Marconi strikes twice in win over Willowbrook
By Dave Owen

Gianna Marconi’s tough luck at the start of 2013 turned into perfect aim on Thursday.

The Downers Grove North junior scored two beautiful goals to spark the Trojans (3-4) to a 4-0 win over visiting Willowbrook, in a strong team effort that also earned Downers North its first shutout of the spring.

“I thought Gianna had a great first half, feeding everybody from the middle and getting her two goals,” Downers North coach Bob Calder said. “She’s been right there all season, hitting the post left and right and just not getting it to go.

“I think those are her second and third goals of the season, and it looked like she could have just kept going. She’s had a lot of chances this season, and they went today.”
Marconi’s co-star on offense was Lexi Cittandine, who scored two goals of her own and had a key role in the Trojans’ first putaway.

With 23:37 left in the first half, Cittandine was fouled just outside the box. That set up a 19-yard direct kick by Marconi, who perfectly touched a shot into the upper right corner of the net to put her team up 1-0.

“I was aiming upper right and hoping to pop it over her, and it worked,” Marconi said. 
The Trojans struck again two minutes later during the flow of play. Paula Blaszkowska chipped a nice pass ahead to Cittandine, who lined a 25-yard shot into the lower left corner of the net to up the lead to 2-0.

“Lexi’s having a very good season for us,” Calder said. “I think she’s our leading scorer right now.”

Downers North’s solid offensive play was relentless literally until the halftime buzzer.

With just 10.3 seconds left in the first half, Marconi nicely dribbled between two Willowbrook defenders to initiate the threat. After a pass to Heather Muno, Marconi left footed Muno’s return cross to the crease for a 15-yard goal into the lower left corner of the net.

“It felt good to finish those,” Marconi said. “I just was calmer, kept my head up and found the corner (of the net). I didn’t rush it.”

The Trojans’ pinpoint execution all over the field impressed their coach.

“We finally had a stretch where we could have a lot of practices in a row without weather, and it translated to the game really well,” Calder said. “We were working on getting to the end line, crossing low and taking balls out of the air, which we had struggled with early in the season. We had our first volley goal, our first free kick goal – lots of things we’ve been working on that translated really well.”

Downers North’s defense and senior goalkeeper Cristina Siddu were hardly overshadowed in the win.
After a great Trojan chance off a corner kick 55 seconds in (Maria Derrig’s shot from the crease was cleared off the end line by Willowbrook’s Lauren Carroll), the Downers North defense had to repel two big threats in a 0-0 game.

Defenders Arlinda Osmani and Kaitlin Gunderson came up big on a would-be Warriors’ in the 13th minute.

Set up by a long clearing pass by a defender to a sprinting Willowbrook player at midfield, Osmani raced back to deny a clear path towards the net, then Gunderson blocked a 5-yard shot at the right of the crease.

“I was expecting a shot, and I was surprised and happy that my defenders stayed back to support me,” Sinnu said. “I really appreciate that as a goalie. I was really proud of Kaitlin Gunderson for that (shot block).”

Siddu then did the work on the ensuing corner kick, coming off her line to make a nice catch in traffic. Siddu followed with a diving stop on a 15-yard shot in the 16th minute, just before the Trojans’ offensive onslaught began.

“Our defense really showed up today,” Siddu said. “We’ve struggled the first few games and I haven’t been consistent, so I really needed this to motivate me definitely for our rivalry game Saturday (against crosstown foe Downers South).”

Freshman Alyse Dutcher and Emma Krick were also part of the Trojans’ strong defender corps.

“I was really happy with the win,” Siddu said. “We deserve it – we’ve been working hard.”
Working hardest of all throughout the field may have been midfielder Megan Treichel. Her biggest play came with 17:50 left in the game when, after Siddu was beaten to a loose ball outside the box, Treichel blocked a 30-yard shot attempt to preserve the eventual shutout.

“I really liked the play of Megan Treichel today,” Calder said. “She had a tough mark on the outside. She was playing right back for us, and she had their most dangerous player. She shut her down and made her look like she wasn’t that player, which is exactly what a good defender does. And she also joined the attack four or five times and got some crosses in, so I was very impressed with her.”

After Treichel’s defensive play kept the score 3-0, the Trojans added to their lead on another pretty finish with 16:03 to play. Mary Doro passed to Muno in on right wing, whose ensuing cross to the front of the net was redirected home by Cittandine.

Downers North nearly added to their lead with 11:30 left when Emma Marino lined an 18-yard shot off the crossbar. Derrig, Doro and Grace Morgan (12-yard  shot nicely batted down by Willowbrook’s goalkeeper) also had strong scoring chances late in the second half.

“I think our passing was a lot better,” Marconi said of the Trojans’ strong offensive game. “We played to feet, and just picked our heads up and found people.”

Sinnu and the defense also sent a message.

“As a goalie and a captain I try to lead the team and motivate them as much as I can,” Siddu said. “That sets the momentum from start to finish.

“I tell my teammates before every game to play like it’s 0-0 no matter what. Play for you, and do whatever it takes to motivate you before and during the game, just to get the win.”

The next test will be tougher as the Trojans face defending state semifinalist Downers South on Saturday. But optimism is on the rise.

“I think this definitely boosts our confidence,” Marconi said. “We needed that win, and we have a big rivalry game coming up so this will definitely help us.”