Redhawks' attack lacks the finishing touch vs. Downers Grove South

 

By Eddie Burns

Ed Watson and Barry Baldwin would be a lot happier if Naperville Central would simply put shots on net against the opposition.

The Redhawks’ mustered one shot on goal during a 1-0 loss to Downers Grove South on Friday night in an opening round match of the 13th annual Naperville Invite.

The loss prevented Central from advancing to the quarterfinals portion of the tournament, but it also highlighted a growing problem that is hindering the Redhawks’ chances to be successful as the postseason approaches – its inability to generate offense because it doesn’t shoot the ball.

“Only one time did their keeper really have to make a save and you can’t win when you don’t make the opposing goalie make plays,” Watson said. “I don’t even want balls on frame; I want them on the goalie. I want the opposing keeper to have to touch it and make a play.”

Central came out strong, which is another area the team has struggled with this season.

“We’ve been coming out slow, but we made it a point today to come out really strong and this was one of the first matches that we’ve played well right from the start,” Central forward Gina Maddi said.

The Redhawks (8-2-4) were clearly the more aggressive team in the early stages. One of Central’s best chances to take an early lead occurred in the 19th minute when Alex Coon sized up a restart from approximately 35 yards out and had her shot bang off the crossbar. The ball bounced back into the field of play, but the Mustangs (10-2-2) managed to clear the ball out.

This very scenario played out during Central’s loss to Neuqua Valley a week earlier. In that scenario, the Wildcats’ Megan Oyster had a restart bang off the crossbar back into the field of play where one of her Wildcats’ teammates rebounded the ball and scored for Neuqua’s lone goal during its 1-0 win against Central.

“Alex hits the crossbar and we were all caught spectating after that crossbar strike,” Watson said. “That ball was sitting right there on the doorstep waiting to be hit. In the Neuqua game the same thing occurs, but they crashed the goal.”

Maddi also had some great scoring opportunities early in the match.

“I’m really upset with myself that I didn’t finish some of those scoring chances,” Maddi said, “but as a team, we worked together and we’re all upset.”

The Redhawks dodged a close call shortly before halftime. The Mustangs managed to put a run together and Downers South’s Sarrah Ludwig put a shot on net, which created a rebound off Central goalie Jill D’Amico. The ball managed to get away from D’Amico while she was on the turf, which gave Downers South’s Cara Doogan a wide open look at the net, but Doogan’s shot hit the crossbar and went over the net.

The matched remained scoreless fairly deep into the second half, but the Mustangs managed to get the lone goal in the 64th minute when Ludwig played a ball to teammate Keri Kujawa and Kujawa beat D’Amico to the ball, which trickled into the Central net for the only goal of the match.

“Personally, I think we had the overall better run of play,” Maddi said. “I think we were all disappointed in letting in a soft goal and having to deal with that. It’s upsetting we didn’t get a goal early on when we had chances.”

Watson said the Redhawks have plenty of work to do before they return to the field for a crucial DuPage Valley Conference match with Wheaton North on Tuesday.

“I think what my message was to the girls after the game was it has to be about wanting to win,” Watson said. “I think we’re just happy to be out there. Sure, we play hard, but sometimes I think we really lack purpose.”