Bulldogs remain hot with victory over Panthers

By Eddie Burns

Each coach has their own philosophy when it comes to how they prepare their team for the postseason.

At this point of the season, all of the postseason seeds have been assessed and each team knows its first-round opponent in the upcoming IHSA state tournament.

With that in mind, both Batavia coach Jim McAlpin and Oswego coach Jamie Bartkowiak each went about their business differently when their squads met up in a nonconference match Monday afternoon in Oswego.

McAlpin changed things up and it helped the Bulldogs to a 4-2 victory.

"We were just trying out some different combinations to see how we'd respond to different situations and for the most part, I liked what I saw," McAlpin said.

"We moved some people around and tried some different formations. It is a time to experiment and see what the future holds."

The changes to the lineup did not slow the Bulldogs (11-4-3) one bit as they avoided a loss for the 12th time in its past 13 matches. Batavia is 9-1-2 since the second week of April.

One particular reason for the Bulldogs' success has been the play of senior midfielder Liz Barnes, who left Monday's game to get stitches for a bloody lip.

"Liz has been the catalyst," McAlpin said. "She's scored some goals the last couple of weeks.

"She didn't play earlier this season because of an injury, but since she's returned she has kind of solidified the midfield for us and has scored some goals that have been crucial, momentum-builders for us."

In Barnes' place, junior Abby Gray netted two goals to raise her season total to five. Gray has scored four of her five goals in the past four games.

Gray, a junior, spent the past few seasons on junior varsity before joining the varsity squad this season.

"Now that I've had a chance to have gotten used to being on varsity and playing at this level it feels like a whole new game," Gray said.

"The competition is way more aggressive on varsity. There was an adjustment period I went through, but after the first couple of games, I've taken my game to a new gear and now I'm playing up to the competition."

McAlpin has seen tremendous strides in Gray's game.

"She's starting to play real well with Hillary Cooper up top and they are starting to gel a little bit and that is good to see," he said.

Gray scored the first goal to give the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead. A few minutes later Hillary Cooper assisted Bre Choffin's goal to give Batavia a 2-0 advantage.

Oswego's Katherine Palmer cut the lead in half after scoring in the 31st minute to bring the Panthers (7-11) within 2-1.

But not even 90 second later, the Bulldogs struck again when Alex Hanna scored to give Batavia a two-goal lead.

"The first five minutes after a goal is scored are very crucial and sometimes those things happen," said Bartkowiak, who shuffled players in and out of her lineup.

"We're struggling with the same things we've been struggling with, but we just need to see a little bit more improvement."

Batavia's lead remained 3-1 at intermission and Gray's second goal gave the Bulldogs a 4-1 lead in the 46th minute.

Oswego's Trisha Carr capped the scoring in the 57th minute.

"I think that we played our game and finished right to the end," Oswego senior defender Hannah Gardner said.

"We played the way I expected us to play. I'm not upset with the outcome – I am proud of our team."

Bartkowiak said she made it a point to get every player who dressed and was healthy a chance to play.

"Everyone who was on my bench played today and the best part of that is when we did that we didn't lose a whole lot," Bartkowiak said.

"Everyone is working on the same stuff. We're trying to play quicker through the middle and working on improving our transitioning."

The Panthers had won three of four entering Monday's match, including a 6-1 win against Yorkville over the weekend.

It just so happens that the Panthers and Foxes will match up in a Class 2A regional semifinal at Lemont next week.

"I think once we step into regionals the drive will pick up and I think the girls will really want it and that is when you will see us getting a few more things done," Bartkowiak said.

"I think the girls will be ready. I'd be ready to play any of those three teams in the first round."

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