Girls soccer: Paganucci, Dana help Glenbard East shut down St. Viator
Glenbard East's girls soccer team proved to be an unwelcome host Tuesday afternoon after an impressive 3-0 victory over St. Viator to advance into the quarterfinals of the PepsiCo Showdown.
"We knew coming in this would be our toughest test of the season, so needless to say I am thrilled with the effort and the win today here on our home field," said Rams coach Kent Overbey, whose club will likely meet top seed Wheaton Warrenville South on Thursday.
"Our first 10 minutes today wasn't our best, but once we began to connect our passes, find each other and play quicker, things went our way the rest of the way," said Glenbard East's Brittany Paganucci, who dominated in the final third by scoring twice while exhibiting more pace than any player on the field.
After enjoying most of the run of play in the first quarter-hour, the Lions (3-2-2) soon found themselves defending far more than they wanted to - thanks in part to the quick Paganucci and her midfield teammates, who were winning nearly every 50-50 challenge and then quickly finding the Rams' front-runners.
"I thought we opened pretty well, and maybe we had a couple of the better of the chances - if we put one of them into the net, they have to change their way of playing," said St. Viator coach Mike Taylor. "But they finished their chances, and our inexperience and youth would be our downfall. And Glenbard East was bigger and stronger than we were today, and they deserved the win."
Sammie Sarles, who along with Faith Davies was providing one dangerous set-piece and dead-ball chances all afternoon, helped created the opening strike by Paganucci. Sarles' well-aimed free kick was redirected by Paganucci and past keeper Colleen Gallagher at 29 minutes.
There was plenty of one-way traffic after the intermission in favor of Glenbard East, and the ever-present Paganucci added to the Rams' advantage in the 50th minute with a brilliant piece of individual work.
"Brittany is an all-state player who not only can score (13 goals so far) but also create for others so unselfishly," said Overbey of the senior, who also has 12 assists.
Despite the efforts of Lions captain Lauren Kohn, who defended, distributed, attacked and ran hard for all of her 76 minutes, the visitors were unable to generate many chances at keeper Sierra Dana, who set a program record with her 25th career shutout in the Rams' ninth consecutive shutout.
Finally, Glenbard East's Elizabeth Toledo was in the right place at the right time when the Lions' backline played a short ball back into the area. Toledo quickly put the ball onto the foot of Holly Ward, who sent a bending, long-range shot high into the net at 63 minutes.
"It's a disappointing loss, but we will all learn from it. And for our younger players, it's just another game for them to gain more experience from," said St. Viator junior Maureen McGrath.