Girls soccer: Deerfield's late PK sinks Warren
Warren's girls soccer team had been trying to turn the proverbial corner this weekend in the Glenbrook Cup.
Despite nice efforts over the weekend, they're still trying to get around that corner.
Warren nearly got past a highly regarded Class 2A team, Deerfield, but fell 3-2 on a penalty kick in the final minute on Saturday afternoon at the Techny Fields in Northbrook.
The Blue Devils (5-10-1) dropped two out their three tournament games, while Deerfield (14-3-1) earned third place with the victory.
Glenbrook North (8-1-3) took top honors over Glenbrook South (12-2-4) with a 1-0 victory decided on penalty kicks (4-3) in the championship match.
"We did get some good games in against some teams we won't see in the playoffs," Warren coach Ryan McCabe said. "But they are similar to the teams we will face and see in the playoffs. I think it will help us."
On Saturday, dealing with the wind caused havoc for both sides and made ball control difficult.
Warren was in a battle with Deerfield throughout the better part of the second half with the scored tied 2-2. But a foul in the penalty area by a Blue Devils defender that gave the Warriors a penalty kick.
Haley Emory stepped up and kicked a low, rolling shot into the corner for the game-winner, her 11th goal this season.
Coming into the match, Warren made some alignment changes that worked to its advantage and kept Deerfield off track.
"I thought we played really well," McCabe added. "We switched the formation up a little bit just on the fly on the bus ride over. and the girls responded really well. We came out with more purpose than what we did (Friday). Just pleased with how we played."
The Blue Devils took a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute on Courtney Chomko's penalty kick.
The Warriors tied it at 1-1 about four minutes later as Malori Killoren scored off a pass from Samantha Linn.
Warren regained the lead in the 28th minute, as Morgan Liebau scored off of an assist from Liza Mattimore and some added support from the wind.
Killoren notched another goal, her 18th this season, after taking a pass from Linn in the 42nd minute to tie it again at 2-2.
"I do like the way our team responded," Deerfield coach Rich Grady said. "I thought our defense is getting better. A PK you can't control, but I thought our group did a good job of limiting chances."
• Grayslake North picked up the consolation championship with a 4-0 victory over Grayslake Central on Saturday morning.
The Knights (8-5-1) won two out of three games after losing its tourney opener against Glenbrook North on Thursday night.
Lauren Davis (21 goals, 6 assists) contributed on all four goals with 2 goals and 2 assists. Haley Leanna and McKenna Brooks scored the other goals.
The Knights jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first half.
"I was really pleased how they played here, and even against GBN," said Grayslake North coach Adam DeCaluwe. "The girls decided enough is enough after that game, and to play with purpose and desire. We were able to convert our chances - something we haven't been doing. Once we scored, we never backed off and rolled ahead with confidence.
"We managed to put (Grayslake Central) under more consistent pressure, and then we looked to get to the goal with more desire and commitment."
Grayslake Central (7-5-1) was finish a week of playing 5 games in 5 straight days.