Trojans find offensive touch against Hawks in Wego invite

 

 

By Curt Herron

Downers Grove North coach Bob Calder wasn't too thrilled that his squad was being held scoreless well into the final half of its match with Bartlett.

But what troubled the first-year Trojans boss more was that a big reason for their inability to connect was that they weren't getting off any shots.

That problem got solved shortly before the midway mark of the final half, however, and when Downers North started to shoot, it began to collect goals.

The Trojans scored three goals in just over five minutes to take control and added two more tallies to claim a 5-0 win over the Hawks at West Chicago.

It was the opening night of the West Chicago's round robin Invite. Glenbard North edged the hosts 1-0 on penalties in the other contest.

Downers North (6-6) lost to Glenbard North in last year's title match. It meets the Panthers on Wednesday and takes on the hosts on Saturday.

With the win, the Trojans have now captured one more victory than they had a year ago. They have four more matches left in the regular season.

In Monday's triumph, Jamie Sebo and Maria Derrig each scored a pair of goals, Mary Helen Beacom added the other and Cristina Siddu posted the shutout.

"I was disappointed since I think we had one shot in the first half, even though we played a lot in their half," Calder said. "That's what we talked about at halftime, how we really needed to release the ball.

"Once we got the first one it was like what we've been doing all season. In our wins, we've been scoring in bunches, but they don't come until the first one does. I think it's two-fold since our girls get excited and the other team gets down.

"It took us 45 minutes to get a good shot off and then we started getting into the box and were crashing and being more aggressive to the net and that's really what turned the game for us. Once that happens, I get to try people in new places as we get ready for the playoffs.

"I thought that Gianna Marconi and Emma Krick had huge days today. One of the stats that we log are 50-50 balls and at halftime we had it at something like 22-4, and a big part of that was because of those two."

While it took awhile for the Trojans to find their scoring touch, the Hawks (8-10) continue to struggle to put the ball into the net.

Bartlett was having success offensively as it got off to an 8-4 start but the youthful squad has hit a rough stretch of late and goals are elusive.

The Hawks lost their sixth straight match, with the last five being shutouts. But coach Heather Thomas's team plays at Waubonsie Valley tonight.

With a wind at its back, Bartlett had a number of opportunities at the start of the match but Siddu and her defense continued its frustrations.

The first few good chances belonged to the Hawks with Lindsay Rockensock being stopped on a liner and Josie Dombrowski sending an effort just wide.

Shortly before the half's midpoint, Alyse Dutcher cleared a try by Kaitlin Brohan and then Siddu halted Dombrowski's subsequent corner kick.

Downers North countered as Dutcher was denied on a header, Derrig saw a try deflected and Gianna Marconi sent a corner kick to Amanda Lozada.

The Trojans got a quick attempt from Paula Blaszkowska after the break before Brohan lined a shot off Mary Doro, forcing her to exit the match.

Bartlett threatened again a short time later when Dombrowski sent a corner kick toward the net but Siddu got a hand on it for the deflection.

Downers North finally broke the deadlock in the 57th minute when Marconi placed a corner kick into the box and Sebo came up with the ball.

Her first effort deflected off of a defender but she alertly got the rebound and placed her second try just inside of the post for a goal.

The Trojans were back at it in the 63rd minute when Dutcher found the crossbar but Beacom got the rebound and connected from close range.

Moments later, the Hawks tried to get one back as Rockensock sent a pass to Shelly Lyjak, but her short attempt bounced off of the post.

Downers North didn't take long to collect another score, connecting in the 64th minute when Sebo got free in front for her second goal.

Derrig collected her first goal of the match in the 69th minute and then added another with just seconds remaining to close things out.

"In the first half we really weren't controlling the ball at all," said Downers North's Emma Krick. "But once we started putting our passes together, we took control and were able to take the lead. Usually when we score a goal, we get on a roll and keep getting more.

"I think that our personalities really go well together and we always communicate well and that's why we play well together. We took second place last year in this tournament so we plan on winning all of our games here this year."