Mustangs fall 1-0 to rival Waubonsie Valley
By Chris Walker

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Some of the Waubonsie Valley girls’ soccer team may have learned about Newton's First Law of Motion in physics or science class.

The Law, which states, "Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it," was experienced first-hand by the Warriors during the squad's team-building trip to Tennessee last week.

Team-building exercises including horseback riding, rafting, indoor skydiving and zorbing. What, you're not familiar with zorbing? This new pastime finds participants enclosed in a gigantic orb rolling downhill.

Finally, on Saturday, the Warriors were back playing soccer, but once again Newton's First Law of Motion was in full effect when sophomore MacKenzie Fuller scored to lead the visiting Warriors to a 1-0 victory over previously undefeated Metea Valley.

Fuller's shot on goal was heading toward the back of the net when an external force (Metea Valley goalkeeper Megan Geldernick) got a piece of the shot, slowing it and slightly altering its course. Fortunately for the Warriors, Geldernick didn't get enough of ball to completely halt it. The ball continued moving as it trickled on the man-made turf at Metea Valley and crossed the goal line.

Fuller's game-winner, which occurred with 16:58 remaining in the first half, improved the Warriors to 5-1-1 and also gave them a good start in the opener of Upstate Eight Valley Conference play for both teams.

Shannon Donelson assisted on the goal. After dribbling down field, the senior sent a perfect cross to Fuller who was waiting to pounce on it.

"We've been working in practice on getting to the end of crosses," Fuller said. "I figured I might as well try to finish this one and get a score on the board."

The sophomore wasn't intimidated by Geldernick, despite the fact that she's one of the more dominating presences between the posts in the state.

"It doesn't matter who's back there," she said. "It's all about finding the corner so they don't have the opportunity to save it."

Sandwiched between Fuller's goal were a couple of Geldernick saves that just as easily could've eluded her and given the Warriors a 3-0 advantage at halftime.

Fuller headed a pass to Kristen Dodson at the 24:45 mark and just a few yards in front of Geldernick, who somehow was able to block it. Then, with 3:10 left in the half, Geldernick maintained her mental toughness and calmness, by batting away a shot from Donelson. In addition, the Warriors almost connected at 4:05 from way downtown as Jenna Romano's boot from 45 yards out was just out of the leaping reach of Geldernick, landing just above the crossbar.

"We moved the ball pretty nicely," Warriors coach Julie Bergstrom said. "And Geldernick made some pretty nice saves."

Metea Valley (7-1-0) didn't have many scoring chances throughout the first half. Jenna Kentgen had an open look from 25 yards out with 26:22 left but her low liner was secured by Waubonsie Valley keeper Emma Rigby.

"There wasn't a whole lot that worked today," Mustangs coach Pat Feulner said. "I don't know. It took us a little while defensively to kind of figure out their 4-3-3. We also had over 70 balls that we gave away on our first possession. You can't turn it over and expect to win. Our ball control was terrible and I don't know why."

Although he wouldn't offer it as an excuse, the Mustangs may have been running a little on empty. While Waubonsie Valley was yucking it up in Tennessee with plenty of fun, team-building experiences, the Mustangs played four matches in three days, earning hard fought victories against Glenbard West, St. Francis, Benet and York at the St. Francis Springfest.

"It's been a busy week and we had our hands full but it's still no excuse for how bad our ball control was," Feulner said. "It probably wasn't the best time to play Waubonsie with them being off for a week, so that was a little bit of it, but it's still no excuse."

Kentgen said the team was just off a bit, but for no clear reason.

"We were just panicking most of the time and I don't know why," she said. "We really wanted to beat them because they're one of our biggest rivals, but something just happened where we couldn't control the ball and stuff like that."

Bigger than the first loss of the season for the Mustangs is the status of Tracey McCoy who tweaked a back injury late in the first half and Rachel Stoffregen who sustained a knee injury in the second half. The two have been crucial to the team's outstanding defensive effort this spring.

"We'll check out Rachel's knee. She came down on the back of the girl's leg so we'll have to see," Feulner said. "Tracy's back had been bothering her so we kept her out a bit. We're already thin in back so we'll see."

Both teams have matches scheduled against Neuqua Valley next week, but neither was looking too far ahead, especially when facing their neighborhood rival down Eola Road.

"I don't think of this as a prelude. It's just fun to play fun games," Bergstrom said. "The kids look forward to playing Metea as much as they do Neuqua and Naperville Central and Naperville North because of all their club teammates. It's more than the school, it's the whole soccer community."

Playing for the first time in eight days, the Warriors also now know their teammates a lot better after spending time in Tennessee. Could the trip have made an already very good team, great?

"We did a lot of great bonding and you can definitely tell that there's a difference with the team," Warriors junior Rachele Armand said. "I think we're pretty confident, especially defensively, with what we've been doing very well and we hope to make it continue."

On the flip side, the Mustangs will have to find a way to rebound from a loss for the first time, with tough UEC matches next week against Lake Park and Neuqua Valley.

"We just need to pick ourselves up again and keep pushing forward," Kentgen said. "We just have to promise ourselves that yes, this is a loss against one of the bigger schools, but we also can try harder and do better."

The Mustangs best chance to knot the match at 1-all came with 15:30 left in the contest but Kentgen's shot came up wide right. The Mustangs had six corner kicks in the contest but came up empty each time.