Winds of fate favor Hersey against Elk Grove

A technical classic it wasn't - but that didn't seem to bother Hersey one bit.

The host Huskies overcame howling winds and a terrific Elk Grove team to capture their most important victory of the season, defeating the visiting Grens 1-0 Thursday and regaining the top spot in the Mid-Suburban East with one week to go in the regular season.

Nicole Pietro played the role of heroine when the sophomore hit the game-winner in the 74th minute. The outcome gave Hersey (6-1-1 in the division) a 1-point standings lead over the Grens at 13-12; the Huskies also have the tiebreaker edge should the two sides finish tied in points at the end of next week.

"All of us want to get back to the Soccer Cup this year, so going in we all knew how much this game would mean if we came away with a win," said Pietro.

"This was big," said Hersey coach Brad Abel, well after his club succeeding in keeping Elk Grove standouts such as Kelli Hubly and Michelle Calmeyn off the scoreboard. "Because of the incredible winds out here tonight, it obviously wasn't a very pretty soccer match, but we found a way to keep (Elk Grove) from scoring in the first half, when it had the wind at its back, then getting into the back of the net late to get the win."

While the Grens (7-6-3, 6-3-0) had the advantage in the first 40 minutes, they didn't test all-area keeper Julia Fredian with any quality chances as they struggled to connect through the midfield in hopes of finding top scorer Calmeyn.

"We didn't do well with the wind at our back, and it always seemed like the ball was just sailing off the field when we tried to play over the top (or) through the middle," said Grens superb backline sophomore Katie Naughton.

It was the hosts who manufactured the best scoring chance of the first half after Andrea Perkins found Maeva Waterman, who in turn sent a perfect ball into the 6-yard box, but no one was there to finish.

With the wind strongly in favor of the Huskies in the second half, the focus turned to Naughton and her mates Emily Wary, Sarah Stram and Lindsey Vaccarino. After that quartet weathered significant pressure just after the break, the group settled in and tried to keep the Huskies far away from their keeper, Nicole Ricci.

The Grens' faithful held their collective breathe during a sequence in which an unmarked Erin Reiff headed wide after Waterman and Casey Weyrich helped create the opportunity.

Finally, with OT nearing, Pietro one-timed a shot up and over Ricci from the near post.

"Andrea (Perkins) threw the ball in, and I think it went off (Erin Reiff's) shoulder before falling to me," said Pietro.

"I thought both sides were a little flat tonight, but fortunately for Hersey, a loose ball fell in their favor, and they were able to finish," said Grens coach Dan Klaus, who has Hoffman Estates and Palatine remaining on his schedule. "But credit Hersey because they defend so well, and when you get through one layer, there's always another right there waiting for you."

While the Grens look to win out to earn another 4 points, the Huskies cannot celebrate their home victory too long, with a match at Fremd awaiting next Monday, followed by Wheeling and finally a Saturday afternoon contest at Barrington.

Schaumburg 2, Rolling Meadows 0: Sarah Christy and Becky Sneddon supplied first-half goals as the visiting Saxons claimed victory.