advertisement

Girls soccer: Prospect shuts out Wheaton Academy

Prospect's girls soccer team is off to a flying start to the 2019 season.

The Knights earned a convincing win over a quality club from Wheaton Academy Thursday night in Mt. Prospect, building a 2-0 lead at the break en route to a 3-0 victory at George Gattas Memorial Stadium.

"This was a very good win for us over a well-coached, excellent soccer program and just a great way for us to go into the spring break," said Prospect head coach Tom Froats.

The Knights' attack purred all throughout the cold Thursday evening, thanks in part to the work of Ashley Welk and Kristin Schneider, who together helped pry open the Warriors (3-1-0) in their own end on a handful of occasions.

"We came out and played them even for the first ten minutes, but they slowly began to have most of the play with some good possessions, and the ability to switch the ball and use width," said Warriors head coach Jeff Brooke.

"But that's why we scheduled a team like Prospect, because we knew they would give us a real solid test here at the start of the year and to help us sort out a young, and inexperienced roster."

The visitors found themselves chasing the home side in the 8th minute when Taylor Kosla collected a short clearing ball, beat her mark, then went past keeper Julia Liposky from close range.

The Warriors might have had a higher possession percentage, but it was Prospect that was more dangerous when in the attack and after an outstanding stretch of soccer, Welk would double the advantage of the Knights.

"I thought we moved the ball with speed, and did a great job of playing the ball out wide, which led to two of our goals," said Welk.

The 26th minute strike came after the visitors were unable to clear an inward swinging corner from Tina Suto out of the box to which the ever present Welk steered in her one-timer.

"We had a couple of defensive lapses tonight, but it's something we can learn from, and easily correct," admitted Brooke.

The Warriors were at their best going forward when Sophia Lindquist was on the ball, and it was her sensational runs, creative play and speed on the ball that kept the Knights' defense on edge.

Number 14 (Lindquist) was quite a player, and along with number 9 (AC Hardy) they have two great attacking players to keep an eye on," said Froats.

Hardy went close twice in the last quarter hour, once on a sizzling 35-yard free kick that rattled off the bar, then with a wicked 30-yard missile which went just over.

In between, Lauryn Schneider added another to the Prospect score line in the 66th minute.

"There's a lot of room for improvement, but there always is at this time of the season. I really liked that we competed for the entire 80 minutes, and continued to create chances, even with us being down by three goals," said Lundquist, who will continue to play next fall at Wheaton College.

Both sides will enjoy a week off, with the Warriors back in action against Fenton on Tuesday, April 2 in their Metro Suburban Conference opener, while the Knights open Mid-Suburban League play against Fremd on April 3.

  Wheaton Academy's Rebecca Steininger, right, scoots past Prospect's Ashley Behles during varsity girls soccer at Prospect High School High School Thursday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
  Prospect's Taylor Kosla (13) is congratulated by Bethany Bergquist after Kosla scored a first-half goal against Wheaton Academy during varsity girls soccer at Prospect High School High School Thursday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
  Prospect's Taylor Kosla, second from right, is the center of attention from teammates from left, Kristin Schneider, Kendall Tapia, and Abby Knott after Kosla scored against Wheaton Academy during varsity girls soccer at Prospect High School High School Thursday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
  Prospect's Taylor Kosla, left, races Wheaton Academy's Amy Alexander for the ball during varsity girls soccer at Prospect High School High School Thursday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
  Prospect's Lauryn Schneider, left, and Wheaton Academy's Sophia Lindquist race for the ball during varsity girls soccer at Prospect High School High School Thursday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.