Girls soccer: Vernon Hills downs Maine East

Ryan Schofield has been playing soccer for a number of years and this is her fourth year on the Vernon Hills varsity.

The senior has played different spots on the field after starting her high school soccer career as a midfielder but now has moved back on defense.

The main thing about her roles is that she knows and sees how the game is played from the back. She can play defense and help set up the Cougars' attack from the back.

Schofield earned an assist on one of the goals that helped Vernon Hills shut out host Maine East 5-0 in a Central Suburban League North matchup on Thursday night in Park Ridge.

"My role is to help organize the defense and just as a team to do what we're supposed to do," Schofield said. "It's really nice to see what we do from the back and how we work the ball through the middle. You can see the crosses and the chances we get. From the back you can really see how we're moving and it's fun to see it that way."

For Vernon Hills, the Cougars matched their record at 5-5-5 and picked up their first CSL North win (1-1-2). They also were given the No. 5 seed on Thursday in the upcoming Class 2A Antioch sectional.

"All we can worry about is us," Vernon Hills coach Mike McCaulou said. "We got our seeds today and we're fine to play anybody in our sectional. We did tie the number one seed Wauconda (0-0) and we really like this by playing a lot of 3A schools."

On Thursday, Vernon Hills did what it needed to do finding goals and posting a shutout.

"We got goals and put the ball into the back of the net, which was nice," McCaulou said. "To be honest, we've had so many games that we've been the better team and just not buried the ball."

Julia Neary started the Cougars' scoring with the first of her 2 goals on a penalty kick in the 13th minute. That after Julia Kempf was taken down by a Maine East defender.

Julia Kempf added the second goal in the 30th minute with a kick up top of the box off a Blue Demons defender.

Then, Molly Reback scored the third Cougars tally off an assist from Jessie Biede in the 35th minute.

Vernon Hills added two more goals in the second half, one from Neary in the 53rd minute and Abby Kempf in the 68th.

Maine East has been trying to improve its program and has been competing much better this year seeing its record at 5-6-1 and 0-3-1.

"Our girls work really hard and are committed to this rebuilding program," said Maine East assistant coach Gus Pappas, who was filling in for head coach Byron DeLeon.

"They gave it all they had. Vernon Hills' girls have played together for a long time as you can see by their skill level."