Sabres defeat IMSA to assure themselves of winning season

 

 

By Curt Herron

For many programs in the west and northwest suburbs, experiencing winning seasons is really not that big of a deal.

But that hasn't been the case at Streamwood in recent years, so it's a big deal whenever it wins more than it loses.

The Sabres assured themselves of just such an accomplishment on Wednesday, however, when it closed out regular season play.

Streamwood built a 3-0 halftime lead and went on to claim a 4-1 win over Illinois Math and Science Academy at Millennium Field.

Matt Polovin's squad won two of its last three matches to close out regularly-scheduled play with an 11-8-3 record.

The Sabres begin postseason play on Tuesday when they meet the hosts in a first-round match in the Conant Regional.

Kim Jimenez collected her 26th and 27th goals of the year and handed out an assist to Tawny Carroll, who also scored twice.

Streamwood also honored six senior players, including Jimenez, who have helped the squad put together the successful season.

Those other senior athletes are Elline Basilio, Sharice Ellenwood, Alexis Luna, Briana Spike and Christie Stevens.

"To have a winning record at the end of the regular season is phenomenal for Streamwood girls soccer," Polovin said. "It's been fun so far. I think it just shows that throughout the season that they've just gotten better and better as a group.

"We're an 80-minute team. The girls don't stop for five or 10 minutes to take a break, no matter who we're playing. When we had the stretch of games week, they played all the way until the very end. It's a great testament to the girls' work ethic.

"We have a very young group this year, but also a group that wants to listen and learn to get better every single day. No matter what I would tell them to work on, they would adapt to it and use it in games to the best of their abilities.

"I really felt that I got the best out of every player on the team and whatever their ability was, I got more from them. Our players never gave up and they kept working and getting better and better. I couldn't be more proud of the girls."

Things started out well for the Sabres as Jimenez assisted Carroll for their squad's initial goal about 10 minutes in.

Then just past the quarter hour mark, the hosts took a 2-0 lead when Jimenez collected her first goal of the afternoon.

Streamwood's lead grew to 3-0 just after the half's midpoint when Erika Delgado sent a pass to Jimenez, who connected.

But the Titans hung tough the rest of the way and made it more difficult for the hosts to try to boost their advantage.

IMSA had a few good opportunities early in the final half, but most of those were turned away by keeper Hannah McGlone.

A volleyball and basketball player for the Sabres, McGlone only plays high school soccer and had never been in the net.

But that changed last week when Nathalie Guindon got injured and McGlone played in goal in a 1-0 victory over Leyden.

"Hannah is as good as it gets for someone who has never played the position before," Polovin said. "It almost seems natural for her. She's the best athlete in the entire school so it's great to have someone like her on our team."

The Titans made things interesting not long after the break when Rae Hohle fired in a liner to make it a 3-1 contest.

After that, Jimenez kept getting free for good scoring opportunities but was thwarted in her efforts on each attempt.

Shortly before the half's midway mark, the senior had a try deflected by the keeper and she was wide on the rebound.

On a 1 v 1 with the keeper out, Jimenez bounced a shot off of the post on a close-range effort from a tough angle.

Not long after Jimenez was denied on a liner, Carroll got free and took a shot which was deflected for an own goal.

In the late going it looked like the Carroll-to-Jimenez combo would click again but the latter's header was halted.

"We've picked things up and we're working way better as a team and connecting a lot on the field since we finally know how each of us play," Ellenwood said. "We have a very young team, so it's good that they're skilled players.

"We all work really hard, we never give up and we all push each other to keep trying. I'm not unhappy at all about this season and it's a good way for the seniors to go out.

"We probably have the best record in Streamwood's history for the girls, and that's great. We've played some really tough teams and hung in there with them."