Grayslake Central takes Waukegan 5-0

The Grayslake Central girls soccer team keeps getting better each time it takes the field.

The Rams split a couple of games last week and opened play in their own invitational Wednesday with a 5-0 victory over Waukegan.

Melissa Kuehl scored a pair of goals and Megan LeBaron had a goal and an assist.

"We're learning to keep possession of the ball and looking to swing it from left to right," Grayslake Central coach Mike McCaulou said. "Our runs are getting better in the final third as well as the middle of the field."

However, the Rams had a tough time finishing in the first half against Waukegan.

The Rams kept control of the ball but didn't find the back of the net until the final 10 minutes of the half

"We started off with everybody having the mentality of 'push forward, push forward,' " McCaulou said, "instead of slowing the game.

"The game of soccer is supposed to be played with patience -- working the ball, opening the field and channeling the play. Everybody wanted to score right away. We just had a lack of communication. They settled down after 20 minutes, started to relax and the game started to come together."

Once the Rams settled down, they produced a 3-goal advantage heading into halftime.

Grayslake Central's Erin Fitzsimmons took a long cross from Stephanie Swearingen and fired a shot under the crossbar, getting the Rams on the board.

A few minutes later, Kuehl scored. She struck again just before the break, finishing off a rebound of a shot from Kelly Jay.

"We played as a team and we built things up," Fitzsimmons said. "We had some great passes. It just takes team work to get the goals."

The Rams added second-half tallies from Meaghan Daly and LeBaron.

Grayslake Central keeper Kim Pablo made 1 save and earned the shutout.

"Grayslake Central is a very good team," Waukegan coach Mike Berrie said. "I thought our goalie (Daphne Vazquez, 7 saves) kept us in the game. She's pretty good and an athlete. It's good to have somebody like that back there.

"It was the first time for us to be out on a field. There's still a lot for us to work on. I thought for the first 20 minutes, we were hanging tough with them."

Today at Grayslake Central, the host Rams play Hampshire at 10 a.m., followed by Conant against Waukegan at noon.

Conant 2, Hampshire 0: Last week's snowstorm delayed the start of Grayslake Central's inaugural girls soccer tournament by a day.

That didn't faze Conant.

Once the white stuff was cleared off the artificial turf, the Cougars posted a whitewashing on it.

They scored both of their goals in the first half and held on for a 2-0 victory over Hampshire on Wednesday.

"I didn't have too many complaints coming off the field at the end of the first half, (especially) playing on a big field," Conant coach Jason Franco said. "We did the little possession stuff very well. We can keep the ball on the pitch very well and did that today. We've got dangerous players up top that can get in behind the ball."

The Cougars scored their goals five minutes apart midway through the opening 40 minutes. Lauren Jason gave Conant a 1-0 lead, and Michelle Rawleigh made it 2-0 off an assist from Marrisa Ross.

Rawleigh's tally came on a volley with her right foot.

She's left-footed, mind you.

"It was a perfect cross from Marrisa," Rawleigh said. "It was directed to the right spot. … I was just happy to get a shot on goal and not put it at the keeper."

Hampshire, which finished fourth in state in Class A last year, put together a strong second half and had a few scoring opportunities.

"We had more balance in the second half," Hampshire coach Patrick O'Brien said. "We adjusted our formation and it seemed to work for us.

"Conant came out and did exactly what they wanted to do (in the first half). You can tell they're comfortable with each other. They know what to do with the ball. I look for them to be a quality team in AA."

The Whip-Purs' Christine Schumacher had a goal scoring chance in the 46th minute, but Cougars defender Emma Loos cleared the ball off the line, saving a goal.

"It was a rough first game and we had a lot of nerves," Schumacher said. "It was hard, but we worked hard in the second half."

Conant goalkeeper Monica Danek earned the shutout by making 4 saves.