Girls soccer: Downers North slips past Elk Grove

With all-state midfielder Abby Swanson leading the way, Downers Grove North came close to earning a trip to the Class 3A girls soccer state tournament last season.

Swanson, who was named Missouri Valley Conference freshman of the year last fall at Loyola, was one of 10 seniors on a Trojans club that went 14-6-4 overall, losing in the supersectional to Andrew.

Mia Marconi and Alexis Parker were both in the Trojans' lineup in that 2-1 loss to Andrew, and each of them had a hand in North's 3-2 victory Tuesday afternoon in their tourney opener at Elk Grove.

Parker drew the Trojans even just before the intermission, and Marconi would strike the game-winner in the 55th minute.

"Most of this team is made up of players who have never played at the varsity level, and although it showed at times, it was nice to come out of here with a win in our season and tournament opener," said DGN coach Brian Papa, whose club lifted the championship trophy at Elk Grove last spring.

"Our first half of soccer was kind of what I expected but the girls did a good job of sorting things out after the break, and would play some pretty good overall soccer."

Elk Grove also opened with several new faces in its starting lineup, as the reigning Mid-Suburban East champions look to find their own personality after losing a pair of veterans who starred during the Grens' run to their first division title since 2002.

"We lost a great core of players, including Zoe (Blomquist) and Emma Slattery, so it's going to take us some time to figure things out, but today you saw three freshmen play very well for us in their first varsity game ever," said Alexa Joshi.

Joshi, who enjoyed a magnificent rookie season a year ago under-then first year head coach Dean Burrier Sanchis, was stationed in the back alongside freshman Lily Duckman and would once again show why she will likely be one of the top players in the MSL this year.

"We have a lot to learn, and it obviously will be a work in progress, especially in the early going, but I have a lot of faith in this team, so I know we'll get better with each time out," suggested Burrier Sanchis.

The Grens would find the opener in the 14th minute on an own goal when a well-placed free kick from Joshi went off a Trojans player and into the back of the net.

Ten minutes later, freshman forward Hannah Gryzik would double the Grens' advantage when she broke free on the right side before unloading an unstoppable 22-yard blast.

The Gryzik strike would spell the end of a solid 20-plus minutes of soccer by the home side and then see the Trojans get back even just minutes before the break.

Quinn Stephens would run onto a Mia Scott inward swinging corner and thump her header off the underside of the bar and into the net at 24 minutes.

Parker, whose pace and strength proved troublesome for the Grens for most of the day, collected an attempted clearing attempt and fired under keeper Anibeth Bravo, who came far off her line in hopes of cutting the angle on the Trojans' junior.

North had most of the play during the first part of the first period, and when the Grens were unable to get the ball out of their own end, up stepped Marconi, who chipped Bravo with a sublime touch to give the Trojans their first lead of the match.

"Again, it was a much better all-around effort in the second half but for this team, which has so many new players, we just need to play games and continue to work in order to get better," said Papa.

North will play York on Thursday, while Elk Grove takes on Maine South on the second day of tournament play.

Barrington 2, Naperville North 0: In a rematch of a Class 3A state semifinal from a year ago, reigning state champion Barrington defeated Naperville North 2-0 at Barrington Community Stadium in the season opener for both state powers.

Junior Rebecca Shomaker, and freshman Riley Raynor would find the back of the net for the Fillies, who took a 1-0 advantage into the break.

Sophomore keeper Coast Liapis earned the shutout.

Barrington will host Neuqua Valley on Thursday, while North will enjoy a few days off before visiting St. Charles East on next Monday.