Wildcats, North Stars settle for scoreless draw in UEC clash

By Eddie Burns
Photos courtesy of Kathy Nuccio

The latest installment in the Neuqua Valley-St. Charles North rivalry had just about everything a soccer fan could ask for.

There were dangerous scoring chances, goalies making diving saves, physical play, a few yellow cards and plenty of intensity.

About the only thing missing was a goal as the two Upstate Eight Conference rivals played to a 0-0 draw. The UEC does not play overtime in regular-season conference matches.

"It wasn't a pretty game," said Neuqua coach Joe Moreau, whose team is 13-2-2 overall and 6-1-1 in conference.

"I think both teams fought hard. There were really minimal chances on both ends. The game was pretty much played between the 18s. I was pleased how hard and aggressive we played."

For Neuqua's Megan Oyster, the game itself provided plenty of enjoyment – except for the outcome.

"I love playing in these types of games, because the big games are by far and away my favorite," Oyster said.

"I love being under pressure although some people don't. I love it. It is what I live for and why I love soccer – to play in the big games because that is what matters."

St. Charles North coach Ruth Vostal thought this match was something her team needed at this particular time.

"I don't know if we've been pushed like this before for 80 minutes," said Vostal, whose team remained unbeaten at 8-0-1 overall and 5-0-1 in the UEC.

"We've been pushed by teams in 20-minute spurts, but not for a full 80 and I thought we responded and played well. At this point of the season, I think for us, this is the game we saw the most heart and most fight.

"I don’t think we played technically our best game, but it was an opportunity for us to see the fight and the heart and the stamina come through. I'll take it at that point that we have it."

Both teams had their share of scoring opportunities.

Right off the bat, Neuqua goalie Alexa Wilde put a scare into her coaches and teammates when she misplayed a long ball through the air.

As Wilde approached the ball she put her hands up and the ball went right through, but the shot was not directly on line with the goal and the ball bounced wide and out of bounds.

"We're pretty confident with Alexa in goal," Moreau said. "There are a lot of girls that we wouldn't be comfortable with back there, but with Alexa being a field player she does a nice, solid job.

"We were fortunate. She mistimed one in the first half and that is something she doesn't do in the air."

Neuqua's best offensive threat came shortly before halftime when Jessica Pinto ripped a shot from 25 yards out, but St. Charles North goalie Kristen Manski dove and made the save.

"(Manski) was tested and came up with several big saves when they were necessary and that was nice to see," Vostal said.

The North Stars' best opportunities occurred in the 53rd and 55th minutes when Leah DeMoss and Lauren Koehl each had moments when they were dangerous.

In the 53rd minute, Koehl played the ball to DeMoss who appeared to have a step on Wilde, but Wilde closed and made the save.

In the 55th minute, DeMoss played a cross to Lauren Koehl, who misfired on an open attempt at the Neuqua net.

Koehl was distraught after the match about failing to convert on her chance.

"I told her to shake it off because I missed one right in front of the goal as well," DeMoss said.

"I remember when I was a sophomore that I missed some wide open shots, it happens. We'll learn and move on from this."

The Wildcats started generating more of a consistent run of play late in the match.

Allie McBride, Tori Dunn and Gianna Dal Pozzo put together a nice series of passes only to see a Dal Pozzo header go wide of the frame in the 78th minute.

Pinto and Dal Pozzo also had a few chances in front of the St. Charles North net during one of the five second-half corner kicks the Wildcats forced.

"It was frustrating we couldn't finish," Oyster said, "because we really wanted this one."

Moreau said the Wildcats must work to generate more scoring chances.

"We weren't connecting in the offensive third and that's been an issue for us a lot of the season," Moreau said. "We've been pretty solid in the back two-thirds, but we're just not finishing in the offensive third.

"We're getting some decent runs in there. We had some better services than we've had. We just need to get someone on the end of one of those."

The Wildcats had issues dealing with St. Charles North's height. All across the front, the North Stars played tall and aggressive.

"It's like going up against a team of Rachel Bostick's out there," said Oyster referring to Waubonsie Valley's Bostick, who was the Warriors' 6-foot threat each of the past four years.

"Their whole front was fast, big and really physical, so they were pressuring really hard. We had to make sure we kept our composure even though they came at us with a lot of hard physical play."

It was evident that the longer that the match remained tied that tensions went up on both sides.

"It was really fun," DeMoss said. "We were looking forward to this and the Waubonsie match (next Tuesday) because they are our toughest competition and big for conference purposes.

"We weren't very technically today, but we showed a lot of a fight out there. We did get under their skin a little bit and I think it ate away at them, but that makes the game that much more fun."

The only way these two teams would see each other again is at the state tournament since the schools are in different sectionals.

St. Charles North plays at Waubonsie Valley next Tuesday after taking part in the Tournament of Champions in Burlington, Iowa this weekend.

Neuqua returns to action on Thursday when it plays Wheaton North in the Naperville Invite.

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