Lockport doth post classic victory
Janeczek leads Porters to 4-0 win, performance not a soliloquy
By Patrick Z. McGavin
BRIDEVIEW — In a crucial first act soliloquy in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” the title plotter, devising his next move, declares everything must be done promptly and without haste.
“If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly,” observing that “this blow might be the be-all and end-all here.”
In other words, Shakespeare basically invented the first rule of soccer. Score first and quickly, and lord over the other team. Lockport's Finley Travis understood as much.
The Lockport freshman saw her early chance to make a bold statement, and she went for it.
“I saw the open space, and I thought I should take it,” she said. “I thought it was a good opportunity to go straight to the net.”
Travis drove the right wing and delivered the early rainmaker in the second minute that delivered an early jolt and catapulted the Porters to the a 4-0 nonconference victory over Providence on Saturday at Toyota Park.
Junior defender Brooke Janeczek was the all-around star for the Porters (13-6-1). She assisted Travis’ goal, scored another and assisted a second to earn the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match distinction.
Her early collaboration with Travis created the one-sided nature of play.
“There is so much space, on this field and I saw the open space. But then I saw the wing too, and Finley had a better look,” Janeczek said.
Lockport had the wind the first half. It led to a quicker play and faster movement.
“I think the goal boosted up our confidence,” Travis said. “It was a bigger field, and we had to make the adjustment. But it was really fun being out there.”
The thrill of playing at Toyota Park only deepened the pleasure of the win.
“It was a really great experience,” Janeczek said. “Even though there was not that big of a crowd at the game, the stadium makes it even more intense.”
In the massive space of Toyota Park, scoring first magnifies the advantages as the team in control is able to play off the open spaces to spread the opposition out and dictate tempo, rhythm and pace.
“To come out and jump early, there was not really a lot of feeling out time,” Lockport coach Todd Elkei said. “We have been working on just taking the space. Finley is just a freshman, and she is tremendous.”
Another freshman, midfielder Natalie Miller, played well for the Porters, helping with ball movement and sustaining the early pressure. Lockport dominated possession time and never allowed Providence to mount either a formal attack or create a counter movement.
Providence was always seemingly a step behind and never generated a shot in the first half.
Janeczek’s talent as a server on free-kicks and corners broke the game open. In the 38th minute, serving a corner from the left edge, she bent the ball perfectly and it caught inside the far post that pushed the Porters’ lead to 2-0 at the break.
Her ball seemingly froze everybody. The light might have temporarily blinded the Celtics’ keeper.
“Totally on purpose,” joked Janeczek. “Seriously, it was a surprising goal. I did it once in a game last year. I saw the open net, and I think people were caught (off guard), not knowing whether it went in or not.
“The set-pieces were a big part of our game today.”
Elkei thought Lockport played more impressively in the second half. Playing into the wind, the Porters played with greater purpose and direction, he said.
“We just started connecting more, and we had better chances in the second half," he said. "I thought Natalie Miller played really well.”
Lockport broke the game open with two early second half goals, both beautifully conceived and executed. In the 43rd minute, Janeczek lofted another corner, this time from the right edge, that sophomore forward Lauren Pikulski controlled with her back to the net.
Pikulski made a quick half turn and fired a low ball that was initially blocked, but she jumped on the second ball for a recovery and finished for the 3-0 lead.
“It was all Lauren,” Janeczek said.
Lockport’s most impressive goal was its final one. The smoothly arranged sequence began with Pikulski initiating the ball down the right edge before playing it to Allison Polinski. She drove at the net and slotted the ball to midfielder Stephanie Barrientos for the open net finish in the 52nd minute.
Providence (5-14-2) finally created some chances offensively in the second half. Midfielder Brianna Geary recorded the team’s first shot, from distance. Defender Cate Spesia was a bright spot for the Celtics. A physical and rangy defender, she prevented several other sharp Lockport chances with her ability to cut off passing lanes or prevent several potential breakaways.
“Even though the outcome was not what we wanted, I thought we played hard,” Spesia said. “I thought we played well. We did not let the early goal set the tone. We kept our heads up and played strong the rest of the game.”
Providence found solace in the opportunity of playing in a professional stadium, a bright and cherished moment in a year the scores have not always been to their preferance.
“This was an amazing experience,” Spesia said. “This is what we play for, to have an experience like this, playing in front of our parents in this stadium.”
Starting line-ups
Providence
GK: Carrie Fuesel
D: Mary Murphy
D: Emma Coughlin
D: Caitlin Shanahan
D: Annie Czerwinski
MF: Brianna Geary
MF: Maggie Broderick
MF: Lindsay Graham
MF: Chase McCool
MF: Ali Bebar
F: Karli Boyd
Lockport
GK: Cassidy Henson
D: Sylvia Kordaczka
D: Allison Polinski
D: Jamie Hansen
MF: Brooke Janeczek
MF: Karlee Stortz
MF: Allyson Fischer
MF: Finley Travis
MF: Stephanie Quigley
MF: Madiyson Hannion
F: Lauren Pikulski
MVP of the Match: Brooke Janeczek, MF, Lockport
Janeczek leads Porters to 4-0 win, performance not a soliloquy
By Patrick Z. McGavin
BRIDEVIEW — In a crucial first act soliloquy in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” the title plotter, devising his next move, declares everything must be done promptly and without haste.
“If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly,” observing that “this blow might be the be-all and end-all here.”
In other words, Shakespeare basically invented the first rule of soccer. Score first and quickly, and lord over the other team. Lockport's Finley Travis understood as much.
The Lockport freshman saw her early chance to make a bold statement, and she went for it.
“I saw the open space, and I thought I should take it,” she said. “I thought it was a good opportunity to go straight to the net.”
Travis drove the right wing and delivered the early rainmaker in the second minute that delivered an early jolt and catapulted the Porters to the a 4-0 nonconference victory over Providence on Saturday at Toyota Park.
Junior defender Brooke Janeczek was the all-around star for the Porters (13-6-1). She assisted Travis’ goal, scored another and assisted a second to earn the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match distinction.
Her early collaboration with Travis created the one-sided nature of play.
“There is so much space, on this field and I saw the open space. But then I saw the wing too, and Finley had a better look,” Janeczek said.
Lockport had the wind the first half. It led to a quicker play and faster movement.
“I think the goal boosted up our confidence,” Travis said. “It was a bigger field, and we had to make the adjustment. But it was really fun being out there.”
The thrill of playing at Toyota Park only deepened the pleasure of the win.
“It was a really great experience,” Janeczek said. “Even though there was not that big of a crowd at the game, the stadium makes it even more intense.”
In the massive space of Toyota Park, scoring first magnifies the advantages as the team in control is able to play off the open spaces to spread the opposition out and dictate tempo, rhythm and pace.
“To come out and jump early, there was not really a lot of feeling out time,” Lockport coach Todd Elkei said. “We have been working on just taking the space. Finley is just a freshman, and she is tremendous.”
Another freshman, midfielder Natalie Miller, played well for the Porters, helping with ball movement and sustaining the early pressure. Lockport dominated possession time and never allowed Providence to mount either a formal attack or create a counter movement.
Providence was always seemingly a step behind and never generated a shot in the first half.
Janeczek’s talent as a server on free-kicks and corners broke the game open. In the 38th minute, serving a corner from the left edge, she bent the ball perfectly and it caught inside the far post that pushed the Porters’ lead to 2-0 at the break.
Her ball seemingly froze everybody. The light might have temporarily blinded the Celtics’ keeper.
“Totally on purpose,” joked Janeczek. “Seriously, it was a surprising goal. I did it once in a game last year. I saw the open net, and I think people were caught (off guard), not knowing whether it went in or not.
“The set-pieces were a big part of our game today.”
Elkei thought Lockport played more impressively in the second half. Playing into the wind, the Porters played with greater purpose and direction, he said.
“We just started connecting more, and we had better chances in the second half," he said. "I thought Natalie Miller played really well.”
Lockport broke the game open with two early second half goals, both beautifully conceived and executed. In the 43rd minute, Janeczek lofted another corner, this time from the right edge, that sophomore forward Lauren Pikulski controlled with her back to the net.
Pikulski made a quick half turn and fired a low ball that was initially blocked, but she jumped on the second ball for a recovery and finished for the 3-0 lead.
“It was all Lauren,” Janeczek said.
Lockport’s most impressive goal was its final one. The smoothly arranged sequence began with Pikulski initiating the ball down the right edge before playing it to Allison Polinski. She drove at the net and slotted the ball to midfielder Stephanie Barrientos for the open net finish in the 52nd minute.
Providence (5-14-2) finally created some chances offensively in the second half. Midfielder Brianna Geary recorded the team’s first shot, from distance. Defender Cate Spesia was a bright spot for the Celtics. A physical and rangy defender, she prevented several other sharp Lockport chances with her ability to cut off passing lanes or prevent several potential breakaways.
“Even though the outcome was not what we wanted, I thought we played hard,” Spesia said. “I thought we played well. We did not let the early goal set the tone. We kept our heads up and played strong the rest of the game.”
Providence found solace in the opportunity of playing in a professional stadium, a bright and cherished moment in a year the scores have not always been to their preferance.
“This was an amazing experience,” Spesia said. “This is what we play for, to have an experience like this, playing in front of our parents in this stadium.”
Starting line-ups
Providence
GK: Carrie Fuesel
D: Mary Murphy
D: Emma Coughlin
D: Caitlin Shanahan
D: Annie Czerwinski
MF: Brianna Geary
MF: Maggie Broderick
MF: Lindsay Graham
MF: Chase McCool
MF: Ali Bebar
F: Karli Boyd
Lockport
GK: Cassidy Henson
D: Sylvia Kordaczka
D: Allison Polinski
D: Jamie Hansen
MF: Brooke Janeczek
MF: Karlee Stortz
MF: Allyson Fischer
MF: Finley Travis
MF: Stephanie Quigley
MF: Madiyson Hannion
F: Lauren Pikulski
MVP of the Match: Brooke Janeczek, MF, Lockport
