Rivera scores on late corner as Eagles rally past Chargers
By Curt Herron
Margaret Rivera admitted that she was a little frustrated by the wind on her free kicks and corner kicks on Tuesday.
But the Jacobs senior continued doing her best to make adjustments during her squad's match with rival Dundee-Crown.
And on what figured to be one of her last chances to hit the ideal kick in regulation, Rivera was right on the money.
Rivera placed a corner kick inside the far post with just 46 seconds left to put her team in front for the first time.
That score proved to difference as Jacobs rallied to capture a 2-1 Fox Valley Conference Valley victory in Algonquin.
Following Friday's win at McHenry, Jacobs (6-9-1, 2-2) claimed consecutive victories for the first time this season.
After the Chargers scored a goal in the first half with the wind at their back, the hosts hoped for more production.
But after getting the equalizer not long after the break, the Golden Eagles struggled to collect the go-ahead score.
As the District 300 clash reached its 80th minute, Rivera scored directly on a corner for the first time this year.
"I knew that the wind would helped me to curve it in," Rivera said. "I wanted to put it on the back post because their keeper was farther up so all we needed was a little tap. This kick came at a great time. The ones that I took against the wind in the first half would die or they'd go out.
"The wind definitely slowed our passes in the first half and we didn't connect too well. They'd get the ball and it was a big ball straight over us and it was just repetitive. Going into the second half just down by one goal, we felt good with the wind and really started to put passes together.
"This win and the McHenry win gives us momentum and they boost everyone's confidence going into our games with Crystal Lake South, Cary-Grove and then the playoffs. We have a great team chemistry this season. We have a lot of girls who are ready to put everything on the field and that's all that you can ask for."
After seeing his team lose by two goals or more following previous wins, Jacobs coach AJ Cappello liked this scenario.
Now he's hoping that the Golden Eagles can build on this positive in their final four matches of the regular season.
"Coming off of the long stretch that we had last week when we had four games in five days, sometimes you just need some victories to get you that positive mentality," Cappello said. "It doesn't have to be pretty, you just need to get some wins. We also scored late against McHenry so it teaches the girls that you play until the last whistle blows.
"When you put the ball in dangerous spots, good things happen. It doesn't always have to be a header that goes in, you just somehow have to find the back of the net. Margaret does a good job of putting the ball in dangerous spots most of the times and you could tell that it was a nice strike. It's a nice luxury to have a player who can do that.
"I thought that freshman Aly Sandblom and sophomore Bailey Adams played tough and had real good games. Rachael Romano did a great job up top and got her first varsity goal today. A lot of the younger girls are starting to step in and play with a bit of confidence now. I'm very pleased with the girls' work rate.
"This season has been a little bit more of a roller coaster ride than I would have liked since we've had our ups and downs. But you want to be on your up as the season starts to wrap up. We have a couple of conference games left before seeing Libertyville and Hononegah next week so I think we'll be prepared for regionals."
Jacobs even things in the 47th minute when Kylie Dennison sent a pass inside and Rachael Romano put in a loose ball.
Although they had the wind at their backs after the break, the hosts had about as many chances as in the first half.
Shortly after the goal, Ellie Samin halted a liner from Frankie Scarpelli before Jill Wiechmann was wide on a 1 v 1.
Near the final half's midpoint, Rivera had a corner kick deflected while Ashley Raby bounced one off of the crossbar.
The Chargers had their first good chance in the tenth minute when Brittany Gantz sent in a dangerous long free kick.
Dundee-Crown was back at it a short time later and moved in front in the 12th minute when Raby fired a long attempt.
Dennison and Bailey Adams were thwarted later in the half and Jordan Fryer saw a try deflected off of the crossbar.
As the opening half wound down, Aly Sandblom was denied by Isabel Miranda and Samin returned the favor against Raby.
"The wind helped us a lot in the second half but I think that we won because we pulled together as a team," Sandblom said. "These wins just bring us closer together as a team and it gives us the confidence to win again.
"It's always good to beat a rival like Dundee-Crown. I like the way that we always seem to pull together in the end. Even when we're down by a goal or that we might not win, I like how we work as a team and how we really communicate."
Jacobs hosts Crystal Lake South on Thursday and concludes FVC Valley play next Tuesday with a match at Cary-Grove.
