Cozzi connects twice to lead Porters past Andrew

 

 

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By Curt Herron

Transitions from one coaching staff to another usually take awhile before a team begins to see results from the change.

And although new Lockport Township coach Todd Elkei admits that his squad still has a ways to go, it's already clear that things are moving in a good direction.

The Porters are off to a 3-1 start under their new boss, who took over the program following a successful stint at Homewood-Flossmoor.

On Thursday, LTHS jumped out to a 3-0 lead and then held off a late challenge from Andrew to capture a 3-1 nonconference victory in Tinley Park.

Lexi Cozzi scored her team's first and last goals, with Kelly Wetherald and Cassie Pullia chipping in with assists, while Brynn Feeley added the other score.

Sophomore keeper Jenny Meyer made several key stops, including one on a late penalty kick, to hold off the late-charging Thunderbolts (0-2-2).

The Porters defense of Leah Plescia, Julie Divita, Hannah Pilch and Feeley kept Andrew at bay until it turned the pressure up in the late going.

"We're getting better in every game," Elkei said. "A lot of the things that we're asking them to do are different and aren't what they're used to. We still have a long way to go but we like where we're at right now.

"A new coach is kind of like culture shock and I've been through it at Crete-Monee and H-F. It's frustrating at times for the girls but you can see that they're learning and we're starting to put some things together.

"In the last 10 minutes we got a little frazzled and Andrew got unlucky and hit the crossbar and missed a PK or it very well could have been a tied game. But I thought that we controlled the play for 70 of the 80 minutes."

Andrew's late challenge was a real concern for the Porters, who saw a second half advantage slip away in their lone defeat thus far this year.

But that was a one-goal lead that was overcome by a Downers Grove South squad that is regarded as one of the best teams in the Chicago area.

Thanks to the efforts of Cozzi, who doubled her goal total, and Feeley, who doesn't expect to score often, LTHS put itself in a good position.

"I was very pleased with the effort and thought that we played 70 good minutes," Elkei said. "And it's nice when you have a player like Lexi who finishes every opportunity that she has and works hard defensively without the ball.

"I thought our first two goals were beautiful, with Lexi battling between two people and Brynn stepping up and being aggressive and playing through the ball, which is one of the things we're trying to get them to do.

"Ally Brehm, our left outside mid, did some nice things with her energy and serving some balls in. And Jenny, who was only playing her second varsity game, made a save on a PK. So there were a lot of nice things to build on."

The Porters began to set the tone for their upcoming success during the 25th minute when Cozzi sent a shot from the side that was deflected away.

Then in the 28th minute things clicked when Wetherald sent a pass forward to Cozzi, who got free and drove to the net before putting in a short try.

Lockport continued to apply the pressure and it paid off when Feeley connected on a long attempt in the 36th minute for her first goal of the season.

"That probably will be my only goal of the season," joked Feeley. "Getting that goal makes me happy and it boosts my confidence.

"I felt that we held the ball nicely for most of the game. Our practices have been hard but we're working good together and we're flowing now.

"We're all bonding well and we're really close. We also can read each other and know how one another plays, so that helps us out."

Following the break, the action picked up as the hosts began to apply more pressure on Meyer, who got a shutout in her debut against Downers Grove North.

It began in the 43rd minute when Meyer punched away a long free kick by Katie Truesdale, who then lined up for a pair of subsequent corners.

On the initial effort, Feeley headed the attempt away which resulted in another Truesdale corner, which she lined to the Porter keeper.

In the 51st minute, the Porters nearly found the net again when Cozzi sent a cross to Sam Spencer, who was denied on a short attempt.

A bit later, Wetherald fired off a shot that was also halted and LTHS's defenders broke up a try by Angie D'Ambrosio around the midpoint of the half.

LTHS collected a key insurance score in the 66th minute when Pullia slotted a ball to Cozzi, who drove to the net and won a 1 v 1 situation.

"I thought that we played very well today," Cozzi said. "We had good possession, made some good runs and had some good shots on goal.

"We were a little shaky at the start of the season but we've been playing better. We're adjusting well to what coach Elkei is telling us to do.

"I like how we all combine to work well and we know how to play together. If we keep playing like this, I think we can have a good season."

That proved to be a beneficial score for the Porters because Andrew suddenly came to life with several great chances during the final 10 minutes.

The host's lone score came in the 70th minute when Emily Scott got free and fired a short attempt that Meyer got a hand on but was unable to stop.

Andrew came ever so close to making it 3-2 in the 76th minute but Truesdale's line drive smacked into the crossbar and was eventually cleared away.

It looked like the T-Bolts would get that elusive second score, however, during the 78th minute, after Truesdale got taken down in the box.

But on the subsequent penalty kick, Truesdale fired a shot that went directly at Meyer, who managed to deflect it away to preserve the 3-1 victory.

The Porters return to action on Saturday when they travel to St. Charles North to face another squad that figures to be among the best in the area.