Tigers rally to beat Lincoln-Way East in season opener

Click to read Lincoln-Way East story


By Curt Herron

For a team that was dominating in shots on and off goal, Plainfield North had little to show for it midway through the final half of Thursday's season opener at Lincoln-Way East.

But rather than panic over the prospect of being down 1-0 to the Griffins, the Tigers rose the occasion and finished strong during the late stages of the nonconference match.

North tied things up with just under 15 minutes remaining and then moved in front for good about five minutes later as it rallied to capture a 2-1 victory in Frankfort.

Tiger coach Jane Crowe was proud of how her team kept battling in an opening-day effort that was typical of most squad's first action of the campaign.

Another thing that the North coach liked was how her squad distributed the ball as the match went on, and that was certainly the case on the final score.

Sophomore Ashley Auble connected from close range following an assist from junior Katie Cox with 9:50 remaining to put the Tigers (1-0) ahead for good.

The winning score was set up by at least three passes from other Tigers, sophomore Callie O'Donnell, senior Stephanie Barr and junior Hayley Wegrzyn.

Click to hear Ashley Auble interview

East (1-1), which opened with a 2-1 win at Marian Catholic on Tuesday, put up a spirited fight despite being outshot 26-5 overall and 13-3 on goal.

Brian Papa's Griffins scored on a restart late in the first half and maintained that lead throughout much of the second half.

That fact was pretty impressive, considering that East lost starting goalkeeper senior Arianna Nie due to an injury at the halftime break.

With its other keeper out due to illness, Papa had to call on a player with some club experience in the net, to take over duties there.

Senior Hayley Gerdes, who's usually a midfielder, didn't face a shot on goal for over 24 minutes after she entered the match.

That first shot try came with 15:40 remaining when Wegrzyn lined up for a free kick and sent a grounder to Gerdes.

North evened things up 56 seconds later when freshman Ashley Handwork fired a short shot into the upper corner, off a pass from sophomore Madison Hansen.

Click to hear coach Jane Crowe interview

The Tigers had other good opportunities before they finally were able to direct their first shot at the new keeper.

Just nine minutes after the break, O'Donnell looked to be tripped up in front of the net but was not given a penalty kick.

Then with just over 20 minutes left to play, Auble and Gerdes collided in front of the net and a subsequent score was disallowed.

Less than four minutes later, O'Donnell got free in front but placed her short shot attempt over the top of the net.

The Tigers kept Nie active during the opening half while their own keeper, sophomore Paige Polonus, faced few serious challenges.

Cox, Barr, Auble and O'Donnell were all stopped by Nie on good scoring chances during the initial 40 minutes.

But North's best opportunity to get on the scoreboard during the first half was stopped by another Griffin player.

With 16:15 left before the break, Handwork sent a cross to O'Donnell, who headed an attempt toward the net.

Nie was out of the net an unable to stop the try but Kelsey Kurey stepped in and was able to clear the ball away.

East scored its goal with 12:46 left in the first half when senior Corie Elam sent a free kick to senior Claire Krieger, who put in a short attempt.

Click to hear Stephanie Barr interview

Others who had a starting role for the Tigers were senior Sami Smith, junior Brianna Buckley and sophomores Kelsey Gill and Anna O'Donnell.

Ali Cox, Emily Kightly and Paige Slowik are the team's other seniors while Marissa Basar and Cait Buithuis are juniors.

Additional Tiger players are sophomores Kelsey Allen, Emily Brodict and Paulina Caratachea and freshmen Carlie Corrigan and Angie Dziedzic.

North kicks off a stretch of four tough nonconference matches in eight days when it plays at Naperville Central on Saturday.