Holbert, Nasenbenny lead Lions past L-Way North

By Eddie Burns

Kelsey Holbert and Katie Nasenbenny provide Lyons Township with an element that the Lions have lacked the past few seasons.

The two players possess the ability to not only create scoring opportunities, but they can finish them as well.

The duo worked together for both goals during Lyons’ 2-0 win against an up-and-coming program in Lincoln-Way North on Saturday afternoon in Western Springs.

"Holbert and Nasenbenny are creating an awful lot of action around the net and they are finishing those scoring chances," Lyons coach Bill Lanspeary said.

"That makes a huge difference for us. Hopefully, their play will make everyone around them that much better."

Much of the first half was played in a steady downpour, but that didn't stop Holbert and Nasenbenny from connecting in the opening minutes of the match.

Holbert put Lions' initial goal in motion as she made a run along the sideline, then cut back and sent a cross with her left foot toward North goalie Michelle Balcerzak.

Nasenbenny dashed in front of Balcerzak and redirected the ball with her head and into the goal to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.

LT (3-1) maintained its one-goal lead at intermission before Holbert and Nasenbenny struck again in the 49th minute.

Nasenbenny began the run deep in Lyons' end as she played the ball to Holbert, who pushed the ball across midfield and into North’s end.

Holbert then led Nasenbenny with a ball past the Phoenix defense, putting her in position to send a shot past Balcerzak to make to it 2-0.

"It wasn't a direct give-and-go, but it was a thing of beauty," Lanspeary said. "Holbert really made that goal happen as she moved the ball up the field and then played a fantastic ball through to Katie."

North coach Michael Murphy did not blame Balcerzak for either goal.

"You have to tip your hat to Nasenbenny, she is one of the best players in the state of Illinois and she is going to score her share of goals," Murphy said.

"She wasn't cheated on either one of those today. There wasn't really much Balcerzak could have done on either chance."

LT never really allowed North (4-1) many scoring threats until Lanspeary subbed out starting goalie Renata Butikas with 15 minutes remaining in the match in favor of backup Kelsey Sopron.

The Phoenix took notice and started to put shots on net but Sopron responded well and made four saves in the slick conditions.

"We haven't had a chance to get Kelsey in a match yet this season, so I just wanted to get her some time and she did a nice job," Lanspeary said.

"This is her first year as a varsity keeper. She works hard in practice and we wanted to reward her and get her in the game."

Lanspeary also applauded the effort he's received from defenders Steph Condon, Elise Gordon, Ari Kowalski, Sarah Mazur and Maddie Pappas through the first four matches.

"They've all done a nice job, so I'm pretty encouraged how our back row has played," Lanspeary said. "Until that last 10-15 minute flurry, we hadn't given up many shots this week (against St. Ignatius, Andrew and Lincoln-Way North)."

Although Lyons won the match, Lanspeary was not encouraged with the effort put forth by his team.

"We seemed slow to the ball, sort of reactive instead of anticipating," he said. "We were just not in this match like we've been so far early this season. We played a tough match against Andrew on Thursday and we played really, really well.

"I think there was a little bit of a letdown today. The weather added to it, but (North) had to play in it as well. We just didn't seem like we wanted to be out there today. We didn't show up, but we got the win."

Lanspeary said the Lions are starting to take shape and players are beginning to define their roles.

"We're still learning how each other plays, so we can gel as a team and get everyone on the same page," he said. "It is so hard these days because the high school season is so short to get teams to bond with everyone playing on different club teams.

"You can see a few of them play together and start looking for each other, but we have to get everyone on the same page."

The more matches the Lions play the more they will come together. Lyons will have plenty of opportunities to do that with upcoming dates in the both the Pepsi Showdown and Naperville Invitational. Both tournaments will help mold Lanspeary's squad.