Girls soccer: Cary-Grove's 3 second-half goals beat Crystal Lake Central
Whether is was motivational, strategic or a little bit of both, Ray Krystal's halftime words of wisdom were beneficial.
Cary-Grove rallied from a 2-0 halftime deficit to Crystal Lake Central with 3 unanswered goals during the second 40 minutes for a 3-2 Fox Valley Conference win in Cary Tuesday afternoon.
Lauren Passaglia notched the game-winner with 26 minutes remaining off a feed from Katie Jannusch.
"We didn't match their (Crystal Lake Central's) intensity in the first half," said Passaglia. "We might have been in too much of a comfort level to start the game. We got together as a team to start the second half and knew we had to play more aggressively. It was a good team win against a very good team."
The Trojans (5-0, 5-0) sliced into Central's (5-3, 3-2) lead with only 13 seconds elapsed in the second half on a goal by Jannusch.
Four minutes and 40 seconds later, Cary-Grove knotted the contest at 2-2 on a goal by Alyssa Hamann assisted by Jannusch with 35:07 left.
"That goal early in the second half helped change the momentum in the game," said Krystal. "All goals are so precious. This group missed all last season and is learning to play together."
Crystal Lake Central's goals in the first half came on a penalty kick by Emma Bolanowski and a goal by Gwyn Brickey.
"We won the 50-50 balls in the first half and we didn't win them in the second half," said Crystal Lake Central coach Sarah Fack. "We communicated in the first half but had too many breakdowns in the second half."
CLC outshot the host Trojans in the game 11-8.
Krystal utilized senior Sydney Schmidt in the nets in the first half. Schmidt, who allowed 2 goals, made 6 saves.
Senior Kayla Borg was the goalie in the second half and she pushed all away all 3 shots on goal,
Fack also employed the 2 goalie system for the Tigers.
Senior Nora Ryan garnered 2 saves in the first half while freshman Addison Cleary was in goal for the Tigers in the second half and came up with 3 saves.