Granite City gets revenge
against Naperville Central
Warriors take early lead and cruise to 3-0 win
By Keith Schildroth
BELLEVILLE, Ill.- You could tell Granite City girls soccer coach Ken Prazma was pretty excited but at the same time respectful and professional after his Warriors shutout Naperville Central 3-0 Saturday at Belleville West High School.
It's early in the season but the Redhawks, perennially one of the top clubs in the state, were handed two shutouts in Southern Illinois over the weekend. Belleville West downed Naperville Central 1-0 on Friday night.
Granite City was determined to get a different outcome from the teams' match last season, a romp by the visiting Redhawks. The accomplished their mission and set the tone by scoring twice in the first half.
"We played them down here last year, and it was 4-0 after the first half, and they really took it to us," said Prazma. "I started six freshmen last year, and we kept it 1-1 in the second half. They (the freshmen) came out and settled down in the second half last year.
"This year after all the experience we have -- and the group of seniors we have are really coming together -- I think it showed against a really good Naperville team. This was a very good win for us."
The game against the Warriors somewhat resembled the Redhawks start of the 2017 season; it started out slow. The first two games on the schedule were called off because of snow.
Naperville Central, ranked 15th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 preseason poll, defeated Burlington Central 2-0 Thursday in a hastily scheduled game after cancellations against Oak Park and River Forest and Downers Grove North.
Saturday's game was played with a steady wind blowing to the west and that didn't help the Naperville Central offense, especially after the Redhawks lost the coin toss and played against the gusts in the first half.
"Anytime you are playing against the wind or in a game where the wind is blowing, you are going to have a tough time," said Central coach Ed Watson. "We knew we were up against two pretty good teams this weekend. Did I expect to get shutout twice? No.
"The plan for our trip is to play good competition from a different part of the state, create an atmosphere where our team can bond, and try to evaluate our girls in game environments. It is our philosophy to play all of the girls on the trip.
"This is a long season, and we can build off of this. We knew we were going to have a slow start this season. We learned some things today, and we'll use that later in the season. Our trip didn't produce wins in March, but I would like to believe it will help us win in April, May, and June."
Naperville Central fell behind early when Granite City senior forward Bailey Barrington knocked in a rebound in the second minute. She converted after a scramble in front of Central starter and backup goalkeeper Sophie Epelbaum, who made her varsity debut. A corner kick by Alexandra Grote started the sequence.
Granite City continued the pressure most of the first half and Grote was a one-player wrecking crew. Minutes after the corner, she had Epelbaum, a freshman, beat but hit the crossbar.
The Warriors took a 2-0 lead via a free kick with about 10 minutes left in the first half. Grote hit a hard, low line drive from just outside the box that managed to get under Epelbaum at the near left goal post for a 2-0 lead.
"We lost the toss and had to defend the wind, which was gusting around 30 mph -- not ideal conditions for a rookie," said Watson. "The second goal was in her possession and was poked out of her hands with a cleats up challenge. Unfortunately the official didn't see it that way.
"Down 2-0 at half instead of 1-0 makes a huge difference. Sophie withstood a tough first half and played with more confidence as the game wore on."
Granite City's Grote was at it again late in the half. From 10 yards outside the box she tested Epelbaum, who made the save.
"Lexi (Alexandra) is very quick, she can run all day," said Prazma. "She can be a gamebreaker, especially with her speed."
Naperville Central came out pressing the Warriors in the second half and tested goalie Neeley Wiehardt several times.
The Redhawks had their best scoring chance of the game when Caroline Reedy beat the Warriors defense and broke in alone on Wiehardt. The Granite City keeper came off her line and took the ball off Reedy's foot.
During the play Reedy tumbled out of bounds and had to be helped from the field. She didn't return because of sore ribs.
"I wish she (Reedy) would have shot the ball sooner," said Watson. "I think she's going to be fine."
Prazma is enthused about his goal line pairing.
"We do have two very good keepers, and we're lucky to have them," said Prazma of Wiehardt and Viktoria Johnson. "They work together well. They're both aggressive, one more than the other and we were fortunate enough to have that one playing today. She's very good coming out getting balls and challenging people. She makes good and quick decisions."
The Warriors put the game out of reach with 27:27 left when Grote scored her second goal for a 3-0 lead. She beat two defenders and scored to the lower left corner from just outside the box past a diving Epelbaum.
She kept up her consistent play in the closing minutes shooting from close range on a shot that Epelbaum punched wide.
The result capped a surprising rough weekend for Naperville Central.
"We really couldn't get anything going," said senior defender Caitlin Reice. "After I lost that toss against the wind, I thought we might have some trouble."
Like her coach, Reice said the two losses will help the club over the long season.
"I think we learned a lot this weekend," she said. "Granite City and Belleville West are very good teams."
And Granite City's coach felt the same way about his Saturday opponent.
"I can't say enough about Naperville Central," said Prazma. "They have a terrific team, and this was a very good win for us."
Prazma said playing the Redhawks will benefit his team the rest of the season and hopefully deep into the postseason.
"When I played at Granite City in the day for Gene Baker, we always played up at New Trier and other Chicago area teams," said Prazma. "He said you only get better by playing the best. We've tried to get rid of some of the teams we don't have trouble with and add teams from up North to help us."
Starting lineups
Naperville Central
GK: Sophie Epelbaum
D: Caitlin Reice
D: Sarah Avery
D: Megan Frederick
D: Katie Anderson
MF: Paige Suchevits
MF: Maggie Hillman
F: Emily Morris
F: Kaylee O'Connor
F: Meridith McGuire
F: Caroline Reedy
Granite City
GK: Neeley Wiehardt
D: Ashley Portell
D: Abigail Reeves
D: Kendyl Pritchett
D: Maya Ware
MF: Bailey Barrington
MF: Emma Dutko
MF: Mackenzie Hawkins
MF: Alexandra Grote
MF: Rian Hutson
F: Grace Niedhardt
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Alexandra Grote, sr., MF, Granite City
against Naperville Central
Warriors take early lead and cruise to 3-0 win
By Keith Schildroth
BELLEVILLE, Ill.- You could tell Granite City girls soccer coach Ken Prazma was pretty excited but at the same time respectful and professional after his Warriors shutout Naperville Central 3-0 Saturday at Belleville West High School.
It's early in the season but the Redhawks, perennially one of the top clubs in the state, were handed two shutouts in Southern Illinois over the weekend. Belleville West downed Naperville Central 1-0 on Friday night.
Granite City was determined to get a different outcome from the teams' match last season, a romp by the visiting Redhawks. The accomplished their mission and set the tone by scoring twice in the first half.
"We played them down here last year, and it was 4-0 after the first half, and they really took it to us," said Prazma. "I started six freshmen last year, and we kept it 1-1 in the second half. They (the freshmen) came out and settled down in the second half last year.
"This year after all the experience we have -- and the group of seniors we have are really coming together -- I think it showed against a really good Naperville team. This was a very good win for us."
The game against the Warriors somewhat resembled the Redhawks start of the 2017 season; it started out slow. The first two games on the schedule were called off because of snow.
Naperville Central, ranked 15th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 preseason poll, defeated Burlington Central 2-0 Thursday in a hastily scheduled game after cancellations against Oak Park and River Forest and Downers Grove North.
Saturday's game was played with a steady wind blowing to the west and that didn't help the Naperville Central offense, especially after the Redhawks lost the coin toss and played against the gusts in the first half.
"Anytime you are playing against the wind or in a game where the wind is blowing, you are going to have a tough time," said Central coach Ed Watson. "We knew we were up against two pretty good teams this weekend. Did I expect to get shutout twice? No.
"The plan for our trip is to play good competition from a different part of the state, create an atmosphere where our team can bond, and try to evaluate our girls in game environments. It is our philosophy to play all of the girls on the trip.
"This is a long season, and we can build off of this. We knew we were going to have a slow start this season. We learned some things today, and we'll use that later in the season. Our trip didn't produce wins in March, but I would like to believe it will help us win in April, May, and June."
Naperville Central fell behind early when Granite City senior forward Bailey Barrington knocked in a rebound in the second minute. She converted after a scramble in front of Central starter and backup goalkeeper Sophie Epelbaum, who made her varsity debut. A corner kick by Alexandra Grote started the sequence.
Granite City continued the pressure most of the first half and Grote was a one-player wrecking crew. Minutes after the corner, she had Epelbaum, a freshman, beat but hit the crossbar.
The Warriors took a 2-0 lead via a free kick with about 10 minutes left in the first half. Grote hit a hard, low line drive from just outside the box that managed to get under Epelbaum at the near left goal post for a 2-0 lead.
"We lost the toss and had to defend the wind, which was gusting around 30 mph -- not ideal conditions for a rookie," said Watson. "The second goal was in her possession and was poked out of her hands with a cleats up challenge. Unfortunately the official didn't see it that way.
"Down 2-0 at half instead of 1-0 makes a huge difference. Sophie withstood a tough first half and played with more confidence as the game wore on."
Granite City's Grote was at it again late in the half. From 10 yards outside the box she tested Epelbaum, who made the save.
"Lexi (Alexandra) is very quick, she can run all day," said Prazma. "She can be a gamebreaker, especially with her speed."
Naperville Central came out pressing the Warriors in the second half and tested goalie Neeley Wiehardt several times.
The Redhawks had their best scoring chance of the game when Caroline Reedy beat the Warriors defense and broke in alone on Wiehardt. The Granite City keeper came off her line and took the ball off Reedy's foot.
During the play Reedy tumbled out of bounds and had to be helped from the field. She didn't return because of sore ribs.
"I wish she (Reedy) would have shot the ball sooner," said Watson. "I think she's going to be fine."
Prazma is enthused about his goal line pairing.
"We do have two very good keepers, and we're lucky to have them," said Prazma of Wiehardt and Viktoria Johnson. "They work together well. They're both aggressive, one more than the other and we were fortunate enough to have that one playing today. She's very good coming out getting balls and challenging people. She makes good and quick decisions."
The Warriors put the game out of reach with 27:27 left when Grote scored her second goal for a 3-0 lead. She beat two defenders and scored to the lower left corner from just outside the box past a diving Epelbaum.
She kept up her consistent play in the closing minutes shooting from close range on a shot that Epelbaum punched wide.
The result capped a surprising rough weekend for Naperville Central.
"We really couldn't get anything going," said senior defender Caitlin Reice. "After I lost that toss against the wind, I thought we might have some trouble."
Like her coach, Reice said the two losses will help the club over the long season.
"I think we learned a lot this weekend," she said. "Granite City and Belleville West are very good teams."
And Granite City's coach felt the same way about his Saturday opponent.
"I can't say enough about Naperville Central," said Prazma. "They have a terrific team, and this was a very good win for us."
Prazma said playing the Redhawks will benefit his team the rest of the season and hopefully deep into the postseason.
"When I played at Granite City in the day for Gene Baker, we always played up at New Trier and other Chicago area teams," said Prazma. "He said you only get better by playing the best. We've tried to get rid of some of the teams we don't have trouble with and add teams from up North to help us."
Starting lineups
Naperville Central
GK: Sophie Epelbaum
D: Caitlin Reice
D: Sarah Avery
D: Megan Frederick
D: Katie Anderson
MF: Paige Suchevits
MF: Maggie Hillman
F: Emily Morris
F: Kaylee O'Connor
F: Meridith McGuire
F: Caroline Reedy
Granite City
GK: Neeley Wiehardt
D: Ashley Portell
D: Abigail Reeves
D: Kendyl Pritchett
D: Maya Ware
MF: Bailey Barrington
MF: Emma Dutko
MF: Mackenzie Hawkins
MF: Alexandra Grote
MF: Rian Hutson
F: Grace Niedhardt
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Alexandra Grote, sr., MF, Granite City