Neuqua V., Wheaton N. fit to be tied
Initial DVC match between teams ends in 1-1 draw
By Steve Nemeth
WHEATON -- As the minutes of overtime increased Tuesday night, so did the excitement and anticipation for a goal as Neuqua Valley and Wheaton North squared off in a first-time DuPage Valley Conference meeting.
But the reality was that the additional misfires, hopeful attempts, collisions, blocks and saves didn’t break the 1-1 deadlock.
In hindsight, those two extra 10-minute sessions did nothing to alleviate the teams' frustrations.
Wheaton North (8-6-3, 3-2-1) came into the match hoping to erase the bitter taste of a 1-0 loss to Wheaton Academy in the decisive Wheaton Invitational contest Friday that cost the Falcons a four-game unbeaten streak.
Neuqua Valley (5-7-2, 2-3-1) desperately wanted back-to-back wins for only the second time against a schedule that reads like a Who's Who from from the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
“Guarantee you neither team is satisfied,” Wheaton North coach Tim McEvilly stated flatly. “If there’s a lesson to be learned it’s to take advantage of opportunities.”
Did Neuqua Valley coach Joe Moreau think that after failing to score in four defeats, that it was a positive to go without losing in back-to-back games and to score a goal in each of the last three matches?
“No,” he answered without hesitation. “That’s trying too hard to be positive. If you continue to create chances but don’t finish them, what progress are you making?”
Perhaps there was satisfaction to be had in an ESPN-like Top 10 highlight reel-worthy goal into the opposite side upper 90 against a talented goalkeeper?
“There should have been more (goals),” said Neuqua Valley scorer Alyssa Bombacino. "There will be more in games ahead."
The nonstop hustle the sophomore exhibited throughout the 100 minutes, her goal and the look of steely-eyed determination she had while making her pledge earned Bombacino MVP of the Match honors from Chicagoland Soccer.
An aggressive effort from Neuqua Valley at the start of the match could be associated with the program that used an April-ending win in 2015 as the first of 11-straight victories leading up to a Class 3A state runnerup finish.
Wheaton North goalie Zoe Welsh stopped a scramble off a corner-kick 7:05 into the game; then caught a 45-yard free-kick from Neuqua Valley’s Emma Walsh at 9:57. Two minutes later, Bombacino’s free-kick was headed wide by Kayla Morris and was followed shortly by a Nicole Mondi try that missed to the right.
At 14:05 Neuqua Valley hit paydirt. Shannon Tagler’s throw-in found Bombacino with enough space on the left wing to maneuver for a 15-yard rip that had just enough curve to it find the inside of the netting on the far right.
“Shannon’s throw was right where I needed it to be able to turn right and launch a shot for the upper corner of the goal on the opposite side,” Bombacino explained.
When asked if her fourth goal not becoming a game-winner was disappointing, Bombacino had a quick response followed by her aforementioned pledge: “It’s motivation to score more and to do better.”
A similar, but reversed promise was made by Wheaton North goalie Welsh.
“There might have been a combination of factors on defense, but my personal view is that I failed at my job, and I can’t fail again,” Welsh said. “We need to defend that much better, and I need to make certain to stop anything that does get shot at my net.”
Shortly after that, Neuqua Valley's Katherine “Kiwi” Ferrarelli had a solid shot from the right side that Welsh caught to account for one of her four first half saves. Hailey Singer made a dangerous cross for the Wildcats, but it was cleared away. Kailey Serna sent a shot directly at the Wheaton North keeper, and Rachel Ehrman had a header sail over the goal.
There was just 1:39 left before halftime when Neuqua Valley goalie Yanel Ortiz made her first save of the game on a Darcy Pope strike from the right. That was the host Falcons’ lone shot on goal from two attempts. Neuqua Valley put five of its 10 tries on goal. The Wildcats aggressiveness in the first half was illustrated with seven corner-kicks, which eventually led to a 11-3 advantage in that category.
A mere 46 seconds after the second-half start, Wheaton North got a stunning equalizer from Clare Kocher in front of the Falcon bench.
“The way we struggled in the first defensively meant we needed a momentum switch,” Kocher noted. “Coach is always on me to take my shot, so I saw my opponent coming, cut the ball off with my right, pivoted and switched to my left to get maximum speed on it. When I noticed the keeper coming out too far I knew it would be good. There’s a feeling I can’t describe when you kick it just right, but it is awesome.”
That energized the hosts and led to a Maggie Hupp attempt that flew high, and a Lauren Haley right-side boot that Ortiz saved comfortably. At the other end, Bombacino had a stellar blast that Welsh tipped over the crossbar followed by the keeper's run out to stop an attack from Sydney Rushing.
Wildcat keeper Ortiz made a soaring catch of a Hupp corner-kick shortly before teammate Mondi had another long shot stopped midway through that second half. Then it was Ortiz again catching an Addy Atkinson direct free-kick. Minutes later the Wildcat goalie rushed out to the top of the penalty box to cut off a breakaway.
With just over two minutes in regulation, Hannah Atkinson’s monster rocket shot from the right was saved by Ortiz whose Falcon counterpart raced out to make a defensive clear with 12 seconds left.
Early into extra play, Neuqua Valley wanted a handball violation called, but instead Wheaton North counterattacked and earned a corner-kick. Ortiz punched that out and then recovered her position to keep the putback effort from ending the match. Ortiz made a dramatic save on a Hupp bullet, the teams went the other way and a Singer zinger was caught by Welsh just 2:28 prior to the end of the initial extra 10 minutes.
Neuqua Valley’s Erin Sweda had a putback off a corner kick rejected while Ortiz had to make a defensive clear with 5:44 on the countdown. Bombacino dribbled past a defender for a shot that Welsh snuffed and came back on another breakaway try only to be run down by the Falcon defenders. Ferrarelli had a 21-yard blast saved by Welsh with 1:43 to play.
Haley was part of a Wheaton North backline that drew praise from Falcon coach McEvilly.
“That entire backline played a lot and battled hard throughout. Cameryn (Carrico) saw a lot more minutes than usual, but we couldn’t take her off the field,” McEvilly noted. “The first 40 minutes, we just weren’t physical enough.”
“You play for the girl next to you,” Haley said in describing her nonstop effort. “You try always to give great effort to show respect for your teammates work.”
The Falcons visit no. 3 Naperville Central on Thursday and host no. 16 Waubonsie Valley on May 10 to complete DVC play.
Neuqua Valley’s remaining league schedule includes a Thursday home date with Lake Park and a Friday trip to Wheaton Warrenville South.
“We need more constant movement off the ball, and our midfield needs to play stronger,” Moreau said. “The way we played in the first half is needed for the whole 80 minutes. (Wheaton North) came out strong after halftime, where we were less consistent.”
“We fought hard,” Singer acknowledged. “But we can’t be content with just playing that way.”
Starting lineups
Neuqua Valley
G: Yanel Ortiz
D: Shannon Tagler
D: Kailey Serna
D: Emma Morgan
D: Katherine Ferrarelli
M: Erin Sweda
M: Kayla Morris
M: Haley Singer
M: Nicole Mondi
F: Alyssa Bombacino
F: Veda Tappin
Wheaton North
GK: Zoe Welsh
D: Cara Maxwell
D: Addy Atkinson
D: Morghin Klein
D: Stacie Galo
M: Lauren Haley
M: Maggie Hupp
M: Anna Warfield
M: Gwyneth Phillips
F: Hannah Atkinson
F: Clare Kocher
MVP of the Match: Alyssa Bombacino, F, Neuqua Valley
Referees: Eli Sanchez, Jim Visco, Artur Giszewski
Game summary
Neuqua Valley 1, Wheaton North 1 (2 OT)
1st 2nd 1ot 2ot F
Neuqua Valley 1 0 0 0 1
Wheaton North 0 1 0 0 1
Scoring
NV --- Bombacino 15-yarder from left side into upper 90 of right post (Tagler assist), 15th minute
WN --- Kocher sideline pivot for left-footed 37-yard drive under the crossbar (unassisted), 41st minute
Shots
NV 10 – 5 – 2 -- 4 ---- 21
WN 2 – 6 – 3 –- 1 ---- 12
Shots on goal
NV 5 – 4 – 2 – 2 ---- 13
WN 1 – 3 – 3 – 0 ---- 7
Saves (goalie)
NV (Ortiz) 1 – 2 – 3 – 0 --- 6
WN (Welsh) 4 – 4 – 2 - 2 -- 12
Initial DVC match between teams ends in 1-1 draw
By Steve Nemeth
WHEATON -- As the minutes of overtime increased Tuesday night, so did the excitement and anticipation for a goal as Neuqua Valley and Wheaton North squared off in a first-time DuPage Valley Conference meeting.
But the reality was that the additional misfires, hopeful attempts, collisions, blocks and saves didn’t break the 1-1 deadlock.
In hindsight, those two extra 10-minute sessions did nothing to alleviate the teams' frustrations.
Wheaton North (8-6-3, 3-2-1) came into the match hoping to erase the bitter taste of a 1-0 loss to Wheaton Academy in the decisive Wheaton Invitational contest Friday that cost the Falcons a four-game unbeaten streak.
Neuqua Valley (5-7-2, 2-3-1) desperately wanted back-to-back wins for only the second time against a schedule that reads like a Who's Who from from the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
“Guarantee you neither team is satisfied,” Wheaton North coach Tim McEvilly stated flatly. “If there’s a lesson to be learned it’s to take advantage of opportunities.”
Did Neuqua Valley coach Joe Moreau think that after failing to score in four defeats, that it was a positive to go without losing in back-to-back games and to score a goal in each of the last three matches?
“No,” he answered without hesitation. “That’s trying too hard to be positive. If you continue to create chances but don’t finish them, what progress are you making?”
Perhaps there was satisfaction to be had in an ESPN-like Top 10 highlight reel-worthy goal into the opposite side upper 90 against a talented goalkeeper?
“There should have been more (goals),” said Neuqua Valley scorer Alyssa Bombacino. "There will be more in games ahead."
The nonstop hustle the sophomore exhibited throughout the 100 minutes, her goal and the look of steely-eyed determination she had while making her pledge earned Bombacino MVP of the Match honors from Chicagoland Soccer.
An aggressive effort from Neuqua Valley at the start of the match could be associated with the program that used an April-ending win in 2015 as the first of 11-straight victories leading up to a Class 3A state runnerup finish.
Wheaton North goalie Zoe Welsh stopped a scramble off a corner-kick 7:05 into the game; then caught a 45-yard free-kick from Neuqua Valley’s Emma Walsh at 9:57. Two minutes later, Bombacino’s free-kick was headed wide by Kayla Morris and was followed shortly by a Nicole Mondi try that missed to the right.
At 14:05 Neuqua Valley hit paydirt. Shannon Tagler’s throw-in found Bombacino with enough space on the left wing to maneuver for a 15-yard rip that had just enough curve to it find the inside of the netting on the far right.
“Shannon’s throw was right where I needed it to be able to turn right and launch a shot for the upper corner of the goal on the opposite side,” Bombacino explained.
When asked if her fourth goal not becoming a game-winner was disappointing, Bombacino had a quick response followed by her aforementioned pledge: “It’s motivation to score more and to do better.”
A similar, but reversed promise was made by Wheaton North goalie Welsh.
“There might have been a combination of factors on defense, but my personal view is that I failed at my job, and I can’t fail again,” Welsh said. “We need to defend that much better, and I need to make certain to stop anything that does get shot at my net.”
Shortly after that, Neuqua Valley's Katherine “Kiwi” Ferrarelli had a solid shot from the right side that Welsh caught to account for one of her four first half saves. Hailey Singer made a dangerous cross for the Wildcats, but it was cleared away. Kailey Serna sent a shot directly at the Wheaton North keeper, and Rachel Ehrman had a header sail over the goal.
There was just 1:39 left before halftime when Neuqua Valley goalie Yanel Ortiz made her first save of the game on a Darcy Pope strike from the right. That was the host Falcons’ lone shot on goal from two attempts. Neuqua Valley put five of its 10 tries on goal. The Wildcats aggressiveness in the first half was illustrated with seven corner-kicks, which eventually led to a 11-3 advantage in that category.
A mere 46 seconds after the second-half start, Wheaton North got a stunning equalizer from Clare Kocher in front of the Falcon bench.
“The way we struggled in the first defensively meant we needed a momentum switch,” Kocher noted. “Coach is always on me to take my shot, so I saw my opponent coming, cut the ball off with my right, pivoted and switched to my left to get maximum speed on it. When I noticed the keeper coming out too far I knew it would be good. There’s a feeling I can’t describe when you kick it just right, but it is awesome.”
That energized the hosts and led to a Maggie Hupp attempt that flew high, and a Lauren Haley right-side boot that Ortiz saved comfortably. At the other end, Bombacino had a stellar blast that Welsh tipped over the crossbar followed by the keeper's run out to stop an attack from Sydney Rushing.
Wildcat keeper Ortiz made a soaring catch of a Hupp corner-kick shortly before teammate Mondi had another long shot stopped midway through that second half. Then it was Ortiz again catching an Addy Atkinson direct free-kick. Minutes later the Wildcat goalie rushed out to the top of the penalty box to cut off a breakaway.
With just over two minutes in regulation, Hannah Atkinson’s monster rocket shot from the right was saved by Ortiz whose Falcon counterpart raced out to make a defensive clear with 12 seconds left.
Early into extra play, Neuqua Valley wanted a handball violation called, but instead Wheaton North counterattacked and earned a corner-kick. Ortiz punched that out and then recovered her position to keep the putback effort from ending the match. Ortiz made a dramatic save on a Hupp bullet, the teams went the other way and a Singer zinger was caught by Welsh just 2:28 prior to the end of the initial extra 10 minutes.
Neuqua Valley’s Erin Sweda had a putback off a corner kick rejected while Ortiz had to make a defensive clear with 5:44 on the countdown. Bombacino dribbled past a defender for a shot that Welsh snuffed and came back on another breakaway try only to be run down by the Falcon defenders. Ferrarelli had a 21-yard blast saved by Welsh with 1:43 to play.
Haley was part of a Wheaton North backline that drew praise from Falcon coach McEvilly.
“That entire backline played a lot and battled hard throughout. Cameryn (Carrico) saw a lot more minutes than usual, but we couldn’t take her off the field,” McEvilly noted. “The first 40 minutes, we just weren’t physical enough.”
“You play for the girl next to you,” Haley said in describing her nonstop effort. “You try always to give great effort to show respect for your teammates work.”
The Falcons visit no. 3 Naperville Central on Thursday and host no. 16 Waubonsie Valley on May 10 to complete DVC play.
Neuqua Valley’s remaining league schedule includes a Thursday home date with Lake Park and a Friday trip to Wheaton Warrenville South.
“We need more constant movement off the ball, and our midfield needs to play stronger,” Moreau said. “The way we played in the first half is needed for the whole 80 minutes. (Wheaton North) came out strong after halftime, where we were less consistent.”
“We fought hard,” Singer acknowledged. “But we can’t be content with just playing that way.”
Starting lineups
Neuqua Valley
G: Yanel Ortiz
D: Shannon Tagler
D: Kailey Serna
D: Emma Morgan
D: Katherine Ferrarelli
M: Erin Sweda
M: Kayla Morris
M: Haley Singer
M: Nicole Mondi
F: Alyssa Bombacino
F: Veda Tappin
Wheaton North
GK: Zoe Welsh
D: Cara Maxwell
D: Addy Atkinson
D: Morghin Klein
D: Stacie Galo
M: Lauren Haley
M: Maggie Hupp
M: Anna Warfield
M: Gwyneth Phillips
F: Hannah Atkinson
F: Clare Kocher
MVP of the Match: Alyssa Bombacino, F, Neuqua Valley
Referees: Eli Sanchez, Jim Visco, Artur Giszewski
Game summary
Neuqua Valley 1, Wheaton North 1 (2 OT)
1st 2nd 1ot 2ot F
Neuqua Valley 1 0 0 0 1
Wheaton North 0 1 0 0 1
Scoring
NV --- Bombacino 15-yarder from left side into upper 90 of right post (Tagler assist), 15th minute
WN --- Kocher sideline pivot for left-footed 37-yard drive under the crossbar (unassisted), 41st minute
Shots
NV 10 – 5 – 2 -- 4 ---- 21
WN 2 – 6 – 3 –- 1 ---- 12
Shots on goal
NV 5 – 4 – 2 – 2 ---- 13
WN 1 – 3 – 3 – 0 ---- 7
Saves (goalie)
NV (Ortiz) 1 – 2 – 3 – 0 --- 6
WN (Welsh) 4 – 4 – 2 - 2 -- 12