Hornets fall to Lane Tech in Pepsi opener

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By Gary Larsen

Hinsdale South senior Jackie Belmonte was not a happy camper after her side’s 5-3 loss to Lane Tech on Tuesday.

Belmonte’s frustration only came out because she believes this year’s Hornets can be a good squad, but fell short of those expectations in their Pepsi Showdown opener in Darien.

It was also their first game in two weeks, so sharpness of play and cohesion were issues for the Hornets from the outset.

“I think we kept working hard but we weren’t playing as a team very well today,” Belmonte said. “We kept saying ‘connect’ and ‘play simple’ but we were doing just the opposite, dribbling and kicking long balls.

“It was a challenge to play a team we’ve never played before and I thought we were going to be ready, but we weren’t.”

Hinsdale South (1-3) took on a team in Lane Tech (6-1-1) that showed quickness, toughness, and technical skill throughout the contest. The Indians’ win on Tuesday sent them into a second-round game against Metea Valley on Thursday.

Lane Tech struck first 13 minutes in, when Leslie Rueda headed a ball ahead to Madeline Nwankwo, who raced in with a defender on her hip and ripped a ball to the back netting from 14 yards out.

Five minutes later, the Indians’ Jasmin Carrera danced up the end line on the dribble and toe-poked the game’s second goal inside the near post.

“In the beginning of the game we came out flat because we didn’t realize the other team was clearly faster than us up front,” Belmonte said. “We kept pushing up and they kept getting by us. It took us a while to catch on to that.”

Carrera went on to chip in two assists for an Indians team that found each other’s feet with consistency throughout.

“They’re a good team, there’s not doubt,” Wolf said of the Indians. “They’ve got some depth and some bench, and (Carrera) is dynamite. That goal was all her.

“I think in the middle of the field, they were finding each other (laterally) and we have yet to start doing that. We need to find ourselves more side-to-side on the field and talk a little bit more.”

South cut Lane’s lead in half in the 29th minute when senior center mid Meagan McPherson – who put in a good day’s work on Tuesday – layed off a ball from the top of the 18 towards the corner, where Maggie Nicosia ran onto it.

Nicosia took a touch and teed off, sending a shot inside the far post from a wicked angle.

“She ripped it, that’s her first goal, and she’s only a freshman,” Wolf said of Nicosia. “Yesterday we were taking shots on the net and her balls were (knuckling) on me. As a goalie that’s hard to handle. She can strike a ball that goes up, and then just dips. Today she asked for some balls and she’s finding her way.”

Wolf has stressed the importance of getting the first goal of the second half to his squad, but it was Lane Tech that managed the feat, and went on to score twice more in building a 5-1 lead.

With the Hornets unable to possess for sustained periods, defenders Brenda Maugeri, Carolanne Pilch, Colleen McPherson, Mary Claire Ladd, and keeper Vanessa Niestrom were put under pressure by the Indians.

Priscilla Madero scored twice and Liceth Robles netted once for Lane in the second half, as the Hornets back line did what they could against the speedy, unselfish Indians.

“We did some good things and we have some things to work on,” Wolf said. “Carolanne Pilch has been one of our most consistent players we have and she plays everywhere, and in the second half we put Brenda (Maugeri) on Carrera because she’s got some speed, and she did a very nice job. I also thought (Niestrom) did a nice job in net.”

A pair of Belmonte goals in the game’s final 10 minutes cut the Hornets’ deficit to 5-3 and Wolf liked the fight in the dog his side showed, chasing four goals.

“We were down and we came back,” Wolf said. “We clawed back into it and I thought it was important that we got those couple of goals, just to tell ourselves that we can score. And I think there was some good competitiveness between the girls – there were some words exchanged – which is not a bad thing as long as they’re listening to each other the right way.”

Belmonte wants to see her side take a step up in putting Tuesday’s loss behind it.

 “I think we have a good group of girls but we have to start figuring out each others’ strengths and start connecting,” Belmonte said. “I just don’t think we’re doing that yet. Our young players have a lot of potential and they’re definitely good players, but they’re still young and it’s a growing experience for them.”