Girls soccer: Willowbrook, Bolingbrook end up even
Seniors and best friends Sam Wozniak and Bridget Garner have spent plenty of time together as Willowbrook sports teammates.
In October they came one sectional victory away from qualifying for the state tennis meet as a doubles team. This spring they are among six fourth-year varsity soccer players.
On Thursday they were important - and exhausted - components in the Warriors' 2-2 tie with Bolingbrook in Villa Park.
Because of spring-break trips, injuries and other absences, the Warriors (3-1-2) went the entire game with 11 players and no substitutes.
"We had to tough it out for 80 minutes," Garner said. "We kind of took it as a challenge. We knew it was going to be a long 80 minutes, but we weren't really worried. We were all very energetic."
Wozniak helped the Warriors rally from two 1-goal deficits by scoring with 15:44 left in the first half and with 9:48 remaining.
Willowbrook led 20-8 in shots and 7-2 in corner kicks. The Warriors also tied 1-1 Saturday with Plainfield East, which won 5-0 over Bolingbrook (2-4-1) on Tuesday.
"What we take from this is coming from behind twice is no easy task," Willowbrook coach Victor Marquez said. "This game is extremely mental and they have the strength to do it twice."
Talent and aggressiveness helped. Wozniak scored the equalizer after freshman Kaleigh Rugg intercepted a clear from junior Kassandra Darrus' dangerous cross and found Wozniak unmarked in the center of the field.
Wozniak's first goal came when she gained possession on the far right wing, took a couple of dribbles and then unleashed a beautiful 20-yard shot into the upper left corner of the net.
"I just took a couple of touches and then kicked it," Wozniak said. "I don't know. I tell my team to shoot all of the time and not a lot of them do so I just kind of kick whenever I can."
The defense had the Warriors' other two active fourth-year varsity players - sweeper Alyssa Spada and Erin Owen - but was minus its usual goalkeeper and another key defender. Garner helped the back line before becoming an attacking midfielder in the second half.
"I just kind of help out where they need it," Garner said.
Wozniak has 5 goals, 3 in regulation, and nearly had a hat trick. Moments after the Raiders moved ahead 1-0, Wozniak dribbled the ball some 40 yards but put her shot just wide.
With three minutes left Wozniak's outstretched foot just missed connecting with Spada's free kick.
"Tonight especially (Wozniak) controlled the field. She stepped in and won possession. When she got the ball at her feet, she made positive things happen," Willowbrook assistant coach Pete Montgomery said. "It was a fabulous night for her."
"My coaches said it was the best they've seen me play this season, so that's awesome," Wozniak said.
After three straight shutout losses Bolingbrook scored its second and third regulation goals this season - all from senior Victoria Velazquez.
The second goal with 30:34 left came off a free kick by sophomore Julia Lentz, a standout goalkeeper first moved to midfield during Tuesday's second half to create offense. Lentz blasted a 23-yard free kick just wide with less than four minutes left.
"She's arguably an all-state keeper. We moved her up because she can play in the field, too," Bolingbrook coach Matt Kocourek said. "It's a Catch-22. It's between a rock and a hard place. Tonight is a nonconference game. We needed to shake it up, do something different."