Bartlett frosh earns wardrobe makeover
Hat trick in varsity debut powers Hawks past Streamwood
By Steve Nemeth
Tabitha Evans was wearing a Bartlett varsity uniform for the first time.
After debuting with a hat trick that powered the Hawks past Streamwood, she added a Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match T-shirt to her wardrobe.
Not a bad wardrobe makeover for someone penciled in on the pre-game roster sheet turned over to game officials.
Evans and fellow freshman Mikayla Brown were added to the varsity line-up for Saturday as coach Vince DiNuzzo decided extra bodies could help the Hawks make up for the couple spring break absences of two starters on family vacations.
Though it was a veteran duo that got Bartlett ahead of Streamwood to start, Evans clearly sparked the 6-1 victory that may give DiNuzzo reason to reprint his varsity roster.
When asked about the genius behind his decision to elevate Evans, the former freshmen coach now in his inaugural year as head coach for both the Bartlett boys and girls programs, deflected the compliment.
“It was kind of a no-brainer, our freshman coach (Robert Morrissey) has been raving about (Tabitha) after she scored eight goals in four games. We haven’t quite produced as effectively as I’d like, and we needed a couple extra bodies for today, and I figured why not give her a chance,” DiNuzzo said.
Perhaps a teammate might want to text starters Kaitlin Brohan and Shelley Lyjack with a message saying “Enjoy your vacation, but stay in shape.” Future playing time could be related to the options available to DiNuzzo, and just for the record; Bartlett’s JV unit was an 8-0 victor Saturday while the freshmen remain unbeaten (5-0-1) after a 5-0 whitewash.
Little surprise that the Bartlett varsity (2-2-1) was looking to be aggressive on offense having been outscored 7-4 in its first four games. Last year’s top two scorers -– Mariela Alba (7 goals/10 assists) and Jenna Dombrowski (6/5) -– put the Hawks ahead just 2:18 into game. Alba’s corner kick became a nine-yard header inside the left post for Dombrowski.
Not long after entering as a substitute, Evans made the most of a through ball by Holly Gure to blast a ball from the right side that Streamwood goalie Yasmine Resendiz couldn’t quite catch and the ball continued into the goal.
"The first goal I was really going for a cross,” Evans admitted. “It felt really good to see it get into the back of the net.”
Within a minute, Jessica Mirsky was unlucky on a cannon shot that sailed wide left. But with 14:15 still to play before halftime, the Hawks gained a 3-0 advantage as Kayla Hare’s 18-yard boot from the right wing also eluded Resendiz.
Streamwood (1-2-0) had its hopes renewed three minutes prior to intermission when Alondra Blanco banged a 24-yard direct free kick off the crossbar. While some of the Sabres thought the ball came down inside the goal line, the spin brought it directly in front of Stephanie Corona, who chalked up her second goal of the year by netting the ricochet.
“Losing by three and seeing they didn’t put together a wall I figured why not drive a low riser,” Blanco noted. “Thankfully Stephanie was there to make sure we got on the scoreboard.”
The Sabres hoped to trim the deficit further but while pressing the attack, the Hawks' Sarah Jurek went on a breakaway only to have Streamwood sweeper Esmeralda Navarro race back down the field and run her down for a defensive steal.
Streamwood, the co-Millenium Field residents having to wear the visitors' black uniform, dodged a three-goal deficit again early in the second half as an Alba bomb set the crossbar vibrating. But the Sabres were not so fortunate at 47:43 when Alba’s textbook through ball set Evans on course for a 1-v.-1 breakaway. Resendiz rushed out to thwart the shooting angle but once the Streamwood goalie left her feet, Evans nimbly maneuvered around the keeper for an eight-yard empty net finish.
Evans then showed her resiliency when a Sabres clearing effort caught her in the face. After a bloody lip was attended to and the freshman cleared the concussion protocol, she tried a 16-yarder with 23:18 left in regulation that Resendiz turned into one of 11 saves.
Unfortunately for Streamwood, the gap grew to four with 18:09 remaining when Hare registered her second goal of the contest by pouncing on a defensive missed clear for an unassisted strike.
Less than five minutes later (13:28), Jurek earned an assist by springing Evans for another breakaway that resulted in a mirror-image skip past the keeper.
“The (last) two (goals), I saw the same thing: the goalie coming out, and I was able to drive around her twice,” Evans said. “I wasn’t nervous about moving up because I really like the varsity players.”
Said DiNuzzo: “I think those last two were a credit to others identifying (Tabitha’s) strengths, like her speed. She’s fearless as proven by how much she wanted back on the field after being cleared, plus the idea that she was stepping into an unfamiliar role in that we were using a formation with one forward.”
In trying to identify an optimal configuration, DiNuzzo acknowledged the Hawks had used a different formation in each of the previous four games.
“She kind of hung out next to their sweeper or counted on teammates to find her with passes. I thought she showed good patience in front of the net, especially with a keeper running at her. I also thought Mariela and Jenna played extremely well.”
Alba was far more pleased with the outcome than her two assists.
“We were going for goals today, so we’re very pleased to get six. Other than their one goal being a mistake on our part, we had much better communication, particularly in the second half,” Alba said. “We got the win but there’s always room for improvement. Considering all the chances we had we need to finish more of them. Any one opportunity you get could be the one we need the next time.”
Although a first shutout continued to elude freshman Teagen Noesen and the defense, DiNuzzo found yet another positive.
“Jamie (Kenna) and Miranda (Hedeen) did really well in the second half limiting their opportunities,” he said. “Sometimes when you add to a big lead, you can lose focus, but they stayed engaged in the game and even did a better job for the second half.”
Streamwood didn't give up the fight.
There was 9:50 still on the clock when the Sabres' scoring leader, Karina Nevarez, managed a fastbreak only to have Noesen time her rush for a defensive clear.
“They didn’t give up in the first half when we went down three and scoring late meant we were still in the game,” first-year Streamwood coach Kristin Duffy said. “And they didn’t give up in the second half either, so I’m proud of how they stayed and fought.
“It’s still early in the season and hopefully we learn some lessons and will be better when we get some people back from spring break. Esmeralda (Navarro) made some nice recoveries defensively at sweeper, Alondra had some good moments controlling the middle and Shonali (Pierce) made some threats up top.”
Both programs will be back in action at Millenium Field on Thursday as Bartlett welcomes Jacobs for a noon showdown. Streamwood’s nonconference outing against IMSA follows at 4:30 p.m.
“It’s always disappointing to lose but sometimes early in the season you have to experience losses in order to get better,” Blanco said. “Hopefully the frustration makes us all work harder. Anytime you have a score like this, it means you have to mark up much better on defense and on offense. You have to create more chances and finish them.”
Starting lineups
Streamwood
GK: Yasmine Resendiz
D: Esmeralda Navarro
D: Christina Corona
D: Angela Mitchell
D: Alexanadra Bonilla
D: Melanie Ramirez
MF: Vanessa Campos
MF: Karina Nevarez
MF: Alondra Blanco
MF: Shonalie Pierce
F: Stephanie Corona
Bartlett
GK: Teagen Noesen
D: Holly Gure
D: Jamie Kenna
D: Miranda Hedeen
D: Alyssa Modugno
MF: Jessica Mirsky
MF: Makenna Hughes
MF: Mariela Alba
MF: Jenna Noesen
MF: Carrigan Sablik
F: Sarah Jurek
MVP of the Match: Tabitha Evans, F, Bartlett
Referees: Bill Niemeyer, Chuck Roksinh, Rich Zawislak
Streamwood 1 0 --- 1
Bartlett 3 3 --- 6
B – Dombrowski 9-yard header inside left post, Alba assist, 3rd minute
B – Evans 15-yard right side blast, Gure assist, 17th
B – Hare 18-yarder from right wing, Martinez assist, 26th
S – S. Corona 2-yard putback, Blanco assist, 37th
B – Evans 8-yard empty net finish, Alba assist, 48th
B – Hare follow-up off mis-clear for 6-yard goal, unassisted 62nd
B – Evans encore empty net finish, Jurek assist, 67th
Overall shots: S 3 – 1 – 4 / B 15 – 12 – 27
Shots on goal: S 2 – 1 – 3 / B 10 – 7 -- 17
Saves (goalie): S (Resendiz) 11, B (T. Noesen) 2
Hat trick in varsity debut powers Hawks past Streamwood
By Steve Nemeth
Tabitha Evans was wearing a Bartlett varsity uniform for the first time.
After debuting with a hat trick that powered the Hawks past Streamwood, she added a Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match T-shirt to her wardrobe.
Not a bad wardrobe makeover for someone penciled in on the pre-game roster sheet turned over to game officials.
Evans and fellow freshman Mikayla Brown were added to the varsity line-up for Saturday as coach Vince DiNuzzo decided extra bodies could help the Hawks make up for the couple spring break absences of two starters on family vacations.
Though it was a veteran duo that got Bartlett ahead of Streamwood to start, Evans clearly sparked the 6-1 victory that may give DiNuzzo reason to reprint his varsity roster.
When asked about the genius behind his decision to elevate Evans, the former freshmen coach now in his inaugural year as head coach for both the Bartlett boys and girls programs, deflected the compliment.
“It was kind of a no-brainer, our freshman coach (Robert Morrissey) has been raving about (Tabitha) after she scored eight goals in four games. We haven’t quite produced as effectively as I’d like, and we needed a couple extra bodies for today, and I figured why not give her a chance,” DiNuzzo said.
Perhaps a teammate might want to text starters Kaitlin Brohan and Shelley Lyjack with a message saying “Enjoy your vacation, but stay in shape.” Future playing time could be related to the options available to DiNuzzo, and just for the record; Bartlett’s JV unit was an 8-0 victor Saturday while the freshmen remain unbeaten (5-0-1) after a 5-0 whitewash.
Little surprise that the Bartlett varsity (2-2-1) was looking to be aggressive on offense having been outscored 7-4 in its first four games. Last year’s top two scorers -– Mariela Alba (7 goals/10 assists) and Jenna Dombrowski (6/5) -– put the Hawks ahead just 2:18 into game. Alba’s corner kick became a nine-yard header inside the left post for Dombrowski.
Not long after entering as a substitute, Evans made the most of a through ball by Holly Gure to blast a ball from the right side that Streamwood goalie Yasmine Resendiz couldn’t quite catch and the ball continued into the goal.
"The first goal I was really going for a cross,” Evans admitted. “It felt really good to see it get into the back of the net.”
Within a minute, Jessica Mirsky was unlucky on a cannon shot that sailed wide left. But with 14:15 still to play before halftime, the Hawks gained a 3-0 advantage as Kayla Hare’s 18-yard boot from the right wing also eluded Resendiz.
Streamwood (1-2-0) had its hopes renewed three minutes prior to intermission when Alondra Blanco banged a 24-yard direct free kick off the crossbar. While some of the Sabres thought the ball came down inside the goal line, the spin brought it directly in front of Stephanie Corona, who chalked up her second goal of the year by netting the ricochet.
“Losing by three and seeing they didn’t put together a wall I figured why not drive a low riser,” Blanco noted. “Thankfully Stephanie was there to make sure we got on the scoreboard.”
The Sabres hoped to trim the deficit further but while pressing the attack, the Hawks' Sarah Jurek went on a breakaway only to have Streamwood sweeper Esmeralda Navarro race back down the field and run her down for a defensive steal.
Streamwood, the co-Millenium Field residents having to wear the visitors' black uniform, dodged a three-goal deficit again early in the second half as an Alba bomb set the crossbar vibrating. But the Sabres were not so fortunate at 47:43 when Alba’s textbook through ball set Evans on course for a 1-v.-1 breakaway. Resendiz rushed out to thwart the shooting angle but once the Streamwood goalie left her feet, Evans nimbly maneuvered around the keeper for an eight-yard empty net finish.
Evans then showed her resiliency when a Sabres clearing effort caught her in the face. After a bloody lip was attended to and the freshman cleared the concussion protocol, she tried a 16-yarder with 23:18 left in regulation that Resendiz turned into one of 11 saves.
Unfortunately for Streamwood, the gap grew to four with 18:09 remaining when Hare registered her second goal of the contest by pouncing on a defensive missed clear for an unassisted strike.
Less than five minutes later (13:28), Jurek earned an assist by springing Evans for another breakaway that resulted in a mirror-image skip past the keeper.
“The (last) two (goals), I saw the same thing: the goalie coming out, and I was able to drive around her twice,” Evans said. “I wasn’t nervous about moving up because I really like the varsity players.”
Said DiNuzzo: “I think those last two were a credit to others identifying (Tabitha’s) strengths, like her speed. She’s fearless as proven by how much she wanted back on the field after being cleared, plus the idea that she was stepping into an unfamiliar role in that we were using a formation with one forward.”
In trying to identify an optimal configuration, DiNuzzo acknowledged the Hawks had used a different formation in each of the previous four games.
“She kind of hung out next to their sweeper or counted on teammates to find her with passes. I thought she showed good patience in front of the net, especially with a keeper running at her. I also thought Mariela and Jenna played extremely well.”
Alba was far more pleased with the outcome than her two assists.
“We were going for goals today, so we’re very pleased to get six. Other than their one goal being a mistake on our part, we had much better communication, particularly in the second half,” Alba said. “We got the win but there’s always room for improvement. Considering all the chances we had we need to finish more of them. Any one opportunity you get could be the one we need the next time.”
Although a first shutout continued to elude freshman Teagen Noesen and the defense, DiNuzzo found yet another positive.
“Jamie (Kenna) and Miranda (Hedeen) did really well in the second half limiting their opportunities,” he said. “Sometimes when you add to a big lead, you can lose focus, but they stayed engaged in the game and even did a better job for the second half.”
Streamwood didn't give up the fight.
There was 9:50 still on the clock when the Sabres' scoring leader, Karina Nevarez, managed a fastbreak only to have Noesen time her rush for a defensive clear.
“They didn’t give up in the first half when we went down three and scoring late meant we were still in the game,” first-year Streamwood coach Kristin Duffy said. “And they didn’t give up in the second half either, so I’m proud of how they stayed and fought.
“It’s still early in the season and hopefully we learn some lessons and will be better when we get some people back from spring break. Esmeralda (Navarro) made some nice recoveries defensively at sweeper, Alondra had some good moments controlling the middle and Shonali (Pierce) made some threats up top.”
Both programs will be back in action at Millenium Field on Thursday as Bartlett welcomes Jacobs for a noon showdown. Streamwood’s nonconference outing against IMSA follows at 4:30 p.m.
“It’s always disappointing to lose but sometimes early in the season you have to experience losses in order to get better,” Blanco said. “Hopefully the frustration makes us all work harder. Anytime you have a score like this, it means you have to mark up much better on defense and on offense. You have to create more chances and finish them.”
Starting lineups
Streamwood
GK: Yasmine Resendiz
D: Esmeralda Navarro
D: Christina Corona
D: Angela Mitchell
D: Alexanadra Bonilla
D: Melanie Ramirez
MF: Vanessa Campos
MF: Karina Nevarez
MF: Alondra Blanco
MF: Shonalie Pierce
F: Stephanie Corona
Bartlett
GK: Teagen Noesen
D: Holly Gure
D: Jamie Kenna
D: Miranda Hedeen
D: Alyssa Modugno
MF: Jessica Mirsky
MF: Makenna Hughes
MF: Mariela Alba
MF: Jenna Noesen
MF: Carrigan Sablik
F: Sarah Jurek
MVP of the Match: Tabitha Evans, F, Bartlett
Referees: Bill Niemeyer, Chuck Roksinh, Rich Zawislak
Streamwood 1 0 --- 1
Bartlett 3 3 --- 6
B – Dombrowski 9-yard header inside left post, Alba assist, 3rd minute
B – Evans 15-yard right side blast, Gure assist, 17th
B – Hare 18-yarder from right wing, Martinez assist, 26th
S – S. Corona 2-yard putback, Blanco assist, 37th
B – Evans 8-yard empty net finish, Alba assist, 48th
B – Hare follow-up off mis-clear for 6-yard goal, unassisted 62nd
B – Evans encore empty net finish, Jurek assist, 67th
Overall shots: S 3 – 1 – 4 / B 15 – 12 – 27
Shots on goal: S 2 – 1 – 3 / B 10 – 7 -- 17
Saves (goalie): S (Resendiz) 11, B (T. Noesen) 2