Mustangs fail to find equalizer at Lake Park

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By Gary Larsen

Lake Park coach Chris Fruehling has a 9-2-2 team on his hands this year, built on returning experience and hard play all over the pitch.

The host Lancers improved to 3-0 in the Valley Division of the Upstate Eight Conference with Thursday’s 1-0 win over visiting Metea Valley, getting a first-half goal from Jessica Franz and then defending well while the Mustangs pushed hard for a tying goal.

“We talk each day about playing as hard as you can,” Fruehling said. “That can create chances and the girls have done a great job with that this year.”

The Lancers came out ready to play in Roselle, applying pressure on Metea’s end and threatening through 20 minutes. Franz grabbed the spotlight when she intercepted a Mustangs’ clearing attempt at the top of the penalty area, and then calmly buried her shot at 24 minutes.

On yet another cold, windy, wet spring day, that was all the scoring the game would see.

Foul weather greeted both teams on the grass of the Lancers’ East campus field, and Thursday marked only the second time this year that Metea Valley (10-7-1, 1-3) has played on grass.

It took the Mustangs some time to find its step as the Lancers attacked hard from the outset. The teams traded a few corners and free kicks that went for naught before Franz's opportunistic strike found the net.

The goal lit a fire under the Mustangs. Three minutes after Franz's goal, Metea’s Alyssa Fox pressured Lancers keeper Amanda Siciak, who left her line and beat Fox to a ball that then found the feet of Metea’s Jenna Kentgen and Kristin Tomares in dangerous space in the box before the Lancers cleared.

The Mustangs had a good stretch of attacking play that extended well into the second half.

“They played good soccer. To play on this field and knock the ball around was nice to see, but we’ve got to score,” Metea Valley coach Pat Feulner said. “We can’t keep getting chances and not scoring. I told them at halftime that somebody has got to want to shoot the ball. Take charge and get a shot off.”

Tomares and her mighty right leg blasted a shot off the crossbar at 43 minutes but threatening shots were hard to come by for the Mustangs against the Lancers' backline.

“I thought our defense responded really well,” Fruehling said. “We were solid in the back and held on tight, and for the most part we were able to keep them at bay. I thought (Lancers sweeper) Briana Small had a phenomenal game. She played with great composure and she was there to (avert) any threats to the back line.

“I thought another key contributor was Megan Lindbert. She’s a sophomore and she starts up top. She’s a very strong player and we also use her as a marking back when we need to.”

Daniella DiGioia was also a whirlwind in the middle of the park for the Lancers, winning balls left and right and shining during Lake Park’s strong start to the game, and during Metea’s offensive push.

Even though his girls have struggled to finish in their last two games, Feulner is proud of what they’ve pulled off in their first varsity season. Toss a stone into Metea’s team huddle and odds are you’ll hit a freshman or a sophomore. The Mustangs have 10 sophomores, 5 freshmen, and 5 juniors on the roster, and only three of those juniors are on the active roster.

“I’m happy. It’s not like our schedule has been soft,” Feulner said. “But against Naperville North (a 1-0 loss) we did the same thing. We were able to knock the ball around the field but couldn’t score. We’re in a bit of a drought and that’s too bad because we’ve had our chances.”

Kentgen, Tomares, Fox, and Tyler Proszowski have carried the creative load for a team that has put 36 goals on the board in 18 games. Kentgen’s 11 goals have led the way, Fox and Proszowski have 6 and 5 goals, respectively, and Tomares leads in assists with 7.

“They’re starting to get it. Tyler (Proszowski) is playing well and she’s just a freshman. She’s a good little headsy player,” Feulner said. “There were a couple times today when she took balls that she could have rushed forward and she didn’t; she slowed it down and let the play develop, and moved the ball around. She’s really going to be a good one.”

The Mustangs also have 8 shutouts on the year.
 
“Alexis McKay, our center back, has just been a rock back there,” Feulner said. “There’s a kid who last year didn’t know if she was having fun playing, she took the club season off, and she has just been rock-solid back there for us. She’s been really good.

“They’re doing everything I’m asking them to do, and they try very hard. You can’t ask for more than that.”