Corsairs' fourth straight shutout comes in scoreless tie vs. Libertyville

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By Dan Santaromita

Carmel went into Libertyville hoping to improve its sectional seed before those seeds are settled later this week.

The Corsairs left with their fourth straight shutout in a scoreless draw at the Libertyville Township Soccer Complex on Monday.

Carmel, which entered the match against the Wildcats with a three-game win streak, is starting to play its best soccer of the season.

“I think we’ve been playing together as a team really well and everyone is putting their best foot forward and we’re showing a lot heart in these games,” forward Meegan Johnston said. “I guess that’s what got us so far. Libertyville is a really good team so that was a good match up today.”

Both squads had positive stretches of play in the first half with Katie Larson (9 saves) making a pair of fine saves from close range to keep the game goalless.

Libertyville had the run of play to start the second half, but Carmel had the best chances of the half in the match’s final ten minutes. Johnston was in the middle of both of them.

The sophomore forward cut back on a Wildcat defender to create an open shot in the box, but she thumped the ball right at Libertyville keeper Natalie LaPlant (8 saves).

Minutes later Johnston worked hard to get to a loose ball and had another shot inside the 18, but LaPlant saved her effort and Brianne Carlson’s rebound.

“I think I should have slotted in the corner so on my part I have to be looking up,” Johnston said. “We definitely had some chances at the end. I think we should have put some in.”

Neither team considerably outplayed the other and Carmel coach John Halloran said it was a fair result.

“I felt like our forward play didn’t really kick in until the last 15 minutes,” Halloran said. “I think if we played like that the entire 80 I think we would have found the goal. We were probably a little unlucky not to get one and they had a couple chances too.

“They were a very good team. They closed down gaps on us very effectively, made it very hard for us to get any possession going.”

Other than a few tense moments, Carmel’s defense held strong for the shutout. Senior Shannon Kouba played well for the Corsairs’ veteran back line along with classmate Helen Wagner and juniors Sarah McHugh, Caitlin Jung and Maggie Karich.

Carmel went its first eight games without getting a shutout, but now has four in a row.

“We’re keeping it tight at the back,” Kouba said. “I think finally we’re all healthy with all of our preseason injuries and we’re keeping good sub rotations. We’re finally connecting, communicating and playing as a team back there.”

Both Libertyville (6-4-2) and Carmel (6-4-2) will host regionals in the Glenbrook South Sectional. The Corsairs are coming off a win over another Lake County school in Mundelein and are hoping that recent results will help their seed in the sectional.

“Obviously we’re hoping for top 12 because that gets us out of the play-in game,” Halloran said. “When we’ve had everybody healthy I think we’ve shown we’re one of the most competitive teams in the area. A win today obviously would have helped, but it’s not a loss and our four losses are all one-goal losses. Hopefully that and our past years will give us the benefit of the doubt.”