Golden Eagles comeback tops Marian Central

By Jonathan Jones
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The Olympic Park flight of the St. Francis Springfest Classic kicked off with the Jacobs taking on Marian Central on Monday morning in Schaumburg.

After falling behind 1-0 in the first half, Jacobs (3-1) retaliated in the second for two goals to register a victory 2-1 over Marian Central.

The win was almost bittersweet for the Jacobs duet of senior midfielder Shannon and junior Lauren Grady, who transferred from Marian Central.

“Cassidy (Sherman) made a good pass to me,” Lauren Grady said with a big smile, in explaining the tying goal in the second half. “When I got the pass, I thought, ‘I don’t care what happens, I am going to score on the goal.”

A defensive breakdown in the first half allowed Hurricanes forward Lauren LaFever to score on a breakaway. Marian Central held their lead through the halftime break.

The Jacobs halftime talk, which emphasized becoming comfortable in a new formation, paid off for the Golden Eagles.

“We’ve been looking to shape a new look and a new formation,” said Jacobs head coach AJ Cappello. “We know our team a little better now, and we’re trying to fix our weaknesses.”

“(At half), I told the girls to stay positive and stay focused. We made a couple line changes in the second half to keep the continuity.”

With the halftime changes, although posting lower shot-on-goal numbers, the Golden Eagles found themselves with great field position.

As Jacobs starting keeper Megan Minogue was on vacation, senior midfielder Monica Orjuela filled in as goalie for the game (and will for the remainder of the tournament). Orjuela has past experience as a keeper from her freshman season playing on varsity.

With only an hour before the game to prepare as goalie, Orjuela finished with a stellar outing saving 14 Hurricane shots saves on the day.  Marian Central attempted 15 shots in the second half alone.

“I didn’t start off too strong,” Orjuela said of her game Monday. “I haven’t played keeper since freshman year, but everything started coming back to me as we progressed. I wouldn’t have had a day like today if it weren’t for our amazing sweeper, Margaret (Rivera). We all just kept talking when we needed to.”

The Golden Eagles game-tying goal from Lauren Grady commenced due to a free kick from senior defender Jess Tennant. Sherman retrieved the pass and fed it to Lauren Grady as she netted the ball in the top right corner.

The second Jacobs goal started from a Rivera free kick at midfield. Within the same pace in which the ball landed, forward Amy Rigby caromed the ball on the wing. Rigby’s laser of a shot was initially saved by Marian Central’s keeper, but squirted in for the game-winner.

“We need to have a better start (to games) than we have,” Rigby said. “(In regards to the goal) I have a hard kick, and I hit is as hard and as I could. It just rolled in.”

Jacobs went on to win 1-0 over Metea Valley, getting another goal Lauren Grady on another Sherman assist, while Orjuela had five saves in net.

“I feel we have yet to scratch the surface,” Cappello said. “I don’t know how good we could be yet, because we are such a young team. I feel we’re getting better every game, and have all the potential in the world.”