Another shutout for MSL leader Hersey
After continuing to snap at the heels of league-leading Buffalo Grove, Hersey finally took over the spot in Mid-Suburban League girls soccer by earning a 3-0 victory Wednesday night at Schaumburg.
The Huskies (14-4-0, 8-0-0) got their 13th shutout of the year and have amassed 24 points in the league standings, 2 points clear of the Bison. Buffalo Grove drew 1-1 at home against Conant on Wednesday.
MSL West leader Barrington in third in the overall league standings with 21 points.
"We've been looking at that Friday date with Buffalo Grove (May 9) for a long time," said Hersey coach Darren Llewellyn, "and it's been the central focus on most of the communication and correspondence that I've had with the girls this season. But not so much so that we've looked past anyone else - including Schaumburg tonight.
"All we've really told the girls is the objective is to play well enough to have the chance and opportunity to be in a position to make that Friday game our most important game of the regular season, and we're getting closer to the reality of that happening."
Huskies all-MSL keeper Morgan Harris was mostly a spectator in the first half thanks to effort of the Hersey defenders in front of her, as Megan Brant, Annie Korff and Kayla Knauss didn't allow much in the way of a Schaumburg attack.
Harris' counterpart Sam Tyler, who stepped in for Saxons regular keeper Melissa Ardagh, made her mark with an impressive 40 minutes of action. The Saxons (4-9-1, 2-5-0) can thank the freshman for keeping the visitors' goal count at just 2 for the intermission after she turned away both Jessica Schmidt and Sara Magnuson on close-range strikes.
"Sammie did a great job for us in that first half when we struggled to stay organized, and had some problems in our own end," said Saxons coach Greg Charvat, who brought on Christina Kim in the second period after Tyler sustained a minor injury.
Llewellyn start with all-state senior Lauren Gierman as his lone striker. While the Huskies captain proved troublesome up top for the Saxons, it wasn't until she was moved back into the middle that the visitors' attack really revved up.
Gierman and Schmidt were the facilitators for the first of 2 goals from Magnuson. Her first came at 19 minutes when the senior found enough room to squeeze a well-aimed drive just inside the post.
Freshman Gina Miklasz did most of the work with a weaving run up the side before getting the ball into the area, where an alert Magnuson thumped a header up and over Tyler.
Despite the Saxons conceding 2 first-half goals, the duo of Brittany Reinhart and Kennedy Irmen was strong in the Saxons end, particularly with the tackle and in the air.
"The effort was certainly there, but you cannot make the mistakes we made in our end and not support each other, especially against a talented team like Hersey, and not pay for it," Charvat said. "Even in this loss, I feel like we had our moments when we created some chances and possessed the ball much better than of late. We'll take those positives and go forward from that."
Gierman drove in her 14th goal of the season in the 48th minute after a patient Abby Wendell waited long enough for her teammate to get deep into her run. With enough time and space, a player who can finish at a high percentage did just that with a sublime touch from 18 yards.
After that, the rest was up to the Huskies' stingy defense.
"It's kind of amazing to think we have all these shutouts so far, but we're lucky to have a great keeper with Morgan," Korff said. "I really feel with Kayla, Sara, Megan (Brant) and myself playing together for so long, we just know each other so well, and where to be. It's been a big reason for our success thus far."
Conant 1, Buffalo Grove 1 (OT): Buffalo Grove got a first-half goal from Kelli Zickert, assisted by her sister, Colleen.
Conant equalized in the second half as Emily Mazurek scored with an assist from Bianca Madonia.
Two scoreless OT periods followed as Buffalo Grove dropped to 16-1-1 overall and 7-0-1 in the MSL, while the Cougars improved to 4-3-1.
Prospect 3, Hoffman Estates 0: Emily Novak, Martina Kowalczuk, and Alyssa Cwidak scored goals and Jenny Novak added 2 assists as the Knights earned their second victory of the week. Mehgan Rickett and Elaine Tomko shared in the shutout for the Knights, who improved to 4-5 in the MSL.
Barrington 5, Elk Grove 0: The host Fillies got a pair of goals from both Jenny Szczesny and Alex Avers to improved to 7-1-0 in the MSL. Nicole Niro also scored, and Hannah Luedkte earned a shutout for Barrington.
Fremd 6, Wheeling 0: Six different players score to power the Vikings (5-3-0 in the MSL) to a road win.
Maine West 4, Maine East 0: The Warriors got a pair of goals and an assist from Joanne Stanfa to claim a CSL North win against rival Maine East on Tuesday. Allie Webb and Rachel Kolling also scored, and Katie Ehlers earned her third shutout of the season.