Hornets headed to regional title match vs. Nazareth
By Eric Van Dril

The first goal was followed by uncertainty, while the third goal left the game in little doubt.

Less than 13 minutes into Wednesday's Class 2A Nazareth Academy Regional semifinal against U-High, Hinsdale South sophomore Kelly Flemm dribbled down the right flank. The outside midfielder fired a 20-yard shot from a wide angle and, with a perfectly-placed strike, successfully chipped U-High sophomore goalkeeper Lillian Kozak for the Hornets' first goal of the postseason.

The goal was a big moment for both Flemm and the Hornets. It marked the sophomore's second goal of the season, and it provided Hinsdale South with an all-important first goal against a team which it was favored to beat. But the goal was met with uncertainty from Hinsdale South's supporters and Flemm's teammates.

After scoring, Hinsdale South and its supporters paused for about three seconds, seemingly waiting for confirmation that what initially appeared to be a mishit cross by Flemm had indeed gone into the back of the net. But it did, and it sparked a quick, three-goal fury in the first half of Hinsdale South's 5-0 victory over U-High.

The win sends the Hornets to a regional title game against the host Roadrunners on Friday.

“Everyone was surprised because I normally cross it in,” Flemm said. “Maybe they thought it was going over the net or (I) made a cross. But it went in.”

Flemm's goal, while initially met with uncertainty, seemed to both inspire the Hornets and deflate the Maroons. Hinsdale South dominated the run of play after that moment, and Flemm's goal was followed by a goal scored by forward Brenda Maugeri two minutes and 10 seconds later.

Maugeri scored when U-High was unable to clear a cross from the right flank. The senior flicked a volley with her right foot, and her shot caught Kozak off her line. The ball sailed over the sophomore's head for a goal which, less than 15 minutes into the match, put the Hornets in command.

“I think we got a lot more excited and we got into it more,” said Flemm, on the impact Hinsdale South's first goal had on her teammates. “In the beginning, we were going slow and then we caught up. I think that's when we started pushing them more.”

The Hornets held a healthy majority of possession after Flemm opened the game's scoring, moving the ball around the field and appearing to wear U-High down. Beyond that, the Hornets' defensive pressure in the game – especially in the midfield – appeared to frustrate the Maroons. Junior Jessica Koziol, Flemm, senior Kerry Just, senior Colleen McPherson, junior Alissa Lokanc and several others were all critical in quickly closing down time and space in the midfield. That pressure led U-High's defenders and midfielders to blindly try to boot the ball up the field in the hope it would find a forward.

Most of the time, those passes were dealt with by Hinsdale South's defense. The Hornets' back line – anchored by junior Mary Claire Ladd, sophomore Sarah Leganski and senior Jessica Mutters – didn't allow U-High to attempt a shot on senior goalkeeper Vanessa Niestrom after Flemm scored.

Hinsdale South was especially effective holding possession in the second half, controlling the ball and generating 12 shots on goal. The first attempt of the second half, a side-footed shot by Koziol from a beautiful back pass from Maugeri, beat Kozak to the goalkeeper's left. That goal reaffirmed the Hornets' stranglehold on the game just 70 seconds into the second half.

“I think we did a good job of that in the second half, and that led to many chances,” Hinsdale South coach Pat Wolf said. “I think we did have a lot of good chances. We could have scored some more, not that we needed to. There were chances that were there.”

Entering the second half with a three-goal advantage and anchored by a steady defense, Hinsdale South's focus had already shifted to the Roadrunners. Its primary objectives in the final 40 minutes against U-High were to continue its dominance of the game, hold possession and create quality opportunities.

“Keep it up, keep our eye on (who) we're going to be playing next,” said Flemm, of the team's goals heading into the second half. “Practice as if we're playing them in the next game.”

Set pieces have been one of Hinsdale South's biggest strengths this season, a facet of the game which senior sweeper Jessica Mutters said “can be a game changer” against Nazareth on Friday, a game which begins at 4:30 p.m.

Mutters scored her sixth and seventh goals of the season on set pieces Wednesday night. She wrapped up the Hornets' scoring with a header on the back post with 10 minutes remaining in the contest.
That goal didn't have a substantial impact on the game. Her first goal, however, put the game away. Mutters scored on a free kick with 20:34 remaining in the first half. She, like Flemm and Maugeri before her, beat Kozak high.

There was little doubt that Mutters was aiming for the goal as she lined up her free kick from about 30 yards away. After going through her pre-kick routine, Mutters struck a fierce shot toward goal and the ball sailed into the upper right-hand corner. It was exactly where she was aiming.

“When I take my free kicks, I'm usually trying to go high; chip the goalie kind of,” Mutters said. “My spot is usually right under the cross bar, which is kind of where it went.”

There have been times in practice when Mutters said she has hit that spot in the upper right-hand corner of the goal five consecutive times.

“It's not like she's just kicking it; she's placing the ball,” Wolf said. “She just has to put it in the right spot. There are some (goalies that can stop it). I would say (being) tall is sometimes an advantage because you can get to a ball up there. But a good ball, you've just got to drive it.”

In their regional championship games, Hinsdale South and Nazareth Academy won by a combined score of 16-0. Nazareth won its game 11-0 over Gage Park on May 14, three days after wrapping up its regular season with a 3-3 tie against Maine South.

Flemm, Mutters and Wolf were all asked about the keys to beating Nazareth on Friday after the Hornets ended U-High's season. All three provided different answers.

For Mutters, the team's sweeper, the defensive key against the Roadrunners centers around keeping the team's defensive integrity as Hinsdale South attempts to deal with Nazareth's high-powered attack.

“My friend from Maine South just recently played them, so I know they're really good at through balls,” Mutters said. “We're just going to have to watch the splitting. We can't split as a defense. We've got to be smart with how we hold the line, because we hold it a lot. So we're just going to have to be better at keeping the ball in front of us and making sure they don't outrun us.”

Flemm mentioned passing efficiently as an important key for Hinsdale South, as well as getting the ball to the net to create scoring opportunities.

One of Wolf's keys to beating Nazareth also included being able to generate quality goal-scoring opportunities. But another of his other keys is to play with energy and passion; eagerly accept the underdog role in the attempt to win a regional title.

“Just come out and playing hungry at the beginning,” Wolf said. “I think they were coming into this game thinking we should win this one (against U-High). Now, the next one we're going to have to fight and battle for it. I think we like a challenge.”