Plainfield South finds its groove
Cougars post 1st win of season, top East Aurora 2-0
By Steve Millar
PLAINFIELD -- Despite the fact her team started the season with two losses, Plainfield South junior forward Gianna Dodaro took plenty of confidence into Monday’s game against East Aurora.
“We’re definitely starting to come together as a team,” she said. “We’re getting better in practice every day. We really get along well as a team, and I know we can have success. We’ve just got to go 100 percent all the time. I felt like we could come out and get this win (Monday).”
Dodaro scored a beautiful goal in the 17th minute to get the Cougars going as they accomplished their mission and picked up their first win of the season, a 2-0 score over the Lady Tomcats.
“This is a good win,” said new Plainfield South head coach Alfonso Lopez. “It’s good to get that first one under your belt.
“The last two games we had some opportunities to score, and we just couldn’t put them away. It was good to get a couple in this game. Hopefully they start going in from now on.”
Dodaro, Chicagoland Soccer’s MVP of the Match, collected a loose ball at the top of the box with her back to the goal in the 17th minute.
She quickly turned and fired, ripping a shot inside the left post to put the Cougars (1-2-0) up 1-0.
“I actually don’t even know how that went in,” Dodaro said. “I just got it and took a quick shot, and it just went in. Getting that first goal was huge for us. As soon as we scored, we picked things up a lot.
“We really started clicking with our passing and got our offense going.”
Plainfield South spent essentially the entire first half on the attack against East Aurora (0-4-0). The Cougars fired 10 shots in the opening 30 minutes and put three of them on goal.
The fast start was more impressive considering senior midfielder Lindsey Bond, one of the team’s most dynamic offensive players, was on the bench for the majority of the first half due to an illness.
“I was on the bench cheering my teammates on,” she said. “I like to support my team. It was good to see other girls get chances. I was just thinking ‘When I get in there, I’m going to show something.’”
Bond showed a lot, making an immediate impact when she got into the game. In the 31st minute, she fired a shot that East Aurora goalkeeper Daisy Quinonez saved.
Four minutes later, she broke down the right side of the box, took a pass from Adanelly Escamilla and buried a shot inside the far post to make it 2-0.
“We started being more precise and playing to feet, connecting on passes instead of just playing balls in,” Bond said. “We work really well as a team, especially when we all have our heads in it.”
Bond did exactly what Lopez expected.
“We knew she’d come in and do a good job,” he said. “She’d be starting if she hadn’t been sick, but we knew she’d give us a boost when she came in off the bench. She’s a talent.”
East Aurora put up a stronger fight in the second half, holding Plainfield South off the scoreboard and generating a couple scoring chances of its own.
The Lady Tomcats did not put a shot on goal, but Paola Segunda got a good look off a Marubeni Nieto corner kick in the 67th minute, sending a header just high.
Nieto, a junior captain, was active all game.
East Aurora coach Obed Mendoza said the second half was a big step for a team that’s been outscored 23-0 on the season.
“We need to just get better every game,” he said. “I don’t want miracles. I just want them to be better than the last time. I think we did that from the first half to the second half this game. We were much better in the second half. We just couldn’t score.”
Quinonez made six saves for the Lady Tomcats.
“The girls really rely on the goalkeeper to set the tone,” Mendoza said. “If she gives up an early goal, that can hurt the team. She came in and made those saves early. The girls realized Daisy was strong and confident and that helped them a lot.”
Plainfield South happy to keep a clean sheet.
“We’ve been plugging some people in here and there,” Lopez said. “We’ve been down three defensive starters all year, but we’re adjusting.
“The girls are doing a nice job. Karis Mele and Samantha Harkness have done a really nice job. I’ve dropped a couple forwards back. Isabel Cerda and Giana Derka have spent some time back there and have done a really good job.”
Despite the win, the Cougars know they still have things to work on. Most important is finishing their scoring chances.
“When we have corners and set pieces, we’ve got to attack them,” Bond said. “We’ve got to get better at putting those away, because we have a lot of chances. Gianna and Shelby Bishop usually take them, and they put in perfect balls all the time. Rarely do they not put in a good ball.”
Plainfield South will get a chance to do some more scoring, and start a winning streak, Tuesday as the Cougars host Joliet Catholic.
“We started a little slow in this game,” Dodaro said. “We’re excited to come back out and play better (Tuesday).”
Starting lineups
East Aurora
GK: Daisy Quinonez
D: Leslie Rodriguez
D: Marina Lopez
D: Presiliana Huitron
D: Sonia Macias
MF: Leslie Carranza
MF: Marubeni Nieto
MF: Jacklyn Cabrera
MF: Maritza Cazares
F: Jennifer Garcia
F: Paola Segundo
Plainfield South
GK: Nicole Trenholm
D: Amaya Silvar
D: Adanelly Escamilla
D: Samantha Harkness
D: Karis Mele
MF: Madison Ourada
MF: Miranda Nirchi
MF: Emily DeVivo
MF: Shelby Bishop
MF: Isabel Cerda
F: Gianna Dodaro
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Gianna Dodaro, jr., F, Plainfield South
Cougars post 1st win of season, top East Aurora 2-0
By Steve Millar
PLAINFIELD -- Despite the fact her team started the season with two losses, Plainfield South junior forward Gianna Dodaro took plenty of confidence into Monday’s game against East Aurora.
“We’re definitely starting to come together as a team,” she said. “We’re getting better in practice every day. We really get along well as a team, and I know we can have success. We’ve just got to go 100 percent all the time. I felt like we could come out and get this win (Monday).”
Dodaro scored a beautiful goal in the 17th minute to get the Cougars going as they accomplished their mission and picked up their first win of the season, a 2-0 score over the Lady Tomcats.
“This is a good win,” said new Plainfield South head coach Alfonso Lopez. “It’s good to get that first one under your belt.
“The last two games we had some opportunities to score, and we just couldn’t put them away. It was good to get a couple in this game. Hopefully they start going in from now on.”
Dodaro, Chicagoland Soccer’s MVP of the Match, collected a loose ball at the top of the box with her back to the goal in the 17th minute.
She quickly turned and fired, ripping a shot inside the left post to put the Cougars (1-2-0) up 1-0.
“I actually don’t even know how that went in,” Dodaro said. “I just got it and took a quick shot, and it just went in. Getting that first goal was huge for us. As soon as we scored, we picked things up a lot.
“We really started clicking with our passing and got our offense going.”
Plainfield South spent essentially the entire first half on the attack against East Aurora (0-4-0). The Cougars fired 10 shots in the opening 30 minutes and put three of them on goal.
The fast start was more impressive considering senior midfielder Lindsey Bond, one of the team’s most dynamic offensive players, was on the bench for the majority of the first half due to an illness.
“I was on the bench cheering my teammates on,” she said. “I like to support my team. It was good to see other girls get chances. I was just thinking ‘When I get in there, I’m going to show something.’”
Bond showed a lot, making an immediate impact when she got into the game. In the 31st minute, she fired a shot that East Aurora goalkeeper Daisy Quinonez saved.
Four minutes later, she broke down the right side of the box, took a pass from Adanelly Escamilla and buried a shot inside the far post to make it 2-0.
“We started being more precise and playing to feet, connecting on passes instead of just playing balls in,” Bond said. “We work really well as a team, especially when we all have our heads in it.”
Bond did exactly what Lopez expected.
“We knew she’d come in and do a good job,” he said. “She’d be starting if she hadn’t been sick, but we knew she’d give us a boost when she came in off the bench. She’s a talent.”
East Aurora put up a stronger fight in the second half, holding Plainfield South off the scoreboard and generating a couple scoring chances of its own.
The Lady Tomcats did not put a shot on goal, but Paola Segunda got a good look off a Marubeni Nieto corner kick in the 67th minute, sending a header just high.
Nieto, a junior captain, was active all game.
East Aurora coach Obed Mendoza said the second half was a big step for a team that’s been outscored 23-0 on the season.
“We need to just get better every game,” he said. “I don’t want miracles. I just want them to be better than the last time. I think we did that from the first half to the second half this game. We were much better in the second half. We just couldn’t score.”
Quinonez made six saves for the Lady Tomcats.
“The girls really rely on the goalkeeper to set the tone,” Mendoza said. “If she gives up an early goal, that can hurt the team. She came in and made those saves early. The girls realized Daisy was strong and confident and that helped them a lot.”
Plainfield South happy to keep a clean sheet.
“We’ve been plugging some people in here and there,” Lopez said. “We’ve been down three defensive starters all year, but we’re adjusting.
“The girls are doing a nice job. Karis Mele and Samantha Harkness have done a really nice job. I’ve dropped a couple forwards back. Isabel Cerda and Giana Derka have spent some time back there and have done a really good job.”
Despite the win, the Cougars know they still have things to work on. Most important is finishing their scoring chances.
“When we have corners and set pieces, we’ve got to attack them,” Bond said. “We’ve got to get better at putting those away, because we have a lot of chances. Gianna and Shelby Bishop usually take them, and they put in perfect balls all the time. Rarely do they not put in a good ball.”
Plainfield South will get a chance to do some more scoring, and start a winning streak, Tuesday as the Cougars host Joliet Catholic.
“We started a little slow in this game,” Dodaro said. “We’re excited to come back out and play better (Tuesday).”
Starting lineups
East Aurora
GK: Daisy Quinonez
D: Leslie Rodriguez
D: Marina Lopez
D: Presiliana Huitron
D: Sonia Macias
MF: Leslie Carranza
MF: Marubeni Nieto
MF: Jacklyn Cabrera
MF: Maritza Cazares
F: Jennifer Garcia
F: Paola Segundo
Plainfield South
GK: Nicole Trenholm
D: Amaya Silvar
D: Adanelly Escamilla
D: Samantha Harkness
D: Karis Mele
MF: Madison Ourada
MF: Miranda Nirchi
MF: Emily DeVivo
MF: Shelby Bishop
MF: Isabel Cerda
F: Gianna Dodaro
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Gianna Dodaro, jr., F, Plainfield South