Johnston scores three goals to rally Corsairs past Warren

By Rusty Silber

Carmel's soccer team needed a big burst in scoring goals after tallying just three goals in three games in winning its own Quad last week.

So how about having a freshman, Meegan Johnston, stepping forward for not one or two, but three goals, which produced a hat trick on Tuesday.

It also helped the Corsairs pull out a 3-2 victory over Warren in a nonconference match in Mundelein.

"We've been struggling for goal production," said Carmel coach John Halloran. "We were also able to sort out our defensive problems in the second half and we kept (Warren) at zero."

Finding goals has been a problem starting the season for the Corsairs (2-0-2) and the team finally got some of its offense clicking and working together.

"We worked the ball real well up top, a lot more than the first three games," said Halloran about the team's effort against Warren.

"When we play the feet and the short 10-yard passes, then move off the passes and make the space, we do a much more effective job breaking done their defense."

Johnston scored twice in the second half after Carmel fell behind 2-1 to Warren (1-2) at halftime.

She tied the game at 2-2 in the 44th minute when she curled a corner kick that went off the hands of Blue Devils' keeper Amanda Macuiba.

Then, late in the contest, Johnston scored the game-winning goal in the 77th minute by sending a shot into the far corner.

"I really didn't expect to get three goals," Johnston said. "I thought the last one was the best going upper-90 with my left foot.

"Our goal is to achieve two goals a game. At the beginning (first 3 games) we were not connecting up top. We've started to connect in this game and it worked out."

Warren was a good foe against Carmel. The Blue Devils stopped Maine South last week 2-1 and it wasn't a total surprise that the Corsairs would have some problems dealing with them.

"Not sure it was intentional or how their midfielders had played," Halloran said. "(Warren) was throwing three forwards or two players coming in late.

"They were all very good players and stopping them was real difficult. Kelsey Armour, Natalia Jovanovic and Kerry Eddy were the ones causing the problems."

The Blue Devils broke down the Corsairs' defense early in the match. Jovanovic sent a cross into a scrum of players in front. That's where Karly Moe scored on a loose ball in the fourth minute.

Carmel managed to pull even in the 22nd minute, when Johnston scored her first goal. She took a back pass from Kassidy Brown, who initially broke through the Blue Devils' defense.

However, Warren got the lead back before the end of the half. Eddy drilled a 25-yard shot off the diving hands of Corsairs'' keeper Maddie Allen (5 saves) and the post.

"We played nice in spots, but you've got to take advantage of your opportunities," Warren coach Jeff Knouse said. "That's the bottom line. We gave them the opportunities and (Carmel) took them."