Corsairs top local rival Mundelein 3-0
By Gary Larsen

 

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If Carmel coach John Halloran asked St. Norbert college-bound senior Shannon Jung to re-shingle his garage roof, the kid just might do it. After all, she’s done everything else he has asked of her in a four-year career.

"She came up as an outside mid and that's where she anticipates she'll play in college,” Halloran said. “In her career we've played her at outside back, center back, outside mid, defensive mid, attacking mid, forward, and never really allowed her to play where she wants to.

“I went to her after the fifth game of the year and I said 'I know you're going to hate me, but we need you in back’, and she said 'I don't care. I just want to play'. You can't get a better answer from a kid than that. Shannon Jung is an unsung hero for us. I love her to death.”

Defenders Jung, her twin sister Caitlin, Maggie Karich, and Sarah McHugh were on the field together in front of keeper Katie Larson for the Corsairs’ sixth shutout of the season on Monday, a 3-0 win over crosstown rival Mundelein.

"So far it's been working out great. We have four seniors on the backline," Jung said. "We had two seniors on the back line last year so we were trying different people back there early in the year. But we're playing well in back and (Larson) is playing really well. We trust her a lot."

McHugh, Meegan Johnston, and Bri Carlson scored in the win. The Corsairs struck first at 23 minutes, when Carlson flicked a Johnston throw-in to McHugh, who finished from 12 yards out.

Carmel tied Saint Viator on a late goal four days ago on a play that started with a Johnston throw-in. The junior only recently began taking throws for the Corsairs.

"I just did it one time and didn't know I could throw it that far," Johnston said. "That was about five games ago. It's not like I've practiced it or anything but we've been able to use it to our advantage."

The Corsairs’ 1-0 lead held to halftime. Halloran was pleased with everything in the first half except for one play , when Mundelein’s Michele Chernesky broke behind the Carmel defense and sent a great scoring chance just wide of the post.

Mundelein’s Cristy Nambo found space on the left side late in the game for a shot that Larson saved, but other than that the Corsairs severely restricted the Mustangs.

"Other than that time we got broken down in the 21st minute, we played well," Halloran said. "Our defense and our midfield did a really good job of keeping them out, limiting their chances, and closing down space."

Johnston sent a few shots from distance off the mark in the first half, but got one to pay off at 53 minutes when she intercepted a pass 30 yards from goal and let it fly. Mundelein keeper Cristina Leverde got a hand on Johnston’s shot but it nicked the underside of the crossbar on its way to the back of the net.

"I was actually shooting far corner and she got a hand on it," Johnston said. "Up top I knew she might not be able to reach it."

Johnston was busy in the attack from her spot at midfield all night.

"She does a nice job underneath, she creates, and she can be unselfish and selfish, which it took her some time to figure out. There were times last year when she'd shoot when she should pass and pass when she should shoot,” Halloran said. “We kind of found where her sweet spot was and things have been a lot smoother this year. She's also not being so hard on herself. She has the ability to do it and she can hit a bomb."

Mundelein’s primary threat through most of the night came on Kelsey Hiegel freekicks taken from distance, but Carmel handled every threat, as Carmel possessed well all night and remained a persistent threat in the run of play throughout the contest.

"We always play together as a team and we always know where our forwards are running and we can find their feet or we can find a through-ball," Johnston said. "And we have a lot of girls with a good strike on the ball."

Carlson made it 3-0 at 70 minutes when she ran onto a Karich corner kick and buried it at the near post. Another player Halloran got a good night’s work from on Monday was junior Caitlin Murphy.

“(Murphy) has been great for us all year,” he said. “She's another one in one of those unsung roles -- nobody says to you after a game 'your holding mid did a real nice job playing sideways and negative' because they don't end up on a stat sheet. She's a ham-and-egger, and I love that mentality."

Carmel (8-2-1) is off for a week before taking on East Suburban Catholic Conference foes Fenwick, Joliet Catholic, and Nazareth. Carmel, Nazareth, and Saint Viator are all currently unbeaten in ESCC play.