West Chicago spoils Rosary's season opener

One of the goals for West Chicago's girls soccer team this year is to play attractive soccer.

The longer you watched the Wildcats play on Saturday, the more you realized just how achievable that goal might be.

West Chicago started slowly against resolute Rosary, fell behind, and then turned on the style for a 3-1 nonconference road victory.

"It's a great feeling to know that we can work together as a team," West Chicago senior Jessica Jones said. "We've been working on that in practice. Passing, playing the way that you're facing -- everything that's simple, we've been working on doing it perfectly. It's great to finally come out with a win."

The hinge to the contest, ironically, was Rosary's goal, scored in the 22nd minute of the opening half. Katie O'Neil sent in a free kick that Deb Happ flicked into the net.

The Wildcats' response was nearly immediate. Less than 2 minutes after Happ scored, Jessica Jones was bundled over in the penalty area, and West Chicago earned a penalty kick. Ivana Boers put that kick into the net to level the match at 1-1.

"As a team, we just need a little boost of confidence," Jones said. "It's like we get a light under our feet that makes us get moving."

The match began to swing toward West Chicago at that point. One factor was fitness. While Saturday's match was the Wildcats' fourth of the young season, the match at Rosary's field was the Royals' season-opener.

"I know they were tired the second half," Rosary coach Kevin Callaghan said. "I could see it coming, but there wasn't a whole lot I could do about it."

The Royals need the on-field playing time the poor weather has taken from them. Without a senior on the roster and with a number of players fitting into new roles, Rosary is a team that will remain in transition for the early portion of the campaign.

"I felt we held right with them throughout the first half," Callaghan said. "They learned from their mistakes."

Despite a growing confidence and better passing movement, West Chicago needed until the midpoint of the second half to take the lead. Mary Rojas dribbled into the left wing of the penalty area and sent a ball across to the middle.

Rosary's defenders were unable to successfully clear the ball, which came to Jones, who scored with 19:44 to play in the game.

"That again was inexperience and missed communication," Callaghan said.

The Wildcats sealed their second victory of the season with 8 minutes to play when Jones broke forward and sent a pass to freshman Megan Radloff, who scored.

"It felt good because I had been missing all the rest of them," Radloff said. "It felt good to get one."

Radloff had been very active throughout the match despite not scoring. In addition to her passing movement, the freshman had a number of chances to score that went begging.

"I was wondering," Radloff said. "I was missing really easy ones. But I finally got one."