Girls soccer: Wheaton North shuts out Glenbard North

For a relatively inexperienced and injured Wheaton North girls soccer lineup, senior outside defender Cara Maxwell provides stability and lots of quickness.

"Cara is usually the fastest person on our team," Falcons senior forward Clare Kocher said. "With her speed back there it's a giant help. The entire thing is to get up, get up and with Cara sending those balls, crossing the field, she's perfect for that position. I really like her there."

Maxwell had been shifted to forward/offensive midfield, but for now she's reprising her 2015 role on the back line. On Monday she helped the Falcons record yet another shutout in beating Glenbard North 2-0 in DuPage Valley Conference action in Wheaton.

"This is only my second game playing defense (again)," said Maxwell, who had numerous possessions and runs along the right sideline. "I'm very tired and very exhausted and just happy that we won."

The Panthers also played tough defense, but the Falcons (8-5-1, 3-2) finally broke through when Kocher's cross from the left corner deflected off a defender and into the goal with 11:05 remaining.

"I intended that 100 percent to be a cross (to senior Hannah Atkinson)," said Kocher, who scored her second goal this season. "We'll take what we can get, so I was super happy with it. Anything counts. Goals are goals."

Atkinson added a counterattack goal off sophomore Darcy Pope's lead pass with 5:30 left - barely one minute after the Panthers' Anna Matthew blasted a 25-yard shot just over the crossbar.

The Falcons led Glenbard North (3-9, 1-5) in shots 19-5 and 3-0 in corner kicks.

"We don't have trouble generating offense. We have trouble generating finishing," Wheaton North coach Tim McEvilly said. "We've got four starters out (injured) and people have been shuffled around the different positions so we've got people that we're asking to take on scoring roles."

Still, the Falcons are 8-2-1 after an 0-3 start. During the current streak, their last four victories and tie are shutouts. In the other six games, the Falcons haven't allowed more than one goal, except for the 3-0 loss at Naperville North April 18.

Maxwell rejoins a revamped defense of sophomore goalkeeper Zoe Welsh, sophomores Hannah Swider and Stacie Galo and freshman Addy Atkinson. While Welsh also returns and is emerging as a vocal leader, Maxwell obviously is the only senior.

"That's fun," Maxwell said with a laugh. "A lot of new faces, new players, but we feel confident back there. We're winning a lot of balls in the air and that's what is helping us a lot."

"She's played (defense) 80 minutes the last two games and she does a great job defensively," McEvilly added. "We were trying to find her someplace that she felt more comfortable. I don't think she would have known that to start, but after reflecting she loves being in the back."

Glenbard North's defensive interior has been bolstered by outstanding senior athletes who returned after not playing in 2015 - 6-foot basketball standout Jennifer Deegan and volleyball setter Haley Wiser.

Less than five minutes before halftime, Welsh's long punt with the wind bounced past the Panthers' defense, but freshman goalkeeper Karissa Chalus charged and stopped Hannah Atkinson's point-blank shot. Less than three minutes before Atkinson scored, Chalus rushed out to thwart another counterattack breakaway by Maxwell.

"What can you say? A freshman came out twice, came up big. She's come a long way. They all have," Glenbard North coach David Stanfield said. "I've done this for 16 years and this is the most enjoyable group we've had because they kind of get where they're at right now and they don't beat themselves up over it. It's been fun, despite the record."

Injured Wheaton North starters Lauren Haley and Morghin Klein are expected to play Thursday against South Elgin. Injured Becca Kouwe and Jaden Trometer remain out indefinitely.