Warriors strike twice, top rival Metea Valley
By Gary Larsen

The tri-Valley rivalry in the Upstate Eight Conference between Waubonsie, Neuqua, and Metea can give off heat, but that heat was only rising from one team during Saturday’s clash between the Warriors and Mustangs.

Waubonsie won 2-0 over host Metea on goals from Zasha Gazder and Kristen Dodson, and barely allowed the Mustangs a sniff of the goal.

"They're a talented team with a good roster and a very good defense," Mustangs keeper Megan Geldernick said. "It was tough for us to get in behind their defense today, which is something we're accustomed to. It was hard to adjust and find a different way to get the ball to the net.

"But I definitely think we can overthink things. It seemed like we came in thinking 'we're playing Waubonsie', where we should just come in and play our game. Hopefully we'll do that from here on out."

In the three years since Metea (2-1, 0-1 in UEC play) began playing a varsity schedule, Waubonsie (2-1, 1-0) has won all three meetings against the Mustangs.

When asked if her team’s biggest rival was Metea or Neuqua, Waubonsie senior Jenna Romano finally settled on this answer: “All of the Naperville schools are our biggest rivals,” Romano said, inserting Napervilles North and Central into the conversation.

Metea struggled to find shots against a Waubonsie defense anchored by keeper Emma Rigby and defenders Romano, Rachele Armand, Maddie Pokora, and Tori Christiansen on Saturday.

"They made the game," Rigby said of her defense. "They all work together so well. I don't think Metea had the ball much because our defenders played around them to the midfielders, then up to the forwards. It was really a comfortable game for us."

Dodson reached the endline on the left side, cut back to her right, and crossed a ball in the game’s opening minutes to Gazder, who headed a ball that Geldernick saved near the far post.

Waubonsie’s Tori Christiansen turned the corner on the right side and centered a pass at 8 minutes to the near post, and this time Gazder made it count, scoring from six yards out. Gazder later left the game with an injury and did not return.

Armand sent a freekick from the right touchline to far post at 18 minutes, where Dodson headed it just wide, Dodson tested Geldernick again with a shot from 18 yards out, and the Warriors’ Karla DiJohn hit the crossbar with a shot at 33 minutes.

With the wind at its back through one half of play, Waubonsie pressured and found dangerous space with more regularity than the Mustangs.

"I liked the intensity and so far this year the only goals we've given up have been on freekicks," Romano said. "We're getting goals first, keeping it calm, and playing possession. I'm really happy with the direction our team is going.

“It's only our third game and coming back from spring break we didn't have a game since (March 16). This game helped get us on our feet and boosted our confidence.”

Waubonsie’s Kendall Wilde forced a save from Geldernick early in the second half before Dodson won a ball sent ahead by Kristen Brots, took a touch around Geldernick and scored into an empty net.

Down 2-0 with the wind at their backs, the Mustangs tested Rigby a few times to the final buzzer but a Metea team that had put nine goals on the board in its first two games – including a 4-2 win over York – struggled to find quality shots.

"I don't know what it was. I think Waubonsie played hard and just looked a step quicker than us today, and I don't know why,” Metea coach Pat Feulner said. “I don't know why we were tentative. It seemed like we were a step behind all day. We didn't go at them like we wanted to.”

Metea played without some injured players on Saturday, including Megan Buchanan and Rachel Stoffregen, while Jenna  Kentgen and Katie Kennedy played hurt, “but we should still be able to compete better than we did today,” Feulner said. "We didn't know anything about York and we just went at them. Waubonsie -- for some reason -- we didn't go at them the same way and I don't know why."

Geldernick pointed out one possible answer.

"We were trying to make every pass perfect instead of just playing soccer, the way we did against York," Geldernick said.

"But from every position on the field we're solid and we have really good team unity. Last year we came in a little hesitant with each other, we didn't really trust each other enough, but this year we've been clicking already and I really like that. We just need to get the ball on goal more than we did today, like we usually do.”

The Mustangs continue UEC competition when they travel to rival Neuqua on Tuesday, and then hit the road for a game at Lake Park on Thursday.

Waubonsie hosts Oswego Tuesday and travels to Barrington for a game on Saturday. The win over Metea marked the Warriors’ first shutout of the year; an outcome they hope can become a regular result the rest of the way.

"Our back four -- back five including Emma -- has been amazing," Romano said. "We play club together so we know how each other plays. Me, Rachele, and Tori and Maddie. We know the same style and we like to work out of the back a lot. We're also really close on this team and we've got a great relationship in the back and as a team. That helps a lot."