South Elgin hands Maine West tough loss
South Elgin sent host Maine West to its second 1-goal defeat in as many days after a 2-1 victory Friday afternoon in a girls soccer nonconference match in Des Plaines.
The Storm (8-5-0) snapped a 0-0 tie by scoring twice within eights minutes - then holding off a late Warriors comeback to finish its week 2-1-0.
"We've been a slow-starting team all season long, but today we came out strong, dominating play for most of the match, and playing very good soccer, considering it's the first time this season that we haven't been on turf," said Storm coach Tiffany Disher.
The duo of Andrew Walsh and Jill Ellison combined to strike for the first goal at 57 minutes. Then sophomore Dana McElwain converted a penalty kick to give the Storm what looked like a comfortable lead at 65 minutes against the Warriors, who had not scored in nearly 145 minutes.
"We were a very frustrated team (last night) in our loss against Niles West, especially after being all over them for the entire match, only to lose 1-0 when they scored with seven minutes remaining in regulation," said Warriors coach Aaron Fleming, who changed things up hoping to find a spark.
Fleming brought the Warriors out playing a 4-5-1 formation, but the 'new look' failed to produce much going forward, as the Storm enjoyed the run of play.
The Storm's Taylor Schulze and Kelsey Fitzpatrick provided the pace up top while their mates in the midfield remained in control for the first 40 minutes.
"We possessed really well, switched and crossed just the way we had practiced, and did just about everything I could ask for in that first half, but get into the back of their net," Disher said.
The Warriors came alive briefly just before intermission, when 2009 leading scorer Dontina Walsten and Ailish O'Connell began to click up top. Although the pair did not create any quality chances in the Storm end, their work encouraged Fleming to go to 3 up top to begin the second half with sophomore Annaliese Walsten joining the group.
"I think we really did well playing a 3-4-3 in the second half, but it's going to take us some time to adjust and play the way it should be played," said Walsten, who still isn't at full strength after suffering a quad injury just before spring break.
Walsh, with the help of a terrific left-footed serve to the back post, thumped in her goal at the back post on a wonderful sequence of soccer by the Storm.
Then it was McElwain, after a long discussion by the center official and his assistant, who netted the eventual game-winner with her PK.
The Warriors cut into the Storm's 2-goal lead when Walsten booted a shot up and over keeper Emily Young from 25 yards out at 78 minutes.
"It's really too bad that we gave up that goal so late, but it was nice going into the weekend with a win," McElwain said.