Plainfield Central battling through injuries

CLICK HERE FOR GAME PHOTOS

By Gary Larsen

Plainfield Central is testing the extent to which any team can withstand injuries during a season.

With two players already on crutches on the Wildcats’ bench, the Plainfield faithful had to cringe when they saw key player Kelsey Graefen leave the game with a knee injury, late in Friday’s 1-0 loss to Hinsdale Central.

“You just have to be there for each other. You have to play as a team, push through the injuries, and play harder at practice,” Wildcats’ junior Kendall Gerding said. “You have to be there mentally for each other, too. We spend a lot of time together and we have to pick each other up.”

“Now one of our star players is down with a possible ACL injury, so we’ll all have to step it up and work together.”

Wildcats coach Ken Schoen could only shake his head after the loss in Hinsdale, as Graefen was being tended to by the Red Devils’ trainer.

“It started six months ago and it’s been continuing,” Schoen said. “It’s been devastating to us. A couple of them were injured before the season so at least we had time to prepare.”

“But they’re not sulking about it, and it does give other players opportunities.”

For 80 minutes against last year’s Class 3A state champs, Plainfield Central (3-4) fought tooth-and-nail against Hinsdale Central (4-3).  A goal by the Red Devils’ Eryka Hawkins early in the second half provided all of the day’s scoring.

The host Red Devils controlled most of the second half, but Plainfield Central was dangerous early in the contest on the counterattack.

“I liked the effort today. They did a real good job. In the first half we had a couple quick transitions, had numbers, went one-on-one with the goalie and just didn’t finish” Schoen said. “Overall, I was pleased.”

“I told them at halftime I was happy with their effort. I couldn’t ask for anything more and just give another forty minutes. And they gave it their all. They left everything they had out on the field.”

Graefen was prominent throughout the contest before leaving with an injury. The Wildcats’ Lauren Kulaga also had a goal-line clear with the Red Devils’ Molly Gaffney bearing down on a loose ball near the goal-line after a corner cross reached the far post.

“Obviously Kelsey Graefen really brought it today, Lauren Kulaga, and our whole back line did a great job,” Schoen said.

“The one goal they scored was off a rebound and we weren’t really giving them open shots. I think we limited their opportunities pretty well. Lisa Schroeder on the outside, Britney Lenza -- those are our starting backs and they played well, and I thought Sami Jensen came off the bench today and gave us a lot of energy up top.”

After struggling against Prospect and Geneva in two early-season games, Plainfield Central battled well in a 2-1 loss to Edwardsville and won 2-1 over Batavia. Gerding liked what she saw on Friday despite the loss.
 
“We did awesome. The intensity was amazing and we worked together really well,” Gerding said. “We’re improving a lot with connecting our passes, working together more, and just being a team. We’re keeping each other motivated.”