Gators keep striving for a finishing touch

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By Gary Larsen

The learning curve of most seasons features a gradual climb towards the ability to finish on scoring chances.

Crystal Lake South (2-3) has played even against tough competition in all three of its losses this year, but while they spent ample time in the final third, the Gators didn’t manage to find the back of the net against Conant, Schaumburg, or Bartlett.

The Gators netted 10 goals in wins over Johnsburg and Grayslake North, but they know they’ll need their scoring legs as the competition gets tougher.

“Let’s hope,” Gators coach Brian Allen said. “We’re playing great soccer but we’re not executing as well as I’d like in the final third.”
 
“I think once we get on a roll we’ll keep it going with our scoring,” Gators striker Ashley Ross said. “We just haven’t got on that roll yet. In practice we’re fine but in the games we’re just not finding the net.”

Thursday’s 1-0 loss to Bartlett in Crystal Lake – on a day when a stiff cross-wind altered the game considerably -- showed another positive step forward for the Gators.

Bartlett’s Nicole Gobbo sent a perfect ball under the crossbar from long range in the first half, but Crystal Lake South flirted with a tying goal throughout the second.

Ross sent a ball off the crossbar in the second half and another flew just wide off the senior’s foot.

“I was hoping, but the cookie didn’t crumble the right way today for us,” Ross said. “That’s soccer. I think we had more shots than they did, but theirs just went in at the right time.”

“I think our work rate was good. We utilized high pressure and we closed down pretty quick, and they just took advantage of the one time we didn’t close down. (Gobbo) finished it really well.”

Allen liked what he got from his attack in searching for an equalizing goal.

“We pushed a third frontrunner up there to see if we could create a little bit more space and a little bit more pressure in terms of throwing their defense off a little bit,” Allen said.

“The work rate was there all over the field. We had opportunities, so now it’s just a matter of finishing.”

The visiting Hawks (6-2) have six shutouts on the year, and they tipped their hats to the Gators after the final buzzer. “They were really physical and really competitive,” Bartlett senior Sam Barone said. “They wanted it. They’re a good team.”

Allen was similarly impressed with what Bartlett brought to the table.

“They’re very disciplined and they’ve got a very vocal keeper (Erin Zaideman) that keeps their back organized,” he said. “They played a high line in the back, which took a while for us to solve, and credit their goalkeeper and their defense for staying organized and putting us in difficult spots.”

Allen also applauded Ross’s ability to provide a persistent threat throughout the contest, and he liked what he got from his defense.

“The backs were solid again – Kelsey Taldone, and Katie Burton is stepping into her own as our sweeper,” he said. “I saw some really good stuff from Kali Loescher again on the outside. And Vivian Qian is really starting to understand the runs up top, which is good to see.”

Allen has also been pleased through five games with the work rate his girls have given game in, and game out.

“That’s one of our core values all year – leave it all on the field,” Ross said. “I think we did that today. We never put our heads down and that’s what we pride ourselves on. We may not have the best record, but our play on the field definitely doesn’t show that we’re below .500.”

“Ours bounces off the crossbar and theirs’ goes in today. But that’s soccer.”

South plays at Dundee-Crown on Saturday before launching into Pepsi Showdown play against Lisle at home on Tuesday.