Girls soccer: McCarthy puts best foot forward for Neuqua Valley

Erin McCarthy has played forward for Neuqua Valley for two girls soccer games and hasn't found a comfort level yet.

That's a frightening thought for Neuqua's opponents.

McCarthy, a standout senior defender, has scored in each of the last two games, including the only tally Tuesday night in the Wildcats' 1-0 DuPage Valley Conference victory over Naperville Central at Memorial Stadium.

"It wasn't my best game," McCarthy said. "I think there should have been more (goals). But I feel like as time goes by, I'll get more comfortable and more confident up there."

Less than three minutes had gone by when McCarthy struck, getting in behind the defense and tapping in a cross from junior Piper Biziorek, who had sped untouched into the right side of the Naperville Central penalty area.

"I just saw the space and took it," Biziorek said. "The (defender) just kind of hesitated and luckily Erin was there to get the ball and it was just everything we practiced in practice.

"We practice that a lot, where we take it down and cross it. So it was just lucky that happened."

Naperville Central coach Ed Watson, whose team has lost consecutive games for the first time this season, lamented his team's lack of focus on the decisive play.

"That's characteristic for this team," Watson said. "We have given up first-half goals all season.

"This team, I don't have a problem with their effort, but that was a breakdown in the midfield that started it, a center back had to stop the ball. When we look at the video there's going to be someone standing right in front of the goal and we have girls not marking."

Even so, Watson gave credit to the 6-foot-1 McCarthy, a Lipscomb recruit who also scored in Neuqua's 3-0 victory over Lemont on Saturday.

"She's a great target," Watson said. "She's got decent wheels for being a big kid.

"Our backs for the most part played very well. We can't give up the opportunity that we did, especially early in the game. We paid for it."

McCarthy nearly had a second goal, but she redirected Shannon Tagler's 27-yard free kick over the crossbar from 4 yards out at the 28:18 mark of the second half.

It was one of many missed opportunities for the Wildcats (4-2-3, 1-0), who outshot the Redhawks (7-4-1, 1-2) by a 16-5 margin. Naperville Central goalkeeper Amber Hunter had something to do with that, making 8 saves.

"It was good that we put it away right from the start," McCarthy said. "It wasn't our strongest game, but we'll come back out stronger."

Biziorek said McCarthy's offensive game is only going to get stronger.

"Erin is really strong up top," Biziorek said. "She brings a level of strength and definitely balls in the air is something that she's really good at.

"Working with her is awesome because she can work really well with her feet and pass it around."