Jessop to the rescue for Grayslake Central

Skyler Jessop’s first goal of the season was bettered only by her first save of the season.

A midfielder/forward for Grayslake Central’s girls soccer team, the senior not only scored her first goal Wednesday but played goalkeeper during penalty kicks and made a save. Her two gems helped the Rams edge Grant 2-1 in the finale of the fifth annual Grayslake Central Invitational.

Grayslake Central prevailed in the penalty kicks 4-2.

Grayslake Central (4-2 overall), Grant (2-4) and Waukegan all finished 2-1 in the tournament, but Grant won the championship thanks to a tiebreaker.

The title for Grant broke Grayslake Central’s three-year run on top.

“We took two out of three (games), but we let one get away here in the second half,” Grant coach Michael Kennedy said. “We’ll take it, but we’re not going to base our season on this.

“Offensively, we had a game plan of keeping our shape up front,” Kennedy said. “We didn’t do a good job. We just played all right for one half and didn’t show up for a second.”

Jessop tied the score in the 49th minute by corralling a loose ball and firing a shot into the back of the net.

“There was a mix-up in the box,” Jessop said. “I saw the ball, saw a gap and hit it.”

When the teams went to penalty kicks to decide the outcome, Grayslake Central coach Mike McCaulou called on the athletic Jessop, who’s playing her fourth season of varsity soccer after playing four years of varsity basketball, as well. She was the captain of the Lake County Daily Herald All-Area girls basketball team.

Jessop made Grant’s first kicker hit the ball wide of the frame. Jessop then kicked away a shot.

“Skyler is a phenomenal athlete,” McCaulou said. “She’s got great size (5 feet 9) and is intimidating in the net. ... We just wanted to put a big athlete in there to make some big saves.”

Grant freshman Marissa Allen cranked in a shot off the post in the 24th minute off an assist from Nina Deligio. Allen scored in all three games and has 4 goals on the season.

“I had no clue it would hit the post and go in,” Allen said. “That motivated us.”

Waukegan 1, Round Lake 0 (PKs): The first game was decided by penalty kicks, as well, with the Bulldogs prevailing 3-2.

Round Lake (0-6, 0-3) had some quality scoring opportunities, especially in the final 20 minutes of the second half.

Waukegan (3-3) won for the second game in a row in kicks.

Waukegan goalkeeper Ita Montano made 8 saves, while Round Lake keeper Cristina Melesio had 6 stops.

“It was a good game,” Waukegan coach Jose Fernandez said. “We’ll take the game in PKs.”