23rd minute, and she was at it again 10 minutes later when Vivar sent Isabel Revels in on the senior keeper.

When the visitors failed to clear the area, Makayla Hernandez doubled the Eagles (2-3-0) advantage with a shot just under the crossbar at 39 minutes.

“I thought we did a good job of trying to play some attractive soccer with some good possession and quick passes, which led to us creating some quality opportunities,” said Rossetti, whose club will play again at Reavis after spring break.

Moments after being brought on by Rossetti, Lupita Garcia and Antonella Rivera combined to make it 3-0, and later, just two minutes from time, Rivera took a pass from Garcia to strike the fourth and final goal.

The Warriors will be away at Hoffman Estates on Wednesday.