Wildcats put up good fight in 2-1 defeat to Warriors

By Eddie Burns

West Chicago coach Cesar Gomez was encouraged by his team's 2-1 home loss to Wheaton Academy on Wednesday night in a nonconference matchup of West Chicago schools.

But although the Wildcats' setback was a significant improvement from last year's 9-2 defeat to the Warriors, Gomez still sees his squad battling confidence issues.

"Believing in ourselves is still a struggle," Gomez said. "We have to coach it and practice it, but they have to believe what we are selling them. Now they see glimpses of it.

"Getting the kids to believe in themselves is hard because they still don't completely agree what we the coaches tell them. I think they think we're making stuff up, but we're not. Everyone has to have confidence. If one person doesn't have it -- it is contagious either way."

Wheaton Academy captured its third straight win in three days. The Warriors beat Benet on Monday and Rosary on Tuesday.

"I prefer playing games as opposed to practicing," said Wheaton Academy's Alexa Sharkey, who tallied both goals for the Warriors.

“I played basketball and we would play only once a week, but to play as many games as we have lately, has been a lot of fun."

Of course, winning makes everything a lot more enjoyable.

The Warriors (8-3) took the lead in the ninth minute off a corner-kick situation when Crystal Thomas sent a cross where Sharkey managed to finish off the scoring by placing a shot past West Chicago goalie Kelsey Myers.

Gomez said it was a goal that should not have occurred.

"We’ve been doing better at defending corners and today we fell asleep and they scored an easy goal," Gomez said.

"I don't mind people scoring on us, but I don't like to give up easy goals. Often, we give up too many easy goals."

The Wildcats (5-8-1) responded in the 19th minute when Jenny Amaro scored her first varsity goal when she finished off a chance created by teammate Meagan Radloff.

"Coach always tells us to keep going and it doesn't matter how you get the ball in the net -- just keep going," Amaro said.

"I saw Meagan make her move and I got in there and somehow got a foot on the ball."

Wheaton Academy had the better of the play in the closing minutes of the opening half as evidence by Kristen Wittmuss' shot that clanged off the post in the 36th minute.

The match remained tied at halftime but in the second half, the Warriors adjusted their attack.

Wheaton Academy had its strikers apply more pressure on West Chicago’s backs during the final half.

The Wildcats' back line was influential in creating their offensive attack in the first half by sending balls in over the top.

In addition, the Warriors also did a much better job of possessing the ball.

Thomas and Sharkey connected on the winning goal in the 51st minute. Thomas put the goal in motion when she played a cross to Sharkey and all Sharkey had to do was react and put the ball in the net.

"Crystal played a perfect ball and I was just like, 'I'll just one-touch that,'" said Sharkey, who doubled her goal total to four.

Warrior coach Scott Marksberry was extremely pleased with the effort he received from Thomas.

"Crystal played awesome tonight," Marksberry said. "She assisted both goals. She was an outside midfielder for us last year and she plays up front for her club team.

"She plays center mid for the regional ODP team, but for us this season she's just finding her rhythm and tonight was her breakout game. She was everywhere. She's becoming very versatile in the center mid, which is great to see."

The Wildcats never really mounted a real scoring threat the rest of the match.

One reason West Chicago had a difficult time generating offense was the Warriors marked Radloff with as many as three players at times.

"We were really pleased with our work in the back," Marksberry said. "Lindsey Burke. We gave her the job of shutting down Radloff and I thought she did an awesome job.

"She did a great job marking her and made it tough for Radloff to create anything. Christi Dithrich was also solid with the way she fills gaps for us in the back."

In an attempt to free up the top, Gomez dropped Radloff into the midfield in the second half, which left freshmen Andie Lazzerini and Katie Becker up top.

It also didn't help that Amaro and Kelsey Whitaker were lost to injuries in the second half.

"We tried something different and struggled a little bit," Gomez said. "We will learn from this and move forward."

Gomez pointed out the play of defenders Stephanie Salinas and Sarah Opel in the back.

He was also encouraged by the play of Jessica Quinn, Bianca Navejas and Mary Rojas.

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