Knights fall to Bettendorf in Invite title game
By Dan Santaromita

 

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After Prospect gave up two dead ball goals in the final six minutes to lose a lead and the final of the Knights Invite coach Tom Froats described it best: brutal.

The Knights took the lead after more than an hour had gone in the 70 minute match against Bettendorf, a perennial power in Iowa that is currently the top ranked side in the biggest class in the state by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, but were not able to hold a late lead.

The Bulldogs responded twice to steal the match in the final minutes for a 2-1 win to take the tournament trophy.

Kelli Iovino scored the go-ahead goal for the Knights before Bettendorf’s Katie Moore, a returning all-state selection that was superb on the day, scored the Bulldogs’ first direct from a free kick and assisted the second on a corner kick.

Bettendorf’s quality was evident so Froats was happy to see his team compete despite the shocking finish.

“We knew they were going to be a good side,” he said. “They have a great rep. I thought outstanding effort by us today. I look at how we gave up two dead ball goals, something we haven’t done very much at all this season. To lose that way is agonizing.”

Prospect (5-5-2) beat Elgin 4-1 on Friday and McHenry 5-2 earlier on Saturday to advance to the final. The Bulldogs (4-0) thrashed Wauconda 8-0 in the quarterfinals and topped St. Francis 1-0 in the other semi.

Moore, a junior attacking midfielder, and sophomore Miranda Hollie presented a difficult test for the Prospect defense. The Knights were able to contain the duo for the most part only to get burned on set plays.

“Elena Cukurs marking their No. 16 (Moore) did an unbelievable job,” Froats said. “I thought our center mids (Mary Rose Pettenuzzo and Taylor Smith) were outstanding. Kelly Ziegenfuss today in the back did a really, really nice job.

“Everywhere all over the field the energy was there. The kind of effort that you need to win an important match like this.”

Sophomores Trisha Benson and Danielle Hamzeloo formed an effective back line with Ziegenfuss.

The two squads went back and forth on the attack without many dangerous chances throughout the first half. The Knights came close to breaking the deadlock early in the second half when a cross from the left created a chaotic series of shots in the box that were all blocked away by the Bulldogs’ defense and goalkeeper Kim Ruth (8 saves).

Finally, with less than 10 minutes on the clock Smith created an opening in the box and put the ball on frame. An aware Iovino was there to redirect it for what figured to be the winning goal.

“I just saw Taylor get a touch and I didn’t know if the goalie was going to get it or if it was going wide so I got a deflection off of it and it ended up going in,” Iovino said. “It was a great effort from Taylor.”

Four minutes later Moore drew a foul 30 yards from goal for a free kick. She lofted the ensuing shot just out of the reach of Megan McCabe (2 saves) and just under the crossbar to tie the match with 5:03 left.

Moore’s skill on the ball caused numerous fouls, but few scoring opportunities in the run of play. The Knights’ midfield and defense kept its shape well.

“She’s a great player and she has good moves, but we just gotta keep composed and make sure we don’t dive in so she doesn’t get around us,” Pettenuzzo said.

Less than three minutes after the first Bulldogs’ goal Hollie got on the end of Moore’s corner at the far post to complete the turnaround.

The Knights refuted that fatigue was a factor down the stretch, but playing three matches in less than 24 hours is a tough task.

“Your muscles are sore, your legs are tired, but you just gotta keep fighting,” Pettenuzzo said.

The defeat, especially in the way it came, was disheartening for Prospect. The Knights won the tournament last year, but the field was much stronger this time around.

“I think in the past years we haven’t really felt like the need to be at our top every single game and I feel like this year especially the teams we’ve played here are definitely helping us with our conference play and stuff like that,” Iovino said. “It’s a lot more comparable and teams we haven’t seen. I didn’t even know there was a Bettendorf so I mean it’s definitely nice playing teams from out of the area that were really good.”

The Knights return to Mid Suburban League play on Wednesday against Hoffman Estates.