Late goal by Hersey does in Grenadiers in MSL East clash

By Mike Garofola

Both Elk Grove and Hersey knew what was at stake on Thursday in Arlington Heights, but the 35+ mile an hour winds caused everyone to adjust their plans in the Mid Suburban League East showdown.

Battling conditions fit more for sailing than soccer, the Grens would fall 1-0 to the defending divisional champs and drop a leg back of the Huskies with one week to go in the regular season.

Nicole Pietro would break the goal-less match at 74 minutes when the sophomore cooly touched up and over Grens keeper Nicole Ricci from in close to put the Huskies (10-3-4, 6-1-1) in front.

And then it was left to the vaunted Hersey defense to hold off Elk Grove (7-6-3, 6-3-0), which had been looking forward to taking a big step forward and ahead of its MSL East rivals.

"What can you say?" began Grens head coach Dan Klaus. "The conditions were terrible, but for both sides and we never took advantage of the wind at out back in that first half.

"And then it became whether or not we could get through the (layers) of defense in which Hersey puts up against you. The best chance of the match fell to Hersey and they put one away."

Klaus' post-match assessment was clearly right on, as anyone could see how his club struggled to find its pace, and especially its creative force in the middle, Kelli Hubly, and the wind affected every ball in the air.

"It seemed like we never could keep the ball on the field today, particularly in that first half," offered defensive captain Katie Naughton.

She would use all of her might and tactical experience to try to drive each one of her second half free kicks through the gusting winds and out of danger.

"We just struggled finding feet all throughout the first half, and just seemed to defend for most of the second half when Hersey had the win.

"And in the end, I guess a match like this sometimes is decided on a goal just like we saw today."

Klaus suggested both sides looked flat for most of the 80 minutes and the Grens coach might find himself to be correct after watching film.

His backline of Naughton, Emily Wary, Stephanie Pizzo and Sarah Stram were rarely challenged in the first 40 minutes, as they threw a blanket over the Huskies' terrific striker, Maeva Waterman.

She was reduced to withdrawing far more than usual to help defend, or collect a loose ball or two in the middle of the park.

Naughton would deftly tackle Waterman near the half hour mark in close to stop perhaps the most dangerous time in the half for either side.

On this day, when the aforementioned Hubly, Carin Fearing or Rachel Pruim would normally find top-scorer Michelle Calmeyn with ease, this trio just were not able to solve the windy conditions.

"Because of the wind and conditions, we got away from playing the way that we do and we struggled trying to find a way to do so for most of the match," said Klaus.

After the break, the focus would turn to Naughton and her mates in the back, as the shift of power went to the homeside and the powerful wind now in their favor.

The Huskies would obviously control the run of the play, what little there was, and they were more dangerous on dead-ball opportunities, specifically on corners,

In those situations, coach Brad Abel would push forward his 6'0" sweeper Kathryn Korff, and her backline mate Eileen Zydek to add more firepower at the top of the box.

Of the trio of well-aimed corners from either Andrea Perkins or Katie Drees, it was both Hubly and Naughton who would elevate to free the area from danger, and the awaiting Korff, ready to head on frame.

The Grens would dodge a bullet at 70 minutes when an unmarked Erin Reiff would head wide at the near post.

But the visitors could do nothing four minutes later after a loose ball in close fell to Pietro, who then quickly sent her game-winner into the far-side netting.

"This was such a big win for us, because a loss (today) puts Danny's club up by 3 points in the division, with Fremd, Wheeling and Barrington still left on our schedule," said Abel.

"It is far from over, but our chances greatly improved by winning this game, instead of losing."

"We have to win out against Hoffman and Palatine next week, which is no easy task in the conference, and hope for some help from (Hersey's) opponents as well," surmised Klaus, who knows the defeat gives the Huskies a tie-breaker advantage.

"We will still go forward, and look to next week, and then see where we are at one week from now."

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