Metea Valley strikes twice to doom Redwings

By Dan Santaromita
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You can cite soccer strategy all you want, but ultimately the game comes down to finishing.

Benet had a lot of possession and more shots than Metea Valley, but the Mustangs finished their opportunities better to earn a 2-0 win as part of the St. Francis Springfest Classic at Olympic Park in Schaumburg.

Metea Valley didn’t have a shot on goal in the first half, but the Mustang defense limited the Redwings to only four, none of which troubled goalkeeper Megan Geldernick (9 saves). Through no fault of her own, Benet goalkeeper Claire Munaretto didn’t register a save in the game.

Mustangs’ coach Pat Feulner said he’s comfortable letting his team play in its own half as much as they did Monday afternoon.

“We play a defensive set,” Feulner said. “We’re very young so we’re not going get spread out all over the field.

“We don’t worry about possession. Right now we’re just worried about keeping our shape, staying in our shape, making them work to have to get shots and if we do that we’ll be fine. We have enough speed up top to get out quick and counter you quick and take advantage of the opportunities and that’s what they did.”

The first major opportunity for Metea Valley came a few minutes into the second half when Hannah Thayer sent a ball ahead to Jenna Kentgen, who attacked down the right flank. Kentgen’s cross deflected in off a Benet defender for an own goal.

Ten minutes later Benet started to find some holes in the final third and got better shots off, but Geldernick made a pair of quality saves. First, a high shot was headed for the upper corner of the goal until Geldernick stretched to touch the ball and forced it onto the crossbar. Meaghan O’Hara couldn’t convert the rebound for the Redwings. A minute later, Geldernick dove to her right to force a low screamer into touch for a corner.

“I thought we had some good possession,” Benet coach Henry Wind said. “I thought we had some pretty good opportunities to strike the ball, just didn’t hit it well. We got one coming in the left hand side, semi breakaway and a good shot and it’s a three-bouncer to the goalie. That does nothing.”

Midway through the second half, Kentgen caused problems for Benet again. This time, she dispossessed a defender to create a breakaway and finished off the inside of the post.

The win over a solid Benet team is the best so far in Metea Valley’s rookie varsity season and Kentgen called it a confidence builder for a team that doesn’t have any seniors.

“I think we can be really good,” the freshman forward said. “It’s kind of too early to tell because we’ve only played a few games so far, but I think we can go pretty far.”

Despite the youth, chemistry hasn’t been a problem and it shows on the field.

“We know everyone since we’ve played together already, but we just love playing with each other so it’s pretty much like a family already,” Kentgen said.

Feulner is still trying to put the pieces together. The early results have been positive, but the coach mentioned that combination play and runs still need work.

“We know we’ve got a nice young group here,” Feulner said. “Over time that will start coming for us and when it does we’ll be pretty dangerous…We respect Benet and their program and this is a good win for the girls.”

Benet (3-1-1) defeated Addison Trail 8-0 earlier in the day, while Metea Valley lost 1-0 to Jacobs after beating Benet.

Wind disregarded the notion that fatigue was a factor in the result saying his team knew Metea was a good team going into the match. Wind thought defenders Kelly Diedrich, Maria Schwabe and Rachel Lovely played well at the back and the mistakes that led to the two goals were uncharacteristic.

“We knew where we were at,” Wind said. “We knew what we have to build on. We just have to get better at certain aspects of the game. Defensively it surprised me a little, we’re generally pretty solid. We gave them a few opportunities to score, but when they did have an opportunity to score they finished. Offensively, I thought we played pretty good possession, moved the ball around, did some good things. When we get opportunities you gotta finish.”

Both teams continue play in the tournament with doubleheaders for the second day in a row on Tuesday. Metea Valley plays Addison Trail and Marian Central while Benet takes on Marian Central and Jacobs.