Cougars get past Belvidere North to open Hawk Invite

By Mike Garofola

A win, is a win, is a win---but it wasn't a pretty one. Just ask Kevin Allen.

The Plainfield South head coach watched his club scratch and claw its way to a 1-0 victory Thursday night over an out-manned Belvidere North side in the tournament opener at the Hawks Invite, in a match which should have been much easier for the Cougars and Allen to view.

"It was kind of a bittersweet victory," admitted Allen, who could only roll his eyes and look to the sky when asked to express his thoughts on the match during his post-match interview.

"We played tentative, nervous, and without any patience or composure, especially with our possession or when we were in close, which was most of the match, and we really didn't use the wind to our advantage at all, as well.

"We should (still) be happy to get the victory, but we'll have to go back and work on a few things in training in advance of our Saturday morning match (here) against South Elgin."

The Cougars (3-1-1) play South Elgin and host Hoffman Estates on Saturday to conclude the competition.

Hoffman Estates (2-2-0) defeated South Elgin (4-3-0) by a 3-0 score in an earlier first-round match.

It was clear from the opening stages of this match, that a young, inexperienced Belvidere North club would pack it in.

North coach Kristine Schaefer-Frank opened with five defenders along the back, which quickly became what looked like a sea of red shirts behind the ball, when winds reached gale-like conditions.

The Blue Thunder did their best to have as many as it could to keep the ball in front of them.

South's Sarah Johnson, Brittany McDaniel, Lindsay Zagar and Alex Truhlar- who had far too much pace for their opponents - appeared to be just a moment or two from finding the back of the net in the first quarter hour.

"Yeah, it was tough with so many players in their (end), but we just didn't do a very good job of attacking them (at) all, especially in that first half when we had the ball," said Johnson.

The Cougar forward gave Belvidere fits all match long with her speed and quickness, which helped her trick her way in and around the box.

South would pepper junior keeper Tabitha Perez, who, thankfully for her club, was athletic enough to stop one shot after another- far too many to chronicle- as was her hard-working backline mates, which blocked a quartet of blasts in close.

Freshmen Alex Truhlar finally solved the scoring mystery when she calmly stepped up and bent her free kick from the left side- around and over the Belvidere wall and into the far inside netting at 33 minutes to give the Cougars their lone goal of the night.

"It's where I wanted to hit the ball," said a humble Truhlar.

North had hopes that its fortunes would change after intermission when the wind would turn in its favor, however, it was more of the same nearly right away from the Cougars.

Kaitlyn Kraz and Kelly Fracasso would help initiate several opportunities, along with their aforementioned teammates, as the Cougars were easily solving a thinly-veiled offsides trap.

On consecutive trips inside the box, Sarah Parlich nearly increased the Cougars advantage at 57 minutes.

The sophomore would connect with Katie Hamilton, and hit a wicked blast off the bar- then collect the rebound, with a terrific individual effort.

But she fired wide and over the woodwork, in what would the first of at least a half dozen failed opportunities during the final quarter hour of action.

"Maybe we'll have to work on some shooting at training tomorrow, or maybe trying to play to feet, or to be a little more patient on the ball," suggested Johnson.

"Tonight was the first time in five matches that we've actually scored in the first-half, so we'll have to use that as a positive thing from this game, and go forward from that," said Allen in conclusion.