Gators shut out Huskies to open Glenbrook Cup

By Dan Santaromita

Earlier in the year Crystal Lake South was an unproven team gunning for upsets, but the tables have turned.

CL South has held its own through a brutal schedule and is now a respected group playing with confidence.

The Gators held off Oak Park-River Forest 2-0 in Northbrook in their opener of the Glenbrook Cup.

OPRF coach Paul Wright said his team was initially intimidated by the 9-5-1 Gators.

"We didn't come to play the first ten minutes," Wright said. "We got scared, you know, they're on the verge of being ranked.

"They knocked off Lyons 2-0, our main opponent all year. We came out a little timid."

Those first ten minutes cost the Huskies dearly.

In the seventh minute, CL South junior Vivian Qian made a great cross from the left to Kali Loescher, who calmly settled the ball, turned, fired and scored with a high shot.

"We wanted to start strong in the tournament so we just came out and played," Loescher said.

"The last game (a 3-2 win over Jacobs) we didn't play so well so after that we were like we got to show everyone who we are so we came out and played tough for this game."

CL South coach Brian Allen said his team played fantastic.

"I couldn't have asked for more," Allen said. "We had a good game against Jacobs, but I don't think they played up to the potential. I definitely wasn't satisfied and they knew it. For them to rebound this way shows me a lot of character in this group of girls.

"Again they've risen to the challenge when they know that their backs were against the wall a little bit just in terms in that I have a high expectation to continue.

"They played a little more relaxed because we got away from conference and away from (the Pepsi Showdown) and they just went out and performed and they performed very well."

Loescher made some great runs and plays on the ball throughout the game, which was just 60 minutes.

"Kali has been stepping into her own a lot," Allen said. "She continues to find more space and a lot of that is the other forwards are creating that space for her to take the ball on and take people on.

"She is continuing to gain that confidence and that's only going to make us more dangerous."

Despite going down an early goal, the Huskies played better as the match continued. The play was mostly even and the Huskies even had a great chance to tie the match, but a shot at an open goal went just high.

A couple minutes later in the 51st minute, the Gators scored a second goal after a great possession set up the score.

Junior Karli Schumaker laid off the ball perfectly for Qian, who ripped a shot straight at Huskie goalie Katie Oldach (7 saves), who couldn't handle the wet ball.

The setup was deserving of a goal and the Gators attack was strong.

"Vivian had one of her best games I think of the season today," Allen said. "It's good to continue to see those three (Ashley Ross, Loescher and Qian) and even the reserves continue to come in and perform at a high level because there was no drop off today.

"No matter who was up there I think the level of play remained constant so that was awesome."

Elizabeth Quinn and Beth McGinn each had three saves to combine for the team's fourth shutout.

That depth will come into play the rest of this tournament. Every team in the tournament has two 60-minute matches Saturday to finish group play with the winners advancing to the semifinals. Each team in the semis is guaranteed two more matches.

"They know a day off is coming which I'm hoping is going to be some motivation," Allen joked. "When we looked at our goals at the beginning of the season, you know we wanted to perform well in the Glenbrook Cup and make it out of our group and into the semis and finals.

"We're going to get a good rotation in and try to get everyone in to get some fresh legs and rest some people up. I think they're going to treat it as exciting and a long day is good for our team camaraderie."

CL South will play Kenosha Bradford at 10:45 a.m. and Lake Forest Academy at 3:45 p.m. The semifinals will be a 5:45 with the final and 3rd place match immediately after. Kenosha Bradford beat Lake Forest Academy 1-0 in the other Group D match Friday.

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