Knights rebound strong in Aurora

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By Paul La Tour

The fastest way to put a stinging loss in the rear-view mirror is to turn the tables on the next opponent.

Chicago Christian did just that Tuesday against Aurora Central, coming away with a 2-0 victory in a game the Knights dominated from start to finish. It came one game after the Knights allowed 29 shots in a 5-0 loss to Marian Central on Saturday.

Carolyn Richards scored both goals for the Knights (6-3, 3-2), who held a 21-6 edge in shot attempts. Becca Hook only needed two saves to earn her third shutout.

“It feels good – it feels great, actually,” Richards said of the victory. “That was a rough loss (to Marian Central). It stung that we couldn’t answer any of their goals. To come out here and score two and shut another team down lifts you back up.”

The Knights controlled play for the majority of the match, especially after the initial 20 minutes as they adjusted to the hard, fast field at Aurora Central’s Bob Stewart Stadium.

Things changed once they began working the ball to feet rather than trying for passes over the top.

“You have to change your style a little bit when you play on a field like this where it’s really dry and really narrow,” Knights coach Trevor Schans said. “So we talked a lot about making sure we were playing to feet and then looking to play a diagonal ball in. This was a perfect time for this type of situation for us. And then to come away with a shutout really showed how we minimized their opportunities.”

The Knights did have a couple pushes toward the goal in the opening minutes. But they didn’t get a shot on goal until the 12th minute when Amber Voss sent a low shot from 15 yards out that was scooped up by Danielle Hernandez.

In the 25th minute the Knights put a pair of shots on Hernandez, but couldn’t break the stalemate. Megan Wise broke free down the right side for a shot on the run that Hernandez stopped at the near post.

Less than a minute later Richards had a similar opportunity but her hard shot from 12 yards out was also stopped by Hernandez, who had seven first-half saves and finished with 12.

Richards found some revenge three minutes later on a free kick from just to the right of the top corner of the penalty area. Richards beat Hernandez with a twisting shot that snuck into the short side upper 90.

“I looked at where they set up their line and then try to choose which corner the goalie would be least likely to get to the fastest,” Richards said. “She was sitting really far back, so I chose to do a far bend to the front post.”
Katie Voss and Richards each had shots on goal in the final 10 minutes, but the teams went to the break with the Knights leading 1-0.

The Chargers (2-4, 0-2) weren’t able to sustain any play in their attacking third, and didn’t get a shot on goal in the first half.

Hook only had to make a couple plays on balls, including one that prevented the only solid Chargers scoring attempt. Hook scooped up a loose ball just as Stephanie Mandujano closed in during the 18th minute.

It was much the same in the second half for the Knights. Richards nearly picked up her second goal on a free kick from the edge of the penalty area that a leaping Hernandez was able to deflect off the crossbar.

Hook’s first save came in the 47th minute on an Emily Blaser shot from 45 yards out.

Anica Pausma had a couple scoring chances for the Knights in the next couple minutes before Richards struck again, beating Hernandez with another high shot.

Richards, off a pass from Lauren Kuipers, took the shot from 25 yards out to make it 2-0 in the 57th minute.

The goal provided the Knights breathing room, which wasn’t all that necessary as the defense continued to keep the Chargers away from scoring position.

“Me and another girl on the defense (Kuipers) joke that we won’t let anything in the 18,” defender Kayli Deckinga said. “It doesn’t always happen, but it is a goal we set so that we know we’re safer. It’s something to keep us pushing so that there are no shots.”

Schans credited the entire back line for their strong play. In addition to Kuipers and Deckinga, Jasmine Kruzel and Annalee Hoekstra garnered praise.

“The style we want to play, possession is as much a part of the defense as anything,” Schans said. “If you can maintain possession, then (opponents) are constantly forced to defend with numbers.

“We did a really good when they were bringing the ball forward of identifying when we could win the ball, step up, win the ball and distribute it back again, and when we needed to drop to stay in behind the ball.

“That’s something we’ve talked a lot about, about staying connected with the back four.”

The victory kicks off a busy week for the Knights. They have a home date with Montini on Wednesday before playing three games in two days over the weekend in the Reavis Invitational.