Wolves post sixth win over SPC rival Minooka

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By D.J. Wanberg

Thursday afternoon's Minooka at Oswego East girls’ soccer game was blown. Wind-blown, that is.

Each team spent a half defending the south net and did so facing a sprinting and very cold wind in their face. When the Wolves headed toward the north net in the second half, the wind couldn't stop them as they converted on a couple of opportunities and would leave the field glad to put their jackets on as 2-0 victors.

"The wind was a big factor," said Oswego East sophomore forward Brittany Brewer, who scored her team's second goal. "You either had to blast your shot against the wind or place it in a corner and hope it didn't lift."

The win pushed Oswego East to 6-3-1 overall and 2-1 in the Southwest Prairie Conference. Minooka fell to 4-6, 1-1.

The Wolves struck first with 31:21 left in the game as the Indian defense didn't come close to touching the ball for a badly-needed clearing attempt. Carli Schlaker got the ball to Katie Ross, who easily converted on the shot.

Exactly two minutes earlier, Oswego goalkeeper Hannah Gargrave (five saves) responded to Minooka's biggest scoring threat of the contest. She made a diving save, just getting to the ball as it hugged the far goalpost.

Brewer's goal came just over 10 minutes later. Her shot bounced off Minooka goalkeeper April Wilkie's arm and into the net. Wilkie made nine saves on the night.

During the first half, the Wolves had a wind to their backs that was bending back the corner flags, and did get a good amount of scoring chances in the first 40 minutes. Wilkie made seven saves in the opening half alone and with Minooka kicking into the wind, those kicks were consistently shortened and both teams saw the ball go into some unexpected directions.

Ross had the Wolves' first strong scoring opportunity about four minutes into the game as she hit the crossbar during a scramble in front of the net. With approximately 23 minutes left until intermission, Ross passed it to Sam Lee, who got it to Brewer in a show of skillful passing, but Brewer's shot went wide.

A couple of minutes went by and Brewer went on a breakaway. Wilkie came out and tried to meet her, but Brewer got past her with a sudden move. The shot though just went wide.

Late in the half, Lee started another good scoring opportunity by making a crossing pass to Justine Lee, whose strong header went away from Wilkie.

Defenders Victoria Pecci, Brenna Risch, Anida Phetchanpheng and Julianna DePoister were crucial in Gargrave having to make just five saves on the afternoon.

Oswego East coach Lauren Anderson said she likes what she has seen from the Wolves so far this season as the team prepares for continued play Saturday, April 16l in the Lake Park Tournament and gets back into league action April 21 at Plainfield East.

She especially likes how the offense has generated scoring opportunities, but she said the team must convert on them.

"We still have work to do, but we are doing some good things. We just need to focus on finishing. After the first half, we finished our opportunities.

"When we're within the 18 and the ball bounces two or three times, there's no excuse for somebody not finishing ," Anderson said.