Glenbard West falls to York
Throughout the girls soccer season, York senior and tri-captain Alyssa Kovatchis has been playing for two.
Her twin sister, Jamie, is sidelined after tearing her anterior cruciate knee ligament during basketball.
"She was, like, our rock in the back line, so not having her was kind of a big thing in the beginning. But we're starting to get used to it," Alyssa Kovatchis said. "She's been a big cheerer for us, so she's helpful."
On Tuesday Kovatchis and the Dukes continued rising to the occasion despite several absent teammates.
They extended their winning streak to four games by persevering a 3-1 victory over Glenbard West in West Suburban Silver action in Glen Ellyn.
York (9-4-2, 3-2) dominated 34-4 in shots and 8-0 in corner kicks but never led until scoring the last two goals in the final 13:41.
Kovatchis scored twice and set up the other, which was converted by sophomore Jenna Lundgren for the game-winner.
"It was getting a little frustrating, but we knew our luck would have to turn at some point. We just kept going at them," said Kovatchis, who has 11 goals. "We're dropping like flies. We have a lot of people hurt right now. We're good, though."
York went into the game minus three more regular starting seniors in college-bound players Carys Hund and Annalisa Lappo (injuries) and Emily Mueller (illness).
With 28 minutes left starting senior forward Jessica Bianchi was taken to the hospital as a precaution after going down with a sore arm. Bianchi had nearly scored twice during the previous five minutes.
"And then we had one more girl, so that's six (missing)," York coach Don Vana said. "The girls did a great job. We knew what we had to do and created some opportunities early and even in the second half. We were just unfortunate. We were snakebit. We put the ball wide, everywhere else but on frame."
The Hilltoppers (5-6-2, 1-4) also made things difficult by exploiting their offensive speed on the outsides and having goalies Bailey Wallace and Lauren Glavin make numerous big stops. Each goalie played one half.
The Hilltoppers nearly struck in the first three minutes. They then counterattacked after a corner kick and took a 1-0 lead 27:43 before halftime as freshman Emma Wallace scored following a pass from senior Emma Kiel and a nice surge down the right wing.
Kovatchis tied the game 14:30 before halftime by taking a pass at the top of the box from senior Madison Navarro, turning and blasting a shot that grazed off the hands of a diving Bailey Wallace.
The game-winner also was a testament to the strength of Kovatchis' foot. Taking a free kick from 32 yards out, Kovatchis sent a dart to the right of Glenbard West's defensive wall, but a diving Glavin made the save. The ball, however, became loose in the crease and Lundgren converged.
"I just wanted to get it on frame because the goalie was bobbling the ball and then Jenna just followed it right up," Kovatchis said. "The second goal really kind of put them over the edge."
In similar fashion Kovatchis scored the final goal when she rebounded Navarro's outside blast that crept into the crease.
Defensively, York junior outside defender Abby Horn, a callup from the junior varsity, helped to keep Glenbard West's dangerous threats to a minimum. Senior Annie Viola, another recent JV call up, also contributed defensively after scoring twice in Saturday's 5-2 victory over South Elgin.
With the game still tied Horn broke up a cross in the goalmouth. With 10 minutes left she blocked a potential game-tying shot by Kiel at the top of the box.
"You just have to make sure you're sighting on the ball and don't lunge in, don't reach for the ball so they don't go around you," Horn said. "We were pretty confident in our offense and their scoring opportunities."