Girls soccer: Flynn, Benet thwart Sandburg

Kate Flynn didn't give up on Tuesday evening at Benedictine University in Lisle.

But the junior and her Benet teammates had to be getting frustrated as several scoring opportunities were denied. Sandburg goalkeeper Marissa Nugent seemingly had a stranglehold on anything that came near her.

Finally, with just 14:14 left to play in the Wheaton North Kickoff Classic girls soccer game, Flynn perfectly guided in her free kick from 20 yards away and the Redwings held off a furious threat in the final seconds of the game to walk away with a hard-fought 1-0 victory.

"There's not much you can do when the keeper is that good so you have to hit the right spot," Flynn said. "I saw that their wall and their goalie were a little bit on the right side and their wall was covering the right post so I decided to go upper 90 left corner and luckily it went there."

Flynn and Mary Kate Hansen lined up next to each other and had discussed who would take the lead.

"We were debating who was going to take it for a while," Flynn said. "She decided she would run over it and I would kick it."

It was the only thing to get past Nugent, a senior and Tiffin recruit.

"This was the first game where I felt challenged with my hands," Nugent said. "They're a good team, but I felt like I was able to get my physical saves and after I make one I feel like I'm the type of person that can still keep it going. I felt like I reined it in today, so I was excited."

Benet (3-0) was excited to leave victorious but not thrilled with only netting the one goal. That's going to happen sometimes, though, especially against tough teams, and while the Eagles are young, they are deep with talent.

"I think we were getting a little frustrated as the game went on," Flynn said. "We had 5 or 6 shots in the first half and their keeper was there every time. We had even more chances end line and crosses in the second half but just didn't get on the end of it."

That should come, though. The Redwings are too deep and too talented for it not to, and like the majority of the state, they're just getting used to playing games again, let alone being outside on a soccer field.

"We've only been able to have four real outdoor practices so far, which have been helpful, but it's not nearly enough," Benet coach Gerard Oconer said. "What's helped us is having so much varsity experience. Regardless of how good you are, when you are young with freshmen and sophomores, there's just something about having a majority of juniors and seniors."

Sandburg (3-1-1) put a huge scare into the Redwings in the waning seconds, having one shot rejected by goalkeeper Eva Frantzen and then a rebound attempt off the foot of Bella Corluka found the crossbar just before time expired.

"We got tested for probably the first time all year, which is great," Oconer said. "Even our goalie got some work in tonight, and I think that will build her confidence and she'll be capable when we need her."