Hilltoppers get 4th shutout vs. rival Glenbard South

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By Bill Stone

Glenbard West senior Haverly Snyder is very defensive these days, but it’s not because of the ACL injury to her left knee in February, 2010 that forced her to miss last high-school season.

“I’m feeling like I’m about 95, 98 percent (strength). I have a little bit of tendinitis but I mean everything comes back with surgery so it’ll be good,” Snyder said. “I just came back in September. I played most of my club season in the fall (for Synergy) and then I played winter league a little bit.”

On Thursday, Snyder felt even better. She was back at her more experienced defensive role of stopper in helping the Hilltoppers earn their second straight shutout with a 3-0 victory at intercity-rival Glenbard South.

Senior Lauren Davis scored all three goals for Glenbard West (4-5-2) in the second half after the Hilltoppers’ defense held the line in the first half when the young and enthusiastic Raiders (4-5-1) had a stiff wind behind them.

Davis helped to fill the void offensively as Toledo-bound senior forward Katie Watt remains out with a twisted ankle. Defensively, it was back to normal with the return of senior Larken Henkel at sweeper from injury, allowing Snyder to move back to stopper.

“I’ve played stopper for about four or five years now. (But) I’ll play sweeper,” Snyder said. “I’m obviously willing to do anything for the team, but I obviously do feel more comfortable at stopper. I just like the feeling of knowing that someone is back there. I can’t get to everything.”

The defensive lineup of Snyder, Henkel, senior goalie Michelle Vonachen (7 saves) and sophomore McKinzie Powers, freshman Alyssa Cantore and junior Annie O’Brien earned the Hilltoppers’ fourth shutout of the season. O’Brien replaced Powers for 14 ½ minutes in the first half.

“It took us a while to get the chemistry going back there and in the first half we kind of made a few unforced mistakes but I think with the second half with the wind made it a little bit easier and I think they picked it up a bit,” Glenbard West coach Maciek Kusmierz said.

“(We’re) back to our old ways when we started the season. When Haverly stops, she provides a lot of composure, good distribution out of the back. We don’t have to chase and run and give up possessions.  She could play both positions, but I feel that today especially in the second half, she provided that stability out of the back and good distribution. We just have to get back on track with our formation.”

Snyder was among six senior starters for the Hilltoppers. Glenbard South, minus senior all-conference midfielder Carrie Hanley, started two seniors, two freshmen and seven sophomores, including an all-sophomore defensive backfield and goalie.

The Hilltoppers’ experience advantage was hindered by a rare game on natural grass, rather than the artificial turf that they’re accustomed to. Adjusting to that and the wind, the Hilltoppers were stuck in their end the first 10 minutes before gradually turning the tide. The Raiders had five shots on goal in the first half but three were weak and the other two were right at Vonachen.

“We just had to get used to the high balls and with the bounces and make sure that we really took our time and played good passes and worked off of each other,” Snyder said.

“I felt the field limited our abilities a bit. Not to make any excuses because it was the same for both teams but we do a lot better when we are able to show our technical abilities,” Kusmierz said.  “In the first half, we struggled against the good defensive play of Glenbard South and we struggled against the wind. The second half we were able to use the wind to our advantage a little bit, we got the goal and it gave us momentum to get a couple of more.”

Davis struck first with 28 minutes, 43 seconds left after a great passing combination with senior Molly Abromitis and then sophomore Kaitlin Moore. After Davis passed to Moore on left wing, Moore passed the ball back across the crease, and Davis cut inside on charging goalie Dana Jourdan and put the ball inside the opposite post.

Just 1:33 later, Davis scored again when she gained control of the ball at the 35 and pulled off another successful passing combination with Moore -- a play that Kusmierz said "the timing, vision, and
technical execution was of the highest quality."

“Glenbard South is our big rivalry so we always like to get good shots and I wanted to come out strong in the second half,” Davis said. “Especially with the wind, I had some great balls from Kaitlin Moore. We worked well together as a team offensively getting the ball up. We just had to remember to drive the shots low but otherwise it was a lot
easier to get the ball up, easier to clear it defensively, just all-around making more offensive attacks.”

When Davis added a goal with 44 seconds left on a nice high 20-yard blast, she had her second hat trick of the season. She also had all of the Hilltoppers’ goals in that game, a 3-1 victory over Marian Central  March 30.

Davis now has 10 of Glenbard West’s 19 goals this season. Her other four goals were  two-goal efforts in the Hilltoppers’ other two victories – 4-0 over Maine West March 29 and 7-0 over Proviso West Tuesday in Glen Ellyn to improve to 1-1 in the West Suburban Conference Silver Division.

“That’s been happening a lot this year. I think once I get one (goal), I just get the momentum and just want to keep going,” Davis said.

Davis actually started the game playing at outside midfielder before Kusmierz moved her to forward in the 14th minute with junior Alyssa Evans coming off the bench to play midfield.
Davis ended up with five of the team’s nine shots on goal. She nearly had a fourth goal with 18 minutes left, but her free kick from 25 yards out went off the crossbar. Abromitis scored off the rebound, but she was ruled offsides, nullifying the goal.

“I know that Lauren possesses offensive abilities but she also does a very good job as an outside midfielder,” Kusmierz said. “Sometimes I have to sacrifice her talents playing outside midfielder. But anytime I put her up front, I know she poses a threat to the opposing team.”

Davis helped to overcome the absence of Watt, whose status is expected to be evaluated Friday. Watt has been out since suffering the injury in a 4-0 loss to Downers Grove South April 7.

“Now that gives me the flexibility of moving up Lauren Davis and obviously anytime I move her up there she responds so maybe (Watt will) have a tough time when she comes back,” Kusmierz said with a smile.

Against Proviso West, Davis scored one of her goals off a corner kick by sophomore Abby Ohrnstein. Moore also scored twice and assisted Abromitis’ first goal of the season. Juniors Maddie Nelson and Alyssa Evans also collected their first goals.