Black's attack helps Grayslake C. to victory

Allie Black scored twice with great passes from Allison Mitchell, and Kelly Jay added the other goal as Grayslake Central rolled past Round Lake 3-0 in the Rams' girls soccer tournament opener in Grayslake on Tuesday.

It was the first win of the season after four defeats for Grayslake Central.

"You can not be unhappy about a shutout and a win," Grayslake Central coach Mike McCaulou said. "We needed that after losing our last two games (against Dundee-Crown and Johnsburg) in a shootout and overtime.

"The biggest thing with this group is we've got to score early. Right now it's still a struggle. We need a better build-up. Once they see it more and create the final ball, we can be tough to beat."

Black got the Rams' first goal in the opening two minutes after taking a long kick from Mitchell and scoring on a breakaway.

"I always have forwards up there ready to get the ball," said Mitchell, a defender. who now has 4 assists. "I do like to service the ball up there, knowing we can score on it."

Black used her quickness up front and got past the Round Lake defense.

"Round Lake used a flat-back four in its defense," Black said. "With my speed, I knew I could break right through it and go right to the goal."

Grayslake Central added two more goals in the second half. Black got her second off another long pass from Mitchell in the 47th minute. Two minutes later, Kelly Jay converted a penalty kick after a hand ball in the box.

Skyler Jessop made 2 saves for her first shutout.

Round Lake (0-2-1) played the game without starting goalkeeper Angie Carie, who suffered a calf injury in practice on Monday. Haley Vaughn, a midfielder moved back into goal and made 8 saves.

"We had a lot of positives from this even though our star player was out," Round Lake coach Andres Orbe said. "We have to work on marking and switching the ball. Our midfielders have to touch the ball and work on it.

"Give credit to Grayslake Central - well coached and very disciplined."

• Grant's girls soccer team still searching its first win of the season.

Grant battled back on Tuesday, tying the game in the final minutes before losing to Waukegan 2-1 in shootout kicks.

Last year, Grant won on kicks; this time Waukegan returned the favor.

"I thought our girls battled back, being down a goal," said Grant coach Michael Kennedy, whose team is now 0-3-1. "Someone's got to win and someone's got to lose.

"We haven't gone over kicks and our goalie (Jen Jones) hasn't even experienced it. Still, a great experience and something to learn from."

Waukegan (1-2, 1-0) won the shootout kicks 4-3 in six rounds. Grant got kicks from Vanessa Foreman, Shelby Stuparits and Tianna Deligio.

Bianca Pullido scored the game-winning kick for Waukegan, placing her shot into the upper corner.

"I was nervous and I just had to be confident in myself," said Pullido, a freshman. "I just thought about it and then shot it."

Waukegan got on the board in the 34th minute, when Lizbeth Rodriguez sent a shot under the crossbar after taking a pass from Besty Duarte.

Grant lost one of its key defenders, Trisha Plaimieri, to an ankle injury.

"She's one of our core players," Kennedy said. "Things started to fall apart from there, and we had to move girls to other positions."

Grant's Jessica Ring tied the game at 1-1 in the 67th minute of play with a shot going under the crossbar.

Wednesday's slate includes Grant vs. Round Lake at 10 a.m. and Waukegan vs. Grayslake Central at noon.