Cougars fall to solid St. Charles North squad
By Mike Garofola

One match result doesn't make a season but it can set the tone for an entire year.

St. Charles North got out on the front foot Thursday night, playing with the pace and energy that many sides won't show until three weeks into the season.

A pair of first-half goals from Hanna Durocher helped sink an unproven and young club from host Conant, as the North Stars made a convincing start to their 2013 campaign with a 2-0 victory on another sub-zero March night in Hoffman Estates.

Ruth Vostal's club never looked back after establishing its two-goal lead, when Durocher fired past a diving Haley Anderson in the 38th minute to finish off an impressive 40 minutes for the North Stars, who were anxious to get out on the pitch to begin their quest for another memorable soccer season.

"All of us couldn't wait to finally get outside and play after training inside on the gym floor," began senior Natalie Winkates. "Last year was an amazing year for all of us, but it's kind of like ancient history now because this is a new season, and what we did last year was great but we've got to put it past us and go out and start things all over."

Winkates was referring, of course, to the North Stars’ run into the 3A state final with Naperville North last June. The epic battle with the Huskies nearly went into shoot-out but Naperville North broke the hearts of the North Stars’ faithful with the game-winner in the 120th minute.

"It's all about taking it one game at a time this season, and I know all of us understand that, so I feel like we can get back to that game if we work hard and continue to improve each week," Winkates said.

Conant coach Jason Franco tipped his hat to the North Stars at game’s end.

"That was a very good side out there tonight," Franco said. "It's kind of strange being in the position we are this season after being exactly where Ruth is this year.

"For the past three or four years we've had the players and talent here to be able to be the favorites to win every night, but this year the story is going to be a little different for a while."

Gone from that four-year run are Courtney Raetzman (now playing at Kentucky), Kelsey Foss (playing at Winona State), plus classy three-year veterans Sammi van de Linde and Chrissy Rosales and several other quality varsity veterans.

"We had a great run during that time but now we start over with a bunch of new players ready to make their mark,” Franco said. “But against a team like St. Charles, who is deep and talented throughout its roster, they can expose your inexperience and weaknesses, and they did that in the first half to pretty much put this game out of reach."

The visitors were dynamic with their attack from the opening whistle. If it wasn't Alyssa Brandt on the outside with the ball, or Kelly Manski, is was almost always sophomore Elizabeth Parrilli, who from her spot in the middle directed the offense like a seasoned veteran to help keep Conant in its own end for most of the first period.

"Elizabeth has a terrific feel for the game, her vision and ability to distribute is very good, and that’s obviously going to be a big plus for us this season," said Vostal, who received an early Christmas present when Parrilli decided not to return to the Eclipse Soccer Club this spring, instead coming back to play on the prep scene.

"(Parrilli) was one of the reasons that I thought we were able to knock the ball around, and play a lot of 1-2 passes, but it also didn't seem to take too long for the girls, almost all back from last year, to play quick and get forward and create some nice chances."

Junior Drew Wentzel, one of just a few returning players for Conant and one of the best defenders in the area, will be in charge of a young backline group. They’ll be asked to defend with all their might until the attack finds its way in the early going, which will be made more difficult due to the absence of sophomore sensation Leah Celarek, who is out with an injury.

"We've got Bianca (Madonia) back after she missed half of the year last year with a knee injury, and she looked great tonight, but aside from Leah our attack is going to be a little thin. We’ll have trouble scoring for a while and that's why going down two goals against a great defensive team like North all but ended our hopes tonight," said Franco.

"I thought we came out a played a little nervous in that first half," offered Wentzel.

"It's important to respect your opponents, but I think a lot of our newer players respected them a little too much, and it kind of showed in our play."

The Cougars managed to keep the high-flying North Stars out of the back of the net in the second half thanks to the hard work of Wentzel and her backline mates Katie Lomas, Kayla Severinsen and Stephanie Buga.

North was in the Conant end for most of the game’s first quarter-hour but was unable to get a quality strike on frame. The North Stars broke through when Alex Gage went up and over Anderson, and her shot found the woodwork and bounced back into the box, allowing an ever- opportunistic Durocher to guide in her close range shot to give the North Stars a one-goal advantage in the 29th minute.

"I thought we did a good job of defending and fighting to keep things scoreless, but that wasn't a good one to give up, and after that I felt like they really came after us," noted Franco.

The Cougars best chance came shortly after the goal but it quickly turned around in favor of the North Stars, who showed just how dangerous they can be.

 Durocher steered a low drive past a diving Anderson to make it 2-0 heading into the break.

The home side opened up much stronger in the second half, and with the move of Madonia in a 4-4-2 formation, the Conant attack looked much brighter than it did at the game’s outset.

However, Kenzie Rose and her backline mates would make sure anything in their area was short-lived, and along with Jorie Clawson, Jenny Barr, and Alex Gage sitting in front of the back three, nothing serious was ever directed at keeper Shelby Stitz.

"I don't think a lot of teams will have much success (scoring) with the way they defend as a team,” Franco said.

Rose and Barr were constantly on marauding runs up the flank to add numbers in the attack, while Winkates in the middle did well to play both sides of the ball, with Parrilli free to get forward and direct the attack.

"I know it was just our first game outside, but I really felt like we played well as a group tonight," said Winkates.

Midway through the second period, Severinsen headed a well-paced serve from Brandt off the line. Later, the North Stars’ Stitz reacted quickly to potential trouble when she raced off her line to pull down a well-driven serve from Lomas, who was hoping to catch Zoe Shoro at the back post.

The play was quick and fast paced at times throughout the half to give the hearty faithful good entertainment despite the cold temperatures.

"I think the staff and players are all excited and anxious for this season to get under way, and all-in-all it was a very good first night of soccer for us,” Vostal said.