Glenbard East's Paganucci
too much for Saint Viator
ISU-bound striker sends Rams into PepsiCo Showdown semis
By Mike Garofola
LOMBARD -- It was about as good as it could get for Glenbard East on Tuesday afternoon.
A comprehensive effort from front-to-back, a rampant attack led by Brittany Paganucci, plus spirited play from the Rams midfield on a record-setting day for keeper Sierra Dana helped sent Kent Overbey's club into the semifinals of the PepsiCo Showdown on Thursday at Wheaton Warrenville South.
"You know Saint Viator has so much history and success, and a great coach in Mike Taylor, so we knew this would be the game where we would see just exactly where we are with our game," said the Rams manager after the 3-0 victory.
"But obviously, we passed the test today, and I cannot tell you how happy and proud I am of the girls after their effort and this win."
After a mundane start from the home side, the Rams, ranked 14th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, got back on course just before the quarter-hour, then never looked back.
"We might have been a little nervous because of (who) are opponent was, and what this game meant," offered Faith Davies, who was one half of a dangerous duo along with Sammie Sarles all afternoon.
The sophomore Davies' created consistent trouble with her long throws from deep in the Lions end, while Sarles gave her opponent fits with piercing free-kick attempts, which the visitors had trouble defending for most of the match.
"You saw our immaturity and inexperience show through in this game today, and it's something we just have to ride out (knowing) that in the last few weeks of the season, we'll be ready for the state tournament series," said Taylor, whose clubs host South Elgin on Thursday after being bumped into the consolation pool.
"I honestly felt we opened well today for the first 10 minutes, but (assistant T.J. King) kept reminding after (that) -: there's so many sophomores, and first-year players on our team, and we're going to suffer a few of these types of games in order to get to where we want to be later."
The Rams (9-1-0) made Saint Viator pay for its mistakes throughout the game as its maintained a high work rate in the middle of the park, and stout play along the back by Davies and her mates, Katie Hansen, Paige Taylor and Sarles, who never really allowed the Lions to get a good look on frame, and their keeper Dana.
"Sierra had another terrific game for us on a day when she not only helped us to our 9th-straight clean sheet, but set a program record (25 career shutouts)," said Overbey. "But none of that is possible without a terrific group in front of her, and a commitment from our midfield to get back and defend in numbers so unselfishly
After their quiet start during the early stages, there were hints there was more to come from the Rams, who signaled their intent with a crossfield serve from Dana Plotke which nearly found Paganucci and the back of the net, followed by a Davies long throw into the box that came back out to the sophomore : before she grazed the bar with her attempt.
Paige Taylor went over the bar after Amanda Chelbek and Davies helped created her chance, but soon thereafter, Paganucci struck for the first of her two goals on the day when she redirected a weighted Sarles freekick from just inside the midline in the 29th minute.
"We were a little flat in that first 10 minutes, but we never stopped defending and working during that time, and once we got up to speed, I felt that we could be the better team today," said Paganucci, who heads to Illinois State University next fall to play for the Redbirds. "And that first goal really helped get us going."
This score awakened the Rams attack, which would now enjoy most, if not all of the run of play as it dominated the final 10 minutes of the first half.
With the likes of the trio of Holly Ware, Elizabeth Toledo and Chlebek, and some quality minutes off the bench from sophomore, Ali Lijestrand, all working out of the middle, the Rams unlocked the Lions in their own end, creating several half chances, while forcing Saint Viator keeper Colleen Gallagher to save a couple of others to keep things at 1-0 at the break.
"You come out of that first half a little worried that you didn't put one or two more into the back of the net, especially against an opponent like Saint Viator, but the girls come out and kept up the pressure until we got that second one to help give us a little room to breathe," said Overbey.
Taylor and his staff moved one of their best defenders, Maureen McGrath, into the middle with the hope her energy and pace might rev up the Lions stagnant attack, but it did not. On this day, it was only senior Lauren Kohn who had most of the touches, and distribution for the visitors.
"Lauren did just about everything out there, and although she's capable of taking this team on her shoulders, that's not the way we know how to play, and certainly not the way your going to beat a team like Glenbard East," offered Taylor, who allowed his captain and four-year star to give a team-only postgame chat before he sent his team on its way home.
"It's her team, and sometimes you need to have your veteran, and team leader have a talk with the rest of the girls," added Taylor.
Within 13 minutes Glenbard East wrapped up this well-deserved victory. First, Paganucci tricked her way into the box with some marvelous 1-v.-1 skills before slotting past Gallagher from 14 yards.
Later, a short Saint Viator clearing attempt fell onto the foot of Toledo.
Without hesitation, the quick-thinking sophomore found Ward, who converted her long-range strike up and over the gloves of Gallagher to increase the Rams advantage to three goals just after the hour.
Credit the Lions (3-2-2), who despite now chasing three, didn't fold up and go away.
The visitors nearly pulled one back, when, against the run of play, Kohn put Meagan Vicens through, only to have her shot go off the post. In the closing moments, the Rams faithful had a bit of a scare when Vicens ran into Dana in a 50-50 challenge just inside the box. The Glenbard East keeper would hold onto the ball during what looked like a fierce collision, but would still come off in favor of Davies, who serves as the Rams backup between the sticks.
Both Dana and Vicens were ruled in good shape after the encounter.
"It wasn't good out there for us today, but Glenbard East is a good team, and once we conceded that first goal, I think we began to hang our heads a little bit, and that's always an issue when you have a team as young as we are," offered McGrath.
"I honestly have seen an improvement from the start of the season, but a game like this only makes you want to go out and work harder at practice to get better, and I know we'll be better next time out."
The Lions host South Elgin Thursday at 4:30 at home.
The 12th-seeded Rams savored the victory against 13th-seeded Saint Viator.
"Our backline was air-tight today, Amanda and her teammates in the middle were winning every 50-50 ball that came their way, and you saw an all-state performance from one of the best with Brittany, that all led to help keep our streak going," said Overbey.
Paganucci has 13 goals and 12 assists this season, and her effort, in addition to Davies' performance earned both the Player of the Match accolades.
"I was really happy with the way the entire team defended today, it was an all-out effort from everyone, and that's how you win soccer games," said the Paganucci.
Starting line-ups
Saint Viator
GK: Colleen Gallagher
D: Sarah Schade
D: Maureen McGrath
D: Maggie Leazer
D: Amelia Bottcher
MF: Katherine Schade
MF: Lauren Kohn
MF: Payton McConnell
MF: Delia Douglas
F: Meagan Vicens
F: Michaela Mueller
Glenbard East
GK: Sierra Dana
D: Faith Davies
D: Katie Hansen
D: Sammie Sarles
D: Paige Taylor
MF: Holly Ward
MF: Elizabeth Toledo
MF: Amanda Chlebek
MF: Amy Chiero
F: Brittany Paganucci
F: Dana Plotke
Players of the Match: Brittany Paganucci, F, Glenbard East
Faith Davis, D, Glenbard East
Referee: David Kintz
too much for Saint Viator
ISU-bound striker sends Rams into PepsiCo Showdown semis
By Mike Garofola
LOMBARD -- It was about as good as it could get for Glenbard East on Tuesday afternoon.
A comprehensive effort from front-to-back, a rampant attack led by Brittany Paganucci, plus spirited play from the Rams midfield on a record-setting day for keeper Sierra Dana helped sent Kent Overbey's club into the semifinals of the PepsiCo Showdown on Thursday at Wheaton Warrenville South.
"You know Saint Viator has so much history and success, and a great coach in Mike Taylor, so we knew this would be the game where we would see just exactly where we are with our game," said the Rams manager after the 3-0 victory.
"But obviously, we passed the test today, and I cannot tell you how happy and proud I am of the girls after their effort and this win."
After a mundane start from the home side, the Rams, ranked 14th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, got back on course just before the quarter-hour, then never looked back.
"We might have been a little nervous because of (who) are opponent was, and what this game meant," offered Faith Davies, who was one half of a dangerous duo along with Sammie Sarles all afternoon.
The sophomore Davies' created consistent trouble with her long throws from deep in the Lions end, while Sarles gave her opponent fits with piercing free-kick attempts, which the visitors had trouble defending for most of the match.
"You saw our immaturity and inexperience show through in this game today, and it's something we just have to ride out (knowing) that in the last few weeks of the season, we'll be ready for the state tournament series," said Taylor, whose clubs host South Elgin on Thursday after being bumped into the consolation pool.
"I honestly felt we opened well today for the first 10 minutes, but (assistant T.J. King) kept reminding after (that) -: there's so many sophomores, and first-year players on our team, and we're going to suffer a few of these types of games in order to get to where we want to be later."
The Rams (9-1-0) made Saint Viator pay for its mistakes throughout the game as its maintained a high work rate in the middle of the park, and stout play along the back by Davies and her mates, Katie Hansen, Paige Taylor and Sarles, who never really allowed the Lions to get a good look on frame, and their keeper Dana.
"Sierra had another terrific game for us on a day when she not only helped us to our 9th-straight clean sheet, but set a program record (25 career shutouts)," said Overbey. "But none of that is possible without a terrific group in front of her, and a commitment from our midfield to get back and defend in numbers so unselfishly
After their quiet start during the early stages, there were hints there was more to come from the Rams, who signaled their intent with a crossfield serve from Dana Plotke which nearly found Paganucci and the back of the net, followed by a Davies long throw into the box that came back out to the sophomore : before she grazed the bar with her attempt.
Paige Taylor went over the bar after Amanda Chelbek and Davies helped created her chance, but soon thereafter, Paganucci struck for the first of her two goals on the day when she redirected a weighted Sarles freekick from just inside the midline in the 29th minute.
"We were a little flat in that first 10 minutes, but we never stopped defending and working during that time, and once we got up to speed, I felt that we could be the better team today," said Paganucci, who heads to Illinois State University next fall to play for the Redbirds. "And that first goal really helped get us going."
This score awakened the Rams attack, which would now enjoy most, if not all of the run of play as it dominated the final 10 minutes of the first half.
With the likes of the trio of Holly Ware, Elizabeth Toledo and Chlebek, and some quality minutes off the bench from sophomore, Ali Lijestrand, all working out of the middle, the Rams unlocked the Lions in their own end, creating several half chances, while forcing Saint Viator keeper Colleen Gallagher to save a couple of others to keep things at 1-0 at the break.
"You come out of that first half a little worried that you didn't put one or two more into the back of the net, especially against an opponent like Saint Viator, but the girls come out and kept up the pressure until we got that second one to help give us a little room to breathe," said Overbey.
Taylor and his staff moved one of their best defenders, Maureen McGrath, into the middle with the hope her energy and pace might rev up the Lions stagnant attack, but it did not. On this day, it was only senior Lauren Kohn who had most of the touches, and distribution for the visitors.
"Lauren did just about everything out there, and although she's capable of taking this team on her shoulders, that's not the way we know how to play, and certainly not the way your going to beat a team like Glenbard East," offered Taylor, who allowed his captain and four-year star to give a team-only postgame chat before he sent his team on its way home.
"It's her team, and sometimes you need to have your veteran, and team leader have a talk with the rest of the girls," added Taylor.
Within 13 minutes Glenbard East wrapped up this well-deserved victory. First, Paganucci tricked her way into the box with some marvelous 1-v.-1 skills before slotting past Gallagher from 14 yards.
Later, a short Saint Viator clearing attempt fell onto the foot of Toledo.
Without hesitation, the quick-thinking sophomore found Ward, who converted her long-range strike up and over the gloves of Gallagher to increase the Rams advantage to three goals just after the hour.
Credit the Lions (3-2-2), who despite now chasing three, didn't fold up and go away.
The visitors nearly pulled one back, when, against the run of play, Kohn put Meagan Vicens through, only to have her shot go off the post. In the closing moments, the Rams faithful had a bit of a scare when Vicens ran into Dana in a 50-50 challenge just inside the box. The Glenbard East keeper would hold onto the ball during what looked like a fierce collision, but would still come off in favor of Davies, who serves as the Rams backup between the sticks.
Both Dana and Vicens were ruled in good shape after the encounter.
"It wasn't good out there for us today, but Glenbard East is a good team, and once we conceded that first goal, I think we began to hang our heads a little bit, and that's always an issue when you have a team as young as we are," offered McGrath.
"I honestly have seen an improvement from the start of the season, but a game like this only makes you want to go out and work harder at practice to get better, and I know we'll be better next time out."
The Lions host South Elgin Thursday at 4:30 at home.
The 12th-seeded Rams savored the victory against 13th-seeded Saint Viator.
"Our backline was air-tight today, Amanda and her teammates in the middle were winning every 50-50 ball that came their way, and you saw an all-state performance from one of the best with Brittany, that all led to help keep our streak going," said Overbey.
Paganucci has 13 goals and 12 assists this season, and her effort, in addition to Davies' performance earned both the Player of the Match accolades.
"I was really happy with the way the entire team defended today, it was an all-out effort from everyone, and that's how you win soccer games," said the Paganucci.
Starting line-ups
Saint Viator
GK: Colleen Gallagher
D: Sarah Schade
D: Maureen McGrath
D: Maggie Leazer
D: Amelia Bottcher
MF: Katherine Schade
MF: Lauren Kohn
MF: Payton McConnell
MF: Delia Douglas
F: Meagan Vicens
F: Michaela Mueller
Glenbard East
GK: Sierra Dana
D: Faith Davies
D: Katie Hansen
D: Sammie Sarles
D: Paige Taylor
MF: Holly Ward
MF: Elizabeth Toledo
MF: Amanda Chlebek
MF: Amy Chiero
F: Brittany Paganucci
F: Dana Plotke
Players of the Match: Brittany Paganucci, F, Glenbard East
Faith Davis, D, Glenbard East
Referee: David Kintz