Stevenson rises above injuries, Carmel

Considering the numerous injuries it's suffered, the Stevenson girls soccer team is proving to have a strong survival instinct.

Despite a roster with all kinds of changes forced by aches and pains, the Patriots are finding ways to win.

"We're so beat up, and it's making it very difficult to be consistent," Stevenson coach Mark Schartner said. "We're fragile right now and the week gets a lot tougher."

Still, Stevenson managed to stop Carmel 2-0 in a nonconference match in Mundelein on Tuesday afternoon.

"It was a very satisfying win," Schartner said. "We didn't outplay anybody. We did score 2 great goals, and it was an even game."

The Patriots (6-2) will host Mundelein (9-1-1) Wednesday night in an North Suburban Lake battle starting at 6:15 p.m. at Stevenson High School.

Stevenson managed to contain Carmel's strong second-half effort on Tuesday.

"We held out well under pressure," Schartner said. "We've got a number of players beat up right now. We're like little warriors out there."

Patriots keeper Lizzy Sanscrainte made 7 saves, including two on breakaways, to earn her fourth shutout.

"I do like stopping breakaways," Sanscrainte said. "Either you can be the hero or not be the hero. It's a 50/50 ball and sometimes you get it - and sometimes you don't."

Sanscrainte shared the shutout credit with her defense, which includes Alex Low, Alison Bottner, Emily Niedermayer and Lindsay Onysio.

"I think it's our defense forcing the bad shots," Sanscrainte said. "It makes things a lot easier for me. Against good teams our defense steps up."

Austin Gregorcy scored the first Patriots goal off an assist ftom Nicole Sodomire in the ninth minute.

Stevenson got its other goal off Missy Loretto's corner kick, which Niedermayer ricocheted off the post in the 54th minute.

Carmel (5-4-3) has lost its fourth straight game after opening the season unbeaten in their first eight games.

"We did create some chances, but didn't take them," said Carmel coach John Halloran of his team's second-half play. "We haven't scored a goal in the run of play for six games.

"We haven't been successful with the things we've been doing over and over. We've been moving some players around to see what's clicking and I thought we were doing some good things. We'll have to make some more changes for our next game (Saturday) and go forward."