Hubly easing into Grens' lineup in tie with Prospect

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By Dan Santaromita

After watching Elk Grove’s first 11 games from the sidelines, Kelli Hubly is back in action.

The junior tore the ACL in her right knee last September, but was part of the Grenadiers’ attack against Prospect Wednesday night.

Despite her inclusion, the Grens couldn’t finish on a number of chances and played to a 0-0 draw with the host Knights in Mid Suburban League East play.

The score line is a bit deceptive. Both teams had opportunities in front of net, but were unable to get on the board.

“Really, it was a great match,” Prospect coach Tom Froats said. “Elk Grove is a pretty talented team and I was pleased overall with our effort and I think both teams maybe got a just result tonight in a 0-0 draw on the board. Both teams fought really, really valiantly and hard tonight.”

For Hubly, it was her third match since returning against Schaumburg on Saturday. Elk Grove coach Dan Klaus is easing her back into the lineup, but the tied score meant she had to log more minutes in overtime.

“She played a little about Schaumburg, a little more against Meadows, a little more tonight,” Klaus said. “We’re incrementally increasing. With overtime I played her a little more than I probably would have liked to tonight, but she was feeling ok. We don’t have anything the rest of the week so it’s nice to get ready for a four game week next week.”

It took about four and a half months from surgery for Hubly to rejoin the Grens on the field. That’s a fast recovery by most standards, but it felt like an eternity to her.

“I really missed it,” she said. “Just being out really motivated me to be a better player because I was watching so much soccer that I wanted to play even more and more. Then I finally got my chance. I was so excited and every game is so much fun.”

Hubly has put all that pent up energy to good use so far, earning an assist against Rolling Meadows on Monday and running past Prospect defenders down the flank to create chances in the middle for forward Michelle Calmeyn.

She displayed some speed when running at the defense, but says she’s not all the way back yet.

“At first I was a little scared, but I got over that really quickly,” Hubly said. “A long time ago when I got hurt I was like ‘I don’t know how I’m going to get back. I’m going to be so scared.’ But it really doesn’t even faze me anymore.”

Sloppy field conditions didn’t help matters and that could have played into why neither team was able to convert quality chances into a goal.

Elk Grove (6-5-3, 2-3-2) had more possession thanks to hard work from Carin Fearing, Rachel Pruim and Anne Klancnik, but Prospect (6-6-2, 2-5-2) took advantage of some openings at the back with counters.

Jesse Petrovski was especially dangerous for the Knights, but Katie Naughton and Lindsey Vaccarino were able to stop most attacks just before Prospect could get a shot off.

Calmeyn had Elk Grove’s best chance at the hour mark when Klancnik put her through on goal against Megan McCabe. Calmeyn knocked the ball around a diving McCabe, but her touch was too wide, allowing the Knights’ defense to recover and block her shot at the open goal.

McCabe (11 saves) was rock solid between the posts for Prospect.

“She’s good with flighted balls, good with coming off her line, good positionally,” Klaus said of McCabe.

Prospect defender Taylor Smith, who Klaus called the hardest working player he’s seen all year, was crucial in harassing Calmeyn.

“She’s really aggressive and I’m really aggressive too so we worked off each other,” Smith said of defending the Grens’ forward. “I was in front of her and Adriane (Falagario) was behind her so we closed her down pretty well.”

Knights’ freshman Elena Cukurs pushed forward from the back on counters and nearly broke the deadlock in the final ten minutes of regulation, but was denied from close range on a nice save from Melissa Solorio (4 saves).

After 100 minutes of play, both offenses were frustrated.

“We generated a ton of chances and couldn’t finish,” Klaus said. “What can you say? We played hard so I’m pleased with the girls in that aspect, but we’ve got to find the back of the net on one of those.”

“Offensively, we were dangerous,” Froats said. “We created some opportunities we just didn’t get on the end of and finish. I saw some growth offensively for us, which I’m pleased with, as well as a solid defensive effort.

“I told them I was proud of their effort for the full 80, 90, 100 minutes tonight on the field. I told them I couldn’t say that about every game we’ve played so far this year.”

Elk Grove hosts Palatine Monday for the first of four games next week. Prospect visits Moline Friday.