Knights rally in second half to claim SCC win over IC

 

 

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By Curt Herron

In the opening half of its Suburban Christian Conference match with Immaculate Conception, Chicago Christian was definitely on its heels.

An early goal goal by IC spelled trouble, especially since that squad had scored 65 goals in winning its first seven matches of the season.

But although the pressure continued throughout much of the rest of the first half, host Christian held it off and trailed 1-0 at the break.

A different Christian team showed up in the second half, one which took the play at their opponents, and that led to a dramatic comeback.

Christian got the equalizer shortly after the intermission and another goal in the final 10 minutes to capture a 2-1 win in Palos Heights.

Anica Pausma connected following an assist from Katie Voss in the 71st minute to cap the exciting come-from-behind victory for the hosts.

After not playing since March 24, Christian (4-2, 1-1) kicked off a big week where it will also host Guerin an Marian Central Catholic.

The inspired play shown by his squad during the second half was just what Christian coach Trevor Schans hoped for under the circumstances.

"IC was a fantastic team with a lot of quality players and we wanted to know where they were and stay pinched in on them and on their first goal we didn't do that," Schans said. "So when we talked at halftime, I felt we could give more since we were holding back.

"I let the girls know that they had to go out and give me everything, and we definitely made that change right off the bat in the second half. I told them that I couldn't do it for them and the girls understood that on their own and took my challenge to give more.

"It's always great resolve when you're down at halftime and you do what's necessary to get two goals like we did today. The second half was an important one for us since it shows us that if we work hard and go at it for 80 minutes that we're going to be successful."

After getting few good scoring opportunities during the opening half, Christian quickly started to apply pressure once the final half began.

A corner kick by Carolyn Richards led to a touch by Voss, which was deflected away and then a long try from Voss which went to the keeper.

In the 48th minute, Christian got the spark that it was looking for, and it proved to be beneficial for both the goal-scorer and the team.

Richards sent a perfect corner kick in front of IC's net and Amber Voss was there to put in a short shot for her initial goal of the year.

"I was getting down on myself since I hadn't scored any goals yet and I'm a forward so I'm supposed to score, so I wanted to get a goal today," Amber Voss said. "When I got the goal it was awesome since I not only helped my confidence but I also helped my team out.

"In the first half our forwards weren't being connected and playing together. After that, Anica, Julia and I made a conscious effort to stay connected and work through the middle with our midfielders. We talked with each other a lot more and were more aggressive.

"We've just come off spring break so getting a win like this is a good sign since it shows that we really didn't lose our touch over the break. Last year we didn't beat them so to have a better game and to beat them is really a confidence boost for our whole team."

IC (7-1, 1-1) responded to the score with a few threats of its own during the next stretch of the final half but the hosts kept it a bay.

Rocky Salinas had a liner deflected away by keeper Becca Hook and several minutes later saw a line drive cleared by defender Kayli Deckinga.

After the midway point of the half, Hook stopped a corner from Salinas and Angella Toritto lined a corner kick in front of Christian's net.

Richards applied some pressure on the visitor's goal when she sent in a long grounder that was hauled in during the 70th minute of play.

Shortly after that, Katie Voss sent a pass to Pausma, who got past a slipped defender and put a shot into the opposite side of the net.

"That score was all hard work," Pausma said. "We earned that goal since we didn't stop when we lost the ball. It wasn't a pretty pass or a pretty finish, either, but it went in. It was fun connecting with each other during the second half and seeing the huge change.

"I think we were a little slow when we first went out there today. We were working hard individually but we weren't working hard as a team. But in the second half we really came out and started to mesh well and getting that first goal was a big confidence-booster.

"It was nice to get this victory since it was an important conference game and it definitely shows that we're not going to give up. I think we connect well, work together for each other and when someone makes a mistake, we don't get mad and just try to overcome it."

Christian's defense did a good job the rest of the way, limiting IC to one more shot while Lauren Kuipers also got a late attempt on goal.

It was a different story in the opening half, however, as the visitors scored an early goal and had plenty of other chances to add to that.

Toritto gave IC a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute when she connected from close range and then it continued to apply the pressure on Hook.

Salinas had a shot that hit the crossbar and another that went off a defender and then Hook's hands before being cleared by a defender.

The visitors kept the heat on until the horn in the opening half when Salinas unleashed a liner that Hook grabbed just before the break.