Raetzman scores three as Cougars roll past Meadows

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By Mike Garofola

Conant rediscovered its game and wound up earning an easy 5-0 victory Wednesday night on its home pitch against visiting Rolling Meadows in a MSL crossover match in a league opener for both sides.

Courtney Raetzman would hit for the hat-trick, teammate Kaitlin Chiero recorded the helper on the first Raetzman goal at 10 minutes, and find the back of the net for herself.

Sophomore Kelsey Foss, and her backline mates, never allowed a quality opportunity by the visitors against keeper Lindsay Fillingim, who had an easy time of it for 80 minutes.

Cougars head coach Jason Franco, cautious of his opponent prior to the match and unsure as to how his club would open after a nearly 2-week layoff, had his concern eased after watching a terrific final quarter hour of play, after a not-so-sparkling opening.

"I wasn't really sure how we would play after being off so long and I really felt at the start we kind of played nervous," said Franco, who admitted the seven matches in which Rolling Meadows had already played might have given his opponent a slight edge.

"Yes, I would agree that we played nervous and flat at the start and it took us awhile to get it going," said Chiero, who as a sophomore last season, scored 9, and assisted on 4 for the eventual 4th-place state medalists.

"When we finally got things going, we were possessing the ball, and moving it around, and during (those) final 20 minutes of the first-half, we were playing really well as a team," offered Chiero.

The Cougars (3-0-0) looked out of sync in the early stages, as they were unable to play through its players in the middle, which in turn made both Chiero and Raetzman nonexistent figures in the attack.

However, it would be Chiero who was the driving force in the first Raetzman strike, after the junior collected a ball from Sammi van de Linde out of the back- corkscrewing a defender onto the turf- before getting free and inside the box.

Once there, she found herself 1 on 1 with Emily Haeger, who came off her line to challenge. And although the Mustangs keeper was to turn Chiero away, she still gave away a rebound near the spot which the ever-opportunistic Raetzman finished with ease.

"I didn't think we played all that well up to, and after the first goal of the game, but the last 15-20 minutes (or) so of the half, we really took over and dominated the run of play," offered Franco.

An example of its growing confidence with each touch was definded with a terrific build-up near the half hour mark, which saw Raetzman, Chrissy Rosales and Paige Wentzel knock the ball around with great pace, ending when Chiero headed wide, which the homeside crowd appreciated despite the ending.

Just minutes before intermission, the Cougars suffered a blow when Julianna Ramirez went down in agony at the near touchline, and after a long delay was carted off by the Conant medical staff.

"She said she heard a 'pop' when she went down, and I am afraid it might be her ACL," said a disappointed Franco, of his sophomore.

Moments afterward, Chiero made it 2-0, taking advantage of a confused defensive backline that allowed a loose ball inside the box.

The visitors would have no chance to stop Raetzman just after the break when Chiero sent Raetzman through on the left side, and the all-state striker made it 3-0 after a sweet touch got her free, and time to go under and past Haeger into the far inside netting.

"Courtney and I are getting better each time we're out there (together) and as we get to know each other (better) and continue to learn to communicate, we should help give our team the goal-scoring we need this year," said Chiero, who along with Raetzman gives the Cougars a dangerous strikeforce up top.

Franco would take his best player off after scoring her third of the evening at 51 minutes, then bring her back on later to get a few minutes on the backline. Wentzel would get the helper on the Raetzman goal.

The Mustangs (5-3-0) would show a little spark near the hour mark after their first corner of the match, followed by a long-range drive by leading scorer Alex Partipillo, which sailed wide and a wayward header from Maggie Moran off a crossfield serve at the far touchline.

"Our defense kind of goes unnoticed," began Franco. "Tonight (they) didn't allow (Rolling Meadows) anything, and really shut (out) there top scorer, Partipillo, who I believe came into this match with seven goals in seven games."

"It's still early in the season, but we're playing well as a unit in the back so far," said Kelsey Foss, who enjoys her role as backline captain.

"I like being in control (back there) and feel comfortable moving my teammates around and keeping us organized, and besides, I really like talking a lot," joked the affable sophomore.

"This was a good win for us, and it helps get us ready for a big week next week when we play one of biggest rivals (Schaumburg) on Monday, then Barrington (here) on Wednesday."

Sophomore Sam Armando, brought on later when Franco began to rest his first-11, would finish things up at 78 minutes.