Lions play well in overtime loss to Barrington

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By Mike Garofola

Ah, the rollercoaster ride of a striker.

Headline-maker one minute and the next, you’re not.

Emily Hyde knows all about it. One of the best at her position in the area the past two seasons, the Barrington senior admits not scoring can begin to wear on a player. After finising on 13 occasions last year to help lead the Fillies to 24 victories, the Miami of Ohio-bound Hyde, and her side-kick up top, Molly Pfeiffer, have combined for just four goals thus far, one year after getting into the back of the net 23 times.

But any premier scorer will tell you that it can only take one to unlock your scoring powers. And on Wednesday evening and yet another ridiculously cold spring night for soccer, Hyde assured the home side a victory and a step towards lifting the big trophy at its own tournament, the 14th annual Mairin Wallner tournament, honoring the former player and outstanding student-athlete.

With its match with ESCC power Saint Viator nearing a dreaded shoot-out to decide the winner, Hyde ended any thoughts of that notion when her left-footed cracker smashed off the underside of the woodwork and into the back of the net just seconds into the second overtime period to give the Fillies (6-3-1) a 1-0 triumph.

"Yeah, it can be a little frustrating to have just 4 goals at this point of the season, but all I can continue to do is train hard, practice shooting and scoring and know that all of that extra work will eventually pay off," said Hyde.

Hyde recounted how a ball from teammate Emmelie Hirdes came to her on her left side and how the natural left-footer turned just enough to get a quick glance at Lions keeper Morgan Hess and the frame. Hyde unleashed her blast from a tough angle and hoped it would find a way to get into the back of the net.

"You kind of start wondering if one of your shots is going to go in," Hyde said after a strong effort up top along with Pfeiffer, and yet another make-shift lineup as the Filiies continue to struggle with injuries and illness.

"One of these days we hope to have everyone back and healthy, and at full strength, then maybe we'll see what we can really do," offered Fillies head coach Ryan Stengren, who was without flu-ridden Sara Condon, as well as Sara Fox, Dana Kopp and Aimee Pierce, all victims of various injuries to keep them out of the Fillies first-11.

"Our depth is really being tested right now, but we had a few girls step up, including sophomore Molly Curran, who we brought up for tonight to help us through this particular match, and somehow we were able to generate some of our best offense of the season."

The visiting Lions of Saint Viator (6-6-0), themselves in a bit of a scoring drought of late, would earn plenty of praise from its coach Mike Taylor, despite falling for the third time in as many games -- all by one goal -- to see their 2011 record fall to .500 for the third time this spring.

"You have to be pleased with the effort we gave out there today, we played extremely well all the way around," said Taylor, who joined Stengren in praising his junior keeper Morgan Hess, who made a pair of superb saves to help keep this match goal-less and give the Lions a chance at victory.

"She made that one save going one way, and somehow reaching back to turn the ball away, and we're beginning to see her come around as she begins to understand the position a little bit better," continued Taylor, who enjoyed watching Hess turn a well driven free kick from Mia Calamari away at 24 minutes.

Up until that point, the Fillies controlled the play in the middle of the park, with Catie Curran, Anna Burnidge and Kathryn Avedon helping press the Lions into more defending than attacking.

Most of the offense from the visitors came from Katelyn Hammarlund and some enterprising carries into the area, as well as Siobhan Klinkenberg, who forced Barrington keeper Kelly Pedersen to save her shot from 25 yards at the quarter hour.

Hyde was put through from Pfeiffer just after intermission but her shot didn't have enough pace to challenge Hess, who easily made the save.

The missed opportunity appeared to fuel a St. Viator uprising, and for the next 20 minutes or so the Lions’ attack became more rampant, as play opened up to become a fast-paced, entertaining match for the frozen faithful to watch.

Chloe Luthringshausen, Hammarlund and Taylor Skala produced a nice buildup which resulted in a nicely attempted redirected header from Skala in which Pedersen saved, then it was Hammarlund who roared down the side before sending a serve to the back post - which looked promising when it left her foot - but unfortunately didn't find another on the other end.

The Fillies would respond on the other end when, first, Calamari found freshmen Elli Ackerman, and Fox connected with Hyde on the left side which resulted in her striking just over the bar at 68 minutes - which all came before the Lions created one of its most dangerous opportunities with Hammarlund, Klinkenberg and Skala the central instigators in the sequence.

"We defended well when we had to, with Emmelie (Hirdes) and Morgan Stachura, Emily Morin and Mia stepping up at a couple of critical times," said Stengren.

Hess would stay with a 50-50 ball in a challenge with Curran at 74 minutes to keep things at 0-0, but the Lions had the best of things in the first 10-minute extra period.

A Saint Viator backline led by Erin Malone and Katherine Petrovich tightened the noose on Hyde and company in order to help keep the ball in the Fillies’ end long enough to see Skala stopped in close by Pedersen, and another run and carry from Hammarlund end in Pedersen pushing her attempt up and over the bar.

"The result isn't anything to be disappointed with because we played very well today," began Taylor.

"Hammy (Hammarlund) had one of her best games of the year, our central midfield was strong all throughout, and we got some great work out of Hess in goal. We created some great chances to score. Very soon the games which are going against us will turn around an go in our favor, and then all of that hard work the girls are putting in will instead be victories."

As for the Fillies, who welcome Evanston tonight, the hard-earned victory will hopefully fuel an offensive explosion soon.

"You kind of think that one of these days, we will bust out and score a bunch of goals, and it will help open things up for us," suggested Hyde.

"Again, I saw a lot of good things in our attack today," said Stengren.

"Molly (Pfeiffer) gave a lot of good balls to her teammates, and we created some of our best chances of the season, while on the other end, Morgan (Stachura) played well along the back, as did Kelly Pedersen, who handled everything with a lot of confidence, and kept things under control for us in our box."